2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, Fla.
Event 2: $300 Omaha 8
Entries: 76
Prize Pool: $19,380
July 29, 2016
Chizick follows a victory at the Showdown series with a second during SHRPO, pockets $5,817 for outright win.
Hollywood, Fla. — Jordan Chizick kicked off the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in style Friday night in Hollywood, Fla. The 36-year-old New York-based pro bested a field of 76 in a $300 Omaha 8 tournament, officially Event 2 on the series’ 28-tournament schedule. Never wavering from his “no chop” stance, Chizick earned the title outright and went home with the $5,817 top prize as well as thetoken guitar pick trophy. It marks his second victorious performance in as many series at the Seminole Hard Rock having previously bested a tough field during a $250 event at the Showdown in April.
“For me this is like icing on the cake,” Chizick said of his championship performance.”This time I wanted to play it out because last time I chopped and it just didn’t feel as much as a win. This is legitimate. You can’t take it away.”
Although it marked the second tournament on the schedule, Chizick’s trophy was the first awarded during the 20-day SHRPO. The intimate field narrowed to just one remaining in 12 short hours putting the winner’s hourly rate at about $485. Helping the event move along was the fact Chizick commanded the action late accounting for seven of the eight final table eliminations. He busted Brett Trevillian ninth, Robert Campbell seventh, Alan Beyda sixth, Joel Hardwood fifth, Leonard Germain fourth and in a flurry sent Brandon Berkenfeld to the rail third and Joey Prosper second.
“I loosened up but I just ran extremely good,” Chizick said. “Playing looser than the other players allowed me to pick up some blinds and antes and get me paid off when I did hit because I was playing more active than anyone else at the table.”
The 2016 SHRPO kicked off Thursday with the first two of six starting flights in the $360 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed opening event. This year’s series is spotlighted by the return of The Big 4 — a four-tournament finale nominated for Innovation of the Year at the American Poker Awards and boasting combined guarantees of $7,500,000. The series flagship, a $5,250 buy-in, $5,000,000 guaranteed Championshipm, headlines the South Florida festival beginning August 13 and will again be live streamed and televised.
For Chizick, he’s taking it one day at a time looking forward to events in the more near future.
“The HORSE on Monday — I’m stoked that it’s a trophy event,” Chizick said already looking for another win.
Event 2 final results:
1st: Jordan Chizick – $5,817
2nd: Joey Prosper – $4,070
3rd: Brandon Berkenfeld – $2,616
4th: Leonard Germain – $1,938
5th: Joel Harwood – $1,454
6th: Alan Beyda – $1,164
7th: Robert Campbell – $969
8th: Michael Lipman – $775
9th: Brett Trevillian – $581