Event 4: Avi Hakmon Battles to the Title

Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ’N’ Roll” Poker Open
Event 4: $250 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

November 16, 2014

Total Entries:  108
Total Prize Pool:  $22,680

Avi Hakmon, Event 4 Champion
Avi Hakmon, Event 4 Champion

Recap:
Event 4 was scheduled to play down to a winner and it took more than 13 hours to find one. In the end it was Avi Hakmon prevailing through a bunch of short stack situations to take the top prize of $4,904 along with the trophy and framed winner’s print from IMPDI.

The tournament drew 108 entrants for the noon-time start with 15,000 stacks and 30-minute levels. They played down quickly to three tables where the big stacks slowed things down until the blinds could catch back up. They hit the last two tables and approached the money bubble where the top 12 would earn a piece of the $22,680 prize pool.

Former WSOP Ladies Champion Marsha Wolak was the unfortunate bubble person when she couldn’t win a race with 9d9s against the AcQd of Steven Lauffer. The elimination put the remaining players in the money with Lisa Levy and Nick Costa going out quickly to form the final table.

The last ten players had plenty of chips and they took their time getting them in action. There were a few bad beats, some interesting plays, and it slowed down once they hit six players remaining. Julian Gallo took turns doubling up and then passing those chips back around the table. Frank Simms played a patient game until he found a spot where he could double up back into contention even as the blinds climbed to make remaining play a gamble.

In the end, the final six players determined it was worth the effort to hammer out a deal the divide the remaining prize pool and head towards the payout cage. Avi Hakmon steadily built his stack up after the crazy hands and was declared the Event 4 champion as the player with the biggest stack.

Event 4 Results:
1st – Avi Hakmon $4,904
2nd – Adam Horowitz $3,796
3rd – Frank Simms $3,277
4th – Pedro Arez – $2,488
5th – Julian Gallo – $2,400
6th – Mike Green – $2,100
7th – Steven Lauffer $885
8th – Ian Pearson $658
9th – Mark Fowler $544
10th – Bruce MacGregor – $476
11th – Nick Costa – $476
12th – Lisa Levy – $476