Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ’N’ Roll” Poker Open
Event 8: $350 Eight Handed Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed

November 19, 2014

Total Entries:  135
Total Prize Pool:  $40,500

Recap:
The eighth event on the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” was also an eight-handed No Limit Hold’em game. The short-handed variation drew 135 entrants to easily surpass the $30,000 guarantee and it was local regular Joe Villacci who was the last player standing, taking home $7,776 for his efforts.

The game played quick and the field was reduced to just four tables in six hours leaving them just a few eliminations from the money with 24 spots paying. Cliff Gladstone took care of the bubble business when he knocked out his opponent to leave just three tables in action.

Several players had their time on the top chip count leaderboard including Darren Friedburg, Oleg Vayman, and Carlos Cruz. It was Cruz who dictated much of the action at the final table but it was Blain Ovind with one the biggest hands. He was able to knockout Raymond Ruszkowski and Ariel Rosello in the same hand to build his stack and ride it to a third place finish.

The final heads-up battled between Cruz and Villacci ended quickly after they made a deal for a straight chop and the winner of the last hand getting the championship honors. Villacci went runner-runner flush to win the hand and take home the trophy.

Villacci is a regular in the The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise and loves the tournament action. His previous biggest cash game came during a $350 Friday Series this past June and he also final tabled the Seniors Event during the 2012 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open”.

Villacci won’t slow down and we expect to see his face in the games throughout the series.

Final table results:
1st – Joe Villacci $7,776
2nd – Carlos Cruz $7,775
3rd – Blain Ovind $4,212
4th – Igor Skochko $3,078
5th – Oleg Vayman $2,430
6th – Frank Lerczak $1,802
7th – Chioh Yim $1,418
8th – Raymond Ruszkowski $1,073