2023 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 1
$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  7,532
Prize Pool:  $2,485,560
November 15 – 20, 2023

Event 1 of the 2023 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open was the second-largest tournament field size in state history, as 7,532 entries across eight starting flights created a prize pool of $2,485,560.

A six-way deal was reached at the final table and Richard Saunders was the chip leader at the time, making him the official Event 1 winner for $192,398.

Saunders’ path to victory began with bagging an above-average stack in his Day 1 flight. Of the 753 returning Day 2 players, Saunders was 215th in chips. By the second break of Day 2 with about 171 players remaining, Saunders was the chip leader and it was smooth sailing from there. He finished the day sitting comfortably 9th of the remaining 34 players who advanced to Day 3.

He steadily chipped up throughout Monday’s action and was second in chips when the final table was reached. With eight players remaining, Saunders eliminated Nicholas Velentzas in eighth place and took the chip lead in the process.

A deal was eventually reached between the final six players and the victory was officially Saunders’, continuing a nice streak that includes winning a guitar-pick trophy at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa in September.

*denotes six-way deal