Richard Whitebrook Snaps Cold Streak With Victory in $150 No-Limit Hold’em

2018 Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event 15
$150 No-Limit Hold’em      
Entries: 1,297
Prize Pool: $155,640 
November 28, 2018

Richard Whitebrook wins the $150 no-limit hold’em

Richard Whitebrook put the finishing touches on the 2018 Seminole Hard Rock Rock N’ Roll Poker Open with a victory in the $150 no-limit hold’em.

The attorney born and raised in Miami Beach took credit for the victory after the final eight players agreed to a deal based around ICM numbers.

The victory puts a wrap on the series and turns around Whitebrook’s latest downswing.

“It feels great. I’ve had a terrible year,” said Whitebrook. “I haven’t had a good cash since February. I’ve had a terrible series and this was my last shot at some redemption, so this is nice.”

With a couple tables remaining, Whitebrook was one of the shorter stacks. A serious rush of cards came his way and in the blink of an eye, he was leading the pack.

The big blow that put him in the lead for good came when Cory Blum was eliminated in 12th place. There was a three-way all in between Blum, David Poces and Whitebrook.

Poces showed pocket jacks, Blum tabled pocket queens and Whitebrook had ace-king. An ace came on the flop and a king on the river to give Whitebrook the lead for good. He also eliminated Ory Hen at the final table to put even more distance between himself and the rest of the field.

“That was a really big hand,” said Whitebrook about the three-way flip. “I had a hand right before that when I was short and I didn’t call a sship with four,s, where I really almost should’ve and I would’ve had quads. The next hand I had kings, doubled, and then took off after that. I got a chance at redemption.”

As a lawyer, his day job already gave Whitebrook plenty of experience in negotiations. But when it came down to the chop, there wasn’t to negotiate. Whitebrook wasn’t going to budge much from his ICM number.

With second place money locked up, Whitebrook decided to take the money and head home early.

“I mean, the truth is that I would’ve been happy to play it out,” said Whitebrook. “I’ve won tournaments before and if I’m getting second-place money eight-handed, it’s worth it for me. Plus, I like getting the trophy as well.”

The 1,297-entry field paid out the top 81 spots. Here are the final table results:

1st: Richard Whitebrook – $22,000*
2nd: Michael Pawelek – $17,572*
3rd: Zachary Mullennix – $13,958*
4th: David Poces – $13,875*
5th: Irwin Block – $11,003*
6th: Ephraim Uzan – $9,626*
7th: James Hamburger – $9,022*
8th: Roy Paulena – $8,323*
9th: Ory Hen – $2,117

*Indicates adjusted payouts to reflect a chop