2017 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, FL 
Event 11
$300 Omaha Hi-Lo
Entries: 73 
Prizepool: $18,615
January 23, 2017 

Ronnie Morone earned his first career Hard Rock trophy on Monday night in the $300 Omaha Hi-Lo event. Morone topped a field of 73 players to win $5,584, but the win was sweeter for him because of who he had to beat to win.

Phillip Hui was the man that stood between Morone and a title. Hui won the $3,000 Omaha Hi-Lo event at the 2014 World Series of Poker and is a fixture in the high-stakes mixed events. Morone and Hui started off the heads-up battle dead-even in chips, but it was Morone who ended up victorious.

“It feels real good,” said Morone of the win. “Especially going against Phil heads-up. It’s pretty cool to beat him because he is an Omaha eight [or][better] wizard, you know?”

Morone doesn’t have the same type of resume that a seasoned professional like Hui has, but Morone has cashes dating all the way back to 2007 in mixed games on both coasts.

“I don’t get to play as much as Phil does, but I used to deal, so I know Phil from around the way and on the Circuit,” said Morone about his relationship with Hui. “It’s pretty special to beat him though because he just won an O8 ring, like what? Two years ago?”

Hui was the proverbial end boss that Morone had to get through, but the final table had plenty of other poker talent that didn’t make it easy on Morone. David Prociak was looking for his second title of the series, Jordan Chizick has won this event in an earlier series, and Robert Campbell made his second straight Omaha Hi-Lo final table after making this final table at the Rock n’ Roll Poker Open last November.

Morone wasn’t intimidated by the talent surrounding him and played solid poker en route to the victory. When asked about his play, he was humble in his response.

“I’m confident in my play,” said Morone. “But it was all in the cards for me. I got the hands and they were holding up, especially heads-up.”

Morone used to travel the tournament Circuit dealing, but has moved down to the South Florida area and continued his dealing career in the Sunshine State.

He’s continued dealing, but Monday’s performance shows he has plenty of skills on the other side of the table as well.

Here is a look at the results:

1st: Ronnie Morone – $5,584
2nd: Phillip Hui – $3,909
3rd: Leonard Germain – $2,513
4th: Jordan Chizick – $1,862
5th: David Prociak – $1,396
6th: Hoyt Verner – $1,117
7th: Robert Campbell – $931
8th: Lazaro Rodriguez – $745
9th: Al Green – $558