2021 RRPO Live Updates

2021 RRPO in Review

The 2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open was the last major series of the year and it continued the trend we started with our return in January. It produced huge crowds with record-setting numbers and prizes. The 31-event schedule had more than $5,000,000 in guaranteed money then paid out over $13,000,000 over the 15-day series.

The headliner was the WPT RRPO Championship with a $3,500 buy-in and $2,000,000 guarantee. It drew 1,566 entries to create our biggest RRPO Championship in our history and the prize pool topped $5,000,000.

The final table was live-streamed with Gediminas Uselis putting his name on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup and taking home $778,490.

2021 WPT RRPO Championship updates

Gediminas Uselis
Gediminas Uselis

But before that all began, we opened the series with a bang. Event 1 had a $400 buy-in with a $1,000,000 that packed the Grand Ballroom on the opening weekend.

The tournament drew 6,196 entries to set a record for the biggest field in Florida poker history (topping the 5,018 we drew for 2016 RRPO Event 1). Mike Laufer took the top prize along with $160,734 after a six-way deal at the final table.

Other notables winners include two-time WSOP bracelet winner Loni Hui topping the $600 Deep Stack tournament, Gabriel Ramos winning his sixth SHRP Hollywood title, and Nancy Birnbaum adding a trophy to her collection.

Thank you to all of our players, regular and new friends, for supporting the series and making a lot of great memories. We look forward to seeing everyone back for the 2022 Lucky Hearts Poker Open in January.

2022 Lucky Hearts Poker Open schedule

You can find links to all events, updates, and result on the links below.

Michael Laufer
Loni Hui
Loni Hui
Gabriel Ramos
Nancy Birnbaum and Buddy
Nancy Birnbaum and Buddy

WPT RRPO Championship: Gediminas Uselis – $778,490
Event 1 ($400 Multi-Flight): Mike Laufer – $160,734
Event 2 ($400 O8): Jay Kerbel – $11,315
Event 3 ($200 Dbl Green Chip): Gabriel Ramos – $3,000
Event 4 ($400 H.O.R.S.E.): Sal Pipitone – $9,068
Event 5 ($600 Dbl Black Chip): Dean Salisbury – $8,000
Event 6 ($400 PLO8): John Binns – $9,000
Event 7 ($400 OE): Barak Zaken – $9,590
Event 8 ($400 NLH): Robert Brandl – $23,178
Event 9 ($1,100 NLH): Jesse Lott – $46,020
Event 10 ($600 NLH): Loni Hui – $85,355
Event 11 ($400 Six-Max PLO): Long Nguyen – $12,040
Event 12 ($150 NLH): Scott Murawa – $8,165
Event 13 ($400 Black Chip): Nancy Birnbaum – $7,460
Event 14 ($400 Six-Max NLH): Philip Whitaker – $6,095
Event 15 ($200 Dbl Green Chip): Andrey Kolchkov – $3,104
Event 16 ($150 NLH): Rosario Simone – $3,221
Event 18 ($150 NLH): Dwayne Nyholt – $5,622
Event 19 ($600 Mixed PLO): Joseph Patalano – $11,443
Event 20 ($600 Dbl Black Chip): Brandon Wilson – $11,415
Event 21 ($400 Black Chip): Maikel Cruz – $14,718
Event 22 ($1,700 Purple Chip): Luke Brereton – $62,220
Event 23 ($600 Turbo): Mike Graffeo – $8,855
Event 24 ($1,100 NLH): Vinny Giuliano – $$68,840
Event 25 ($150 NLH): Alik Sitnyakovsky – $27,770
Event 26 ($25K High Roller): Ali Imsirovic – $695,355
Event 27 ($400 Black Chip): Micha Hoedemaker – $7,685
Event 28 ($2,200 PLO): Fred Goldberg – $71,075
Event 29 ($400 Seniors): Zoltan Czinkota – $11,045
Event 30 ($5,000 NLH): Duff Charette – $206,345
Event 31 ($1,100 Turbo): Lewe Thiesen – $35,130

Alik Sitnyakovsky Wins Event 25 of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Outright for $27,770

2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 25
$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,258
Prize Pool:  $150,960
November 29 – December 1, 2021

2021 RRPO Event 25 Champion Alik Sitnyakovsky

Event 25 of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open was the $150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry), typically the tournament that closes each of the SHRP major series. The mutli-flight event drew 1,258 entries, generating a prize pool of $150,960, easily surpassing the $100,000 guarantee.

There were 77 players who made it into the money and returned on Day 2 to battle for the $27,770 first-place prize and outlasting them all was Alik Sitnyakovsky for his first SHRP trophy.

“This win means so much,” said an emotional Sitnyakovsky afterward. “I tried to have a positive mindset while playing, and I’m just so thankful to G-d.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1AlikSitnyakovsky$27,770
2EricSiegel$18,960
3DianeLinke$12,835
4RomanKornev$9,205
5CharlesDefelice$7,065
6BarringtonBowen$5,785
7AlbertoNiebla$4,760
8JohnEsser$3,795
9RebeccaDellagloria$2,845
10ThomasGari$2,845
11StevenCohen$2,375
12GregoryRoberts$2,375
13DavidInselberg$1,895
14PaulValenzuela$1,895
15StevenBennett$1,895
16WilliamHung$1,580
17MohammedKabir$1,580
18DeonarineItwaru$1,580
19JorgeLeidi$1,335
20ChristianAguilera$1,335
21ScottBlackman$1,335
22EricDiaz$1,110
23JuanEndara$1,110
24NathanSoufeh$1,110
25ShaneCloutier$945
26JudithBielan$945
27GeorgeWoodward$945
28JeffKessler$780
29AnthonyLeto$780
30AlexanderBorukhovich$780
31JasonAndrews$780
32JasonCampbell$780
33SheilaFisher$780
34SebastianCrema$780
35JohnNguyen$780
36JustinLerner$780
37CarlCajuste$675
38StevenIdels$675
39JosephMetcalfe$675
40AlexanderGreen$675
41BrenoDos Santos Alencas$675
42PedroCairat$675
43EricFeldman$675
44SamuelAbay$675
45JeanDeromedi Delplanque$675
46JoseFernandez$605
47RichardCoppola$605
48AnilButisingh$605
49CarlosNieto$605
50DavidCujas$605
51AntonioColon$605
52EricPereira Lima$605
53NirSharon$605
54EphraimUzan$605
55PerryShiao$530
56JairoVelasquez$530
57HarrisSoetikino$530
58JasonKwartler$530
59PierreEmmanuel$530
60SyedShah$530
61JamesSutherland$530
62ElliottMerlin$530
63VincentTaliercio$530
64KostasKalathakis$460
65StephenKowlessar$460
66YobanisLeyva Mendoza$460
67AaronKlausman$460
68AlfredoGuevara$460
69RichardGanesh$460
70MichaelDermer$460
71ZakiLichaa$460
72SheaDoonan$460
73EricPiderit$460
74DevinBatista$460
75DucarmelBeaubien$460
76ErniePelaez$460
77ReneNoriega$460

Event 25: Alik Sitnyakovsky Wins! ($27,770); Eric Siegel Eliminated in 2nd Place ($18,960)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 1,258

2021 RRPO Event 25 Champion Alik Sitnyakovsky

Eric Siegel raised all in for 1,900,000 from the button and Alik Sitnyakovsky called from the big blind.

Sigel: Qd7d
Sitnyakovsky: Ac10c

The board ran out 2c9h8s2sAs, no help to Siegel and Sitnyakovsky aces and deuces to take down Event 25 outright for $27,770.

Eric Siegel finished runner-up for $18,960.

Eric Siegel

Event 25: Eric Siegel Double Thru Alik Sitnyakovsky

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,258

Eric Siegel limped on the button and Alik Sitnyakorsky checked his option.

The flop was 9sKh8h and Siegel shoved for 1,100,000 out of turn. Sitnyakovsky checked, Siegel’s shove stood and Sitnyakovsky tanked for about 30 seconds.

“I think you have a flush draw,” said Sitnyakovsky before he called.

Siegel showed Kc5h for a pair of kings, leading Sitnyakovsky’s 9d5c for a pair of nines.

The 7d turn and 7s river completed the board, safe for Siegel to double up.

Eric Siegel  –  2,575,000  (21 bb)
Alik Sitnyakovsky  –  16,300,000  (130 bb)

Event 25: Diane Linke – 3rd Place ($12,835)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,258

Diane Linke

Diane Linke raised to 625,000 from the small blind and Alik Sitnyakovsky called from the big blind.

The flop was Qd3sJd, Linke shoved for about 3,500,000 and Sitnyakovsky called with KdQh for a pair of queens, leading Linke’s KsJs for a pair of jacks.

The 9h turn and 7d river completed the board, no help to Linke, ending her tournament in third place.

Alik Sitnyakovsky  –  17,575,000  (141 bb)
Eric Siegel  –  1,300,000  (10 bb)
Diane Linke  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place ($12,835)

Event 25: Roman Kornev – 4th Place ($9,205)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,258

Roman Kornev

Roman Kornev raised from the button and Alik Sitnyakovsky called from the big blind.

The flop was 10s9s2s and Sitnyakovsky checked to Kornev who continued for 600,000. Sitnyakovsky check-raised all in with his chip-leading stack and Kornev called all in instantly for about 2,300,000.

Kornev: 10h8h
Sitnyakovsky: Ad10d

The 6c turn and 5s river completed the board, safe for Sitnyakovsky to eliminate Kornev in fourth place.

Alik Sitnyakovsky  –  10,700,000 (86 bb)
Roman Kornev  –  Eliminated in 4th Place ($9,205)

1st: $27,770
2nd: $18,960
3rd: $12,835

4th:  Roman Kornev  –  $9,205
5th:  Chalres Defelice  –  $7,065
6th:  Barrington Bowen  –  $5,785
7th:  Alberto Niebla  –  $4,760
8th:  John Esser  –  $3,795
9th:  Rebecca Dellagloria  –  $2,845

Event 25: Charles Defelice – 5th Place ($7,065)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 1,258

Alik Sitnyakovsky raised from the cutoff, Charles Defelice three-bet all in for about 1,500,000 from the small blind and Sitnyakovsky called with JhJd, leading Defelice’s As10s.

The board ran out clean for Sitnyakovsky, ending Defelice’s tournament in fifth place.

Alik Sitnyakovsky  –  7,900,000  (79 bb)
Charles Defelice  –  Eliminated in 5th Place ($7,065)

1st: $27,770
2nd: $18,960
3rd: $12,835
4th: $9,205

5th:  Chalres Defelice  –  $7,065
6th:  Barrington Bowen  –  $5,785
7th:  Alberto Niebla  –  $4,760
8th:  John Esser  –  $3,795
9th:  Rebecca Dellagloria  –  $2,845

 

Event 25: Barrington Bowen – 6th Place ($5,785)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,258

Barrington Bowen

Diane Linke raised to 250,000 from the hijack, Barrington Bowen reraised all in for about 2,000,000 from the button and Linke called.

Linke:  10h10s
Bowen:  8h8d

The board ran out 9h4c9d10d5c, giving Linke tens full of nines to eliminate Bowen in sixth place.

Diane Linke  –  5,000,000  (50 bb)
Barrington Bowen  –  Eliminated in 6th Place ($5,785)

Event 25: Alberto Niebla – 7th Place ($4,760)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,258

Alberto Niebla raised all in for about 900,000 from middle position and Alik Sitnyakovsky isolated the pot with a reshove from the cutoff.

Niebla:  7h7c
Sitnyakovsky:  AhKs

The board came Kh5dKd8h6c, giving Sitnyakovsky trip kings to eliminate Niebla in seventh place.

Alik Sitnyakovsky  –  5,400,000  (54 bb)
Alberto Niebla  –  Eliminated in 7th Place ($4,760)

Event 25: John Esser – 8th Place ($3,795)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,258

John Esser raised all in for 1,450,000 from the button and Charles Defelice called all in from the small blind for 1,225,000.

Esser: 10s10c
Defelice: KhJs

The board ran out As3d7dKc4d, giving Defelice a pair of kings on the turn to double through Esser.

Down to 225,000, Esser was eliminated shortly thereafter in eighth place.

Charles Defelice  –  2,600,000  (35 bb)
John Esser  –  Eliminated in 8th Place ($3,795)