2023 Showdown Live Updates

Players Party Tonight From 10:00 pm Until 1:00 am

Three colorful drinks in martini glasses on a tray with a stack of coasters that say "L Bar".

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is hosting a Players Party tonight from 10 pm until 1 am at L Bar, which is directly across from the check-in desk in the lobby.

For access, players just need to bring their tournament receipt from the $5,300 Championship.

Players will get free drinks, and there are also free hors d’oeuvres from the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Kuro.

Even if you play all day and are lucky enough to bag chips at 11:15 pm, you’ll still have plenty of time to make it to the party before it ends at 1:00 am.

Come join the fun!

Food at SHRPO Players Party

2023 Showdown in Review

Championship Day 1A Field

The 2023 Poker Showdown series packed the Grand Ballroom again and set a few records along the way. A fantastic turnout with 61 trophy events over 20 days, notable victories, and big numbers.

Events: 61
Entries: 22,035
Guarantees: $7,810,000
Prize Pools: $23,399,555

We had more than 22,000 entries during the series and awarded $23,399,555 in the primary events alone. We set a record that stood for an entire year; the third time in our history with more than 20K entries in a single series and 22,035 is now at the top.

2023 Showdown – 22,035 entries
2022 Showdown – 20,359 entries
2022 SHRPO – 20,045 entries
2021 SHRPO – 19,881 entries
2013 SHRPO – 18,018 entries

The prize money was also tops in our history for a series, cruising past the previous record set during the 2021 Poker Showdown.

2023 Showdown – $23,399,555
2021 Showdown – $22,267,375
2021 SHRPO – $21,041,260
2022 Showdown – $20,822,340
2022 SHRPO – $19,879,286

WPT Poker Showdown Championship final table

The WPT Poker Showdown Championship headlined the series, which drew 2,290 entries, the second-biggest $3,500 WPT field in their history, second to the same tournament in 2021.

Entries: 2,290
Guarantee: $3,000,000
Prize Pool: $7,328,000

They created a prize pool worth $7,328,000 and smashed the $3,000,000 before dinner break of the first flight. Six players battled for the title in Las Vegas on May 25, with Bin Weng taking the top spot for $1,128,250.

Championship updates and results

(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Other notable victories include Michael Newman winning his ninth major title to tie Raminder Singh for most all-time and Singh turned around a week later to retake the lead with his tenth trophy.

Event 9 Champion Michael Newman
Event 9 Champion Michael Newman
Event 38 Champion Raminder Singh

Two players booked two wins during the series; Leonardo Emperador won $400 Turbo Event 34 and $200 Big Stack Event 5), and Jonathan Breneman finished on top of $400 Limit Omaha 8 Event 24 and $1,100 Eight-Game Mix Event 31.

We had three High Rollers and three great champs; David Peters ($50,000 Super High Roller), Ren Lin ($25,500 High Roller PLO), and Thomas Boivin ($25,500 High Roller NLH) took home a lot of money and Lin is also notable because he won the PLO High Roller and finished the NLH High Roller in third place.

It was a great series from start to finish and we can’t thank our players enough for the support. We appreciate you and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

2023 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Schedule!

Event 1 ($400 NLH): Carlos Loving – $153,690
Event 2 ($600 Seniors): Emerson Ward – $19,000
Event 3 ($600 Big O): Long Nguyen – $9,128
Event 4 ($600 O8): Donald Maloney – $8,505
Event 5 ($300 Bounty): Jatinder Singh – $6,300
Event 6 ($1,100 5-Card PLO): Pawel Andrzejewski – $28,525
Event 7 ($400 Bounty): Herbert Nairn – $18,600
Event 8 ($1,100 NLH): Christopher Backhouse – $47,830
Event 9 ($400 PLO): Michael Newman – $25,178
Event 10 ($200 Bounty): Alan Leon – $3,390
Event 11 ($400 Turbo): Carlos Bermudez – $8,990
Event 12 ($200 Big Stack): Rick Kalgstein – $26,117
Event 13 ($400 HORSE): Kenneth Po – $12,285
Event 14 ($400 Mixed PLO): Tal Avivi – $13,345
Event 15 ($600 Six-Max): Dean Hutchinson – $25,100
Event 16 ($400 Seniors): Paul Balzano – $9,826
Event 17 ($400 Triple Stud): Zack Milchman – $7,968
Event 18 ($600 NLH): Alvin Davis – $22,920
Event 19 ($1,100 PLO8): Eugene Kotlyarevskiy – $25,580
Event 20 ($300 Bounty): Brandon Choran – $9,980
Event 21 ($600 NLH): Vladyslav Shovkovyi – $299,715
Event 22 ($400 2-7TD): Danny Chang – $9,615
Event 23 ($200 NLH): William White – $3,742
Event 24 ($400 O8): Jonathan Breneman – $12,000
Event 25 ($400 Big O): Scotter Clark – $13,015
Event 26 ($400 NLH): Joseph Altomonte – $27,675
Event 27 ($1,700 Bounty): Rodney Turvin – $50,455
Event 28 ($600 Turbo PLO): Marshall Morris – $14,296
Event 29 ($400 Seniors Bounty): Amir Baron – $8,716
Event 30 ($600 Bounty): Chaim Appel – $9,166
Event 31 ($1,100 8-Game): Jonathan Breneman – $26,620
Event 32 ($600 PLO): Ari Engel – $20,505
Event 33 ($200 NLH): Jonathan Marcu – $4,147
Event 34 ($400 Turbo): Leonardo Emperador – $8,781
Event 35 ($600 Six-Max): Tyler Bentz – $32,510
Event 36 ($1,100 O8): Jake Ferro – $24,100
Event 37 ($10K NLH): Shannon Shorr – $260,600
Event 38 ($400 NLH): Raminder Singh – $12,320
Event 39 ($1,100 Turbo): Cherish Andrews – $31,105
Event 40 ($1,100 NLH): Carlos Chadha – $71,150
Event 41 ($1,100 HORSE): Andres Korn – $22,740
Event 42 ($50K Super High Roller): David Peters – $328,527
Event 43 ($200 Bounty): Brandon Duvdivani – $6,885
Event 44 ($2,200 NLH): Matthew Zarcadoolas – $104,005
Event 45 ($25K PLO High Roller): Ren Lin $266,700
Event 46 ($300 Charity): Eric Diaz – $5,000
Event 48 ($250 Ladies): David Hughes – $5,555
Event 49 ($600 Turbo): Rodney Sampson – $11,020
Event 50 ($400 NLH): Jaymie Virtusio – $28,252
Event 51 ($10K NLH): Brian Luo – $291,338
Event 52 ($1,100 Mixed PLO): Filippos Stavrakis – $20,020
Event 53 ($1,100 Turbo): Milo Jiang – $27,015
Event 54 ($600 NLH): Anthony Moreda – $32,664
Event 55 ($25K High Roller): Thomas Boivin – $711,300
Event 56 ($200 NLH): Leonardo Emperador – $4,798
Event 57 ($1,100 Bounty): Edgar Lemus-Argueta – $24,900
Event 58 ($400 NLH): Ryan Estrada – $6,080
Event 59 ($600 PLO): Eric Kolodny – $15,055
Event 60 ($5K NLH): Joey Lebrun – $223,390 
Event 61 ($300 Bounty): Raul Jimenez Diaz – $7,180

Bin Weng Wins 2023 WPT Poker Showdown Championship for $1,128,250

2023 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  2,290
Prize Pool:  $7,328,000
April 28-May 25, 2023

(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

The 2023 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship drew 2,290 entries, created an exciting atmosphere, and played the finale in Las Vegas. Bin Weng went to the final table with the chip lead, ending with his first WPT title and $1,128,250.

“(Winning a WPT title) was one of my main goals, when I started to play poker (full time) back in 2019,” Weng said. “It means a lot to me, definitely.”

The tournament featured a $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool with two starting flights. Our players turned out and created the second-biggest $3,500 WPT Championship field in main tour history, second only to the same tournament in 2021. They created a prize pool worth $7,328,000 and the last 287 spots were paid.

The Championship played down in our Grand Ballroom until only six players remained. Those six flew to Las Vegas, where they competed on the big stage in front of the WPT cameras.

Weng led most of the way at the final table, only dropping into second once heads up with Sri Sangannagari, but he regained the lead along with the title. The $1,128,250 payday is the biggest cash of his career and second million-dollar score this year.

“This is the biggest dream to put my name on the Mike Sexton Cup. For me, it’s already a win. I’m very happy.” Weng told WPT reporters. “I just called my wife and she was very proud of me…she was speechless. I don’t know how to describe all my feelings right now.”

Congrats to Bin on the win and thank you to everyone who made the tournament a success!

Final table results:

1st: Bin Weng – $1,128,250 (includes seat in WPT World Championship)
2nd: Sri Sangannagari – $745,000
3rd: Mitch Garshofsky – $550,000
4th: David Mzareulov – $413,000
5th: Jack Thu – $312,000
6th: Rafael Farah – $238,000

(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)
(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Championship: Bin Weng Wins 2023 WPT Poker Showdown Championship; Sri Sangannagari Runner-Up

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 37:  500,000/1,000,000 with a 1,000,000 ante

Sri Sangannagari (left) and Bin Weng (right) (Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

After swapping the lead, Sri Sangannagari was down to 6,200,000 and moved all in from his button. Bin Weng called with a chance to lock up the title.

Weng: Ks9d
Sangannagari: Js3h

Sangannagari was drawing live for a saving double but the board ran out As9s5s8hAc and Weng won the hand, and the title, with two pair aces and nines.

Sangannagari earned $745,000 from his runner-up finished and Weng is the next WPT Poker Showdown Champion for $1,128,280.

1st: Bin Weng – $1,128,250 (includes seat in WPT World Championship)
2nd: Sri Sangannagari – $745,000

Championship: Heads-Up Counts

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 2,290

(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Heads-up play is underway with Bin Weng holding a big lead over Sri Sangannagari.

Seat 4.  Sri Sangannagari  –  21,400,000  (43 bb)
Seat 5.  Bin Weng  –  93,175,000  (186 bb)

1st:  $1,128,250
2nd:  $745,000

WPT Live Stream

Championship: Mitch Garshofsky – 3rd Place ($550,000)

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 2,290

Mitch Garshofsky (Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Mitch Garshofsky open-shoved from the button for 6,375,000 and Bin Weng called from the big blind.

Weng: AcQc
Garshofsky: 6d5d

Garshofsky was behind but was drawing to two live, suited cards. That changed when Weng paired his ace on the AhJs8h flop. Garshofsky paired his five on the 5s turn but his Championship came to an end after the Ts river.

Bin Weng  –  93,175,000  (186 bb)
Mitch Garshofsky  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($550,000)

Championship: David Mzareulov – 4th Place ($413,000)

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 2,290

David Mzareulov (Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

David Mzareulov open-shipped for 5,275,000 from under the gun, Bin Weng raised to 17,250,000 and Mitch Garshofsky folded his big.

Weng; 7d7c
David Mzareulov: Kh8h

Mzareulov needed help to stay at the final table but Weng slammed the door on the 7s6h6c flop. His boat was good and Mzareulov was eliminated after the Jh turn and Ts river.

Bin Weng  –  79,750,000  (160 bb)
David Mzareulov  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($413,000)

Championship: Jack Thu – 5th Place ($312,000)

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  250,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 2,290

Jack Thu (Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Bin Weng opened to 2,025,000 from the small blind and Jack Thu thought it through in the big blind. He used one of his time chips, moved all in for 13,450,000 and Weng called.

Weng: AhQc
Thu: Ac4h

Thu had bad kicker issues with his smaller ace and it got a lot worse when Weng paired his queen on the QdTh7d flop. Trip queens on the Qh turn and Thu, our only South Florida representative, was eliminated in fifth place.

Bin Weng  –  71,950,000
Jack Thu  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($312,000)

WPT Live Stream

Championship: Rafael Farah – 6th Place ($238,000)

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 2,290

Rafael Farah (Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

Bin Weng opened to 625,000 from under the gun, Rafael Farah moved all in for 3,675,000 from the small blind, and Weng called.

Farah: JdJc
Weng: 3h3d

Farah was in great shape for a big double but Weng made a set of threes on the Kc5c3s flop. The board finished 2s turn and Ah river to send Farah off the final table.

Bin Weng  –  47,050,000
Rafael Farah – Eliminated in 6th Place ($238,000)

WPT Live Stream

WPT Poker Showdown Championship Final Table Ready to Go

$3,500 WPT Poker Showdown Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 2,290

(Photo: WPT/Drew Amato)

The 2023 WPT Poker Showdown Championship final table is about to get underway in Las Vegas. You can watch all the action on the live stream with hole cards on a 30-minute delay.

Watch below or hit the WPT link.

Seat 1: Mitch Garshofsky – 18,550,000 (62 bb)
Seat 2: David Mzareulov – 13,350,000 (45 bb)
Seat 3: Rafael Farah Jarufe – 4,275,000 (14 bb)
Seat 4: Sridhar Sangannagari – 19,100,000 (64 bb)
Seat 5: Bin Weng – 46,050,000 (154 bb)
Seat 6: Naing Thu – 13,250,000 (44 bb)

1st: $1,128,250 (includes seat in WPT World Championship)
2nd: $745,000
3rd: $550,000
4th: $413,000
5th: $312,000
6th: $238,000