2023 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 23
$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries:  104
Prize Pool:  $16,640
April 20, 2023

1st: $4,965 + Showdown trophy
2nd: $3,120
3rd: $1,915
4th: $1,250
5th: $975
6th: $780
7th:  $660
8th: $575
9th-10th: $510
11th-13th: $460

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  50 of 497

Flight A:  497 Entries; 50 Advanced
Flight B:  Underway (Reg. Open Until 10:30 p.m.)
Flight C:  Friday at 10 a.m.
Flight D:  Friday at 6 p.m.
Flight E:  Saturday at 10 a.m.
Flight F:  Saturday at 6 p.m.
Day 2:  Sunday at 1 p.m.
Day 3:  Monday at 1 p.m.

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  50 of 497

Flight A came to an end during Level 18, with 8:00 left and blinds at 4,000-8,000 with an 8,000 ante, and the big stack belongs to Craig Pollak, who bagged up 593,000 (74 big blinds).

There were 50 survivors from this flight, and the full list of official chip counts will be released later tonight. In the meantime, here’s a look at the players with at least 400K in chips:

1.  Craig Pollak  –  593,000  (74 bb)
2.  Joseph DiPascale  –  457,000  (57 bb)
T-3.  Henry Billete  –  455,000  (57 bb)
T-3.  Ephy Uzan  –  455,000  (57 bb)
5.  Richard Yau  –  441,000  (55 bb)

Flight B is already underway, with registration open until 10:30 pm. There will be two starting flights a day for the next two days, with morning flights at 10:00 am (registration open until 2:30 pm), and evening flights at 6:00 pm (registration open until 10:30 pm).

Day 2 begins Sunday at 1:00 pm, and everyone who bags chips for Day 2 will be in the money.

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  50 of 497

On Hand #12 of the money bubble, Vaughn Steeves raised to 50,000 from middle position (leaving 8,000 behind). The next player to act reraised all in for 141,000, Craig Pollak four-bet all in for about 390,000 from the button, and action folded back to Steeves.

Pollak showed , but then realized that Steeves wasn’t all in. After about 20 seconds, Steeves open folded .

The all-in players showed and failed to catch up to Pollak’s aces as the board ran out , giving Pollak the pot and the Flight A chip lead. However, he will begin Day 2 with a one-orbit penalty.

Craig Pollak   –  593,000  (74 bb)
Vaughn Steeves  –  8,000  (1 bb)

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  51 of 497

On Hand #7 of the money bubble, Sean Larson raised all in for 36,000 from middle position and Harold Evans called in the big blind with , leading Larson’s .

The board ran out , giving Larson sixes and deuces to double through Evans.

Sean Larson  –  84,000  (11 bb)
Harold Evans  –  160,000  (20 bb)

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  51 of 497

On Hand #5 on the money bubble, Patrick Pelisier raised all in for 94,000 from the button and Jake Schwartz called in the big blind.

Pelisier: 
Schwartz: 

The flop came , giving Schwartz a pair of aces to take the lead.

The turn was the , giving Pelisier a set of kings to pull ahead.

The river was the , securing the double for Pelisier.

Patrick Pelisier  –  200,000  (25 bb)
Jake Schwartz  –  190,000  (24 bb)

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  51 of 497

On Hand #2 on the money bubble, Vincenzo Lombardi was all in for 60,000 on a flop of with in early position against Sebastian Espinoza in middle position with .

The turn and river completed the board, giving Lombardi a wheel to double through Espinoza.

Vincenzo Lombardi  –  180,000  (23 bb)
Sebastian Espinoza  –  260,000  (33 bb)

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 18:  4,000/8,000 with an 8,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  51 of 497

The players have returned from break to begin Level 18, with increased blinds of 4,000-8,000 and an 8,000 ante. The field is still on the Money Bubble with 51 players left, as no more than 50 can advance from this flight.

A scan of the field during the break turned up six players with at least 350K in chips, creating an unofficial leaderboard:

1.  Henry Billete  –  509,000  (64 bb)
2.  Daniyal Gheba  –  466,000  (58 bb)
3.  Craig Pollak  –  443,000  (55 bb)
4.  Richard Yau  –  421,000  (53 bb)
5.  Ephy Uzan  –  383,000  (48 bb)
6.  Walter Bravo  –  358,000  (45 bb)

With 51 players remaining from a flight of 497, the average chip stack is around 195,000 (24 big blinds). Action will continue until the field is down to 50 players, and everyone who bags chips for Day 2 will finish in the money.

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 17:  3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  51 of 497

The field is down to 51 players, so hand-for-hand play is about to begin on the Money Bubble. No more than 50 players can advance to Day 2, and everyone who bags chips for Day 2 will finish in the money.

With 51 players remaining from a flight of 497, the average chip stack is around 195,000 (33 big blinds).

$600 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 17:  3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Flight A Players Remaining:  54 of 497

Henry Billete raised from the button, Ephy Uzan three-bet to 46,000, and Billete called.

The flop was , Uzan shoved for effectively 138,000, and Billete called all in with for a set of eights, leading Uzan’s .

The turn and river completed the board, safe for Bilete to double up.

Henry Billete  –  380,000  (63 bb)
Ephy Uzan  –  310,000  (52 bb)