2015 SHRPO Live Updates

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

SHRPO Championship Recap

by

2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
$5,000,000 Guarantee

August 15-18th, 2015

Total Entries:  907
Total Prize Pool:  $5,000,000

Omar Zazay, 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Champion
Omar Zazay, 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Champion

Recap:

The 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship featured a new format for the biggest event on the schedule. It featured a $5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool but the freeze-out format limited all players to a single entry into the tournament.  The marquee event drew 907 players to leave the prize pool at an even $5,000,000.

The first day of the tournament drew players from all walks of life including past champions, poker professionals, actors, and athletes. Blair Hinkle won this tournament in 2013 and he returned for a chance to earn a second victory. We also had defending champion Dan Colman enter the Championship looking to repeat his run from last year.

The big field included former WSOP Main Event champs Joe Cada and Jonathan Duhamel, 8-time WSOP bracelet winner Erik Seidel, along with local poker legends Jason Mercier and Michael Mizrachi.

Former NBA star Earl Barron and NFL Pro Bowler Richard Seymour also played in the tournament though neither could match their athletic success. The acting world was represented by Mekhi Pfifer, Omar Benson Miller, Jennifer Tilly, and Sasha Barrese.

The first day saw 303 of the starting 907 players advance to Day 2 where they quickly hit the money bubble. The last 150 players earned a piece of the $5,000,000 prize pool with the smallest payout being $7,500 and the winner picking up $1,000,000.

Day 3 had 43 players coming back for a long day of action. The schedule had them continue until the last nine players remained for final table. Among those starting Day 3 but falling short of the final table were former November Niner Joseph Cheong, current November Niner Neil Blumenfield, and last woman standing Karen Onheiser. The final table nine moved to the Hard Rock Live Arean on Day 4 play in front of the  Poker Night in America cameras

Larry Moccia of Pembroke Pines, FL was an interesting story as the tournament moved further along. The local Seminole Hard Rock Poker regular was playing a cash game when he decided to play a $140 Step Satellite. Mocchia won a ticket in that tournament and turned into a $5,250 into the Championship.

Dan Colman continued to impress throughout Day 3 and he once again found himself returning to the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Championship final table. He was joined by Mocchia, WSOP bracelet winner Paul Volpe, and former leader Randy Pfeifer.

Volpe, Rick Alvarado, and Vladislav Mezheritsky quickly dropped at the final table before action slowed down. Mocchia’s feel good story ended in 4th place and our defending champion Colman was knocked out in 3rd by local poker dealer Brian Phillis.

The hand propelled Phillis to a big chip lead but he was unable to maintain. The two battled for more than 100 hands during the heads up battle before Zazay finally overcame Phillis. He picked up a cool $1,000,000 for the win while Phillis walked away with $575,000.

Zazay talked aobut his run through the tournament, facing off with one of the toughest poker players in the world in Dan Colman and the drawn out heads-up battle.  “It was a really long journey – a four-day tournament and I was just trying to take stay focused and take it one step at a time.  Getting down three-handed with Dan Colman was definitely a sticky situation.  I had him on my right so I had a little edge on him.  I was trying to do the best I could against him and not give him chips so he could use them against me.  I picked my spots well.  The heads-up was a lot going on.  I know I really wanted this title so I tried my best to win.  I think he had me at almost a 3 to 1 chip advantage.  I just took it one hand at a time and slowly edged my way to the win. ”

Omar was thrilled with the victory and his road to poker success.  “It’s an amazing feeling. This is very huge for me.  It been a lot of hard work.  I played a lot of poker and come up short lots of times and feel like I can do better so it’s good to accomplish a big title under my belt.”

Zazay was also very complimentary toward the Hard Rock and the Big Four set-up in Hard Rock Live.  “It was amazing.  It was a great set-up.  The Hard Rock did a great job setting up a big event like this.  It was a huge success.  All the players are happy and everyone that played got their money’s worth and I hope they do it again.  Congrats to the Hard Rock – they did an amazing job.”

Congratulations to our Main Event Champion – Omar Zazay!

Final Table Results:

1st: Omar Zazay (Richardson, TX) $1,000,000
2nd: Brian Phillis (Boynton Beach, FL) $575,000
3rd: Dan Colman (Holden, TX) $310,000
4th: Larry Moccia (Pembroke Pines, FL) $220,000
5th: Randy Pfeifer (Lancaster, NY) $180,000
6th: Joseph Couden (Blacklick, OH) $150,000
7th: Vladislav Mezheritsky (Aventura, FL) $125,000
8th: Paul Volpe (West Chester, PA) $100,000
9th: Rick Alvarado (Las Vegas, NV) $75,000

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship Hand #272: Omar Zazay Wins!

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Omar Zazay, 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Champion
Omar Zazay, 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Champion

Hand #272  –  Omar Zazay moves all in with Ac6d, and Brian Phillis calls all in for 2,325,000 with Ah5h.

The board comes AsJc6s7sKh, and Zazay wins the pot — and the SHRPO Championship — with two pair, aces and sixes.

Brian Phillis finishes as the runner-up, earning $575,000.

Omar Zazay wins the 2015 SHRPO Championship, earning $1,000,000, the coveted SHRPO Championship Trophy, and a custom-framed winner’s photo from IMPDI.

Congratulations to Omar Zazay!

1st:  Omar Zazay  –  $1,000,000
2nd:  Brian Phillis  –  $575,000
3rd:  Dan Colman  –  $310,000
4th:  Larry Moccia  –  $220,000
5th:  Randy Pfeifer  –  $180,000
6th:  Joseph Couden  –  $150,000
7th:  Vlad Mezheritsky  –  $125,000
8th:  Paul Volpe  –  $100,000
9th:  Rick Alvarado  –  $75,000

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #266-271

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #266  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk. Phillis shows AcKd as he collects the blinds and antes.

– – – – – –

Hand #267  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with Qc8d, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #268  –  Omar Zazay moves all in with unknown cards, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #269  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with As7s, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #270  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #271  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with 3d-X, and Omar Zazay folds.

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #256-265

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #256  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #257  –  Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.

Omar Zazay – 25,325,000
Brian Phillis – 1,675,000

– – – – – –

Hand #258  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #259  –  Brian Phillis raises with Jc2d, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #260  –  Omar Zazay moves all in with 9h7d, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #261  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with Jh10h, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #262  –  Omar Zazay moves all in with 7s5d, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #263  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with 10d4h, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #264  –  Omar Zazay moves all in with QhJc, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #265  –  Brian Phillis moves all in with 4c-X, and Omar Zazay folds.

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #248-255

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #248  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #249  – Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #250  –  Omar Zazay limps with 8h7s, and Brian Phillis checks his option.

The flop comes Kc8d5h, Phillis checks, Zazay bets 300,000, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #251  –  Brian Phillis raises, and Omar Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #252  –  Omar Zazay limps, and Brian Phillis checks his option.

Both players check to the turn on a board of KcQd2d4h, Phillis checks, Zazay bets, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #253  –  Brian Phillis raises to 600,000 with 7d4c, Omar Zazay reraises to 1,600,000 with QsJd, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #254  –  Omar Zazay raises to 600,000 with 9d-X, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #255  –  Brian Phillis raises to 600,000 with Ad2h, and Omar Zazay calls with 10s7h.

Both players check to the turn on a board of Jh10h2cJc, Zazay bets 700,000, and Phillis calls.

The river card is the Zazay bets 1,100,000, and Phillis calls. Zazay shows his 10s7h to win the pot with a pair of tens.

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #241-247

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #241  –  Brian Phillis limps with 4s3d, Omar Zazay raises to 800,000 with AcJh, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #242  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #243  –  Brian Phillis raises to 650,000 with 6s4s, and Omar Zazay calls with Ks2c.

The flop comes Qc10h9h, Zazay checks, Phillis bets 700,000, and Zazay folds. Phillis takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #244  –  Omar Zazay limps with 9c2c, and Brian Phillis checks his option with Jh3c.

The flop comes 8c6h2h, Phillis checks, Zazay bets 300,000, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #245  –  Brian Phillis limps with Qh2d, and Omar Zazay checks his option with Js9c.

Both players check to the river on a board of Kc10c4cJc7d, Zazay bets 500,000, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #246  –  Omar Zazay raises with 9s9c, and Brian Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #247  –  Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #234-240

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #234  –  Omar Zazay limps with Qc10d, and Brian Phillis checks his option with 8s6s.

The flop comes 10h4c2d, Phillis checks, Zazay bets 400,000, and Phillis check-raises to 1,100,000. Zazay folds, and Phillis takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #235  –  Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #236  –  Omar Zazay limps with Qh6d, and Brian Phillis checks his option with 8h5h.

Both players check to the turn on a board of Kc5c2cKs, Phillis bets 350,000, and Zazay folds. Phillis takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #237  –  Brian Phillis limps with Kd9s, and Omar Zazay checks his option with 6c3d

Both players check to the turn on a board of Qd8d8c[8], Zazay checks, Phillis bets 300,000, and Zazay folds. Phillis takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #238  –  Omar Zazay raises to 600,000 with As10s, and Brian Phillis calls with 10d7c.

The flop comes 4c3c2d, Phillis checks, Zazay bets 600,000, and Phillis folds. Zazay takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #239  –  Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.

– – – – – –

Hand #240  –  Omar Zazay folds, giving Brian Phillis a walk.

2015 SHRPO Live Updates

Championship: Hands #229-233

by

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 32: 150,000/300,000/50,000 Ante

Hand #229  –  Brian Phillis limps with 8s6c, Omar Zazay raises with 3d3c, and Phillis folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #230  –  Omar Zazay raises to 600,000 with 9s8s, Brian Phillis moves all in for 5,975,000 with AsQh, and Zazay folds.

– – – – – –

Hand #231  –  Brian Phillis raises with Jd10c, and Omar Zazay calls with 10s6h.

The flop comes Qs8s2h, Zazay checks, Phillis bets, and Zazay folds. Phillis takes the pot.

– – – – – –

Hand #232  –  Omar Zazay raises to 600,000 with Kh4s, and Brian Phillis calls with Jh4h.

Both players check to the turn on a board of Qd7h6s7c, Phillis bets 300,000, and Zazay calls.

The river card is the 3d, and both players check. Zazay shows his Kh4s to win the pot with his king, and Phillis mucks.

– – – – – –

Hand #233  –  Brian Phillis folds, giving Omar Zazay a walk.