Event 1: Nicholas Mahabee Earns Second SHRP Title

2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Hollywood, FL
Event 1: $360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Entries: 2,570
Prize Pool: $771,000
July 28 – August 1, 2016

Event 1, Nicholas Mahabee
Event 1, Nicholas Mahabee

The first tournament on the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open schedule was a multi-day event which drew a big crowd. When it was all over, Nicholas Mahabee stood alone as the champion after the last six players reached a deal.

The tournament featured six starting flights and the $360 buy-in tournament had a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. That guarantee was met early Saturday morning and the total entrant count was 2,570 when registration closed on the tournament Saturday evening.

The prize pool reached $771,000 and paid out the final 250 players. They reached the money Sunday afternoon and quickly played down close to the final table. The reached the last ten players in the early morning hours and suspended play for a Monday afternoon restart.

Brian Phillis was the most tenured player at the final table and he hit big last year during this series. He outlasted all but one player in the 2015 $5 Million GTD SHRPO Championship to finish in second place for $575,000. Phillis had a rough time at this final table and finished seventh after a cooler and bad beat.

Vito Polera had an impressive run at the final table to put himself in a position to earn his chop money. He ran his big slick into the aces of Phillis (along with Unique Petiote’s big slick) to leave himself with 550K, less than three big blinds at that point. He didn’t give up, he doubled up several times and held the lead at one point during six-handed play.

As for Mahabee at the final table, we mentioned he needed to do some work to get the title and he did just that. He began play with the shortest stack, doubled three times through Phillis to build himself uip, was second in chips at the first break, and had the lead when they made a deal with six remaining.

This result more than doubles Mahabee’s career tournament earnings but it is his second SHRP title. His first victory came during the $150 buy-in event during the 2013 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” for just shy of $5,000.

Mahabee is now the proud owner of a second trophy, along with the $66,435 in prize money plus the custom-framed winner’s photo courtesy of Eric Harkins and IMPDI.

Event 1 final table results:

1st: Nicholas Mahabee (Miami, FL) $66,435
2nd: Vito Polera (Coral Springs, FL) $66,435
3rd: Harjinder Chawla (Miami, FL) $66,435
4th: Martin Markov (Key West, FL) $66,435
5th: Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) $66,434
6th: Ryan Brown (Woodstock, GA) $66,434
7th: Brian Phillis (Boynton Beach, FL) $23,901
8th: Jennifer Parker (Palmetto Bay, FL) $16,191
9th: Unique Petiote (Miami Garden, FL) $11,565
10th: Sean Iannucci (Orlando, FL) $7,710

Download Final Results (PDF)

EV01 Tony & FInal Six_6552

Event 1: Nicholas Mahabee Declared Champ After 6-Way Deal

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 2,570

Nicholas Mahabee (Miami, FL)
Nicholas Mahabee (Miami, FL)

Soon after the first break, the six remaining players had a quick discussion about dividing up the remaining prize pool. It was a fast, drama-free negotiation and they decided to chop it right down the middle.

Each player received $66,435 (minus $1 for the bottom two, math) and Nicholas Mahabee earned his second career SHRP trophy to go with his 2013 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” title.

Tournament recap will be posted soon.

Nicholas Mahabee – 13,550,000
Vito Polera – 10,500,000
Harjinder Chawla – 8,550,000
Martin Markov – 8,000,000
Tom Gity – 6,425,000
Ryan Brown – 4,300,000

1st: Nicholas Mahabee – $66,435
2nd: Vito Polera – $66,435
3rd: Harjinder Chawla – $66,435
4th: Martin Markov – $66,435
5th: Tom Gity – $66,434
6th: Ryan Brown – $66,434

Event 1: Break Time Counts

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Returning to Level 36: 200,000/400,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 2,570

The six remaining players are on a short 15-minute break. Vito Polera is having himself a nice comeback, he was down to 625,000 earlier in the day and returns from break with the lead.

Seat 1: Martin Markov – 8,100,000 (20 bb)
Seat 2: Harjinder Chawla – 4,500,000 (11 bb)
Seat 3: Vito Polera – 12,400,000 (31 bb)
Seat 5: Nicholas Mahabee – 9,600,000 (24 bb)
Seat 6: Tom Gity – 10,700,000 (27 bb)
Seat 7: Ryan Brown – 6,100,000 (15 bb)

Event 1: Brian Phillis Eliminated in 7th ($23,901)

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 2,570

Brian Phillis (Boynton Beach, FL)
Brian Phillis (Boynton Beach, FL)

Other than his massive three-way win, it was a rough final table for Brian Phillis. Nicholas Mahabee doubled through him three times and his last hand was tough.

Ryan Brown open to 650,000 and Phillis moved all-in from the small blind for 2.325 million. Brown called with KsJs after a short think, then saw Phillis was holding KhKd.

“Come on chop,” Brown asked.

It was better than a chop for him, the QhTd9c board flopped him the nuts. The 4c turn left Phillis with three chop outs but the bad beat was complete on the Qs river to send him out.

Ryan Brown – 8,900,000 (30 bb)
Brian Phillis – Eliminated in 7th place ($23,901)

Event 1: Mahabee Gets Another Double Thru Phillis

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 2,570

Brian Phillis (left) waits on Nicholas Mahabee (standing) to make a decision
Brian Phillis (left) waits on Nicholas Mahabee (standing) to make a decision

Nicholas Mahabee did it twice before, but his third double up through Brian Phillis was huge.

Mahabee three-bet to 1.35 million after Phillis opened to 600,000. Phillis called to the AhQd3h flop and both players checked to the 9h turn. Phillis bet out 1.2 million, Mahabee called, and Phillis put him all-in for 4.375 million after the Ad river.

Mahabee took his time, talking and laughing and standing up to make his decision. It looked like he might fold but eventually called and tabled AcJd. It was a good call against Phillis’ 7c7s to give Mahabee the massive pot.

Brian Phillis – 2,800,000 (9 bb)
Nicholas Mahabee – 14,600,000 (49 bb)

Event 1: Jennifer Parker Eliminated in 8th ($16,191)

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 2,570

Jennifer Parker (Palmetto Bay, FL)
Jennifer Parker (Palmetto Bay, FL)

Vito Polera was able to double his micro-stack twice to leave Jennifer Parker as the short stack at the table. She moved all-in for 850,000 and Nichael Mahabee looked her up with TsTh.

Parker needed help with QdTd and picked up a flush draw on the Kh9d5d flop. The 4s turn was a blank and the Ah river was no help to send her out in 8th place.

Nicholas Mahabee – 6,300,000 (25 bb)
Jennifer Parker – Eliminated in 8th place ($16,191)

Event 1: Unique Petiote Eliminated in 9th ($11,565)

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 2,570

Unique Petiote (Miami Gardens, FL)
Unique Petiote (Miami Gardens, FL)

Brian Phillis was coolered in one hand, then turned around and laid a big one on the table soon after.

Unique Petiote moved all-in from late position and Vito Polera moved in behind from the button. Not to be left behind, Phillis put his stack in the middle from the small blind and Nichael Mahabee thought it through while having a laugh.

It was a good fold, this time it was Phillis with the aces.

Phillis: AhAc
Polera: AdKd
Petiote: AsKc

Polera and Petiote were a long shot but Polera picked up a diamond draw on the Qc4d2d flop. Another diamond would produce a double knockout but it ran 8s5c to send Petiote out in 9th while knocking Polera down to only 625,000.

“Happy birthday mom,” Phillis wishes a great day to his mom on her birthday.

Happy birthday from us as well.

Brian Phillis – 9,400,000 (38 bb)
Vito Polera – 625,000 (3 bb)
Unique Petiote – Eliminated in 9th place ($11,565)

Event 1: Mahabee Doubles Thru Phillis Again

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 34: 125,000/250,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 2,570

Nichael Mahabee doubled through Brian Phillis on the first hand of the final table and has done it again.

Phillis opened from early position to 500,000 and Mahabee raised to 1.2 million, leaving 1.4 million behind. It folded back around the Phillis and he took his time before announcing all-in.

Mahabee quickly called with AhAc and Phillis was coolered with KhKc. The board ran clean Td7d3d3cQc to give Mahabee another double.

Brian Phillis – 3,500,000 (14 bb)
Nicholas Mahabee – 5,500,000 (22 bb)

Event 1: Phillis Doubles Mahabee, Iannucci Doubles Phillis

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 2,570

Brian Phillis (left) and Nicholas Mahabee (right)
Brian Phillis (left) and Nicholas Mahabee (right)

Last year’s $5,000,000 SHRPO Championship runner-up Brian Phillis was involved in back-to-back double ups to kick off Day 3 of the $360 re-entry.

First, Phillis opened to 400,000 from middle position and Nicholas Mahabee shoved for 1,075,000 from his direct left. After some thought, Phillis called, flipped over 7h6h and was live versus the AcTh of Mahabee. A QsTs4dTc3s runout improved Mahabee to trips and he doubled through Phillis. Phillis was left with 3,575,000 which he got all in on the very next hand.

2016 SHRPO Brian Phillis Nicholas Mahabee-2

Phillis opened the action again for 400,000. Jennifer Parker called and it was on Sean Iannucci who moved all in. Action was sent back to Phillis and he called off. Parker folded and the hands were tabled.

Phillis: KsKd
Iannucci: 6h6d

The runout fell five bricks and Phillis earned back all he lost during the last hand and then some. It was a roundabout path, but his stack now totals 7.750,000 — slightly more than the 4,650,000 chips he started with.

Brian Phillis – 7,750,000 (38 bb)

Event 1: Bonus Day of Poker

$360 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) 
Level 33: 100,000/200,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 2,570

Harjinder Chawla
Harjinder Chawla leads the restart of the Event 1 final table

Six starting flights and a full Day 2 were not enough to find our Event 1 champion. Play was suspended in the early hours of the morning with ten players still around out of the 2,570 starting entrants.

Harjinder Chawla is the returning leader but Martin Markov is not far behind. Also in the mix is last year’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship runner-up Brian Phillis. Nicholas Mahabee is the shortest stack and will need to run up his six big blinds if he wants the title.

Players are unbagging their chips and will be back in action shortly.

Seat 1: Sean Iannuci – 6,575,000 (33 bb)
Seat 2: Martin Markov – 7,825,000 (39 bb)
Seat 3: Harjinder Chawla – 8,625,000 (43 bb)
Seat 4: Vito Polera – 5,200,000 (26 bb)
Seat 5: Brian Phillis – 4,650,000 (23 bb)
Seat 6: Nicholas Mahabee – 1,100,000 (6 bb)
Seat 7: Tom Gity – 6,075,000 (30 bb)
Seat 8: Ryan Brown – 5,100,000 (26 bb)
Seat 9: Jennifer Parker – 3,600,000 (18 bb)
Seat 10: Unique Petiote – 2,600,000 (13 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $134,100
2nd: $86,969
3rd: $56,954
4th: $48,419
5th: $40,169
6th: $31,997
7th: $23,901
8th: $16,191
9th: $11,565
10th: $7,710