Event 6: Ziya “Zee” Rahim Earns Biggest Career Score in $300 HORSE Win

2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood
Event #6
$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Total Entries: 89
Total Prize Pool: $22,695

Zee Rahim Wins Event #6 for $6,261
Zee Rahim Wins Event #6 for $6,261

Ziya “Zee” Rahim doesn’t normally play a lot of mixed games, but he found a way to outlast a field of 89 players to take home $6,261 in the $300 HORSE on Monday evening.

“It’s always awesome,” said Rahim. “I love getting the trophy.”

The 41-year-old retired businessman and current stay-at-home dad plays mostly Pot Limit Omaha. His experience in the stud variations are limited, but that didn’t stop him earning his biggest score of his poker career.

“I think this is probably my fifth HORSE tournament ever,” said the Leesburg, VA native. “And I think this is my second cash in a HORSE tournament. It’s like a guilty pleasure of mine to be able to come and have fun and not worry about people going ‘pot, pot, pot’ every five minutes. This is more of a fun way for me to come and relax and play a different game.”

While the buy-in might not be large, Rahim still needed to go go through top-flight mixed game pro Phil Hui to take down the title. Hui won a WSOP bracelet in 2014 in the $3,000 Omaha Hi-Lo and is a regular in high-stakes mixed game tournaments.

Hui started the heads-up battle with a sizable chip lead, but after several showdowns went Rahim’s way, it was Rahim with the lead and the momentum. Rahim scooped a couple pots in a row during a round of Omaha Hi-Lo to leave Hui on a very short stack. It wasn’t long after that that Rahim finished him off to take down the title.

Defeating such an accomplished opponent made the victory a little sweeter for Rahim.

“My heads-up opponent was very tough and I was fortunate enough to be able to come back and beat him because I could tell he was a very experienced opponent,” said Rahim. “I’m really proud of this result.”

The final table itself was a roller coaster for Rahim. The father of two started the final table with a chip lead and extended it in the early goings of the final table. But during the middle stages of the final table, Rahim couldn’t seem to drag any pots and was one of the shorter stacks at the table.

“I never give up,” said Rahim. “I try to keep a peaceful zen-type mind state. So when things weren’t going great for me, I just envisioned some success and I was able to make that come true. I caught a little bit of luck when I short. I got some fortunate cards in the right spots and I was able to play my A-game the rest of the way.”

Rahim found some success on the felt, but he takes more pride in being a father to his two kids than anything he could do in the poker world.

“They are the joy of my life and I do almost everything with them,” said Rahim. “Coaching soccer and volunteering at school and that kind of thing. I play some poker when I have some time, but that’s not the center of my life.”

10 years ago, Rahim sold his company and has been semi-retired ever since, which has given him some more time to play poker. But Rahim has been looking into some things that would allow him to get back into the business world.

“I’m taking on some new projects here and there,” said Rahim. “I’m starting some new companies right now and I’m excited to get back into the business world.”

Here is a look at the final table results:

1st: Zee Rahim – $6,261
2nd: Phil Hui – $4,444
3rd: Jamie Dobay – $2,828
4th: Harold Mahaffey – $2,020
5th: Mark Hurst – $1,616
6th: John Duhig – $1,212
7th: Zachary Milman – $1,010
8th: Rod Neubauer – $808

Download Final Results (PDF)

Event 6: Zee Rahim Wins $300 HORSE ($6,261)

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 22: 20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 1 of 89

Zee Rahim
Zee Rahim

Omaha Hi-Lo 

With Phil Hui having about half a big bet remaining, the chips got into the middle preflop and the cards were tabled.

Hui showed AcTc9c5d and was up against Zee Rahim’s AdQh8s3h.

The board ran out Kc6h5hQc6s and Rahim won the pot with queens and sixes. Hui was eliminated in second place and took home $4,444 for his runner-up finish.

Rahim earned the trophy and the first place money. He netted $6,261.

A complete recap of the day’s action will be posted later tonight.

Phil Hui
Phil Hui

Zee Rahim – $300 HORSE Champion
Phil Hui – Eliminated 

 

Event 6: Zee Rahim Cripples Phil Hui

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 22: 20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 89

Omaha Hi-Lo 

Phil Hui raised on the button and Zee Rahim made it three bets out of the big blind. Hui called and the flop was Kc6c2s. Rahim bet and Hui called.

The turn was the 3h and Rahim bet again. Hui called and the river was the 8d. Rahim bet and Hui called.

Rahim showed AhKdJd2c, good for two pair and a live ace. Hui mucked his hand and was left with just over half a big bet as Rahim scooped the pot.

Zee Rahim – 865,000
Phil Hui – 26,000

Event 6: Zee Rahim Scoops One

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 22: 20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 89

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 

Zee Rahim: 7d8c5cAh
Phil Hui: 5hQh8hJs

On fourth, Phil Hui checked and Zee Rahim bet with an eight-high board. Hui called with a queen-high board. Rahim caught a five on fifth and Hui caught an eight, which gave him three hearts.

Hui checked, Rahim bet, and Hui raised. Rahim called. On sixth, Hui caught an off-suit jack and Rahim hit an ace. Both players checked and Rahim bet the river. Hui called.

Rahim shows 7s3h2h in the hole, good for a pair of sevens and a seven-five low. Hui mucked his hand and Rahim scooped the pot.

Zee Rahim – 720,000
Phil Hui – 165,000

Event 6: Zee Rahim Pulling Away

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 21: 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 89

Razz

Phil Hui: 5xTx8xAx
Zee Rahim: 7xTx4x9x

On fourth street, Phil Hui had the lead and bet. Zee Rahim called. On fifth, Rahim took the lead with a ten-seven low board against Hui’s ten-eight low board.

Rahim bet and Hui called. On sixth, Hui regained the lead after hitting an ace and Rahim catching a nine.

Hui bet and Rahim called. Hui bet the river as well and Rahim called.

“Ten-eight,” said Hui.

“I got a nine,” said Rahim.

Rahim showed AxQx6x in the hole and Hui mucked his hand. Rahim took the pot and opens up better than a two-to-one chip lead over Hui.

Zee Rahim – 600,000
Phil Hui – 280,000

Event 6: Zee Rahim Evens Out The Counts

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 21: 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 89

Omaha Hi-Lo 

Zee Rahim raised on the button and Phil Hui made it three-bets out of the big blind. Rahim called and the flop was Kc7c5s.

Hui bet and Rahim called. The turn was the 7d and Hui bet again. Rahim called and the river was the Kd. Hui bet and Rahim called.

“You’re good,” said Hui.

Rahim showed 9s9dAsQs, good for kings and nines. Hui shows Ax4x3x2x as he mucked his hand.

Rahim took the pot and the chip counts are basically even as they switch to razz.

Zee Rahim – 440,000
Phil Hui – 450,000

Event 6: Jamie Dobay Eliminated in 3rd Place ($2,828)

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 21: 15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 2 of 89

Jamie Dobay
Jamie Dobay

Limit Hold’em 

Zee Rahim raised on the button and Phil Hui called out of the small blind. Jamie Dobay moved all in out of the big blind for less than a full raise. Rahim and Hui both called.

Hui and Rahim both checked to the river as the board came Qd7s3s3hKc.

Hui bet the river and Rahim called. Hui shows KhTc, Rahim showed KdTs, and Dobay showed Qs9c.

Hui and Rahim chopped the pot, while eliminating Dobay in the process. Dobay took home $2,828 for his efforts, while Hui and Rahim begin heads-up play.

Phil Hui – 700,000
Zee Rahim – 180,000

Event 6: Zee Rahim Doubles Through Phil Hui

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 12,000/24,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 3 of 89

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 

Phil Hui: 8c2s / 8hKc7cQs / Xx
Zee Rahim: AhAd[/][5c2c5sAc / Xx

Phil Hui and Zee Rahim get into a raising war on third street. Rahim got his last 48,000 into the middle on third and the cards are tabled.

Rahim showed buried aces and was up against Hui’s split eights with a deuce. by sixth street, Rahim has made aces full and Hui was still left with a pair of eights.

Rahim doubled up, but is still the shortest of the three remaining stacks.

Zee Rahim – 101,000
Phil Hui – 650,000

Event 6: Harold Mahaffey Eliminated in 4th Place ($2,020)

$300 HORSE (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 12,000/24,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 3 of 89

Harold Mahaffey
Harold Mahaffey

Razz

Phil Hui: Tx4x / 7x8xAx5x / 4x
Harold Mahaffey: Ax6x / 9x4xJx5x / 6x

Harold Mahaffey was the bring-in with the nine and Phil Hui completed with a seven. Mahaffey defended his bring-in and hit a four on fourth street. Hui caught an eight.

Hui bet and Mahaffey got the last of his chips into the middle. Hui showed Tx4x in the hole, good for a draw to a ten-low, while Mahaffey has Ax6x in the hole, giving him a draw to a nine-low.

Their board run out as shown above and Hui made an 8-7 low. Mahaffey ended up with a 9-6 low and was eliminated in fourth place.

Mahaffey took home $2,020 for his deep run and Hui continues to dominate the final table.

Phil Hui – 625,000
Harold Mahaffey – Eliminated