2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino 
Hollywood, FL
Event #1
$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 3,173
Prize Pool: $1,586,500
August 3 – 7, 2017

The 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open series kicked things off with a huge-field, big-prize tournament. The $1,000,000 guaranteed tournament pushed over that mark to put more than $1,500,000 up for grabs and it was poker pro Nipun Java walking away with the lion’s share in the end.

The tournament started with a great showing in the first of six flights and never slowed down. Nearly 1,500 entries were put in the game in the last two flights and it finished with a total of 3,173 when registration closed. They combined to create a prize pool worth $1,586,500 with the last 300 players earning a piece and the winner set to take home more than $270,000.

More than 600 players returned for Day 2 and Paul Kelly led the way with the biggest stack. Those chips helped produce a deep run but he went out in 37th place, short of the last four tables. Seminole Hard Rock Poker team members Loni Harwood, Michael Laake, and Sheddy Siddiqui cashed in the tournament along with Seminole Hard Rock Tampa poker ambassador Wally Maddah. Both Siddiqui and Laake took turned at the top of the counts, but neither was around when Day 2 ended with 12 players remaining.

Those 12 returned for a bonus day with Java holding a big lead. Two players, Ross Ramlal and Paulo Treu, were quick eliminations to form the final table ten.

They settled in for a long grind with the chip lead changing several times throughout. David Shmuel and Andrea Lloha were the first sent off followed by former SHRP champ Manny Minaya. Players continued to push chips around the table with the stacks evening out until Brian Powell dropped out in fifth place. Java regained a huge lead with that elimination to start a chop conversation.

His stack was over 30,000,000 for almost half of the chips in play with four remaining. They discussed a deal to divide the remaining prize pool and it was complete without too much trouble.

Java was awarded $230,849 for his huge stack and he was declared the $1,000,000 guaranteed Event 1 Champion.

This is merely another example of the hot run Java has been on all summer. He earned two WSOP bracelets this year, in the $1,000 WSOP Tag Team tournament and the WSOP Online Championship, and finished seventh out of 3,542 in the WPT500 Las Vegas event.

Java kicked off his summer right here when he won the $360 No Limit Hold’em Event 27 during the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown.

“It’s a confidence game,” Java commented about his recent run. “It’s tough to quantify what exactly works, why it’s a confidence game, but there’s something about poker which momentum is a real thing.”

“I think if you’re playing well and you keep putting yourself in good spots,” he continued, “It does help.”

Java has no plans to buy in to the high rollers, though he will attempt to satellite his way in, but he will be here for the rest of The Big 4 trying to stay hot.

Final table results:

1st: Nipun Java – $230,849 *
2nd: Alfredo Guevara – $169,791 *
3rd: Josh Robins – $133,824 *
4th: Ana Clara Freitas – $130,701 *
5th: Brian Powell – $79,722
6th: Michael Mehallis – $62,667
7th: Zach Donovan – $46,009
8th: Manny Minaya – $30,937
9th: Andrea Lloha – $22,211
10th: David Shmuel – $14,279
* – denotes four-way deal

Complete Event 1 Results

4 way chop to win another sick trophy @shrpo.Love playing at this venue with the best tournament staff and dealers. Thanks everyone! pic.twitter.com/TlLQU8SjBu

— Nipun Java (@nipunjava) August 8, 2017

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 38: 300,000/600,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 3,173

With Nipun Java holding nearly half the chips in play, the four remaining players quickly came to a deal to divide up the remaining money. Jave takes home the lion’s share of the money, and his $230,849 will go along nicely with the two WSOP bracelet’s from this summer.

More details to come.

Nipun Java – 30,850,000 (51 bb)
Alfredo Guevara – 16,675,000 (28 bb)
Josh Robins – 8,325,000 (14 bb)
Ana Clara Freitas – 7,600,000 (13 bb)

1st: Nipun Java – $230,849
2nd: Alfredo Guevara – $169,791
3rd: Josh Robins – $133,824
4th: Ana Clara Freitas – $130,701

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 38: 300,000/600,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 3,173

Nipun Java opened from the button and Brian Powell moved all in from the big blind for 5,250,000. Java called to send another one out but Powell would prefer the double.

Powell:
Java:

Java was ahead but it was Powell who hit the flop. Java had outs for the KO and the turn gave him the Broadway straight. Powell needed to boat up on the river but blanked the river to exit in fifth place.

Nipun Java – 30,850,000 (51 bb)
Brian Powell – Eliminated in 5th place ($79,722)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 3,173

Alfredo Guevara opened to 1,400,000 from the button and Ana Clara Freitas moved all in from the big blind. Guevara had 7,375,000 behind and called at risk after a short think.

Freitas:
Guevara:

Guevara was in a lot of trouble with the smaller pair, missed the flop, stood from his seat, and then sat right back down after the turn. The river completed the board and Guevara earned a big double.

Alfredo Guevara – 19,600,000 (39 bb)
Ana Clara Freitas – 9,100,000 (18 bb)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 3,173

Action folded around to Ana Clara Freitas in the cutoff and she moved all in for ~9,100,000. Michael Mehallis called all in for less from the button, the blinds released, and the hands were flipped up.

Freitas:
Mehallis:

It was a race for Mehallis to stay in the game but the dealer kept it all low when it ran to send Mehallis out in sixth place.

Ana Clara Freitas – 16,900,000 (34 bb)
Michael Mehallis – Eliminated in 6th place ($62,667)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 3,173

Zach Donovan open-shoved from under the gun for 4,175,000 and active folded around to Nipun Java in the small blind. He called the shove and Alfredo Guevara thought about joining the fun from the big blind. He released and the cards were tabled.

Java:
Donovan:

Donovan needed help to stay in the game but missed the flop. The turn took away an out and the river gave the flush to Java along with the lead-extending pot.

Nipun Java – 21,300,000 (43 bb)
Zach Donovan – Eliminated in 7th place ($46,009)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 37: 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 3,173

We had another big pot on the last hand before another break. Nipun Java opened to 950,000 and Ana Clara Freitas called from the big blind to the flop. Freitas checked, Java bet 600,000 and Freitas called.

Both checked the turn and Freista bet 1,700,000 after the river. After a minute tank, Java tossed in a calling chip.

“Ace-high,” said Freitas.

Java tabled trip kings to best to retake the lead.

Seat 1: Alfredo Guevara – 8,475,000 (17 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 7,250,000 (15 bb)
Seat 3: — Empty —
Seat 4: Brian Powell – 6,400,000 (13 bb)
Seat 5: — Empty —
Seat 6: Ana Clara Freitas – 6,250,000 (13 bb)
Seat 7: Michael Mehallis – 8,675,000 (17 bb)
Seat 8: Josh Robins – 11,025,000 (22 bb)
Seat 9: Nipun Java – 16,300,000 (33 bb)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 3,173

Manny Minaya made a few moves with his short stack that made it through. He tried once again with an open-shove from the small blind for 2,100,000 and Brian Powell quickly called after double checking his cards.

Minaya:
Powell:

Minaya had two live cards but it was Powell hitting the bigger piece on the flop. The turn changed nothing and Minaya was sent out in eighth place after the river.

Brian Powell – 10,100,000 (25 bb)
Manny Minaya – Eliminated in 8th place ($30,937)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 36: 200,000/400,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 3,173

The blinds are up and the stacks are getting shallow with no one taking charge at the table. Ana Clara Freitas leads with Manny Minaya on the short stack.

Seat 1: Alfredo Guevara – 4,800,000 (12 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 8,300,000 (21 bb)
Seat 3: Manny Minaya – 2,100,000 (5 bb)
Seat 4: Brian Powell – 8,860,000 (22 bb)
Seat 5: — Empty —
Seat 6: Ana Clara Freitas – 13,300,000 (33 bb)
Seat 7: Michael Mehallis – 10,600,000 (27 bb)
Seat 8: Josh Robins – 5,300,000 (13 bb)
Seat 9: Nipun Java – 10,200,000 (26 bb)

$570 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 35: 150,000/300,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 3,173

There was only one major hand over the first 30 minutes after break. Alfredo Guevara moved all in from the small blind and Zach Donovan called in the big. Guevara was ahead with against and Donovan could not one of his over cards for the knockout.

Seat 1: Alfredo Guevara – 6,575,000 (22 bb)
Seat 2: Zach Donovan – 2,500,000 (8 bb)
Seat 3: Manny Minaya – 2,900,000 (10 bb)
Seat 4: Brian Powell – 10,500,000 (35 bb)
Seat 5: — Empty —
Seat 6: Ana Clara Freitas – 14,900,000 (50 bb)
Seat 7: Michael Mehallis – 10,800,000 (36 bb)
Seat 8: Josh Robins – 6,750,000 (23 bb)
Seat 9: Nipun Java – 8,550,000 (29 bb)