2017 Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 4
$580 Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
Entries: 146
Prize Pool: $73,000
September 25-26, 2017

Players love short-handed poker for the action and the Seminole Hard Rock WSOP Circuit Six-Max event drew some of the top players in the area to the $580 buy-in tournament. After two days of poker, SHRP regular Tony Ruberto earned his first career WSOPC ring along with $20,804.

Plenty of players came out to the single re-entry event and the tournament drew a total of 146 entries to create a prize pool worth $73,000. The last 15 players were set to divide up that money but Day 1 ended before they reached that point. After 15 levels of play, 17 players remained when the clock was paused for the evening as they bagged up chips for a Day 2 return.Some of the players advancing included past SHRP championship Ruberto and Paul Balzano along with eight-time WSOPC champ Ari Engel and seven-time champ Cory Waaland.

Some of the players advancing included past SHRP champions Paul Balzano and Ruberto along with eight-time WSOPC champ Ari Engel and seven-time champ Cory Waaland.

It didn’t take long from them to make it into the money on Day 2 and they were down to the final table after two hours of play. Ruberto began the final table with the chip lead but Engel made a strong play to pick up his ninth WSOPC ring.

Engel took the lead late as Ryan Gianquitti, Ira Schwartz, and Balzano hit the rail. Engel held half the chips in play during four-handed action but he was unable to hold on. He eliminated Justin Harvell in fourth place and that was the end of his good run.

Soon after, Engel four-bet shoved into Ruberto’s kings and had to send most of his stack across the table. He made a small comeback but was sent out in third place when Brandon Miller filled a gut-shot draw on the turn.

Ruberto took the title with Miller taking second place, but it was not the first victory for the Florida resident. Ruberto already owned a Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown title but now he can be included among the talented group of players with a World Series of Poker Circuit title.

Event 4 results:

1st: Tony Ruberto – $20,804 + WSOPC Gold ring
2nd: Brandon Miller – $12,860
3rd: Ari Engel – $9,269
4th: Justin Harvell – $6,708
5th: Paul Balzano – $4,873
6th: Ira Schwartz – $3,552
7th: Ryan Gianquitti – $2,598
8th: Scott Stewart – $2,598
9th: Ethiel Garcia – $1,907
10th: Alex Rocha- $1,907
11th: Benjamin Parker – $1,405
12th: Lawrence Kiang – $1,405
13th: Cory Waaland – $1,038
14th: Gabriel Pardo – $1,038
15th: Russell Sullivan – $1,038

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 24: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante | Payouts

At the start of heads up play, Brandon Miller was unable to continue due to a medical issue. The situation was discussed at length and Miller was blinded off until Tony Ruberto was left with all the chips.

Ruberto was crowned the WSOP Circuit Event 4 champion and earned $20,804 along with the coveted WSOPC ring.

Tournament recap to come.

1st: Tony Ruberto – $20,804 + Gold ring
2nd: Brandon Miller – $12,860

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 24: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 2 of 146

There is a pause in the action before heads up play gets underway. We will update when they start playing for the WSOP Circuit ring.

Seat 2: Brandon Miller – 901,000 (45 bb)
Seat 3: Tony Ruberto – 851,000 (43 bb)

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 24: 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 2 of 146

Brandon Miller open-shoved from the button, Tony Ruberto released, and Ari Engel quickly called.

Engel:
Miller:

Engel was ahead and hit the flop with Miller picking up a gutshot draw. The turn got there for Miller’s king-high straight and Engel needed one of the last three jacks in the deck. The river was not what he needed and Miller denied Engel his ninth WSOP Circuit ring.

Brandon Miller – 901,000 (45 bb)
Ari Engel – Eliminated in 3rd place ($9,269)

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 3 of 146

Tony Ruberto worked his stack back in contention, then found a big hand to take the lead.

Ari Engel opened to 37,000 from the button and Ruberto three-bet to 100,000 from the big blind. After a thinking it through, Engel announced all in and Ruberto quickly called.

Ruberto:
Engel:

Engel was had an over card but it was Ruberto moved further ahead on the flop. The turn left Engel drawing dead to the river to send a big double. The dealer broke down Ruberto’s stack and his all in was for 521,000.

Seat 1: Ari Engel – 248,000 (16 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon Miller – 330,000 (21 bb)
Seat 3: Tony Ruberto – 1,175,000 (73 bb)

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 23: 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 3 of 146

Blinds are up with three players remaining and Ari Engel back in the lead.

Seat 1: Ari Engel – 760,000 (48 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon Miller – 680,000 (43 bb)
Seat 3: Tony Ruberto – 310,000 (19 bb)

Remaining payouts:
1st: $20,804 + Gold ring
2nd: $12,860
3rd: $9,269

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 3 of 146

Action folded to Justin Harvell in the small blind and he open-shoved for 138,000. After checking his cards, Engel shrug-called with a chance to knock Harvell out.

Harvell:
Engel:

Harvell was ahead but Engel had two live cards, one of which paired the flop. Harvell needed to come from behind but missed the turn and river to exit in fourth place.

Ari Engel – 720,000 (60 bb)
Justin Harvell – Eliminated in 4th place ($6,708)

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 22: 6,000/12,000 with a 2,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 4 of 146

The four remaining players are on a 15-minute break and will return with Brandon Miller holding nearly half of the chips in play.

Seat 1: Ari Engel – 425,000 (35 bb)
Seat 2: Brandon Miller – 830,000 (69 bb)
Seat 3: Tony Ruberto – 263,000 (22 bb)
Seat 6: Justin Harvell – 234,000 (20 bb)

Remaining payouts:
1st: $20,804 + Gold ring
2nd: $12,860
3rd: $9,269
4th: $6,708

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 4 of 146

Paul Balzano opened to 22,000 from the button and Ari Engel put him all in from the big blind. Balzano did not wait long before he called.

Engel:
Balzano:

Balzano was in good shape for the double up until Engel picked up a flush draw on the board. It filled on the turn and Balzano was drawing dead to fifth place.

Ari Engel – 550,000 (55 bb)
Paul Balzano – Eliminated in 5th place ($4,873)

$580 Six-Max NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Level 21: 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante | Payouts
Players Remaining: 5 of 146

Ari Engel continued to get dealt some premium hands and had Brandon Miller all in and at risk. But Engel’s hand wasn’t quite as good as Miller’s.

Engel:
Miller:

Engel’s big slick was in tough shape against rockets and couldn’t find a miracle on the board to send the double to Miller.

Ari Engel – 430,000 (43 bb)
Brandon Miller – 490,000 (49 bb)