Justin Young Continues Success At Seminole Hard Rock, Wins $2,200 Eight-Max

2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, FL 
Event 11
$2,200 Eight-Max No-Limit Hold’em
Entries: 170 
Prize Pool: $340,000 
April 12, 2018 

Justin Young picks up another win at Seminole Hard Rock in the $2,200 Eight-Max

Justin Young is a poker pro from Las Vegas, but he’s put up some impressive results on his trips to South Florida.

Two years ago, he won the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $669,161 and he won the $2,200 eight-max no-limit in the early hours of Friday morning, less than 10 hours before the kickoff of the same event he won two years ago.

Young defeated Matthew Yorra heads-up to best a field of 170 entries and take home $81,795. Young defeated a very talented final table that also featured Zachary Smiley, Barry Hutter, Nadya Magnus and Dylan Wilkerson. This was Yorra’s second final table of the series after his win in the $570 six-max no-limit hold’em earlier in the series.

Despite the stakes and the immense amount of talent at the final table, the atmosphere felt closer to that of a home game. Drinks were flowing and laughs were being shared throughout.

“I would like to think this is like a normal final table for me,” said Young. “But no, it was pretty special because there was a handful of guys here drinking and having a good time. It was great.”

The win is just the latest on an extensive poker resume for the North Carolina native. His latest win was the 11th outright win of his career and moved his career earnings over $4.9 million.

His resume is one of the deepest you’ll find in poker with scores all over the country. With his win here in 2016, arguably his first major title, the Seminole Hard Rock holds a special place in his heart. It’s almost his home away from home.

“It does feel that way,” said Young after his win. “I saw the pictures flashing of me winning my title a couple years ago and you know, I wouldn’t say motivation, but it felt nice to have a reminder I suppose.”

This was the last event before the kickoff of that same WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown main event on Friday morning. With Young just getting into town and starting off the series with a ‘W,’ he’s coming into Friday’s action feeling strong.

“It’s absolutely a real thing,” said Young when asked about the concept of momentum in poker. “Not just because I won, but momentum carries into confidence and having confidence in poker tournaments is absolutely imperative. It’s a real thing and I believe in it.”

The overall field was one of the toughest of the series thus far, with plenty of top pros getting into town just before the main event and taking a shot at another high-stakes tournament.

Young’s win wraps up the final day of preliminary events. Cards get back in the air on Friday at 11 a.m. for Day 1A of the $3,500 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown main event.

The top 22 spots made the money and here is a look at the results:

1st: Justin Young – $81,795
2nd: Matthew Yorra – $54,531
3rd: Pablo Fernandez – $39,724
4th: Zachary Smiley – $29,371
5th: Barry Hutter – $22,047
6th: Nadya Magnus – $16,805
7th: Ted McNamara – $13,011
8th: Dylan Wilkerson – $10,234
9th: Jorge Cuesta – $8,180
10th: Jason James – $8,180
11th: Daniel Quick – $6,646
12th: Art Peacock – $6,646
13th: Evan Teitelbaum – $5,490
14th: Paul Fisher – $5,490
15th: Peter Vitantonio – $4,612
16th: Marc MacDonnell – $4,612
17th: Matthew Lambrecht – $3,942
18th: Zachary Donovan – $3,942
19th: Jeremy Ausmus – $3,942
20th: Dylan Linde – $3,942
21st: Victor Figueroa – $3,429
22nd: John Dolan – $3,429

Event 11: Justin Young Wins $2,200 Eight-Max ($81,795), Matthew Yorra – 2nd Place ($54,531)

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 170

Justin Young

Matthew Yorra moved all in for about 400,000 and Justin Young called out of the big blind.

Yorra showed 9c4h and needed some help against Young’s Jc7c.

The board ran out AdKs3dQsJh and Young won the pot with a pair of jacks. Yorra finished runner-up for $54,531 at his second final table of the series.

Young earned $81,795 and the trophy for the win.

Justin Young – $2,200 Eight-Max No-Limit Hold’em Champion
Matthew Yorra – Eliminated 

Matthew Yorra

Event 11: Justin Young Doubles Into Heads-Up Chip Lead

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 170

Matthew Yorra raised on the button and Justin Young moved all in out of the big blind for 1,065,000. Yorra called.

Yorra showed AcKd and had Young’s Kh9h dominated.

The board ran out KcJhTs5h4h and Young hit running hearts to double up and move into the chip lead.

Justin Young – 2,130,000
Matthew Yorra – 425,000

Event 11: Pablo Fernandez – 3rd Place ($39,724)

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 170

Pablo Fernandez

Pablo Fernandez moved all in from the small blind and Matthew Yorra was in the big blind with 605,000.

“I haven’t looked yet,” said Yorra. “Are you ready?”

Yorra looked at his hand and then snap-called. Yorra showed AcAh and was in great shape against Fernandez’s KcQd.

The board ran out 9d8d5c5h3c and Yorra doubled up.

A couple hands later, Justin Young limped in on the button and Fernandez moved all in out of the small blind for 300,000. Yorra called and Young folded.

Fernandez showed Ah6s and needed a three-outer against Yorra’s As9s.

The board ran out Jd5s2d7cTc and Yorra won the pot to eliminate Fernandez in third place for $39,724. Yorra takes a slight chip lead into heads-up play against Young.

Matthew Yorra – 1,500,000
Pablo Fernandez – Eliminated 

Event 11: Zachary Smiley – 4th Place ($29,371)

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 170

Zachary Smiley

There was a dead button and Zachary Smiley moved all in from under the gun for about 300,000 and Matthew Yorra moved all in from the cutoff for about 400,000.

Yorra showed AdKc and dominated Smiley’s Kd9s.

The board ran out Qc8d5hJd7d and Yorra won the pot with ace-high to eliminate Smiley in fourth place for $29,371.

Matthew Yorra – 770,000
Zachary Smiley – Eliminated 

Event 11: Barry Hutter – 5th Place ($22,047)

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 170

Barry Hutter

Pablo Fernandez moved all in from middle position and Barry Hutter called out of the big blind. Hutter was all in for about 220,000 with KhJh up against Fernandez’s Kc8d.

“You said I was going to win with king-eight,” said Fernandez, referencing an earlier prophecy from Hutter about him winning with a dominated king.

The flop was 8s6s2h and Fernandez hit his three-outer to take the lead.

“I deserve to lose this one,” said Hutter.

The turn was the 3d and the river was the 3c to send the pot to Fernandez and eliminate Hutter in fifth place.

“I hope Justin [Young] wins because he’s my favorite human,” said Hutter. “I’m anti-sweating everyone else at the table.”

Pablo Fernandez – 925,000
Barry Hutter – Eliminated 

 

Event 11: Matthew Yorra Cracks Aces, Doubles Through Pablo Fernandez

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 170

Matthew Yorra got his last 305,000 into the middle preflop from the cutoff against Pablo Fernandez under the gun. It took a little while for Fernandez to call before he showed AsAh against Yorra’s KdJh.

“What’s with the slowroll? After all this time?” asked Yorra with a smile.

The table was still laughing about the slowroll, but the board ran out QcJc7d6dKc, giving Yorra two pair and a double up.

“That’s for the slowroll,” said Yorra with a laugh. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

Yorra lets out a celebratory yell before continuing to engage Fernandez.

“What’s your name? I’m Matt,” said Yorra.

“Pablo,” said Fernandez.

“That’s PabloKinesis, an online legend,” said Barry Hutter.

“An online legend, but not a live legend,” yelled Fernandez’s friend from the rail.

That brought even more laughter from the table. Yorra took the chip lead with the double up.

Matthew Yorra – 660,000
Pablo Fernandez – 450,000

Event 11: Pablo Fernandez Steals a Chop to Double Through Zachary Smiley

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 170

Action folded around to Pablo Fernandez in the small blind.

“If you limp, I’m probably going to shove,” said Smiley.

“Have you looked yet?” asked Barry Hutter.

Smiley admitted that he had not looked and Fernandez completed the small blind. Most of the table gives Smiley slight encouragement to shove without looking. Smiley looked at his hand and moved all in. Fernandez snap-called, all in for 395,000.

Fernandez showed AcJc and was up against Smiley’s AhJh.

“Let’s just chop it?” asked Smiley.

“Ok, chop it,” said Fernandez.

The flop was Kd4c2c and all of a sudden Fernandez was freerolling with the nut flush draw.

“No chop, no chop,” said Fernandez.

The turn was the Tc and Fernandez turned the nuts to leave Smiley drawing dead to the 6s river card. Fernandez doubled up.

“You guys technically agreed to chop the pot,” said Hutter.

“We shook hands,” said Smiley.

“You guys are going to battle more,” said Justin Young with a laugh.

Despite the beat, the table is still all laughs.

Pablo Fernandez – 810,000
Zachary Smiley – 340,000

Event 11: Pablo Fernandez Shows a Good One

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 170

Pablo Fernandez completed from the small blind and Zachary Smiley raised to 65,000 out of the big blind. Fernandez moved all in for about 350,000 and Smiley quickly folds.

Fernandez showed the 2c as he took the pot.

“I folded a deuce too,” said Smiley. “So there was no way you had me beat.”

Pablo Fernandez – 425,000
Zachary Smiley – 525,000

Event 11: Pablo Fernandez vs. Zachary Smiley

$2,200 Eight-Handed NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | PayoutsStructure
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 170

Zachary Smiley raised to 35,000 from under the gun and Pablo Fernandez defended his big blind.

The flop was QsJh4c and Fernandez checked. Smiley bet 25,000 and Fernandez check-raised to about 75,000. Smiley didn’t waste much time before sending his cards into the muck.

At the start of the level, the table agreed to show at least one card if you win the pot.

“I want to see that one,” said another player at the table.

Fernandez verified which one the table wanted him to show and then immediately turns over the other card, which was the As.

The table continues their jovial conversations and move on to the next hand.

Pablo Fernandez – 380,000
Zachary Smiley – 680,000