2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, FL
Event 19
$2,200 Turbo No-Limit Hold’em 
Entries: 53
Prize Pool: $106,000 
April 16, 2018 

Not all poker pros are fans of the turbo format since it dilutes a bit of the skill involved in slow structured, multi-day poker tournaments.

Paul Domb isn’t a professional poker player. He has a day job and made the most of taking a vacation day on Monday night by taking down the $2,200 turbo no-limit hold’em. He took the better end of a heads-up chop with Anthony Utnage to defeat a field of 53 entries and earn $33,450.

“It feels great,” said Domb after his win. “Everybody at the table was talkative and it was really great to spend the day here.”

Domb works in corporate real estate, which takes up most of his time. For somebody as high-powered and as successful as him, he enjoys the turbo format simply because it’s a more efficient use of his time.

“It’s way better for someone like me who works,” said Domb. “I got to get up early tomorrow morning. I took the day off. So, a one-day event is perfect for someone like me. I don’t have the staying power like some of these kids.”

The event drew some top notch poker players that were trying to get one last score before the series comes to a close on Wednesday. Despite the final table featuring players as talented as Ankush Mandavia, Joe Elpayaa and Eddie Ochana, Domb still enjoyed a light and fun atmosphere while playing for tens of thousands of dollars.

Domb came in near the top of the chip counts at the redraw for the final table, but only the top seven players would leave with a cash. Domb wasn’t short and he needed to go with his gut in one crucial hand to propel him to victory.

“I made a good call,” said Domb. “My neighbor there tried to bluff me. I decided it was do or die and I guessed right. From there, I just ran good.”

Results:

1st: Paul Domb – $33,540*
2nd: Anthony Utnage – $29,000*
3rd: Joseph Elpayaa – $14,310
4th: Eddie Ochana – $10,070
5th: Omar Zazay – $7,950
6th: Gavin O’Rourke – $6,360
7th: Carlos Rodriguez Rojas – $4,770

*Adjusted payouts to reflect a heads-up chop

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 15: 3,000/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 53

Sam Zalmanov moved all in for his last 8,000, Tony Utnage raised to 30,000 from the cutoff, and the rest of the table folded.

Zalmanov appeared to be in good shape with his against Utnage’s .

The flop came and Zalmanov extended his lead. The the board came , giving Utnaged runner-runner two pair to eliminate Zalmanov on the money bubble.

Tony Utnage – 380,000
Sam Zalmanov – Eliminated

Coverage of the final table will continue once the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em wraps up.

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 16: 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 53

Ankush Mandavia moved all in from under the gun for 62,000 and Gavin O’Rourke reshoved for 66,000 from middle position.

The rest of the table folded and it was off to the races with Mandavia holding against O’Rourke’s .

The board came and O’Rourke flopped a king to eliminate Mandavia in ninth place.

Gavin O’Rourke – 160,000
Ankush Mandavia – Eliminated

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 15: 3,000/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 53

Players have combined to the final table, there are nine remaining players with the final seven taking home a paycheck. Here’s how they stack up:

Seat 1: Gavin O’Rourke – 97,000
Seat 2: Sam Zalmanor – 37,000
Seat 3: Paul Domb – 167,000
Seat 4: Tony Utnage – 163,000
Seat 5: Omar Zazay – 132,000
Seat 6: Eddie Ochana – 131,000
Seat 7: Joe Elpayaa – 125,000
Seat 8: Ankush Mandavia – 33,000
Seat 9: Carlos Rodriguez – 196,000

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 15: 3,000/5,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 11 of 53

On a board reading with 20,000 in the pot. Eddie Ochana checked from the small blind and Carlos Rodriguez bet 9,000. Ochana check raised to 18,000. Rodriguez called.

The river was the , and Ochana bet 22,000. Rodriguez called with for two-pair but was no good against Ochana’s trip nines.

Eddy Ochana – 130,000
Carlos Rodriguez – 123,000

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 14: 2,000/4,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 13 of 53

Eric Panayitou moved all in for his last 600 from early position, and Tony Utnage reshoved from the small blind for 46,000.

Action was on Peter Eichhardt in the big blind. Someone at the table called the clock on him, and he eventually folded.

It was heads up and Panayitou appeared to be in good shape with his against Utnage’s .

The board ran out and Utnage hit trip kings to eliminate Panayitou.

Tony Utnage – 60,000
Eric Panayitou – Eliminated

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
End of Level 13: 2,000/3,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 53

Players are currently on a fifteen minute break. Here’s a look at how they stack up:

Filipp Khavin – 134,000
Paul Domb – 115,000
Gavin O’Rourke – 106,000
Joe Elpayaa – 100,000
Ankush Mandavia – 99,000
Michael Tureniec – 87,000
Eddy Ochana – 59,000
Tony Utage – 58,000
Peter Eichhardt – 55,000
Mike Shin – 48,000
Jerry Humphrey – 46,000
Eric Panayitou – 45,000
Ari Engel – 45,000
Omar Zazay – 36,000

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure / Payouts
Level 13: 2,000/3,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 15 of 53

Ankush Mandavia opened to 6,500 from middle position and Omar Zazay moved all in for 15,000. Mandavia called.

Zazay turned over and was out in front against Mandavia’s .

The board came and Zazay turned a nine to stay alive and double through Mandavia.

Omar Zazay – 35,000
Ankush Mandavia – 100,000

2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries: 53
Prize Pool: $106,000
April 16, 2018

The 53 entrants created a prize pool of over $100,000. The final seven players will earn their share of the prize pool with the eventual champion taking home $39,220 along with a SHRPO trophy.

1st:  $39,220
2nd: $23,320
3rd: $14,310
4th: $10,070
5th: $7,950
6th: $6,360
7th: $4,770

$2,200 Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure 
Level 11: 1,000/2,000 with a 2,000 ante
Players Remaining: 23 of 53

Christian Harder moved all in for 13,000 from the button and Barry Hutter called from the small blind.

Harder turned over and needed to get lucky against Hutter’s .

The board came [10][h] and Harder flopped a ten to stay alive.

Christian Harder – 31,000
Barry Hutter – 7,000