2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event 20
$360 HORSE
Entries: 47
Prize Pool: $14,100
April 17, 2018

Jeff Cookson needed to complete an epic comeback heads-up against an experienced mixed game player to take home the $360 HORSE title.

Cookson started out in a big hole against AJ Kelsall, who is a regular in high-stakes mixed games, both cash games and tournaments at the start of heads-up play. But by the end of the day, Cookson ended up with all of the chips to take defeat a 47-entry field and take home $5,499.

“He had me 4-to-1 at the start of heads-up play and then we had a big hold’em hand where I made a straight and he missed a flush draw,” said Cookson. “That got me back to even. From there, I just kind of wore him down a little bit.”

Cookson was short on chips for most of the final table, but that didn’t deter him from staying around long enough to give himself a chance to win.

“It feels good,” he said. “I played solid most of the time. I hung around until I got some chips and then I won it.”

The retired air traffic controller from Miami is a fan of limit games, but doesn’t get to take part in much of them besides limit hold’em and Omaha hi-lo. There aren’t many stud games spread throughout the state.

“I just always play limit hold’em and any time there is a limit game, I want to play,” said Cookson.

Kelsall took home $3,243 for his runner-up finish. Matt Axelrod, Peter Cleven, Steven Kaplan and Michael Conti rounded out the top six finishers, who all finished in the money.

Results:

1st: Jeff Cookson – $5,499
2nd: AJ Kelsall – $3,243
3rd: Matt Axelrod – $1,974
4th: Peter Cleven – $1,410
5th: Steven Kaplan – $1,128
6th: Michael Conti – $846

$360 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Level 14: 1,500/3,000 Limits | Structure
Players Remaining: 10 of 47

With a few minutes remaining in level 14, the final nine players reached the unofficial final table in the $360 HORSE event. They redrew for seats at the unofficial final table.

They are still a few eliminations away from the money, with the top six spots guaranteed at least $846

Seat 1: Peter Cleven – 85,000
Seat 2: David Shmuel – 18,000
Seat 3: Mike Conti – 123,500
Seat 4: Matt Axelrod – 73,000
Seat 5: Errol Massey – 75,000
Seat 6: Steven Kaplan – 51,000
Seat 7: Bob Pooles – 9,000
Seat 8: AJ Kelsall – 42,000
Seat 9: Jeff Cookson – 88,500

$360 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Level 8: 800/1,600 Limits | Structure
Players Remaing: 33 of 47

“This might be the toughest $360 H.O.R.S.E field in the country,” A.J. Kelsall laughed.

Registration is closed in today’s 10am $360 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event and the numbers are final. It drew a tough, 47-entry field generating a total prize pool of $14,100. The final six get a piece with a min-cash worth $846. Meanwhile, payouts top out in the form of a $5,499 first prize along with a trophy to the winner.

Details:

2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 20
$360 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Entries: 47
Prize Pool: $14,100
April 17, 2018

1st – $5,499
2nd – $3,243
3rd – $1,974
4th – $1,410
5th – $1,128
6th – $846

In regard to Kelsall’s comment, it’s a decorated field with some local talent alongside traveling pros.

We will provide another update at the nine-handed final table.

$360 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure
Level 1: 100/200 Limits

Today is the last on the schedule with a chance for players to hop in new games and win a 2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown trophy. And it starts with a fun one.

For those who love mixed-game poker, the H.O.R.S.E. tournament is for you. The $300 buy-in tournament will rotate between Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha/8, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, and Seven-Card Stud/8 every eight hands.

Good times.

Player will start out with 12,000 stacks and the tournament will run 30-minute levels. Late registration is available till the start of Level 8 at 2pm and players may re-enter during that time if they lose their stack.

This is one of the last trophy events on the schedule and a fun way to earn one.

• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 8
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 20 Structure Sheet

Primary Event Schedule

10AM: Event 20 – $360 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)

• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 8
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 20 Structure Sheet

12PM: Event 21 – $360 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

• $50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 21 Structure Sheet

12PM: Day 4 – $3,500 WPT Showdown Championship (Re-Entry)

• WPT Championship Day 4 Counts and Seats
• WPT Championship Payouts

5PM: Event 18 Day 1B – $150 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)

• $50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
• Late registration available until start of Level 9
• Day 1 will end after Level 14 or Tournament Director discretion
• Event 18 Structure Sheet

6PM: Event 22 – $1,100 Deep Stack Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)

• Players begin with 20,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Single ante will be paid from the big blind for the entire table
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 22 Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

3PM: Event 72 – $300 Razz (Re-Entry)

• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 30-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 8
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 72 Structure Sheet

8PM: Event 73 – $130 Turbo Survivor (Re-Entry)

• 1-in-10 player will earn $1,000 in cash
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 73 Structure Sheet