2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event #6
$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guarantee
Entries: 121
Prize Pool: $121,000
Bounty Prize Pool: $60,500
August 5-6, 2018

After more than four hours of play Daniel Neilson, a semi-retired professional poker player, took down the Event 6 $1,650 Purple Chip Bounty title. Event 6 boasted a field of 121 entries, besting last years  mark, and easily surpassing the $100,000 guarantee. Neilson took home the biggest piece of the $121,000 prize pool with his first place finish. He earned $35,088 plus his six purple chip bounties as well as the prestigious Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open trophy.

Neilson came into Day 2 in the middle of the pack. “Yesterday went pretty well, I started off really well, I was among the chip leaders for most of the day and towards the end I lost a fair bit but it still went pretty well.”

First to be eliminated was Greg Barba when his Ace Ten failed to improve against Martin Kozlov’s pocket queens. The next to go was Jose Parra in seventh place who was outkicked by Joshua Hood’s ace queen versus his own ace three.

Floridian Poker pro Phil Hui, who already made his second final table appearance of the series lost a race to the start of day chip leader Chris Bolek to be eliminated in sixth place. Barry Pevner, who came into the day among the shortest stacks held on to a fifth place finish, when he was also eliminated by then chip leader Chris Bolek.

Martin Kozlov, who is the returning champion of 2017 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Championship Main Event, finished in fourth place as the third consecutive player to be eliminated by Chris Bolek.

It got down to three handed play rather quickly then play slowed down as they battled it out. After many lead changes Chris Bolek fell in third place when his pocket fours lost the race against Daniel Neilson’s Ace King.

Neilson took an over 2-1 chip lead heads up against Joshua Hood. After about twenty minutes of heads up play and Neilson chipping Hood down, Hood went all in with and couldn’t improve against Neilson’s , as he became the Event 6 runner-up.

Neilson says “Today was pretty easy, I sat around and waited for people to make mistakes” This is the first time Neilson, who is from Australia, has been to the United States in five years. He’s enjoying the new Seminole Hard Rock Poker Room and looks forward to checking out the pool area.

Final Table Results:

1st: Daniel Neilson – $35,088 + Trophy
2nd: Joshua Hood – $21,780
3rd: Chris Bolek – $13,008
4th: Martin Kozlov – $8,168
5th: Barry Pevner– $6,050
6th: Phil Hui – $5,203
7th: Jose Parra – $4,507
8th: Greg Barba – $3,993

• Download: Final Results (PDF)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 1 of 121

Joshua Hood raised to 135,000 from the button and Daniel Neilson put him all in. Hood called all in with and needed to improve against Neilson’s .

The board came and Neilson wound up with two-pair to eliminate Hood and secure the Event 6 trophy.

A full recap will be posted shortly.

Daniel Neilson – Event 6 Champion ($35,088)
Joshua Hood – Eliminated in 2nd place ($21,780)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 121

Daniel Neilson raised and Joshua Hood called. The flop came . Neilson bet 45,000 and Hood called.

Both players checked the on the turn. The river Brough the , and Neilson bet 135,000 winning himself the pot.

Daniel Neilson – 1,390,000 (93 bb)
Joshua Hood – 425,000 (28 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 121

Play has reached the final two players, here’s how they stack up:

Daniel Nielson – 1,065,000 (71 bb)
Joshua Hood – 780,000 (52 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 121

Daniel Neilson opened to 60,000 from the button and Chris Bolek shoved for around 400,000. Nielson called with and was racing against Bolek’s .

The board came 6c] and Neilson flopped an ace to eliminate Bolek in third place.

Daniel Neilson – 1,065,000 (71 bb)
Chris Bolek – Eliminated in 3rd place ($13,008)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 121

All three players saw the flop. Joshua Hood bet 25,000 from the small blind and Chris Bolek called from the button.

The turn brought the , Hood bet 50,000 and Bolek called. The river was the , Hood checked and Bolek tabled the winning pair of aces.

Chris Bolek – 460,000 (38 bb)
Joshua Hood – 625,000 (52 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 121

Action is still three handed, here’s a look at how they stack up.

Daniel Neilson – 760,000 (63 bb)
Chris Bolek – 580,000 (48 bb)
Joshua Hood – 475,000 (40 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 121

Daniel Neilson moved all in with for 239,000 and Chris Bolek called with

The board came and Neilson flopped a pair of jacks to secure his double.

Daniel Neilson – 490,000 (41 bb)
Chris Bolek – 700,000 (58 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 121

Joshua Hood opened from the button and Chris Bolek shoved. Hood called all in for 311,000 with and was in great shape against Bolek’s .

The board came and Hood’s pocket kings held to score a big double through the chip leader.

Joshua Hood – 665,000 (55 bb)
Chris Bolek – 940,000 (78 bb)

$1,650 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Single Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 Ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 121

Chris Bolek opened to 35,000 from the button and Daniel Nielson called from the big blind.

The flop came , Neilson checked, and Bolek bet 30,000. Nielson called.

The turn brought the , Neilson checked and Bolek bet 90,000. Neilson called.

The river was the , Nielson checked for the third time and Bolek bet 240,000. Nielson went into the tank for awhile before eventually deciding to call.

Bolek turned over for a flopped flush and Nielson mucked.

Chris Bolek – 1,235,000 (103 bb)
Daniel Neilson – 260,000 (22 bb)