2019 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 20
$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  809
Prize Pool:  $3,923,650
August 9-13, 2019

When one player completely dominates a final table, it usually ends relatively quickly (as we saw four days ago when Jason Mercier steamrolled the $50K Super High Roller final table in about 90 minutes). The final table of the $5,250 SHRPO Championship ran more than nine hours from start to finish, but there’s no denying that Sean Winter dominated it wire-to-wire. Winter was methodical but relentless, and at no point did his chip stack even drop as low as 120 big blinds, ultimately winning the SHRPO Championship for $698,175.

Winter wasn’t the only big stack coming into the final table, as Joseph Cheong began with 110 big blinds after making it to this final table for the second straight year. (Cheong finished eighth in the 2018 SHRPO Championship to earn $102,843.) But Cheong ran into trouble early, and by the time Jordan Fisch doubled thru him in Hand #14, Cheong had lost nearly half his chips.

Speaking of double-ups, that was the theme of this final table for the first three-and-a-half hours, as the first eight all-in situations ended with the short stack doubling up. Five different players (including Cheong) were the shortest stack during that time, with a sixth dropping below 20 big blinds. Winter was coasting well above the fray, of course, never in a hint of any danger.

Eventually, in Hand #73, Nick Schwarmann got it all in with , but it failed to hold against Winter’s when an ace fell on the flop. That opened the floodgates.

Brandon Carl was knocked out by Winter on a bad beat in Hand #79, when Winter’s flopped a queen against Carl’s

In Hand #102, Giuliano Lentini doubled thru Cheong, knocking him down to a single big blind, and Cheong was eliminated on the next hand.

Ben Farrell was knocked out in sixth place when his failed to improve against the of Jordan Fisch in Hand #106.

In Hand #144, Giuliano Lentini got it all in with , but failed to improve against the of Jerry Robinson, and Lentini was out in fifth place.

In Hand #149, Jordan Fisch shoved from the small blind over two limpers with , but Sean Winter woke up in the big blind with . Fisch failed to catch up, and he was eliminated in fourth place.

Three-handed play lasted 29 hands before Jerry Robinson lost a race in Hand #178 with against Sean Winter’s .

When heads-up play began, Winter had nearly 200 big blinds, and more than a 6-to-1 chip lead over Shalom Elharrar. This was a match-up between an experienced high-stakes pro with a massive chip lead (Winter) and a recreational player (Elharrar) who owns a business called Paranoia Horror Maze, which the Miami Herald described as “part haunted house, part escape room.”

But Elharrar had been the short stack at one point with nine players left, and had already played a lot of big pots against Winter. Could Elharrar come from behind yet again to overcome the seasoned pro who had dominated the final table to this point?

No.

Heads-up play was a lot of quick, small pots, with Winter slowly and methodically chipping away at Elharrar’s stack.

In Hand #215, Elharrar limped with , and Winter shoved with . Elharrar called, and he was a huge favorite to double up. Elharrar flopped a set of sevens, but the board brought five hearts, making it a chopped pot.

Elharrar appeared to go on tilt after having his double-up taken from him, and Winter took six of the next seven hands without a showdown to wear down Elharrar to just two big blinds.

Elharrar appeared to move all in blind before the cards were dealt in Hand #223, and Winter called with . Elharrar turned over , and he was dominated.

The final board read , and though it had taken nine hours, Winter had won the SHRPO Championship in a dominating performance from beginning to end.

Winter won $698,175, raising his career live tournament earnings to more than $13.6 million. This is the fourth six-figure score for Winter at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, but surprisingly, this is Winter’s first victory here.

With performances like he put on today, it’s unlikely to be his last.

Final Table Results:

1st: Sean Winter –  $698,175
2nd: Shalom Elharrar –  $487,695
3rd: Jerry Robinson –  $314,230
4th: Jordan Fisch – $232,065
5th: Giuliano Lentini – $176,350
6th: Ben Farrell – $139,705
7th: Joseph Cheong – $115,300
8th: Brandon Carl – $91,365
9th: Nick Schwarmann – $69,800

• Download: Final Results (PDF)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 809

HAND #223  –  Shalom Elharrar moved all in blind for 450,000, and Sean Winter called blind. The dealer dealt the cards, and Elharrar showed . Winter turned over , and Elharrar needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Winter won the pot — and the SHRPO Championship — with his ace.

Shalom Elharrar finished as the runner-up, earning $487,695.

Sean Winter won the 2019 SHRPO Championship, earning $698,175, a SHRPO trophy, and a custom-framed winner’s photo courtesy of IMPDI. Congratulations to Sean Winter!

1st:  Sean Winter  –  $698,175
2nd:  Shalom Elharrar  –  $487,695
3rd:  Jerry Robinson  –  $314,230
4th:  Jordan Fisch  –  $232,065
5th:  Giuliano Lentini  –  $176,350
6th:  Ben Farrell  –  $139,705
7th:  Joseph Cheong  –  $115,300
8th:  Brandon Carl  –  $91,365
9th:  Nick Schwarmann  –  $69,800

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #219  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, Sean Winter moved all in, and Elharrar folded.

HAND #220  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar folded. Winter took the pot.

HAND #221  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 200,000, and Winter check-raised to 400,000. Elharrar folded, and Winter took the pot.

HAND #222  –  Sean Winter raised, and Shalom Elharrar quickly folded.

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #215  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, Sean Winter moved all in, and Elharrar called all in for 3,100,000 with .

Winter turned over , and Elharrar needed his pocket sevens to hold to stay alive.

The board came , putting a heart flush on the board to chop the pot — costing Elharrar a crucial double up.

HAND #216  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. Both players checked to the river on a board of . Elharrar checked, Winter bet 325,000, and Elharrar folded. Winter took the pot.

HAND #217  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 300,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #218  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar check-raised to 400,000. Winter reraised to 600,000, and Elharrar folded. Winter took the pot.

Sean Winter  –  32,175,000  (161 bb)
Shalom Elharrar  –  1,850,000  (9 bb)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #205  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 200,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , and they checked again. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a pair of nines.

HAND #206  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. Both players checked to the river on a board of . Elharrar showed to win the pot.

HAND #207  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, Sean Winter moved all in, and Elharrar folded.

HAND #208  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. Both players checked to the river on a board of . Elharrar showed , but Winter turned over to win the pot.

HAND #209  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 350,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , Winter bet 475,000, and Elharrar folded. Winter took the pot.

HAND #210  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar called.

The river card was the , and both players checked. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a pair of eights.

HAND #211  –  Shalom Elharrar folded, giving Sean Winter a walk.

HAND #212  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the river on a board of , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 300,000, and Elharrar folded, showing one card — the . Winter took the pot.

HAND #213  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 300,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #214  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Elharrar bet 300,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

Sean Winter  –  30,925,000  (155 bb)
Shalom Elharrar  –  3,100,000  (16 bb)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #196  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the river on a board of , Elharrar bet 200,000, and Winter called. Winter showed to win the pot witha pair of queens.

HAND #197  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, Sean Winter raised to 700,000, and Elharrar called.

Both players checked to the river on a board of . Winter checked, Elharrar bet 1,075,000, and Winter called. Elharrar showed , but Winter turned over to win the pot with a pair of sixes.

HAND #198  –  Sean Winter raised from the button to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 250,000, and Elharrar called.

The turn card was the , and both players checked. The river card was the , and they checked again. Elharrar bet 600,000, and Winter called. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a diamond flush, and Winter mucked.

HAND #199  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the river on a board of . Elharrar showed to win the pot with two pair, tens and sixes.

HAND #200  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 250,000, and Elharrar called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , and they checked again. Elharrar showed , but Winter turned over to win the pot.

HAND #201  –  Shalom Elharrar folded, and Sean Winter got a walk.

HAND #202  –  Sean Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar called. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 300,000, Elharrar check-raised to 600,000. Winter folded.

HAND #203  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 400,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , Winter bet 650,000, and Elharrar called with for a pair of jacks. But Winter turned over to win the pot with a pair of jacks and a higher kicker.

HAND #204  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar folded. Winter took the pot.

Sean Winter  –  31,225,000  (156 bb)
Shalom Elharrar  –  2,800,000  (14 bb)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #193  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar called.

The river card was the , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 300,000, and Winter called. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a seven-high straight, and Winter mucked.

HAND #194  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind.

Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Elharrar bet 200,000, and Winter called.

The river card was the , Elharrar bet 500,000, and Winter called. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a club flush.

HAND #195  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, Sean Winter raised to 700,000, and Elharrar folded.

Sean Winter  –  28,600,000  (143 bb)
Shalom Elharrar  –  5,425,000  (27 bb)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 31:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

Level 30 comes to an end, and Level 31 begins with increased blinds of 100,000-200,000 and a big blind ante of 200,000. Play continues without a break.

HAND #184  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar bet 250,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #185  –  Shalom Elharrar folded, giving Sean Winter a walk in the big blind.

HAND #186  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar bet 225,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 750,000, and Elharrar called.

The river card was the , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 1,500,000, and Elharrar thought for a while before he called. Winter showed to win the pot with trip tens, and Elharrar mucked.

HAND #187  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar called.

The river card was the , and both players checked. Elharrar showed , for king high, and Winter mucked. Elharrar won the pot.

HAND #188  –  Shalom Elharrar folded, giving Sean Winter a walk in the big blind.

HAND #189  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 375,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #190  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Elharrar checked, Winter bet, and Elharrar called.

The river card was the , Elharrar bet 300,000, and Winter called. Elharrar showed to win the pot with a club flush, and Winter mucked.

HAND #191  –  Sean Winter limped for 200,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter checked, Elharrar bet 275,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #192  –  Winter raised to 400,000, and Shalom Elharrar folded.

$5,250 SHRPO Championship (Single Re-Entry)
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Payouts | Live Stream
Level 30:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 809

HAND #179  –  Shalom Elharrar limped for 150,000, and Sean Winter checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Winter bet 150,000, Elharrar raised to 375,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , Winter bet 200,000, and Elharrar called. Winter showed to win the pot with two pair, tens and deuces, and Elharrar mucked.

HAND #180  –  Sean Winter completed the small blind to 150,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar bet 175,000, and Winter called. The turn card was the , Elharrar checked, Winter bet 575,000, and Elharrar quickly called.

The river card was the , and both payers checked. Elharrar showed to win the pot, and Winter mucked.

HAND #181  –  Shalom Elharrar folded, giving Sean Winter a walk in the big blind.

HAND #182  –  Sean Winter limped for 150,000, and Shalom Elharrar checked his option in the big blind. The flop came , Elharrar bet 250,000, and Winter folded. Elharrar took the pot.

HAND #183  –  Shalom Elharrar raised to 350,000, and Sean Winter folded.

Sean Winter  –  28,775,000  (192 bb)
Shalom Elharrar  –  5,250,000  (35 bb)