2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 7
$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries:  93
Prize Pool:  $31,155
November 20, 2021

“I made good folds,” said Barak Zaken. “That’s why I won. I could have busted a lot of times.”

While the final flights of Event 1 were breaking records in the tournament ballroom, Event 7 ($400 Omaha 8/Stud 8) was played entirely in the poker room on the other side of the casino. It attracted a field of 93 entries, who built up a prizepool worth $31,155.

John Binns, who won the Event 6 trophy last night, looked like he was poised to go back-to-back when he held more than 75% of all the chips in play with three players remaining.

“I didn’t think I was going to win today,” said Zaken. “I was short-stacked the whole tournament, especially at the final table and the last two tables. I just made a lot of good folds, saved some bets, and hung in there. Then I ran hot at the end.”

“When I got heads-up, I thought I had a great shot at it,” said Zaken. “The heads-up match only lasted about 15 minutes. I ran over him [Binns]. I just ran hot, and he was folding every hand. My tight image paid off.”

Unfortunately, Zaken won’t be playing any more events this series, because he was only here for the four straight days of mixed game events.

“I only play mixed games,” said Zaken. “I don’t play no-limit.”

This is Zaken’s second trophy from Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood this year, as he won a $400 H.O.R.S.E. trophy during the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown back in April, earning $12,545.

But even though he’s leaving tomorrow, Zaken said he’ll be back.

“I really like the staff here,” said Zaken. “They do a great job with the mixed games.”

Final Results:

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  40,000/80,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  1 of 125

The first 12 minutes or so of heads-up play was a hot streak for Barak Zaken, as he won a lot of small pots to whittle down John Binns to just 130,000 (<2 Big Bets).

During a round of Omaha Hi-Lo, Zaken limped for 40,000, and Binns checked his option.

The flop came , Binns checked, Zaken bet 40,000, and Binns folded. Zaken took the pot.

Barak Zaken  –  1,025,000  (13 BB)
John Binns  –  90,000  (1 BB)

The next hand, they quickly got it all in preflop.

Barak Zaken:  
John Binns:  

The board came , and Zaken paired his king on the flop to win the pot — and his second Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood trophy — with two pair, kings and sevens.

John Binns, who won Event 6 last night, finished as the runner-up in Event 7.

Congratulations to Barak Zaken!

1st:  Barak Zaken  –  $9,590 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  John Binns  –  $5,820
3rd:  Lorne Kanover  –  $3,740
4th:  Phil Hui  –  $2,415
5th:  Claudangelo Beaudouin  –  $1,875
6th:  Jonathan Orr  –  $1,480
7th:  Charles Jacoby  –  $1,250
8th:  Harold Klein  –  $1,105
9th:  Andrew Laikin  –  $1,010
10th:  Gabriel Ramos  –  $1,010
11th:  Ted Selby  –  $930
12th:  Joel Harwood  –  $930

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  30,000/60,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 125

During a round of Omaha Hi-Lo, with the board showing on the turn, Barak Zaken checked the small blind, Lorne Kanover bet 60,000 from the big blind, and Zaken called.

The river card was the , Zaken checked, Kanover moved all in for 61,000, and Zaken called. (However, since this isn’t no-limit, Kanover’s bet was dropped down to 60,000.)

Barak Zaken:    (two pair, nines and deuces)
Lorne Kanover:    (two pair, sevens and fours)

Zaken rivered a higher two pair to win the pot and knock Kanover all the way down to a single chip — 1,000.

Barak Zaken  –  640,000  (11 BB)
Lorne Kanover  –  1,000  (0.017 BB)

The next hand, Kanover was all in from the small blind for 1,000 against John Binns in the big blind.

John Binns:  
Lorne Kanover:  

The board came — Kanover flopped two pair, nines and eights, but Binns rivered a jack-high straight to win the pot and eliminate Kanover in third place.

Lorne Kanover  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($3,740)

These were the approximate chip counts for the start of heads-up play:

Barak Zaken  –  640,000  (11 BB)
John Binns  –  475,000  (8 BB)

And the payouts they were playing for:

1st:  $9,590 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  $5,820

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 125

During a round of Stud Hi-Lo, Barak Zaken got it all in on third street for 75,000 against Phil Hui, who barely had him covered with 84,000.

Phil Hui:  ()    ()
Barak Zaken:  ()    ()

Zaken was ahead the entire way with his split queens, but he improved to two pair on fifth street and a higher two pair on the river. Hui never improved beyond a pair of deuces, so Zaken doubled up to knock Hui down to just 9,000 in chips.

Barak Zaken  –  178,000  (4 BB)
Phil Hui  –  9,000  (<1 BB)

The next hand, Hui put 5,000 in for the ante, and called all in blind for 4,000 on third street against John Binns and Lorne Kanover

John Binns:  ()  
Lorne Kanover:  ()  
Phil Hui:  ()  

On 4th street, Binns bets 25,000, and Kanover folded. Then Binns and Hui turned over their hole cards and the dealer put out the rest of the cards.

John Binns:  ()    ()
Phil Hui:  ()    ()

Neither player made a qualifying low, and Hui finished with a pair of threes, never even catching up to Binns’ split aces. Binns won the pot to eliminate Hui in fourth place.

John Binns  –  840,000  (17 BB)
Phil Hui  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($2,415)

With three players remaining from a field of 93, the average chip stack is about 372,000 (7 Big Bets). The next player to be eliminated will earn $3,740.

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 125

During a round of Stud Hi-Lo, Claudangelo Beaudouin got it all in on third or fourth street against John Binns and Phil Hui, who had bet 16K each into the side pot.

John Binns:  ()  
Phil Hui:  ()  
Claudangelo Beaudouin:  ()  

5th Street:  Hui and Binns both checked.

6th Street:  Hui and Binns both checked.

7th Street:  Hui bet 50,000, Binns raised to 100,000, and Hui folded his hole cards face up as Binns took the side pot.

For the main pot, Binns rivered a hidden set of sixes, but Beaudouin never improved beyond a pair of threes anyway. Binns won the pot to eliminate Beaudouin in fifth place.

John Binns  –  765,000  (15 BB)
Phil Hui  –  95,000  (2 BB)
Claudangelo Beaudouin  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($1,875)

With four players remaining from a field of 93, the average chip stack is about 279,000 (6 Big Bets). The next player to be eliminated will earn $2,415.

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  5 of 125

With the massive fields for the final flights of Event 1 filling up the tournament room, Event 7 was played in the Poker Room, which is a good distance from the tournament room.

Now that registration has closed for the final flight of Event 1 (Flight H), we’ll be turning our focus to the final table of Event 7 ($400 Omaha 8/Stud 8) and provide updates as they play down to a winner.

We caught them on a break, so here are official chip counts and seating positions with the limits increasing to 25,000-50,000:

Seat 1.  Lorne Kanover  –  223,000  (4 BB)
Seat 2.  John Binns  –  390,000  (8 BB)
Seat 3.  Barak Zaken  –  167,000  (3 BB)
Seat 4.  Phil Hui  –  97,000  (2 BB)
Seat 5.  Claudangelo Beaudouin  –  239,000  (5 BB)

The final 12 players in this event finished in the money, and here are the payouts:

1st:  $9,590 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  $5,820
3rd:  $3,740
4th:  $2,415
5th:  $1,875

6th:  Jonathan Orr  –  $1,480
7th:  Charles Jacoby  –  $1,250
8th:  Harold Klein  –  $1,105
9th:  Andrew Laikin  –  $1,010
10th:  Gabriel Ramos  –  $1,010
11th:  Ted Selby  –  $930
12th:  Joel Harwood  –  $930

2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 7
$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries: 93
Prize Pool:  $31,155
November 20, 2021

Registration closed for $400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 Event 7 and we had a great turnout for the tournament in the Poker Room. The 93 entries tied for the third biggest OE field in our history with all four 2021 series taking the top spots.

They created a prize pool worth $31,155 with the last 12 spots getting paid. A min-cash is worth $930 while the Event 7 winner will earn $9,590 plus the RRPO trophy.

2021 Showdown – 105 entries
2021 LHPO – 97 entries
2021 RRPO – 93 entries
2021 SHRPO – 93 entries
2018 Showdown – 91 entries

1st: $9,590 + RRPO trophy
2nd: $5,820
3rd: $3,740
4th: $2,415
5th: $1,875
6th: $1,480
7th: $1,250
8th: $1,105
9th-10th: $1,010
11th-12th: $930

$400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure
Level 1:  150/300 Limits

The Grand Ballroom is filled to capacity and we knew it would be. For that reason, Event 7 was moved to the Poker Room where the Omaha 8/Stud 8 players can grind their game.

Event 7 players start with 12,000 stacks out front and all levels last 30 minutes. Late registration and unlimited re-entries are available until the start of Level 9 at 3:30 pm. They’ll have a dinner break at 5 pm and return to play down to a champion.

We will hit the highlights and results for Event 7 while we focus our attention on the record-setting Event 1 action.

• Tournament will run in the Poker Room
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 7 Structure Sheet

Please note: Unless otherwise noted, all RRPO events will be held in the Seminole Grand Ballroom. You can register for all events across from Constant Grind at the previous buffet area.

Primary Event Schedule

10AM: Event 1 Day 1G – $400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

• $1,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 20,000 in chips
• Day 1 levels last 30 minutes; Day 2 levels last 40 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (2:30pm)
• Day 1 will end when 10% of field remains
• Event 1 Structure Sheet

11AM: Event 7 – $400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 (Re-Entry)

• Tournament will run in the Poker Room
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 7 Structure Sheet

6PM: Event 1 Day 1H – $400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

• $1,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 20,000 in chips
• Day 1 levels last 30 minutes; Day 2 levels last 40 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (10:30pm)
• Day 1 will end when 10% of field remains
• Event 1 Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

4PM: $250 Multi-Event Satellite (1-in-10)

• Two $2,100 packages guaranteed; seat in any $1,100 and $600 RRPO event plus $400 in cash
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips
• Levels last 20 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7 (6:10pm)
• Structure Sheet