2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 24
$25,500 High Roller
Entries:  145
Prize Pool:  $3,581,500
April 26-27, 2021

The 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown has broken record after record, and the 145 entries in Event 24 shattered the previous casino record for a $25K High Roller, generating a juicy prizepool worth more than $3.5 million. And Tuesday night, everything fell into place for Chad Eveslage at just the right time for him to win the title, the trophy, and $767,577 in a three-way deal.

For most of the final table, it was Byron Kaverman who was in control with the chip lead. With more than $15.5 million in career live tournament earnings, Kaverman was also the most accomplished player at the table.

“It was tough,” said Eveslage. “Byron Kaverman had a lot of chips, and he was playing well. He always plays well. I just kept getting very lucky.”

Eveslage was downplaying himself, as it clearly takes more than luck to survive two full days against the largest $25K High Roller field in Seminole Hard Rock history, featuring players like Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel, WPT Player of the Year Brian Altman, and two-time GPI Player of the Year Alex Foxen, just to name a few.

But when the final table got down to the final four players, they battled for about two hours with nobody busting out. That’s when the cards fell Eveslage’s way in two key spots in the span of four hands, catapulting him from the short stack to the chipleader.

In the first hand, Eveslage moved all in for 18 big blinds with , only to be dominated by Kaverman’s . But Eveslage turned a five-high straight to win that pot and double up.

Three hands later, Eveslage and Kaverman played another pretty big pot on a board of . After betting big on the river, Kaverman showed for trip jacks, but Eveslage turned over to win the pot with a rivered king-high straight. That pot propelled Eveslage to a commanding chip lead, and he never let it go.

A short while later, the two shortest stacks got it all in, with Sean Perry’s turning a jack-high straight against Wilson’s to eliminate Wilson in fourth place.

The final three players — Eveslage, Kaverman, and Perry — quickly agreed to an ICM chop. As chipleader, Eveslage was awarded the title, the trophy, and the largest payout — $767,577.

This is the second Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood trophy that Eveslage has won so far in 2021; he won the $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event in the Lucky Hearts Poker Open to earn $101,572.

“My biggest live cash before this was $100,000 or so, maybe a little bit more,” said Eveslage, “but this is way bigger.”

Eveslage lives in Fort Lauderdale, and he’s a regular in the tournaments here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood.

“I’m here for every tournament series,” said Eveslage, “and I’m really looking forward to the big series in August.”

That’s the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, which is scheduled for July 22nd until August 10th. Though as much as Eveslage loves the poker tournaments here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, they aren’t the only thing that keeps him coming back.

“The Guitar Tower is awesome,” said Eveslage. “I can see it from my home, about five miles away.”

Final Results:

* Indicates results of a three-way deal.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 145

After the elimination of Brock Wilson in fourth place, the final three players agreed to look at the numbers for a possible ICM chop. These were the official chip counts:

Seat 1.  Sean Perry  –  3,025,000  (24 bb)
Seat 2.  Chad Eveslage  –  7,075,000  (57 bb)
Seat 3.  Byron Kaverman  –  4,400,000  (35 bb)

The players looked at the ICM numbers, and everyone quickly agreed to the following payouts:

1st:  Chad Eveslage  –  $767,577 + Trophy
2nd:  Byron Kaverman  –  $670,285
3rd:  Sean Perry  –  $596,418

As chipleader, Chad Eveslage is declared the winner and will receive the trophy. Here is the full list of final table payouts:

1st:  Chad Eveslage  –  $767,577 + Trophy
2nd:  Byron Kaverman  –  $670,285
3rd:  Sean Perry  –  $596,418
4th:  Brock Wilson  –  $286,520
5th:  Derek Gregory  –  $179,075
6th:  Chris Brewer  –  $128,935
7th:  Michael Rossitto  –  $103,865
8th:  Rania Nasreddine  –  $87,750

Stay tuned for a recap from the biggest $25K High Roller in Seminole Hard Rock history.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 145

Sean Perry moved all in from UTG/cutoff for exactly 2,000,000, and Brock Wilson tanked for a long time before calling all in from the big blind for 800,000 with .

Perry turned over , and Wilson needed his pocket threes to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Perry turned a jack-high straight to win the pot and eliminate Wilson in fourth place.

Sean Perry  –  3,025,000  (24 bb)
Brock Wilson  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($286,520)

With three players remaining from a field of 145, the average chip stack is about 4.83 million (39 big blinds). The next player to bust will earn $404,710.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

The final four players have been playing for a while now, and while the possibility of a deal has been brought up a couple of times since the final table began, Byron Kaverman has immediately shot it down each time.

Sean Perry is pretty talkative at the poker table, and lately he’s been providing commentary on hands (after they’re over) and talking himself up.

Perry has also tried to engage Byron Kaverman, but Kaverman usually stays quiet and stoic at the poker table, and hasn’t really responded beyond a glance.

Now that Kaverman has lost the chip lead with four players left, Perry has been needling him a bit, telling the table, “I’ve got third place locked up.”

Brock Wilson said, “That’s a dangerous statement.”

Perry responded, “Locked up. Byron over there is on tilt from losing the chip lead.”

Wilson asked, “Can I remind you of this if you bust fourth?”

Perry said, “Yes. Immediately. I’m a good loser.”

After some more table talk, with everyone joking around except for Kaverman, Perry said, “Byron, you don’t talk much, do you? Except to say ‘no’ to deals.”

That got a laugh from everyone, including Kaverman himself, who visibly chuckled even with a mask on.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

Chad Eveslage completed the small blind for 125,000, and Byron Kaverman checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came , Eveslage bet 125,000, and Kaverman called.

The turn card was the , Eveslage checked, Kaverman bet 400,000, and Eveslage thought for a while before he called.

The river card was the , Eveslage checked, Kaverman bet 700,000, and Eveslage called. Kaverman showed for trip jacks, but Eveslage turned over to win the pot — and take the chip lead — with a rivered king-high straight.

Chad Eveslage  –  6,100,000  (49 bb)
Byron Kaverman  –  3,750,000  (30 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 145, the average chip stack is about 3.63 million (29 big blinds). The next player to bust will earn $286,520.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

Chad Eveslage moved all in button for 2,300,000, and Byron Kaverman called from the small blind with .

Eveslage turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Eveslage turned a five-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.

Chad Eveslage  –  4,925,000  (39 bb)
Byron Kaverman  –  5,200,000  (42 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 145, the average chip stack is about 3.63 million (29 big blinds). The next player to bust will earn $286,520.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

The final four players have returned from their dinner break, and they’ll continue playing until they reach a winner.

Here are the official chip counts from the break, with an average chip stack around 3.63 million (29 big blinds):

Seat 1.  Brock Wilson  –  2,525,000  (20 bb)
Seat 2.  Sean Perry  –  2,700,000  (22 bb)
Seat 3.  Chad Eveslage  –  2,075,000  (17 bb)
Seat 4.  Byron Kaverman  –  7,200,000  (58 bb)

And here’s the remaining prizepool at stake:

1st:  $970,600 + Trophy
2nd:  $658,970
3rd:  $404,710
4th:  $286,520

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

Level 23 comes to an end, and the players take a one-hour dinner break. Action is scheduled to resume at 10:05 pm EDT.

Here are the official chip counts from the break, with an average chip stack around 3.63 million (29 big blinds):

Seat 1.  Brock Wilson  –  2,525,000  (20 bb)
Seat 2.  Sean Perry  –  2,700,000  (22 bb)
Seat 3.  Chad Eveslage  –  2,075,000  (17 bb)
Seat 4.  Byron Kaverman  –  7,200,000  (58 bb)

And here’s the remaining prizepool at stake:

1st:  $970,600 + Trophy
2nd:  $658,970
3rd:  $404,710
4th:  $286,520

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

Sean Perry moved all in from the small blind for about 4.4 million, and Chad Eveslage called all in from the big blind for 1,500,000 with .

Perry turned over , and Eveslage needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came — Perry paired his seven on the flop, but Eveslage paired his king on the river to win the pot and double up in chips.

Chad Eveslage  –  3,100,000  (31 bb)
Sean Perry  –  2,975,000  (30 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 145, the average chip stack is about 3.63 million (36 big blinds). The next player to bust will earn $286,520.

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 145

Chad Eveslage completed the small blind to 100,000, Byron Kaverman raised from the big blind to 275,000, and Eveslage called.

The flop came , Eveslage checked, Kaverman bet 175,000, and Eveslage check-raised to 550,000. Kaverman called.

The turn card was the , Eveslage checked, Kaverman bet 475,000, and Eveslage tanked for a while before he folded. Kaverman took the pot.

Byron Kaverman  –  6,600,000  (66 bb)
Chad Eveslage  –  1,350,000  (14 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 145, the average chip stack is about 3.63 million (36 big blinds). The next player to bust will earn $286,520.