2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 7
$400 Seniors 50+ NLH (Single Re-Entry)
Entries: 386
Prize Pool: $129,310
April 19, 2021
The previous record field for a Seniors Event here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood was 226, but when today’s Seniors Event began at 10:00 am, there were already 221 players in the field, and the record was broken shortly after that. When registration finally closed, there were an incredible 386 entries, which created a prizepool worth $129,310.
This event was only open to players who were at least 50 years old, and James Diaz won the title in a six-way ICM chop in his first year of eligibility.
“This was my first Seniors Event,” said Diaz after his victory. “I just turned 50 in January, and I was really looking forward to playing in this one.”
Sometimes things just seem to go your way, and Diaz had some luck on his side as he got pocket aces far more often than you’d expect in this one-day tournament.
“I had aces ten times today,” said Diaz. “I knocked out a few people with them, and they held up every single time, all ten times. That helped me out quite a bit.”
Diaz is originally from South Florida, though he has been living in Cincinnati, Ohio for the past 15 years. He still returns frequently to visit his parents, and when he does, he often finds his way here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood to play some poker.
“This is the best place to play when I come down to Florida,” said Diaz. “I appreciate everybody’s hospitality, and this was an excellent tournament.”
| Place | First Name | Last Name | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James | Diaz | $15,975* |
| 2 | Al | Riccobono | $13,581* |
| 3 | Yefim | Vakser | $13,411* |
| 4 | Matt | Yorra | $12,507* |
| 5 | Jesse | Lawrence | $11,703* |
| 6 | Philip | Rigby | $11,358* |
| 7 | Ebrahim | Figueroa Noboa | $4,215 |
| 8 | William | Rincon | $2,955 |
| 9 | Scott | Robbins | $2,955 |
| 10 | Chad | Ducharme | $2,275 |
| 11 | Harvey | Freedman | $2,275 |
| 12 | Robert | Omer II | $2,275 |
| 13 | Marc | Duquette | $1,710 |
| 14 | Kenneth | Harbaugh | $1,710 |
| 15 | Jacquelyn | Scott | $1,410 |
| 16 | Jonathan | Shapiro | $1,410 |
| 17 | Michael | Schoen | $1,180 |
| 18 | Kenneth | Bruno | $1,180 |
| 19 | Frank | Giordano | $1,180 |
| 20 | David | Vurgait | $1,180 |
| 21 | Donald | O'Kelly | $1,000 |
| 22 | Jeffrey | Silverstein | $1,000 |
| 23 | Michael | Reed | $1,000 |
| 24 | Miguel | Rodriguez | $1,000 |
| 25 | Thomas | Hunnicutt | $860 |
| 26 | Marsha | Wolak | $860 |
| 27 | Jesse | Black | $860 |
| 28 | Ken | Aldridge | $860 |
| 29 | Mark | Cannon | $860 |
| 30 | Arthur | Demmerley | $860 |
| 31 | Marie | Harrell | $860 |
| 32 | Dennis | Taylor | $860 |
| 33 | Keith | Loftus | $750 |
| 34 | Dietrich | Kuhlmann | $750 |
| 35 | George | Colli | $750 |
| 36 | Carla | Poindexter | $750 |
| 37 | Gary | Mentro | $750 |
| 38 | Marty | Gorenic | $750 |
| 39 | Robert | Mantin | $750 |
| 40 | Gary | Tennyson | $750 |
| 41 | Michael | Daum | $665 |
| 42 | Nick | Blackburn | $665 |
| 43 | David | Williams | $665 |
| 44 | Barbara | Cardin | $665 |
| 45 | Peter | Forsstrom | $665 |
| 46 | Howard | Hankin | $665 |
| 47 | Horace | Ford | $665 |
| 48 | Bernard | Krueger | $665 |
| 49 | Timothy | Flatt | $665 |
* Indicates results of a six-way deal.
, and he needed to improve to stay alive against Yorra’s 
.
, and Riccobono paired his ace on the flop to win the pot and double up in chips.
, Vakser bet 100,000, Diaz moved all in for 328,000, and Vakser asked for an exact count before he called.
(pair of fours)
(set of eights)
(gutshot straight draw)
, the river card was the 
, and the set of eights held up for Diaz to scoop the entire pot, doubling thru Vakser and eliminating Figueroa in seventh place.
for a pair of jacks, and Rincon turned over 
, and the river card was — the 
