“I Dreamed About This” — Recreational Player Dimitri Vorbe Outlasts the Pros to Become SHRPO Champion

2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,180
Prize Pool:  $5,723,000
August 6-10, 2021

Dimitri Vorbe
Dimitri Vorbe

After five days and 1,180 entries, the 2021 SHRPO Championship came to an end on Tuesday night when Dimitri Vorbe defeated AP Louis Garza heads-up to win $929,365.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Vorbe. “I dreamed about this, but I did not understand what it would be. It’s a great feeling.”

Vorbe began the nine-handed final table with the chip lead, but as players busted, it was AP Louis Garza who rose to the top of the leaderboard, taking a big lead after doubling thru Mark Dube with four players left and holding onto it until heads-up play.

“I started very well at the final table,” said Vorbe. “I was the chipleader, but I didn’t know what to expect. There were a lot of professionals, and they were testing me.”

Vorbe, who was born and raised in Haiti but lives here in South Florida, is a recreational player who has been playing home games with friends for decades. But he only just started dabbling in tournaments over the past few years, and he’s only played a handful of them.

“Poker is fun,” said Vorbe. “But a tournament is very, very different. It’s a sport like all the other sports. There’s a physical energy that you have to put into it.”

One way that Vorbe handled the physical rigors of a four-day tournament was having a massage therapist, Francia, work on him for the entire duration of the final table.

“If you feel pressure, and if the professional poker players see you feeling pressure, they will eat you. I took a bad beat, and I was angry. But the massage helped me to relax, and I let it go. If you tilt when you are losing, you’ll lose a lot more chips.”

AP Louis Garza began heads-up play with the chip lead, but it didn’t last long, as Vorbe turned into a slow-and-steady steamroller that steadily won pot after pot, taking the chip lead and slowly weathering Garza down to the felt. Vorbe just kept picking up pots, including one 10-minute period where he won with KsKh, made a full house with Js7c, and then made another full house with JhJd.

“You have to be good, and you have to have some luck,” said Vorbe. “I was running over him [Garza] heads-up because all the cards were coming to me, and every single time I had a hand. It was a hurricane.”

There was only one all-in-and-call situation during heads-up play — the final hand — and it came after Vorbe had built up a 16-to-1 chip lead. Garza shoved with Kd3c, but true to form, Vorbe had a very strong hand, 8h8c. The eights held up for Vorbe to become a poker champion.

Vorbe seemed more interested in the trophy — designed to look like the iconic Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Tower — than the $929,365 he won.

“The trophy means more to me than anything, because this is an achievement,” said Vorbe. “It means that I started from scratch, and I won. I’m not a professional poker player, and some people spend 20-30 years playing poker professionally and never achieve that.”

Living in South Florida, Vorbe had many nice things to say about the Seminole Hard Rock.

“The Seminole Hard Rock is beautiful,” said Vorbe. “The shops are amazing, and the restaurants. The poker dealers are good, and they’re very respectful.”

Vorbe was also excited that soccer legend Lionel Messi was recently named the global brand ambassador for the Hard Rock.

“I’m a Messi fan, and Messi is now the star of the Hard Rock,” said Vorbe. “So I’m lucky to be the SHRPO champion right after Messi was here. Hopefully I’ll be back next year.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1DimitriVorbe$929,365
2AP LouisGarza$674,285
3IanO'Hara$437,350
4MarkDube$324,035
5MattAffleck$244,775
6DarrenRabinowitz$197,850
7JeffTrudeau$163,390
8HarrisonBrown$130,455
9MichaelWang$100,215
10BlairHinkle$100,215
11ChanceKornuth$73,655
12AdamZeltser$73,655
13EdMcPike$57,515
14JonathanJaffe$57,515
15ThomasCarroll$57,515
16BobMather$46,700
17SofiaLövgren$46,700
18SheddySiddiqui$46,700
19CherishAndrews$38,115
20SebastienGrax$38,115
21UbaidHabib$38,115
22CharlemagneBenjamin$31,360
23DamjanRadanov$31,360
24TobyBoas$31,360
25AaronMassey$27,470
26WilliamDavis$27,470
27JacobDaniels$27,470
28LoganHewett$23,925
29BrianHastings$23,925
30ZacharyVuong$23,925
31LandonTice$23,925
32JaredIngles$23,925
33AdamAdler$23,925
34ClintTolbert$23,925
35PaulStanechewski$23,925
36KristenBicknell$23,925
37AlGomez$20,490
38BensonTang$20,490
39YuriyKozinskiy$20,490
40MichaelGraffeo$20,490
41SpencerChamplin$20,490
42TarunGulati$20,490
43A.J.Kelsall$20,490
44JulianWohlgemuth$20,490
45LukeGraham$20,490
46NickPetrangelo$18,145
47DapoAjayi$18,145
48TaylorDeane$18,145
49MarcLevy$18,145
50MichaelRossitto$18,145
51DominickSannino$18,145
52NadyaMagnus$18,145
53PhilipShing$18,145
54DavidPeters$18,145
55YankiKoppel$16,425
56SergioMoreno$16,425
57MichaelAmato$16,425
58AnthonyHu$16,425
59PaulDomb$16,425
60BenjaminMiner$16,425
61VictorNissim$16,425
62StevenSnyder$16,425
63ElliottKampen$16,425
64MichaelLiang$15,280
65MarcGoldman$15,280
66FredericoDabus$15,280
67WilliamSoscia$15,280
68StanleyLee$15,280
69JacquelynScott$15,280
70MatthewGiametta$15,280
71BlakeBarousse$15,280
72ElioFox$15,280
73DalisGomez$14,200
74AriOxman$14,200
75QasemJamhour$14,200
76HaimOr Krief$14,200
77JasonWheeler$14,200
78RonnieTate$14,200
79FrankNaranjo Bedoya$14,200
80WagnerWysotchanski$14,200
81DonaldMaloney$14,200
82TylerRueger$13,175
83DavidLevi$13,175
84SardorGaziev$13,175
85CodyWells$13,175
86RogenChhabra$13,175
87YuvalBronshtein$13,175
88GregorySpinder$13,175
89JonathanLagace Bastien$13,175
90HalRotholz$13,175
91CoreyHochman$12,250
92JamesRomero$12,250
93PeterVitantonio$12,250
94SebastianHoyos$12,250
95StevenDockswell$12,250
96RichardLeger$12,250
97RicardoOwens$12,250
98JamesCollopy$12,250
99AlejandroGonzalez Olaechea$12,250
100FrederickAttias$11,340
101JasonObinger$11,340
102RyanLuker$11,340
103JasonDeutsch$11,340
104TomMarchese$11,340
105DavidPoces$11,340
106MichaelMaresca$11,340
107JoeMcKeehen$11,340
108JulianMilliard-Feral$11,340
109MichaelTait$10,495
110ElliottPeterman$10,495
111JamesCarr$10,495
112JasonBrin$10,495
113StephenBrite$10,495
114TobyLewis$10,495
115JohnRiordan$10,495
116FredGoldberg$10,495
117SeanPerry$10,495
118GiulianoLentini$9,685
119GregoryWilson$9,685
120TonyCousineau$9,685
121BrettApter$9,685
122ChristopherPerry$9,685
123WilliamNguyen$9,685
124ChadDeberry$9,685
125DavidMzareulov$9,685
126DavidPham$9,685
127AlbertoDestrade$8,875
128IgnacioMoron$8,875
129JasonWandling$8,875
130StevenSarmiento$8,875
131FranciscoPicasso$8,875
132SolangeLucas$8,875
133JaafarMohammed$8,875
134ZacharyGoodman$8,875
135NigelMurray$8,875
136KeithLoftus$8,070
137JessicaCai$8,070
138MarcDuquette$8,070
139AngelBracho$8,070
140BryceMcVay$8,070
141KevinBlewitt$8,070
142VietVo$8,070
143JohnTice$8,070
144SanfordTabin$8,070
145NicholasAgnew$7,270
146IlyasMuradi$7,270
147ClaytonMaguire$7,270
148LukeBrereton$3,635
149TommyNguyen$3,635

Championship: Dimitri Vorbe Wins! ($929,365); AP Louis Garza Finishes as Runner-Up ($674,285)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 1,180

Dimitri Vorbe
Dimitri Vorbe

AP Louis Garza raised all in for about 2,700,000 from the button and Dimitri Vorbe called with 8h8c. Garza turned over Kd3c, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 2hJc7s5dJd, and Vorbe won the pot — and the 2021 SHRPO Championship — with two pair, jacks and eights.

AP Louis Garza finishes as the runner-up, earning $674,285.

AP Louis Garza
AP Louis Garza

Congratulations to Dimitri Vorbe!

1st:  Dimitri Vorbe  –  $929,365 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  AP Louis Garza  –  $674,285
3rd:  Ian O’Hara  –  $437,350
4th:  Mark Dube  –  $324,035
5th:  Matt Affleck  –  $244,775
6th:  Darren Rabinowitz  –  $197,850
7th:  Jeff Trudeau  –  $163,390
8th:  Harrison Brown  –  $130,455
9th:  Michael Wang  –  $100,215

Championship: Dimitri Vorbe Gets Three Monster Hands in 10 Minutes

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

AP Louis Garza and Dimitri Vorbe
AP Louis Garza (left) versus Dimitri Vorbe (right)

AP Louis Garza raised from the button to 600,000, Dimitri Vorbe reraised to 1,750,000, and Garza folded.

Vorbe said, “I have two kings.” Garza said, “No way.”

Vorbe showed KsKh as he took the pot.

Dimitri Vorbe  –  41,000,000  (164 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  6,200,000  (25 bb)

Dimitri Vorbe won the next pot as well, and then AP Louis Garza limped from the button for 250,000, and Vorbe checked his option in the big blind.

Both players checked to the river on a board of Jc7h5dJh2c, Vorbe bet 900,000, and Garza folded.

Vorbe said, “If I told you I had a full house, would you believe me?” Garza said, “Yes.”

Vorbe showed Js7c for jacks full of sevens as he took the pot.

Dimitri Vorbe  –  42,300,000  (169 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  4,900,000  (20 bb)

A few hands later, Dimitri Vorbe raised from the button to 600,000, and AP Louis Garza called.

The flop came KdJs10s, Garza checked, Vorbe bet 500,000, and Garza called. The turn card paired the board with the 10c, Garza checked, Vorbe bet 600,000, and Garza folded.

Vorbe said, “I have a full house,” and he showed JhJd for jacks full of tens as he took the pot.

“No way,” said Garza. “What the heck is going on?”

Dimitri Vorbe  –  43,125,000  (173 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  4,050,000  (16 bb)

That was the last hand before the break. Here are the remaining payouts at stake:

1st:  $929,365 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $674,285

Championship: Dimiri Vorbe is “On a Mission”

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

Dimitri Vorbe

AP Louis Garza raised to 600,000 from the button and Dimitri Vorbe called from the big blind.

The flop was 8c10hJh and Vorbe checked to Garza who continued for 500,000. Vorbe check-raised to 1,500,000 and Garza called.

The turn was the 2h, Vorbe bet 3,000,000 and Garza folded.

Vorbe showed 7h5h for a flush and said to Garza, “Bro, I’m going to be honest. I’m on a mission, and no one is going to stop me.”

Dimitri Vorbe – 37,200,000 (149 bb)
AP Louis Garza – 10,000,000 (40 bb)

Championship: Dimitri Vorbe Takes a 2.5-to-1 Chip Lead; “The Cards Are Falling My Way”

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

Dimitri Vorbe
Dimitri Vorbe

Dimitri Vorbe limped from the button for 250,000, AP Louis Garza raised to 750,000, and Vorbe called. The flop came QcJc2d, Garza bet 500,000, and Vorbe called.

The turn card was the 6h, Garza checked, Vorbe bet 875,000, and Garza folded. Vorbe showed Qh8h for top pair as he took the pot.

Vorbe said, “I’m hot. I’m very hot. The cards are falling my way.”

Dimitri Vorbe  –  27,750,000  (111 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  19,500,000  (78 bb)

The next hand, AP Louis Garza raised from the button to 600,000, and Dimitri Vorbe called. The flop came Qc4s3h, Vorbe checked, Garza bet 400,000, and Vorbe called.

The turn card was the As, and both players checked. The river card was the 10d, Vorbe bet 1,000,000, and Garza folded 6h5h face up, saying he had a strong flop but missed his outs.

As he took the pot, Vorbe turned over Ad4d and said, “Two pair.”

Dimitri Vorbe  –  29,000,000  (116 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  18,300,000  (73 bb)

The next hand, Dimitri Vorbe raised from the button to 625,000, AP Louis Garza reraised to 1,750,000, and Vorbe called. Both players checked to the turn on a board of 10c9c5c10h, Garza bet 1,200,000, and Vorbe quickly called.

The river card was the Qh, and both players checked. Vorbe showed Jh9d to win the pot with two pair, tens and nines, and Garza mucked.

Dimitri Vorbe  –  32,000,000  (128 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  15,000,000  (60 bb)

The next hand, AP Louis Garza raised from the button to 600,000, and Dimitri Vorbe called.

The flop came 9d8d2s, Vorbe checked, Garza bet 450,000, and Vorbe called. The turn card was the 8h, Vorbe checked, Garza bet 800,000, and Vorbe quickly called.

The river card was the 3c, and both players checked. Vorbe showed Qc10d to win the pot with queen high, and Garza mucked.

That’s four pots in a row for Vorbe, who has opened up a 2.5-to-1 chip lead.

Dimitri Vorbe  –  34,000,000  (136 bb)
AP Louis Garza  –  13,300,000  (53 bb)

And here are the remaining payouts at stake:
1st:  $929,365 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $674,285

Championship: Dimitri Vorbe Takes The Lead

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

AP Louis Garza raised to 700,000 from the button and Dimitri Vorbe called from the big blind.

They checked to the turn of a 2dAcAs4c board where Garza bet 700,000. Vorbe check-raised to 2,100,000 and Garza tanked for a bit before he folded.

Vorbe showed 2s2c for deuces full of aces.

Along with a few other small pots, Vorbe took the chip lead.

Dimitri Vorbe – 25,000,000 (100 bb)
AP Louis Garza – 22,200,000 (89 bb)

Championship: Slow Start to Heads-Up Play

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

The beginning of heads-up play has been fairly slow, as you might expect when both players have more than 75 big blinds. This was the biggest hand they’ve played so far:

Dimitri Vorbe raised from the button to 600,000, AP Louis Garza reraised to 1,750,000, and Vorbe called.

The flop came Kh9d2c, Garza bet 1,050,000, and Vorbe called.

The turn card was the 9c, Garza checked, Vorbe bet 2,000,000, and Garza thought for a while before he folded. Vorbe took the pot.

AP Louis Garza  –  26,500,000  (106 bb)
Dimitri Vorbe  –  20,750,000  (83 bb)

Here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $929,365 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $674,285

3rd:  Ian O’Hara  –  $437,350
4th:  Mark Dube  –  $324,035
5th:  Matt Affleck  –  $244,775
6th:  Darren Rabinowitz  –  $197,850
7th:  Jeff Trudeau  –  $163,390
8th:  Harrison Brown  –  $130,455
9th:  Michael Wang  –  $100,215

Championship: Ian O’Hara – 3rd Place ($437,350)

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,180

Ian O’Hara

AP Louis Garza raised to 550,000 from the button, Dimitri Vorbe called from the small blind and Ian O’Hara three-bet all in from the big blind for about 4,350,000.

Garza thought for a bit before he folded, while Vorbe called pretty quickly.

Vorbe: AdQd
O’Hara: 4h4c

The flop came Ks2s3d, safe for O’Hara.

The turn was the Qs, however, vaulting Vorbe into the lead with a pair of queens.

The river was the Ah, no help to O’Hara, ending his run in third place.

Dimitri Vorbe – 20,200,000 (81 bb)
Ian O’Hara – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($437,350)

Championship: Ian O’Hara Three-Bet Shoves

$5,250 SHRPO Championship
$3,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,180

Ian O'Hara
Ian O’Hara

AP Louis Garza raised from the button to 550,000, and Ian O’Hara moved all in from the big blind for 3,175,000. Garza waited for an exact count and thought for a bit.

Garza asked, “How much do you like your hand?”

O’Hara replied, “Enough to go all in with it.”

Garza thought a bit longer before he folded, and O’Hara took the pot.

Seat 1.  Dimitri Vorbe  –  16,000,000  (64 bb)
Seat 2.  Ian O’Hara  –  4,100,000  (16 bb)
Seat 3.  AP Louis Garza  –  27,000,000  (108 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 1,180, the average chip stack is about 15,725,000 (63 big blinds). Here are the remaining payouts at stake:

1st:  $929,365 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $674,285
3rd:  $437,350