2021 SHRPO in Review

Dimitri Vorbe
2021 SHRPO Champion Dimitri Vorbe

The 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open featured 43 primary events with more than $9.5 million in guaranteed prize pools. The series concluded when it awarded a very excited Dimitri Vorbe the SHRPO Championship trophy on Tuesday evening along with $929,365.

With the big schedule, there is a lot to unpack so we will start with the raw numbers. 2021 SHRPO combined to draw 19,881 entries over the three-week run for the biggest series we’ve ever hosted by topping the massive inaugural 2013 SHRPO fields.

For the second time in our history, we awarded more than $20,000,000 in prize money during a single series with only the 2021 Poker Showdown topping the $21,014,260 paid out during the 2021 SHRPO run (and that one did it with 15 fewer tournaments)

Series numbers
Trophy Events:  43
Total Entries:  19,881
Guarantees:  $9,560,000
Total Prize Pool:  $21,014,260

2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Event 14 Champion Raminder Singh

On the player side, we had two historic wins during the series to alter our all-time win list. Raminder Singh captured the $200 Double Green Chip Bounty title during the first week to earn his seventh major SHRP Hollywood title. That moved him into a tie with David Prociak for most in our history.

Keeping pace was Michael Newman. He had five victories coming into the series and picked up another on the last day in the $400 Turbo NLH tournament. Newman’s sixth title put him into a tie with Brian Altman for second all-time.

Michael Newman

We had an incredible 34 players cash out $100,000 or better for a single tournament with 10 of those coming from the Championship alone. Jeff Trudeau is on that list twice; he earned $352,200 for his Event 15 win and another $163,390 in the Championship.

Top payouts
Dimitri Vorbe – $929,365 (Championship)
AP Louis Garza – $674,285 (Championship)
Zhuang Ruan – $562,600 ($50K Super High Roller)
Joe McKeenen – $550,990 ($25K High Roller)
Darren Elias – $539,135 ($25K High Roller)

Shannon Shorr added another trophy in his second straight series, Rebekkah Emmons won a tournament ($400 PLO) hours after finishing fifth in another ($1,100 NLH), Yuval Bronshtein won two of the first four tournaments of the series, and YouTube/social media star Masato Yokosawa flew in from Japan then won the first tournament he entered ($1,700 Purple Chip Bounty).

Overall, it was an incredible series where we met many new friends and watched some of our regulars do big things on a big stage. Thanks to everyone who came out to support and we look forward to seeing everyone in November for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open.

You can find links below for every event on the schedule with updates and results.

Full 2021 SHRPO Schedule and Results

SHRPO Championship: Dimitri Vorbe – $929,365
Event 1 ($400 Multi-Flight): Joseph Rossi – $138,887
Event 2 ($400 O8): Yuval Bronshtein – $6,673
Event 3 ($400 H.O.R.S.E.): Avery Bloom – $6,903
Event 4 ($400 PLO): Yuval Bronshtein – $10,423
Event 5 ($400 NLH): Clifford Conners – $22,750
Event 6 ($1,100 NLH): Richard Menjura – $35,355
Event 7 ($200 Multi-Flight): T.K. Miles – $51,560
Event 8 ($400 Black Chip): Eric Piderit – $10,730
Event 9 ($400 PLO): Rebekah Emmons – $12,475
Event 10 ($400 6-Max NLH): Lunique Petiote – $13,000
Event 11 ($400 OE): Ziya Rahim – $9,065
Event 12 ($400 NLH): Michael Rosen – $11,095
Event 13 ($400 6-Max PLO): Colbert Silva – $7,136
Event 14 ($200 Dbl Green Chip): Raminder Singh – $6,256
Event 15 ($600 NLH): Jeff Trudeau – $352,200
Event 16 ($600 OE): Scott Matejka – $15,180
Event 17 ($600 H.O.R.S.E.): Andy Woodmancey – $13,121
Event 18 ($600 PLO8): Long Nguyen – $19,605
Event 19 ($400 NLH): Frank Russo – $19,205
Event 20 ($1,700 Bounty) – Masato Yokosawa – $44,925
Event 21 ($400 Seniors): Benjamin Robinson – $18,030
Event 22 ($600 Bounty): Ducarmel Beaubien – $20,860
Event 23 ($600 PLO): Tom Guedj – $18,238
Event 24 ($150 NLH): Pasquale Caiazza – $7,182
Event 25 ($1,100 O8): Donny Rubinstein – $27,220
Event 26 ($600 6-Max NLH): Victor Choupeaux – $25,328
Event 27 ($600 6-Max PLO): Logan Hewett – $18,055
Event 28 ($1,100 NLH): Neal Corcoran – $76,020
Event 29 ($50K Super High Roller): Chris Brewer – $420,670
Event 30 ($200 Bounty): Roberto Bendeck – $5,836
Event 31 ($1,100 H.O.R.S.E.): Sam Panzica – $23,185
Event 32 ($2,200 NLH): Bin Weng – $99,142
Event 33 ($50K Super High Roller): Zhuang Ruan – $562,600
Event 35 ($2,650 NLH): Shannon Shorr – $186,261
Event 36 ($15,000 NLH): Matthew Sabia – $155,515
Event 37 ($600 Turbo): David Nowling – $7,227
Event 38 ($1,100 NLH): Scott Baumstein – $81,220
Event 39 ($25K High Roller): Joe McKeehen – $550,990
Event 40 ($150 Big Stack): Gonzalo Garcia – $21,970
Event 41 ($2,650 PLO): Ari Oxman – $38,795
Event 42 ($400 Turbo): Michael Newman – $7,573
Event 43 ($10K NLH): Sam Soverel – $293,205

The brand new SHRPO Championship trophy

Gonzalo Garcia Wins the Final Trophy of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open

2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 40
$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  873
Prize Pool:  $104,760
August 9-11, 2021

Gonzalo Garcia
Gonzalo Garcia

The final trophy of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open was awarded on Wednesday night to Gonzalo Garcia of Uruguay, who defeated Andre Bryan heads-up to win $21,970.

There were 873 entries in this event, and 53 players survived the two starting flights to reach Day 2, where they were in the money. By the time they reached the nine-handed final table, Garcia had the chip lead.

“I was the chipleader, so I had an advantage,” said Garcia. “But I got lucky, and I won a big hand, so everything went well.”

The big hand that Garcia was referring to was likely his double up against Steven Langert with six players remaining. Langert shoved bottom pair on the turn, and ran right into Garcia’s top two pair.

That pot gave Garcia 52.7% of all the chips in play, and he held onto the lead all the way to the finish line.

The final hand was a cooler, with Bryan shoving 8h8d into Garcia’s AsKh, and Garcia flopped a king for the victory.

This brings the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open to a close, but our next big series is only three months away — the Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open (RRPO) begins on November 18th. See you there!

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1GonzaloGarcia$21,970
2AndreBryan$14,925
3JoseParra$10,375
4VictorNassif$7,470
5AntonKutsenko$5,730
6StevenLangert$4,435
7KevinBuldo$3,595
8RonaldKatz$2,825
9BradleyYoung$2,105
10BarrySisselman$2,105
11LiesKara Mostefa$1,540
12GeorgeRovero Spyropoulos$1,540
13CorneliusRogers$990
14LuisEspitia Diaz$990
15DavidClark$990
16BrianBaris$785
17DavidEhresman$785
18MichaelMcKiernan$785
19FrancoisZayas$690
20JorgeGomez$690
21NancyBirnbaum$690
22JillRukeyser$690
23VetonBalidemaj$690
24CharlesOdenz$690
25JonathanOunjian$690
26TuanPhan$690
27KeldCurtis$690
28SergioRuiz Grajales$615
29CurtisMcKinney$615
30MarceloJo$615
31GuyCaudill$615
32EricSiegel$615
33MarkMiller$615
34VineetChanhok$615
35BrandonMiller$615
36WilmerChavira$615
37RobertoBendeck$555
38EricMorales$555
39ShawnMohamed$555
40FrancoZamboli$555
41WongduanNannong$555
42MichaelCasson$555
43LuisMantilla$555
44CarlosFernandez$555
45NormanZapczynski$555
46AnuragGonela$510
47AlainCandales Falcon$510
48DakotaCommanda Boissoneau$510
49AntonioColon$510
50JuanGarcia$510
51JuanSanchez$510
52BryanHunter$510
53DamenGooljar$510

Event 40: Gonzalo Garcia Wins! ($21,970); Andre Bryan Finishes as Runner-Up ($14,925)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 873

Gonzalo Garcia
Gonzalo Garcia

About 15 minutes after heads-up play began, Gonzalo Garcia limped from the button for 125,000, Andre Bryan moved all in for about 5,100,000, and Garcia quickly called with AsKh.

Bryan turned over 8h8d, and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came Kd10s10c9c6s, and Garcia paired his king on the flop to win the pot — and the final trophy of the 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open — with two pair, kings and tens.

Andre Bryan finished as the runner-up, earning $14,925.

Andre Bryan
Andre Bryan

Congratulations to Gonzalo Garcia!

1st:  Gonzalo Garcia  –  $21,970 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  Andre Bryan  –  $14,925
3rd:  Jose Parra  –  $10,375
4th:  Victor Nassif  –  $7,470
5th:  Anton Kutsenko  –  $5,730
6th:  Steven Langert  –  $4,435
7th:  Kevin Buldo  –  $3,595
8th:  Ronald Katz  –  $2,825
9th:  Bradley Young  –  $2,105

Event 40: Jose Parra – 3rd Place ($10,375)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 873

Jose Parra
Jose Parra

Jose Parra was all in from the big blind for about 750,000 with 10c9c, and he needed to improve to stay alive against the JsJh of Gonzalo Garcia on the button.

The board came 7s7h2h4h2s, and the pocket jacks held up for Garcia to win the pot and eliminate Parra in third place.

Jose Parra  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($10,375)

Here are the approximate chip counts for the start of heads-up play:

Gonzalo Garcia  –  8,300,000  (66 bb)
Andre Bryan  –  4,800,000  (38 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $21,970 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  $14,925

3rd:  Jose Parra  –  $10,375
4th:  Victor Nassif  –  $7,470
5th:  Anton Kutsenko  –  $5,730
6th:  Steven Langert  –  $4,435
7th:  Kevin Buldo  –  $3,595
8th:  Ronald Katz  –  $2,825
9th:  Bradley Young  –  $2,105

Event 40: Victor Nassif – 4th Place ($7,470)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 873

Victor Nassif
Victor Nassif

Victor Nassif moved all in from the button for 925,000, and Andre Bryan called from the big blind with 5h5c.

Nassif turned over AdQc, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10s8h5dJh8d — Bryan flopped a set of fives, Nassif turned a double-gutshot straight draw, and Bryan rivered a full house to win the pot. Nassif was eliminated in fourth place.

Andre Bryan  –  4,900,000  (39 bb)
Victor Nassif  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($7,470)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 4,375,000 (35 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $10,375 each.

Event 40: Anton Kutsenko – 5th Place ($5,730)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 30:  75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 873

Anton Kutsenko
Anton Kutsenko

Anton Kutsenko moved all in from the cutoff for 1,400,000, and Andre Bryan called from the small blind with AhJh.

Kutsenko turned over QsJs, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Ac5c2h5h7c, and Bryan won the pot with two pair, aces and fives, to eliminate Kutsenko in fifth place.

Andre Bryan  –  4,025,000  (32 bb)
Anton Kutsenko  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($5,730)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 3,275,000 (26 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $7,470 each.

Event 40: Jose Parra Doubles Up Twice

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 873

Jose Parra
Jose Parra

Jose Parra moved all in from the cutoff for 275,000, and Anton Kutsenko moved all in over the top from the small blind for 1,950,000 with JsJh. Parr turned over KsKc, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came 10h10d4d6c3s, and the pocket kings held up for Parra to win the pot and double up in chips.

Jose Parra  –  750,000  (8 bb)
Anton Kutsenko  –  1,675,000  (17 bb)

Gonzalo Garcia entered the pot from the button, Parra moved all in from the big blind for 650,000, and Garcia called with Ah10s. Parra turned over Jd10d, and he needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 9c8h2s6cQh, and Parra rivered a queen-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.

Jose Parra  –  1,450,000  (15 bb)
Gonzalo Garcia  –  6,300,000  (63 bb)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,625,000 (26 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $5,730 each.

Event 40: Steven Langert – 6th Place ($4,435)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 873

Steven Langert
Steven Langert

With the board showing 9c6d2cJh on the turn and about 800K already in the pot, Gonzalo Garcia got it all in from the button for 3,050,000 against Steven Langert in the big blind.

Garcia showed Jd9s for two pair, jacks and nines, and he needed it to hold to stay alive against Langert’s Qc2s (pair of deuces).

The river card was the 4h, and Garcia won the huge pot with his two pair to double up in chips.

Gonzalo Garcia  –  6,900,000  (69 bb)
Steven Langert  –  500,000  (5 bb)

The next hand, Andre Bryan moved all in from the button, and Steven Langert called all in from the small blind for 500,000 with Ah9d.

Bryan turned over Ac2d, and Langert needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came As10d2h4d7c, and Bryan flopped two pair, aces and deuces, to win the pot and eliminate Langert in sixth place.

Andre Bryan  –  2,125,000  (21 bb)
Steven Langert  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($4,435)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,625,000 (26 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $5,730 each.

Event 40: Kevin Buldo – 7th Place ($3,595)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 873

Kevin Buldo
Kevin Buldo

Steven Langert moved all in from the small blind, and Kevin Buldo called all in from the big blind for about 800,000 with Ad7d.

Langert turned over 2h2c, and Buldo needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10s4s2d7h7s, and Langert flopped a set of deuces and rivered a full house to win the pot and eliminate Buldo in seventh place.

Steven Langert  –  4,000,000  (40 bb)
Kevin Buldo  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($3,595)

With six players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,175,000 (22 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $4,435 each.

Event 40: Ronald Katz – 8th Place ($2,825)

$150 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 873

Ronald Katz
Ronald Katz

Ronald Katz moved all in from middle position for 450,000, and Anton Kutsenko called from the big blind with As7s.

Katz turned over Kh10c, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 8h8c2dQcAc, and Kutsenko won the pot with two pair, aces and eights, to eliminate Katz in eighth place.

Anton Kutsenko  –  2,300,000  (31 bb)
Ronald Katz  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($2,825)

With seven players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1,875,000 (25 big blinds), and the remaining players are guaranteed at least $3,595 each.