David Shmuel Wins His Fifth SHRP Major Series Trophy in Event 17 for $13,890

2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 17
$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Entries:  84
Prize Pool:  $44,100
April 1, 2022

2022 Showdown Event 17 Champion David Shmuel

Event 17 of the 2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown was a $600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry). A field of 84 entries generated a prize pool of $44,100. When heads-up play was reached, it was a battle of SHRP multi-trophy winners, as two-time winner Zack Milchman faced off against four-time winner David Shmuel.

In the end, it was Shmuel who emerged victorious for his fifth trophy, winning outright for $13,890.

“He’s a great player,” said Shmuel of Milchman. “I’ve played with him many times, he’s really really good. I  just ran really good at the final table. That was the most important thing.”

Shmuel is a regular at the Seminole Hard Rock and is one of the best all-around tournament players, with victories in both Hold’em and the mixed games. The first came in a $360 PLO8 at the 2017 Rock ‘N” Roll Poker Open for $7,152, a week later he won his second is a $150 No-Limit Hold’em for $16,573, the third was a $360 PLO at the 2018 SHRPO for $12,589, and the fourth was in a $400 Omaha-8 at the 2020 Lucky Hearts for $7,742.

The fifth trophy victory for Shmuel had been elusive. Since he won his fourth, Shmuel had made an astonishing 13 final tables. Among those 13 were three runner-up finishes, but Shmuel was relieved to put that behind him.

“I really wanted to get that fifth one. It took me like three years with so many second-places, so it feels good to finally get it.”

The victory tonight also gives Shmuel a trophy in each of the four major series and puts him in a tie for third on the all-time SHRP major series trophy list.

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1DavidShmuel$13,890
2ZackMilchman$8,600
3ScottFitzhugh$5,345
4SamoeunMon$3,615
5MartyRaschkovan$2,755
6ScottMatejka$2,205
7CharlesOdenz$1,830
8AaronKupin$1,545
9JeffMadsen$1,465
10YuvalBronshtein$1,465
11AlanMorgan$1,385

Event 17: David Shmuel Wins! ($13,890); Zack Milchman Eliminated in 2nd Place ($8,600)

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  1 of 84

David Shmuel

Stud

Zack Milchman:  (X-X)  /  2h
David Shmuel:  (X-X)  /  9d

Zack Milchman was the bring-in, David Shmuel completed to 25,000, Milchman raised to 50,000, Shmuel reraised to 75,000, and Milchman committed his remaining 25,000-ish.

Zack Milchman:  5h2s  /  2h
David Shmuel:  KhQc  /  9d

Here were the rest of their runouts:

Zack Milchman:  5h2s  /  2hKsAh6c  /  5d
David Shmuel:  KhQc  /  9d9sJs10s  /  Qh

Like much of the heads-up match, Milchman didn’t catch and was drawing dead on sixth street, while Shmuel made a king-high straight to win the tournament outright for $13,890, and his fifth SHRP major series trophy.

Milchman finished runner-up for $8,600.

A recap of the event will be posted later tonight.

Event 17: David Shmuel Pulls Ahead

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 84

The heads-up match between Zack Milchman and David Shmuel began with Milchman increasing his lead, building it up to about 4:1 before David Shmuel went on a heater to take the lead.

Razz

Zack Milchman:  (X-X)  /  Qx7xKxJx  –  fold
David Shmuel:  (X-X)  /  10xKx4xAx

Zack Milchman was the bring-in, David Shmuel completed to 25,000 and Milchman called.

Milchman checked the on-board lead on fourth street, Shmuel bet 25,000, Milchman check-raised to 50,000, and Shmuel called.

Shmuel took the on-board lead on fifth and bet 50,000, Milchman called, Shmuel bet 50,000 on sixth street, and Milchman folded.

Stud

Zack Milchman:  (X-X)  /  QdKd8h3c  –  fold
David Shmuel:  (X-X)  /  2d7d4sJc

Shmuel was the bring-in, Milchman completed to 25,000, and Shmuel called.

Milchman bet with the on-board lead on fourth for 25,000, Shmuel called, Milchman bet again on fifth for 50,000, and Shmuel called again. On sixth street Milchman checked, Shmuel bet 50,000, and Milchman folded.

David Shmuel  –  1,160,000  (23 BB)
Zack Milchman  –  100,000  (2 BB)

Event 17: David Shmuel vs. Zack Milchman

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 84

David Shmuel vs. Zack Milchman

Zack Milchman  –  675,000  (17 BB)
David Shmuel  –  585,000  (15 BB)

1st:  $13,890 + Showdown trophy
2nd:  $8,600

3rd:  Scott Fitzhugh  –  $5,345
4th:  Cat Mon  –  $3,615
5th:  Marty Raschkovan  –  $2,755
6th:  Scott Matejka  –  $2,205
7th:  Charles Odenz  –  $1,830
8th:  Aaron Kupin  –  $1,545
9th:  Jeff Madsen  –  $1,465
10th:  Yuval Bronshtein  –  $1,465
11th:  Alan Morgan  –  $1,385

Event 17: Scott Fitzhugh – 3rd Place ($5,345)

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 84

Scott Fitzhugh

Stud

Scott Fitzhugh:  (X-X)  /  3cJd8hfold
Zack Milchman:  (X-X)  /  5d7c6s

Scott Fitzhugh completed his bring-in to 20,000, Zack Milchman raised to 40,000, and Fitzhugh called. Fitzhugh check-called 20,000 from Milchman on fourth street before check-folding on fifth street.

Down to about 40,000, Fitzhugh busted shortly thereafter in third place.

Scott Fitzhugh  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($5,345)

Event 17: Cat Mon – 4th Place ($3,615)

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 84

Cat Mon

Stud

David Shmuel:  (X-X)  /  Ad4d2s
Cat Mon:  (X-X)  /  7cJs3d

Picking up the action on fourth street, David Shmuel bet 20,000 with the on-board lead, Cat Mon raised to 40,000, and Shmuel called.

Shmuel bet on fifth street and Mon called all in for about 30,000.

David Shmuel:  Ac9c  /  Ad4d2s
Cat Mon:  KcKh  /  7cJs3d

Shmuel’s aces were in the lead against Mon’s kings. Here were the rest of their runouts:

David Shmuel:  Ac9c  /  Ad4d2sQc  /  2c
Cat Mon:  KcKh  /  7cJs3d4c  /  3h

Shmuel showed his seventh street first and made two pair, aces and deuces, leaving Mon drawing to just a King. He peeled, but showed an inferior two pair with kings and treys, ending his tournament in fourth place.

David Shmuel  –  500,000  (13 BB)
Cat Mon  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($3,615)

Event 17: Marty Raschkovan – 5th Place ($2,755)

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 84

Marty Raschkovan

Razz

Marty Raschkovan was all in for his remaining 5,000 on third street against Cat Mon.

Raschkovan:  10x7x  /  6x
Mon:  6x4x  /  5x

Here were the rest of their runouts:

Raschkovan:  10x7x  /  6x9xAxJx  /  2x
Mon:  6x4x  /  5x3xKx2x  /  2x

Mon locked up the hand when he made a six on sixth street, eliminating Raschkovan in fifth place.

Cat Mon  –  140,000  (5 BB)
Marty Raschkovan  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,755)

Event 17: Scott Fitzhugh Trying to Run Up the Short Stack

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

Scott Fitzhugh

Razz

Before Scott Fitzhugh took half of that main pot in Omaha 8, he had folded his small blind and had only 9,000. Now he is up to about 120,000 thanks to a double-up in Razz.

Cat Mon:  (X-X)  /  9x4x6x
Scott Fitzhugh:  (X-X)  /  4xAx4x

Cat Mon limped in for 5,000, Fitzhugh completed to 15,000, and Mon called. Fitzhugh bet 15,000 on fourth street, Mon called, and Mon check-called Fitzhugh’s all-in bet of about 30,000 on fifth street.

Cat Mon:  2x6x  /  9x4x6x
Scott Fitzhugh:  3x5x  /  4xAx4x

Here were the rest of their runouts:

Cat Mon:  2x6x  /  9x4x6x3x  /  9x
Scott Fitzhugh:  3x5x  /  4xAx4xJx  /  8x

Mon made a nine-six on sixth street and didn’t improve on seventh, while Fitzhugh has to catch to survive on seventh, and made an eight-five to double up.

Scott Fitzhugh  –  120,000  (4 BB)
Cat Mon  –  160,000  (5 BB)

Event 17: Scott Matejka – 6th Place ($2,205)

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

Scott Matejka

Omaha 8

Zack Milchman raised to 30,000 from the hijack, Scott Fitzhugh called all in for 9,000 from the button, and Scott Matejka called from the big blind.

The flop was Kd8c5c and Matejka check-called 15,000 from Milchman.

The turn was the 2s, Matejka bet his remaining 30,000-ish, and Milchman called.

Milchman:  Ah5d4c2h  (Fives and Deuces, with an 8-5-4-2-A low)
Matejka:  AsAd9d7s  (Aces, with an 8-7-5-2-A low)
Fitzhugh:  Kc8d4s3d  (Kings and Eights, with an 8-5-4-3-2 low)

The river was the 10h, giving Fitzhugh half of the main pot with kings and eights, with Milchman winning the low.

In the side pot, Milchman had fives and deuces with the better low, eliminating Matejka in sixth place.

Zack Milchman  –  465,000  (16 BB)
Scott Fitzhugh  –  18,000  (< 1 BB)
Scott Matejka  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($2,205)

Event 17: Chip Counts at Break

$600 H.O.R.S.E. (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  6 of 84

Seat 1.  Zack Milchman  –  342,000  (11 BB)
Seat 2.  Cat Mon  –  272,000  (9 BB)
Seat 3.  Scott Fitzhugh  –  54,000  (2 BB)
Seat 4.  Marty Raschkovan  –  140,000  (5 BB)
Seat 5.  Scott Matejka  –  99,000  (3 BB)
Seat 6.  David Shmuel  –  353,000 (12 BB)

And here is the prizepool for this event:

1st:  $13,890 + Showdown trophy
2nd:  $8,600
3rd:  $5,345
4th:  $3,615
5th:  $2,755
6th:  $2,205

7th:  Charles Odenz  –  $1,830
8th:  Aaron Kupin  –  $1,545
9th:  Jeff Madsen  –  $1,465
10th:  Yuval Bronshtein  –  $1,465
11th:  Alan Morgan  –  $1,385