2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 1
$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  7,703
Prize Pool:  $2,541,990
July 27 – August 1, 2022

The record for largest poker tournament in Florida history (measured by field size) was set here last November in the first event of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open, which attracted 6,196 entries.

The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown kicked off here last Wednesday, and with the same number of starting flights, Event 1 beat that record by more than 1,500 entries, finishing with 7,703.

The largest poker tournament in Florida history deserved an equally impressive prizepool, and the record-setting field more than doubled the $1 million guarantee to create a massive prizepool worth $2,541,990.

There were 772 players who survived the starting flights to finish in the money, and they played for nearly 14 hours on Sunday before stopping for the night with 17 players remaining.

Those 17 returned on Monday afternoon to play to a winner, and after five hours or so, the final five players agreed to a deal to end the tournament and split the remaining prizepool.

The overwhelming chipleader at that point was Andrew Pecina, who had 39% of all the chips in play, more than the next two players combined. As chipleader, Pecina was declared the winner, winning the title, the trophy, and $225,906.

“It feels amazing,” said Pecina. “Phenomenal. Words can’t describe it.”

This was the first time Pecina had ever played a poker tournament here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, and he waited until the final starting flight.

“I entered the last flight,” said Pecina. “I was alternate #530. I waited two hours to get in, and I only bought in once.”

Pecina said he played many key hands, but his big turning point likely came on Day 2.

“I was down to one big blind at one point on Day 2,” said Pecina. “But I came back and things just came together.”

Pecina seemed a little overwhelmed by the victory. He had some friends who had been watching the action all day on his way to victory, and they seemed more outwardly exuberant than Pecina. So what’s next for Pecina?

“I’m just going to go celebrate.”

Final Table Results:

* Indicates results of a five-way deal.

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 7,703

After playing five-handed for a while, the final five players stopped to discuss a deal, and rather quickly they agreed to end the tournament and split up the remaining prizepool.

These were their official chip counts:

1.  Andrew Pecina  –  59,800,000  (75 bb)
2.  Tommy Morgado  –  31,500,000  (39 bb)
3.  Nicholas Carballo  –  24,500,000  (31 bb)
4.  Hossein Pezeshkan  –  21,100,000  (26 bb)
5.  David Frenkel  –  17,100,000  (21 bb)

As chipleader, Andrew Pecina was awarded the title and the trophy. These are the modified payouts they agreed to:

1st:  Andrew Pecina  –  $225,906* + SHRPO trophy
2nd:  Tommy Morgado  –  $186,979*
3rd:  Nicholas Carballo  –  $173,368*
4th:  Hossein Pezeshkan  –  $165,792*
5th:  David Frenkel  –  $155,827*

Congratulations to Andrew Pecina!

Stay tuned for a recap from this event, which will be posted later tonight.

* Indicates the results of a five-way deal.

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 7,703

Nicholas Carballo raised from the cutoff to 11,000,000 (14x the big blind), Hossein Pezeshkan moved all in from the button for about 35,000,000, and Carballo called all in for 13,100,000 with .

But Pezeshkan turned over , and Carballo needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Carballo caught a runner-runner heart flush to win the pot and double up in chips.

Nicholas Carballo  –  28,200,000  (35 bb)
Hossein Pezeshkan  –  21,800,000  (27 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 7,703, the average chip stack is about 30.8 million (39 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $101,680 each.

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 7,703

Corel Theuma open-shipped for 9,500,000 from the hijack, Hossein Pezeshkan reshoved from the small blind, and Andrew Pecina flashed nines before he folded.

Pezeshkan:
Theuma:

Theuma was in bad shape against the monster hand, picked up a tiny draw on the flop but went out in sixth place after the turn and river.

Hossein Pezeshkan – 33,400,000 (42 bb)
Corel Theuma – Eliminated in 6th Place ($73,718)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 7,703

Action folded to Colby Covington in middle position, he moved all in for 8,400,000 and Tommy Morgado reshipped with a bigger stack on the button. The blinds folded and the hands were tabled.

Morgado:
Covington:

Margado dominated Covington’s ace and he could not find a comeback as the board ran out to exit in seventh place.

Tommy Morgado – 33,100,000 (41 bb)
Colby Covington – Eliminated in 7th Place ($48,298)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 38:  400,000/800,000 with an 800,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 7,703

The players returned from break to begin Level 38, with increased blinds of 400,000-800,000 with an 800,000 ante. With seven players remaining from a field of 7,703, the average chip stack is about 22.0 million (28 big blinds).

Here are the official chip counts from the break, followed by the final table prizepool:

Seat 1.  Hossein Pezeshkan  –  24,900,000  (31 bb)
Seat 2.  Andrew Pecina  –  48,400,000  (61 bb)
Seat 3.  David Frenkel  –  22,000,000  (28 bb)
Seat 4.  Colby Covington  –  10,800,000  (14 bb)
Seat 5.  Corel Theuma  –  7,500,000  (9 bb)
Seat 6.  Tommy Morgado  –  23,500,000  (29 bb)
Seat 7.  Nicholas Carballo  –  16,900,000  (21 bb)

1st:  $308,979 + SHRPO trophy
2nd:  $206,664
3rd:  $160,908
4th:  $129,641
5th:  $101,680
6th:  $73,718
7th:  $48,298

8th:  Scott Livingston  –  $35,588
9th:  Vinny Monteiro  –  $25,420

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 7,703

On the last hand before break, Scott Livingston and Andrew Pecina put all the chips in middle. Livingston from the button and Pecina from the big blind.

Pecina:
Livingston:

Pecina was ahead with the kings and they held on the board for the heart flush. Livingston was eliminated in eighth place for $35,558.

Andrew Pecina – 48,400,000 (81 bb)
Scott Livingston – Eliminated in 8th Place ($35,558)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 7,703

Nicholas Carballo raised UTG+1 to 1,300,000, and Vinny Monteiro moved all in from middle position for 5,150,000.

Tommy Morgado thought for a bit in the big blind before he called a floorperson over to clarify something.

Morgado asked how the payouts are awarded if two players are eliminated on the same hand, and he was told that the larger stack would get the higher payout. That appeared to be what Morgado wanted to hear, and he moved all in over the top for nearly 18,000,000.

Carballo slightly covered Morgado, and he went into the tank for a long time before he folded.

Monteiro showed , and Morgado turned over . Monteiro needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Morgado flopped two pair and turned a full house to clinch the pot and eliminate Monteiro in ninth place.

After the hand, Monteiro asked Carballo what he folded.

“Pocket tens,” said Carballo. “And I obviously would have called if he didn’t.”

Tommy Morgado  –  25,400,000  (42 bb)
Vinny Monteiro  –  Eliminated in 9th Place  ($25,420)

With eight players remaining from a field of 7,703, the average chip stack is about 19,250,000 (32 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $35,588 each.

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  9 of 7,703

After the elimination of Raffaello Locatelli in 10th place, the final nine players drew for random seats at the final table. Here is the lineup, along with their approximate chip counts:

Seat 1.  Hossein Pezeshkan  –  26,400,000  (44 bb)
Seat 2.  Vinny Monteiro  –  7,400,000  (12 bb)
Seat 3.  Andrew Pecina  –  31,200,000  (52 bb)
Seat 4.  David Frenkel  –  21,500,000  (36 bb)
Seat 5.  Colby Covington  –  8,000,000  (13 bb)
Seat 6.  Corel Theuma  –  7,500,000  (13 bb)
Seat 7.  Tommy Morgado  –  17,800,000  (30 bb)
Seat 8.  Scott Livingston  –  13,500,000  (23 bb)
Seat 9.  Nicholas Carballo  –  19,700,000  (33 bb)

Here is the remaining prizepool that they’re playing for:

1st:  $308,979 + SHRPO trophy
2nd:  $206,664
3rd:  $160,908
4th:  $129,641
5th:  $101,680
6th:  $73,718
7th:  $48,298
8th:  $35,588
9th:  $25,420

And here are the players who have been eliminated so far today, along with their payouts:

10th:  Raffaello Locatelli  –  $25,420
11th:  Yoann Gimenez  –  $19,065
12th:  Vamsi Magam  –  $19,065
13th:  Michael Jagroo  –  $13,981
14th:  Eric Siegel  –  $13,981
15th:  Tony Abid  –  $13,981
16th:  Fred Dabus  –  $10,931
17th:  Ivan Saul  –  $10,931

With nine players remaining from a field of 7,703, the average chip stack is about 17,125,000 (29 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $25,420 each.

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  9 of 7,703

Action folded to Scott Livingston in the small blind, Raffaello Locatelli checked his option in the big blind, and the flop came . Livingston moved all in and Locatelli quickly called at risk for 3,575,00.

Locatelli:
Livingston:

Locatelli was in line for another double with his paired queen versus Livingston’s jack, faded the turn, but Livingston made trip jacks on the river to send Locatelli out in tenth place.

Tournament staff paused the clock and the nine remaining players redrew seats at the final table.