2023 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 19
$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  257
Prize Pool:  $514,000
January 17-18, 2023

Fresh off a final table appearance two days ago in Event #1 (which had 4,535 entries), Aaron Flores won Event #19 in a three-way deal on Thursday afternoon.

“It feels amazing,” said Flores, “because I won it on my mom’s birthday.”

There were 257 entries in this two-day tournament, generating a prizepool worth $514,000, more than doubling the $200,000 guarantee. And the final eight players came back on Day 2 to play the final table.

“It was a tough final table,” said Flores. “A lot of good players, but after battling so long, the hands came. I got the kings against the sixes, then the threes against two pair. Those two big hands got me the stack.”

The kings against the sixes came during a preflop all-in against then-chipleader Brandon Hamlet, and it catapulted Flores to the chip lead. (Details here.)

The other hand Flores mentioned was the last hand of the tournament, when David DiBernardi check-raised all in on the turn with top two pair. But Flores snap-called with bottom set, and it held up for Flores to eliminate DiBernardi in fourth place. (Details here.)

At that point, the final three players agreed to a deal. As chipleader, Flores was awarded the title, the trophy, and $97,935. Combined with his eighth-place finish in Event #1 two days ago, Flores has earned $141,735 this week.

“I think I’m playing my best poker at the moment,” said Flores.

Unfortunately, Flores won’t be able to capitalize on this momentum by playing the $3,500 Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship (which starts tomorrow), because he’ll be celebrating the birthday of his mother, Dulce. But he’s still a fan of Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood.

“This is my favorite spot, honestly,” said Flores. “I’m from Chicago, but every time I come here, I tend to do good. So, yeah, this is my favorite spot.”

* Indicates a three-way deal.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 257

Shortly after the elimination of David DiBernardi in fourth place, the final three players agreed to a deal for the remaining prizepool.

These were their official chip counts:

Aaron Flores  –  3,325,000  (83 bb)
Brandon Hamlet  –  1,210,000  (30 bb)
Adam Hendrix  –  605,000  (15 bb)

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

1st:  Aaron Flores  –  $97,935 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  Brandon Hamlet  –  $79,900
3rd:  Adam Hendrix  –  $70,500

Congratulations to Aaron Flores!

Stay tuned for a recap from this event to be posted later this afternoon.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 257

David DiBernardi raised from the cutoff to 80,000, and Aaron Flores called from the button.

The flop came , DiBernardi checked, Flores bet 75,000, and DiBernardi called.

The turn card was the , DiBernardi checked, Flores bet 225,000, and DiBernardi check-raised all in for about 1,200,000.

Flores quickly called with for a set of threes, and DiBernardi turned over for two pair, queens and tens. DiBernardi needed a queen or a ten to stay alive.

The river card paired the board with the , and Flores won the pot with a full house, threes full of fives, to eliminate DiBernardi in fourth place.

Aaron Flores  –  3,300,000  (83 bb)
David DiBernardi  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($34,050)

With three players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,715,000 (43 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $51,010 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 257

Aaron Flores min-raised from UTG/cutoff to 80,000, chipleader Brandon Hamlet moved all in from the small blind, and Flores snap-called all in for 890,000 with .

Hamlet turned over , and Flores needed his kings to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Hamlet turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Flores won the pot with his pocket kings to double into the chip lead.

Aaron Flores  –  1,860,000  (47 bb)
Brandon Hamlet  –  1,200,000  (30 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,285,000 (32 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $34,050 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 257

David DiBernardi moved all in from the button for 375,000, and Adam Hendrix called from the big blind with .

DiBernardi turned over , and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Hendrix paired his jack on the flop, but DiBernardi turned a queen-high straight to win the pot and double up in chips.

David DiBernardi  –  810,000  (20 bb)
Adam Hendrix  –  975,000  (24 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,285,000 (32 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $34,050 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 257

The players return from break to begin Level 24, with increased blinds of 15,000-30,000 with a 30,000 ante. Here are the official chip counts from the break, followed by the final table payouts:

Seat 1.  Adam Hendrix  –  650,000  (22 bb)
Seat 2.  Brandon Hamlet  –  2,390,000  (80 bb)
Seat 3.  David DiBernardi  –  775,000  (26 bb)
Seat 4.  Aaron Flores  –  1,320,000  (44 bb)

1st:  $117,925 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  $79,400
3rd:  $51,010
4th:  $34,050

5th:  Tongguang Sun  –  $24,750
6th:  Christian Roberts  –  $20,500
7th:  Jon Borenstein  –  $17,215
8th:  Richard Menjura  –  $14,390

With four players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,285,000 (43 big blinds).

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 257

David DiBernardi (UTG) and Brandon Hamlet (big blind) put in 50,000 each to see a flop of . Hamlet bet 30,000, and DiBernardi thought for a while before he called.

The turn card was the , Hamlet checked, DiBernardi bet 70,000, and Hamlet called.

The river card was the , Hamlet checked, DiBernardi moved all in for 200,000, and Hamlet tanked for a while before he folded. DiBernardi took the pot.

David DiBernardi  –  540,000  (22 bb)
Brandon Hamlet  –  2,650,000  (106 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,285,000 (51 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $34,050 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 257

Aaron Flores min-raised from the hijack to 50,000, Tongguang Sun moved all in from the cutoff for about 275,000, and Flores called with .

Sun turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Sun turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Flores won the pot with his pocket aces to eliminate Sun in 5th place.

Aaron Flores  –  1,275,000  (51 bb)
Tongguang Sun  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($24,750)

With four players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,285,000 (51 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $34,050 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 257

Brandon Hamlet min-raised under the gun to 50,000, Christian Roberts moved all in from the cutoff for 150,000, and Hamlet called with .

Roberts turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Roberts paired his jack on the flop, only to see Hamlet flop a set of sixes. Hamlet’s set held up to win the pot and eliminate Roberts in sixth place.

Brandon Hamlet  –  2,800,000  (112 bb)
Christian Roberts  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($20,500)

With five players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 1,030,000 (41 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $24,750 each.

$2,200 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 257

Brandon Hamlet moved all in from the small blind, and Jon Borenstein called all in from the big blind for 215,000 with .

Hamlet turned over , and Borenstein needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Hamlet flopped trip tens, turned an open-ended straight-flush draw, and rivered a queen-high flush to win the pot and eliminate Borenstein in seventh place.

Brandon Hamlet  –  2,510,000  (100 bb)
Jon Borenstein  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($17,215)

With six players remaining from a field of 257, the average chip stack is around 855,000 (34 big blinds), and they are guaranteed at least $20,500 each.