Aaron Flores Caps Off a Great Week With a Trophy on His Mom’s Birthday

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

Aaron Flores
Event 19 Champion Aaron Flores

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.”


PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1AaronFlores$97,935*
2BrandonHamlet$79,900*
3AdamHendrix$70,500*
4DavidDiBernardi$34,050
5TongguangSun$24,750
6ChristianRoberts$20,500
7JonBorenstein$17,215
8RichardMenjura$14,390
9AndrewBlake$11,700
10MichaelBen-Shoaff$11,700
11DanielSepiol$9,895
12ZacharyHench$9,895
13DarrenRabinowitz$8,490
14PeterMugar$8,490
15AbhinavIyer$8,490
16YordanPetrov$7,145
17BinWeng$7,145
18DominicBrazier$7,145
19AndrewMoreno$5,860
20NicholasCarballo$5,860
21BenedictCastle$5,860
22JosephCappello$4,625
23MitchellGarshofsky$4,625
24TimothyUlmer$4,625
25ChadHimmselspach$4,010
26JimCollopy$4,010
27RaminderSingh$4,010
28PhilipShing$3,530
29MitchellHalverson$3,530
30MichaelMcCauley$3,530
31ConradSimpson$3,530
32DavidJackson$3,530
33RyanDepaulo$3,530

* Indicates a three-way deal.

Event 19: Aaron Flores Wins in 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

Aaron Flores
Event 19 Champion Aaron Flores

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.

Brandon Hamlet
Brandon Hamlet
Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix

Event 19: David DiBernardi – 4th Place ($34,050)

$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
David DiBernardi

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

The flop came Qd5d3c, DiBernardi checked, Flores bet 75,000, and DiBernardi called.

The turn card was the 10c, DiBernardi checked, Flores bet 225,000, and DiBernardi check-raised all in for about 1,200,000.

Flores quickly called with 3s3h for a set of threes, and DiBernardi turned over Qh10h for two pair, queens and tens. DiBernardi needed a queen or a ten to stay alive.

The river card paired the board with the 5c, 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.

Event 19: Aaron Flores Doubles Thru Brandon Hamlet to Take the Lead

$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
Aaron Flores

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 KsKd.

Hamlet turned over 6s6c, and Flores needed his kings to hold to stay alive.

The board came 8h4s2s3cAh, 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.

Event 19: David DiBernardi Doubles Thru Adam Hendrix

$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
David DiBernardi

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

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

The board came QsJc9h10cAs, 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.

Event 19: Brandon Hamlet Leads the Final Four at the Break with 2.39 Million

$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

Brandon Hamlet
Chipleader Brandon Hamlet

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).

Event 19: David DiBernardi Shoves the River Against Brandon Hamlet

$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
David DiBernardi

David DiBernardi (UTG) and Brandon Hamlet (big blind) put in 50,000 each to see a flop of 8d4h2c. Hamlet bet 30,000, and DiBernardi thought for a while before he called.

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

The river card was the 9s, 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.

Event 19: Tongguang Sun – 5th Place ($24,750)

$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

Tongguang Sun
Tongguang Sun

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 AsAh.

Sun turned over 8s8h, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came Kd9s6d10dQc, 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.

Event 19: Christian Roberts – 6th Place ($20,500)

$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

Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts

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 6s6h.

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

The board came Jh6d2h5s8c, 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.

Event 19: Jon Borenstein – 7th Place ($17,215)

$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

Jon Borenstein
Jon Borenstein

Brandon Hamlet moved all in from the small blind, and Jon Borenstein called all in from the big blind for 215,000 with 5s5c.

Hamlet turned over Qs10c, and Borenstein needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came Ks10s10dJs6s, 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.