2023 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 2
$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Entries:  109
Prize Pool:  $36,515
January 12, 2023

On the first day of the 2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open, the first trophy of the series was awarded in Event #2, $400 H.O.R.S.E.

There were 109 entries, and the tournament ended when the final three players agreed to a deal. As chipleader, Mark Hurst was awarded the trophy and the title.

“I’ve probably made seven or eight mixed-game final tables here,” said Hurst. “I’ve finished second and chopped a couple, but I hadn’t got an actual trophy yet. So it feels good to win my first.”

“I wanted my first trophy here to be in H.O.R.S.E. specifically,” said Hurst. “I really try to specialize in the H.O.R.S.E rotation.”

Hurst would like to see more players give mixed games a try.

“I encourage other no-limit hold’em players to learn the games and give it a shot,” said Hurst. “They might actually like it. Sometimes no-limit hold’em can get a little old, so it’s nice to switch it up and do something different.”

Hurst lives here in South Florida, and said that Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is his “favorite place to play.”

“Everyone from the floor guys to the dealers is top notch,” said Hurst. “I’m really lucky to be able to come here. I’ve been to all the poker rooms in Vegas, and played the other tournament series, and I enjoy this one the most.”

Hurst finished his post-game interview with an optimistic look forward.

“I hope to win some more trophies before the series is over.”

* Indicates a three-way deal.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23: 25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 109

Not too long after Caleb Piderit was eliminated in fourth place, the final three players agreed to a deal for the remaining payouts.

These were their official chip counts:

Mark Hurst  –  516,000  (10 BB)
Willie Wiggins  –  398,000  (8 BB)
George Boyadjian  –  392,000  (8 BB)

And these were the payouts they agreed to:

1st:  Mark Hurst  –  $7,640 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  Willie Wiggins  –  $6,996
3rd:  George Boyadjian  –  $6,959

And these were the payouts for the rest of the players who finished in the money:

4th:  Caleb Piderit  –  $2,650
5th:  Maksim Pisarenko  –  $2,045
6th:  Wally Maddah  –  $1,680
7th:  Robert Poolos  –  $1,425
8th:  Mark Kastory  –  $1,240
9th:  David May  –  $1,095
10th:  Oxana Cummings  –  $1,095
11th:  Dominic Granteed  –  $970
12th:  Gilles Dalco  –  $970
13th:  Nicholas Ceci  –  $875
14th:  Dmitriy Strunin  –  $875

Stay tuned for a recap from this event.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 109

Omaha 8

Willie Wiggins limped for 25,000 from UTG/cutoff, Caleb Piderit called in the small blind, and George Boyadjuan checked his option in the big blind.

The flop was , and action checked to Wiggins who bet 25,000. Piderit check-raised all in for 37,000, Boyadian folded, and Wiggins called.

Wiggins:    (pair of queens)
Piderit:    (set of fives)

The turn and river completed the board, giving Wiggins an ace-high straight to eliminate Piderit in fourth place.

Willie Wiggins  –  495,000  (10 BB)
Caleb Piderit  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($2,650)

With three players remaining from a field of 109, the average chip stack is around 436,000 (9 Big Bets). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $4,055 each.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 109

Hold’em

George Boyadjian raised to 40,000 from UTG/cutoff, Willie Wiggins called on the button, Mark Hurst three-bet to 60,000 from the small blind, Boyadjian called, and Wiggins called.

The flop was , Hurst continued for 20,000, and both Boyadjian and Wiggins called.

The turn was the , Hurst bet 40,000, and both Boyadjian and Wiggins called.

The river was the and everyone checked.

Hurst showed for sevens full of jacks, Wiggins showed a defeated , and Boyadjian didn’t show (but later said he had pocket eights), locking up the hefty pot for Hurst.

Mark Hurst  –  513,000  (13 BB)
George Boyadjian  –  330,000  (8 BB)
Caleb Piderit  –  290,000  (7 BB)
Willie Wiggins  –  175,000  (4 BB)

1st:  $10,785 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  $6,755
3rd:  $4,055
4th:  $2,650

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 109

Stud

Maksim Pisarenko:  (X-X)  / 
Willie Wiggins:  (X-X)  / 
Caleb Piderit:  (X-X)  /    –  fold

Picking up the action of fifth steet, Willie Wiggins bet 30,000 with his paired board. Caleb Piderit called, and Maksim Pisarenko called all in for 14,000.

Wiggins bet 30,000 again on sixth street, chasing out Piderit.

Maksim Pisarenko:    / 
Willie Wiggins:    / 

Wiggins had trip fours and had the hand locked up against Pisarenko’s pair of fives, as Wiggins had one five in his hand and Piderit folded the other.

Maksim Pisarenko:    /    / 
Willie Wiggins:    /    / 

Willie Wiggins  –  510,000  (17 BB)
Maksim Pisarenko  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,045)

With four players remaining from a field of 109, the average chip stack is around 327,000 (11 Big Bets). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $2,650 each.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  12,000/24,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  6 of 109

Razz

Mark Hurst:  (X-X)  /    –  fold
Caleb Piderit:  (X-X)  / 
Robert Poolos:  (X-X)  / 

Mark Hurst was the bring in, Caleb Piderit called, Robert Poolos raied all in for a few thousand, Hurst called, and Piderit called.

Action was checked on fourth street before Piderit isolated the pot on fifth street.

Caleb Piderit:    / 
Robert Poolos:    / 

Here were the rest of their runouts:

Caleb Piderit:    /    / 
Robert Poolos:    /    / 

Piderit made a seven-six, while Poolos’ seven-four draw never improved past a ten-seven, ending his tournament in seventh place.

Caleb Piderit  –  255,000  (11 BB)
Robert Poolos  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($1,425)

With six players remaining, the average stack is 218,000 (9 Big Bets). Everyone is guaranteed $1,680.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  12,000/24,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  7 of 109

Razz

George Boyadjian:  (X-X) / – fold
Maksim Pisarenko:  (X-X)  / 
Mark Kastory:  (X-X)  / 

George Boyadjian was the bring-in for 3,000, Maksim Pisarenko limped in, Mark Kastory completed all in for 7,000, Boyadjian called, and Pisarenko called.

On fourth street, Pisarenko bet with the best board and Boyadjian folded.

Maksim Pisarenko:    / 
Mark Kastory:   / 

Here were the rest of their runouts:

Maksim Pisarenko:    /    / 
Mark Kastory:    /    / 

Pisarenko made an eight-seven on seventh street, while Kastory’s wheel draw bricked, ending his tournament in eighth place.

Maksim Pisarenko  –  105,000  (4 BB)
Mark Kastory  –  Eliminated in 8th Place  ($1,240)

With seven players remaining, the average stack is about 187,000 (8 Big Bets). The remaining players are guaranteed $1,425.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  10,000/20,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  8 of 109

Hold’em

Caleb Piderit raised to 20,000 from middle position, David May three-bet all in for 27,000 from the big blind, and Piderit called with , leading May’s .

The board ran out , no help to May, ending his tournament in ninth place.

Caleb Piderit  –  185,000  (9 BB)
David May  –  Eliminated in 9th Place  ($1,095)

With eight players remaining, the average stack is about 164,000  (8 Big Bets). The remaining eight players are guaranteed $1,240.

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 18:  8,000/16,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  9 of 109

Seat 1:  Willie Wiggins  –  289,000  (18 BB)
Seat 2:  Mark Hurst  –  293,000  (18 BB)
Seat 3:  Caleb Piderit  –  138,000  (9 BB)
Seat 4:  Maksim Pisarenko  –  195,000  (12 BB)
Seat 5:  Robert Poolos  –  37,000  (2 BB)
Seat 6:  Mark Kastory  –  70,000  (4 BB)
Seat 7:  Wally Maddah  –  30,000  (2 BB)
Seat 8:  George Boyadjian  –  205,000  (13 BB)
Seat 9:  David May  –  50,000  (3 BB)

With nine players remaining from a field of 109, the average chip stack is around 145,000 (9 Big Bets).

And here are the payouts they’re playing for:

1st:  $10,785 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  $6,755
3rd:  $4,055
4th:  $2,650
5th:  $2,045
6th:  $1,680
7th:  $1,425
8th:  $1,240
9th:  $1,095

10th:  Oxana Cummings  –  $1,095
11th:  Dominic Granteed  –  $970
12th:  Gilles Dalco  –  $970
13th:  Nicholas Ceci  –  $875
14th:  Dmitriy Strunin  –  $875

$400 H.O.R.S.E. (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 17:  6,000/12,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  14 of 109

Hold’em

John Binns raised from middle position, and chip leader Willie Wiggins called in the big blind.

The flop was , Wiggins bet 6,000, Binns raised to 12,000, and Wiggins called.

The turn was the , Wiggins checked, Binns bet his remaining 7,000, and Wiggins called with for trip kings, having Binns’ drawing dead.

The river was an inconsequential , officially sending the remaining field into the money.

Willie Wiggins  –  280,000  (23 BB)
John Binns  –  Eliminated on the Money Bubble