David Shmuel Defeats the Defending Champ to Win His Seventh Seminole Hard Rock Trophy

2023 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 5
$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Entries:  129
Prize Pool:  $43,215
January 13, 2023

Event 5 Champion David Shmuel
Event 5 Champion David Shmuel

“I just told my friend today, ‘I’m going to win this tournament,’ and I actually did it.”

On Friday night, David Shmuel won his seventh major series trophy here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood in Event #5, $400 Limit Omaha 8.

“I like to compete,” said Shmuel, “and it’s always nice to get the trophy. But I don’t think about the [career] numbers, just the competition.”

Here are Shmuel’s other six victories here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood:

2017 RRPO:  $360 Pot-Limit Omaha 8  ($7,152)
2017 RRPO:  $150 No-Limit Hold’em  ($16,573)
2018 SHRPO:  $360 Pot-Limit Omaha  ($12,589)
2020 LHPO:  $400 Omaha 8  ($7,742)
2022 Showdown:  $600 H.O.R.S.E.  ($13,890)
2022 RRPO:  $400 H.O.R.S.E.  ($7,471)

This seventh victory moves Shmuel into a tie for third place on the career leaderboard, behind Raminder Singh (nine SHR trophies) and Michael Newman (eight SHR trophies).

This seventh trophy was a tough one for Shmuel, who was down to about two big blinds with 11 players remaining.

“Even at the final table, I was down to almost nothing,” said Shmuel. “But I had a couple of nice rushes in the end, and that’s what counts.”

When heads-up play began, Shmuel was slightly outchipped by defending champion Jay Kerbel. Kerbel won this Omaha-8 event at Lucky Hearts last year, and also the Omaha-8 event a few months before that during the 2021 Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open.

“I’ve played with Jay many times,” said Shmuel. “He’s a very good player.”

With seven victories here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, it’s no wonder that Shmuel keeps coming back. But for him, it’s more than that.

“This is a great organization,” said Shmuel. “They have an amazing staff and dealers. This is basically the only place I play, besides Vegas and sometimes Tampa. This is where I like to play.”

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1DavidShmuel$12,025
2JayKerbel$7,725
3PaulWillenbring$4,580
4MarcSaia$2,800
5WilliamHanawalt$2,140
6A.J.Kelsall$1,815
7RicardoQuintero$1,575
8DonnyRubinstein$1,385
9JeffreyKenny$1,225
10RobertMangino$1,225
11BobbyLeff$1,080
12PedroLarred$1,080
13MarvinBonstein$950
14IanFeller$950
15MichaelMorgan$950
16GaryKosakowski$855
17MarkKastory$855

Event 5: David Shmuel Wins! ($12,025); Jay Kerbel Eliminated in 2nd Place ($7,725)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  30,000/60,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  1 of 129

David Shmuel
David Shmuel

Jay Kerbel raised to 60,000, David Shmuel three-bet 90,000, Kerbel four-bet all in for about 105,000, and Shmuel called.

Kerbel:  Qc9c9d3c
Shmuel:   AhQd7d2s

The flop was QhQs5d, giving both trip queens, but Shmuel’s ace kicker had him in the lead.

The 8d turn kept Shmuel ahead, and the 4d river further improved Shmuel to a queen-high flush and the nut low to clinch the Event 5 victory outright for $12,025, his seventh SHRP major series win.

Kerbel finished runner-up for 7,725.

A recap of the event will be published later tonight.

Jay Kerbel
Jay Kerbel

Event 5: Two Check-Raise Wins for David Shmuel

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  30,000/60,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 129

Jay Kerbel raised to 60,000 and David Shmuel called.

The flop was AcQd7d, Shmuel checked, Kerbel bet 30,000, Shmuel raised to 60,000, and Kerbel folded.

Two hands later, Kerbel again raised to 60,000 and Shmuel called.

The flop was AsJh2h, Shmuel checked, Kerbel bet 30,000, Shmuel raised to 60,000, and Kerbel folded.

David Shmuel  –  1,445,000  (24 BB)
Jay Kerbel  –  105,000  (2 BB)

Event 5: David Shmuel Three-Quarters a Large Pot Against Jay Kerbel

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  30,000/60,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 129

David Shmuel
David Shmuel

In the first hand of Level 24, David Shmuel raised to 60,000, Jay Kerbel reraised to 90,000, and Shmuel called.

The flop came 9c5c3c, Kerbel bet 30,000, and Shmuel called.

The turn card was the Ah, Kerbel bet 60,000, Shmuel raised to 120,000, and Kerbel called.

The river card was the 6h, Kerbel checked, Shmuel bet 60,000, and Kerbel called.

David Shmuel:  Kc8d7h6c  (king-high flush, 7-6 low)
Jay Kerbel:  AsJc7cJs  (jack-high flush, 7-6 low)

Both players flopped high flushes, though Shmuel took the high side of the pot with his king-high flush. They also made identical 7-6 lows to chop the low side, giving Shmuel 3/4 of a sizable pot to increase his lead.

David Shmuel  –  1,260,000  (21 BB)
Jay Kerbel  –  285,000  (5 BB)

And here are the payouts they’re playing for:

1st:  $12,025 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  $7,725

Event 5: Paul Willenbring – 3rd Place ($4,580)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 129

Paul Willenbring
Paul Willenbring

On the turn of a KdQs5s9s board, Paul Willenbring was all in for about 150,000 from the button against Jay Kerbel in the small blind.

Willenbring:  AdKs10s2d
Kerbel:  AsJc7c4s

Willenbring had a king-high flush, but had run into Kerbel’s ace-high flush.

Drawing to only one out for a straight flush to survive, the river was the 10c, ending Willenbring’s tournament in third place.

Jay Kerbel  –  810,000  (16 BB)
David Shmuel  –  740,000  (15 BB)
Paul Willenbring  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($4,580)

1st:  $12,025 + LHPO trophy
2nd:  $7,725

Event 5: Marc Saia – 4th Place ($2,800)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 129

Marc Saia
Marc Saia

David Shmuel raised to 50,000 from UTG/cutoff, Marc Saia three-bet to 75,000 from the button, and Shmuel called.

The flop was Jc8h2c, and Shmuel check-called 25,000 from Saia.

The turn was the 4d, Shmuel led for 50,000, and Saia called.

The river was the 3s, Shmuel bet 50,000, and Saia called.

Shmuel tabled As7d7h5h for a wheel, besting Saia’s holdings to scoop the pot.

Down to 35,000, Saia busted the following in fourth place.

Jay Kerbel  –  850,000  (17 BB)
David Shmuel  –  550,000  (11 BB)
Paul Willenbring  –  150,000  (3 BB)
Marc Saia  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($2,800)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 516,000 (10 Big Bets), and they are all guaranteed at least $4,580 each.

Event 5: William Hanawalt – 5th Place ($2,140)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 129

William Hanawalt
William Hanawalt

William Hanawalt raised to 50,000 from the cutoff, Marc Saia reraised from the big blind, and Hanawalt called all in for another 5,000.

Hanawalt:  8h8s4d3d
Saia:  QhQs2s2c

The board ran out Jc9c7s5c5d, bringing no help to Hanawalt, ending his tournament in fifth place.

Marc Saia  –  205,000  (4 BB)
William Hanawalt  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,140)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is around 387,000 (8 Big Bets), and they are all guaranteed at least $2,800 each.

Event 5: Jay Kerbel Leads the Final Five at the Break

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  5 of 129

Jay Kerbel
Chipleader Jay Kerbel

The players returned from break to begin Level 23, with increased limits of 25,000-50,000.

Here are the official chip counts from the break:

Seat 1.  Jay Kerbel  –  855,000  (17 BB)
Seat 2.  David Shmuel  –  170,000  (3 BB)
Seat 3.  Marc Saia  –  135,000  (3 BB)
Seat 4.  Paul Willenbring  –  325,000  (7 BB)
Seat 5.  William Hanawalt  –  55,000  (1 BB)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is around 310,000 (6 Big Bets), and they are all guaranteed at least $2,140 each.

Event 5: A.J. Kelsall – 6th Place ($1,815)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  5 of 129

A.J. Kelsall
A.J. Kelsall

Jay Kerbel raised under the gun to 40,000, and A.J. Kelsall called from the big blind.

The flop came KsKd9c, Kelsall bet 20,000, Kerbel raised, and Kelsall called all in for a little bit more.

Jay Kerbel:  AdAsQs5d  (two pair, aces and kings)
A.J. Kelsall:  AhJh8h8s  (two pair, kings and eights)

There could be no qualifying lows on this board, and Kerbel had the lead with a higher two pair. Kelsall needed to improve to stay alive.

The turn card was the 4d, the river card was the 7s, and Kerbel won the pot with his pocket aces to eliminate Kelsall in sixth place.

Jay Kerbel  –  825,000  (21 bb)
A.J. Kelsall  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($1,815)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is around 310,000 (8 Big Bets), and they are all guaranteed at least $2,140 each.

Event 5: Ricardo Quintero – 7th Place ($1,575)

$400 Limit Omaha 8 (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  16,000/32,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  6 of 129

Ricardo Quintero
Ricardo Quintero

Ricardo Quintero raised to 32,000 from under the gun, Marc Saia called in the small blind, and Paul Willenbring called in the big blind.

The flop was Kh5s2c, Saia led for 16,000, Willenbring called, and Quintero called all in for 4,000.

The turn was the Qs, Saia bet his remaining 9,000, and Willenbring called.

Here were their hands in descending order of chip counts:

Willenbring:  AcQc8c7h  (pair of queens, seven-five low draw)
Saia:  As8h4s4h  (nut flush draw, five-four low draw)
Quintero:  Ah10s6s2d  (broadway draw, inferior flush draw, six-five low draw)

The river was the 7s, giving Saia the nut flush along with a seven-five low to scoop the pot and eliminate Quintero in seventh place.

Mara Saia  –  170,000  (5 BB)
Paul Willenbring  –  200,000  (6 BB)
Ricardo Quintero  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($1,575)

With six players remaining, the average chip stack is around 258,000 (8 Big Bets), and they are all guaranteed at least $1,815 each.