2023 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 5
$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Entries:  76
Prize Pool:  $39,900
November 16, 2023

Event 5 of the 2023 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open was a $600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry). A field of 76 entries produced a prize pool of $39,900, and winning the lion’s share of it was A.J. Kelsall, taking it down outright for $13,380.

This marked Kelsall’s fourth SHRP major series trophy victory, having previously won a $360 H.O.R.S.E. at the 2017 SHRPO, a $2,200 Six-Max Turbo NLHE at the 2019 RRPO, and a $600 H.O.R.S.E. at the 2022 RRPO.

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  50,000/100,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  1 of 76

Omaha Hi-Lo

A.J. Kelsall raised to 100,000 from the button as the cards were still being dealt and Ari Engel called all in for 75,000 in the big blind.

Kelsall: 
Engel: 

The board ran out , giving Kelsall a jack-high straight to win Event 5 outright for $13,380. Engel finished runner-up for $7,780.

A recap of the event will be posted later tonight.

1st:   A.J. Kelsall  –  $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd:  Ari Engel  –  $7,780
3rd:  Fillipos Stavrakis  –  $4,900
4th:  Donny Rubinstein  –  $3,290
5th:  Tal Avivi  –  $2,500
6th:  Andy Pokrivnak  –  $2,050
7th:  Long Nguyen  –  $1,800
8th:  Alexander Hoff  –  $1,600
9th:  Erik Perry  –  $1,400
10th:  Natan Wager Vainer  –  $1,200

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  50,000/100,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 76

Stud

A.J. Kelsall:    / 
Ari Engel:    /    –  fold

Ari Engel was the bring-in, A.J. Kelsall completed to 50,000, Engel raised to 100,000, and Kelsall called.

Kelsall check-called 50,000 from Engel on fourth street.

Kelsall checked on fifth street, Engel bet 100,000, Kelsall check-raised to 200,000, and Engel thought for a while before he called.

Kelsall took the on-board lead on sixth street with an open pair of queens and bet 100,000. Engel thought for about 45 seconds before he folded.

A.J. Kelsall  –  1,445,000  (14 BB)
Ari Engel  –  75,000  (< 1 BB)

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  50,000/100,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 76

A.J. Kelsall  –  895,000  (9 BB)
Ari Engel  –  625,000  (6 BB)

1st: $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd: $7,780

3rd:  Fillipos Stavrakis  –  $4,900
4th:  Donny Rubinstein  –  $3,290
5th:  Tal Avivi  –  $2,500
6th:  Andy Pokrivnak  –  $2,050
7th:  Long Nguyen  –  $1,800

8th:  Alexander Hoff  –  $1,600
9th:  Erik Perry  –  $1,400
10th:  Natan Wager Vainer  –  $1,200

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  40,000/80,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 76

Limit Hold’em

A.J. Kelsall (who had taken the chip lead) raised to 80,000 from the button, Ari Engel three-bet to 120,000 from the big blind, and Kelsall called.

The flop was , Engel bet 40,000, and Kelsall called.

The turn was the , Engel bet 80,000, Kelsall raised to 160,000, and Engel called (leaving 11,000 behind).

The river was the , Engel bet his remaining 11,000, and Kelsall called.

Engel tabled for a flush, besting Kelsall’s holding to double up.

Ari Engel  –  662,000  (8 BB)
A.J. Kelsall  –  858,000  (11 BB)

1st: $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd: $7,780

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  30,000/60,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 76

Razz

A.J. Kelsall:    /    / 
Ari Engel:    /    / 

Ari Engel was the bring-in, A.J. Kelsall completed for 30,000, and Engel called.

Engel check-called 30,000 on fourth street before taking the on-board lead and betting 60,000 the rest of the way. Kelsall called him down

“You got it,” said Engel.

Kelsall showed for a ten-nine low, Engel mucked, and Kelsall won the pot

A.J. Kelsall  –  745,000  (12 BB)
Ari Engel  –  775,000  (13 BB)

1st: $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd: $7,780

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  2 of 76

No-Limit Hold’em

Fillipos Stavrakis raised from the small blind and Ari Engel called in the big blind.

The flop was , Stavrakis continued for 25,000, and Engel called.

The turn was the , Stavrakis went all in for about 125,000, and Engel called with for a pair of aces, leading Stavrakis’ for a pair of jacks.

The river was the , no help to Stavrakis, ending his tournament in third place.

Ari Engel  –  924,000  (18 BB)
A.J. Kelsall  –  596,000  (12 BB)
Fillipos Stavrakis  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($4,900)

1st: $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd: $7,780

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  3 of 76

Stud Hi-Lo

Donny Rubinstein:    /    / 
A.J. Kelsall:    /    / 
Fillipos Stavrakis:    /    / 

Donny Rubinstein completed his bring-in all in for 15,000, A.J. Kelsall raised to 35,000, and Fillipos Stavrakis called.

Action was then checked to seventh street where Kelsall bet 40,000. Stavrakis folded.

Kelsall tabled for an ace-high straight, besting Rubinstein’s to eliminate Rubinstein in fourth place.

A.J. Kelsall  –  260,000  (6.5 BB)
Donny Rubinstein  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($3,290)

With three players remaining from a field of 76 entries, the average stack is about 507,000 (13 BB). The remaining players are guaranteed $4,900.

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  20,000/40,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 76

Seat 1:  Fillipos Stavrakis  –  376,000  (9 BB)
Seat 3:  Ari Engel  –  658,000  (16 BB)
Seat 5:  Donny Rubinstein  –  189,000  (5 BB)
Seat 7:  A.J. Kelsall  –  297,000  (7 BB)

With four players remaining from a field of 76 entries, the average stack is 380,000 (9.5 BB). The remaining players are guaranteed $3,290.

1st: $13,380 + RRPO Trophy
2nd: $7,780
3rd: $4,900
4th: $3,290

5th: Tal Avivi  –  $2,500
6th: Andy Pokrivnak  –  $2,050
7th: Long Nguyen  –  $1,800

8th:  Alexander Hoff  –  $1,600
9th:  Erik Perry  –  $1,400
10th:  Natan Wager Vainer  –  $1,200

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining:  4 of 76

Omaha Hi-Lo

Tal Avivi raised to 30,000 from under the gun, Donny Rubinstein called in the cutoff, A.J. Kelsall called on the button, and Ari Engel called in the big blind.

The flop was and action checked to Kelsall who bet 30,000. Engel called, Avivi called all in for 3,000, and Rubinstein folded.

The turn was , Engel checked, Kelsall bet 30,000, and Engel called.

The river was the and both checked.

Engel tabled for a set of fours with the second-best low, Kelsall showed for the nut low, while Avivi showed a defeated pair of jacks, ending his tournament in fifth place.

Ari Engel  –  580,000  (19 BB)
A.J. Kelsall  –  265,000  (9 BB)
Tal Avivi   –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,500)

With four players remaining from a field of 76 entries, the average stack is about 380,000 (13 BB). The remaining players are guaranteed $3,290.