2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event #25: $10,000 One-Day
$500,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  91
Prize Pool:  $873,600
August 14, 2018

The 2018 SHRPO Event #25: $10,000 One-Day tournament drew 91 entries, which crushed the $500K GTD by creating an $873,600 prize pool. This year the format was changed to 30-minute levels throughout, and that resulted in some fast and furious action.

Among those to compete but fall short of the money were 2018 SHRPO $50K Super High Roller champ Elio Fox, World Poker Tour champ James Romero, and bubble boy Aaron Mermelstein, who had his kings cracked to fall in 13^th place.

After James Calderaro (12^th – $21,857) and Stanley Lee (11^th – $23,587) bowed out, the final 10 players combined to a single table.

After a tough final table, the title came down to 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Ryan Riess and Ray Qartomy. The latter had controlled the action for most of the final table, but the former came on strong late to seize the chip lead.

The two opted to strike a deal in which Riess was deemed champion for $236,838 while Qartomy officially finished as runner-up for $206,297.

“There was a long while where I was the shortest and Ray had all the chips,” Riess explained. “Four handed I busted a couple guys and then I had all the chips. We chopped and I’m very happy.”

He continued: “I love the bigger buy-ins, the $10Ks and $25Ks are my favorite to play. This casino is just awesome, I can’t say enough good things about it. Tony Burns and all the staff do a great job. I love it here and try not to miss it.”

Indeed, back in April 2017, Riess won the $10,000 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Finale for $716,088, and in April 2015 took down the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Event #11: $2,200 NLH for $63,891.

Final Results:

1^st – Ryan Riess – $236,838*
2^nd – Ray Qartomy – $206,297*
3^rd – Jay Kovoor – $104,832
4^th – Ben Yu – $67,704
5^th – Shannon Shorr – $52,416
6^th – Jun Ji – $41,496
7^th – Barry Hutter – $34,944
8^th – Almedin Imsirovic – $30,576
9^th – Stephen Chidwick – $27,719
10^th – Jerry Robinson – $25,334
11^th – Stanley Lee – $23,587
12^th – James Calderaro – $21,857

*Denotes heads-up deal

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 1 of 91

Ryan Riess,  who had 1.16 million in chips, and Ray Qartomy, who had 660,000, opted to strike an ICM chop that saw the latter take $206,297 and the former $236,838 and the title.

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 2 of 91

Jay Kovoor, who bubbled this event last year, raised to 35,000 from the button and was met by a three-bet to 95,000 from Ryan Riess in the small blind. Kovoor responded by moving all in for 260,000 and Riess called.

Kovoor:
Riess:

The board ran out to give Kovoor two pair, but it was no good as Riess had a flush.

Ryan Riess – 1,160,000 (77 bb)
Ray Qartomy – 660,000 (44 bb)
Jay Kovoor – Eliminated in 3rd place for $104,832

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 3 of 91

Ray Qartomy raised to 40,000 from the button and Ryan Riess defended his big blind to see a flop. Riess check-called a bet of 40,000 and then both players checked the  turn.

Riess led out for 75,000 on the river and Qartomy called with the . It was no good though as Riess had the better kicker with his .

Ryan Riess – 770,000 (51 bb)
Ray Qartomy – 700,000 (47 bb)

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 3 of 91

Ryan Riess moved all in from the button for 270,000 and Ben Yu called off for 245,000 from the big blind.

Yu:
Riess:

Yu was looking for an ace but failed to get one as the board ran out .

“Good luck everyone,” he offered before departing the table.

Ryan Riess – 540,000 (36 bb)
Ben Yu – Eliminated in 4th place for $67,704

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 4 of 91

Ray Qartomy, who has been shoving nearly every hand, raised to 40,000 under the gun and called when Shannon Shorr moved all in for 270,000 from the small blind.

Qartomy:
Shorr:

Shorr’s best chance at staying alive was to catch an ace but it was not meant to be as the board ran out .

Ray Qartomy – 1,050,000 (70 bb)
Shannon Shorr – Eliminated in 5th place for $52,416

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000/15,000
Players Remaining: 5 of 91

Ray Qartomy – 745,000 (50 bb)
Shannon Shorr – 325,000 (22 bb)
Ben Yu – 300,000 (20 bb)
Ryan Riess – 280,000 (19 bb)
Jay Korvoor – 170,000 (11 bb)

Event #25: $10,000 One-Day Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Payouts
Level 20: 6,000/12,000/12,000
Players Remaining: 5 of 91

Shannon Shorr opened for 28,000 under the gun and Jun Ji moved all in for 141,000 from the cutoff. Ray Qartomy jammed over the op from the button, both blinds folded, and Shorr got out of the way.

Qartomy:
Ji:

Ji was way behind and didn’t get so much as a sweat as the board ran out a lackluster .

Ray Qartomy – 800,000 (67 bb)
Jun Ji – Eliminated in 6th place for $41,496