2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 29
$2,200 Deep Stack PLO (Re-Entry)
Entries:  35
Prize Pool:  $70,000
January 21-22, 2020

Timothy Banks survived more than two hours of three-handed play against David Prociak and Melisa Singh before building up a big chip lead and winning the trophy in a three-way deal.

“It feels great,” said Banks, who hails from Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island in Canada. “I’m a PLO player by nature. I play it all the time as a cash game, but I never get to play tournaments because they never have any back home.”

Banks finished fourth in his last two PLO tournaments — the $1,100 PLO in last year’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open, and a $400 PLO event at Coconut Creek last February.

After his success in his last two Pot-Limit Omaha events, Banks said, “I just thought I better give this tournament a shot to see what happens.”

Banks faced some very tough competition at this final table. When play resumed on Wednesday afternoon with the final four players, Andrei Mitsiuk was eliminated in the first five minutes. Then the final three players battled it out for more than two hours.

One of the players battling Banks for the title was David Prociak, who has the career record for most wins here at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood (seven), including five in PLO.

The other was Melisa Singh, who is on an incredible hot streak right now, with 18 final tables and three victories in the past eight months.

“They’re both really good competitors,” said Banks. “They’re young and they’re making a living at it. I’m recreational, so I’m glad to be able to make this deal with them, and get the trophy as well.”

Three-handed play lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours, with all three players holding the chip lead and the short stack at different points. Banks reached the lowest point, with just 40K in chips, but was able to bounce back.

“That’s my style,” said Banks. “I’m like a yo-yo. If I feel that the hand’s there, then I’m putting it all in. If I go home, I go home.”

Eventually, Banks built up a sizeable lead when the average chip stack was about 23 big blinds, and that’s when the three players agreed to an even chop of the remaining prizepool. As chipleader, Banks won the title and the trophy.

Banks wrapped up his winner’s interview by praising the staff. “What impresses me the most about the Seminole Hard Rock is the dealers,” said Banks. “They’re very nice people, and they’re very courteous to others, and I always have a great time here.”

Final Results:

1st:  Timothy Banks  –  $18,484* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Melisa Singh  –  $18,483*
3rd:  David Prociak  –  $18,483*
4th:  Andrei Mitsiuk  –  $8,280
5th:  Emmanuel Sebag  –  $6,270

* Indicates a three-way chop.

$2,200 Deep Stack PLO (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 16:  5,000/10,000
Players Remaining:  1 of 35

All three players limped for 10,000 each to see a flop of . The blinds checked, and Timothy Banks bet 25,000. Melisa Singh folded the small blind, and David Prociak called from the big blind.

The turn card was the , and both players checked. The river card was the , and they checked again.

Timothy Banks:    (jack-high flush)
David Prociak:    (set of sevens)

Banks won the pot with his jack-high flush to increase his lead.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  162,000  (16 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  129,000  (13 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  409,000  (41 bb)

Two hands later, all three players limped to see a flop of . The blinds checked to Prociak, who bet 10,000, and then Banks check-raised from the small blind to 60,000. Singh folded, and Prociak called.

The turn card was the , and Banks moved all in. Prociak folded, saying he had the best hand on the flop, and Banks took the pot without showing his cards.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  142,000  (14 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  95,000  (10 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  463,000  (46 bb)

At that point, the final three players agreed to a three-way even chop. As chipleader, Timothy Banks was declared the winner, receiving the trophy and the title.

1st:  Timothy Banks  –  $18,484* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Melisa Singh  –  $18,483*
3rd:  David Prociak  –  $18,483*
4th:  Andrei Mitsiuk  –  $8,280
5th:  Emmanuel Sebag  –  $6,270

Stay tuned for a recap from this event to be posted later tonight.

* Indicates a three-way chop.

$2,200 Deep Stack PLO (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 15:  4,000/8,000
Players Remaining:  3 of 35

All three players limped for 8,000 each to see a flop of . Timothy Banks checked the small blind, and Melisa Singh bet 13,000 from the big blind. David Prociak called from the big blind, and Banks also called.

The turn card was the , the blinds checked, and Prociak bet 15,000. Banks and Singh both called.

The river card was the , and Banks bet out for 60,000. Singh moved all in for about 255,000, and Prociak and Banks both folded. Singh took the pot to increase her chip lead.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  432,000  (54 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  137,000  (17 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  131,000  (16 bb)

About five minutes later, David Prociak raised from the button to 18,000, Timothy Banks called from the small blind, and Melisa Singh called from the big blind.

All three players checked to the turn on a board of , and Banks pot-bet 54,000. Singh thought for a while before she called, and Prociak folded.

The river card was the , Banks moved all in for 91,000, and Singh thought for a while before she called.

Timothy Banks:    (ace-high straight)
Melisa Singh:  mucked

Banks turned over the nuts to win the pot, double up in chips, and take the chip lead.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  255,000  (32 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  101,000  (13 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  344,000  (43 bb)

About five minutes later, Level 15 came to an end and the players took a 15-minute break. These were the official chip counts with the blinds increasing to 5K-10K:

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  222,000  (22 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  134,000  (13 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  344,000  (34 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 233,000 (23 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $11,675.

$2,200 Deep Stack PLO (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 15:  4,000/8,000
Players Remaining:  3 of 35

Timothy Banks raised from the button to 24,000, and David Prociak called from the big blind. Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Prociak checked, Banks pot-bet 52,000, and Prociak called.

The river card was the , and both players checked.

Timothy Banks:    (heart flush)
David Prociak:  mucked

Banks had two flush draws on the turn, and won the pot with a rivered heart flush to take the chip lead.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  233,000  (29 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  153,000  (19 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  314,000  (39 bb)

The next hand, after a flop of , both blinds checked and Melisa Singh bet 13,000 from the button. David Prociak called from the small blind, and Timothy Banks called from the big blind.

The turn card was the , and all three players checked. The river card was the , action checked to Singh, and she bet 40,000. Prociak folded, and Banks called.

Melisa Singh:    (king-high flush)
Timothy Banks:  mucked

Singh won the pot with her king-high flush to take the lead.

Seat 1.  Melisa Singh  –  308,000  (39 bb)
Seat 2.  David Prociak  –  137,000  (17 bb)
Seat 3.  Timothy Banks  –  255,000  (32 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 233,000 (29 big blinds), and the next player to bust will earn $11,675.