John Holley Wins His Eighth SHRP Major Series Trophy With Lucky Hearts Event 39 Victory for $25,715

2023 Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 37
$600 Seniors 50+ NLH (Re-Entry)
Entries:  193
Prize Pool:  $101,325
January 23, 2023

2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open Event 37 Champion John Holley

Event 37 of the 2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open was a $600 Seniors 50+ No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry). A field of 193 entries generated a prize pool of $101,325. Emerging victorious for the second time during the series was John Holley, winning outright for $25,715.

The win marked Holley’s eighth SHRP major series victory overall, tying him with Yuval Bronshtein and Michael Newman, trailing only Raminder Singh’s nine.

Here are Holley’s eight SHRP major series wins:

2013 SHRPO – $240 PLO8 – $5,919
2013 SHRPO – $240 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em – $9,207
2015 RRPO – $350 Six-Max No-Limit Hold’em – $5,304
2018 SHRPO – $300 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em – $6,924
2022 RRPO – $400 Omaha 8/Stud 8 – $8,950
2022 RRPO – $600 Pot-Limit Omaha – $30,191
2023 LHPO – $600 Turbo No-Limit Hold’em – $13,760
2023 LHPO – $600 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em – $25,715

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1JohnHolley$25,715
2DavidWord$16,365
3TimothyShortell$10,355
4ScottLivingston$6,320
5KevinMacDonald$4,880
6RichardKatz$4,045
7StaceyManning$3,445
8BarryAbes$2,980
9GaryGelman$2,525
10PaulBalzano$2,525
11DavidIves$2,200
12RobertMantin$2,200
13NancyBirnbaum$1,875
14MichaelRattner$1,875
15TimothyLittle$1,875
16MichaelMiravi$1,555
17BarryBrown$1,555
18ChristopherUlrich$1,555
19DarenStabinski$1,240
20JamesCalderaro$1,240
21VictoriaOndis$1,240
22RussellDohan$940
23IraFriedman$940
24StevenIdels$940
25GregoryBaird$940

Event 37: Bigger Seniors

$600 Seniors 50+ NLH (Re-Entry)
Structure
Level 1:  100/100

The Seniors Event is so popular we’ve been throwing two of them on the schedule over the last few series. The second LHPO Seniors Event gets underway at 11 am with a $600 buy-in.

Seniors will start with 20,000 deep stacks and all levels last 30 minutes for the one-day tournament. Late registration and unlimited re-entries are available until the start of Level 9 at 3:30 pm. They have a 45-minute dinner break and the senior-friendly time of 5:30 pm and return to find our next Seniors champ.

  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 37 Structure Sheet

LHPO Day 12 Schedule

Primary Event Schedule

11AM: Event 36 Day 1B – $400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

  • $200,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Day 1 levels last 30 minutes; Day 2 levels last 40 minutes
  • Levels 27+ last 60 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
  • Day 1 will end when field reaches 12.5%
  • Event 36 Structure Sheet

11AM: Event 37 – $600 Seniors 50+ NLH (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (3:30pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 37 Structure Sheet

12PM: Day 3 – $3,500 LHPO Championship

12PM: Event 38 Day 1 – $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Levels 1-12 last 30 minutes; Levels 13+ last 40 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (5:00pm)
  • Day 1 will end after Level 15
  • Event 38 Structure Sheet

1PM: Event 35 Day 2 – $1,100 Mixed PLO (Re-Entry)

2PM: Event 34 Day 2 – $1,700 Purple Chip Bounty NLH (Re-Entry)

6PM: Event 36 Day 1C – $400 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

  • $200,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Day 1 levels last 30 minutes; Day 2 levels last 40 minutes
  • Levels 27+ last 60 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (10:30pm)
  • Day 1 will end when field reaches 12.5%
  • Event 36 Structure Sheet

8PM: Event 39 – $600 Deep Stack Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)

  • Players begin with 20,000 in chips
  • Levels last 15 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (10:15pm)
  • This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
  • Event 39 Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

2PM: $550 Event 41 Turbo Satellite (1-in-10)

  • One seat guaranteed into $5K/$100K GTD One-Day Event 41
  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips
  • Levels last 15 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (4:15pm)
  • Structure Sheet

6PM: $550 Event 41 Turbo Satellite (1-in-10)

  • Two seats guaranteed into $5K/$100K GTD One-Day Event 41
  • Players begin with 10,000 in chips
  • Levels last 15 minutes
  • Late registration until start of Level 9 (8:15pm)
  • Structure Sheet

2023 Lucky Hearts Poker Open Schedule

Please note: We recommend parking in either Winner’s Way or Seminole Way garage for the most convenient access to the Grand Ballroom

SHRPO Champion Sergio Aido Wins the $25,500 High Roller

2022 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 37
$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  85
Prize Pool: $2,099,500
November 28-29, 2022

High Roller Champion Sergio Aido
High Roller Champion Sergio Aido

There were 85 entries in the $25,500 High Roller, more than doubling the $1 million guarantee to create a prizepool worth $2,099,500. The final 12 players finished in the money, and the final three agreed to a deal to end the tournament, with chipleader Sergio Aido winning the title, the trophy, and $500,000.

The key pot for Aido came with seven players remaining.

“I doubled up pretty early,” said Aido, “with nines against ace-queen.” (Click here for details of the hand.) That pot propelled Aido to the chip lead, and he stayed near the top of the leaderboard the rest of the way.

“That pot changed things for me,” said Aido, “because I had been in the middle of the standings. Once I was in the top three, I could make some more moves and gain some chips.”

Toward the end of the final table, Aido knocked out Stan Jablonski in fifth place and Gytis Lazauninkas in fourth, and those pots gave Aido the chip lead when the final three made their deal.

This is Aido’s second high-profile victory here, as he won the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship this past August, outlasting a massive field of 1,110 entries to earn $900,100. Today’s victory takes Aido up over $14.7 million in career tournament earnings.

Aido appreciates that all of the high buy-in events that he likes to play are scheduled close together near the end of these series.

“I can come for only five or six days,” said Aido, “and since I am living in Mexico now, it’s a convenient three-hour flight.


Final Results:

PlaceFirst NameLast NamePrize Amount
1SergioAido500,000*
2ScottMargereson413,746*
3JustinSaliba402,634*
4GytisLazauninkas186,855
5StanJablonski123,870
6JoeMcKeehen92,380
7AlexLivingston75,580
8ChanceKornuth65,085
9RayQartomy62,985
10JustinZaki60,885
11GiuseppeIadisernia58,790
12MichaelRossitto56,690

* Indicates a three-way deal.

High Roller: Sergio Aido Wins in a Three-Way Deal! ($500,000)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 85

Sergio Aido
Sergio Aido

After the elimination of Gytis Lazauninkas in fourth place, the final three players discussed a deal. These were their official chip counts:

1.  Sergio Aido  –  4,100,000  (68 bb)
2.  Scott Margereson  –  2,290,000  (38 bb)
3.  Justin Saliba  –  2,115,000  (35 bb)

It took them a little while to come to an agreement, but they finally agreed to the following payouts:

1st:  Sergio Aido  –  $500,000 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  Scott Margereson  –  $413,746
3rd:  Justin Saliba  –  $402,634

As chipleader, Sergio Aido was declared the champion, receiving the title and the trophy.

Stay tuned for a recap from this event, which will be posted later this evening.

Scott Margereson
Scott Margereson
Justin Saliba
Justin Saliba

High Roller: Gytis Lazauninkas – 4th Place ($186,855)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 85

Gytis Lazauninkas
Gytis Lazauninkas

Sergio Aido raised from UTG/cutoff to 120,000, Gytis Lazauninkas moved all in from the small blind for 1,310,000, and Aido asked for a count and thought for a bit before he called with AcJc.

Lazauninkas turned over 2s2c, and needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came Ah7h6h9cJd, and Aido paired his ace on the flop and his jack on the river to win the pot with two pair, eliminating Lazauninkas in fourth place.

Gytis Lazauninkas  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($186,855)

And here are the official chip counts for the final three players:

Seat 1.  Justin Saliba  –  2,115,000  (35 bb)
Seat 2.  Sergio Aido  –  4,100,000  (68 bb)
Seat 3.  Scott Margereson  –  2,290,000  (38 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,835,000 (47 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $272,935.

High Roller: Scott Margereson Triples Up

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 85

Scott Margereson
Scott Margereson

Scott Margereson moved all in from UTG/cutoff for 630,000, Gytis Lazauninkas called from the button, and Sergio Aido moved all in over the top. Lazauninkas folded.

Margereson turned over AcJs, and needed to improve to stay alive against Aido’s 6h6d.

The board came AhKs9hQd5d, and Margereson paired his ace on the flop to win the pot and triple up in chips.

Scott Margereson  –  1,980,000  (33 bb)
Sergio Aido  –  2,040,000  (34 bb)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,125,000 (35 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $186,855.

High Roller: Stan Jablonski – 5th Place ($123,870)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 85

Stan Jablonski
Stan Jablonski

In the small blind, Stan Jablonski is forced all in for his last 25,000, Justin Saliba raised from the cutoff to 1,000,000, and Sergio Aido moved all in over the top from the button for 1,320,000.

Saliba called, and all three players turned over their cards.

Justin Saliba:  10c6c
Sergio Aido:  AhQc
Stan Jablonski:  Jc5c

The board came Kc7s2c6dAs — Jablonski flopped the highest flush draw and Saliba paired his six on the turn, but Aido paired his ace on the river to win the pot, doubling thru Saliba and knocking out Jablonski in fifth place.

Sergio Aido  –  2,785,000  (46 bb)
Justin Saliba  –  3,050,000  (51 bb)
Stan Jablonski  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($123,870)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 2,125,000 (35 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $186,855.

Sergio Aido
Sergio Aido

High Roller: Scott Margereson Doubles Thru Stan Jablonski; Jablonski Down to 1 Small Blind

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 85

Scott Margereson
Scott Margereson

Scott Margereson raised under the gun to 145,000, Stan Jablonski moved all in from the big blind for 370,000, and Margereson called all in for 345,000 with Ah2h.

Jablonski turned over JsJc, and Margereson needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 6h4h4sAd9h, and Margereson rivered a heart flush to win the pot and double up in chips, knocking Jablonski down to less than a single small blind.

Scott Margereson  –  780,000  (13 bb)
Stan Jablonski  –  25,000  (<1 sb)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1,700,000 (28 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $123,870.

High Roller: Joe McKeehen – 6th Place ($92,380)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 85

Joe McKeehen
Joe McKeehen

Joe McKeehen moved all in from the small blind for about 430,000, and Gytis Lazauninkas called from the big blind with As8d.

McKeehen turned over Ks9h, and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 10h9c7d2c6c, and McKeehen paired his nine on the flop, but Lazauninkas rivered a ten-high flush to win the pot and eliminate McKeehen in sixth place.

Gytis Lazauninkas  –  2,035,000  (34 bb)
Joe McKeehen  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($92,380)

With five players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1,700,000 (28 big blinds), and the next player to be eliminated will earn $123,870.