2020 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 4
$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  365
Prize Pool:  $43,800
January 10, 2020

Frenchman Frederic Konowitz flew in from Paris on Friday, entered Event 4 on a single bullet, dropped down to three big blinds shortly after registration closed, and then bounced back and went on to win by making a heads-up deal with runner-up Steven Moreno.

“It feels good,” said Konowitz. “I just arrived from Paris at two o’clock, and came directly to the casino.”

Everything seemed to go his way once Konowitz reached the final table. “I had a very good run. I flopped two pair in the big blind, and then I had ace-jack against ace-ten.”

In addition to his prize money, Konowitz received an $1,100 seat into WPTDeepStacks Hollywood, which begins its final starting flight tomorrow at 11:00 am. He’s looking forward to playing that event, but unfortunately he’ll be flying back to Paris next week and won’t be able to enter the $3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open.

There were a total of 365 entries in this event, and the final 46 players finished in the money. The tournament began at 6:00 pm, and finished shortly after 3:30 am.

“I like to play in the U.S. when I can,” said Konowitz. “Each year I go to Las Vegas once or twice, and this is my second time here in Hollywood. I’m very happy to be here, and thanks to the organization, it’s perfect to play the series here. It’s very good.”

Final Table Results:

1st:  Frederic Konowitz  –  $8,001* + LHPO Trophy + $1,100 WPTDS seat
2nd:  Steven Moreno  –  $7,633*
3rd:  Faris Qumsieh  –  $4,140
4th:  Nick Ahmadi  –  $2,709
5th:  Ricardo Velasco  –  $2,087
6th:  Anthony Moreda  –  $1,726
7th:  Elizabeth Hagensick  –  $1,448
8th:  Igor Evseev  –  $1,183
9th:  Joseph Patalano  –  $920

* Indicates a heads-up deal.

$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 26:  25,000/50,000 with an 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 365

After the elimination of Faris Qumsieh in third place, Frederick Konowitz and Steven Moreno agreed to a deal for the remaining prizepool. These were their official chip counts:

Frederic Konowitz  –  3,585,000  (72 bb)
Steven Moreno  –  1,895,000  (38 bb)

As chipleader, Konowitz was declared the winner, and in addition to his prize money, he would also receive the trophy, the title, and the $1,100 seat into Day 1C of WPTDeepStacks Hollywood tomorrow.

The final table payouts are listed below, and stay tuned for a recap, which will be posted later tonight.

1st:  Frederic Konowitz  –  $8,001 + LHPO Trophy + $1,100 WPTDS seat
2nd:  Steven Moreno  –  $7,633
3rd:  Faris Qumsieh  –  $4,140
4th:  Nick Ahmadi  –  $2,709
5th:  Ricardo Velasco  –  $2,087
6th:  Anthony Moreda  –  $1,726
7th:  Elizabeth Hagensick  –  $1,448
8th:  Igor Evseev  –  $1,183
9th:  Joseph Patalano  –  $920

$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 26:  25,000/50,000 with an 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 365

Faris Qumsieh got it all in from the big blind for about 800,000 with , but he was dominated by the of Frederic Konowitz in the small blind.

The board came , and Konowitz flopped two pair, aces and jacks, to win the pot and eliminate Qumsieh in third place.

Faris Qumsieh  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($4,140)

Here are the official chip counts for heads-up play, followed by the remaining prizepool:

Frederic Konowitz  –  3,585,000  (72 bb)
Steven Moreno  –  1,895,000  (38 bb)

1st:  $9,195 + LHPO Trophy + $1,100 WPTDS seat
2nd:  $6,439

$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with an 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 365

After a flop of , Nick Ahmadi got it all in from the big blind for about 400,000 with (pair of queens), but he was dominated by the (pair of queens, ace kicker) of Steven Moreno in the cutoff.

The turn card was the , the river card was the , and Moreno won the pot with his ace kicker to eliminate Ahmadi in fourth place.

Steven Moreno  –  1,900,000  (48 bb)
Nick Ahmadi  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($2,709)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1,825,000 (46 big blinds), and the next player to bust will receive $4,140.

$150 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 25:  20,000/40,000 with an 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 365

After a flop of , Frederic Konowitz checked from the big blind, Ricardo Velasco bet 85,000 from the hijack, and Konowitz check-raised all in for about 1.75 million.

Velasco thought for a while before he called all in for about 700,000 with for a pair of nines. Konowitz turned over for two pair, fives and deuces, and Velasco needed to improve to stay alive.

The turn card was the , the river card was the , and Konowitz won the pot with his two pair to eliminate Velasco in fifth place.

Frederic Konowitz  –  2,600,000  (65 bb)
Ricardo Velasco  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($2,087)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is about 1,370,000 (34 big blinds), and the next player to bust will receive $2,709.