2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 7
$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  1,462
Prize Pool:  $233,920
March 28-30, 2022

Event #7 attracted 1,462 entries across six starting flights, and 149 players survived the Money Bubble to reach Day 2. But it all came to an end Wednesday night when the final five players agreed to a deal, and chipleader Vendel Johnson won the title, the trophy, and $26,497.

“This was a big payday for me,” said Johnson, a native Floridian who works full time at Port Everglades. “This is the second trophy of my poker career. The last one was probably ten years ago, because I don’t play that much.”

It was an up-and-down day for Johnson, but his key hand came with 10 players remaining, when he got it all in with ace-king against Kelly Alonso’s ace-queen. The best hand held up for Johnson to win the pot and catapult into the chip lead. Johnson was never short after that.

“Those guys were tough, especially Andre,” said Johnson, referring to second-place finisher Andre Bryan. “You’ve got to be careful and pick your spots, and the cards fell for me.”

Johnson hadn’t played poker for two years due to the pandemic, but when he was ready to play, he knew where to go.

“I’ve always played at the Hard Rock,” said Johnson. “We’ve been straddled to the house for the past two years since COVID, but when things kind of loosened up, this was the obvious place. I love the Hard Rock. Best place in the world.”

Final Results:

* Indicates the results of a five-way deal.

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,462

As Level 32 was coming to an end, and Level 33 beginning with increased blinds of 125,000-250,000, the final five players agreed to an ICM chop for the remaining prizepool.

These were the official chip counts:

1.  Vendel Johnson  –  7,675,000  (31 bb)
2.  Andre Bryan  –  5,050,000  (20 bb)
3.  Kelly Alonso  –  4,075,000  (16 bb)
4.  Ayed Shweihat  –  2,750,000  (11 bb)
5.  Alexandru Predincea  –  2,400,000  (10 bb)

And these were the payouts they agreed to:

1st:  Vendel Johnson  –  $26,497 + Showdown trophy
2nd:  Andre Bryan  –  $22,912
3rd:  Kelly Alonso  –  $21,170
4th:  Ayed Shweihat  –  $18,282
5th:  Alexandru Predincea  –  $17,389

As chipleader, Vendel Johnson was declared the winner, receiving the title and the trophy.

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

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 1,462

Gus Vazquez moved all in under the gun for 1,700,000, and Vendel Johnson called from the cutoff with .

Vazquez turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came — Vazquez turned a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further. Johnson won the pot with his pocket sevens to eliminate Vazquez in sixth place.

Vendel Johnson  –  7,375,000  (37 bb)
Gus Vazquez  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($8,085)

With five players remaining, the average stack is around 4,375,000 (22 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $10,000 each.

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 1,462

Sagi Zommer moved all in under the gun for 575,000, and Andre Bryan called from the small blind with .

Zommer turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Bryan won the pot with his ace to eliminate Zommer in seventh place.

Andre Bryan  –  5,500,000  (28 bb)
Sagi Zommer  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($6,675)

With six players remaining, the average stack is around 3,650,000 (18 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $8,085 each.

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,462

Alexandru Predincea got it all in from the small blind for 1,150,000 with , and needed it to hold to stay alive against the of Sagi Zommer on the button.

The board came — both players flopped a pair with a gutshot straight draw, and improved no further. Predincea won the pot with a pair of kings and his jack kicker to double up in chips.

Alexandru Predincea  –  2,700,000  (14 bb)
Sagi Zommer  –  575,000  (3 bb)

With seven players remaining, the average stack is around 3,135,000 (16 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $6,675 each.

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,462

Sagi Zommer moved all in under the gun for 675,000, Andre Bryan called from the small blind, and Kelly Alonso called from the big blind. Any further betting would create a side pot.

Bryan and Alonso checked all the way down on a board of , and Zommer showed for a spade flush to win the pot and triple up in chips.

Sagi Zommer  –  2,225,000  (11 bb)

With seven players remaining, the average stack is around 3,135,000 (16 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $6,675 each.

$200 Big Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$150,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 1,462

Andre Bryan min-raised under the gun to 400,000, Sagi Zommer moved all in from the hijack, and Bryan called all in for 2,450,000 with .

Zommer turned over , and Bryan needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came — Zommer paired his king on the flop, but improved no further. Bryan won the pot with his pocket aces to double up in chips.

Andre Bryan  –  5,400,000  (27 bb)
Sagi Zommer  –  675,000  (3 bb)

With seven players remaining, the average stack is around 3,135,000 (16 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $6,675 each.