$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 19: 3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante
A big call by Jason Goch has taken us down to seven players in Event 9.
After David Brightman moved in for 125,000, Gooch decided to look him up and the race was on with Brightman holding 
and Gooch with 
. Gooch hit the 
flop and the board ran out 
eliminating Brightman.
David Brightman finishes in 8th place winning $1,530.
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 20: 4,000/8,000/1,000 Ante
After a raise to 20,000 chips from Alberto Silva, Mike Graffeo moved all-in for his last 110,000. Silva made the call and the cards were turned up with Silva holding 
and Graffeo showing 
.
Silva hit a set on the 
flop but Graffeo picked up a straight draw. But the 
came on the turn giving Silva a full house and a hammerlock on the hand. The 
hit the river and Graffeo was out.
Mike Graffeo finishes in 9th place winning $1,148.
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 19: 3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante
It only took one hand to eliminate our first player on the final table as Steve Zaritsky was quickly eliminated.
Zaritsky finishes in 10th place winning $1,020.
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 19: 3,000/6,000/1,000 Ante
We’ve reached the final table here in Event 9. Here are the new seat draws and chip counts for our remaining ten players:
Seat 1: Raminder Singh – 441,000
Seat 2: David Brightman – 80,000
Seat 3: Marc Sacheli – 152,000
Seat 4: Joseph Duchman – 160,000
Seat 5: Lou Stadler – 255,000
Seat 6: Mike Graffeo – 130,000
Seat 7: Steve Zaritsky – 163,000
Seat 8: Jason Gooch – 441,000
Seat 9: Alberto Silva – 460,000
Seat 10: Adam Bienstock – 275,000
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 16: 1,500/3,000/500 Ante
The bubble has burst in Event 9 and Jose Manso is the victim.
With Manso down to just a few big blinds and in the big blind, David Albertson put him all-in. It was not good news for Manso as Albertson turned up 
and Manso could only muster 
. The board ran out 
putting Manso out of the tournament and the rest of the field into the money.
Eighteen players remain and here are the seating assignments for the remaining players:
Table 47
Seat 1: Richard Vargas
Seat 2: David Albertson
Seat 3: Mike Graffeo
Seat 4: Raminder Singh
Seat 5: David Brightman
Seat 6: Marc Sacheli
Seat 7: Nick Blackburn
Seat 8: Jason Kwartler
Seat 9: Lou Stadler
Table 48
Seat 1: Steve Zaritsky
Seat 2: Joseph Duchman
Seat 3: Angelo Castaldi
Seat 4: Dave Olshan
Seat 5: Adam Bienstock
Seat 6: Sheldon Gross
Seat 7: Juan Endara
Seat 8: Jason Goch
Seat 9: Alberto Silva
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 13: 800/1,600/200 Ante
While the Championship Event is on break, we have time to sneak in a fast update on Event 9.
Sheldon Gross is hanging around the 300,000 chip mark to lead way and Juan Endara is sitting in second just over 250,000. Both look to try to bring home a Seminole Hard Rock “Rock n’ Roll Poker Open” title with 27 players remaining in the tournament.
2015 Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ’n’ Roll Poker Open”
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$30,000 Guarantee
November 29th, 2015
Total Entries: 170
Total Prizepool: $51,000
1st: $15,298
2nd: $8,415
3rd: $4,845
4th: $4,080
5th: $3,060
6th: $2,550
7th: $2,040
8th: $1,530
9th: $1,148
10-12th: $1,020
13-15th: $893
16-18th: $765
$350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 1: 25/50
While most eyes are on the second day of the Championship event, we have a few players getting in a some other action as the series moves forward. We have two new events running today including the noon start of Event 9.
It’s a no-nonsense $350 Big Stack No Limit Hold’em tournament with a $30,000 guaranteed prize pool. Event 9 is scheduled to play out today, a fine way to spend a Sunday afternoon slinging chips and watching football.
Players start with 15,000 stacks and have 30-minute levels throughout the day. Late registration and unlimited re-entries until the start of Level 9 at 4:30pm and a dinner break after Level 12.
They will play down to a winner and we will have a new Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open” Champion later this evening.
2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
$350 Pot Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
August 5, 2015
Total Entries: 111
Total Prize Pool: $33,300
Recap:
What was shaping to be a fairly typical mixed game final table turned into a wild affair including what may turn out to be the most unusual hand of the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open leading to Robert Wachtel winning the Event 9 Championship.
The third final table of Wednesday evening started off innocently enough as James Sandbrand had come in as the shortest stack on the table and fell at the hands of Brad Ruben in 10th place. Chip leader Jeff Crookson then just edged out Andrew Donovan in 9th place followed by Garrett Dukes talking out Natasha Goureau in 8th.
With the field now down to seven and the chips fairly even among the remaining players, the clock was stopped for a sustained period of time to work out a potential deal. The chips were counted, the numbers were calculated and a long discussion took place trying to pull a chop together. But it was eventually turned down by Qui Van who ended up playing a prominent role in what was to come later on this final table.
After the elimination of Errol Massey in 7th place, the standout hand of the series took place. After 30,000 chips ended up in the pot pre-flop between Van and Robert Wachtel, the flop was laid out. Van said all-in but had much more back than what would have been a pot-sized bet which Wachtel called.
Van then flipped his cards up and Wachtel did the same. But since Wachtel had just called, there was no raise possible and action would continue with both players having their cards exposed.
After the turn and Wachtel being ahead on both the high and low, he bet his last 40,000 and Van still decided to call. Wachtel won the hand leaving Van as the short stack on the table.
Van was eliminated shortly afterward by Crookson and Lonnie Heimowitz in 6th place. The remaining players then went back to working out a deal as the 3 AM deadline closed in. To wrap it up, the players decided to play one more hand. Once it was completed, Robert Wachtel was the chip leader just getting by Garrett Dukes and Jeff Crookson to be declared the winner of Event 9.
Watchel discussed his perspective on the hand that had the table buzzing. “I had the nut flush draw and he goes all-in and I didn’t realize he couldn’t go all-in. So I said I call and he put his cards down and like a reaction put my cards down even though I shouldn’t have. But once we put the cards down I saw I was ahead all the way and after the next card I went all-in and he called. Afterward I just went and enjoyed a cigar. I was just happy I won the hand.”
He also opened up as to why he insisted on winning the championshp in the deal. “Last year I gave up the trophy to a guy from out of town who said he wanted it so badly and that was stupid. So I said I’m never going to give up the trophy again. Money is money but the trophy is kinda cool. It comes full circle. I feel great.”
Wachtel was very happy with his experience here at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open. “Everyone was very professional especially the floor people – they were very nice. I’m always happy with the people here. I love playing in this room.”
Congratulations to our Event 9 Champion – Robert Wachtel!
Results:
1st: Robert Wachtel (Boca Raton, FL) – $5,578
2nd: Garrett Dukes (Marietta, GA) – $5,531
3rd: Jeff Cookson (Weston, FL) – $5,467
4th: Lonnie Heimowitz (Garden Grove, CA) – $4,719
5th: Brad Ruben (Hernando, FL) – $4,331
6th: Qui Van (Pembroke Pines, FL) – $1,875
7th: Errol Massey (Miami, FL) – $1,567
8th: Natasha Goureau (Bal Harbour, FL)$1,249
9th: Andrew Donovan (Manteo, NC) – $939
10th: Jared Sandbrand (Coral Springs, FL) – $683
$350 Pot Limit Omaha/8 (Re-Entry)
Level 21: 6,000/12,000
After the elimination of Qui Van in 6th place who had vetoed a deal with seven players left, the remaining five players called things off just before the 3 AM deadline. After the chips were counted, Robert Wachtel had barely edged out Garrett Dukes and Jeff Cookson to claim the Event 9 title.
Wachtel takes the title and $5,578 with Dukes finishing second for $5,531. Jeff Cookson wound up in third winning $5,467 followed by Lonnie Heimowitz in fourth taking home $4,719. Brad Ruben rounded out the top five earning $4,331.
Congratulations to our Event 9 Champion – Robert Wachtel!
