Another Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open festival was completed at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and that one was, too, utter success. And for another year, organizers included four special events in the festival’s schedule that comprised the Big 4 for some extra poker thrill.
This year, the four events drew a combined field of 2,099 tournament entries who generated a combined prize pool of $9,232,750. Who won what at the festival and who managed to score a back-to-back victory, Casino News Daily has prepared a quick overview of the four tournaments with important highlights from those.
$5,250 Championship Event
The $5,250 buy-in Championship was among the highlight tournaments within the festival and was probably the most broadly anticipated one. This year, it featured a guaranteed prize pool of $3 million, but that guarantee was smashed due to the high attendance. A prize pool of $4,432,900 was created eventually by the Championship’s 914-person field.
Brandon Eisen took down the major event to become the big champion. Aside from the accolades that a winner deserves, the player also collected a first-place prize of $771,444 for his efforts. Including his latest cash, which was actually his best career in-the-money finish, Eisen now boasts a live tournament bankroll of $1,514,312.
Last year’s edition of the tournament drew a field of 887 entries, who generated a prize pool of $4,301,950. Martin Kozlov was the last man standing at the end of the ordeal, collecting $754,083 for outlasting his fellow competitors.
$1,100 Big 4 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry
The two-day $1,100 Big 4 No-Limit Hold’em tournament took place over two days – August 13-14 – to lure 640 entries into the field. That resulted in the overall prize pool of $640,000 easily crushing the $500,000 guarantee.
Ireland’s Marc MacDonnell was the last man standing from that field, outlasting a number of seasoned poker pros and surviving a six-hour battle on the final day. The player scooped the lion’s share of the prize pool, which totaled $119,465. His was the tournament trophy, as well. MacDonnell added that latest monetary prize to his bankroll which now totals more than $1.9 million.
During last year’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, the $1,100 Big 4 event attracted 633 competitors who swelled the $500,000 guarantee to $633,000. It was Bryan Altman who emerged victorious for a first-place prize of $118,157.
$2,650 Big 4 No-Limit Hold’em (Single Re-Entry)
The $2,650 Big 4 turned out to be particularly exciting as the event’s 2017 champion was vying for a back-to-back title. The tournament drew 422 entries this year to bring the prize pool up to $1,023,350. It took place over August 12-14.
Alex Foxen, who won the event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood about this time last year, managed to take down its 2018 edition as well, but not without putting quite some effort into accomplishing that. The player took down the tournament after a strenuous final day of action that involved 12 hours of play, including a fierce heads-up battle. Foxen was eventually awarded $208,452 for his back-to-back win.
The event drew 395 entries last year who fought for a share of a $1-million guaranteed prize pool.
$25,500 Big 4 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Last but not least, the $25,500 buy-in high roller tournament drew quite some interest and the field count eventually showed 123 entrants who smashed the $2-million guarantee generating an overall prize pool of $3,136,500.
It was popular poker pro Jake Schindler who remained the last man standing. The player outlasted a hefty and seasoned field that included the likes of Shaun Deeb, Tom Marchese, and Barry Hutter among those who made it to the final table. Schindler took home $800,758 for another major poker accomplishment.
The tournament lured 117 entries last year who created a prize pool of $2.925 million. John Andress claimed the title for a monetary prize of $801,450.
