Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Event 18: $1,100 No Limit Hold’em
August 31 – September 2, 2014
Entries: 229
Prizepool: $229,000
RECAP
On Day 3 of what was scheduled as a two day event, Michael Laake finally came out on top of the $1,100 No Limit Hold’em tournament. The win earned him $61,250 and Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open trophy along with a custom framed photograph provided by IMPDI. “This is the second best series of the year,” said Laake, second only to the WSOP. “Best structure I’ve played, very deep, very skill intensive…that’s what makes this one so special,” he added.
Laake was the chip leader at the end of Day 1 with 38 players remaining and held the chip lead again at the end of Day 2 with eight players remaining. For him to win this event is unprecedented. When down to three players, Laake was actually the short-stack.
When heads-up play began, Laake was almost dead-even with local pro Farid Jattin, but the cards fell Laake’s way. Jattin settled for second place and $39,388. Third place and $25,190 went to Ray Leone. All three of these top finishers are Florida residents, proving that the poker talent in this state is very strong.
Thanks in part to starting at 3pm on Day 2 of the Championship event, this event drew 229 entrants. As players busted out of the $10 Million guaranteed event, they hopped right into this $100,000 Guaranteed event for a chance at redemption. They more than doubled the guarantee with a total prize pool of $229,000.
“Definitely the toughest field I’ve played and definitely the best opponent I’ve beat heads-up,” said Laake after the win. “The events were incredible, start to finish. The staff and tournament they provide are very, very good and appealing to everyone.”
Laake finished 54th of 2,767 entrants in the $1 Million Guaranteed event and then followed that up with an 11th place finish in the $350 SixMax NLH event. He did not fare well in the Championship event after winning his seat in a satellite, busting out on Day 1. He was headed home, then noticed this event was growing. He ended up firing two bullets and the second one paid off handsomely!
FINAL RESULTS
1. MICHAEL LAAKE (BOCA RATON, FL): $61,250
2. FARID JATTIN (MIAMI, FL): $39,388
3. RAYMOND LEONE SR (SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL): $25,190
4. SHANE DELANEY (SEMINOLE, FL): $18,206
5. BRANDON SETZER (CHARLOTTE, NC): $14,084
6. COREY ZEDO (DENVER, CO): $11,450
7. ELLIOTT ZAYDMAN (COCONUT CREEK, FL): $9,160
8. EL FASSY XAVIER (MIAMI BEACH, FL): $6,756
9. FARAZ JAKA (SAN JOSE, CA): $4,351
10. DARRYLL FISH (CAPE CORAL, FL): $3,321
11. RYAN FELDMAN (PLANTSVILLE, CT): $3,321
12. JUSTIN ZAKI (TIERRA VERDE, FL): $3,321
13. MUHAMMAD ABDEL-RAHIM (DERRY, NH): $2,863
14. JOHN O’SEAH (DUBLIN): $2,863
15. JONATHAN BRODY (DAVIE, FL): $2,863
16. LOUIS CONSTANT (LAKE MARY, FL): $2,519
17. MANISH PAREKH (HOUSTON, TX): $2,519
18. CHOU CHOU (LAS VEGAS, NV): $2,519
19. IGOR SKOCHILO (ASTORIA, NY): $2,176
20. WALID MADDAH (TAMPA, FL): $2,176
21. JULIAN KAPLAN (STATEN ISLAND, NY): $2,176
22. VLADIMIR KOVALCHUK (HALLANDALE BEACH, FL): $2,176
23. THOMAS MCCORMICK (FARGO, ND): $2,176
24. RORY BROWN (CO GALWAY): $2,176