2022 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 1
$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  6,134
Prize Pool:  $2,024,200
November 16-21, 2022

Event #1 of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open attracted 6,134 entries across eight starting flights, making it the third largest field in Florida poker history and more than doubling the $1 million guarantee for a total prizepool worth $2,024,200.

There were 614 players who advanced to Day 2 on Sunday, and 26 of them made it all the way to Day 3 on Monday. The tournament ended when the final five players agreed to a deal, with chipleader Peter Hsu winning the title, the trophy, and $191,223.

The biggest previous cash for Hsu was less than $40,000, so this payday is nearly five times larger.

“It feels fantastic,” said Hsu. “My first big score.”

And Hsu won this event after investing the minimum; he bought in for a single $400 entry in Flight G on Saturday morning. And he carried those chips all the way to victory.

“The final table went pretty well,” said Hsu. “I went in with the chip lead, and pretty much stayed there. I had a couple of small losses, but I came back.”

Hsu mentioned one hand in particular being key to his victory.

Four players limped to see a flop of . Richard Baker flopped top two pair, while Hsu’s gave him a gutshot straight-flush draw. Unsurprisingly, they got it all in, and Hsu rivered a jack to win the pot worth 17.7 million with a queen-high straight to eliminate Baker in seventh place. (Click here to read the full write-up on that hand.)

That jack on the river was the difference between the chip lead and dropping down to fifth in chips. Hsu knocked out sixth-place finisher Nigel Murray a short while later to extend his lead (click here for details of that hand), and that’s when the final five players agreed to their deal.

Hsu is a recreational player who works full time.

“I try to play as much as I can when they have these big tournaments,” said Hsu. “This is right before Thanksgiving, so it’s a great time to play.”

When asked about the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hsu said, “It’s fabulous. They run a really professional operation, and it’s fun to play here. The staff is great, the dealers are great, and I’ll be coming back.”

Final Table Results:

1st:  Peter Hsu  –  $191,223* + RRPO Trophy
2nd:  Justin Datloff  –  $162,511*
3rd:  Zak VanKeuren  –  $160,000*
4th:  Fabian Foster  –  $152,669*
5th:  Phu Vo  –  $136,174*
6th:  Nigel Murray  –  $66,800
7th:  Richard Baker  –  $46,560
8th:  Earl Gallegos  –  $33,400
9th:  Willy Stadele  –  $22,265

* Indicates a five-way deal.