The 2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open was the last major series of the year and it continued the trend we started with our return in January. It produced huge crowds with record-setting numbers and prizes. The 31-event schedule had more than $5,000,000 in guaranteed money then paid out over $13,000,000 over the 15-day series.
The headliner was the WPT RRPO Championship with a $3,500 buy-in and $2,000,000 guarantee. It drew 1,566 entries to create our biggest RRPO Championship in our history and the prize pool topped $5,000,000.
The final table was live-streamed with Gediminas Uselis putting his name on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup and taking home $778,490.
2021 WPT RRPO Championship updates
But before that all began, we opened the series with a bang. Event 1 had a $400 buy-in with a $1,000,000 that packed the Grand Ballroom on the opening weekend.
The tournament drew 6,196 entries to set a record for the biggest field in Florida poker history (topping the 5,018 we drew for 2016 RRPO Event 1). Mike Laufer took the top prize along with $160,734 after a six-way deal at the final table.
Other notables winners include two-time WSOP bracelet winner Loni Hui topping the $600 Deep Stack tournament, Gabriel Ramos winning his sixth SHRP Hollywood title, and Nancy Birnbaum adding a trophy to her collection.
Thank you to all of our players, regular and new friends, for supporting the series and making a lot of great memories. We look forward to seeing everyone back for the 2022 Lucky Hearts Poker Open in January.
2022 Lucky Hearts Poker Open schedule
You can find links to all events, updates, and result on the links below.
WPT RRPO Championship: Gediminas Uselis – $778,490
Event 1 ($400 Multi-Flight): Mike Laufer – $160,734
Event 2 ($400 O8): Jay Kerbel – $11,315
Event 3 ($200 Dbl Green Chip): Gabriel Ramos – $3,000
Event 4 ($400 H.O.R.S.E.): Sal Pipitone – $9,068
Event 5 ($600 Dbl Black Chip): Dean Salisbury – $8,000
Event 6 ($400 PLO8): John Binns – $9,000
Event 7 ($400 OE): Barak Zaken – $9,590
Event 8 ($400 NLH): Robert Brandl – $23,178
Event 9 ($1,100 NLH): Jesse Lott – $46,020
Event 10 ($600 NLH): Loni Hui – $85,355
Event 11 ($400 Six-Max PLO): Long Nguyen – $12,040
Event 12 ($150 NLH): Scott Murawa – $8,165
Event 13 ($400 Black Chip): Nancy Birnbaum – $7,460
Event 14 ($400 Six-Max NLH): Philip Whitaker – $6,095
Event 15 ($200 Dbl Green Chip): Andrey Kolchkov – $3,104
Event 16 ($150 NLH): Rosario Simone – $3,221
Event 18 ($150 NLH): Dwayne Nyholt – $5,622
Event 19 ($600 Mixed PLO): Joseph Patalano – $11,443
Event 20 ($600 Dbl Black Chip): Brandon Wilson – $11,415
Event 21 ($400 Black Chip): Maikel Cruz – $14,718
Event 22 ($1,700 Purple Chip): Luke Brereton – $62,220
Event 23 ($600 Turbo): Mike Graffeo – $8,855
Event 24 ($1,100 NLH): Vinny Giuliano – $$68,840
Event 25 ($150 NLH): Alik Sitnyakovsky – $27,770
Event 26 ($25K High Roller): Ali Imsirovic – $695,355
Event 27 ($400 Black Chip): Micha Hoedemaker – $7,685
Event 28 ($2,200 PLO): Fred Goldberg – $71,075
Event 29 ($400 Seniors): Zoltan Czinkota – $11,045
Event 30 ($5,000 NLH): Duff Charette – $206,345
Event 31 ($1,100 Turbo): Lewe Thiesen – $35,130
, no help to Siegel and Sitnyakovsky aces and deuces to take down Event 25 outright for $27,770.
and Siegel shoved for 1,100,000 out of turn. Sitnyakovsky checked, Siegel’s shove stood and Sitnyakovsky tanked for about 30 seconds.
for a pair of kings, leading Sitnyakovsky’s 
for a pair of nines.
river completed the board, safe for Siegel to double up.
, Linke shoved for about 3,500,000 and Sitnyakovsky called with 
for a pair of queens, leading Linke’s 
for a pair of jacks.
turn and 
river completed the board, safe for Sitnyakovsky to eliminate Kornev in fourth place.
, giving Defelice a pair of kings on the turn to double through Esser.