2023 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 37
$10,000 Eight-Handed No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries:  89
Prize Pool:  $845,500
April 25-26, 2023

With a buy-in of $10,000, Event 37 attracted a field of 89 entries, generating a prizepool worth $845,500. They played down to the final nine players on Tuesday night, and returned Wednesday for the final table.

After a little more than four hours, Shannon Shorr defeated Dylan Smith for the title, the trophy, and $260,600.

“It feels awesome,” said Shorr after his victory. “It had been a pretty rough stretch the last year, as it often is playing tournaments full time.”

The timing of this victory is particularly nice because Shorr recently announced that his wife Joy is pregnant with their second child.

“This takes a little anxiety off as I’m expecting a second baby around Halloween,” said Shorr. “So this comes at a good time.”

With seven players remaining, Shorr found himself as the short stack with just 10 big blinds. Then he found himself all in as a big underdog against Filipp Khavin.

“I got lucky in a spot where I re-jammed ace-seven and I beat ace-king,” said Shorr. “That was crucial. Otherwise, nothing too exciting.”

“Quite a group of strong players at the final table,” said Shorr, “so I expected pretty much anything could happen. Kind of a cool structure, with 40 minute levels, so chips were moving around.”

Shorr has a world-class poker resume, with more than $11 million in live tournament earnings, and this is his third trophy from Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. What keeps him coming back?

“I love the action here,” said Shorr. “The prizepools are obviously enormous, and I love the vibe of south Florida. It’s nice and relaxing, and it’s a nice change from spending time in the desert of Las Vegas.”