2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open 
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 
Hollywood, Florida
Event #10
$150 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry
$20,000 Guarantee
Entries: 529
Prize Pool: $63,480 
August 6, 2018 

Derrick Simon is one of the first people to have a spot in the 2018 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $5,250 no-limit hold’em championship event.

The 58-year-old used car salesman earned a spot in the event by taking down the $150 no-limit hold’em. He bested a field of 529 entries and took the lion’s share of a five-way chop.

“It feels so good,” said the native Jamaican. “I just do this for fun. Just for fun. That’s it. I love it.”

In an ICM deal, Simon walked away with $8,445, the trophy and a seat into the SHRPO Championship. Simon won his way into the event from a $150 buy-in, but he’s no stranger to playing for higher stakes.

“I played the $10 million event and I cashed,” said Simon, referencing his participation in the first-ever SHRPO Championship. “I played the next year and I won the $1,600 straight out. And in the million dollar [guarantee], the $570, I got knocked out in fourth. So, I’ve been doing good.”

Simon came into the final table near the top of the chip counts, just behind Jeffrey Scott, who ended up finishing third.

In the first few levels, Simon was able to tread water and keep his stack right where he started. Then he knocked out Juan Martinez in seventh and  Brandon Kemp in sixth place to take a sizable chip lead over the rest of the field.

After Kemp was eliminated, the talks of a deal began with Simon and Merisier atop the counts

Michael Merisier took second, while Dan Avitsur and Josh Phillips, were credited with a fourth and fifth-place finish, respectively.

The 529-entry field more than tripled the $20,000 guaranteed prize pool, generating one of $63,480. The top 67 spots finished in the money.

Final Table Results:

1st: Derrick Simon – $8,445*
2nd: Michael Merisier – $7,714*
3rd: Jeffrey Scott – $5,851*
4th: Dan Avitsur – $5,697*
5th: Josh Phillips – $5,537*
6th: Brandon Kemp – $2,461
7th: Juan Martinez – $2,047
8th: Aish Ayyash – $1,635
9th: Joel Lumpkins – $1,226
10th: Alex Michaels – $1,019

*Indicates an adjusted payout to reflect a deal

• Download: Final Results (PDF)

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 26: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 529

Shortly after Brandon Kemp busted in sixth place, the final five players began negotiation a deal.

They eventually came to an agreement and the final five players chopped up the remaining prize pool. Since Derrick Simon held the chip lead when the deal was made, he took credit for the win and will receive the trophy and the $5,250 SHRPO Championship seat.

Michael Merisier, Jeffrey Scott, Josh Phillips and Dan Avitsur were the other four players that took part in the chop.

A recap with details of the deal will be posted later tonight.

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 26: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 529

On a flop of , Brandon Kemp checked from the big blind and Derrick Simon bet. Kemp check-raised all in for about 500,000 and Simon called.

Kemp showed and needed to fade a lot of cards against Simon’s .

The turn was the , keeping Kemp in the lead, but the river was the . Simon missed his flush draw, but made a bigger pair on the river to win the pot and eliminate Kemp in sixth place for $2,461.

Derrick Simon – 2,780,000
Brandon Kemp – Eliminated 

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 26: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 529

Juan Martinez moved all in from the cutoff for 590,000 and Derrick Simon called out of the big blind.

Martinez showed and was in trouble against Simon’s .

The board ran out and Martinez couldn’t hit a three-outer to bust in seventh place for $2,047.

Derrick Simon – 1,600,000
Juan Martinez – Eliminated 

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 25: 30,000/60,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 7 of 529

Aish Ayyash got all in preflop for about 500,000 against Josh Phillips. Phillips tabled and was in great shape against Ayyash’s .

The flop was , leaving Ayyash dead to runners. He hit one of them on the turn when the came, giving Ayyash a gutshot to the nuts, but the came on the river and Ayyash busted in eighth place for $1,635.

Josh Phillips – 1,300,000
Aish Ayyash – Eliminated 

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 8 of 529

Juan Martinez raised from the cutoff and Michael Merisier moved all in from the small blind. Joel Lumpkins called from the big blind and was all in for about 200,000. Martinez folded.

Merisier showed and was up against Lumpkins’ .

The board ran out and Lumpkins was out in ninth place for $1,226.

Michael Merisier – 1,050,000
Joel Lumpkins – Eliminated 

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 24: 20,000/40,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 529

Joel Lumpkins raised from early position and Josh Phillips moved all in from the hijack for 335,000. Lumpkins called.

Phillips showed and was flipping with Lumpkins .

The flop was and Lumpkins took the lead with trip queens. The turn was the , keeping Lumpkins in the lead, but the on the river gave Phillips a full house and the double up.

Josh Phillips – 700,000
Joel Lumpkins – 200,000

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 23: 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 9 of 529

Dan Avitsur raised from under the gun and action folded around to Alex Michaels in the big blind, who moved all in for 270,000. Avitsur called and the cards were tabled.

Avitsur showed and needed help against Michaels’ .

The flop was and Avitsur flopped trip kings to take the lead. The turn was the and the river was the .

Michaels was eliminated in 10th place for $1,019 and Avitsur chipped up.

Dan Avitsur – 815,000
Alex Michaels – Eliminated 

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level23: 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante
Players Remaining: 10 of 529

With 12 minutes remaining in the level, the $150 no-limit hold’em is down to 10 players and they have redrawn for seats at the unofficial final table.

With one more elimination, the final nine players will be credited with making the final table. They are all guaranteed $1,019 and the eventual winner will walk away with $12,259 and a seat into the $5,250 SHRPO Championship.

Here is a look at the seating arrangement and chip counts of the final 10 players:

Seat 1: Michael Merisier – 765,000
Seat 2: Joel Lumpkins – 200,000
Seat 3: Jeffrey Scott – 1,840,000
Seat 4: Derrick Simon – 1,760,000
Seat 5: Josh Phillips – 295,000
Seat 6: Brandon Kemp – 1,150,000
Seat 7: Alex Michaels – 270,000
Seat 8: Dan Avitsur – 530,000
Seat 9: Juan Martinez – 905,000
Seat 10: Aish Ayyash – 510,000

$150 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20: 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 21 of 529

A player in early position raised to 40,000 and Derrick Simon three-bet to 140,000 out of the big blind. His opponent called.

The flop was and both players checked to the turn card. Simon bet 70,000 and his opponent moved all in. Simon called and was the player at risk for his last 265,000.

It was a cold deck with Simon showing and his opponent tabling .

They both made sets and Simon was in great shape, just needing to fade one out to double up. The river was the and Simon earned a huge double up and becomes one of the bigger stacks remaining.

Derrick Simon – 823,000