2021 Seminole Hard Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 26
$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1 Million Guaranteed
Entries:  102
Prize Pool:  $2,519,400
November 29-30, 2021

In a massive field of 102 entries, Ali Imsirovic cruised his way thru most of the $25,500 High Roller final table before defeating defending champion Bryn Kenney heads-up to win $695,355.

Remarkably, this was the 14th victory of the year for Imsirovic in high roller events (with buy-ins of $10,000+).

“It feels great,” said Imsirovic. “I was in for four bullets in this thing and it was looking grim. To come out on top feels amazing.”

Imsirovic busted three times before the dinner break on Day 1, but he made that fourth bullet count, finishing the day with the biggest stack heading into Tuesday’s final table.

Martin Zamani was second in chips to start the final table, and for the first three hours or so, Imsirovic and Zamani were the two big stacks compared to the rest of the table, but didn’t play any particularly big pots against each other.

“Martin plays a very unique style and puts a lot of pressure on,” said Imsirovic, “so I didn’t really want to get into many pots with him. Then Bryn [Kenney] just took all of his chips and made it easy.”

The hand where Kenney took Zamani’s chips (in a pot worth more than 4.9 million) was arguably the turning point for the entire final table, and it didn’t even involve eventual champion Imsirovic. (Click here to read the full details of that hand, which includes a lot of in-hand commentary from Zamani.)

That pot effectively ended Zamani’s final table, and catapulted Kenney into the chip lead. Zamani busted in fifth place, quickly followed by Vikenty Shegal in fourth and Anton Wigg in third, leaving Kenney and Imsirovic to battle for the trophy.

Kenney began heads-up play with more than a 2-to-1 chip lead over Imsirovic, though both players had more than 100 big blinds in their stacks.

Shortly after heads-up play began, they got it all in preflop in a cooler situation, with Imsirovic’s holding up against Kenney’s to give Imsirovic a 3-to-2 chip lead.

Not long after that, they got it all in on the turn with Kenney’s top pair, top kicker against Imsirovic’s flush draw with a straight draw. Imsirovic missed his outs on the river, and Kenney doubled up to a 4-to-1 chip lead.

That’s when Imsirovic literally pulled out a magic wand.

It was one of the wands sold at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando, where Imsirovic and his friends spent the day before the Seminole Hard Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open Championship. (You can see the wand in Imsirovic’s hand in his victory photos.)

“I showed up just in time for Day 1A of the main,” said Imsirovic. “I was wearing Gryffindor stuff and I bagged, and then on Day 2 I was wearing a [wizard’s] robe and I cashed, so I felt like when we got heads-up here, a wand should come out.”

It wasn’t long before they got it all in again, this time after the flop with Kenney’s two pair against Imsirovic’s multiple draws. Imsirovic rivered a straight to double into the chip lead, which he held for the rest of the tournament.

“I needed something to run better,” said Imsirovic, “so the wand worked out.”

Kenney didn’t go down without a fight, even when he got as low as five big blinds. Both players showed patience, but Kenney won their next five all-in situations.

Unfortunately for Kenney, it wasn’t enough to climb out of the hole he had been in. On the final hand, Imsirovic’s flopped a six against Kenney’s to give Imsirovic his 14th high roller victory of the year — and his biggest payday of 2021 with a first prize of $695,355.

With high roller tournaments all over the world, what does Imsirovic like about Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood?

“The field sizes are incredible here,” said Imsirovic. “It’s a lot of fun, the structures are really good, and I just really enjoy playing here.”

Final Results:

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  1 of 102

Bryn Kenney raised from the button to 525,000 (leaving just 50K behind), Ali Imsirovic moved all in, and Kenney called all in for 575,000 with .

Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney was dominated as he faced elimination.

The board came , and Imsirovic won the pot — and the trophy and $695,355 — with a pair of sixes.

Bryn Kenney finished as the runner-up, earning $503,880.

Congratulations to Ali Imsirovic!

1st:  Ali Imsirovic  –  $695,355 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  Bryn Kenney  –  $503,880
3rd:  Anton Wigg  –  $314,925
4th:  Vikenty Shegal  –  $216,670
5th:  Martin Zamani  –  $141,085
6th:  Stephen Song  –  $103,295
7th:  Anthony Hu  –  $85,660
8th:  Adam Hendrix  –  $73,065
9th:  Gal Yifrach  –  $70,540

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Ali Imsirovic raised to 125,000, and Bryn Kenney called. The flop came , Kenney checked, Imsirovic bet 75,000, and Kenney called.

The turn was the , and Kenney check-called 450,000 from Insirovic.

The river was the , Kenney checked, Imsirovic bet 900,000 and Kenney called.

Imsirovic showed for a pair of aces, and Kenney mucked. Imsirovic collected the pot.

Ali Imsirovic  –  9,625,000  (193 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  575,000  (12 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Bryn Kenney raised to 125,000 from the button, Ali Imsirovic three-bet to 50,000 from the big blind and Kenney called.

Both players checked to the river on a board of . Imsirovic bet 1,500,000, and Kenney called.

Imsirovic tabled for jacks and nines. Kenney mucked, and Imsirovic won the pot.

Ali Imsirovic  –  8,300,000  (166 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  1,900,000  (38 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Ali Imsirovic moved all in from the button, and Bryn Kenney called all in for 750,000 with .

Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney once again needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Kenney won the pot with his ace to double up in chips.

Bryn Kenney  –  1,550,000  (31 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  8,650,000  (173 bb)

A short while later, Kenney raised to 125,000 from the button, Imsirovic moved all in, and Kenney called all in for 1,100,000 with . Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and the pocket aces held up for Kenney to win the pot and double up yet again.

Byrn Kenney  –  2,250,000  (45 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  7,950,000  (159 bb)

Bryn Kenney raised fro the button to 125,000, and Ali Imsirovic called.

The flop came , Imsirovic checked, Kenney bet 125,000, and Imsirovic called. The turn card was the , Imsirovic checked, Kenney bet 425,000, and Imsirovic called.

The river card was the , Imsirovic checked, Kenney moved all in for 1,475,000, and Imsirovic thought for about 30 seconds before he called with for a pair of aces.

But Kenney turned over to win the pot with two pair, aces and kings, and double up in chips.

Bryn Kenney  –  4,350,000  (87 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  5,850,000  (117 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Ali Imsirovic moved all in, and Bryn Kenney called all in for 350,000 with . Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Kenney rivered an unnecessary set of fours to win the pot and double up in chips.

Bryn Kenney  –  750,000  (15 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  9,450,000  (189 bb)

Kenney lost some chips over the next three minutes or so until he was down to just 250,000.

Ali Imsirovic  –  9,950,000  (199 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  250,000  (5 bb)

The next hand, Imsirovic moved all in, and Kenney called all in for 250,000 with . Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Kenney paired his jack on the flop and turned trips to win the pot and double up in chips.

Bryn Kenney  –  550,000  (11 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  9,650,000  (193 bb)

A few minutes later, Imsirovic moved all in, and Kenney called all in for 625,000 with . Imsirovic turned over , and Kenney needed his hand to hold to stay alive.

The board came , and Kenney paired his four on the flop and his ace on the river to win the pot with two pair and double up in chips.

Bryn Kenney  –  1,300,000  (26 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  8,900,000  (178 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

After a flop of , Bryn Kenney checked, Ali Imsirovic bet 100,000, and Kenney called.

The turn card was the , Kenney checked, Imsirovic bet 225,000, and Kenney called.

The river card was the , Kenney checked, Imsirovic bet 500,000, and Kenney called. Imsirovic showed to win the pot with a queen-high flush, and Kenney mucked.

Ali Imsirovic  –  9,325,000  (187 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  875,000  (18 bb)

The next hand, Bryn Kenney raised to 100,000, and Ali Imsirovic called. The flop came , Imsirovic checked, Kenney bet 75,000, and Imsirovic called. The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card paired the board with the , Imsirovic bet 300,000, and Kenney called. Imsirovic showed to win the pot with trip fours, and Kenney mucked.

Ali Imsirovic  –  9,800,000  (196 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  400,000  (8 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

The final two players return from break to begin Level 20, with increased blinds of 25,000-50,000 with a big blind ante of 50,000.

Here are the official chip counts from the table, followed by the final table payouts:

Ali Imsirovic  –  8,400,000  (168 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  1,800,000  (36 bb)

1st:  $695,355 + RRPO trophy
2nd:  $503,880

3rd:  Anton Wigg  –  $314,925
4th:  Vikenty Shegal  –  $216,670
5th:  Martin Zamani  –  $141,085
6th:  Stephen Song  –  $103,295
7th:  Anthony Hu  –  $85,660
8th:  Adam Hendrix  –  $73,065
9th:  Gal Yifrach  –  $70,540

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Bryn Kenney raised to 125,000, Ali Imsirovic reraised to 450,000, and Kenney thought for a bit before he called.

The flop came , Imsirovic bet 240,000, and Kenney called.

The turn card was the , Imsirovic bet 710,000, and Kenney folded. Imsirovic took the pot.

Ali Imsirovic  –  7,300,000  (183 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  2,900,000  (73 bb)

They went back and forth for a while, until about 15 minutes later when Imsirovic raised to 100,000, and Kenney called.

Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Kenney bet 250,000, and Imsirovic called.

The river card was the , Kenney bet 475,000, and Imsirovic moved all in. Kenney folded, and Imsirovic took the pot.

Ali Imsirovic  –  8,450,000  (211 bb)
Bryn Kenney  –  1,750,000  (44 bb)

$25,500 High Roller (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 102

Bryn Kenney raised, Ali Imsirovic reraised to about 500,000, and Kenney called.

The flop came , Imsirovic bet 260,000, and Kenney called.

The turn card was the , Imsirovic checked, Kenney bet 565,000, and Imsirovic called.

The river card was the , Imsirovic checked, Kenney moved all in for 1,530,000, and Imsirovic tanked for a while before he folded.

Kenney showed for king high as he took the pot.

Bryn Kenney  –  4,150,000  (104 bb)
Ali Imsirovic  –  6,050,000  (151 bb)

When Kenney showed his cards, Imsirovic said, “I knew it! Why didn’t I just pay?”

And then a minute or so later, Imsirovic added, “Zamani would have called.”