2022 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 22
$1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Entries:  84
Prize Pool:  $81,480
August 2-3, 2022

Two days ago, MMA fighter Colby Covington final tabled SHRPO Event 1, which broke the record for the largest poker tournament in Florida history with 7,703 entries. Covington finished seventh to earn $48,298, but he wasn’t satisfied.

“I wanted to come back and prove that wasn’t just a fluke,” said Covington, “and show that I could play with the best players in the world.”

Covington did exactly that, winning Event 22 ($1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha-8) against a tough field to win the title, the trophy, and $25,875.

“It’s a surreal feeling,” said Covington after his victory. “It’s been a long journey to finally get a trophy here at Seminole Hard Rock. This is my home casino, and I love playing here.”

Covington’s two deep runs came in two completely different events. Event 22 was PLO-8 instead of the standard hold’em of Event 1, and while this one had a smaller field, it was filled with much tougher, more experienced players.

One of those players was Phil Hui, fresh off a victory last night in $600 H.O.R.S.E. Hui has three WSOP bracelets, five Seminole Hard Rock trophies, and more than $3.6 million in career tournament earnings.

“I was staying away from Phil Hui early on,” said Covington. “He’s a great player, one of the greatest players in the game today. I know he’s a specialist in high-low, so I wanted to navigate around him and wait to pick really good spots where I felt comfortable with getting the high and the low.”

Covington’s strategy paid off, and he never gave up the chip lead at the final table. Covington knocked out five of his eight final table opponents on his way to victory.

Hui was down to three big blinds when he got it all in against Covington, who scooped the pot to knock out Hui in fourth place. (Click here for details.)

A short while later, Salvatore Pipitone got it all in against Covington after a flop of . Pipitone had pocket aces with no draws, while Covington had flopped a set of sixes with the nut low draw. Covington’s hand held up to scoop the pot and eliminate Pipitone in third place. (Click here for details.)

That left Covington heads-up against David Shmuel, a five-time trophy winner here at Seminole Hard Rock, with three of them coming in Omaha events.

Even with such an accomplished player between him and victory, Covington remained focused and relaxed.

“Luckily for me, I’ve fought at the highest levels on pay-per-view, and in front of sold-out areas like Madison Square Garden,” said Covington. “I’m used to the nerves and I know how to channel them and use them the right way. I don’t ever get emotional when playing cards or fighting, and I just play my best game every time I come out.”

The final two players eventually got it all in on a board showing on the turn. Shmuel had a nine-high straight, and a higher flush draw, while Covington had a set of fives and a made low. (Click here for more details.)

The river card was — the . Covington won his first poker title and trophy with quad fives.

Covington was very appreciative after his victory.

“I started playing at the sister property, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek,” said Covington. “I’ve got to give a big shout out to them and Kelly Mautner (Director of Poker Operations for Seminole Coconut Creek). Without them, I wouldn’t be here today winning this title.”

“I also want to give a big thank you to everybody at Seminole Hard Rock Casino,” said Covington. “Tony Burns and the team, you guys do a great job. You run such good tournaments here. I’m very thankful that you guys do what you guys do.”

Final Results:

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  15,000/25,000
Players Remaining:  1 of 84

David Shmuel limped from the button for 25,000, and Colby Covington checked his option.

The flop came , Covington checked, Shmuel bet 40,000, and Covington called.

The turn card was the , and they quickly got it all in for Shmuel’s last 180,000.

Colby Covington:    (set of fives, eight-high flush draw, 8-7 low)
David Shmuel:    (nine-high straight, king-high flush draw, no low draw)

Shmuel needed his hand to hold to win half the pot and stay alive, but the river card was the . Colby Covington won the pot — and the title, the trophy, and $25,875 — with quad fives.

Congratulations to Colby Covington!

1st:  Colby Covington  –  $25,875 + SHRPO Trophy
2nd:  David Shmuel  –  $15,890
3rd:  Salvatore Pipitone  –  $9,985
4th:  Phil Hui  –  $6,680
5th:  Tony Cousineau  –  $5,095
6th:  Aaron Schaff  –  $4,075
7th:  Errol Massey  –  $3,380
8th:  Damjan Radanov  –  $2,850
9th:  Jake Liebeskind  –  $2,625

Stay tuned for a recap from this event, which will be posted later this evening.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  15,000/25,000
Players Remaining:  2 of 84

David Shmuel opened to 75,000 from the button and Colby Covington called. Salvatore Pipitone asked how much Shmuel was playing, he said around 300K, and Pipitone raised to 300,000 from the big leaving 60,000 behind. Shmuel thought for a moment, folded, and Covington called.

As soon as the flop hit the board, Covington tossed out 60K out front, and Pipitone called all in at risk.

Covington: (set of sixes, nut low draw)
Pipitone: (pair of aces, no low)

Covington had a huge lead and held as the board finished with the turn and river.

Salvatore Pipitone – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($9,985)

Colby Covington – 1,460,000 (58 bb)
David Shmuel – 220,000 (9 bb)

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/20,000
Players Remaining:  3 of 84

Phil Hui moved all in from UTG/cutoff for 60,000, and Colby Covington called from the button.

Colby Covington:  
Phil Hui:  

The board came , and Hui finished with nothing but a pair of tens. Covington scooped the pot with two pair, aces and tens, along with a 7-4 low, to eliminate Hui in fourth place.

Phil Hui  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($6,680)

Here are the official chip counts for the final three players:

Seat 1. Colby Covington  –  895,000  (45 bb)
Seat 2. Salvatore Pipitone  –  405,000  (20 bb)
Seat 3. David Shmuel  –  380,000  (19 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 560,000 (28 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $9,985 each.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/20,000
Players Remaining:  4 of 84

After a flop of , Tony Cousineau got it all in from the small blind for 50,000 against Colby Covington in the big blind.

Colby Covington:    (pair of sixes)
Tony Cousineau:    (ace high)

Cousineau needed to improve to stay alive, and he was drawing thin.

The turn card was the , the river card was the , and with no possible lows, Covington won the pot with a ten-high heart flush to eliminate Cousineau in fifth place.

Colby Covington  –  840,000  (42 bb)
Tony Cousineau  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($5,095)

With four players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 420,000 (21 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $6,680 each.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/20,000
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

David Shmuel raised from the button to 55,000, and Tony Cousineau called all in from the big blind for 50,000.

David Shmuel:  
Tony Cousineau:  

The board came , and neither player made a qualifying low, so Cousineau won the pot with a full house, sevens full of fours, to double up in chips.

Tony Cousineau  –  110,000  (6 bb)
David Shmuel  –  425,000  (21 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 336,000 (17 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $5,095 each.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  10,000/20,000
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

The players returned from break to begin Level 21, with increased blinds of 10,000-20,000. Here are the official chip counts from the break:

Seat 1. Colby Covington  –  610,000  (31 bb)
Seat 2. Salvatore Pipitone  –  345,000  (17 bb)
Seat 3. David Shmuel  –  450,000  (23 bb)
Seat 4. Phil Hui  –  160,000  (8 bb)
Seat 5. Tony Cousineau  –  115,000  (6 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $25,875 + SHRPO trophy
2nd:  $15,890
3rd:  $9,985
4th:  $6,680
5th:  $5,095

6th:  Aaron Schaff  –  $4,075
7th:  Errol Massey  –  $3,380
8th:  Damjan Radanov  –  $2,850
9th:  Jake Liebeskind  –  $2,625

With five players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 336,000 (17 big blinds).

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  8,000/16,000
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

David Shmuel limped from the cutoff to 16,000, and Tony Cousineau pot-raised from the small blind to 64,000. Shmuel raised, and Cousineau called all in for 67,000.

David Shmuel:  
Tony Cousineau:  

The board came , and Cousineau scooped the pot with a pair of aces for the high and a 7-4 for the low to double up in chips.

Tony Cousineau  –  150,000  (9 bb)
David Shmuel  –  475,000  (30 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 336,000 (21 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $5,095 each.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 19:  6,000/12,000
Players Remaining:  5 of 84

David Shmuel limped from the hijack for 12,000, Aaron Schaff limped from the cutoff, Phil Hui limped from the button, Tony Cousineau completed the small blind, and Colby Covington checked his option in the big blind.

The flop came , and it checked to Schaff, who pot-bet 60,000. Hui, Cousineau, and Covington all folded, and Shmuel raised.

Schaff called all in for 67,000, and they turned over their cards.

David Schmuel:    (4-3 low draw)
Aaron Schaff:    (pair of fours, wrap wheel draw)

The turn card was the , the river card was the , and neither player made a qualifying low. Schmuel caught a runner-runner two pair, aces and queens, to win the pot and eliminate Schaff in sixth place.

David Shmuel  –  500,000  (42 bb)
Aaron Schaff  –  Eliminated in 6th Place  ($4,075)

With five players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 336,000 (28 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $5,095 each.

$1,100 Pot Limit Omaha 8 (Single Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 18:  5,000/10,000
Players Remaining:  6 of 84

After a flop of , Colby Covington bet 50,000 from the small blind. The next three players folded, and Errol Massey moved all in from the button for about 70,000. Covington called.

Colby Covington:    (pair of queens)
Errol Massey:    (set of nines)

Massey needed his hand to hold to stay alive, but the turn card was the , the river card was the , and Covington rivered a higher full house, kings full of queens, to win the pot and eliminate Massey in seventh place.

Colby Covington  –  385,000  (39 bb)
Errol Massey  –  Eliminated in 7th Place  ($3,380)

With six players remaining from a field of 84 entries, the average chip stack is around 280,000 (28 big blinds). The remaining players are all guaranteed at least $4,075 each.