5 Stories You May've Missed from 2023 WPT Poker Showdown at Seminole Hard Rock
Table Of Contents
- Michael Newman Wins Record-Tying 9th SHRP Title
- Newman's SHRP Titles
- Singh Breaks Record a Week Later
- Singh's SHRP Titles
- Newcomer Wins Event #21 for $300K!
- Event #21 Final Table Results
- Ari Engel Wins a Title of His Own
- Event #32 Final Table Results
- A Pair of High Roller Tournaments
- Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Winners Thus Far��
This weekend, the World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $3,500 Main Event gets underway (it runs April 28-May 2). However, the festival itself began back on April 13, and there have been nearly four dozen side event winners thus far.
The series kicked off with a bang as Event #1: $400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold��em attracted 4,184 entries and awarded a $1,380,720 prize pool. Carlos Loving took down that tournament for $153,690. Others to claim titles included Ken Po (Event #13: $400 HORSE for $12,185), Rodney Turvin (Event #27: $1,700 Purple Chip Bounty Six-Max for $50,455), Shannon Shorr (Event #37: $10,000 Eight-Handed NLH for $260,600), Cherish Andrews (Event #39: $1,100 Deep Stack Turbo NLH for $31,105), and Carlos Chadha (Event #40: $1,100 Deep Stack for $71,150).
Here are five other stories to know headed into the WPT $3,500 Poker Showdown.
Michael Newman Wins Record-Tying 9th SHRP Title
From April 16-18, Event #9: $400 Deep Stack Pot-Limit Omaha played out. The tournament drew 468 entrants and awarded a $154,440 prize pool. After three long days of play, Seminole Hard Rock crusher Michael Newman emerged victorious to capture $25,178 in prize money and a ninth SHRP title, which tied him for most all-time alongside Raminder Singh.
��It��s great to be tied with someone who��s a really good player,�� Newman said after the victory, though they wouldn��t be tied for long (more on that below).
Newman's SHRP Titles
| Series | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 SHRPO | $570 No-Limit Hold��em | $17,589 |
| 2016 RRPO | $360 Pot-Limit Omaha | $7,740 |
| 2017 LHPO | $570 Six-Max Pot-Limit Omaha | $7,473 |
| 2017 RRPO | $3,500 RRPO Championship | $374,240 |
| 2019 LHPO | $360 Ultimate Re-Entry | $183,525 |
| 2021 SHRPO | $400 Turbo No-Limit Hold��em | $7,573 |
| 2022 RRPO | $400 Turbo No-Limit Hold��em | $7,136 |
| 2022 RRPO | $300 Black Chip Bounty | $6,437 |
| 2023 Showdown | $400 Pot-Limit Omaha | $25,178 |
Learn more about Michael Newman here!
Singh Breaks Record a Week Later
As stated above, the tie between Newman and Singh didn��t last long as a week later the latter topped a field of 157 entries to win Event #38: $400 Deep Stack NLH for $12,320 and his record-breaking 10th SHRP title.
The tournament ended when Singh struck a heads-up deal with Kevin McLeskey, who settled for second place and $10,800 in prize money.
Singh's SHRP Titles
| Series | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 SHRPO | $250 No-Limit Hold��em Deep Stack Turbo | $6,716 |
| 2015 RRPO | $350 No-Limit Hold��em Black Chip Bounty | $11,400 |
| 2015 RRPO | $350 No-Limit Hold��em Big Stack | $15,298 |
| 2018 RRPO | $1,100 No-Limit Hold��em | $37,706 |
| 2019 SHRPO | $600 No-Limit Hold��em Deep Stack | $200,000 |
| 2020 LHPO | $600 No-Limit Hold��em Six Max | $22,520 |
| 2021 SHRPO | $200 Double Green Chip Bounty NLH | $6,256 |
| 2022 Showdown | $150 Big Stack No-Limit Hold��em | $5,008 |
| 2022 RRPO | $600 Deep Stack Turbo No-Limit Hold��em | $7,897 |
| 2023 Showdown | $400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold��em | $12,230 |
Newcomer Wins Event #21 for $300K!
One of the bigger tournaments of the series was Event #21: $600 Deep Stack NLH, which took place April 20-24. The event attracted 3,989 entries and more than doubled the $1 million guarantee by offering up a $2,074,280 prize pool.
Some heavy hitters made the final table in Ari Engel and Darryll Fish, but ultimately it came down to Vladyslav Shovkovyi and David Trager. The former held a 5:1 chip lead when heads-up play began, but the latter managed to claw back to close to even. At that point, the final two struck a deal that saw Trager take $288,485 in prize money, while Shovkovyi took the title and $299,715.
��I think ace-queen was my hand of the tournament,�� Shovkovyi told reporters after the win, ��because I made a few good moves with that hand and I won a lot of chips.��
He added: ��Getting first and the trophy in such a big field is awesome. I had a few good runs this year, but I took second, third, and a few more final tables, but not first �� The level of some players here is very good. The guys on the final table had millions in winnings, and I��m only just starting. So, it was awesome to play with good players, and to put pressure on them.��
Event #21 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vladyslav Shovkovyi | $299,715* |
| 2 | David Trager | $288,485* |
| 3 | Alexandre Henry | $161,700 |
| 4 | Darryll Fish | $124,600 |
| 5 | Ari Engel | $94,300 |
| 6 | Ryan Brown | $69,580 |
| 7 | Greg Anda | $50,015 |
| 8 | Joseph Dipascale | $39,800 |
| 9 | Charlemagne Benjamin | $30,765 |
*Denotes heads-up deal.
Check out the WPT Hub on PokerNews here!
Ari Engel Wins a Title of His Own
After busting the above tournament in fifth place for $94,300, Engel promptly jumped into Event #32: $600 Six-Max Pot-Limit Omaha, a tournament that drew 196 runners and paid out a $102,900 prize pool.
By the end of the night, Engel was one of the final three players standing alongside Shanmukha Meruga and Pawel Andrzejewski. The trio wound up working a deal that saw Andrzejewski take third for $15,213, Meruga second for $18,212, and Engel first place for $20,505 and the trophy.
Event #32 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ari Engel | $20,505* |
| 2 | Shanmukha Meruga | $18,212* |
| 3 | Pawel Andrzejewski | $15,213* |
| 4 | Jay Scoratow | $8,075 |
| 5 | Brian McKain | $5,785 |
| 6 | Aaron Flores | $4,245 |
*Denotes three-way deal.
A Pair of High Roller Tournaments
On April 26, Event #42: $50,000 Super High Roller attracted 18 entries, which meant an $873,000 prize pool awaited the top four finishers. Sam Soverel and Kevin Rabichow finished in fourth and third place for $104,760 and $157,140 respectively, which left high roller regulars David Peters and Alex Foxen as the last two players standing.
They opted to work a deal that saw Foxen settle for second place and $282,573, while Peters was deemed the champion and claimed $328,527 in prize money. The victory marked the fourth SHRP major series trophy for Peters, who also won the 2022 SHRPO $50K Super High Roller for $407,545.
The following day, Event #45: $25,500 PLO High Roller drew 27 runners and offered up a $666,900 prize pool to the top five finishers. Foxen was once again at the final table, this time settling for fifth place and $53,300, while Michael Wang (4th - $73,400) and Firas Kashat (3rd - $106,700) followed him out the door.
That left Ren Lin and Dylan Smith to do battle in what turned out to be a back-and-forth heads-up affair. Eventually, Lin closed it out to win his first SHRP title and $266,700, while Smith had to settle for second place and $166,800 in prize money.
Eric Diaz Wins CSOP Larry Frank Memorial Event at Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Winners Thus Far��
| Date | Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13-17 | Event #1: $400 Deep Stack NLH | 4,184 | $1,380,720 | Carlos Loving | $153,690 |
| 13-Apr | Event #2: $600 Seniors 50+ | 147 | $77,175 | Emerson Ward | $19,000 |
| 13-Apr | Event #3: $600 Deep Stack Big O | 105 | $55,125 | Long Nguyen | $9,128 |
| 14-Apr | Event #4: $600 Limit Omaha 8 | 82 | $43,050 | Donald Maloney | $8,505 |
| 14-Apr | Event #5: $300 Quad Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH | 168 | $26,040 | Jatinder Singh | $6,300 |
| 15-Apr | Event #6: $1,100 Deep Stack 5-Card PLO | 95 | $92,150 | Pawel Andrzejewski | $28,525 |
| 16-Apr | Event #7: $400 Deep Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH | 411 | $96,585 | Herbert Nairn | $18,660 |
| April 16-17 | Event #8: $1,100 Deep Stack Eight-Handed NLH | 197 | $191,090 | Christopher Backhouse | $47,830 |
| April 16-18 | Event #9: $400 Deep Stack PLO | 468 | $154,440 | Michael Newman | $25,178 |
| 16-Apr | Event #10: $200 Quad Stack Double Green Chip Bounty NLH | 240 | $26,400 | Alan Leon | $3,390 |
| 16-Apr | Event #11: $400 Deep Stack Turbo NLH | 83 | $28,220 | Carlos Bermudez | $8,990 |
| April 17-19 | Event #12: $200 Big Stack NLH | 1,775 | $284,000 | Rick Kalgstein | $26,117 |
| 17-Apr | Event #13: $400 HORSE | 133 | $44,555 | Ken Po | $12,185 |
| 18-Apr | Event #14: $400 Mixed PLO | 144 | $48,240 | Tal Avivi | $13,345 |
| 18-Apr | Event #15: $600 Deep Stack Six-Max NLH | 191 | $100,275 | Dean Hutchinson | $25,100 |
| 19-Apr | Event #16: $400 Seniors 50+ | 159 | $53,265 | Paul Balzano | $9,826 |
| 19-Apr | Event #17: $400 Triple Stud | 90 | $30,150 | Zachary Milchman | $7,968 |
| 19-Apr | Event #18: $600 Deep Stack Eight-Handed NLH | 165 | $86,625 | Alvin Davis | $22,920 |
| 19-Apr | Event #19: $1,100 Deep Stack Six-Max PLO8 | 94 | $91,180 | Eugene Kotlyarevskiy | $25,580 |
| 19-Apr | Event #20: $300 Quad Stack Black Chip Bounty NLH | 314 | $48,670 | Brandon Choran | $9,980 |
| April 20-24 | Event #21: $600 Deep Stack NLH | 3,989 | $2,074,280 | Vladyslav Shovkovyi | $299,715 |
| 20-Apr | Event #22: $400 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw | 97 | $38,800 | Danny Chang | $9,615 |
| 20-Apr | Event #23: $200 Big Stack NLH | 104 | $16,640 | William White | $3,742 |
| 21-Apr | Event #24: $400 Limit Omaha 8 | 125 | $41,875 | Jonathan Breneman | $12,000 |
| 22-Apr | Event #25: $400 Deep Stack Big O | 141 | $47,235 | Scotter Clark | $13,015 |
| 23-Apr | Event #26: $400 Deep Stack NLH | 468 | $156,780 | Joseph Altomonte | $27,675 |
| April 23-24 | Event #27: $1,700 Purple Chip Bounty Six-Max NLH | 209 | $209,000 | Rodney Turvin | $50,455 |
| 23-Apr | Event #28: $600 Deep Stack Turbo PLO | 119 | $63,070 | Marshall Morris | $14,296 |
| 24-Apr | Event #29: $400 Seniors 50+ Black Chip Bounty NLH | 188 | $44,180 | Amir Baron | $8,716 |
| 24-Apr | Event #30: $600 Double Black Chip Bounty NLH | 251 | $50,200 | Chaim Appel | $9,166 |
| April 24-25 | Event #31: $1,100 Eight-Game Mix | 90 | $87,300 | Jon Breneman | $26,620 |
| 24-Apr | Event #32: $600 Six-Max PLO | 196 | $102,900 | Ari Engel | $20,505 |
| 24-Apr | Event #33: $200 Big Stack NLH | 170 | $27,200 | Jonathan Marcu | $4,147 |
| 24-Apr | Event #34: $400 Deep Stack Turbo NLH | 123 | $41,820 | Leonardo Emperador | $8,781 |
| 25-Apr | Event #35: $600 Deep Stack Six-Max NLH | 276 | $144,900 | Tyler Bentz | $32,510 |
| April 25-26 | Event #36: $1,100 Limit Omaha | 71 | $68,870 | Jake Ferro | $24,100 |
| April 25-26 | Event #37: $10,000 Eight-Handed NLH | 89 | $845,500 | Shannon Shorr | $260,600 |
| 25-Apr | Event #38: $400 Deep Stack NLH | 157 | $52,595 | Raminder Singh | $12,320 |
| 25-Apr | Event #39: $1,100 Deep Stack Turbo NLH | 103 | $103,000 | Cherish Andrews | $31,105 |
| April 26-27 | Event #40: $1,100 Deep Stack NLH | 345 | $334,650 | Carlos Chadha | $71,150 |
| April 26-27 | Event #41: $1,100 HORSE | 67 | $64,990 | Andres Korn | $22,740 |
| April 26-27 | Event #42: $50,000 Super High Roller | 18 | $873,000 | David Peters | $328,527 |
| April 26-27 | Event #43: $200 Quad Stack Double Green Chip Bounty | 300 | $33,050 | Brandon Duvdivani | $6,885 |
| 27-Apr | Event #45: $25,500 PLO High Roller | 27 | $666,900 | Ren Lin | $266,700 |
| 27-Apr | Event #46: $300 CSOP Larry Frank Memorial Charity Event | 94 | $13,700 | Eric Diaz | $5,000 |
*Images courtesy of WPT and Seminole Hard Rock.
