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.
PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
