RSS Feed

Tech Support

Toronto's Salomon Ponte won $344,420 after winning first place at the Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open WPT DeepStacks Main Event at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino from Jan. 14-18, 2016.

The $1 million guaranteed main event, which offers $1,100 in purchases on three departing flights, produced 1,684 entries with a total prize of $1,633,480. The last table play, filled with action, lasted less than four hours.

The series began with eight departures on Thursday, Jan. 7, with a $500,000 guarantee and no Ultimate Reentry Limits. Players can earn a $2,500 multi-stack payout for each time they survive after their first flight. The popular event generated 4,075 entries, the largest field in Florida's poker history, and received $1,222,500 in prize money, more than double the guarantee.

"We are excited about the success of this year's Lucky Hearts Poker Open," said Jason Newman, director of poker marketing at Seminole Gaming. "The Ultimate Re-entry Unlimited Holdem Kickoff event broke down the $500,000 guarantee, generating $1.2 million in prize money. The positive response to this unique structure was evident in 4,075 entries. Partnering with WPTDeepStacks and bringing in a mid-major to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as their main event also gave players the opportunity to offer something different than what's common in January. With 1,684 entries and a final prize exceeding $1.5 million, we couldn't be happier

The main event featured poker stars from around the world, including Matt Affleck, Alan Kessler, Kathy Lieber, 2010 WSOP November Nairn John Dolan, WPT DeepTax Player of the Year Tristan Wade, former WPT Player of the Year Mukul Pahuja, WPT World Champion Asher Conniff, and 2010 WSOP Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel.

The nine finalists were Salomon Ponte, Edward Malone, Tong Ho, Harrison Zimbel, Kenneth Watson, Michael Laroka, Ryan D'Angelo, Jack Goodman and Paul Valzano.