The 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown is underway and the excitement is already proving to be nonstop. Nick Ahmadi took down the opening event to pocket $210,000, but wasn’t the only one to pick up a six-figure payday. Elio Fox and Rich Alati have showed their poker prowess, as well, each taking down a major event.
Ali Imsirovic exited in fourth place, pocketing $120,000. Alex Foxen would go next with $180,000, followed by Sam Soverel with $260,000. Fox, who took down the same event at last year’s series, picked up a cool $440,000. He pulled it off after limping in with K-Q, to which Soverel came back over the top with pocket fives. Fox raised, forcing Soverel all in and the race was on. Soverel almost survived, but a King on the river gave Fox the win.
Fox said after his win, “It feels great. It’s always wonderful to start out a trip doing well – makes it easier the rest of the way… It was a really tough tournament, and I love playing with the group of guys that was here. I play with them a lot, and I’m really happy to have won.”
The $1,100 NLH Re-Entry event attracted 689 entrants, completely blowing away the $250,000 guarantee to create a prize pool worth $668,300. In the end, Alati found himself in a showdown against Sam Panzica with a chip lead of around three million. Alati and Panzica decided to cut a deal, with the latter taking home $100,836 and Alati getting $107,740 and the trophy.
Other names that made it to the cash include Ryan Olisar, who exited in third with $55,425, and Judy Miller with a fifth-place finish for $31,077. Kyle Carson was sent to the rail in seventh with $20,518 and Kurt Lichtman had busted two places earlier with $12,264 in his pocket.