Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Event 1: $560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’emMarch 27-31, 2014 2t155p
Entries: 1,966
Prize Pool: $1,000,000
RECAP
For Daniel Piela, it was about visiting friends. The 42-year-old from Wheaton, IL works in the mortgage industry and felt like escaping the cold for the warm Florida weather to see a few friendly faces. Upon seeing the schedule for the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, he figured he would play in the first few events.
“I thought I would stay through the $350 (Event 8, beginning on Wednesday),” Piela told us. Little did he realize that he would rise from the masses with a six-figure score under his belt before heading back north. “I might stay for the Main Event now,” said Piela with a wry smile on his face. “Give it a shot, right?”
Piela can certainly afford to give it a shot after his victory. A total of 1,966 entries took to the felt over six starting flights in Event 1, the $560 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em. Among them was NBA Center Earl Barron, who finished in 48th place for $2,664. When it was all said and done, though, Piela was the sole survivor. Asked about his experience, Piela had nothing but good things to say.
“It was a great experience. I had a lot of fun, people are really friendly here, and I just had a really good time.” As for the tournament itself, Piela said the path to victory was far from easy. “It was really tough at times. I was short stacked a lot, especially going into the final table, but patience…it just took a lot of patience to get through it.”
Will this change his day-to-day life? Piela doesn’t think so.
“Obviously I’ll play a little more poker, but no, nothing else will really change.”
FINAL RESULTS
| PLACE | NAME | FROM | WINNINGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DANIEL PIELA | WHEATON, IL | $144,294 |
| 2 | MICHAEL ORTIZ | HIALEAH, FL | $113,515 |
| 3 | BRYAN GREEN | MIAMI, FL | $101,012 |
| 4 | NGOC VU | SOUTH DAYTONA, FL | $62,622 |
| 5 | CHAD BROWN | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $52,185 |
| 6 | IRWIN BLOCK | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $42,245 |
| 7 | ROBERT HODSON III | JUPITER, FL | $32,802 |
| 8 | DARRYLL FISH | CAPE CORAL, FL | $23,856 |
| 9 | JONATHAN GAVIAO | GAINESVILLE, TX | $17,395 |
| 10 | SUE SANDERS | VIERA, FL | $11,431 |
| 11 | PREECHA TAEPAKDEE | SUNRISE, FL | $11,431 |
| 12 | JOSEPH KLIMA | PORT ST LUCIE, FL | $11,431 |
| 13 | RYAN RICCI | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $7,455 |
| 14 | GREG LEVINE | TAMARAC, FL | $7,455 |
| 15 | AMIT PATEL | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $7,455 |
| 16 | STUART BREAKSTONE | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,169 |
| 17 | JOE POZOS | LEWES, DE | $5,169 |
| 18 | DAVID SHAW | BOCA RATON, FL | $5,169 |
| 19 | CLIFFORD QUICK | PLANTATION, FL | $4,374 |
| 20 | ROBERT PERRY | BOCA RATON, FL | $4,374 |
| 21 | DANIEL BOZZA | MARGATE, FL | $4,374 |
| 22 | BLAIR MILLER | SARASOTA, FL | $4,374 |
| 23 | KAIVON HAKIMI | ATLANTA, GA | $4,374 |
| 24 | NANCY BIRNBAUM | $4,374 | |
| 25 | JUAN FERRER | MIAMI, FL | $4,374 |
| 26 | JAMES GLADWELL III | WILLISTON, FL | $4,374 |
| 27 | MARK ALCIVAR | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $4,374 |
| 28 | AARON FREI | FIRESTONE, CO | $3,668 |
| 29 | CHRISTOPHER NOMIKOS | HALLANDALE BEACH, FL | $3,668 |
| 30 | STUART PATERSON | BOCA RATON, FL | $3,668 |
| 31 | KARSA KHODAYARKHANI | PLANO, TX | $3,668 |
| 32 | ALEXANDER MICHAELS | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $3,668 |
| 33 | VONTZ BURKE | DUBUN, GA | $3,668 |
| 34 | STUART CONOLLY | GRAND CAYMAN | $3,668 |
| 35 | TUAN PHAM | LAS VEGAS, NV | $3,668 |
| 36 | ALEX ORTIZ VAZQUEZ | SAN JUAN, PR | $3,668 |
| 37 | JASON SPARKS | DAVIE, FL | $3,121 |
| 38 | DAVID MACDONALD | JUPITER, FL | $3,121 |
| 39 | JASON MAEROFF | DUNWOODY, GA | $3,121 |
| 40 | DANIEL LETTS | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $3,121 |
| 41 | ROBERT WILLIAMS | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $3,121 |
| 42 | BRANDON YEE | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $3,121 |
| 43 | JESSICA MEIR | TAMARAC, FL | $3,121 |
| 44 | BLAKE WHITTINGTON | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $3,121 |
| 45 | RICHARD ZIPES | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $3,121 |
| 46 | PATRICK ESKANDAR | GULFPORT, MS | $2,664 |
| 47 | OSCAR VALDES | MIAMI, FL | $2,664 |
| 48 | EARL BARRON | CLARKSDALE, MS | $2,664 |
| 49 | KISHOR BHAKTA | MIRAMAR, FL | $2,664 |
| 50 | NILESH CHOUDHARY | MATTHEWS, NC | $2,664 |
| 51 | MATTHEW SMITH | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $2,664 |
| 52 | DMITRY SAVELYEV | SAN BRUNO, CA | $2,664 |
| 53 | DAVID NOWLING | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $2,664 |
| 54 | STEWART NEWMAN | WESTON, FL | $2,664 |
| 55 | BRETTE DEJESUS | NAPLES, FL | $2,237 |
| 56 | NIGEL MURRAY | MIAMI GARDENS, FL | $2,237 |
| 57 | JOHNNY LAYNE II | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $2,237 |
| 58 | SASCHA WALTER | LUDWIGSBURG, | $2,237 |
| 59 | JOHN DEPERSIO | PARKLAND, FL | $2,237 |
| 60 | ANTHONY BRAMMER | TAMPA, FL | $2,237 |
| 61 | ANTHONY VALIENTE | COCONUT GROVE, FL | $2,237 |
| 62 | SALVATORE CAPUTO | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $2,237 |
| 63 | GEORGE COLLI | SUFFIELD, CT | $2,237 |
| 64 | MICHAEL LAAKE | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,988 |
| 65 | JONATHAN DANIELS | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $1,988 |
| 66 | WENDY FREEDMAN | LAS VEGAS, NV | $1,988 |
| 67 | CARLOS SOBENES | CHAPEL LAKES, FL | $1,988 |
| 68 | SCOTT EFRON | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,988 |
| 69 | DENNIS RODRIGUEZ | SUNRISE, FL | $1,988 |
| 70 | YUAN SHEN | CARY, NC | $1,988 |
| 71 | ALEXANDER FLEITES | MIAMI, FL | $1,988 |
| 72 | BENJAMIN EILERS | RALEIGH, NC | $1,988 |
| 73 | FRANCISCO BASTON | MIAMI, FL | $1,839 |
| 74 | MIRALLES | HIALEAH, FL | $1,839 |
| 75 | ADAM LEVY | COCONUT CREEK, FL | $1,839 |
| 76 | MIGUEL RUSSO | CORAL SPRINGS, FL | $1,839 |
| 77 | SHAWN NGUYEN | DAVIE, FL | $1,839 |
| 78 | FABRICIO SCHAFFRATH | BUENOS AIRES | $1,839 |
| 79 | CAMILO POSADA | $1,839 | |
| 80 | STEVEN TOUITOU | MIAMI, FL | $1,839 |
| 81 | BRIAN OKEEFE | SUNRISE, FL | $1,839 |
| 82 | RYAN SPONAUGLE | OLDSMAR, FL | $1,690 |
| 83 | AVRAHAM KALMIS | PLANTATION, FL | $1,690 |
| 84 | CHRISTOPHER ASARO | JUPITER, FL | $1,690 |
| 85 | SHANE GOSLINE | BENSALEM, PA | $1,690 |
| 86 | HAGAI STEIN | STONE MOUNTAIN, GA | $1,690 |
| 87 | MINA AKLADIOUS | LAKE WORTH, FL | $1,690 |
| 88 | KEVIN DENG | CORAL SPRINGS, FL | $1,690 |
| 89 | MOHAMMED MUNAF | RICHARDSON, TX | $1,690 |
| 90 | ROGER BROOKS | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,690 |
| 91 | HAIDONG JIANG | CUTLER BAY, FL | $1,541 |
| 92 | STEPHEN BURNS | LANSING, MI | $1,541 |
| 93 | JAMES RUSSELL | MIAMI, FL | $1,541 |
| 94 | SARAH BERRY | LONDON | $1,541 |
| 95 | LUIS MELO | BORUTA | $1,541 |
| 96 | JULIO FERNANDEZ | MIAMI, FL | $1,541 |
| 97 | STEVEN MILLER | KEY LARGO, FL | $1,541 |
| 98 | MIGUEL BORRERO | JERSEY CITY, NJ | $1,541 |
| 99 | EDWARD GILFILLAN | DECATUR, GA | $1,541 |
| 100 | DANIEL SUEID | HALLANDALE, FL | $1,541 |
| 101 | VITOR COELHO | TAMPA, FL | $1,441 |
| 102 | RYAN HOHENSTEIN | EDEN PRAIRIE, MN | $1,441 |
| 103 | MIGUEL RIEVERO | MIAMI, FL | $1,441 |
| 104 | CODY FERGUSEN | LANTANA, FL | $1,441 |
| 105 | TAYFUN AKBASLI | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,441 |
| 106 | DAVID FELGER | LANTANA, FL | $1,441 |
| 107 | COREY BURBICK | DAVIE, FL | $1,441 |
| 108 | THEO LAWSON | MIAMI GARDENS, FL | $1,441 |
| 109 | ANTHONY CASAS | MIAMI, FL | $1,441 |
| 110 | RILEY FULLER | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,441 |
| 111 | JEFFERY FOGUL | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,392 |
| 112 | ROBERT GEORATO | NAPLES, FL | $1,392 |
| 113 | KEVIN LOVE | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $1,392 |
| 114 | PARASKEVAS PATSATSIS | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $1,392 |
| 115 | DIMAS MARTINEZ | BUFORD, GA | $1,392 |
| 116 | LINDA LIPKINS | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,392 |
| 117 | CHRISTOPHER FORIST | KISSIMMEE, FL | $1,392 |
| 118 | DAVID POCES | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,392 |
| 119 | MICHAEL ARRINGTON | MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $1,392 |
| 120 | DAVID SWATSCHENO | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,392 |
| 121 | SANDRA MEYER | WESTON, FL | $1,342 |
| 122 | NICHOLAS ESQUIVEL | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $1,342 |
| 123 | MARCIN PLEWINSKI | COCONUT CREEK, FL | $1,342 |
| 124 | ZACHARY GOODMAN | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,342 |
| 125 | MARC DAVIS | ORLANDO, FL | $1,342 |
| 126 | JORDAN STONE | FAYETTEVILLE, GA | $1,342 |
| 127 | ROLANDO WONG | DORAL, FL | $1,342 |
| 128 | GLORIA WHIMPER | NORCROSS, GA | $1,342 |
| 129 | ERIC MUTSCHLER | TARPON SPGS, FL | $1,342 |
| 130 | LAWERENCE POWELL | WELLINGTON, FL | $1,342 |
| 131 | JERRY WONG | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,292 |
| 132 | COREY DODD | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $1,292 |
| 133 | OSCAR ZELEDON | SPRING HILL, FL | $1,292 |
| 134 | NATHAN WOODSIDE | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $1,292 |
| 135 | ARKADIY TSINIS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $1,292 |
| 136 | MICHAEL BYRNE | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $1,292 |
| 137 | BRIAN KU | MIAMI, FL | $1,292 |
| 138 | JESSE LETCHWORTH | COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA | $1,292 |
| 139 | DANIEL WELLBORN | CENTREVILLE, VA | $1,292 |
| 140 | KEVIN ODONNELL | N LAS VEGAS, NV | $1,292 |
| 141 | ROBERT LEE | TALLASSEE, AL | $1,243 |
| 142 | FRANK FLOWERS | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $1,243 |
| 143 | NOAH NOVICK | LOS ALTOS, CA | $1,243 |
| 144 | ADAM GOLDBERG | LANTANA, FL | $1,243 |
| 145 | STEVEN COSTA | COCONUT CREEK, FL | $1,243 |
| 146 | AARON ROSENTHAL | ATLANTIC BCH, FL | $1,243 |
| 147 | STEVEN THOMASON | PLEASANTON, CA | $1,243 |
| 148 | GUDMUNDUR SIGURJONSSON | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $1,243 |
| 149 | JAMES ANDERSON | WOOSTER, OH | $1,243 |
| 150 | TREVOR WINSTEAD | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,243 |
| 151 | MICHAEL ANGELINI | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,193 |
| 152 | MAJD INRAHIM | PALM CITY, FL | $1,193 |
| 153 | MICHAEL MORENO | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,193 |
| 154 | DANIEL PEARLMAN | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,193 |
| 155 | JOSEPH SCHWARTZ | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,193 |
| 156 | DANIEL KOLCHKOV | POMPANO BEACH, FL | $1,193 |
| 157 | GUY HAYUN | AVENTURA, FL | $1,193 |
| 158 | JOEY PROSPER | MIAMI, FL | $1,193 |
| 159 | MIGUEL CHAJTUR | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $1,193 |
| 160 | ERNESTO PEREZ | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,193 |
| 161 | LEE STEWART | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $1,143 |
| 162 | MICHAEL LAROCCA | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $1,143 |
| 163 | JOSE AVILA | MIAMI, FL | $1,143 |
| 164 | RANDY BURSTEIN | AVENTURA, FL | $1,143 |
| 165 | HAWKINS | FORT MYERS, FL | $1,143 |
| 166 | JOSHUA WASSERMAN | DEERFIELD BEACH, FL | $1,143 |
| 167 | IAN GLAZER | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $1,143 |
| 168 | ROBERTO BERROCAL | MIAMI, FL | $1,143 |
| 169 | JOSEPH ROSENBERG | DAVIE, FL | $1,143 |
| 170 | ANTUAN BUNKLEY | RIVIERA BEACH, FL | $1,143 |
| 171 | ERIC SILVERBERG | PLANTATION, FL | $1,093 |
| 172 | MICHAEL LUCUS | MIAMI, FL | $1,093 |
| 173 | ROLANDO MARTINEZ | HIALEAH, FL | $1,093 |
| 174 | JASON IBRAHIM | MIAMI, FL | $1,093 |
| 175 | MICHAEL FERNEMAN | DAVENPORT, FL | $1,093 |
| 176 | EUGENE KLEYMAN | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,093 |
| 177 | STANLEY SILVERMAN | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $1,093 |
| 178 | DERRICK CUTLER | MARIETTA, GA | $1,093 |
| 179 | JAMES ROTHLEIN | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,093 |
| 180 | TIMOTHY MILES | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $1,093 |
| 181 | VADIMS IVANOVS | SUNNY ISL BCH, FL | $1,044 |
| 182 | BRIAN HASTINGS | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $1,044 |
| 183 | CIRILO GONZALEZ | MIAMI, FL | $1,044 |
| 184 | JULIO PADILLA | ALTS DE YAUCO | $1,044 |
| 185 | MOHAMMAD SIDDIQUI | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,044 |
| 186 | GABRIEL AGACHE | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,044 |
| 187 | PETER DRAGAR | BUDAPEST | $1,044 |
| 188 | JASON ROSENBERG | RALEIGH, NC | $1,044 |
| 189 | TIMOTHY ODELL | LONGWOOD, FL | $1,044 |
| 190 | MANISH PAREKH | HOUSTON, TX | $1,044 |
| 191 | DONALD SOMERS | MONTREAL, QC | $1,044 |
| 192 | JASON GAYNOR | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $1,044 |
| 193 | WHANGKYUNG CHOI | NEW YORK, NY | $1,044 |
| 194 | ANDREW SCHWARTZ | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $1,044 |
| 195 | JAIME CAMPOS | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,044 |
| 196 | EVGENIY CATANE | SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL | $1,044 |
| 197 | BRANDON COLBURN | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $1,044 |
| 198 | COREY HARRSION | $1,044 | |
| 199 | DANIYAR KUNTAYEV | MIAMI BEACH, FL | $1,044 |
| 200 | SALMAN JADDI | PEMBROKE PINES, FL | $1,044 |