Paul Snead is no stranger to success at Seminole Hard Rock properties all over the state of Florida between here at Hollywood and Tampa. Snead has multiple major tournament titles on his Seminole Hard Rock resume thanks to wins in the 2019 Seminole Showdown $5,000 NLH event, the 2022 Seminole Tampa Poker Classic $2,500 Championship, and the 2024 Seminole Tampa Poker Classic $1,700 Championship. He added even more hardware to that trophy case tonight by taking down the victory in the SHRPO $5,300 buy-in Championship Event. We caught up with him after the win for an interview about his most recent achievement in the Sunshine State.

“It feels amazing, I just feel like the Hard Rock is my home turf now. I’m originally from New York and still live there and Florida now. Foxwoods used to be my home turf, but now I totally feel comfortable here and playing here. I love the way that they run tournament here, it’s just great,” said Snead right after winning the trophy.

Snead continued, “I just love playing, and this is what I do when I’m not trading. I take it very seriously, I spend a lot of time talking poker with my poker coach and you wouldn’t believe the amount of time we spend talking about things, and it’s great when it all comes together. And I ran really good this tournament I think, which you need to do.”

Speaking more on that rungood that sent him down the path to the top of this tournament field Snead also added, “I was all in for my tournament life twice yesterday. I won a huge race with Ace-King against Queens, and then I came from behind all-in against Clemen [Deng] post-flop with Queens against Jack-10 on a Jack-10 flop. Those were the two hands where I could have been out of the tournament but I won. That hasn’t happened to me, so I feel really good … I’m ready to go hit the PokerGo studio for sure.”

Snead’s profession as he mentioned is working as a trader back in New York, but poker has become a serious and profitable hobby to him over the years. His close to $2.3 million in tournament earnings tells that story with a run of great results. We asked him about how those two major pursuits in his life are mutually beneficial to each other, and below is his response.

“Absolutely, you have to be analytical on both fronts, you have to have patience, you have to have discipline, and that’s the most important one. And that’s something I’ve had to work on in my poker game over the years. I’ve been playing for over 20 years now on a higher level, and the discipline part … and when I say discipline I mean keeping my emotions in check. Because people that know me will tell you that I wear it on my sleeve a lot of the time. And you can’t do that when you’re playing poker against the best players in the world. So that’s something that I’ve worked on, and I think that I’m much better at now and it’s served me,” said Snead.

We finished the final table-side chat with an inquiry to see what celebration plans Snead and his friends along the rail had in store for later. Snead responded, “I’ve got a bunch of local friends here. We’re usually up in New York this time of year so unfortunately my wife isn’t here. But I will see her tomorrow and we will celebrate with friends and family. I’m pretty amped about that trophy, it’s a good one.”

Place	First Name	Last Name	Prize Amount
1	Paul	Snead	$529,428*
2	Clemen	Deng	$512,522*
3	Brandon	Kessous	$310,000
4	Jack	Thu	$230,000
5	Billy	Pilossoph	$175,000
6	Tyler	Montoya	$133,000
7	Loni	Hui	$103,000
8	Sterling	Savill	$80,000
9	Kevin	Schulz	$63,000
10	Jeremy	Becker	$63,000
11	Charles	Gomez	$56,000
12	Ed	Holyoke	$56,000
13	Jesse	Lonis	$49,000
14	Martin	Zamani	$49,000
15	Spencer	Champlin	$49,000
16	Kevin	Andriamahefa	$42,500
17	Zhen	Cai	$42,500
18	Dylan	Smith	$42,500
19	Garret	Reisz	$42,500
20	Martin	Carnero	$36,500
21	Dan	Avitsur	$36,500
22	Steve	Cohen	$36,500
23	Drew	O'Connell	$36,500
24	Andrew	Moreno	$31,000
25	Lily	Kiletto	$31,000
26	Mark	Zullo	$31,000
27	Fred	Goldberg	$31,000
28	John	Costello	$31,000
29	Rodrigo	Aguilar	$31,000
30	Omar	Zazay	$31,000
31	Robert	LeBeau	$31,000
32	Vitalijs	Zavorotnijs	$26,000
33	Matthew	Wantman	$26,000
34	Nadya	Magnus	$26,000
35	Francis	Anderson	$26,000
36	Anatoly	Nikitin	$26,000
37	Joe	Bartholdi	$26,000
38	Harrison	Ashdown	$26,000
39	Mark	Davidoff	$26,000
40	Luis	Zedan	$21,800
41	Roman	Pumpernick	$21,800
42	Kitty	Kuo	$21,800
43	Anthony	Zinno	$21,800
44	Jorge	Flo Subiris	$21,800
45	Carlos	Guerrero	$21,800
46	Elliot	Smith	$21,800
47	Bin	Weng	$21,800
48	Brock	Wilson	$18,400
49	Andrew M.	Smith	$18,400
50	Danny	Panagatos	$18,400
51	Ignacio	Moron	$18,400
52	Kristen	Foxen	$18,400
53	David	Levy	$18,400
54	Aaron	Mermelstein	$18,400
55	Byung	Shin	$18,400
56	Ren	Lin	$15,500
57	Jerry	Wong	$15,500
58	Lejdin	Fazilbegu	$15,500
59	Tarun	Gulati	$15,500
60	Dion	Jagroo	$15,500
61	Jacob	Kalb	$15,500
62	Raminder	Singh	$15,500
63	Chris	Moorman	$15,500
64	Scott	Blackman	$13,100
65	David	Jackson	$13,100
66	John	Kennedy	$13,100
67	Stuart	Taylor	$13,100
68	Ronald	Spooner	$13,100
69	Kyle	Taddei	$13,100
70	Stuart	Hankin	$13,100
71	Ari	Dinov	$13,100
72	Neel	Murthy	$13,100
73	Alex	Foxen	$13,100
74	Mike	Chiappetta	$13,100
75	Adam	Agaev	$13,100
76	Scott	Frier	$13,100
77	Daniel	Blum	$13,100
78	Michael	Morton	$13,100
79	James	Carroll	$11,200
80	Ethan	Yau	$11,200
81	Daniel	Scroggins	$11,200
82	Jacob	Ferro	$11,200
83	Zachary	Bruch	$11,200
84	Kyle	Arora	$11,200
85	Nick	Palma	$11,200
86	David	Coleman	$11,200
87	Mkhail	Volfson	$11,200
88	Joshua	Kay	$11,200
89	Adrian	Buckley	$11,200
90	Luke	Brereton	$11,200
91	Elliott	Kessas	$11,200
92	Michael	Wetcher	$11,200
93	Carlos	Leiva	$11,200
94	Bala	Patur	$9,700
95	Bryce	McVay	$9,700
96	Tony	Cousineau	$9,700
97	Eric	Afriat	$9,700
98	Andrew	Becker	$9,700
99	Ryan	Riess	$9,700
100	Yuk	Mui	$9,700
101	Marco	Rodriguez	$9,700
102	Jordan	Sparagana	$9,700
103	Jake	Schwartz	$9,700
104	Peter	Park	$9,700
105	Glenn	Fishbein	$9,700
106	Ryan	Fair	$9,700
107	Dmitry	Bedny	$9,700
108	Landon	Tice	$9,700
109	Robert	Gentile	$9,700

*denotes heads-up deal

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 865

After the elimination of Brandon Kessous in third place, Paul Snead and Clemen Deng quickly agreed to a deal to end the tournament. These were their official chip counts:

Paul Snead  –  23,350,000  (117 bb)
Clemen Deng  –  19,900,000  (100 bb)

And these are the payouts they agreed to:

1st:  Paul Snead  –  $529,428*  +  SHRPO Guitar Tower Trophy
2nd:  Clemen Deng  –  $512,522*

As chipleader, Snead was declared the winner, receiving the title and the trophy. Congratulations to Paul Snead!

1st:  Paul Snead  –  $529,428*  +  SHRPO Guitar Tower Trophy
2nd:  Clemen Deng  –  $512,522*
3rd:  Brandon Kessous  –  $310,000
4th:  Jack Thu  –  $230,000
5th:  Billy Pilossoph  –  $175,000
6th:  Tyler Montoya  –  $133,000
7th:  Loni Hui  –  $103,000
8th:  Sterling Savill  –  $80,000

* Indicates the results of a heads-up deal.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 865

Paul Snead raised from the button to 500,000, Brandon Kessous moved all in from the small blind for 7,000,000, and Snead quickly called with .

Kessous turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Kessous turned a heart flush draw, but improved no further. The pocket jacks held up for Snead to win the pot and eliminate Kessous in third place.

Brandon Kessous  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($310,000)

Here are the official chip counts for heads-up play:

Paul Snead  –  23,350,000  (117 bb)
Clemen Deng  –  19,900,000  (100 bb)

And these are the remaining payouts at stake:

1st:  $626,950  +  SHRPO Guitar Tower Trophy
2nd:  $415,000

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 865

Paul Snead raised from the small blind to 600,000, and Brandon Kessous called from the big blind.

The flop came , Snead bets 500,000, Kessous raised to 1,300,000, and Snead three-bet all in for 16,600,000.

Kessous folded (queen high), and Snead took the pot without showing his (king high).

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  15,650,000  (78 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  19,300,000  (97 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  8,300,000  (42 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 14,425,000 (72 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $310,000 each.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 865

Brandon Kessous raised under the gun to 500,000, Jack Thu moved all in from the cutoff for 2,525,000, and Kessous thought for a while before he called with .

Thu turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Kessous won the pot with an eight-high straight to eliminate Thu in fourth place.

Jack Thu  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($230,000)

The final three players take a break to discuss a possible deal, but ultimately they decide to keep playing. Here are their official chip counts:

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  14,500,000  (73 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  18,550,000  (93 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  10,200,000  (51 bb)

And here are the payouts they’re playing for:

1st:  $626,950  +  SHRPO Guitar Tower Trophy
2nd:  $415,000
3rd:  $310,000

With three players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 14,425,000 (72 big blinds).

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 865

Billy Pilossoph moved all in from the small blind for 2,500,000, and Clemen Deng called from the big blind with .

Pilossoph turned over , and needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Deng won the pot with a pair of kings and his queen kicker to eliminate Pilossoph in fifth place.

Billy Pilossoph  –  Eliminated in 5th Place  ($175,000)

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  14,600,000  (73 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  18,950,000  (95 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  7,175,000  (36 bb)
Seat 4.  Jack Thu  –  2,525,000  (13 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 10,825,000 (54 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $230,000 each.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 865

Clemen Deng raised from the button to 400,000, and Brandon Kessous called from the big blind.

The flop came , Kessous checked, Deng bet 300,000, and Kessous check-raised to 700,000. Deng reraised to 1,100,000, and Kessous four-bet all in for 4,675,000.

Deng quickly folded, and Kessous took the pot.

Brandon Kessous:    (top two pair)
Clemen Deng:    (eight high)

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  12,100,000  (61 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  17,950,000  (90 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  6,875,000  (34 bb)
Seat 4.  Jack Thu  –  3,225,000  (16 bb)
Seat 5.  Billy Pilossoph  –  3,100,000  (16 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 8,650,000 (43 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $175,000 each.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 30:  100,000/200,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 865

Level 29 came to an end, and the players took a 15-minute break. Here are the updated chip counts:

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  13,750,000  (69 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  15,050,000  (75 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  5,125,000  (26 bb)
Seat 4.  Jack Thu  –  4,225,000  (21 bb)
Seat 5.  Billy Pilossoph  –  5,100,000  (26 bb)

And here are today’s payouts:

1st:  $626,950 + SHRPO Guitar Tower Trophy
2nd:  $415,000
3rd:  $310,000
4th:  $230,000
5th:  $175,000

6th:  Tyler Montoya  –  $133,000
7th:  Loni Hui  –  $103,000
8th:  Sterling Savill  –  $80,000

With five players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 8,650,000 (43 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $175,000 each.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 29:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 865

Clemen Deng raised from the cutoff to 325,000, and Brandon Kessous called from the small blind.

The flop came , Kessous bet 450,000, and Deng called.

The turn card was the , Kessous bet 550,000, and Deng called.

The river card was the , Kessous checked, Deng bet 1,600,000, and Kessous check-raised to 3,500,000. Deng thought for a while before he called, and Kessous showed for trip eights.

But Deng turned over to win the pot with a queen-high straight.

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  14,800,000  (99 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  13,925,000  (93 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  5,125,000  (34 bb)
Seat 4.  Jack Thu  –  3,925,000  (26 bb)
Seat 5.  Billy Pilossoph  –  5,475,000  (37 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 8,650,000 (58 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $175,000 each.

$5,300 SHRPO Championship
Prizepool:  $4,195,250  |  Structure
Level 29:  75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 865

Billy Pilossoph raised from the cutoff to 325,000, Brandon Kessous moved all in from the big blind, and Pilossoph called all in for 2,625,000 with .

Kessous turned over , and Pilossoph needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came , and Pilossoph paired his king on the turn to win the pot and double up in chips.

Seat 1.  Clemen Deng  –  9,675,000  (65 bb)
Seat 2.  Paul Snead  –  13,925,000  (93 bb)
Seat 3.  Brandon Kessous  –  9,950,000  (66 bb)
Seat 4.  Jack Thu  –  4,225,000  (28 bb)
Seat 5.  Billy Pilossoph  –  5,475,000  (37 bb)

With five players remaining from a field of 865, the average chip stack is around 8,650,000 (58 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $175,000 each.