Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood announces Poker Open winners

(PRESS RELEASE) -- After this month’s “Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open” at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Florida, it’s Istvan Briski of Hungary who walks away with $647,300 after winning first place in the $3,500 World Poker Tour Championship.

Briski bested 1,447 entries in the series finale, winning his first major live tournament title. This year, he broke through with a major victory in a live tournament, defeating Rayan Chamas in a heads-up battle on Wednesday night to win the RRPO Championship. The tournament generated a prize pool worth nearly $4.6 million easily eclipsing the $3 million guarantee.

Championship Final Table Results:
1st: Istvan Briski (Hungary) $636,900 + $10,400 WPT World Championship Seat
2nd: Rayan Chamas (Byblos, Quebec, Canada) $600,000
3rd: Sandy Sanchez (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) $366,500
4th: Fred Goldberg (Hollywood, Fla.) $274,000
5th: Matt Bond (Irving, Texas) $206,900
6th: Darryll Fish (Cape Coral, Fla.) $157,800

The 49 primary events RRPO kicked off on Wednesday, Nov. 15 with a $400 Deep Stack NLH. The series opener drew 7,532 entries, the second most ever in Florida history. The event concluded with Richard Saunders of Hampstead, N.H. winning $192,398.

In addition to Briski, other signature event winners include:

- Nathan Thrush (Post Falls, Idaho), won the $600 Deep Stack NLH for $48,961
- Adam Hendrix (Anchorage, Ark.), won the $5,000 Deep Stack NLH for $192,150
- Richard Saunders (Hampstead, N.H.), won the $400 Deep Stack Opening event for $192,398
- Aleksejs Ponakovs (Riga, Latvia), won the $25,500 High Roller NLH for $682,238

Poker action will return to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. in the New Year with the Lucky Hearts Poker Open (LHPO) Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, through Wednesday, 24 January 2024, headlined by the Deep Stack NLH series opener with a $1 million guarantee and the WPT NLH Championship boasting a $2 million guarantee.