GPI First Look: WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown

The WPT returns to Florida to present their final event before the WPT World Championship – five millions dollars on the line!

THE STAKES HAVE CHANGED

The stakes have changed this year at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown in Hollywood, Florida. Coming off an extremely successful 10M USD guarantee event late last summer, the Seminole Hard Rock is once again putting up big dollars, guaranteeing a 5M USD prize pool for the WPT Main Event which kicks off in a few hours.

Many of the top names in the game are already in Florida and some, like former November Niner – and WSOP bracelet winner – Ylon Schwartz (GPI#1747), who cashed in the 1K event to end the month of March.

Zohair Karim (GPI#227) has also kicked things off right at the Seminole. Karim, who final tabled the WPT SHR Showdown last season, won the Six-Max event for the fourth victory of his career on the live tournament circuit.

I win

— Zo Karim (@PakmanMMA) April 8, 2014

EYES ON EYSTER

Although the stakes have changed – the prize pool is about to double – Kevin Eyster (GPI#266) remains the defending Champion. There is no doubt that Eyster will have to contend with a much bigger field but the online tournament star shouldn’t be phased by all the extra competition.

With the EPT Sanremo Festival running at the same time as this event, it will certainly be interesting to see just who shows up for the big event, the last one before the WPT World Championship, which is set to make its debut in Atlantic City this year, after 11 straight years at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The Seminole Hard Rock Showdown offers three Day 1s starting with Day 1A later today. The event is also a re-entry event so a player busting in one of the earlier days take another shot on a different day.

Play kicks off at Noon today, good luck to all participants!

DEFENDING CHAMPION

›› KEVIN EYSTER  

Hometown ›› Lafayette, LA, USA
Twitter ›› @1sickdisease

GPI# ›› 266  |  PoY# ›› 601
GPI Score ›› 1,609.32

Career ›› Wins: 5  | Cashes: 33  |   Top 10: 15
Earnings ›› 2014: $17,870 |  Career: $1,390,538

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