WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Two players looking for their first major title went toe-to-toe for the Lucky Hearts Championship and WPT title, and after more than 100 heads up hands, James Calderaro (Venice) defeated Shannon Shorr (Birmingham, AL).

The tournament ended on three straight all-ins and began when Calderaro cracked pocket Aces with top two pairs the left Shorr with four big blinds.

“It feels awesome,” said Calderaro who had been a runner-up twice, including at a WPT final table. “I thought I might be jinxed with second place, so getting over the hump is incredible.”

Continue reading Championship Recap & Results →

(Final)

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SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOLLYWOOD TOURNAMENT LEADERBOARD
(Final Results):

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 75k/150k/25k ante

After cracking Aces and then giving Shannon Shorr new life with a double-up, James Calderaro finally gets his title.

Calderaro:
Shorr:

Flop: (Shorr leads with Ace high)

Turn: (Calderaro adds flush draw)

River:

The diamond on the river gives Calderaro the winning flush and his first WPT title.

“I feel incredible,” says Cadlderaro with his girlfriend Lily Kiletto and the rest of his rail by his side, “it feels awesome.

“I thought I might be jinxed with second place, so getting over the hump is incredible.”

Kiletto who finished 19th in this event and took second in last year’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open when it was at Hard Rock Hollywood before moving here to Coconut Creek.

Calderaro is a 48-year old investor originally from New York who previously finished second in a 2012 WPT event in Jacksonville. The win takes Calderaro’s career earnings to $1.8 million

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 75k/150k/25k ante

After seeing his Aces cracked and surviving one double-up, Shannon Shorr’s doesn’t get a second straight double-up.

Shorr is all in with against the of James Calderaro.

The board runs out and Calderaro wins the tournament with a flush.

“I’m disappointed, obviously,” says Shorr, who takes home $190,039 as runner-up. “I still don’t have a major title. That’s what it’s about for me, more than the money.”

Shannon Shorr has 7 career titles, but no WPT or WSOP wins. The 28-year old increases his career earnings to more than $5.5 million.

This was the Shorr’s third WPT final table.

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 60k/120k/20k ante

There are lots of fireworks on the last two hands of the level.

James Calderaro and Shannon Shorr see a flop of .

Shorr bets 475k, Calderaro raises to 1.4 million, Shorr moves all in and Calderaro snap calls.

Calderaro (two pairs)
Shorr: (over pair)

There’s no help on the turn, or river, and in a close count Calderero doubles 5.6 million and has a commanding lead.

After being left with 535k (4 bb), the two are all in again on the next hand with Shorr at risk.

Shorr:
Calderaro:

Flop: (Shorr, gutshot straight draw)

Turn: (Shorr, three outs)

River:

The non-heart 4 gives Shorr a straight and a double-up to just over 1 million to stay alive.

The players are on a 10 minute break.

Chip Counts

James Calderaro 11.4 million (76 bb)
Shannon Shorr 1.1 million (7 bb)

Final Table Results

Place-Name-Amount

1st $271,103
2nd $190,039
3rd Keven Stammen (Coldwater, OH) $122,197
4th Dimas Martinez (Queens, NY) $90,366
5th Tim Kegel (Hollywood) $67,842
6th Evan Dollinger (Sunrise) $54,355
7th Justin Zaki (Tierra Verde) $45,318
8th Mukul Pahuja (Coconut Creek) $36,147
9th Doug Hartwick (Willowdale, ON) $27,110
10th Corrie Wunstel (Baton Rouge, LA) $19,827

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 60k/120k/20k ante

At the completion of the last level, James Calderero and Shannon Shorr have played 90 hands heads up.

Blinds are moving up quickly as levels are 30 minutes long.

Chip Counts

James Calderaro (Venice) 7.8 million (65 bb)
Shannon Shorr (Birmingham, AL) 4.7 million (39 bb)

Remaining Prize Pool

1st $271,103
2nd $190,039

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 40k/80k/10k ante

Players are back from break after grabbing some beverages from Marissa & Deanna.

During the last level, James Calderero  won a lot of pots and has flipped the chip counts into his favor and now has a 2-1 chip lead.

Chip Counts

James Calderero 8.4 million
Shannon Shorr 4 million

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 30k/60k/10k ante

James Calderero has taken over the chip lead as blinds are now 30k/60k. Heads up blind levels are 30 minutes each.

Chip Counts

James Calderero 6.6 million (110 bb)
Shannon Shorr 5.8 million (97 bb)

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante

Keven Stammen 4-bets all in for 1.3 million (26 bb) and James Calderaro calls.

Stammen:
Calderero:

Flop: (Stammen still leads]

Turn: (no change)

River:

The audience lets out a groan as Calderero pairs his 9 for the winner and the knockout.

Stammen finishes in third place for $122,197.

Calderero has 5.5 million and is heads up with Shannon Shorr for the title.

“I have to be happy with it,” says Stammen who takes his career earnings to $2 million, “I just wish I could’ve gotten heads up with Shannon my buddy.”

Stammen says he and Shorr have been poker friends since both coming on the scene together seven years ago when both started playing at age 21.

“Top five,” says Stammen on where this ranks in his poker career. “It’s my fifth highest cash, that’s all I go by.”

Stammen is 28-years old and a former masonry worker.

“I was short a lot,” he says, “to ladder up to third, I have to be happy with that.”

Heads Up Chip Counts

Shannon Shorr 7 million (140 bb)
James Calderaro 5.5 million (110 bb)

WPT Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
3 players remaining, 4.15  million avg (83 bb)

Players are back from a short break.

Chip Counts

Shannon Shorr 5.38 million
James Calderaro 5.34 million
Keven Stammen 1.7 million

Remaining Prize Pool

1st $271,103
2nd $190,039
3rd $122,197