2017 Coco Poker Showdown
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Coconut Creek, FL
Event #8
$1,100 Championship
Entries: 202
Prize Pool: $202,000
January 28-29, 2017

Coconut Creek, FL — Elliott Zaydman claimed the 2017 Coco Poker Showdown’s final title late Sunday night winning the series Championship at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Zaydman pocketed $49,475 along with a $5,250 seat in this August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship following a heads-up chop with Staffan Lind. The score marks Zaydman’s second largest career cash and his fifth tournament victory.

With a $1,100 buy-in and $100,000 guarantee, the Coco Poker Showdown Championship drew players from across the country. A total of 202 put up the entry fee smashing the guarantee before settling the prize pool in at $202,000. Among those in attendance were Lucky Hearts Poker Open Main Event champion Michael Graffeo, Coco Poker Open champion Ian O’Hara, reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year David Prociak and 2015 November Niner Neil Blumenfield. Each of these notables hit the rail on Day 1 leaving just 32 left to battle for one of the 21 in-the-money spots on Day 2.

The second and final day of play restarted with Luminita Petric commanding the action. Petric claimed 526,000 chips, almost 200,000 clear of second place. The bustouts came quick to start, with Marsha Wolak and Florida pros Sean Shah and Steve Karp among those to be eliminated shy of the money. The bubble burst less than two hours into the day and play narrowed to the 10-handed final table about four hours after that.

Scott Levitt lead the late stages of play as the only player over 1,000,000 chips. Arturo Carrasco was first to go in 10th followed by James Wang in ninth. Andrew Woodmancey was eighth, Rich Kessler bowed out seventh and the aforementioned Petric went sixth. Lind busted Scott Efron in fifth and Levitt did the fourth-place deed eliminating Luke Doolittle.

There had been some talk of chop four-handed, but the players couldn’t agree. The chatter continued into three-handed play, but again no deal was made. Zaydman went on to bust Levitt third and took the chip lead into heads up play against Lind. The pair went back and forth before ultimately agreeing to a deal. Zaydman’s stack had an ICM value of $51,475 while Lind’s was at $44,475. As the chip leader, Zaydman was in position to earn the added $5,250 SHRPO seat, so he gave up $2,000. In the end, Zaydman scored $49,475 while Lind pocketed $46,475.

Final results:

1st: Elliott Zaydman – $49,475 + $5,250 Seat
2nd: Staffan Lind – 46,475
3rd: Scott Levitt – $22,826
4th: Luke Doolitte – $15,958
5th: Scott Efron – $12,322
6th: Luminita Petric – $9,292
7th: Rich Kessler – $7,272
8th: Andrew Woodmancey – $5,454
9th: Yue “James” Wang – $3,838
10th: Arturo Carrasco – $3,030
11th: Steve Leahy – $3,030
12th: Ramon Miquel – $3,030
13th: Edward Novak – $2,525
14th: Trevor Samuels – $2,525
15th: Alfonso Perez – $2,525
16th: Dolphus Powers – $2,222
17th: Daniel Pearlman – $2,222
18th: Rafael Oropesa – $2,222
19th: Erik Nomberg – $1,919
20th: Daniel Genachte – $1,919
21st: Charlie Ciresi – $1,919

The 2017 Coco Poker Showdown began at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek January 23. The series featured eight primary events and is one of two SHRP series the property runs each year. With the conclusion of the Championship, the Coco Poker Showdown has come to a close.