This Weeks' Big Winner: Patrick Mahoney Wins Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open At Seminole Hard Rock

In late November, Patrick Mahoney won the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open $3,500 no-limit hold’em main event. A total of 760 entries were made in this tournament, easily surpassing the $2 million guarantee to build a $2,432,000 prize pool. As the winner, Mahoney earned the first-place prize of $564,227 and the championship trophy.

The 32-year-old poker pro from Minnesota came into the final day of this event in third chip position behind leader Matt Humphrey and WSOP bracelet winner Upeshka De Silva. This was Mahoney’s third career live-tournament title and by far his biggest career cash. He previously won events at the ANZPT in Australia and the Venetian Deepstack Extravaganza in Las Vegas. He now has more than $1 million in lifetime live earnings.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Mahoney to the win.

Tournament: Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open
Buy-In: $3,500
No. of Entries:760
Prize Pool: $2,432,000
1st Place Prize: $564,227

The Action

Patrick Mahoney raised to 115,000 from under the gun and John Curcuru moved all in for 885,000 on the button. The blinds folded and Mahoney made the call with pocket sevens, only to see he was a big underdog against Curcuru’s pocket jacks. The board looked safe for Curcuru as it ran out K 8 3 Q, but the 7 hit the river, sending him to the rail in 12th place. Curcuru banked $30,400 for his finish and the pot was enough to give Mahoney an above-average stack entering the final table.

The Action

Patrick Mahoney raised to 200,000 on the button and short-stack Matt Zarcadoolas moved all in for his last 275,000 from the big blind with 7 6. Mahoney made the call with A 10. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Zarcadoolas was just 37 percent to double up, and those odds dropped to 24 percent after the flop of Q 10 6. The board finished out with the 2 and 3, giving Mahoney the pot. Zarcadoolas earned $87,552 for his seventh-place finish.

The Action

With six players remaining at the final table, Matt Humphrey raised to 250,000 and Patrick Mahoney called. The flop was K 10 6 and Humphrey bet 245,000. Mahoney called and the turn was 6. This time Humphrey checked and Mahoney bet 480,000. Humphrey then check-raised to 1,480,000 and Mahoney called all-in with pocket kings for a turned full house. Humphrey thought he had more outs with A J, but only the Q would give him the winner. The river was the J and Mahoney doubled up

The Action

Patrick Mahoney completed from the small blind, and Upeshka De Silva raised to 685,000 in the big blind. Mahoney made the call and the flop came down K 9 5. Mahoney checked and De Silva made a continuation bet of 535,000. Mahoney called and checked the J on the turn. De Silva bet 905,000 and Mahoney called once again. The river was the 3 and Mahoney checked. De Silva then moved all in for 3,840,000 and Mahoney called. De Silva revealed K Q for top pair, but Mahoney held J 9 for a flush, having previously made two pair on the turn. De Silva pocketed $200,640 for his third-place showing and Mahoney took more than a 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play.

The Action

Matt Humphrey raised to 500,000 on the button and Patrick Mahoney three-bet to 2,000,000. Humphrey then four-bet shoved for 8,725,000 and Mahoney instantly called with pocket jacks. Humphrey held two overs with A K, but the board offered no help as it ran out Q 9 6 3 10. For his runner-up finish, Humphrey picked up $328,320. In addition to the pot, Mahoney was awarded the title and the first-place prize of $564,227, along with a $5,000 buy-in into next August’s Hard Rock Poker Open Championship.

Final Table Results

1. Patrick Mahoney — $564,227
2. Matt Humphrey — $328,320
3. Upeshka De Silva — $200,640
4. Billy Pilossoph — $165,376
5. Mark Dube — $133,760
6. Bill Jennings — $109,440
7. Matt Zarcadoolas — $87,552
8. John Spadavecchia Jr. — $66,880
9. Ari Engel — $46,208