This Week's Big Winner: Jessica Dawley Wins $1 Million GTD $2,650 NLHE Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Event

Jessica Dawley came out on top in the $1 million guaranteed $2,650 buy-in Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open no-limit hold’em event, topping a field of 385 players to capture the title and the $204,610 top prize. This was the largest cash of the Floridian poker pro and Air Force veteran’s career, surpassing the $130,230 she won as the champion of the 2018 World Series of Poker Ladies event. The score pushed her career live tournament earnings to nearly $1.1 million.
“Going into the series, a buddy of mine and me were neck-and-neck in total earnings, and I was like ‘I just need a $200K score and then I’ll be over the $1 million-mark and I’ll pass you,’” Dawley told SHRPO reporters. “So that was definitely my goal, for sure.”
Dawley outlasted a tough final table to set up a heads-up showdown with former World Poker Tour Player of the Year award winner Faraz Jaka. The two battled it out for hours, but in the end, Dawley was able to build a lead and win a key all in showdown. Jaka took home $142,880 for his runner-up showing.
Here are the five key hands that propelled Dawley to the title.

Tournament: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open
Buy-In: $2,650 • No. of Entries: 385 • Prize Pool: $1,000,000 • 1st Place Prize: $204,610

Dawley Starts The Final Table With Quads
The Action
Vohra raised from under-the-gun and Dawley three-bet from the small blind. Vohra called and the flop fell K♥ K♠ 7♠. Dawley elected to check and then called a bet from Vohra. The turn was the 8♥ and both players checked. The river was the J♠ and Dawley bet 100,000. Vohra called, and Dawley revealed pocket kings for flopped quads. Vohra only showed one card, the A♠, telling the table he had rivered the nut flush, but Dawley didn’t believe him.

Jake Daniels Eliminated In 8th Place ($26,240)

The Action
Daniels raised to 60,000 from middle position and Jaka called from the big blind. Dawley then three-bet to 265,000 from the big blind and Daniels responded by moving all in for 930,000. Jake folded, but Dawley made the call with pocket jacks. Daniels showed A♠ Q♠, and was racing for his tournament life. He had a sweat on a board of 10♦ 7♠ 5♥ 4♠ 8♣, but ultimately failed to connect, exiting in eighth place. Daniel earned $26,240 for his deep run, while Dawley continued her climb up the leaderboard.

Raj Vohra Eliminated In Fifth Place
The Action
Dawley raised to 80,000 from the cutoff and Vohra three-bet shoved for 670,000 from the button. Dawley made the call with A♦ J♥, which was in terrible shape against Vohra’s pocket aces. The flop of 9♣ 7♥ 2♥ kept Vohra in the lead, and the 10♥ gave him the nut flush draw to go with his overpair. “I’ve hit three outs before,” Dawley said, referring to her gutshot straight draw. The river was indeed one of her three outs, the 8♠, and a stunned Vohra was sent to the rail in fifth place, banking $46,890.

Dawley Doubles Into The Chip Lead
The Action
After starting heads-up play nearly even, Dawley found herself down more than 2:1. She limped in on the button and Jaka raised to 175,000 from the big blind. Dawley called, and the flop fell 9♦ 4♥ 3♦. Jaka bet, and Dawley called. The turn was the 6♥ and Jaka bet 600,000. Dawley called, and the river was the 6♣. Jaka moved all in, and Dawley called. Jaka showed A♣ 9♣ for top pair, top kicker, but Dawley showed A♦ 6♦ for the nut flush draw that rivered trips. With that pot, she took a nearly 2:1 chip lead.

Dawley Comes From Behind To Take Title
The Action
Jaka raised his button and Dawley moved in. Jaka called off his last 1,600,000 with pocket eights, and Dawley was in a bit of trouble with a weak ace. The flop brought the A♦, however, and Dawley jumped out in front. Jaka needed a two-outer on the turn or river to survive, but failed to hit. He racked up $142,880 for his runner-up showing. Dawley picked up the trophy, the title, and the $204,610 first-place prize.

Final Table Results
Place Player Payout
1 Jessica Dawley $204,610
2 Faraz Jaka $142,880
3 Nicholas Zautra $91,690
4 Phil Rigby $61,090
5 Raj Vohra $46,890
6 Justin Zaki $38,790
7 Jordan Cristos $32,490
8 Jake Daniels $26,240
9 Thai Ha $20,460