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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (May 5, 2026) – The WPT® Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship concluded Wednesday, April 30 and it was Ian Cohen who claimed the title. Cohen secured the lion’s share of the $4.5 million prize pool, earning $656,200 for first place. In addition to the cash prize, Cohen joins the WPT Champions Club, adding his name to the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and earns a $10,400 seat in the season ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.
The $3,500 buy-in WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, attracted a field of 1,417 entrants. The event surpassed the $3 million guarantee, generating a total prize pool of $4,534,000 with the top 178 players earning a minimum payout of $6,400.
Final Winners:
1st: Ian Cohen (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) $656,200 (+ Showdown Trophy)
2nd: Richard Seymour (Suwanee, Ga.) $430,000
3rd: Michael Amato (Boca Raton, Fla.) $320,000
4th: Frank Funaro (Margate City, N.J) $240,000
5th: Johnny Bromberg (Los Angeles, Calif.) $181,000
6th: Raj Vohra (Lake Worth, Fla.) $138,000
NFL Hall of Famer Richard Seymour who finished runner up, earning $430,000. Michael Amato finished third taking home $320,000. Rounding out the final table were Frank Funaro (4th place - $240,000), Johnny Bromberg (5th place - $181,000), and Raj Vohra (6th place - $138,000).
The series opening event, $400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold ‘em, drew 4,783 entries, creating a total prize pool of more than $1.5 million. Sebastian Toro Henao of Medellin, Colombia won the opener, earning $201,030.
Other signature event winners include:
- Danny Fuhs (Irvine, Calif.) winning the $1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $133,510
- Johnny Bromberg (Los Angeles, Calif.) winning the $800 Platinum Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $258,125
- Josh Reichard (Janesville, Wis.) winning the $10,000 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $191,785
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown also hosted the “Larry Frank Memorial Charity Event Benefiting Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida” on Thursday, April 23. The charity event was in honor of Larry Frank, with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. The event had 124 entries and a prize pool of $14,700 + $9,145 in non-cash prizes. Willie Wiggins of Pembroke Pines FL won the top prize of $3,500 plus a $3,500 seat in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship.
Poker action will return to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood with its flagship series Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO) Tuesday, July 28 – Tuesday, August 11. For more information and to view the series schedule, future tournament details and make hotel reservations, please visit SHRPO.com. Follow us on X at @SHRPO and @SHRHollyPoker.
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About Seminole Hard Rock Poker
Seminole Hard Rock Poker encompasses four major poker series held annually at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. In August 2013, the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO) was introduced to poker players around the world and featured a $10 million guarantee championship, the largest guarantee in history. In addition to the SHRPO, the Seminole Hard Rock Poker series’ includes the Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Poker Open (January), Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown (April) and Seminole Hard Rock “Rock ‘N’ Roll” Poker Open (November). All four series fall under the SHRPO umbrella with tournament news, live updates and championship live streaming. Visit www.SHRPO.com. Join the conversation at #SHRPO and tag us @SHRPO.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship-integrated resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination unveiled a $1.5 billion expansion in 2019, highlighting the debut of the world’s first and only Guitar Hotel. Between three hotel towers, the resort boasts 1,271 luxury guestrooms. Amenities include a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa® & Salon; an 18-acre recreational water experience; private “Bora Bora” style cabanas; more than 20 food and beverage outlets; a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and an expansive gaming floor with more than 2,500 slots, more than 200 table games and a 45-table poker room. In 2023, the casino launched live craps, roulette and retail sports betting, offering 10 craps tables, 20 roulette tables, and sports betting locations including both electronic kiosks and kiosks with live sports betting agents. Introducing the new games is a historic milestone that immediately puts Florida in the same league as the world’s great gaming destinations. Hard Rock Live, ranked No. 4 worldwide in 2024 gross revenue for Pollstar Magazine, highlights A-list entertainers and performers, sporting events and live broadcast productions in an intimate 7,000-person capacity setting. Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7 (U.S. Highway 441). For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.
