Ari Engel Triumphs at 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Heads-Up Event

Ari Engel has won the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Heads-Up NLHE event, after besting a field of 64 players over two days on his way to collecting the tournament’s trophy, and its first place prize of $28,800. While the prize money is just a drop in the ocean compared to the Canadian pro’s other scores, it still adds yet another title to his already impressive poker resume.
The $1,650 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Heads-Up event featured a prize pool worth $96,000, with just eight money spots subsequently up for grabs. On Day 1, Ari Engel subsequently defeated Raul Doutreleau, Amir Babakhani, and Jerry Wong, before on Day 2 overcoming John Dollinger, and then Jonathan Little.
At this stage, remaining players Alan Engel, and semi-finalist Alex Foxen and Aaron Mermelstein agreed to split the remaining prize money with Foxen and Mermelstein receiving $19,200 each, and Engel awarded $28,800 and the title.
Final Table Results:
1st: Alan Engel $28,800
1st: Aaron Mermelstein $19,200
1st: William Foxen $19,200
4th: Jonathan Little $9,600
8th: George Lusby $4,800
8th: Corey Dodd $4,800
8th: Timothy Tenpas $4,800
8th: John Dollinger $4,800
Following his latest victory, Ari Engel now boosts his live career earnings to $3,593,013, with his biggest score to date coming this year at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship Main Event for US$1,120,110. Ari Engel also has won an incredible 8 WSOP Circuit gold ring winner throughout his career, placing him just one title behind all-time WSOPC winner Alexandru Mask. With even more money added to his banroll in 2016, Engel was asked by cardplayer magazine how that might alter his future poker plans, to which he replied:
“I’m still trying to figure out how it’s going to affect me and my plans. There are taxes to consider. Because I started the year off with a big score, it benefits me to take bigger shots this year than it would in a different year, for example. I was really comfortable before the [Aussie Millions] win and there’s not much out there in terms of material possessions that I really want. I travel everywhere with two suitcases, so acquiring things doesn’t really appeal to me or work with my lifestyle. I just have to stay focused on my game and keep plugging the leaks, and we’ll see how it all ends up.”