$175 + $25 + $20 Seniors 50+ NLH (Re-Entry)
Maroun Akiki (Orlando, FL)
$8,000
Maroun Akiki has more than 1/4 of the chips in play nine-handed when the remaining players offered a deal he can’t pass up. Akiki takes $8,000 to win the Seniors Event, while the others chop the balance for $3,438 each, minus $1 for Ty Guztwiller.
“I just started playing tournaments this year,” says Akiki who was primarily a cash game player. And what a year it’s been.
This is Akiki’s fourth recorded 2013 cash, and all four have been final tables. He now has two wins and a second place, with his two biggest scores coming from Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood for career earnings of more than $54,000.
Akiki turned 50-years-old earlier this year and is the magic number to enter the Seniors event, something he looked forward to.
“In open events players are more aggressive, especially the younger ones,” says Akiki who is a self-employed marketer. “Not that I mind it, because I’m aggressive.”
After jumping to an early chip lead before the dinner break, Akiki put a strangle hold on the field with a big hand while holding K♦ J♦. He describes the action as three to a flop for 50k with three tables left.
On a board of J-6-4, one of his opponents leads out for 50k and Akiki moves all in, prompting two folds. “That was the biggest by far,” says Akiki of the 200k chips he picked up on the hand. And it was clear sailing from there.
In addition to the win, Akiki earns a $1,650 voucher into the WPT Hard Rock Tampa Winter Poker Open Championship (Dec 13-15). “It’s a free roll, I’m looking forward to it.”
Final Table Results
Reflects Adjusted Payout*
Place-Name-Payout
1 Maroun Akiki (Orlando, FL) $8,000*
2 Dan Keefer (Hampstead, NC) $3,438*
3 Seth Bobet (Orlando, FL) $3,438*
4 Bahram Akbari (Orlando, FL) $3,438*
5 Michael Lavington (Bradenton, FL) $3,438*
6 Pete Carroll (Betholden, NY) $3,438*
7 Stan German (Orlando) $3,438*
8 Morino Thomas (Clermont, FL) $3,438*
9 Ty Guztwiller (Los Angeles, CA) $3,437*
10 Herbert Woodbery (Winter Garden, FL) $960