2023 Tampa Signature Poker Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 24
$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Entries: 67
Prize Pool: $34,505
September 19, 2023

The eight-game mixed tournament was a new addition to the tournament lineup tonight at the SPS series to close things out, and Tommy “Dragonfish” Hwang won the top prize of $10,535. Former World Poker Tour player of the year Joe Serock was gunning for his second trophy of the day after winning the High Roller earlier, but Hwang used his 2:1 chip advantage at the start of heads-up play to win the day. Hwang moved to Florida from Virginia for his retirement, and poker has become one of his hobbies that certainly proved profitable tonight.

Hwang was all smiles after the victory when we caught up with him for an exit interview. “To be honest, I wanted the trophy, so there was no discussion of chopping or anything. And I wanted to see what it would feel like to take down Joe Serock, who I knew was a long-time pro. I’ve heard of his name since probably 10 years ago,” said Hwang after the win,

Hwang continued, “I’m more of a poker fan, not a poker pro. I listen to all of the podcasts, and I follow all the news, I watch all the broadcasts, so I enjoy it from that perspective.”

“He doesn’t talk a lot, but he was enjoyable to play with. I think the whole tournament and final table were, and I normally try to liven it up with conversations and try to hold the same demeanor whether I’m up or I’m down. I was very short a couple times during the tournament, but you have fun,” said Hwang about his journey throughout the tournament today.

Final Results:

1st: Tommy “Dragonfish” Hwang – $10,535 + SPS Trophy
2nd: Joe Serock – $6,810
3rd: Nicholas Zivolich – $4,530
4th: Elias Nassif – $3,110
5th: Stephanie Behanic – $2,190
6th: Josh Kinch – $1,590
7th: Gregory Josephson –  $1,200
8th: Brian Ulich – $1,200

9th: Stephen Allen – $930
10th: David Moreno – $930

11th: Anthony Askey – $740
12th: Filippos Stavrakis – $740

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 20:  25,000/50,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 4 of 67 entries

Here is a look at the recent run of results in Event 24.

5th: Stephanie Behanic – $2,190
6th: Josh Kinch – $1,590
7th: Gregory Josephson –  $1,200
8th: Brian Ulich – $1,200
9th: Stephen Allen – $930
10th: David Moreno – $930
11th: Anthony Askey – $740
12th: Filippos Stavrakis – $740

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 18:  15,000/30,000 Limits
Players Remaining: 6 of 67 entries

Here is a look at the seating chart with chip counts for the final table of Event 24. Two interesting story lines running tonight with Joe Serock looking for his second SPS guitar pick trophy of the night, and Nick Zivolich looking for another 8-game mixed title after winning the same event at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood a few weeks back.

Seat 1: Tommy “Dragonfish” Hwang – 345,000
Seat 2: Stephanie Behanic – 154,000
Seat 3: Joe Serock – 670,000
Seat 4: Josh Kinch – 85,000
Seat 5: Elias Nassif – 260,000
Seat 6: Nick Zivolich – 408,000.

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure | Payouts
Level 14:  600/1,200 Limits
Players Remaining: 15 of 67 entries

Joe Serock is making a deep run in Event 24 (8-Game Mixed) after he already took home the SPS guitar pick trophy earlier today in Event 21 (High Roller). You can read all about that win that added $45,640 right here (winner’s photo above). The career earnings for the former World Poker Tour player of the year are now close to $4.4 million. He currently holds 810,000 chips to pace the field at the front of the pack, so it could be a two-trophy day for Serock to close out the series.

2023 Tampa Signature Poker Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 24
$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Entries: 67
Prize Pool: $34,505
September 19, 2023

Registration closed for the $600 Eight-Game Mix tournament with 67 entries creating a prize pool worth $34,505. The last 12 players will make it into the money with $740 for a min-cash and $10,535 for the Event 24 champ.

1st: $10,535 + SPS Trophy
2nd: $6,810
3rd: $4,530
4th: $3,110
5th: $2,190
6th: $1,590
7th-8th: $1,200
9th-10th: $930
11th-12th: $740

$600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)
Structure
Level 1:  300/600 Limits

We can’t let the series end without one last mix game and we have one for the fans starting at noon in the Event Center. $600 buy-in Eight-Game Mix that will rotate games between No Limit Hold’em, Limit Omaha 8, Razz, Stud, Stud 8, No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and 2-7 Triple Draw.

Players sit down to 30K deep stacks and all levels last 30 minutes. Late registration is available until the start of Level 9 at 4:30 pm and players may re-enter as often as needed during that time. They will enjoy a 30-minute dinner break at 6:30 pm and return to find our last mix game champ of the series.

• Players begin with 30,000 in chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (4:30pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 24 Structure Sheet

Primary Event Schedule

11AM: Event 21 – $3,500 Signature NLH (Re-Entry)

• Event 21 Day 2 Chip Counts and Seats
• Event 21 Payouts

11AM: Event 23 – $200 One-Day $50K NLH (Re-Entry)

• $50,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 25,000 in chips
• Levels last 25 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (2:50pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 23 Structure Sheet

12PM: Event 24 – $600 Eight-Game Mix (Re-Entry)

• Players begin with 30,000 in chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9 (4:30pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 24 Structure Sheet

6PM: Event 25 – $180 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

• $10,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips
• Levels last 20 minutes
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7 (8:15pm)
• This is a one-day tournament and plays to completion
• Event 25 Structure Sheet