Kevin Ni wins WPT Seminole RRPO, multiplying his previous biggest cash by 20

Kevin Ni won his first World Poker Tour title, taking home $605,100 in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock 'n' Roll Poker Open Championship. His prize was twenty times larger than his previous best.

The prestigious WPT Seminole Hard Rock 'n' Roll Poker Open Championship tournament concluded on Wednesday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood venue in South Florida. The winner was Kevin Nee, for whom this was his first career title on the World Poker Tour. For his victory, Kevin received a prize of $605,100 —more than twenty times his previous biggest cash, which was $25,000 for 669th place in this summer’s WSOP Main Event. Final Table Results of the WPT Seminole RRPO Championship The tournament, with a buy-in of $3,500 , attracted 1,224 entries, creating a prize pool of $3,916,800 —almost a million dollars more than the $3 million guaranteed by the organizers. On the final day, six of the strongest players met at the table, including both seasoned professionals and representatives of the new generation. 1st place — Kevin Nee — $605,100* 2nd place — Joel Gola — $400,000* 3rd place — Aram Zobian — $295,000* 4th place — Chad Eveslage — $220,000* 5th place — Anthony Merlo — $165,000* 6th place — Hyndi Khomutetsky — $126,000* *Includes $10,400 entry to the WPT World Championship Key Moments of the Final Table Joel Gola started the final table as the chip leader, despite missing two levels on Day 2 of the tournament to celebrate his granddaughter’s birthday. This move not only didn’t hinder his success, but also became a memorable moment of the tournament. The highlight for Florida’s own Hyndi Khomutetsky was a hand against Gola: holding ace-queen against Gola’s ace-jack , she was the favorite, but a queen hit on the river, and Khomutetsky exited the tournament in sixth place. Had she won, she could have become only the third woman in history to win a WPT title. Anthony Merlo from New York was eliminated in fifth place. Next to bust was four-time WSOP bracelet winner Chad Eveslage, who was chasing his second WPT title. His queen-seven couldn’t hold against Aram Zobian’s nine-eight ; Zobian is a well-known high-stakes pro. Zobian himself finished third, falling short in the battle for heads-up. The final showdown between Kevin Nee and Joel Gola lasted just one hand: Gola moved all-in with king-jack suited , and Nee called with ace-deuce of spades . The flop brought three spades, giving Nee a flush and securing him the tournament victory and his first major title. Outstanding Participants and Prize Winners The final table was marked by a high level of competition. Chad Eveslage, already a two-time WPT champion (WPT Venetian 2021 — $910,370 and Five Diamond World Poker Classic 2022 — $1,042,300), was aiming to add another trophy to his collection but finished in fourth place. Aram Zobian, a recognized pro, also fought for the win and finished third. Hyndi Khomutetsky could have made history as the third female WPT champion, but finished sixth. In addition to the finalists, other well-known players made it into the money: Joey Weissman — 86th place, $8,200 David Jackson — 76th place, $9,600 Chance Kornuth — 24th place, $23,200 Rainer Kempe — 23rd place, $28,000 Shannon Shorr — 19th place, $33,500 Frank Lagodich — 11th place, $49,000 Context: The WPT Series and Seminole Hard Rock Venue The World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most prestigious poker tournament series in the world, attracting both professionals and amateurs from around the globe. The Seminole Hard Rock 'n' Roll Poker Open is traditionally held in South Florida and is known for its large guarantees and high attendance. This year, the tournament once again exceeded expectations in both number of entries and prize pool size. After the event in Florida, the WPT team heads to Las Vegas, where the WPT World Championship will take place at Wynn Las Vegas from December 13 to 19. The Main Event buy-in will be $10,400, and the final table will be televised on December 21. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how even players without major titles can achieve success in prestigious series. Kevin Nee showed that consistent play and participation in various tournaments can lead to major finals and big prizes, even if your previous best results were modest. It’s also worth noting the diversity of the final table: it featured both world-renowned professionals and players for whom this final was a breakthrough. This proves that regular practice in PPPoker clubs, participating in club series, and developing your skills can open the door to major live tournaments. Finally, the story of Joel Gola, who wasn’t afraid to put family values above poker, is an inspiration to remember the balance between life and the game. Even after missing part of the tournament, he managed to reach heads-up and win $400,000. This proves that success in poker is possible for anyone who stays calm and confident in their decisions—both at the table and away from it.