Kansas City, Missouri professional player Blair Hinkle (27) is $1,745,245 million richer after winning the $10 million guaranteed Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Wednesday following an intense 160-hand heads up against internet and tournament ace Justin Bonomo.
Billed as the richest live poker tournament ever held in the state of Florida, the $5,300 buy-in Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open attracted a huge field of 2,384 entries, generating a prize pool of $11,920,000 – well over the casino guarantee.
The action took the most part of a week to unfold before Hinkle emerged as the winner.
By the time the competition had reached final table stage, Hinkle held the most chips, facing Justin Bonomo, Mukul Pahuja, Ray Qartomy, Samuel Bernabeau Guilabert and Greg Lehn.
Going into the heads up Hinkle and his last remaining opponent, Justin Bonomo, were more or less even in chips, adding to the already intense competition to win the first prize.
It turned out to be an exciting display of skill, discipline and aggression as the two professionals fought it out in a protracted struggle that saw the lead change several times before Hinkle was able to build a 6 to 1 advantage and finally take the win.
Bonomo’s well-earned second placing pay day was worth $1,163,500.
The win brings Hinkle’s career earnings to over $3.5 million, a million of which is reportedly still stuck in federal enforcement hands following the Black Friday debacle in April 2011….hopefully that will soon be released by the independent payment company hired by the federal authorities (see previous reports).