The NHLE tourney crowned a 19-year-old as its youngest winner
19-year-old Karl Creazzo claimed victory in the first Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open event, a $400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em tournament. This young poker player, primarily known as a cash game player, not only secured the title but also walked away with a $146,829 prize. As surprised to many, this was Creazzo’s debut live poker tournament, and he managed to outplay a field filled with seasoned poker veterans.
The tournament, which kicked off on July 31 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, was the first in a series and boasted a $1 million guarantee. Over eight starting flights, the event attracted an impressive 5,870 entries, ultimately generating a prize pool of nearly $2 million, far surpassing the initial guarantee.
Day 2 saw 588 players return, all guaranteed to be in the money. After a grueling session, only 29 players advanced to the final day. Creazzo faced significant challenges, including a near-elimination moment where he was left with just six big blinds after losing a massive pot. However, he managed to claw his way back into contention through several key double-ups.
On the final day, the field continued to narrow until only seven players remained. After George Varga’s exit in seventh place with a $40,600 prize, the remaining players agreed to an ICM (Independent Chip Model) chop. This arrangement ensured that Creazzo, who had moved into the chip lead after eliminating Roy Singer in eighth place, would take home the largest share of the prize pool and the coveted trophy.
The final payouts were closely contested. Chris Miles finished in second place, earning $140,492, while Kevin Gomez took third with $140,000. David Shmuel followed with $124,476 for fourth place, and Alex Ziskin and Ian Siegel rounded out the top six, pocketing $105,803 and $85,720, respectively.
Creazzo’s win is particularly notable due to his age. While most US jurisdictions set the legal gambling age at 21, Florida allows individuals 18 and older to participate in poker, bingo, and lottery games. This legal nuance enabled Creazzo to compete and ultimately triumph in the event.
