Milen Stefanov Wins WPT Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open Main Event For Career-Best $545,070

Milen Stefenov
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  • RUPAM THAKUR December 5, 2019
  • 2 Minutes Read

The World Poker Tour (WPT) came visiting the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Hollywood, Florida recently for the WPT Seminole Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open (RRPO). The showstopper $3,500 Main Event $2 Million GTD brought in 988 entries over the two starting flights, cataloging the biggest field in RRPO history. The large field crushed the prize pool guarantee by over an additional million, collecting a whopping $3,161,600 in prize money! When the dust settled, it was Bulgarian Milen Stefanov (cover image) who was seen holding the RRPO trophy while posing for the winner pictures.

Stefanov, who plays poker full-time and is a regular on the virtual felts, was an indomitable force on the felts. Having entered the final table in pole position, he single-handedly eliminated each of five other finalists, including his heads-up opponent Fabian Gumz to capture the title. The winner’s cheque for $545,070 happens to be Stefanov`s biggest live career score to-date. Along with the title, he also won a seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions.

It feels amazing, it’s almost like it’s catching me off guard,” Stefanov said in his post-event interview.

The emotions are running rampant, like even more than when I was playing,” he added. Summing it up, he said, “To be a champion finally of the WPT, it feels amazing. It’s an understatement.

A total of 387 players returned to play Day 2, and by the time the bags were brought out, only 65 among them were left standing.

The event assured the final 124 places at least $5,985, and the money line was breached after the dinner break, with Roberto Bendeck falling out on the money bubble.

Some notables who took a bite out of the prize pool but failed to find a seat for Day 3 were, Kitty Kuo (73rd for $8,480), Jared Jaffee (84th for $7,155), Florian Duta (86th for $7,155), Vincent Moscati (92nd for $6,700), Anthony Zinno (94th for $6,700), Scott Clements (95th for $6,700), Anton Wigg (108th for $6,130), Jake Schwartz (110th for $6,130), and Brett Apter (123rd for $5,985).

Falling whiskers short of the final table were Jeff Blenkarn (7th for $86,255), Antonio Mallol (8th for $67,240), and Danny Fuhs (10th for $53,005).

Milen Stefanov entered the final table as the chip leader with 8,925,000 in chips with Roman Korenev (8,175,000) in hot pursuit.

RRPO Final Table
The RRPO Main Event final table

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Milen Stefanov – 8,925,000

2. Roman Korenev – 8,175,000

3. Cesar Fuentes – 7,550,000

4. David Novosel- 7,525,000

5. Fabian Gumz – 5,150,000

6. Francis Anderson – 2,175,000

 

Final Table Recap

The first casualty of the day happened within the first orbit. It only took four hands before Francis Anderson was booted out by Stefanov in sixth place.

Stefanov then went on to eliminate both Cesar Fuentes and Roman Korenev in fifth and fourth places, respectively.

He continued to corner his rivals and soon sent David Novosel packing in third place. With the board open , Novosel made the call at the risk of his tournament life with for tens and sixes. Stefanov tabled for tens full of jacks.

Stefanov began heads-up play holding a dominating 5:1 chip lead over Fabian Gumz, and he never allowed the latter to catch up. Gumz, though, proved to be a tough opponent, and it took no less than 50 hands into heads-up play before Stefanov could claim victory. On the final hand of the tournament, Stefanov’s were well ahead of Gumz’s . Stefanov flopped top pair on the runout to take down the coveted title!

Milen Stefenov wins the RRPO Main Event
Milen Stefanov

Final Table Results

1. Milen Stefanov – $545,070*

2. Fabian Gumz – $353,380

3. David Novosel – $260,845

4. Roman Korenev – $194,605

5. Cesar Fuentes – $146,760

6. Francis Anderson – $111,895

*includes a seat worth $15,000 into the WPT Tournament of Champions

 

Content & Images Courtesy: Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open

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