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Darren Elias Takes Latest Major Title at Seminole in Florida High Roller
The record four-time World Poker Tour Main Event winner Darren Elias won his latest major title this week, toppling Artem Metaldi heads-up to take down the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10,000 High Roller for a top score of $219,535. It’s the latest six-figure score in a career full of them, with Elias victory coming at a final table also featuring Brock Wilson, Chris ‘Big Huni’ Hunichen and Shannon Shorr.
Winning the $10,000-entry Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open High Roller for his 24th ranking title, Darren Elias’ redemption story since losing a seven-hour heads-up for his first WSOP bracelet seems complete. Just over a month ago, Elias came second to the now seven-time WSOP bracelet winner Nick Schulman in Las Vegas. Just a few short weeks later, Elias has a bracelet win in the $888-entry WSOP Online event and has now bagged $219,535 in Florida.
2025 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10,000 High Roller Results:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Darren Elias | United States | $219,535 |
| 2nd | Artem Metalidi | Ukraine | $125,400 |
| 3rd | Brock Wilson | United States | $76,800 |
| 4th | Chris Hunichen | United States | $54,800 |
| 5th | Robert Hagan | United States | $42,325 |
| 6th | Shannon Shorr | United States | $32,900 |
| 7th | Justin Zaki | United States | $28,215 |
| 8th | Daniel Swartz | United States | $25,080 |
Wilson Leads Final Nine
The unofficial final table was reached just a place after the money bubble burst and with nine left, it was another American in charge. Brock Wilson led the remaining field with 1.59 million chips, good for 64 big blinds, with the eventual runner-up Metaldi closest in chips on 1.49m. Elias was some way back on just 695,000 chips but it was Michael Berk who missed out on the official final table in the eight-handed event, busting in ninth for $21,945.
After Daniel Schartz exited in eighth place for a score of $25,080, Justin Zaki lost when all-in against Chris Hunichen. On a flop of 6-3-2, Zaki called off his stack with king-five of hearts with just one heart on the flop. Hunichen had the ace-seven of hearts, leaving Zaki hoping to pair up or hit his gutshot, but instead, a jack and a three came to leave him on the outside looking in with a result worth $28,215.
Soon, six became five as Shannon Shorr departed for a score of $32,900. The American moved all-in from the button with pocket fours and was isolated and called by Metaldi with pocket jacks. No help came for Shorr on the board of A-Q-2-5-T and he bade his opponents farewell and good luck as he headed to the rail.
Big Huni is the Money
Robert Hagan performed very well on his way to finishing fifth in the event, after also committing his stack with pocket fours. All-in against Darren Elias’ pocket queens, Hagan was hoping for a miracle only to see a flop of A-Q-5 provide his opponent with a set. Three hearts on board only matched the four in Hagan’s hand, however, and he hit the three of hearts on the turn to make a flush... only for another ace on the river to give Elias a full house and send Hagan to the rail in the cruellest of circumstances on his way to collecting $42,325.
Chris ‘Big Huni’ Hunichen soon busted in fourth place for $54,800, before three-handed play ended when Brock Wilson was eliminated in third for a score of $76,800. That left just Metaldi and Elias, who led when a board of J-7-5-A-2 had been completed. Moving all-in, Elias held jack-five, and his shove was proven the optimal play when Metaldi called with the doomed king-jack.
While the Ukrainian was a deserving runner-up for a score of $125,400, Darren Elias won $219,535 and the stunning SHRPO trophy as he celebrated yet another major live poker title. Oddly, Elias had already won a SHRPO NLHE event, but way back in 2011 during the ‘Showdown’ series, claiming just $39,269.
Redemption for Elias
After a rollercoaster month or so at the felt, Darren Elias might feel like his efforts in one competition have been rewarded in two others. After reaching the final two in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Lowball Championship at the 56th annual WSOP, Elias came second to Nick Schulman after a seven-hour heads-up battle saw Schulman win his seventh WSOP title, while Elias was stuck on zero.
That all changed a week later. Playing in the $888-entry WSOP Online event, Elias stayed up all night in New Jersey and celebrated his first bracelet win over breakfast with his family instead. Winning $170,208 and his first bracelet, it may have been worth around half of his lucrative $336,421 runner-up score the previous week in Las Vegas, but it felt twice as sweet. Now Elias has yet another major title after dominating the $10,000 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open high roller event, which had 66 total entries.
The 38-year-old Elias, who now sits 104th on the All-Time Money List on $14.1 million in live tournament winnings, can be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2027 after he turns 40 and becomes eligible.
By then, who knows how much more the East Coast poker legend will have won?
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