Chris Moneymaker on Heater at Rock “N” Roll Poker Open

Chris Moneymaker and Tony Burns

Chris Moneymaker is having himself quite the time down in South Florida. The 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event champ has been down at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for the Rock “N” Roll Poker Open (RRPO) and thus far it’s been a profitable visit.

Just over a week ago, Moneymaker jetted down there for his namesake Moneymaker Tour, which offered players a shot at a $30,000 Platinum Pass for a low buy-in of just $86. The tournament drew 957 hopefuls and for a while it looked as if Moneymaker was going to win his own event. Of course, if he had, the Platinum Pass would have been awarded to the runner-up.

Moneymaker: "I put a lot of work in to improve my game and to get up with the current times and try and be competitive."

Instead, it was Moneymaker who would finish in second place for $8,135 while Andres Risquez won the once-in-a-lifetime package to the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) in The Bahamas.

“It’s been awesome. I mean, it’s been a really fun tour. It’s been very relaxing,” Moneymaker told RRPO officials. “I mean, everybody having a good time. You know, poker is supposed to be enjoyed and this whole tour is about enjoyment. It was just easy to play poker where everybody is having a good time. There’s not any pressure. It’s just a game.”

Chris Moneymaker (right) and Esteban Garcia
Chris Moneymaker (right) and Platinum Pass winner Esteban Garcia.

A few days later, Moneymaker redeemed himself by winning the Feeding South Florida Charity Event, a $300 buy-in tournament that drew 89 runners. More than $14,000 was raised for charity, and in addition to cash and prizes, players were competing for a $30,000 PokerStars Platinum Pass.

Since he was ineligible to win that prize, the Platinum Pass went to runner-up Esteban Garcia. For his victory, Moneymaker won $3,000 cash and a $5,250 SHRPO prize package.

Charity Event Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Chris Moneymaker$3,000 + $5,250 SHRPO entry, 4-night stay, dinner for two
2Estaban Garcia$2,000 + $30,000 Platinum Pass
3Jorge Aristizabal$1,400 + $3,500 entry, dinner for two
4Harold O’Brien$1,100 + Hard Rock AC 4-night stay
5Nagui Yass$800 + Ferragamo wallet, $200 gift card
6Jack Sumner$700 + Ferragamo wallet, $200 gift card
7Antonio Arencibia$600 + Michael Kors wallet, $200 gift card
8Rick Levy$500
9Kimberley Kusser$400
10Aaron Allen$300

Two Trophies in Two Days

As if winning the Charity Event wasn’t enough, Moneymaker turned around and topped a 96-player field to win the RRPO Event #2: $360 Omaha 8-or-Better for $9,136 the very next day.

“I win a lot of mix tournaments,” said Moneymaker. “When I play mix, I generally do pretty well. I won several mix tournaments online in New Jersey, I won Monte Carlo and I really enjoy mix.”

Moneymaker attributes a lot of his recent success to a new approach to the game. Earlier this year, he signed up with Chip Leader Coaching where he’s receiving lessons from 2015 WSOP champ Joe McKeeheen.

"For a long time, I took the game for granted."

“It’s just been so different,” Moneymaker told RRPO officials of the game today. “It’s just not the same as it was. I mean, I put a lot of work in to improve my game and to get up with the current times and try and be competitive. For a long time, I took the game for granted, I fell behind the times and I just said ‘you know, I need to continually work on my game or this game’s not going to be there for me 15 years from now.'”

Official Event #2 Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Chris Moneymaker$9,136
2Perry Klein$5,472
3Claudangelo Beaudouin$3,456
4Georges Boyadjian$2,232
5Scott Brooks$1,728
6Zachary Milchman$1,368
7Monte Adler$1,152
8Charles Jacoby$1,008
9Daniel Brown$914

Images courtesy of Seminole Hard Rock and Image Masters

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  • Chris Moneymaker (@CMONEYMAKER) finished runner-up, then won two events at the Rock “N” Roll Poker Open (RRPO).

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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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