Kevin Nee Wins the 2025 WPT® Seminole Hard Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open Championship

Final Table Results

*Includes the $10,400 WPT® World Championship seat.

Nee Navigates the Field and Peaks When It Matters

Kevin Nee entered the final table in the middle of the pack, but the way he structured pots against both chip leaders and short stacks told the story of his run. 

He picked his moments, kept pots manageable out of position, and won more than his fair share of contested boards by forcing opponents to define their hands early.

His rise accelerated three-handed. A precise river bluff-catcher against Joel Gola in Hand #58 shifted the dynamic instantly. From that point, Nee moved from survival mode to table captain, using his stack to challenge wide opens and narrow Gola’s and Zobian’s ranges.

WPT® Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Kevin Nee champion at the final table.

Gola’s Relentless Pressure, but One Gear Short at the End

Joel Gola played the majority of the tournament with complete confidence. 

He built stacks through pressure rather than cards, outplayed opponents on paired boards, and even had enough chips to leave during Day 2 to attend his granddaughter’s birthday before returning to a playable stack.

Gola entered the final table as the favorite. He applied his usual multi-street pressure, but Nee was the one opponent unwilling to give up rivers. Once Nee started defending the right combinations, Gola’s ability to pick up uncontested pots disappeared.

Heads-up, Gola made the correct shove with KJ and got snapped off, only to watch Nee flop an immediate flush to seal the title. The final hand looked simple. The road to it wasn’t.

Zobian’s Run Ends in Third After a Strong Technical Performance

Aram Zobian played one of the cleanest technical games at the table. His early resistance to Gola’s aggression kept him in contention, and his post-flop play was sharp throughout. 

Ultimately, he fell in a classic tournament spot: holding top pair against a high-equity draw. Nee’s diamond draw got there, and Zobian exited in third.

What Defined This Final Table

From a strategic perspective, the turning points weren’t the all-ins. They were:

• Nee’s willingness to call Gola down in spots where most players fold to avoid ICM catastrophe.
• Gola’s stack-pressure strategy losing traction once Nee adjusted his calling frequencies.
• Zobian unable to ladder without taking risks, leading to a high-variance clash three-handed.

The table evolved from a three-way tactical battle to a heads-up confrontation where Nee’s patience and timing carried him to victory. 

Kevin Nee's Performance 

Kevin Nee claims:

• $605,100
• A $10,400 WPT® World Championship seat
• His place on the Mike Sexton WPT® Champions Cup

It’s a breakout win built on discipline, selective aggression, and a deep sense of when to press and when to wait. With the win, Nee qualifies for December’s WPT® World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, where he will enter as one of the season’s late-surging contenders.

All event details in this report are taken from the official WPT® tournament summary, final table hand logs, and payout records published by Seminole Hard Rock and WPT® Live Updates.