The first $3,000 tournament at the Hard Rock drew 126 players, without much marketing or the benefit of satellites.

The next one will be larger, according to Hard Rock officials. They intentionally went for the "soft launch" of this tournament, to get all the bugs worked out.

According to the compact, the Seminoles can hold up to six big poker tournaments a year, over the state's $1,100 limit. This one had a $3,000 buy-in.

Enough about that. The winners (and hometowns, where I could get them):

Doron Malinasky, Hollywood, $53,190; Maurice Hawkins, Lauderdale Lakes, $52,500; Thomas Lee Alcorn Jr., $40,000; Qasem M. Mamhour, Miami, $30,000; Anthony Ruberto, Hollywood, $30,000; Haim Gil Nagar, Cooper City, $30,000; Marc Alan Levy, Boynton Beach, $26,500;
Kenneth Elliot Rosen, $8,460; Mordecei Benowitz, $6,950; Mark Shoichet, $6,650; Randy Dorfman, $6,350; Daren Alan Stabinski, $6,050; Thomas Matthew McGrath, $5,750.

Hawkins led for a large part of Sunday's final portion, and started talk of splitting the pot early and everyone going home ("chopping," in poker parlance). Then he lost a couple of hands. (Personally, I think he was on tilt -- later he agreed, calling some who wouldn't chop "greedy" -- but I didn't see the cards, so I can't fairly say if he just got bad cards or got out-played.)

Meanwhile, Malinasky went all-in with 10-9, from position, and got called by a player with an Ace-queen, only to hit a 10 on the river. He knocked out another player by having pocket aces and called an all-in of an ace-queen.

So during the 45-minute dinner break, the seven remaining players all talked about chopping the pot. First prize was listed at about $98,000, second at $55,950, down to $11,190 for seventh.

Malinasky, the chip leader, got the trophy and a little more cash than Hawkins (not sure how that worked), who he led by only 4,000 or so. Malinasky has two two Big Slick events, one at the Hard Rock and one at the adjacent Seminole Classic. The tournament had opening rounds on Friday and Saturday, then those who survived either day met on Sunday. Malinasky said he started Sunday with only 34,000 chips -- everyone started off with 20,000 -- and was probably 32nd of the 33 players to start Sunday.

So, how'd he do it?

"I played great poker," he said.

The tournament, with a $3,000 entry fee, is the most expensive in state history. Previous tournaments have been lmited to a $1,100 entry, but as part of the compact between the Seminole Tribe and Gov. Charlie Crist, the Seminoles can hold six larger tournaments a year, as long as 70 percent of the casino's proceeds go to a charity. The tournament, which began Friday, raised $40,000 for the Miami Beach Health Foundation.