2018 WPTDeepStacks Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed
$1,100 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Entries: 620
Prize Pool: $607,600
June 14-18, 2018

The WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event was the headliner of the series and it produced the appropriate results for a big closing tournament. The players more than doubled the $300,000 Guarantee and Quentin Jones took the biggest piece of the prize pool after winning his second tournament in less than a week.

“I’ve been playing well all weekend, running well. It’s just an amazing feeling.” Jones said of his run. Hands holding up, and that’s all you can ask in poker, to play well and have your hands hold up, and that’s what happened for me this weekend.”

“I’m happy and honored to be able to take down two trophies in the same week. I’ll definitely be playing more WPTDeepStacks tournaments now, and it feels great.”

The two multi-day preliminary events on the schedule had a Main Event seat set aside for the tournament winner and Jones earned the Event 3 title on Wednesday. That tournament went long and it was a late night but Jones arrived on time for Flight A of the Main Event Thursday.

Jones was 21st of the 129-player field that advanced to Day 2 with Tampa regular Herbert Woodbery holding a massive chip lead. A series of unfortunate hands saw Woodbery drop out before they made it to the payout portion of the series.

Only 78 of the Day 2 players made the money and it took almost an hour of bubble play to settle the matter with a double knockout. Both former WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event winners rolled into the money with 2016 champ Anthony Astarita going out in 32nd while reigning champ Rex Clinkscales was eyeing a title defense.

Clinkscale advanced to the final table on Monday and he was joined by huge chip leader Michael Cohen. It was a reunion between the two; they finished first and second in the Main Event last year with a chance to repeat that feat.

The final table played out much faster than expected even with five double ups in the first level. Before those doubles, Christopher Agnello was eliminated on the first hand of action when he ran his tens into queens.

John O’Neal hit the payout desk in eighth place and Clinkscales’ shot at back-to-back titles was cut short after his jacks lost to the kings of Jones. Joshua Garber, Charles Kahrs, Chaz Wexler, and Justin Donato all dropped out within the same level to create the heads-up match for the title.

Cohen held a nearly four-to-one lead at the start of heads-up play but Jones quickly doubled back into contention. He continued to pull pots until he had the lead and dispatched Cohen after 30 minutes of play.

This is the second straight year Cohen cashed out second place money in the WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event. He earned $79,530 for the run and solidified his name in Florida poker. Jones earned $116,435 for the title which includes a WPTDeepStacks $3,000 package into their year-end Championship event.

Congratulations to Quentin and thanks to all of our players for making the series another great success.

“It feels great, it’s an amazing feeling. I’m happy to be here playing at the WPTDeepStacks, and you’ll definitely see me back again,” said Jones.

Final table results:

1st: Quentin Jones – $116,435 *
2nd: Michael Cohen – $79,530
3rd: Justin Donato – $51,180
4th: Chaz Wexler – $36,860
5th: Charles Kahrs – $28,290
6th: Joshua Garber – $22,835
7th: Rex Clinkscales – $18,970
8th: John O’Neal – $15,120
9th: Christopher Agnello – $11,340
* – Includes $3,000 Championship package

Full WPTDeepStacks Main Event results

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 33: 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante

Quentin Jones opened the action from his button and Michael Cohen moved all in for 4,150,000. Jones called with a chance to take the trophy.

Jones:
Cohen:

Cohen was far behind in his quest to double back into the match but he was unable to come back as the board ran . Jones took the title for his second win in less than a week and Cohen earned runner-up money for the second year in a row.

Tournament recap still to come.

Final table results:

1st: Quentin Jones – $116,435 *
2nd: Michael Cohen – $79,530
3rd: Justin Donato – $51,180
4th: Chaz Wexler – $36,860
5th: Charles Kahrs – $28,290
6th: Joshua Garber – $22,835
7th: Rex Clinkscales – $18,970
8th: John O’Neal – $15,120
9th: Christopher Agnello – $11,340
* – Includes $3,000 Championship package

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 33: 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 620

Without a big showdown or all in moment, Quentin Jones quietly took the chip lead from Michael Cohen after his earlier double.

Quentin Jones – 11,300,000 (71 bb)
Michael Cohen – 4,200,000 (26 bb)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 620

On one of the first hands after the break, Michael Cohen and Quentin Jones had all the chips in the middle.

Jones:
Cohen:

Jones was in a lot of trouble and in danger of settling for second place. Then he flopped the joint on the board.

Cohen sat back down in his seat and began counting out chips as the dealer finished the run out with the turn and river.

Quentin Jones – 4,340,000 (36 bb)
Michael Cohen – 11,160,000 (93 bb)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 32: 60,000/120,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 620

Justin Donato was eliminated as Level 31 was coming to an end to give Michael Cohen and Quentin Jones a short break before they began the heads-up battle with Cohen holding nearly a four-to-one lead.

Michael Cohen – 12,100,000 (101 bb)
Quentin Jones – 3,400,000 (28 bb)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 620

Michael Cohen and Justin Donato were heads up to the flop and Donato check-raised all in. Cohen quickly called and it was a cooler situation.

Cohen:
Donato:

Monster versus monster at the three-handed table and the aces held after the turn and river.

“I was trying to figure out how to get all the chips in,” Donato joked with Cohen on the way.

“I was trying to do the same thing!” Cohen laughed back.

A tough way to go out but Donato can get a little comfort from his $51,180 for third place.

Michael Cohen – 12,100,000 (121 bb)
Justin Donato – Eliminated in 3rd place ($51,180)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 620

Michael Cohen opened the action from the button and Chaz Wexler moved all in. Cohen called and Wexler was the player at risk.

Cohen:
Wexler:

Cohen was ahead but it was a race. The flop came and no help for Wexler. The turn and river complete the board and Wexler was eliminated.

Michael Cohen – 8,100,000 (81 bb)
Chaz Wexler – Eliminated in 4th place ($36,860)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 620

Charles Kahrs was the next short stack, he moved all in and Michael Cohen had him at risk.

Cohen:
Kahrs:

Kahrs was in a lot of trouble and they both paired the flop. Cohen locked up the hand with trip queens on the turn and Kahrs was eliminated in fifth place.

Michael Cohen – 5,900,000 (59 bb)
Charles Kahrs – Eliminated in 5th place ($28,920)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 31: 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 620

Joshua Garber open-shoved from under the gun. Justin Donato called all in next to act for 1,250,000 and the rest of the table folded.

Garber:
Donato:

Garber was dominated and Donato picked up a double when the board ran . Garber was left with only 580,000 and moved all in shortly after. Donato called with a chance to take the rest of his chips.

Garber:
Donato:

Garber needed to hold to stick around but Donato paired the flop. Donato improved to trip aces on the turn and Garber was gone after the river.

Justin Donato – 3,660,000 (36 bb)
Joshua Garber – Eliminated in 6th place ($22,835)

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event
$300,000 Guaranteed | Payouts
Level 30: 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante
Players Remaining: 6 of 620

After doubling up Quentin Jones, Rex Clinkscales had less than one big blind after paying his ante and put his chips in trying to get back in the game. He was all in from under the gun and it folded Justin Donato who picked up rebate on his big blind.

Donato:
Clinkscales:

Clinkscales had two live cards to double and paired the flop to take the lead. He needed to dodge an ace or a four, the turn was no big deal, but the river gave Donato a wheel to send our defending champion out in seventh place.

Justin Donato – 1,700,000 (21 bb)
Rex Clinkscales – Eliminated in 7th place ($18,970)