2023 Tampa Poker Classic
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 1
$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 1,705
Prize Pool: $571,175
March 8 – 12, 2023
The 2023 Tampa Poker Classic series kicked off with a big multi-flight tournament and it cemented its spot in our history. The tournament drew 1,705 entries over six starting flights to become our biggest in-room series opener and Tampa favorite Fred Paradis took the title outright for $91,945.
TPC Event 1 blasted its $250,000 guarantee before the first weekend and they created a prize pool worth $571,175. We had 173 players advance to Day 2 in the money with Billy McPhillips cashing twice thanks to the best-stack-forward format.
With no Day 2 money bubble, the stress was off and the action was fast. The field was down to two tables at dinner break and the final table before too long. Daniel Couzens held a massive lead for most of the final table until he was heads up with Paradis.
Paradis, our 2022 WPT Tampa runner-up, pulled a huge double up when he caught a bluff and held on to take the title.
Congrats Fred!
Final Table Results:
| Place | First Name | Last Name | City | State | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fred | Paradis | Oldsmar | FL | $91,945 |
| 2 | Daniel | Couzens | Boca Raton | FL | $61,330 |
| 3 | Leigh | Lewis | Richmond | $45,400 | |
| 4 | Richard | Smith | Bradenton | FL | $33,940 |
| 5 | John | Kowalczik | Charlotte | NC | $25,630 |
| 6 | Khanh | Truong | Tampa | FL | $19,540 |
| 7 | Michael | Lee | Winter Garden | FL | $15,050 |
| 8 | Brendan | Pfent | Spring Hill | FL | $11,720 |
| 9 | Phil | Hernz | Davie | FL | $9,210 |