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