The second annual WPTDeepStacks-Tampa took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino beginning June 8th and concluding June 19th with the live streamed $1,100 Main Event final table. The series boasted five primary events and was headlined by the finale which drew 704 entries marking a 30 percent year over year attendance increase and going down as the third largest Main Event in the tour’s four-year history.
Claiming victory along with $162,354, a $5,250 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship seat and a guitar trophy was Rex Clinkscales of Las Vegas. The victory marked Clinkscales’ ninth tournament victory and his largest score to date. In addition to earning the Main Event title, Clinkscales went down as the Player of the Series.
Here’s a look at each of the five series champions:
That’s a wrap for WPTDeepStacks-Tampa. Follow @SHRTPoker on Twitter and check back with us here at SHRTPoker.com for more information on all future series.
2017 WPTDeepStacks Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Florida Main Event $1,100 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) Entries: 704 Prize Pool: $689,920 June 15-19, 2017
Photo: Drew Amato/WPTDeepStacks
WPTDeepStacks Main Event draws more than 700 entries, marks 30 percent year over year growth for Tampa and the third-largest finale in the tour’s history
(Tampa, Fla.) — Rex Clinkscales came out on top of the third-largest field in WPTDeepStacks Main Event history Monday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Clinkscales, a Las Vegas-based professional poker player, maneuvered through 704 entries in the $1,100 buy-in event taking home $162,354 and a $5,250 seat in the August’s Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship. In addition, the top prize is inclusive of a $3,000 WPTDeepStacks Championship package.
“It feels amazing,” Clinkscales told WPTDeepStacks’ Jeanine Deeb. “It’s an incredible feeling. I’m just really blessed and really fortunate to even be here. I’m just very thankful to be able to win.”
The 2017 series marked the second consecutive year for the Tampa property to host the WPTDeepStacks. The inaugural event was a huge success drawing more than 500 entries, but year two blew the doors off the Seminole Hard Rock’s new, state-of-the-art poker room. The 704-entry turnout marked an attendance increase of more than 30 percent year over year. The prize pool more than doubled the $300,000 guarantee before settling in at $689,920.
“I realized and I remembered that this tournament was going on in Tampa,” said Clinkscales, who left Las Vegas to play the event. “[Seminole][Hard][Rock][Tampa] is amazing. This place is gorgeous, the staff is great. I highly recommend this place to everyone.”
Starting flights for the event ran at 12pm, Thursday, June 15, Friday, June 16 and Saturday June 17. The first two days drew 191 and 199 entries respectively while Saturday’s play settled in at a stout 314. Day 2 began Sunday at 12pm with 127 players remaining and only the top 72 finishing in the money. Reigning Seminole Hard Rock Poker Player of the Year David Prociak, WPTDeepStacks-Hollywood Main Event champion Michael Graffeo and Seminole Hard Rock Tampa poker ambassador Wally Maddah were among those to bust shy of the money.
The bubble burst a couple hours in to Day 2 and defending Champion Anthony Astarita (22nd, $3,641) headlined those who finished in the money. The action concluded when nine players remained and they returned Monday at 12pm to play the event out in Hard Rock Cafe on the live streamed final table. Sebastian Momtazi lead the way while Clinkscales sat second in the counts. Joining the duo at the top were hometown favorites Daniel Lobato, Amelio Amato and reigning WPTDeepStacks Player of the Series Karl Manouchakian.
The action moved fast as Manouchakian, Lobato and Amato exited ninth, eighth and seventh respectively. Clinkscales cruised as Zoltan Anda busted sixth, Ryan Luker fifth and Andrew Boccia fourth. Clinkscales eliminated Momtazi third and took a nearly three-to-one chip lead into heads up play against Michael Cohen. The final duel lasted only a few hands as Cohen succumbed to Clinkscales finishing runner up for $92,734.
Clinkscales is 34 years old and a regular on the poker tournament circuit. His tournament resume boasts over 120 cashes and nine victories. His win in Tampa marks his largest score to date and moves him over $1,175,000 in career earnings.
The WPTDeepStacks at Seminole Hard Rock began June 8th and concluded Monday evening with Clinkscales’ victory. In all, the series boasted five primary events. In addition to the Main Event, the 12-day festival was headlined by $570 and $350 prelims.
Main Event results:
1st: Rex Clinkscales – $162,354* + Guitar Trophy/SHRPO Seat 2nd: Michael Cohen – $92,734 3rd: Sebastian Momtazi – $56,671 4th: Andrew Boccia – $46,711 5th: Ryan Luker – $37,781 6th: Zoltan Anda – $30,911 7th: Amelio Amato – $24,729 8th: Daniel Lobato – $18,890 9th: Karl Manouchakian – $13,051 10th: Michael Gallo – $8,587 11th: Jeff Krusinski – $8,587 12th: Shawn Barnett – $8,587 13th: Harvey Vandeven – $6,182 14th: Jennifer Parker – $6,182 15th: Michael Vadala – $6,182 16th: Matt Steinberg – $4,259 17th: Rafael Fernandes – $4,259 18th: Howard Millian – $4,259 19th: Claudemir Osorio – $3,641 20th: John Ott – $3,641 21st: David Rauf – $3,641 22nd: Anthony Astarita – $3,641 23rd: Ryan Galpern – $3,641 24th: Larry Lee – $3,641 25th: Chad Padgett – $3,641 26th: Mirza Sopovic – $3,641 27th: Maroun Akiki – $3,641 28th: Andrew Grose – $3,229 29th: James Nettnin – $3,229 30th: Kyle Jensen – $3,229 31st: Joseph Mole – $3,229 32nd: Christian De Guzman – $3,229 33rd: Li ZHou – $3,229 34th: James Sutherland – $3,229 35th: Danny Wilson – $3,229 36th: Charles Johnson – $3,229 37th: Gregory Balot – $2,885 38th: Dillon Burns – $2,885 39th: Mauricio Farias – $2,885 40th: Steve Trizis – $2,885 41st: Daniel Griggs – $2,885 42nd: Natalia Nogina – $2,885 43rd: Stepas Tindziulis – $2,885 44th: Haroon Samnani – $2,885 45th: Peter Walsworth – $2,885 46th: Carlos Evangelista – $2,542 47th: Jeffrey Albright – $2,542 48th: James McDonald – $2,542 49th: Christopher Hyden – $2,542 50th: Michael Landress – $2,542 51st: David Tiffenberg – $2,542 52nd: Michael Palumbo – $2,542 53rd: Ronald Sullivan – $2,542 54th: Gareth Walker – $2,542 55th: Evan Panesis – $2,267 56th: Dustin Smith – $2,267 57th: Collin Wilson – $2,267 58th: Katherine Stahl – $2,267 59th: Robert Woodward – $2,267 60th: James Smith – $2,267 61st: David Owens – $2,267 62nd: John McCarthy – $2,267 63rd: Michael Le May – $2,267 64th: Harry Rosenblum– $1,992 65th: Alexander Colin – $1,992 66th: Brett Howard – $1,992 67th: Peter Bradley – $1,992 68th: Ok Haselton – $1,992 69th: Wagner Wysotchanski – $1,992 70th: Jorge Gomez – $1,992 71st: Amie Martini – $1,992 72nd: Andre Crooks – $1,992
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event $300,000 Guaranteed | Live Streamed Final Table Level 35: 125,000/250,000/25,000 | Payouts Players Remaining: 3/704
Andrew Boccia
Sebastian Momtazi shoved 4,005,000 from under the gun and Michael Cohen folded the button. It was on Andrew Boccia in the small blind and he moved all-in for less. Rex Clinkscales was in the big blind and asked for a count before folding. Boccia was at risk.
Boccia: Momtazi:
Runout:
Momtazi spiked a jack on the river to take the lead in the hand and bust Boccia in fourth place.
Sebastian Momtazi – 5,200,000 Andrew Boccia – Eliminated in 4th place ($46,711)
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event $300,000 Guaranteed | Live Streamed Final Table Level 34: 100,000/200,000/25,000 | Payouts Players Remaining: 4/704
Rex Clinkscales opened to 475,000 from late position and Andrew Boccia — who had Clinkscales covered — shoved the big blind. Clinkscales called off and the hands were put face up.
Clinkscales: Boccia:
Runout:
Clinkscales’ tens held and he doubled through the previous chip leader.
Rex Clinkscales – 9,870,000 Andrew Boccia – 475,000
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event $300,000 Guaranteed | Live Streamed Final Table Level 34: 100,000/200,000/25,000 | Payouts Players Remaining: 4/704
Ryan Luker
Ryan Luker shoved 1,435,000 from the cutoff and Rex Clinkscales called from the button. The blinds folded and Luker was at risk.
Luker: Clinkscales:
Luker was in great position to double, but a runout changed that. With four hearts on the board, Clinkscales improved to a flush and earned the pot. Luker was eliminated in fifth place.
