2019 Seminole Hard Rock WPTDeepStacks Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 5
$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Entries: 59
Prize Pool: $100,000
June 9-10, 2019

(Tampa, FL) – Event 5 was a new tournament on the WPTDeepStacks Tampa schedule and the high buy-in tournament drew a talented group of players. SHR Tampa regular Mario De La Puente battled against a tough final table to earn his second title of the series along with $39,000.

We had 55 entries into the $1,650 two-day tournament and registration remained open until the start of Day 2. Four more players took a late shot at the tournament, including Tony March who played both Event 5 and Flight A of Event 7. The tournament had a $100,000 prize pool up for grabs with the last six spots getting some of it.

De La Puente began Day 2 with a huge lead and never let up until the tournament reached heads-up play. The talented final table included Joseph Orsino, Rodney Turvin, “Magic” Jack, and 2016 WPTDeepStacks Tampa champ Anthony Astarita all making the money.

De La Puente went into heads-up action with local favorite Karl Manouchakian with a significant lead but the tables turned early to put Manouchakian out front. De La Puente lost the lead for the first time all day and found himself in danger of going out in second place. He had six river outs against Manouchakian to stay alive and a river ace gave him a double.

Soon after, the match was won by De La Puente and Manouchakian had to settle for $23,000 runner-up money. Da Le Puente briefly celebrated his second tournament win to go along with his Event 1 Limit Omaha 8 title before getting ready for more action tomorrow. Another big payday continues a heater for De La Puente who banked another $35,000 a few weeks ago with a second place finish in the $200 Little Slick Poker Series tournament.

Congrats to Mario and good luck in the Main Event.

Event 5 results:

1st: Mario De Le Puente – $39,000 + Guitar trophy
2nd: Karl Manouchakian –  $23,000
3rd: Anthony Astarita – $14,000
4th: Russell Jaicks – $10,000
5th: Rodney Turvin – $8,000
6th: Joseph Orsino – $6,000

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 24: 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 ante

Mario De La Puente was on the button and announced all in. Karl Manouchakian checked his cards and called for his last 305,000.

Manouchakian:
De La Puente:

Manouchakian was live to double up but he could not catch the to fall short of the title in second place.

Manouchakian earned $23,000 while De La Puente went almost wire-to-wire to take the title along with the $39,000 first place prize.

Full tournament recap to come later this evening.

1st: Mario De La Puente – $39,000 + Guitar trophy
2nd: Karl Manouchakian – $23,000

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23: 15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 59

Karl Manouchakian ground Mario De La Puente down to 465,000 and he put those in the middle from the button and Manouchakian had a chance to lock up the title.

De La Puente:
Manouchakian:

Manouchakian needed to win the race to take the title and faded the flop. The turn left De La Puente with six outs to stay alive and he hit the river to double up.

A few hands later, with the board reading , De La Puente shoved for 705,000 and Manouchakian called.

De La Puente:
Manouchakian:

De La Puente doubled again to a commanding lead with his flopped trip tens and rivered full house.

Mario De La Puente – 1,935,000 (77 bb)
Karl Manouchakian – 425,000 (17 bb)

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 59

Karl Manouchakian limped his button, Mario De La Puente checked, and the flop was . De La Puente bet 35,000, Manouchakian called, and the turn was . De La Puente bet another 45,000 and Manoucharkian called. The river was and De La Puente announced: “all in”.

Manouchakian would be at risk if he called for his last 525,000. He thought for several minutes and called. De La Puente made to muck his hand and Manouchakian tabled to take the pot with two pair queens and deuces to double into the lead.

Karl Manouchakian – 1,285,000 (64 bb)
Mario De La Puente – 1,075,000 (54 bb)

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 59

Mario De La Puente limped his button and Karl Manouchakian raised to 60,000. De La Puente called, the flop was and both players checked.

The turn was , Manouchakian checked, De La Puente bet 60,000 and Manouchakian called. The river was , Manouchakian checked, De La Puente bet 75,000 and Manouchakian check-raised to 210,000 and De La Puente called. Manouchakian tabled for the second nut flush and De La Puente mucked.

Karl Manouchakian – 950,000 (48 bb)
Mario De La Puente – 1,410,000 (71 bb)

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 59

After readjusting and moving seats, the heads-up match for the Event 5 title is underway.

Seat 4: Karl Manouchakian – 650,000 (33 bb)
Seat 5: Mario De La Puente – 1,710,000 (86 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $39,000 + Guitar trophy
2nd: $23,000

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 59

Karl Manouchakian folded his button, Mario De La Puente looked at his cards and announced all in from the small blind. Anthony Astarita checked his cards and call at risk for 280,000.

De La Puente:
Astarita:

Astarita had two live suited cards but both players hit the flop. The turn was and the river was to send the 2016 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event winner out in third place.

Mario De La Puente – 1,710,000 (86 bb)
Anthony Astarita – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($14,000)

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 59

The dinner break is complete and cards are back in the air.

Seat 4: Karl Manouchakian – 840,000 (42 bb)
Seat 5: Mario De La Puente – 1,305,000 (65 bb)
Seat 7: Anthony Astarita – 215,000 (11 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $39,000 + Guitar trophy
2nd: $23,000
3rd: $14,000

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22: 10,000/20,000 with a 20,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 59

At the end of Level 21, tournament staff sent the three remaining players on a 40-minute dinner break to recharge and refresh.

Seat 4: Karl Manouchakian – 840,000 (42 bb)
Seat 5: Mario De La Puente – 1,305,000 (65 bb)
Seat 7: Anthony Astarita – 215,000 (11 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $39,000 + Guitar trophy
2nd: $23,000
3rd: $14,000

$1,650 Mega Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21: 10,000/15,000 with a 15,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 59

Mario De La Puente limped from the button and Anthony Astarita moved all in from the small blind for 225,000. Karl Manouchakian folded his big and De La Puente called.

Astarita:
De La Puente:

“Oh,” De La Puente said when he saw the hands. Astarita was bigger than he expected.

Astarita was safe on the flop but picked up a fade when turn made De La Puente open-ended. The river was safe for Astarita and his double up.

Anthony Astarita – 480,000 (32 bb)
Mario De La Puente – 1,295,000 (86 bb)