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:

• Complete TPC Event 1 results (PDF)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante

Shortly after the break, Daniel Couzens moved all in for 3,100,000 from his button and Fred Paradis quickly called.

Paradis:
Couzens:

Couzens was behind but drawing live for a double. The flop was no help and Paradis locked it up when he paired his ace on the turn. The was the last river of the tournament and Paradis locked up the win along with $91,945.

1st: Fred Paradis – $91,945
2nd: Daniel Couzens – $61,330

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 35:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

Fred Paradis and Daniel Couzens took a quick ten-minute break while tournament staff pulled the 25K chips out of play. Paradis continued to lead big, with Couzens playing tough.

Seat 6: Fred Paradis – 42,900,000 (72 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Couzens – 7,600,000 (13 bb)

1st: $91,945
2nd: $61,330

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

Daniel Couzens open-ripped for 5,500,000 from the button and Fred Paradis quickly called.

Paradis:
Couzens:

Paradis was way ahead with a chance to close out the tournament. Couzen flopped an open-ended straight draw on the and made a king-high straight on the turn. The river finished the board and Couzens doubled to stay in the game.

Seat 6: Fred Paradis – 39,000,000 (78 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Couzens – 11,500,000 (23 bb)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 34:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

Blinds are up and Daniel Couzens closed the gap after losing the huge pot to Fred Paradis. They are peacefully grinding to find our champ.

Seat 6: Fred Paradis – 29,900,000 (60 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Couzens – 20,600,000 (41 bb)

1st: $91,945
2nd: $61,330

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

With about 16,000,000 already in the pot, the board was out and complete and reading . Chip leader Daniel Couzens announced all in and Fred Paradis took his time to think it through.

After several minutes, Paradis called, Couzens flipped over and Paradis tabled . Paradis was best with his paired king and was at risk for 13,350,000. He doubled into a huge lead in the biggest pot of the tournament.

Fred Paradis – 42,000,000 (105 bb)
Daniel Couzens – 8,400,000 (21 bb)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 33:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

Seat 6: Fred Paradis – 19,600,000 (49 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Couzens – 29,750,000 (74 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $91,945
2nd: $61,330

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 1,705

Leigh Lewis was down to 4,100,000 and put his chips in the middle against Fred Paradis. He was behind with against pocket nines and was eliminated in third place.

Fred Paradis – 19,600,000 (49 bb)
Leigh Lewis – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($45,400)

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 32:  150,000/300,000 with a 300,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,705

Seat 1: Leigh Lewis – 10,225,000 (34 bb)
Seat 6: Fred Paradis – 16,775,000 (56 bb)
Seat 7: Daniel Couzens – 23,500,000 (78 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $91,945
2nd: $61,330
3rd: $45,400

$400 No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$250,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 31:  150,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 1,705

Action folded to Richie Smith on the button and he moved all in for 5,475,000. Fred Paradis reshipped from the small blind and Daniel Couzens folded his big.

Paradis:
Smith:

Smith was in a lot of trouble, called for a deuce, but it was Paradis improving on the flop. Paradis made trip jacks on the turn and Smith was officially eliminated after the river.

That was the last hand of the level and the three remaining players were sent on a break.

Fred Paradis – 16,775,000 (67 bb)
Richie Smith – Eliminated in 4th Place ($33,940)