2024 Winter Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida
Event 4
$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  292
Prize Pool:  $178,120
January 29 – 31, 2024

The $700 Deep Stack Challenge was one of the last events before the WPO Championship, and a lot of talented players came out for the warmup. By the night’s end, Maroun Akiki outlasted everyone for the outright win for $37,870.

This was the biggest cash of Akiki’s career, topping the $32K he earned for a Lucky Hearts Poker Open title in Hollywood over a decade ago. He beat a tough final table in WPO Event 4 that included two-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Wang and Tampa tournament killer Fred Paradis.

Congrats Maroun and good luck in the Championship!

Results:

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante

On the dramatic last hand of the tournament, Maroun Akiki and Michael Wang put all the chips in the middle with Wang at risk.

Wang flopped two pair eights and sixes but Akiki hit the two-out ace on the turn. He took the pot and the title along with $37,870 while Wang earned $25,210 for his runner-up finish.

1st: Maroun Akiki – $37,870 + WPO Trophy
2nd: Michael Wang – $25,210

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 24:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 23:  20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  15,000/30,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 22:  15,000/30,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 292

The seven remaining players went on another break and returned with a familiar Tampa player at the top of the counts. Fred Paradis worked a short stack earlier in the day but now leads the $700 Deep Stack Challenge followed closely by two-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Wang.

Seat 1: Teresa Ramsey – 950,000 (32 bb)
Seat 2: Fred Paradis – 2,115,000 (71 bb)
Seat 4: Maroun Akiki – 720,000 (24 bb)
Seat 5: Michael Wang – 2,100,000 (70 bb)
Seat 6: Ross Corless – 1,710,000 (57 bb)
Seat 7: Evan Pantano – 565,000 (19 bb)
Seat 8: Chad Lipton – 600,000 (20 bb)

1st: $37,870 + WPO Trophy
2nd: $25,210
3rd: $18,370
4th: $13,560
5th: $10,150
6th: $7,700
7th: $5,920

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  7 of 292

$700 Deep Stack Challenge (Re-Entry)
$50,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts
Level 21:  15,000/25,000 with a 25,000 ante
Players Remaining:  8 of 292