$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 8: 300/600 with a 600 ante
Day 1B Entries: 167 (Total Entries: 322)

The WPTDeepStacks field is filling in with some recognizable Florida grinders. Over at Table 6 is the 2016 champion of this event, Anthony Astarita. Back then, Astarita bested 538 entries earning $130,541. The fields have grown since then, and a 2019 win would come at the hands of a significantly larger player pool and a award a larger prize accordingly.

Over at Table 1 is a two-time runner-up of this tournament, Michael Cohen. In 2017, Cohen was second best to Rex Clinkscales. Fast forward a year to the 2018 installment and it was Quentin Jones that got the best of Cohen.

The finishes were one spot shy of the wins Cohen surely eyed, but they combined to earn him better than $172,000.

Both Astarita and Cohen are part of the Friday play their hopes of follow-up runs are still alive midway through the day.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 7: 300/500 with a 500 ante
Day 1B Entries: 162 (Total Entries: 317)

Another break is done and players are back in their seats to Level 7 with blinds of 300/500 and a 500 ante. The clock shows 162 entries in the Friday play and it’s Alex Kimpel that tops them all.

Kimpel’s first 30,000 chips found the felt as he busted bullet one today. After a re-buy, all things have gone right and Kimpel finds himself just a bit shy of 200,000.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 6: 200/400 with a 400 ante
Day 1B Entries: 157 (Total Entries: 312)

The preflop action was unknown, but it resulted in Nashaat Antonious hitting the rail and Karl Manouchakian picking up a small pot.

Antonious was all-in for 2,400 and Manouchakian had him at risk. It was Manouchakian’s that was ahead versus Antonious’ .

Runout:

Manouchakian’s kicker played and his stack grew to about 50,000. Antonious re-entered just as fast as he busted and got back in the game with a fresh 30,000 starting chips.

For Manouchakian, he’s had a successful WPTDeepStacks series regardless of his outcome. He preceded this Main Event with a 14th place finish in the $570 re-entry and a runner-up in the $1,650 Mega Stack.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 3: 100/200 with a 200 ante
Day 1B Entries: 94 (Total Entries: 249)

WPTDeepStacks is a worldwide brand tied to the World Poker Tour. Paired with a $500,000 guarantee, the Tampa Main Event is attracting players from outside of the state of Florida.

One of those players that traveled in is Brian Reinert. Reinert is a new face here during the 2019 series, but is no stranger to the Tampa area. He’s played multiple events over the years and graced the final two tables in this event in 2016 before finishing 15th.

We’ll keep an eye on his progress throughout the day as well as look at a few of the other new and familiar faces in the field a little later.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 2: 100/100 with a 100 ante
Day 1B Entries: 75 (Total Entries: 230)

One Day 1B level is in the books and the entry figure continues its vertical trajectory. Early in Level 2 the clock shows 74 in the action bringing the combined field to 230.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 1: 100/100 with a 100 ante
Day 1B Entries: 47 (Total Entries: 202)

The clock strikes 11am and Day 1B of the WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event is underway. Complete play details are available one post below.

Primary Event Schedule

11AM: Day 1B – $1,100 WPTDeepStacks Tampa Main Event

• $500,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• Players begin with 30,000 in chips
• Levels last 40 minutes; Final table levels last 60 minutes
• Single ante will be paid from the big blind for the entire table
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 10
• Day 1 will end after Level 15 or Tournament Director discretion
• Main Event Structure Sheet

Secondary and Satellite Schedule

9AM: Event 22 – $140 Main Event Turbo Satellite (1-in-10)

• 2 seats guaranteed into $500,000 GTD WPTDS Main Event
• Players begin with 10,000 in chips and 15-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 9
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 20 Sheet

4PM: Event 23 – $140 Main Event Satellite (1-in-10)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $500,000 GTD WPTDS Main Event
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 23 Sheet

7PM: Event 24 – $260 Main Event Satellite (1-in-5)

• 5 seats guaranteed into $500,000 GTD WPTDS Main Event
• Players begin with 12,000 in chips and 20-minute levels
• Late registration/re-entry available until start of Level 7
• This is a one-day tournament and plays until completion
• Event 24 Sheet

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Day 2 Blinds: 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 28 of 155

Flight A: 155 Entries, 28 Advanced
Flight B: Friday at 11am
Flight C: Saturday at 11am
Day 2: Sunday at 12pm

WPTDeepStacks Main Event Day 1A chip counts:

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 15: 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 28 of 155

Day 1A of the WPTDeepStacks Main Event kicked off Thursday at 11am. In the nearly 11 hours and 15 levels since, the 155-entry starting field narrowed to only 28 advancing and it’s Ken O’Donnell that tops the counts.

O’Donnell’s 30,000 starting chips turned into 376,000 and he holds a comfortable lead over the rest of the field. This is familiar territory for O’Donnell who just this spring finished third in the Tampa Poker Classic Main Event for nearly $51,000.

On O’Donnell’s heels in second place is Joshua Fulford with 326,000. Others to bag include Mark Wiser (223,000), Jordan Joeckel (191,000), Steve Trizis (165,000), Herbert Woodbery (116,000), Tony March (105,000) and Peter Walsworth (102,000).

Those unable to make today’s play can get in the $500,000 guaranteed action tomorrow or Saturday. Play begins at 11am each day with registration and re-entry available all the way until 6:30pm. All those advancers return for Day 2 Sunday at noon.

Complete chip counts for Day 1A will be posted by 2am.

$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 15: 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 28 of 155

Ten minutes remain in the level and tournament staff stopped the clock announcing they’ll play three more hands before bagging and tagging. At present, it’s a two-horse race for the chip lead between Ken O’Donnell and Joshua Fulford.

We will post a look at some of the chip leader shortly after play wraps and provide the complete official chip counts in a few hours.