$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 15: 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 32 of 155
Level 15 is underway and marks the final level of Day 1A. The clock shows 32 remaining and it’s Ken O’Donnell with a massive lead in the counts. Sitting on about 400,000 chips, O’Donnell is head and shoulders above the rest of the field with only 35 minutes to go in the day.
Wally Maddah has long been a supporter of not only the events here at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa, but also those ran at other Seminole properties in Hollywood, Coconut Creek and formerly Immokalee. Over his years of loyal play, Maddah has collected 100+ Seminole cashes putting him firmly in the number one spot as the all-time leader.
As such, Tampa’s Director of Poker, Pablo Perez, presented Maddah with a guitar commemorating his “continued support and standout poker achievements in the state of Florida.”
Congratulations, Wally! Man more cashes — and guitars — to come.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 14: 1,500/2,500 with a 2,500 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 40 of 155
The action was unclear, but it resulted in Tampa’s Mark Wiser doubling through.
Holding 
against an opponent’s 
, the board laid 
. Both players had a huge piece of it, however Wiser’s set was the winner. The Tampa regular doubled his 49,000 chips to 98,000 and got himself in good standings with only 40 players remaining.
That hand was one of the last played in Level 13. Level 14 is now underway and players settling in for a tight 80 more minutes of play.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 13: 1,000/2,000 with a 2,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 55 of 155
Brian Arbaugh hung on to win the classic race — queens versus ace-king — just moments after last break.
An unknown opponent was all-in for 20,000 and Arbaugh had him at risk.
Arbaugh: 
Opponent: 
Runout: 
The runout nailed both players, but Arbaugh’s fullhouse was best. The opponent headed to the rail while Arbaugh stacked his chips to 90,000.
Just a couple hours are left in play before the clock ticks to zero around 10:45pm local time.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 11: 600/1,200 with a 1,200 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 68 of 155
Over at Table 15, Ken O’Donnell’s stack has gotten a little lighter dipping below 200,000. In the process, Jarod Thompson’s has grown bigger. Thompson is now the one whose stack tops 200,000 and he leads the field.
It will be a back and forth battle in the Main Event as Thompson and O’Donnell are currently both big-stacked and sitting side-by-side.
Day 1A is set to log five more levels wrapping around 10:45pm local time.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 10: 500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
Day 1A Players Remaining: 87 of 155
With the Day 1A starting field nearly cut in half, the opener’s headlines are emerging and it’s Ken O’Donnell that’s top story thus far.
O’Donnell holds over 200,000 and he’s leading the field in the late stages of Thursday play. This is familiar territory for the Florida resident who just a few months ago final tabled the Tampa Poker Classic Main Event finishing third for $50,906.
With six more levels to be decided, O’Donnell has a ways to navigate yet. His big stack is a great start, though, as it’s good for more than 200 big blinds.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 10: 500/1,000 with a 1,000 ante
Day 1A Entries: 155
The 60-minute dinner break concluded just a few moments ago and the final Day 1A figure is in. The first of three starting days in the Main Event drew 155 entries giving the event a great head start toward its $500,000 guarantee.
WPTDeepStacks Main Event breakdown:
| Day | Flight | Entries | Advanced |
| Thu | A | 155 | TBD |
| Fri | B | — | — |
| Sat | C | — | — |
| — | Totals | 155 | — |
Those unable to get in today’s installment can join the action tomorrow or Friday.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 9: 400/800 with a 800 ante
Day 1A Entries: 150
Level 9 expired and players are officially in the midst of their one-hour dinner break. Cards go back in the air just after 6:30pm local time and registration closes at that time. At present, the clock shows 150 hopefuls registered.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 8: 300/600 with a 600 ante
Day 1A Entries: 146
There was five-way action in a limped pot. Zev Mandel was under the gun with Jade Killian on his direct left. Also in the game was a late-position player as well as the small and big blinds.
The flop came 
. It checked to Mandel who bet 3,000. Killian called and all other players in the pot folded.
The heads-up turn fell the 
. Mandel lead for an all-in bet of 11,300. Killian called putting Mandel at risk.
Killian: 
for a queen-high straight
Mandel: 
for top pair and a gutshot draw
River:
Mandel came from behind spiking his gutshot draw and leaving Killian speechless. Killian had a few chips left, but it was futile as she got them in the middle a short while later only to bust.
The pot grew Mandel’s stack to around 40,000.
$1,100 WPTDeepStacks Main Event
$500,000 Guarantee | Structure
Level 8: 300/600 with a 600 ante
Day 1A Entries: 141
A staunch supporter of Seminole poker series, Wally Maddah made his entrance into the WPTDeepStacks Main Event just before last break. Local to the area, Maddah’s tournament resumes boasts 169 reported cashes, of which more than 100 have come at a Seminole property. That figure puts him atop the record books for all time in-the-money finishes at Seminole properties in Florida.
As is often the case, Maddah is all smiles here on Day 1A sitting slightly above starting stack.