From January 9 to February 12, the Venetian Las Vegas hosted the 2023 Deep Stack Showdown, a 57-event series with millions in guarantees. The series gave out $3,544,569 in prizes to 7,274 people (excluding satellite entries).
In addition to hosting two Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) events, the series produced numerous winners, including Robin Visser, who took first place in Event #11: $500 NLH Epic Stack for $10,939 and afterward three days after the fact won Occasion #18: $2,868 in NLH bounty for $300. In a similar vein, Anchorage, Alaska’s George Heim won two titles in Event #17: Event #21 and a $400 NLH Epic Stack for $9,058: $9,761 for a $500 NLH Epic Stack.
Steve Federspiel was among others to win (Event #12: Peter Hengsakul, $400 Big O for $3,746, (Event #27: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $7,068), and Spencer Champlin (Occasion #49: $21,075 for a $600 NLH Monster Stack.
Three titles for Kao Saechao!
Washington’s Kao Saechao won Event #47 in the Deep Stack Poker NYE Series on January 4: $9,546 for a $400 NLH Monster Stack. He had already won three more titles at the Deep Stack Showdown by the end of the month.
Saechao prevailed over an 87-entry field to take home the title in Event #3: $9,271 for a $400 NLH Epic Stack. He was back at it five days later, navigating his way through a field of 39 competitors to win Event #14: $5,143 for $400 PLO
Last but not least, on January 30th, Saechao won Event #40: $2,900 for a $300 NLH bounty. The firstMSPT Venetian competition of the series was at the $1,100 purchase in cost and it was Zack Fuentes besting a 665-section field to win the competition for $117,060.
The next tournament, a $1,600 MSPT Venetian, attracted 721 runners right away. PokerCoaching.com coach James Romero won $171,167 after three long days of play in a heads-up deal with Zach Donovan, who took home $150,000 for finishing in second place.
Following the victory, Romero informed MSPT officials
“It feels great man, I finally have a lion trophy.” When asked about his experience participating in high-stakes poker tournaments, he stated, “I’ve been a poker pro for 15 years, and a live pro for about 5 of those years.” It feels good, man, to have a trophy from every hotel.
On January 25, Mike “BrockLesnar” Holtz won the Epic Stack: Event #32: The $500 NLH Epic Stack attracted 138 participants and provided a $58,236 prize fund for the top 15 finishers. Jaime Sanchez (11th, $1,083), Peter Hengsakul (13th, $996), and Kimberly Olenak (14th, $996) were among those to cash in but not make it to the final table.
In heads-up play at the final table, Mike Holtz defeated Rob Goldstein to win the title and the $16,597 prize. You probably recognize him from his online prowess, particularly on WSOP.com, where he plays under the name “BrockLesnar,” if that name sounds familiar.
He was the WSOP.com Player of the Year in 2021, and he talked about that achievement here. In October of last year, he won the WSOP Online Event #17: By defeating Jordyn “ThLstCrdBndr” Miller in a brief heads-up match, you won $777 in NLH Lucky 7s. He received $76,157 and his first bracelet as a result. Presently, Holtz has a live title on his poker list of references.