WPTDeepStacks Immokalee at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, drew 816 entries, and Michael Tureniec emerged victorious for a first-place payday of $143,324.
Final Table Results
1st: Michael Tureniec – $143,324*
2nd: Scott Stewart – $98,368
3rd: Ryan Hughes – $63,507
4th: Dennis Rodriguez – $46,996
5th: Ravi Raghavan – $35,799
6th: Zachary Donovan – $28,434
7th: Donald Maloney – $23,529
8th: Chris Cornell – $18,719
9th: Brett Bader – $14,028
*First-place includes a $3,000 championship package.
Hailing from Solna, Sweden, Tureniec is no stranger to poker success. With more than $4 million in live poker tournament winnings, according to his HendonMob.com profile, Tureniec is one of the most accomplished and consistent players in the world. His win today just adds another trophy to his mantle.
“It feels amazing,” Tureniec said. “It was a very big tournament with a lot of runners and a very tough final table, so it feels really good to get the win. I think Seminole Hard Rock is a great venue for poker. I played most of their major series during the past two years, and I like the big fields, big guarantees, and the great prize pools. Great bang for your buck.”
Tureniec had a smooth Day 1, finishing 68th in chips of the 171 total survivors with an above-average stack. He ascended the chip counts steadily in the early stages of Day 2 before seizing the lead with about 60 players remaining. From there, Tureniec coasted to the final table and held the chip lead when it began. He sat back and let the first few eliminations take place before jumping back in, winning a coin flip against WPT Champions Club member Ravi Raghavan, eliminating him in fifth place.
Once three players remained, a back-and-forth battle ensued where each took turns as chip leader and as the short stack. Eventually, they played the maximum amount of levels scheduled for the day, and while his opponents preferred to keep playing, Tureniec was in favor of coming back the following day to finish up.
“I felt pretty tired and dizzy last night, and didn’t want to risk making any big mistakes due to being so tired,” Tureniec said. “So it felt good to get some sleep and collect your thoughts and get ready for a new day.”
The extra day proved to be the right choice for Tureniec, and he is now a WPTDeepStacks Champion.
WPT Not Done in Florida; Seminole Showdown Championship Next Up
This World Poker Tour’s trip to Florida isn’t done with the conclusion of the WPTDeepStacks Immokalee event. Starting Friday, April 13, 2018, is the Season XVI WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $3,500 Championship. The event’s prize pool boasts a $3 million guarantee and will be filmed for broadcast as part of the WPT’s Season XVI television schedule.
Last season, Tony Sinishtaj won the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown $3,500 Championship. He topped a field of 1,207 entries in his first-ever WPT cash to win the event and $661,283.
Fresno Next for WPTDeepStacks in North America
For WPTDeepStacks in North America, next up is a trip to Club One Casino in Fresno, California, for a festival that runs May 11-21. The venue is a brand new location for WPTDeepStacks, with the WPTDS Fresno $1,100 Main Event scheduled for May 17-21. The WPTDS Fresno Main Event has a $300,000 guarantee.
Stay tuned to WPT.com for the latest news and updates from the World Poker Tour, including WPTDeepStacks. Don’t forget to follow WPTDeepStacks on Twitter, like the tour’s page on Facebook, and check it out on Instagram, too!