Saechao, Holtz & Romero Among 2023 Venetian DeepStack Showdown Winners

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Venetian Winners

From January 9 through February 12, Venetian Las Vegas played host to the 2023 DeepStack Showdown, which was a 57-event series that offered millions in guarantees

All told, the series catered to 7,274 entrants (not including satellite entries) and awarded $3,544,569 in prize money. The series, which also hosted a pair of Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) events, crowed winners such as Robin Visser, who first won Event #11: $500 NLH Epic Stack for $10,939 and then three days later won Event #18: $300 NLH Bounty for $2,868. Likewise, George Heim of Anchorage, Alaska won two titles in Event #17: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $9,058 and Event #21: $500 NLH Epic Stack for $9,761.

Others to claim titles were Steve Federspiel (Event #12: $400 Big O for $3,746), Peter Hengsakul (Event #27: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $7,068), and Spencer Champlin (Event #49: $600 NLH Monster Stack for $21,075.

Here are some other notable winners from the series.

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Kao Saechao Wins Three Titles!

Kao Saechao
Kao Saechao

Back on January 4 in the DeepStack Poker NYE Series, Washington’s Kao Saechao won Event #47: $400 NLH Monster Stack for $9,546. By the end of the month, he was capturing an incredible three more titles during the DeepStack Showdown.

Less than a week after his first win of the month, Saechao topped an 87-entry field to win Event #3: $400 NLH Epic Stack for $9,271. Five days later, he was back at it navigating his way through a 39-entry field to win Event #14: $400 PLO for $5,143.

Finally, Saechao topped a 35-entry field on January 30 to win Event #40: $300 NLH Bounty for $2,900.

Event #3 Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Kao SaechaoSeattle, WA$9,271
2Andrew RodgersHenderson, NV$5,736
3Jacob PerryBranchville, NJ$3,998
4William ChanNew York, NY$2,926
5James ClancyCanada$2,144
6Paul AicheleWalnut Creek, CA$2,144
7Paul DahlVancouver, WA$1,275
8Dominick FrenchCanada$1,072
9Calem McNeilCanada$927

Fuentes & Romero Win MSPT Venetian Titles

James Romero
James Romero

The firstMSPT Venetian tournament of the series was at the $1,100 buy-in price point and it was Zack Fuentes topping a 665-entry field to win the tournament for $117,060.

Straight after, a $1,600 MSPT Venetian took place and that tournament attracted 721 runners. After three long days of play, PokerCoaching.com coach James Romero came out on top to win $171,167 after a heads-up deal with Zach Donovan, who took home $150,000 for finishing in second place.

“It feels great man, I finally have a lion trophy,” Romero told MSPT officials after the win. “I’ve been a poker pro for 15 years, a live pro for about 5 of those years,” when talking about his background in high-stakes poker tournaments. “I now have a trophy from every hotel and it feels good man.”

$1,600 MSPT Venetian Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1James RomeroPortland, OR$171,167*
2Zach DonovanFranklin, MA$150,000*
3Mark FinkSioux Falls, SD$95,537
4Ha DuongVietnam$68,110
5Rob WazwazMinneapolis, MN$51,777
6Matt McEwanNewport Beach, CA$38,347
7Reg PowellElk River, MN$27,946
8Spiro LempesisElgin, IL$21,781
9Matt StoneWest Windsor, NJ$17,261

*Denotes heads-up deal.

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Mike “BrockLesnar” Holtz Victorious in Epic Stack

Mike Holtz
Mike \"BrockLesnar\" Holtz

On January 25, Event #32: $500 NLH Epic Stack attracted 138 runners and offered up a $58,236 prize pool that was paid out to the top 15 finishers. Among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Jaime Sanchez (11th - $1,083), Peter Hengsakul (13th - $996), and Kimberly Olenak (14th - $996).

At the final table, it was Mike Holtz defeating Rob Goldstein in heads-up play to win the title and $16,597 prize. If that name sounds familiar it’s probably because you recognize him from his online prowess, specifically on WSOP.com where he plays under the name “BrockLesnar.”

He was the 2021 WSOP.com Player of the Year he spoke to PokerNews about that accomplishment here – and then in October of last year, he won the WSOP Online Event #17: $777 NLH Lucky 7s by defeating Jordyn "ThLstCrdBndr" Miller during a short heads-up battle. That gave him his first bracelet and $76,157. Now, Holtz has a live title on his poker résumé.

Event #32 Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPrize
1Mike HoltzLas Vegas, NV$16,597
2Rob GoldsteinLas Vegas, NV$10,774
3Ty KohlerReno, NV$7,629
4Michael ShanTigard, OR$5,387
5William ShalhoobMandan, ND$3,844
6Bobby PoeLas Vegas, NV$2,795
7Peter DaileyLas Vegas, NV$2,009
8Brandon ZuidemaFontana, CA$1,485
9Thomas RatkovichKihei, HI$1,281
Venetian Poker Chips

2023 DeepStack Showdown Winners

DateTournamentEntriesPrize PoolWinnerHometownPrize
1/9/23Event #1: $400 NLH Seniors109$36,515Robert GoldsteinLas Vegas, NV$9,361
1/9/23Event #2: $300 NLH Bounty63$15,750Azime MitchellLas Vegas, NV$3,309
1/10/23Event #3: $400 NLH Epic Stack87$28,971Kao SaechaoSeattle, WA$9,271
1/10/23Event #4: $300 NLH Bounty38$10,000Alexander HoopsLima, OH$2,914
1/11/23Event #5: $400 NLH Epic Stack113$37,629Ryan ShiffmanWarners, NY$7,761
1/11/23Event #6: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor74$18,5007 winnersN/A$2,000
1/12/23Event #7: $400 NLH Epic Stack103$34,299Robert CournoyerLas Vegas, NV$6,209
1/12/23Event #8: $300 NLH Bounty66$16,500Robin MastrangeloLas Vegas, NV$1,754
1/13/23Event #9: $500 NLH Epic Stack92$38,824Anatoly ZharnitskyTampa, FL$11,648
1/13/23Event #10: $300 NLH Bounty45$11,2505 winnersN/A$1,300
1/14/23Event #11: $500 NLH Epic Stack81$34,182Robin VisserNetherlands$10,939
1/14/23Event #12: $400 Big O51$17,340Steve FederspielRiverside, IA$3,746
1/15/23Event #13: $400 NLH Epic Stack91$30,303Jeffrey NowlingHouston, TX$5,850
1/15/23Event #14: $400 PLO39$13,260Kao SaechaoSeattle, WA$5,143
1/16/23Event #15: $400 NLH Epic Stack84$27,972Luis Gamboa QuilcatePeru$8,952
1/16/23Event #16: $300 NLH Bounty49$12,250Josh WhiteCabot, AR$3,123
1/17/23Event #17: $400 NLH Epic Stack85$28,305George HeimAnchorage, AK$9,058
1/17/23Event #18: $300 NLH Bounty45$11,250Robin VisserNetherlands$2,868
1/18/23Event #19: $400 NLH Epic Stack64$21,312Joseph CutlerMarlton, NJ$6,741
1/18/23Event #20: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor41$10,2503 winnersN/A$2,000
1/19/23Event #21: $500 NLH Epic Stack92$38,824George HeimAnchorage, AK$9,761
1/19/23Event #22: $300 NLH Bounty45$11,250Christopher BisdaLas Vegas, NV$2,503
1/20/23Event #23: $500 NLH Epic Stack118$49,796Yossi KrispinCupertino, CA$14,939
1/20/23Event #24: $400 PLO 8/B60$20,400Zachary VigilCordova, NM$7,649
1/21/23Event #25: $500 NLH Epic Stack102$43,044Brian Barros VazquezStone Park, IL$9,318
1/21/23Event #26: $400 Limit Omaha 8/B37$12,395Rafael ConcepcionLas Vegas, NV$4,386
1/22/23Event #27: $400 NLH Epic Stack93$30,969Peter HengsakulLas Vegas, NV$7,068
1/22/23Event #28: $300 NLH Bounty48$12,000Steven StoweGilbert, AZ$3,060
1/25/23Event #29: $400 NLH Ultimate Stack510$168,300Douglas ShamlinCary, NC$32,473
1/23/23Event #30: $300 NLH Bounty58$14,500Robert BuchananaWilmington, DE$3,263
1/24/23Event #31: $300 NLH Bounty38$10,000Karim Jahangard-MahboobPasadena, CA$2,402
1/25/23Event #32: $500 NLH Epic Stack138$58,236Mike HoltzLas Vegas, NV$16,597
1/25/23Event #33: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor40$10,0004 winnersN/A$2,000
1/29/23Event #34: $600 NLH Ultimate Stack576$290,880Dorian Rios PavonMiami, FL$53,872
1/26/23Event #35: $300 NLH Bounty48$12,000John CaporussoLas Vegas, NV$3,060
1/27/23Event #36: $300 NLH Bounty64$16,000Daniel ButlerMoab, UT$2,382
1/29/23Event #37: $500 NLH Epic Stack Freezeout94$39,668Barry RaymosFairfield, CA$9,571
1/29/23Event #38: $300 NLH Bounty53$13,250Joseph DeanEvans, CO$2,562
2/1/23Event #39: $400 NLH Ultimate Stack352$116,160George IgnatGlendale, AZ$22,519
1/30/23Event #40: $300 NLH Bounty35$10,000Kao SaechaoSeattle, WA$2,900
1/31/23Event #41: $300 NLH Bounty42$10,500Willie BentonBakersfield, CA$2,677
2/1/23Event #42: $500 NLH Epic Stack78$32,916Alexander TafeshLas Vegas, NV$11,192
2/1/23Event #43: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor47$11,7504 winnersN/A$2,000
2/5/23Event #44: $800 NLH Ultimate Stack732$505,080Jason ObingerLas Vegas, NV$90,893
2/2/23Event #45: $300 NLH Survivor89$22,2508 winnersN/A$2,500
2/3/23Event #46: $300 NLH Survivor77$19,25010 winnersN/A$2,000
2/5/23Event #47: $500 NLH Epic Stack157$66,254Konstantin PolinLas Vegas, NV$18,304
2/5/23Event #48: $300 NLH Bounty Survivor81$20,2508 winnersN/A$2,000
2/6/23Event #49: $600 NLH Monster Stack145$73,950Spencer ChamplinScarborough, ME$21,075
2/6/23Event #50: $300 NLH Survivor98$24,5008 winnersN/A$2,500
2/9/23Event #51: $1,100 MSPT Poker Bowl665$117,060Zack FuentesAustin, TX$117,060
2/7/23Event #52: $300 NLH Survivor100$25,00010 winnersN/A$2,500
 Event #53: Mega Satellite     
2/11/23Event #54: $1,600 MSPT Poker Bowl721$1,027,425James RomeroPortland, OR$170,167
 Event #55: Mega Satellite     
2/11/23Event #56: $1,100 NLH Monster Bounty140$135,800James ProsserEngland$23,597
2/12/23Event #57: $300 NLH Bounty81$20,250Jason FairclothHouston, TX$3,126

What’s Coming Up Next?

Venetian Poker Chips

The Venetian is already hosting their DeepStack Extravaganza I, which kicked off on February 13 and will run through March 5. That series will offer more than $1.5 million in guaranteed prize pools across 35 events.

Click here for a look at the full DeepStack Extravaganza I schedule.

*Images courtesy of Venetian.

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PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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