May 15, 2016

Tada Takes Title


Surrounded by friends all chanting his nickname 'CuCu, CuCu,' Steven Tada took center stage Sunday night as he captured the 2016 WPTDeepStacks Main Event at Turlock Poker Room.

Tada, a Bay Area poker player who makes it to many of the big NorCal events from San Jose to Sacramento and more, joined a large group of players who came to Turlock looking for a WPTDS title. That flock of Bay Area players helped push the prize pool to an all-time Turlock record $201,760 for the $1100 buyin Main Event.

Coming in to Day 2 14/47, Tada started chipping up right away, gaining the chiplead with 2 tables left and he only very briefly gave up the chiplead to Mark Johnson for a few hands during final table play Sunday night.

There was brief talk of a ICM chop once down to 4-handed play, and the final three players reached an ICM chop agreement, with Tada taking home $36,129, Johnson a near-identical total of $36,067 and Tim Weimer took home $29,638 as the shortest of the three stacks when the chop was agreed to. The ROI for Johnson and Weimer was huge, as they both won their way in to the Main Event via a Turlock Poker Room $125 Mega Satellite.

All WPTDeepStacks Main Events come with $3,000 Championship Event Package for a December tournament in Calgary, Canada, plus the WPTDS Trophy and WPTDS Player of the Year points. Tada, Johnson and Weimer agreed to play out the tournament for the POY points, the trophy and the trip to Canada for the WPTDS season championship tourney.

The players wrapped up in just the same way the chop went, with Tada winning the play-down, Johnson finishing second and Weimer third. Here are how the payouts went for the final table.

1. Steven Tada - $36,129
2. Mark Johnson - $36,067
3. Tim Weimer - $29,638
4. Mario Lopez - $16,262
5. David Champeny - $12,206
6. Ryan Smith - $9,765
7. Russell Garrett - $8,111
8. Seay Vaj - $6,497
9. Tony Yalda - $4,862

Most final tables start 10-handed, but there were eliminations at both short-handed tables with 11 players remaining, as both Armando Perez and Steve Silva fell, leaving 9 to the final table.

Rafael Gonzales was eliminated in 14th place, but that finish secured his Player of the Series title. Gonzales won Event 5 and also had a 3rd and 4th place finish for four cashes in the 7 events. He won a prize package provided by Turlock Poker Room and WPTDeepStacks.

Johnny Vargas was winner of the kickoff event, a $350 buyin with two starting flights, taking home $3,775 as part of a 3-way chop with Rich Patterson and Rick Draper. Patterson also had a second-place finish in Event 4 as he finished runner-up in the series points race. Draper was winner of the final event of the series, the $150 Turbo.

Laurence Louie, second in the WPTDeepStacks Main Event in Edmonton, Canada, came to Turlock as he was following WPTDS through California. He was winner of Event 2 - a $125 Hold'em - in a 3-way chop with Guy Davidson and Gonzalez.

John Rogers picked up a series win by taking down Event 3 - $125 Hold'em in a 4-way chop with Quoc Duong, Johnny Stack and Mark Lehnert.

The 10 days of WPTDeepStacks Series tournament play drew a large mix of both local players and those traveling from around northern California. Main Event champions from California-based Heartland Poker Tour, Ante Up Poker Tour events and more came out for tournament play in Turlock, all expressing they've found another great place for both live and tournament play in their region.

By Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com


2016 @WPTDeepStacks Series Results

 

Here are the results from each tournament in the 2016 @WPTDeepStacks Series at Turlock Poker Room.

Event 1 - $350 Kickoff Event - Johnny Vargas winner

Event 2 - $125 Hold'em - Laurence Louie winner

Event 3 - $125 with $25 Bounties - John Rogers winner

Event 4 - $125 Omaha 8OB - Rocky Bear winner

Event 5 - $225 With $50 Bounties - Rafael Gonzalez winner

Event 6 - $1100 Main Event - Steven Tada winner

Event 7 - $150 Turbo - Rick Draper winner

Player of the Series - Rafael Gonzalez 

Results - $1100 Main Event With $100,000 Guaranteed - Event 6



Here are the results for Event 6 - $1100 Main Event With $100,000 Guaranteed - in the 2016 @WPTDeepStacks Series.

- 5/13-15/16
- 208 Entries
- $201,760 Prize Pool
- Paying 24 Places

* - Indicates player also received a $3,000 WPTDeepStacks Championship Package


Place Place Payout
1 Steven Tada* $36,129
2 Mark Johnson $36,067
3 Tim Weimer $29,638
4 Mario Lopez $16,262
5 David Champeny $12,206
6 Ryan Smith $9,765
7 Russell Garrett $8,111
8 Seay Vaj $6,497
9 Tony Yalda $4,862
10 Steve Silva $3,551
11 Armando Perez $3,551
12 Jerry Bennett $3,551
13 Victor Paredes $2,926
14 Rafael Gonzalez $2,926
15 Brent Bixby $2,926
16 Todd Machado $2,482
17 Damion Underwood $2,482
18 Toko Luu $2,482
19 Cy Williams $2,179
20 Lucas Hinde $2,179
21 Travis Fujisaka $2,179
22 Kyle Kitagawa $1,937
23 Anthony Winters $1,937
24 Shayne Heine $1,937
  

Steven Tada - $36,129


Part of a large group of players who came from across the Bay Area to Turlock for the WPTDeepStacks $1100 Main Event, Steven Tada amassed a huge stack with two tables left and held that chiplead right down to the 3-way ICM chop. Tada - known as 'CuCu' to his friends like Joe Nguyen who is here railing him - takes home the largest share, $36,129.


Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Mark Johnson - $36,067


Big-stacked one moment, a short-stack the next, Mark Johnson was on a two-day roller coaster. He kept building his stack, however, once down to the final two tables. A 3-way ICM chop gave Johnson $36,067, less than $100 fewer than Steven Tada so this is about as close to an even split as possible.

Johnson was one of four players at the final table to win his way into the WPTDeepStacks Main Event via a $125 satellite.

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Tim Weimer - $29,638



Third in chips when 3-handed play began, Tim Weimer collects $29,638 as part of the ICM chop. Weimer and his wife, Bojana (looking over the rail in the photo above) both won their way in to the WPTDeepStacks Main Event via $125 satellites held at Turlock Poker Room.

Bojana was railing Tim all Day Friday as Tim built up a stack of more than 200,000 chips to close the day 3rd in chips. He returned the rail-time on Saturday as Bojana made her was also to Day 2. While her day came to an end before the money, Tim ran his stack to a 3-way chop.

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Take Home Cash, Play for Points



The final three players have agreed to an ICM Chop, playing it out for the @WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year points, a $3,000 Season-end Championship Event Package and the GreenU Main Event trophy.

$36,129 - Steven Tada
$36,067 - Mark Johnson
$29,638 - Tim Weimer

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Gonzalez Takes Player of Series


With one win, a 3rd, a 4th and also a 14th in the Main Event, Rafael Gonzalez has won the 2016 WPTDeepStacks Turlock Player of the Series Title.

Gonzalez is the only player to have cashed in four series events. He was the short stack four-handed in Event 5 when the other three players offered a four-way even chop. He turned down the chop because he wanted to try and earn more Player of the Series points.

Down 8-1 in chips starting heads-up play in Event 5, Gonzalez came back to win, take a big lead in the Player of the Series race, then close things out with his Main Event cash.

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Talking ICM

The final three players - Mark Johnson, Steven 'CuCu' Tada and Tim Weimer are talking ICM chop so the clock is paused with 367 minutes left in Level 25


Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

4th Place - Mario Lopez - $16,262


1 hand back from break and Mario Lopez runs his 77 into the JJ of now-chipleader Mark Johnson and the Jacks hold ... yeah, jacks CAN win ...

Mario Lopez - 4th Place - $16,262

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Plenty of Play out There

4 handed and there's a total of 217BB on the table right now with 5.2 million chips in play

Level - 24
Blinds - 12000/24000
Antes - 4000
Players - 4

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

5th Place - David Champeny - $12,206


The flop is K-5-2 and David Champeny gets his entire stack in against Mark Johnson.

Johnson - K-T for top pair
Champeny - 5-2 for bottom two pair

The 3 turn does nothing, but the players and the crowd all groan when there's a T on the river, a bigger two pair for Johnson, and Champeny is eliminated.

Mark Johnson - A whole bunch'a chips
David Champeny - 5th Place - $12,206

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

6th Place - Ryan Smith - $9,765


Down to just 4BB, Ryan Smith moves all in UTG and David Champeny makes the call from the SB.

Smith - K-3
Champeny - A-T

THere's a T on the turn, no K on the river, and Smith is out of the Main Event.

David Champeny - 700,000
Ryan Smith - 6th Place - $9,765


Level - 23
Blinds - 10000/20000
Antes - 3000
Players - 5

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

7th Place - Russell Garrett - $8,111


Steven 'CuCu' Tada took down another player here in the main event, this time eliminating Russell Garrett in 7th place.

Steven Tada - 1,650,000
Russell Garrett - 7th Place - $8,111


Level - 23
Blinds - 10000/20000
Antes - 3000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

8th Place - Seay Vaj - $6,497

Seay Vaj undershoves on the turn, holding Kc5c with 2 clubs on the board, chasing a flush. Well, he's in a world of hurt for Mark Johnson is also chasing a flush with A-8 for the better flush .. well, Johnson also has top pair, so Seay shoved drawing dead ...

Mark Johnson - 950,000
Seay Vaj - 8th Place - $6,497

Level - 23
Blinds - 10000/20000
Antes - 3000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Half of the Final 8 in for $125

4 of the 8 at @WPTDeepStacks Main Event final table - Tim Weimer in Seat 1, Seay Vaj in Seat 2, David Champeny in Seat 3 and Mark Johnson in Seat 8 - all won their way into the Main Event via a $125 satellite.

There were 89 total seats won to the Main Event via satellite ... and the ROI for four of the final eight here is HUGE.


Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Results - $150 Turbo - Event 7

Here are the results for Event 7 - $150 Turbo - in the 2016 @WPTDeepStacks Series.

- 5/15/16
- 13 Entries
- $1,703 Prize Pool
- Paying 3 Places


Place Name Payout
1 Rick Draper  $751
2John Zylstra $751
3 Joe Gonzalez $200
  

Lets Get Started .. Again

Dinner break is over and the 8 players left in the Main Event are back at it.

Level - 23
Blinds - 10000/20000
Antes - 3000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Event 7 - $150 Turbo - PayTable

Here is the PayTable for Event 7 - $150 Turbo - in the 2016 @WPTDeepStacks Series.

- 5/15/16
- 13 Entries
- $1,703 Prize Pool
- Paying 2 Places


Place Payout
1 $1,022
2 $681
  

Dinner Break Chipcounts


Here are the official chipcounts on dinner break for the final 8 players in the 2016 WPTDeepStacks Turlock Main Event.



Steven Tada 1,447,000
Tim Weimer 911,000
Mario Lopez 702,000
Mark Johnson 609,000
David Champeny 513,000
Russell Garrett 508,000
Seay Vaj 335,000
Ryan Smith 169,000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Reservations For 8, Please

The final 8 players in the @WPTDeepStacks Main Event have headed off on a 60-minute dinner break.

We'll do the same after a quick chipcount.

When play resumes at 7:30pm, action is at

Level - 23
Blinds - 10000//20000
Antes - 3000
Players - 8

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Garrett Doubles


AJ for Mark Johnson, 88 for Russell Garrett, there's an 8 on the turn and Garrett - with 238,000 in the middle, gets a double on the hand before dinner.

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

9th Place - Tony Yalda - $4,862

Tony Yalda was the short stack coming to the final table. he doubled through Russell Garrett, then was all in with A K against the JJ of Tim Weimer.

Yalda catches his K in the window, but there's a J right behind - a set for Weimer. The turn is a T so a gutshot Broadway draw is there, but the river is a 9 and Yalda is out in 9th palce, cashing for $4,862.

Level - 22
Blinds - 8000/16000
Antes - 2000
Players - 8

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Your Main Event Final Table



Seat 1 - Tim Weimer - 746,000
Seat 2 - Seay Vaj - 290,000
Seat 3 - David Champeny - 435,000


Seat 4 - Mario Lopez - 745,000
Seat 5 - Ryan Smith - 226,000
Seat 6 - Steven Tada - 1,400,000


Seat 7 - Tony Yalda - 110,000
Seat 8 - Mark Johnson - 870,000
Seat 9 - Russell Garrett - 350,000

A Few More Out

Here are the last eliminations that led us to the final table

10Steve Silva$3,551
11Armando Perez$3,551
12Jerry Bennett$3,551



Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Final Table Time


Armando Perez ran his 99 into the QQ of Mario Lopez, Perez out in 11th place and sending us to the final table ...but it sounds as though there's a bustout at the other table as well so we could be 9-handed


Level - 22
Blinds - 8000/16000
Antes - 2000
Players 9 or 10

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Up the Ladder, One More TIme

Here are the latest eliminations in the Main Event.

13Victor Paredes$2,926
14Rafael Gonzalez$2,926
15Brent Bixby$2,926

Level - 22
Blinds - 6000/12000
Antes - 2000
Players 12

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

CuCu Gets 2

Victor Paredes leads out for 30,000, Steven Tada - the chipleader - moves all in from the button and Rafael Gonzalez undershoves from the BB. Paredes hesitates, as he saw Tada move all in a few hands earlier on Ryan Smith ... and he makes the call

Gonzalez - AT
Paredes - TT
Tada - KK

The board runs out Q-5-5-Q-3 and Tada moves to about 1.1 million with the double-knockout.

Blinds - 6000/12000
Antes - 2000
Players - 12

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Tada Thumping Them

14 players remain and Steven Tada has 960,000 - almost 20 percent of all the chips in play - as players head off on their second 15-minute break of the day.

When play resumes, action is at

Level - 22
Blinds - 6000/12000
Antes - 2000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Up the Ladder

Another pay jump in the Main Event, here are the recent eliminations.

16Todd Machado$2,482
17Damion Underwood$2,482
18Toko Luu$2,482

Level - 21
Blinds - 5000/10000
Antes - 1000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Armando Gets Both Champs


Three hands after knocking out Damion Underwood, Armando Perez eliminates the 2014 Turlock Players Series Champ Todd Machado, KQ>33 on a K-high flop.



Level - 21
Blinds - 5000/10000
Antes - 1000
Players - 15

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Champ Down


The KK of Armando Perez (above) bests the AT of reigning Turlock Players Series Champion Damion Underwood, and we're down to 16 in the Main Event. We had the Players Series Champs all in back-to-back hands as Todd Machado moved in for his last 73,000 the next hand, but everyone folded to his bet.



Level - 21
Blinds - 5000/10000
Antes - 1000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

More Pressure

A while back we talked of how Mario Lopez wasn't backing down to Lucas Hinde. Well, now it is Russell Garrett putting the pressure on Lopez here in level 21.

Lopez leads out for 60,000 on a 10-high flop, and Garrett moves all in for 314000 total.

The players talk back and forth a bit, friendly conversation, and Lopez folds a T face up

Garrett shows 8-9 for an open ended straight draw.

Just after the bubble burst, Garrett made a similar play against Armando Perez, pushing all in when Perez led out on a Q-9-5, two hearts board.

"I got middle pair and a flush draw," announced Perez before he somehow found a fold.

Level - 21
Blinds - 5000/10000
Antes - 1000
Players 17

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

2 Tables Now


Reigning @AnteUpMagazine World Champ Cy Williams has been eliminated in 19th place today, and another pay jump takes place for the remaining 18 players. Here are the recent cashouts.

19Cy Williams$2,179
20Lucas Hinde$2,179
21Travis Fujisaka$2,179


Blinds - 4000/8000
Antes - 1000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

First Pay Jump

Down to 21 today in the Main Event, the first pay jump. Here are the players eliminated in 22-24th place.

22Kyle Kitagawa$1,937
23Anthony Winters$1,937
24Shayne Heine$1,937


Blinds - 4000/8000
Antes - 1000

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

In the Money


Ed Greer busts on the bubble, so the remaining 24 players are in the money. One hand later, Shayne Heine is on the wrong end of a winning hand by Russell Garrett, and Heine is the first to cash, earning $1,937

Level - 19
Blinds - 3000/6000
Antes - 1000
Players - 23

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Pushing Back

Lucas Hinde once again tried to intimidate Mario Lopez and Lopez would have nothing to do with the antics.

The flop is 2x-3s-4s, Hinde bets 80,000 and Lopez quickly announces All In.

"What, do you have A 5 for a straight," asks Hinde, leaning WELL into the personal space of Lopez.

"Is that all that can beat you," asks Lopez, not moving an inch away from the aggressor's actions.

Hinde chirps a bit more, then folds and Lopez rakes in the big pot.

Level - 19
Blinds - 3000/6000
Antes - 1000
Players - 25

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Hand-for-Hand

One players is out in 26th place, moving the field to one away from the money, and hand-for-hand play has begun.

Level - 19
Blinds - 3000/6000
Antes - 1000
Players - 25

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

$150 Turbo at 5


Close out the @WPTDeepStacks Series with us at 5pm by playing the $150 Turbo featuring 15,000 starting stacks and 15-minute levels. Late registration and the re-entry period closes at the start of Level 9 at 7pm.

Not only is a turbo a fun way to close out a tournament series, but this is the last chance for players to earn Player of the Series points and take home the title, the trophy, the backpack and the WPTDS extras, too.

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

First Break Chipcounts



Here are chipcounts as the remaining 26 players go on their first 15-minute break of the day. We are two players from the money, one away from hand-for-hand


Russell Garrett 376,000
Lucas Hinde 371,000
Cy Williams 363,500
Mario Lopez 359,500
Ryan Smith 315,000
Seay Vaj 305,000
Tim Weimer 283,000
Rafael Gonzalez 259,500
Brent Bixby 245,500
Steve Silva 231,500
Steven Tada 225,500
David Champeny 215,000
Mark Johnson 214,500
Damion Underwood 198,500
Armando Perez 190,000
Todd Machado 172,000
Jerry  Bennett 170,000
Travis Fujiaka 106,000
Toko Luu 102,500
Tony Yalda 99,000
Yanqi Lin 81,500
Kyle Kitagawa 73,500
Anthony Winters 72,500
Victor Paredes 72,000
Shayne Heine 66,500
Ed Greer 27,500





Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

With 27 You Get Redraw

Three tables remain in Day 2 of @WPTDeepStacks Main Event and there's a redraw for the last 27 players - three from the money.

Here are the players, by table, with updated chipcounts.


Table 6
1 Albert Reynoso 7,500
2 Rafael Gonzalez 259,500
3 Victor Paredes 72,000
4 David Champeny 215,000
5 Ryan Smith 315,000
6 Toko Luu 102,500
7 Jerry  Bennett 170,000
8 Steven Tada 225,500
9 Kyle Kitagawa 73,500
Table 7
1 Shayne Heine 66,500
2 Ed Greer 27,500
3 Anthony Winters 72,500
4 Russell Garrett 376,000
5 Armando Perez 190,000
6 Mario Lopez 359,500
7 Lucas Hinde 371,000
8 Seay Vaj 305,000
9 Brent Bixby 245,500
Table 8
1 Tony Yalda 99,000
2 Damion Underwood 198,500
3 Travis Fujiaka 106,000
4 Steve Silva 231,500
5 Todd Machado 172,000
6 Tim Weimer 283,000
7 Yanqi Lin 81,500
8 Cy Williams 363,500
9 Mark Johnson 214,500

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Colleen Down

Mario Lopez leads out for 15500, Colleen Vitek moves in for 1500 more, and Day 1B chipleader Lucas Hinde hesitates, does his pump-fake with chips, sets the chips back down, then decides to make the call.

4c-5c-6 flop, both players check, there's a 6 on the turn, Hinde check, Lopez bets  30,000 and Hinde starts chirping about how Lopez must have a boat, seeming incredulous someone could drypot bet into him in this position.

"Do you have pocket 4's here," Hinde says, debating aloud.
"What, only a boat can beat you here," Lopez smiles as he chirps back.

Hinde says fold and shows 3c Tc for a flush draw, while Lopez shows Ad6d for trips.

Vitek turns over KdKh, the board misses her and she is eliminated in 31st place today.

Level - 18
Blinds - 2500/5000
Antes - 500
Players - 29.5

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Kyle Got Bojana


Only one member of the Weimer family remains in the Main Event as @KyleK_Poker Kitagawa just eliminated Bojana Weimer in 33rd place, her AJ>99.

Blinds took a jump just as the hand ended, so action is now at

Level - 18
Blinds - 2500/5000
Antes - 500
Players - 31.5

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

What's The Hurry?

10 players are out in the first 40-minute level here today in Day 2 of the @WPTDeepStacks $201,760 Prize Pool Main Event.

At this 1-out-every-four-minute rate, the tournament would be over just before 3:30 today.

Call me crazy, but I think the brakes are going to go on well before that point ....

Level - 14
Blinds - 2000/4000
Antes - 500
Players - 37.5

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

Two Down


I was on my way over to see what was going on with the all-in between Russell Garrett and Frank The Bank ... but before we could get there I literally ran RIGHT in to Joe Nguyen as he was grabbing his backpack and heading to the door.

Garrett went to The Bank also, sending Frank home before the money today.

Level - 14
Blinds - 2000/4000
Antes - 500
Players 37.5

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com

How's Kyle Doing?

We'll let @KyleK_Poker of @NorCalCardroom tell you his start - in 140 or fewer characters.

Level - 14
Blinds - 2000/4000
Antes - 500
Players - 39.5 (until Albert Reynoso arrives, we're only counting him as .5 of an entry)

Dan Ross - HoldemRadio.com