2026 Lucky Hearts Poker Open
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 2
$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
$2,000,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  3,586
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000
January 7-12, 2026

There were 3,586 entries in Event #2, the multi-flight $600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em, and after 11:00 pm on Monday night, it came to an end in a heads-up deal between Justin Datloff and Maxwell Young. As chipleader, Datloff was awarded the title, the trophy, and $232,848.

“It feels great,” said Datloff after his victory. “Large field, great structured tournament. It hasn’t really hit me yet, but it feels awesome.”

Datloff finished Day 2 with a below-average chip stack, but Day 3 went well for him.

“It was pretty smooth sailing for the most part,” said Datloff. “I tried to just grind it out, keep the pots small, and play a lot of post-flop. It got the job done.”

When the final table began, Datloff was second in chips behind James Carroll. But they had only played about 15 minutes before he won a big pot against Carroll — Datloff had flopped a set and turned a full house — to take the lead. And he held onto the lead for most of the final table while only knocking out one of the final nine players (Mitesh Shere in eighth place).

The biggest threat at the final table was arguably James Carroll, with more than $7.3 million in career tournament earnings and two WPT titles, including the 2019 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. So when Carroll was knocked out in fourth place, the path got a little easier. But only a little.

The final three players — Datloff, Maxwell Young, and Roy Young — battled for more than two hours. Eventually, Maxwell and Roy (no relation) got it all in on a queen-high board when both of them had top pair. But Maxwell had the higher kicker, and paired his kicker on the river to clinch the pot. Roy Young was out in third place, and that pot narrowed the gap between Maxwell and Datloff.

Datloff and Maxwell Young were close in chips at that point, and before playing any further they agreed to chop the remaining prizepool and end the tournament. As chipleader, Datloff was awarded the title, the trophy, and $232,848 — the biggest cash of his career, narrowly beating his fourth-place finish in last year’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship, where he earned $229,900.

“It feels nice to get my first trophy,” said Datloff. “The hardware is awesome, but it’s definitely a little more about the money.”

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this,” said Datloff. “And thanks to my friends and family for the support. On to the next one.”

Speaking of the next one, the $3,500 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship starts on Friday, and Datloff says he is “about 95%” likely to enter.

When asked about Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, Datloff said, “The staff here is great, the dealers are great. Everyone here runs an awesome venue. I have a great experience every time I come here.”

RESULTS:

* Indicates the results of a heads-up deal.

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 3,586

After the elimination of Roy Young in third place, Justin Datloff and Maxwell Young agreed to a deal to end the tournament and adjust the remaining prizepool. These were their official chip counts:

Justin Datloff  –  39,000,000  (65 bb)
Maxwell Young  –  32,700,000  (55 bb)

As chipleader, Datloff is awarded the title and the trophy. These are the payouts they’ve agreed to:

1st:  Justin Datloff  –  $232,848* + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  Maxwell Young  –  $231,552*

Congratulations to Justin Datloff!

Stay tuned for a recap from this event, along with the official results.

* Indicates the results of a heads-up deal.

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Maxwell Young raised from the small blind to 1,600,000, and Roy Young called from the big blind.

The flop came , Maxwell checked, Roy bet 3,300,000, and Maxwell called.

The turn card was the , Maxwell checked, Roy moved all in for 10,000,000, and Maxwell called with a stack of 12,300,000 and turned over for a pair of queens with a gutshot straight draw.

Roy turned over for a pair of queens with a lower kicker, though he did have quite a few outs to a chop.

But the river card was the , and Maxwell won the pot with two pair, queens and eights, to eliminate Roy in third place.

Roy Young  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($137,000)

The final two players agree to take a short break before heads-up play, and here are their official chip counts:

Justin Datloff  –  39,000,000  (65 bb)
Maxwell Young  –  32,700,000  (55 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $279,400 + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  $185,000

3rd:  Roy Young  –  $137,000
4th:  James Carroll  –  $103,000
5th:  Stephen Gerber  –  $78,000
6th:  Arun Balasubramanian  –  $59,000
7th:  Cory Rock  –  $45,500
8th:  Mitesh Shere  –  $35,500
9th:  Christie Yau  –  $27,500

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 37:  300,000/600,000 with a 600,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

The players return from break to begin Level 37, with increased blinds of 300,000-600,000 and a 600,000 ante.

With three players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 23.9 million (40 big blinds). Here are the official chip counts from the break:

Seat 1.  Justin Datloff  –  32,900,000  (55 bb)
Seat 2.  Maxwell Young  –  22,100,000  (37 bb)
Seat 3.  Roy Young  –  16,700,000  (28 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $279,400 + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  $185,000
3rd:  $137,000

4th:  James Carroll  –  $103,000
5th:  Stephen Gerber  –  $78,000
6th:  Arun Balasubramanian  –  $59,000
7th:  Cory Rock  –  $45,500
8th:  Mitesh Shere  –  $35,500
9th:  Christie Yau  –  $27,500

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 36:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Justin Datloff raised to 1,000,000 from the button and Roy Young called in the big blind.

The flop was , Young check, Datloff continued for 1,000,000, Young check-raised to 2,000,000, Datloff reraised to 3,000,000, and Young called.

The turn was the , Young bet 1,000,000, Datloff raised to 2,000,000, and Young called.

Datloff showed for a pair of kings with an ace kicker, Young mucked, and Datloff took down the pot.

Justin Datloff  –  31,000,000  (62 bb)
Roy Young  –  17,000,000  (34 bb)

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 36:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Maxwell Young raised from the button to 1,000,000, and Roy Young called from the small blind.

Both players checked to the turn on a board of , Roy checked, Maxwell bet 1,500,000, and Roy called.

The river card was the , Roy bet 1,500,000, and Maxwell raised to 6,000,000.

Roy said, “I don’t believe you, man.”

Maxwell replied, “Then call.”

Roy tanked for a while longer, talking a bit more, before he folded. As Maxwell was scooping the pot, Roy asked him to show the bluff, and some people on the rail chimed in as well.

Maxwell showed for a queen-high bluff as he took the pot.

Seat 1.  Justin Datloff  –  25,100,000  (50 bb)
Seat 2.  Maxwell Young  –  24,000,000  (48 bb)
Seat 3.  Roy Young  –  22,500,000  (45 bb)

1st:  $279,400 + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  $185,000
3rd:  $137,000

With three players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 23.9 million (48 big blinds).

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 36:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Justin Datloff raised to 1,000,000 from the button, Maxwell Young called in the small blind, Roy Young reraised all in for 11,700,000 in the big blind, Datloff folded, and Maxwell called with .

Roy showed and needed his hand to hold up to survive.

The board ran out , pairing Maxwell’s ace on the turn, but giving Roy a flush on the river to double up.

Roy Young  –  24,900,000  (50 bb)
Maxwell Young  –  15,800,000  (32 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 23.9 million (48 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $137,000 each.

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 36:  300,000/500,000 with a 500,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Action has been pretty tight since James Carroll was eliminated in fourth place.

Until Justin Datloff raised from the button to 1,200,000, Maxwell Young reraised from the small blind to 3,800,000, and Datloff thought for a while before he called.

The flop came , Young bet 1,900,000, and Datloff thought for a while before he called.

The turn card was the , and both players checked.

The river card was the , and they checked again. Young showed for a pair of threes, but Datloff turned over to win the pot.

Seat 1.  Justin Datloff  –  37,400,000  (75 bb)
Seat 2.  Maxwell Young  –  24,000,000  (48 bb)
Seat 3.  Roy Young  –  10,100,000  (20 bb)

With three players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 23.9 million (48 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $137,000 each.

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 3,586

Justin Datloff raised from the cutoff to 800,000, and James Carroll moved all in from the button for 9,200,000. Maxwell Young moved all in over the top from the small blind, and Datloff quickly folded.

Carroll turned over , and he needed to improve to stay alive against Young’s .

The board came , and Young won the pot with an ace-high straight to eliminate Carroll in fourth place.

Maxwell Young  –  28,300,000  (71 bb)
James Carroll  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($103,000)

With three players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 23.9 million (60 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $137,000 each.

$600 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em
Prize Pool:  $2,000,000  |  Structure  |  Payouts
Level 35:  200,000/400,000 with a 400,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 3,586

Justin Datloff raised from the small blind, and James Carroll called from the big blind.

The flop came , Datloff bet 1,200,000, and Carroll called.

The turn card was the , Datloff checked, Carroll bet 3,200,000, and Datloff thought for a while before he called.

The river card was the , putting four hearts on the board, and both players checked. Datloff showed for a flopped set of jacks.

Carroll said, “Wow. I got really lucky,” and he showed for a flopped two pair. Datloff won the pot.

Justin Datloff  –  36,500,000  (91 bb)
James Carroll  –  9,400,000  (24 bb)

With four players remaining from a field of 3,586, the average chip stack is around 17.9 million (45 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $103,000 each.