Escalator VII Series Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guarantee Entries: 559 Prize Pool: $838,500 March 9-13, 2023
2023 Escalator VII Event 5 Champion Aaron Stefansky
Event 5 of the Escalator VII Series was a multi-flight $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry). Across three starting flights, a field of 559 entries generated a prize pool of $838,500, easily besting the $500,000 guarantee.
A heads-up deal was reached at the final table, and as the chip leader it was Aaron Stefansky who was the official Event 5 champion for $135,733.
There were 175 players who returned on Day 2 and Stefansky was sixth in chips. He consistently stayed near the top of the leader board and once the field was in the money at 70 players, Stefansky vaulted to the top of the counts, and it wasn’t particularly close. From about seven tables down, Stefansky was running away with the chip lead as no player was within 25 big blinds of his lead.
When the final table was reached, Stefansky sat comfortably with 30% of the chips in play. He scored two eliminations to add to his lead and a third day of the tournament was needed as the final four players reached a hard stop. When play resumed, Stefansky picked up where he left off and had the lead entering heads-up play. Things tightened up from there and when eventual runner-up Dmitry Savelyev proposed a deal, Stefansky agreed and was the official Event 5 champion.
Stefansky mainly plays cash games and recently moved to South Florida from Chicago with his wife. This was amazingly Stefansky’s first live tournament played and it was one for the ages, finishing with a victory and a six-figure score.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 33: 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Aaron Stefansky
After taking a 15-minute break following the end of Level 32, the players returned and quickly agreed to a deal.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Aaron Stefansky raised to 600,000 from the button and Dmitry Savelyev called in the big blind.
The flop was and Savelyev check-called 600,000 from Stefansky.
The turn was the and both checked.
The river was the , Savelyev bet 2,000,000 and Stefansky thought for a bit before he folded.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Dmitry Savelyev raised to 525,000 from the button and Aaron Stefansky called in the big blind.
They checked to the turn of a board where Stefansky check-called a bet from Savelyev.
The river was the , Stefansky checked, Savelyev bet 2,500,000 and Stefansky called.
Savelyev tabled for a pair of kings, but Stefansky showed for eights and sevens to win the pot and retake a slight lead.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 32: 100,000/200,000 with a 200,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Dmitry Savelyev
Aaron Stefansky raised to 500,000 from the button and Dmitry Savelyev called in the big blind.
The flop was , Savelyev checked, Stefansky bet 450,000, Savelyev raised to 1,150,000 and Stefansky called.
The turn was the , Savelyev bet 1,500,000 and Stefansky called.
The river was the , Savelyev bet 2,700,000 and Stefansky called.
Savelyev tabled for quad sixes, Stefansky mucked and Savelyev took the chip lead.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 31: 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Dmitry Savelyev limped for 150,000 from the button and Aaron Stefansky checked his option in the big blind.
They checked to the turn of a board where Stefansky bet 250,000. Savelyev raised to 775,000 and Stefansky called.
The river was the , Stefansky bet 1,575,000 and Savelyev folded.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 31: 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Aaron Stefansky raised to 375,000 from the button, Dmitry Savelyev three-bet to 1,000,000 from the big blind, Stefansky four-bet to about 2,600,000, Savelyev five-bet all in for about 7,500,000 and Stefansky folded.
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Aaron Stefansky (left) vs. Dmitry Savelyev (right)
Escalator VII Series Event 5 $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry) $500,000 Guaranteed | Structure | Payouts Level 30: 75,000/125,000 with a 125,000 ante Players Remaining: 2 of 559
Scott Heiligman
Scott Heiligman raised to 300,000 from the button, Dmitry Savelyev three-bet to 1,100,000 from the big blind, Heiligman four-bet all in for about 3,800,000 and Savelyev called.
Heiligman: Savelyev:
The board ran out , no help to Heiligman, ending his run in third place for $72,400.
Scott Heiligman – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($72,400)
and Savelyev check-called 600,000 from Stefansky.
and both checked.
, Savelyev bet 2,000,000 and Stefansky thought for a bit before he folded.
board where Stefansky check-called a bet from Savelyev.
for a pair of kings, but Stefansky showed 
for eights and sevens to win the pot and retake a slight lead.
, Savelyev checked, Stefansky bet 450,000, Savelyev raised to 1,150,000 and Stefansky called.
, Savelyev bet 2,700,000 and Stefansky called.
for quad sixes, Stefansky mucked and Savelyev took the chip lead.
, Stefansky bet 1,575,000 and Savelyev folded.
as he collected the pot.
