2023 May Deep Stack Poker Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Main Event
$1,700 Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  376
Prize Pool:  $564,000
May 25 – 29, 2023

The 2023 May Deep Stack Poker Series Main Event capped off nearly two weeks of tournaments and Hard Rock Hollywood legend Raminder Singh took the top spot along with $102,757 to add to his already long list of accomplishments

“This one is very special; this is a three-day tournament,” Singh said after his win. “Today is Memorial Day and I can play. I’m very selective because of my work so this work out perfectly for me to play.”

The $1,700 buy-in tournament drew 376 entries to push the $300,000 guarantee into a prize pool worth $564,000.  With 40-minute levels on Day 1, 60 minutes on Day 2, and 90 after Level 23, the structure had a lot of room to make moves.

“I love playing here at Hard Rock; this is the best. I love the structure.” Singh said. “You can play some real poker instead of a shovefest. Not too much gamble; you can play your strategy game.”

Six players returned on Monday to play for the title, with 2021 Deep Stack Poker Series Event 1 champ Hector Pacheco leading. They were poised to a long day of poker with a lot of chips in play.

Pacheco, Singh, and Justin Datloff all took turns with the chip lead but Singh knocked Pacheco out in third place with a full house over trip queens. Back with a big lead, Singh and Datloff made a deal to divide up the remaining prize pool with Singh taking the title and the big payday.

Singh’s resumé is packed; he holds the record for most major Hollywood trophies, ten in his career, with dozens of other tournament wins. He has more Hollywood cashes than anyone in our history and he just clicked both numbers up one spot.

“My children get motivated. They are ahead in trophies, so I’m finally able to get one more.” Singh said when asked about his success. “They’re winning a lot in their respective sports, studies, and math competitions. Winning a lot lately.”

As far as what to do with the $100K paday?

“Give it to my wife,” Singh laughed. “She gets to invest it and I get to play some more.”

Congrats to Raminder on another fantastic run and thank you to everyone who made the series a fantastic time.

Results:

* – denotes results of a heads-up deal

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 27: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante

After Hector Pacheco was eliminated in third place, Raminder Singh and Justin Datloff looked at some ICM numbers and quickly came to a deal.

Datloff earned $95,753 for a runner-up result and Singh took home $102,757 plus another trophy for the case.

Raminder Singh – 11,355,000 (189 bb)
Justin Datloff – 7,415,000 (124 bb)

1st: Raminder Singh – $102,757
2nd: Justin Datloff – $95,753

Tournament recap to come later this evening.

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 27: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining: 2 of 376

With the board reading , Hector Pacheco called and Raminder Singh bet 350,000. Pacheco check-raised to 1,300,000 and Singh called. The river was , Pacheco moved all in for 3,290,000 and Singh instantly called. Instantly.

Singh confidently flipped over for a full house queens full of sevens and Pacheco was second best with for trip queens.

Pacheco was eliminated in third place and Singh moved back into the lead.

Raminder Singh – 11,355,000 (189 bb)
Hector Pacheco – Eliminated in 3rd Place ($53,080)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 27: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining: 3 of 376

After picking up a big pot from Hector Pacheco, Justin Datloff opened to 150,000 from the button. Cuba Levenberry moved all in for 1,070,000 and Datloff called.

Datloff:
Levenberry:

“Fair fight,” Levenberry said.

He needed his eights to hold to double up but Datloff took the lead when he paired his queen on the flop. The turn and river finished the board and Levenberry was eliminated in fourth place.

Justin Datloff – 7,500,000 (125 bb)
Cuba Levenberry – Eliminated in 4th Place ($34,870)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 27: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 376

With the really deep stacks and 90-minute levels, there are been no huge swings but Raminder Singh has been chip back closer to leader Hector Pacheco.

Seat 1: Raminder Singh – 6,400,000 (107 bb)
Seat 2: Justin Datloff – 4,220,000 (70 bb)
Seat 4: Cuba Levenberry – 1,400,000 (23 bb)
Seat 5: Hector Pacheco – 6,750,000 (113 bb)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 27: 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 376

Players were sent on a ten-minute break and the four remaining players are ready to get back underway. Hector Pacheco leads but none of the other three are in danger with their stacks.

Blinds are up to 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante and the average stack is about 4,700,000 (78 bb).

Seat 1: Raminder Singh – 4,535,000 (76 bb)
Seat 2: Justin Datloff – 4,075,000 (68 bb)
Seat 4: Cuba Levenberry – 2,355,000 (39 bb)
Seat 5: Hector Pacheco – 7,800,000 (130 bb)

Remaining payouts:

1st: $115,940 + Trophy
2nd: $82,570
3rd: $53,080
4th: $34,870

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 26: 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 4 of 376

Hector Pacheco opened to 160,000 from the button and Steven Bennett three-bet to 500,000 from the small blind. Raminder Singh folded his big and Pacheco put in a fourth bet to 1,160,000. Bennett had 1,560,000 total, moved all in, and Pacheco quickly called.

Pacheco:
Bennett:

The same hands where Pacheco doubled earlier but Bennett was unable to do the same as the board ran out . Bennett made Broadway on the river but Pacheco rivered a full house to send Bennett out in fifth place.

Hector Pacheco – 7,100,000 (142 bb)
Steven Bennett – Eliminated in 5th Place ($26,850)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 26: 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 376

Hector Pacheco was all in for 2,235,000 and Raminder Singh had him at risk from the button with a monster.

Singh:
Pacheco:

Pacheco was in danger of dropping out early at the final table and the flop changed nothing. He took the lead when he paired his ace on the turn and doubled when he made aces up on the river.

“I folded ace-six,” Cuba Levenberry said, making Pacheco’s double up ever more remarkable.

Hector Pacheco – 4,545,000 (91 bb)
Raminder Singh – 4,650,000 (93 bb)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 26: 25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 376

With about 4,000,000 in the pot already, the board was out to the turn reading . Hector Pacheco bet 550,000 and Raminder Singh called on the button.

The river was and Pacheco slid a barrel of 100K chips in the middle for a bet of 2,000,000. Singh thought for a minute and moved all in for 2,905,000. It was Pacheco’s turn to think about it and he eventually folded the huge pot to Singh.

Singh showed the table for a flopped set of nines and rivered full house and it gave him a huge lead at the five-handed table.

Raminder Singh – 7,900,000 (198 bb)
Hector Pacheco – 1,675,000 (42 bb)

$1,700 DSPS Main Event (Re-Entry)
$300,000 Guaranteed | Structure
Level 25: 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 ante
Players Remaining: 5 of 376

Chad Summers open-shoved for his last 345,000 and Cuba Levenberry three-bet to 1,000,000 next to act. It folded the Raminder Singh in the big blind, he thought for a moment, and folded.

Levenberry:
Summers:

Summers ran into a monster, found a little hope on the flop but was eliminated after the turn and river.

Cuba Levenberry – 2,545,000 (64 bb)
Chad Summers – Eliminated in 6th Place ($22,210)