2024 May Deep Stack Poker Series
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Hollywood, Florida
Event 1
$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Entries:  884
Prize Pool:  $291,720
May 16  – 20, 2024

The opening event on the 2024 Deep Stack Poker Series schedule was a $400 buy-in tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool and three long, slow flights to give plenty of play. After a bonus day of action, Pierre-Xavier Laurent dominated to take the top prize of $35,947 after a four-way deal.

The tournament drew 884 entries to smash the guarantee and our players created a prize pool worth $291,720. The last 111 players made the money and the bubble burst before the first break. From there, we watched our winner run away with it.

Laurent took the lead in the middle of Day 2 and never gave it up. He continued to build his stack and grind down the field until he had 16.7 of the 26.5 million chips in play.

Congrats Pierre!

Final table results:

1st: Pierre-Xavier Laurent – $35,947 + DSPS Trophy *
2nd: David Howard – $25,010 *
3rd: Joe Goodman – $24,881 *
4th: Kevin Dubrocq – $24,622 *
5th: Victor Taieb – $12,200
6th: Victor Malla – $9,300
7th: Luis Ramos – $7,200
8th: Brian Kent – $5,600
9th: Lee Connell – $4,380
* – denotes results of a four-way deal

* – Complete Event 1 results (PDF)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante

The four remaining players decided to take a look at the ICM numbers based on their stacks. With the overwhelming lead, Pierre-Xavier Laurent made some deals based off the numbers and the four were able to reach a deal.

Laurent earned $35,947 for the win plus the Deep Stack Poker Series trophy.

Pierre-Xavier Laurent – 16,700,000 (167 bb)
David Howard – 3,375,000 (34 bb)
Joe Goodman – 3,300,000 (33 bb)
Kevin Dubrocq – 3,150,000 (32 bb)

1st: Pierre-Xavier Laurent – $35,947 + DSPS Trophy
2nd: David Howard – $25,010
3rd: Joe Goodman – $24,881
4th: Kevin Dubrocq – $24,622

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 884

David Howard opened to 225,000 from under the gun and picked up calls from Pierre-Xavier Laurent in the small blind and Kevin Dubrocq in the big.

The flop was , Laurent checked, Dubrocq checked, and Howard bet 425,000. Laurent called, Dubrocq folded, and the turn was . Laurent announced all in and Howard called at risk for 1,125,000.

Howard:
Laurent:

Howard was ahead for the double with his paired king but needed to fade 12 outs on the river. The river was safe and Howard doubled back into the game.

David Howard – 3,975,000 (40 bb)
Pierre-Xavier Laurent – 8,100,000 (81 bb)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 884

David Howard open-shoved for 950,000 and Pierre-Xavier Laurent called from the big blind with the bigger stack.

Howard:
Laurent:

Another race at the final table and Howard made a set of fives on the flop. Laurent picked up a gutshot draw on the turn but the river sent the double to Howard.

David Howard – 2,050,000 (21 bb)
Pierre-Xavier Laurent – 7,775,000 (78 bb)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 884

With the board reading , Victor Taieb was all in for 1,100,000 and Kevin Dubrocq had him at risk.

Taieb:
Dubrocq:

Taieb was ahead for a double with his paired jack, faded the turn, but Dubrocq paired his ace on the river to send him out in fifth place.

Kevin Dubrocq – 5,550,000 (56 bb)
Victor Taieb – Eliminated in 5th Place ($12,200)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  5 of 884

Action folded to Victor Malla in the small blind, he moved all in for 850,000 and Joe Goodman called in the big blind.

Goodman:
Malla:

It was a coin flip and Malla needed his fours to hold to double up. But Goodman flopped the joint on the board. He made a ten-high straight and Malla was eliminated after the turn and river

Joe Goodman – 8,175,000 (82 bb)
Victor Malla – Eliminated in 6th Place ($9,300)

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 29:  50,000/100,000 with a 100,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 884

Seat 1: Victor Taieb – 2,125,000 (21 bb)
Seat 2: Victor Malla – 1,800,000 (18 bb)
Seat 3: Joe Goodman – 7,325,000 (73 bb)
Seat 4: Pierre-Xavier Laurent – 8,725,000 (87 bb)
Seat 5: Kevin Dubrocq – 4,550,000 (46 bb)
Seat 6: David Howard – 1,925,000 (19 bb)

1st: $43,660 + DSPS trophy
2nd: $29,000
3rd: $21,600
4th: $16,200
5th: $12,200
6th: $9,300

$400 Deep Stack No-Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool: $291,720 | Structure | Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  6 of 884

On the last hand before the break, Victor Taieb opened to 225,000 and Joe Goodman called on the button. Pierre-Xavier Laurent raised to 675,000 from the small blind and only Goodman came along.

“I have to at least see a flop,” he told the table.

Both players checked down the board and Laurent bet 1,225,000.

“I can’t believe I have to pay him off again,” Goodman said.

He called, Laurent showed and Goodman quickly tabled for the same two pair but a better kicker.

Joe Goodman – 7,325,000 (98 bb)
Pierre-Xavier Laurent – 8,725,000 (116 bb)