Level 29
Blinds: 40,000-80,000 w/10,000 ante
Total Entrants: 979
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 2,180,000

The trend of all-in players continuing to hang around continues, but this time, it was two players increasing their stacks while Mark Reilly lost most of his.

Reilly open to 185,000 in the hijack and Sergei Nikiforov called on the button. Ara Abkarian shoved for 770,000 in the big blind and Reilly four-bet to 1,910,000. Nikiforov tanked for three minutes and raised all-in for 3,135,000 total and Reilly called to put both players at risk.

Abkarian’s 10♣10♥ was behind the K♣K♥ of Nikiforov with Reilly 7♣7♦ behind both of his opponents.

The A♦10♠8♣ flop put Abkarian ahead and he improved to quads on the 10♦ turn. With the dust settled, Abkarian is playing 2,200,000, Nikiforov is the new chip leader with 4,500,000 after taking down the side pot while Reilly is among the short stacks with 1,105,000.

Level 29
Blinds: 40,000-80,000 w/10,000 ante
Total Entrants: 979
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 2,180,000

The increased blinds have put additional pressure on the short stacks at the Event 73 final table but so far this level, they have all found a way to survive their all-ins.

Steve Nooralian was the first to get some back when he doubled up to 1,275,000 when his A♣Q♦ held against the A♠J♠ of Sergei Nikiforov.

David Welch then won a flip for his last 805,000 when he turned a set with 6♣6♦ against the A♦K♥ of Jeffrey Schwartz.

Finally, Mohamed Mamouni doubled up once again when his 7♦7♠ beat the 5♦5♥ of Ara Abkarian, leaving Abkarian with less than six big blinds. Mamouni is back to 1,100,000 and the all-ins are sure to continue with the average stack at 25 big blinds.

Updated chip counts are below.

1. Mohamed Mamouni – 1,100,000
2. Oscar Carrasco – 3,650,000
3. David Welch – 1,120,000
4. Mark Reilly – 4,330,000
5. Jeffrey Schwartz – 2,250,000
6. Sergei Nikiforov – 2,450,000
7. Eric Wasylenko – 1,010,000
8. Ara Abkarian – 675,000
9. Steve Nooralian – 1,465,000

Event 73: $600 No-Limit Hold’em SuperStack $300,000 Guarantee 

Level 28
Blinds: 30,000-60,000 w/10,000 ante
Total Entrants: 979
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 2,180,000

Jeffrey Schwartz

Jeffrey Schwartz had one foot out the door but caught what he needed on the flop and doubled up through Mohamed Mamouni as a result.

Schwartz opened to 130,000 in middle position and Steve Nooralian called in the small blind. Mamouni shoved for 1,750,000 in the big blind and Schwartz didn’t take long to call for 1,480,000 total. Nooralian folded rather than risk his last 10 big blinds. Mamouni opened up A♥K♠ and was a huge favorite against the A♠Q♣.

The Q♦J♠6♣ flop had Mamouni cursing his luck but he was still live to hit a king or 10 to knock out Schwartz. The 6♦ turn and 8♠ river were blanks, allowing Schwartz to pick up the pot.

Mamouni doubled up the next hand but is under 10 big blinds with the blind set to go up.

Event 73: $600 No-Limit Hold’em SuperStack $300,000 Guarantee 

Level 28
Blinds: 30,000-60,000 w/10,000 ante
Total Entrants: 979
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 2,180,000

Steven Sanzone

With the first elimination of the final table in Event 73 comes a new chip leader as Mark Reilly busted out Steven Sanzone.

Oscar Carrasco opened to 120,000 in early position and Reilly called from two seats over. Sanzone shoved on Reilly’s direct left for 1,100,000 and Carrasco folded as soon as the action was back to him.

Reilly called with J♦J♠ and was a 4:1 favorite over the 7♦7♥ of Sanzone. The 8♠5♥4♦ flop gave Sanzone straight outs but he bricked on the 5♠ turn and 8♥ river.

Reilly collected his neighbor’s chips and is playing 4,325,000, good enough for the current chip lead.

Event 73: $600 No-Limit Hold’em SuperStack $300,000 Guarantee 

Level 28
Blinds: 30,000-60,000 w/10,000 ante
Total Entrants: 979
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 1,960,000

1. Mohamed Mamouni – 1,930,000
2. Oscar Carrasco – 4,450,000
3. David Welch – 1,270,000
4. Mark Reilly – 3,725,000
5. Steven Sanzone – 1,025,000
6. Jeffrey Schwartz – 1,300,000
7. Sergei Nikiforov – 2,260,000
8. Eric Wasylenko – 1,270,000
9. Ara Abkarian – 850,000
10. Steve Nooralian – 700,000

Level 25
Blinds: 20,000-40,000
Entries: 271
Players Remaining: 1
Average Stack: 4,065,000

DeepStack Extravaganza Event 74 Champion –
Shawn Nguyen

In one of the most dominating final table performances of the 2017 DSE III, Shawn Nguyen took down a final table full of PLO8 specialists to win Event 74. Nguyen started Day 2 as the chip leader and held 25 percent of the chips at the start of the final table.

As the chip leader, Nguyen had some leeway to take risks and he took advantage of that fact by repeatedly putting his opponents to the test. Even when he got his money in behind, Nguyen managed to catch the necessary cards when he needed to in order to maintain his advantage.

Nguyen’s elimination of Tim Vukson in sixth place cemented his lead and he chipped up from there until the title was his. This win is Nguyen’s first DSE cash overall and his second largest career cash behind a 2015 World Poker Tour final table finish.

Final Table Results

Level 25
Blinds: 20,000-40,000
Entries: 271
Players Remaining: 1
Average Stack: 4,065,000

Nic Vita

Although he put up a strong fight for the duration of the final table, Nic Vita proved to be no match for the steamroller that was Shawn Nguyen. Vita folded many hands to Nguyen’s pressure and finally gave up the rest of chips in a post flop hand.

Nguyen limped the button and Vita raised to 300,000. Nguyen called and the flop came out J♥10♥6♠. Vita checked and Nguyen bet 500,000. Vita shoved for slightly more and Nguyen called with Q♠Q♣8♠6♥. Vita had to catch with his A♦Q♦10♦3♦. The 7♠ turn gave him outs to a low but the 6♦ river locked up the high and the pot for Nguyen.

Vita wins $37,172 and Nguyen earns the title. A winner’s recap will be posted shortly.

Level 25
Blinds: 20,000-40,000
Entries: 271
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 1,355,000

With substantial pay jumps on the line along with having half of the chips in play, Shawn Nguyen is in full control of the final table for the time being. Bradley Ruben and Nic Vita are attempting to hold their own against Nguyen but time and time again, Nguyen is getting the better of them by applying pressure.

Nguyen is playing 2,000,000 with Vita trailing at 1,300,000. Ruben is holding 700,000 but is one scoop in either direction from having his tournament life dramatically change. The remaining payouts are below.

1. $61,082
2. $37,712
3. $27,335

Level 24
Blinds: 15,000-30,000
Entries: 271
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 1,355,000

Nikolaos Panopoulos

The new trend at the Event 74 final table is fast-paced action and it has resulted in two eliminations in back-to-back hands. Lance Howard had his short stack taken out by Bradley Ruben while Nikolaos Panopoulos got it in with the best hand against Shawn Nguyen but couldn’t hold.

Howard was all-in with K♣Q♣4♠2♠ against the A♦Q♦J♦5♥ of Ruben. The 8♦6♦6♠2♥J♥ board was not enough for Howard to hang on and Ruben scooped. He is at his final table peak with 650,000. Howard takes home $15,138 for his second PLO8 final table finish of DSE III.

Lance Howard

The very next hand, Panopoulos, and Nguyen got it all in for Panopoulos’s last 800,000 on a flop of Q♦7♣5♦. Panopoulos led with Q♣Q♠4♣2♣ against the A♦K♦10♥7♠ of Nguyen heading to the turn. The J♦ turn benefitted Nguyen as he hit his flush. The board did not pair on the river and Nguyen added another bounty to his final table haul. He is playing 2,400,000 with three-handed play set to begin. Panopoulos earns $20,184.