The largest event of the May Deep Stack Series officially got underway Thursday afternoon at Orange City Poker as Flight 1A of Event 13: the $500 Monster Stack kicked off the chase toward the $200,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Flight 1A drew 62 entries, with 8 players advancing to Day 2 after play concluded with 28 minutes and 44 seconds remaining in Level 18.
Tim Shortell finished atop the leaderboard with 664,000 in chips, good for the overall lead after the opening flight. The West Melbourne, Florida player brings extensive tournament experience into the event, including nearly $315,000 in documented live tournament earnings, multiple major final tables throughout Florida, and a runner-up finish in the 2024 Moneymaker Poker Tour Main Event at Orange City worth nearly $50,000.
After the opening flight, Event 13 currently sits at:
- 62 entries
- $26,970 toward the $200,000 guarantee
- 8 players advancing to Day 2
- 373,000 average bagged stack
The $500 Monster Stack features a best stack forward format, allowing players to continue firing additional flights even after advancing. Players who bag multiple times will earn a $1,500 bonus from the prize pool for each additional bag, up to three total bags.
With seven starting flights still remaining, players will continue chasing bags throughout the weekend as the field builds toward Day 2 on Memorial Day.
