Monday, January 24, 2011

Event 8: The Game Goes On

$400 + 450 Deep Stack

After a long deliberating break with many discussions, the game continues on.

One voice in the crowd loves that "Howie" Mandell game show, deal or no deal, and loves to play poker.

Here we go.

The blog will be here to the end.

Event 8: Jorge Rivera Carrero 9th

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Jorge Rivera Carrero 9th $4,563

On a flop of K-4-10 Matt Mazzeo shoves and Jorge calls putting the remainder of his chips at risk.

Muffins tables 9-5 up against top pair from Jorge's K-7.

Runner, runner, J, Q, causes Muffins and his railbirds to celebrate the miracle while Jorge sees the end of his tournament life.

Rivera-Carrero will add $4,563 to his bankroll.

"What you gonna do" said Jorge who took the beat extremely well.

Event 11: End of Night Chip Counts

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Name-Chip Count

Dominick Christiano, Jr. 121,500
Haechul Cho 114,500
"Miami" John Cernuto 107,300
Bill Seymour 101,100
Brian Belanger 74,600
Mike Pugliese 74,000
James Newton 70,300
Joshua Murchison 53,900
Brent Keller 44,700
John Hunter 41,700
Leonard Talarico 36,300
Steve Rinaldi 34,800
Duane Felix 32,800
Jason Estock 30,300
Anthony Giannone 26,500
Isaac Friese 25,500
William Fleming 24,500
Robert Lynch 7,800

Event 8: Brown Doubles Up

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Howard Brown jammed with A-K and waited and waited for big stack Anna Dikker to decide.

Brown told me after the hand he didn't care if she called or not. Guess he felt the blinds and antes were large enough no matter what.

But Anna did call and tabled 4-4.

Off to the races as another lopsided flop fell on this final table felt.

Flop: 8-A-A

Brown sweated out the four and with that pot he's living large with 1,600,000.

They're all trying to chop down the tree of Anna Dikker.

Event 8: Two Big Hands

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Howard Brown and Carless "Joe" Boatwright both had a big hand and got it all in pre-flop.

Everyone waited with baited breath to see their obvious monsters.

Both players show Queens for a chop.

Some would say it was a 4-Queen waste of time.

Event 11: Bubble Breaks - Shut it Down

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Big stack Dominick Christiano knocks out a player in 19th place to send everyone into the money for a minimum payday of $441. His winning hand is K J 9 A♣ for a flush, taking his stack to more than 120k.

Poker is done for the night and the remaining 18 players return 1 pm Tuesday to play for the top prize of $8,817.

Event 8: Matthew Butch 10th

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Matthew Butch 10th $3,122

The shortest stack at the table found and A-7 and shoved.

Big blind Matt Mateo calls with Q-10.

The turn was a 7 and the river was an Ace - but it was the flop that Muffins crushed as it fell 2-10-10.

Butch is out in tenth place for $3,122.

He said he'll be back to play in more Borgata Winter Open events.

Event 11: Hanging On

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Short stack Robert Lynch puts his last 3,500 all-in (3 big blinds) and is at the mercy of the deck. His 6 7 5 3 is up against Q J Q 2 and Lynch hits a club flush to stay alive.

Blinds are moving up to (800/1,600).

Event 8: Dougherty Ships It

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

In the first few hands after break, first to act Kathryn Dougherty announced "All-In".

One by one each player folded.

With the blinds up to 50,000 / 100,000 and 10,000 antes, Kathryn scooped a much needed 250,000.

Event 8: Can You Deal With Yamileth

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Yamileth

Our ten strong go on a break as Borgata final table dealer Yamileth and I count up each stack.

Okay, Yamileth did most of the work.

Thanks for the help.

Event 8: Chip Counts

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Seat - Player - Amount


1 Matthew Butch - 365,000
2 Howard Brown - 600,000
3. Matt Kalinowski - 1,500,000
4. Kathryn Dougherty - 9,750,000
5. Carless Boatwright - 1,900,000
6. Matt Mateo - 1,900,000
7. Jorge Rivera Carrero 800,000
8. Ian Palomo 2,200,000
9. Anna Dikker 3,400,000
10. Michael Castaldo 700,000

Event 11: 2 From the Money

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Rinaldi Ready for the Money

20 players remain and the short stacks are hanging by a thread as the top 18 cash for a minimum of $441 (1st place - $8,817).

Steve Rinaldi (Old Forge, PA) is all-in with a set of queens and doubles to 44k. Rinaldi is a 26 year old, who's held various jobs and recently quit bartending to pursue poker full time.

His opponent seems disinterested and loses his last 12k shortly after the hand and is eliminated in 18th place.

Event 8: Ian Straightens Up

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Ian Palomo raises 185,000 from third position and Carless Boatwright calls.

Flop falls K-9-7. Ian checks and Boatwright bets 225,000.

Jack on the turn freezes both players who check.

8 on the river. Boatwright fires out 500,000 and Palomo just calls.

Boatwright tables K-J for two-pair but Palomo hit the card he was looking for on the river as his A-10 straight was good.

Potsize was 1.1 million padding Palomo's stack to 2.8 million.

Girlfriend Joanne Monteavaro is on the rail watching her man try to take home some hardware.

Event 10: Two Table Redraw

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

The remaining 18 players are picking new seats for the final two tables.

Still alive:

James Boyle
Leonardo Palermo
Alyson Parker
Bart Seemen
Alida Veliu

Event 8: Muffin Sweaters

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Taemee Feuer & Joe Altomonte Making Muffin-Tops

Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo's girlfriend Taemee and good freind Joe are trying to root their boy in to the number 1 spot. Both are vocal from the rail and are proving they are Matt's biggest fans.

Joe commented how he liked Matt's sunglasses and Taemee quickly replied, "I bought them for him."

By the way, Taemee knows a little something about Borgata Deep Stacks as she took down this tournament in 2009.

Event 8: Gonna Need A Bigger Boatwright, Almost

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Chip leader, Anna Dikker, 3X's the blinds as she's been doing.

The table folds to second in chips, small blind, Carless Boatwright who stuns everyone by jamming all in.

What felt like an eternity, Anna thought and thought and finally concluded she should fold.

Joe Altomonte yelled from the rail, "100 bucks if you show us".

Carless still in poker face mode, gave the windmill pumpfake, then mucked his cards.

The crowd is having fun, as are the players.

This "almost big hand" would have had #1 in chips against #2.

Event 8: Deep Stack 10

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Final "Ten"sion

Anna Dikker is your chip leader with two stacks of gold 25,000 chips.

Carless Boatwright, Matt Mateo, and Ian Palomo each have healthy stacks.

Short stack comes in seat 1 with Matthew Butch. Might be thinking about a shove since blinds are 40,000 / 80,000 with 5,000 antes.

Average chip stack is 1,547,500.

A nice crowd of 16 is gathered on the rail and around our feature table in Borgata Event Center.

Event 10: Young Done

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Jason Young, who built a huge stack early in the tournament, is the victim of pocket 5s. JY has pocket aces and is all-in for 350k, but when his opponent flops a set, Young is out in 20th ($742).

A reminder of what they're playing for:

Place-Amount

1 $26,713
2 $14,840
3 $9,201
4 $7,421
5 $5,739
6 $4,848
7 $3,908
8 $2,919
9 $1,979
10-12 $1,286
13-15 $989
16-18 $841
19-27 $742
28-36 $594

Event 8: Final Table Names & Seats

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Seat 1 - MATTHEW BUTCH
Seat 2 - HOWARD BROWN
Seat 3 - MATT KALINOWSKI
Seat 4 - KATHRYN DOUGHERTY
Seat 5 - CARLESS BOATWRIGHT
Seat 6 - MATT MATTEO
Seat 7 - JORGE RIVERA CARRERO
Seat 8 - IAN PALOMO
Seat 9 - ANNA DIKKER
Seat 10 - MICHAEL CASTALDO

Event 10: Quads

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Voila, Quads for Veliu

Alida Veliu has nearly twice as many chips as the current tournament average thanks to pocket 9s. Veliu flops quads and has a player betting into her as she takes down a 350k pot.

Veliu now has 625k and is at the table with Alyson Parker who just doubled up with pocket queens.

Event 8: PPI Heavy Final Table

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

And then there was ten...

FINAL TABLE - Finally!

Mike Castaldo, Ian Palomo, Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo, and Kathryn Dougherty are all PPI players who reached the final deepstack table.

Eric Siegel - PPI Marketing guru is on the rail like a proud Papa rooting four of his kids on.

Event 10: Fear the Beards

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Palermo & Seemen
(Wilson & Reardon?)

Leonardo Palermo, already has a third and fourth place finish at the Borgata Winter Poker Open and he's in the money once again. Palermo has a healthy stack, as does fellow bearded friend Bart Seemen.

As they sit side-by-side, it's what it would be like having former MLB pitcher Jeff Reardon and
current San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson at the table.

Blinds are up to 10k/20k/3k ante as 22 players remain with an average stack of 386k.

Event 8: Prahlad Deshpande 11th

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Prahlad Deshpande 11th $3,122

Prahlad just earned $3,122 for his 11th place finish. His A-10 ran into Anna Dikker's A-K.

All the chips got in pre-flop as both hands were tabled. Each player hit two pair as the board ran K-A-Q-10-3.

Deshpande was so disheartened after the loss, he seemed at a loss for words.

Final table as 10 players remain.

Event 8: Dominic Telymonde 12th

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Dominic Telymonde 12th $3,122

Dominic is no donkey. At one point he had his stack up to 1.1 million. His last 560,000 went in the middle as his K-J ran into pocket Jacks.

The board ran 2-7-8-8-A and Carless Boatwright grew his stack.

Telymonde will have to get em next time.

"This table was so tight I bet he even thought about folding jacks there" said Dominic as he departed.

Event 8: Jason Brauda 13th

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Jason Brauda 13th $2,282

Jason runs out of juice as his A-7 on the button shove runs into an A-J call from Kathryn Dougherty.

Brauda beaten out of his last 450,000.

Event 10: Dalpra Bytes Dust

$300 + $50 DS Semi-Turbo NL

Anthony Dalpra (Stony Creek, Ontario) was short stack with and ace and was getting it in no matter what. Unfortunately for Dalpra, Jeff Coughlin's K-Q hit a king on the flop which held.

Coughlin scooped 100,000 and Anthony is out.

They're working on a nickname for Jeff Coughlin who was excited to be on the blog for his very first time. The road to fame and fortune runs through Borgata Blog.

We're down to three tables.

Event 10: Chungshui is Chipleader

$300 + $50 DS Semi-Turbo NL

Turbo players are back from dinner and ready to rock.

30 players left on 3 tables where the average chip stack is 283,333.

More than twice that amount at 700,000 is Robert Chungshui from New York.

Robert is your chipleader. Hold on tight it's gonna be a fantastic finish.

Event 11: Back in Action

$300 + $50 PLO (high)


Players are back from dinner and we've uncovered a shy chip leader.

Haechul Cho is from New Brunswick, NJ and has 80k in chips. That's all the information we're getting. No photos, no details. Just name, rank and chip count.

That is all.

The average returning stack is 35k as Level 9 (400/800) is underway.

Event 8: Dinner Time

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL            

They waited for the level to expire before ringing the dinner bell, so play will resume at about 8:35pm.

Matt Mazzeo is the chip leader with ~2.3 million.

Event 8: 14th Place - Noel Damico

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL             

Noel Damico

This time it was Noel Daminco who was all-in against Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo.  Noel's pocket Tens needed help to beat Matt's pocket Kings, but he got none from the board.

Noel Damico finished in 14th place, earning $2,282.

13 players remain.

Event 10: Suffern Together

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Jason Young and his partner in crime Bart Seemen have been life long friends from Suffern, NY and are now two of the big stacks on dinner break.

Young 588k
Seemen 430k

Seeman says he's always been better at poker than Young, but decided being a lawyer was a better career path than poker. But now that Young has a WSOP bracelet, Seeman has reconsidered and is back at the tables.

"I went to law school," says Seeman, "he went to the World Series." Now they're both at Borgata.

There's one other stack that appears to be north of 600k, but it's tough to get a count because of the floor staff is coloring up the purple (500) chips.

We'll update it for you as play resumes at 8:30 pm

Event 10: Still Alive

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Boyle Pointing Towards the Money

Short stacks, like James Boyle are glad to be in the money and can now push all-in more liberally looking to double-up. Boyle has less than 50k and is barely hanging on.

Meanwhile, Damon Ferrante (Parsippany, NJ) uses his card protector/mascot to figure out pot odds to accumulate chips.

Ferrante's Favorite Card Protector

Pot Odds Bear

Event 8: 15th Place - Joe Reddick

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL            

Dominic Telymonde (sb) and Mike Castaldo (bb) both put in 300k to see the flop of 9 7 3 rainbow.  Dominic lead out for 175k.  After a bit of tank-time, Mike announced he was all-in for 327k more. 

Then it was Dominic's turn in the tank.  He eventually let it go and Mike chipped up to ~1.3 million.

 Joe Reddick

'Joe Black' Reddick got all-in holding A8 suited and was dominated by Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo's AK.  The board came A 4 2 K 5 and Matt took the pot, chipping up to ~1.8 million.

Joe Reddick finished in 15th place, taking home $2,282.

It is Anna Dikker, however, who has claimed the chip lead.  She's currently sitting behind about 1.96 million.

Event 11: Dinner Break

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

The 29 remaining players (35k avg.) are on dinner break.

Play resumes a little after 8 pm and when play resumes, the field will be eying up the money bubble as the top 18 cash.

Event 10: Crazy Bubble

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Two spots away from the money and three tables have all-in action and all three players bust.

The floor men are trying to sort out positions 36-37-38 to see who's in the money and who's out in the cold.

The 35 remaining players are guaranteed a minimum of $594 as they chase the top prize of $26,713.

Borgata Winter Poker Open Contest Winner

The Winner of an Entry into the Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship Event is ...

FRITZ STONER

Congratulations!

Event 8: Final Fifteen

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL            

Blinds are up to 25k/50k with 4k antes.

Still 15 players.  Here they are:

Table 1

1 - Carless 'Joe' Boatwright
2 - Matt Kalinoswski
3 - Dominic Telymonde
4 - Mike Castaldo
5 -
6 -
7 - Ian Palomo
8 - Matthew Butch
9 - Jorge Rivera Carrero

Table 2

1 - Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo
2 - Anna Dikker
3 -
4 - Joe 'Joe Black' Reddick
5 - Howard Brown
6 - Jason Brauda
7 - Prahlad Deshpande
8 - Kathryn Dougherty
9 - Noel Daminco

Event 8: Three More Down

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL             

Christine Nelson (Norristown, PA) was eliminated in 18th place, earning $1,681.

Robert Nguyen busted out in 17th place, earning $1,681.

Jinhing 'Smiley' Chin busted out in 16th place, also earning $1,681.

15 Players remain.  Average stack is now over 1 million.

Event 11: Ukraine is Strong

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Mike Z on the Move

Mike Zholendz is a well traveled individual. The Ukranian born poker player spent 10 years in Wisconsin and is thrilled that the Packers are heading to the Super Bowl.

Zholendz now lives in New York City, but his real home is playing cash games at Borgata. He rarely plays tournaments but loves Omaha and likes the change of pace as he's currently one of the large stacks with 58k.

The fact that Zholendz's from the Ukraine, makes us think of the classic exchange from Seinfeld during the "Label Maker" episode when Kramer and Newman are playing the board game Risk on the subway.

The Label Maker (seinfeldscripts.com)

Newman: I'm not beaten yet. I still have armies in the Ukraine.

This comment perks up the ears of what appears to be a Russian immigrant.

Kramer: Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it's time to put the hurt on the Ukraine.

Ukrainian: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak.

Kramer: Yeah, well we're playing a game here, pal.

Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! Howbout I take your little board and smash it!!

The Ukrainian pounds the game board, destroying it and sending army pieces flying.

Event 8: 19th Place - Maria Kalantzi

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL             

Maria Kalantzi open-shoved for ~800k with pocket Jacks, only to run into the pocket Aces of Matt Kalinowski.  The board changed nothing and Maria headed for the rail to collect 19th place money of $1,320.



Now Matt is the clear chip leader with ~2 million.

With 18 players remaining, they drew for seats and moved to the final two tables.

Event 11: Payouts

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

1 $8,817
2 $4,850
3 $2,792
4 $2,351
5 $1,763
6 $1,470
7 $1,176
8 $882
9 $661
10-12 $588
13-15 $514
16-18 $441

Event 8: Chip Lead Too Close to Call

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL            

Mike Ord (Elkridge, MD) busted out in 20th place ($1,320) just before the end of the level.

The final 19 headed out for a break, so I scoped out the stacks.  In a strange coincidence, three players are in the 1.6 million range:  Ian Palomo, Carless Boatwright, and Matt Mazzeo.  The chip lead is too close to call at this point.

After the top three comes Prahlad Deshpande (1.27 million) and Matt Kalinowski (1.2 million).

These five players are the only ones over 1 million in chips.

With 19 remaining, the average stack is ~814k.

Play has resumed with blinds of 20k/40k and 4k antes.

Event 11: Half the Field Gone

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Jeff Kehoe

The Pot Limit Omaha grinders are just back from break as 46 players remain of the starting 101.

The unofficial chip leader is Jeff Kehoe (Haddonfield, NJ) who's at 63k. Also at his table is Brent Keller (Horsham, PA) who has 48k.

One other big stack stands out and it belongs to Mike Zholendz (New York, NY), who's at 59k.

Event 8: Telymonde and Chin Chop

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

Terece Jones (Piscataway, NJ) busted in 21st place, earning $1,320.

Jinhing 'Smiley' Chin (New York, NY) has been quiet all day, but he finally made some noise.  "All-in" he said as he moved his ~420k over the line.  Dominic Telymonde (Philadelphia, PA) then announced he was all-in, folding the rest of the table.



"I guess you got me" Smiley said as he tabled AQ.  "I guess not" Dominic said as he tabled AJ.  It looked like Dominic was destined to finish in 20th place.  Then the board ran out K 3 2 2 K and resulted in a split pot.

Event 8: Latest Departures

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

Robert Nguyen's (W New York, NJ) pocket 8s held up in a race and he doubled to ~700k.

Chris Edwards (Little Silver, NJ) has busted out.  Raymond Bimson (Fortuna, CA) has busted out.  Both earned $1,320 for their efforts.

21 players remain.

Event 10: Name Game

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Steve "The Wrecking Ball" Fiorentini (Winchester, MA) is out of the Semi-Turbo and loved playing the event.

"People love thinning the field early," says the former stock broker, turned poker enthusiast. "These blinds force you to play."

Fiorentini's one suggestion is to change the name of the tournament from Semi-Turbo to Early Level Turbo, as the first 10 levels are 15 minutes. After that the levels double to 30 minutes and settles into a regular structure.

"You watch, next time they'll be calling this ELT, Early Level Turbo."

Event 10: Payouts

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Entries: 340
Total Buy-In $102,000

Place-Amount

1 $26,713
2 $14,840
3 $9,201
4 $7,421
5 $5,739
6 $4,848
7 $3,908
8 $2,919
9 $1,979
10-12 $1,286
13-15 $989
16-18 $841
19-27 $742
28-36 $594

Event 8: Payouts

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

With 24 players remaining, there is still quite a way to go to reach the big money.  Here's a reminder of what they're playing for.

Place    Payout
1          $57,665
2          $32,423
3          $20,414
4          $16,572
5          $13,209
6          $10,928
7          $8,766
8          $6,605
9          $4,563
10-12   $3,122
13-15   $2,282
16-18   $1,681
19-27   $1,320

Event 11: My Favorite Martin

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Scrolling through the list of tournament entrants, one name jumps out at you: Dean Martin.
Could it be a distant relative of the late comedic actor, best known as a member of the Rat Pack?

If not, is he a fan of Martin's work or his singing of "That's Amore!" Or is he just an average guy cursed with the same name of a mega star?

This Dean Martin is from Chambersburg, PA, casually playing Pot Limit Omaha during the Borgata Winter Poker Open, and dealing with his table mates who claim the name sounds "made up." In the end Martin has a good time with his distinct moniker.

"I tell people I named my son Jerry Lewis."

For the more seasoned players this is a witty line, for the younger generation, Google it!

Event 8: Frangos Felted

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

Maria Kalantzi opened for 70k, then Nick Frangos (Mays Landing, NJ) three-bet to ~180k.  Action folded back to Maria, who moved all-in.  Nick called all-in, showing AJ.  Maria held pocket 7s. 

 Nick Frangos

The flop changed nothing and it was all over when a 7 landed on the turn.  Nick reported to the rail to collect 25th place money ($1,320).

With that pot, Maria chipped up to ~1.2 million.

Event 8: Kalinowski Kicks Maurer to the Kurb

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL

Richard Maurer (Somers Point, NJ) got all-in against Matt Kalinowski. Richard's KQ was dominated by Matt's AQ. "I thought we were coin-flipping" Richard said. Unfortunately for Richard, that was not the case. The board came 7 6 5 9 Q and Matt took the pot.

Richard departed in 27th place ($1,320).

Mark Wahba was gone soon after in 26th place ($1,320).

25 players remain.

Event 8: Muffins Moving Up the Leaderboard

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

On a flop of Q 9 7, Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo moved in, putting Oscar Castagna (New York, NY) to the test.  Oscar made the call all-in showing A7 off for bottom pair.

 Matt Mazzeo

Muffins was out in front with QJ for top pair.  The last two came running Tens and Oscar was busted in 28th place ($1,177).

Matt chipped up to about 1.2 million, good for second in chips.

With 27 players left, they broke the fourth table so they're now at three tables of nine.

Event 10: Sick Stack

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Jason Young

With approximately 100 players left, the average stack is 85k, which means Jason Young and his 450k is well above average.

In fact if the final table was imminent, he would have enough chips to be more than competitive to win the tournament. And the good start is a nice way to help ease the pain of last night's painful third place elimination in Event 6.

"You see this," says Young, while pointing to the $26,713 first prize on the pay sheet. "If I get all this, the sting is gone."

Today Young won a 200k chip pot when his pocket jacks beat pocket 10s. He then added another 250k with a three-way all-in when his AK flopped an ace to beat KJ and 10 10.

Event 8: Chip Leaders

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL          

Play resumed after the break with levels of 15k/30k and 3k antes.

As of the break, Carless 'Joe' Boatwright was the chip leader with ~1.5 million.

Jorge Rivera Carrero was second with ~1.1 million.

Ian Palomo was third with ~800k.

Event 11: AC 101

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

The Omaha players have cracked 100 players. With 101 in the field, 18 players cash with the top prize of ~$8,800.

Event 8: Nelson Doubles Up

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

Christine Nelson got her chips all in the middle against Mark Wahba.  Mark's pocket 8s were essentially a coin-flip against Christine's K9 suited.

 Christine Nelson

The board came K 5 3 5 T and Christine doubled up to over 700k.  Mark was left with less than 150k.

Level ended and players were sent on a break.  28 remain.  Average stack is almost 553k.

Event 8: Kalinowski Doubles Through Butch

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL           

On a flop of 4 3 2, Matthew Butch moved in on Matt Kalinowski (West Hampton, NJ).  Kalinowski tanked, then made the call, showing Q4 suited for top pair.  Butch held K5 for the open-ender with two overs.

 Matt Kalinowski

The last two came J 8 and Kalinowski had dodged all of Butch's outs to double up.  He's now got about 650k.  "That was a tough call" Kalinowski said, "very tough call".

The former chip leader, Matthew Butch, is down to only ~350k.

Event 10: 340 in the Field

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)


With 340 players in the tournament the top 36 get paid with the top prize of close to $37,000.

Event 8: Damico Wins Race

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL          

Noel Damico (Oceanside, NY) was pleased to see his pocket Queens hold up in an all-in confrontation, racing against AK.  He sent another player to the rail and collected the nice pot.

Noel is the stagehand that I profiled yesterday in a Tale of Two Players.  Apparently his style is serving him well as he is among the 30 players remaining in this event.

Event 8: 31 Remain

 $400 + $50 Deep Stack NL          

Blinds have increased to 10k/20k with 3k antes.

31 players remain making the average stack almost 500k.

The next four players to bust out will each earn $1,177.  After that, the payouts jump to $1,320 for 19th to 27th places.

Event 11: It's Always Sunny in FLA

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Holtz Staying Warm at Borgata

Dave Holtz (Naples, FL) only likes to play Omaha and he's taking advantage of a business trip to play here at the Borgata Winter Open. "I picked the right week," says Holtz, who's a Margate native in town to sell a house.

Real estate is tough in this economy so he's thrilled to be back Jersey, "I'm happy to be selling," says Holtz, "especially since Naples is warmer by 50 degrees today."

Weather.com lists the current Naples temperature at 73 degrees, while Atlantic City is at 28 degrees, but as always it's comfortable in the Event Center.

This is Holtz's second Borgata Omaha tournament and he's looking for his first cash.

Event 8: Maria Takes a Bite Out of Butch

 $400 + $50 Deep Stack NL          

Big stack Matthew Butch opened for 36k and action folded around to Maria Kalantzi (Long Island City, NY) who moved all-in for ~400k.  Matthew tanked for a minute, then made the call.

 Maria Kalantzi

Maria rolled over pocket Queens, which had Matthew's pocket Jacks crushed.  The board came 6 5 2 3 9 and Maria doubled up to over 800k.  Matthew was left with ~850k.

Event 10: Settling Up

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Brikis All-Smiles for the Steelers

We told you about the Main Event prop bet between Larry Gold (Long Island, NY) and Josh Brikis (Pittsburgh, PA), who were backing their hometown teams in Sunday's Jets/Steelers AFC title game.

Pittsburgh's win means that Gold will be wearing a Steelers jersey on Day 1 of the Main. Brikis has selected Rashard Mendenhall's #34 as Gold's uniform of choice

With Gold's last name shouldn't he be a Black and Gold backer instead of a Jets fan anway?

Larry Putting the Gold in Black & Gold

Event 8:

 $400 + $50 Deep Stack NL         

After a break, play has resumed with blinds of 8k/16k and 3k antes.

 Matthew Butch

During the break, I got a look at Matthew Butch's (Clarksburg, NJ) stack.  He started the day as chip leader; now he's up to about 1 million and second in chips to Carless Boatwright.

38 players remain.  Average stack is over 407k.

Event 11: Omaha Regulars

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Brent Keller, who finished second in Omaha H/L 8B, is in the field, as are Borgata regulars
Chris Reslock and James Boyd.

The players are settling in and expecting a grind over the next two days.

Event 8: Boatwright Sinks Two

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL         

In a massive three-way all-in, Dustin Bradley (Boca Raton, FL) held AK, Carless 'Joe' Boatwright (Woodbridge, VA) held pocket Queens, and Brett Milstein (Narberth, PA) held the boss pair, pocket Aces.

 Carless Boatwright

Joe had both the other players covered and when a Queen flopped, he had the best hand, too.  His set of Queens send both opponents to the rail and sent Joe to the top of the leader-board.  He's over 1.2 million now.

 41 players remain.

Event 10: Turbo Slowing Down

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Parker Pacing Herself

Now that the re-entries portion is over, the structure is changing pace and extending the levels from 15 to 30 minutes.

"I'm having more fun than I thought," says Borgata regular Alyson Parker (Plainsboro, NJ), "and I just lost half my chips."

The consensus seems that blitzing through the first 10 levels to get to the mid-stages of the tournament is an intriguing twist as Borgata is constantly adding innovative games.

"It's a deep stack tournament without the tedium of the early levels," says Parker

Level 11 (800/1,600/200 ante) is underway

Event 8: Stoch Busted By Broadway

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL         

Adrian Stoch (Cherry Hill, NJ) got all in pre-flop with two callers.  Both checked the flop of A K 3.  When a Ten landed on the turn, Kathryn Dougherty (Allen, TX) moved all-in, folding the third player. 

Adrian held KT for two pair, but Kathryn held QJ suited for the Broadway straight.  River was a blank and Adrian was busted in 44th place.

Kathryn is up over 500k now.

43 players remain.  Average stack is almost 360k.

Event 10: No More Entries/Re-Entries

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)     

Jason Young has joined the field, fresh from his 3rd place finish yesterday in the $1,000 No Limit event ($30k).

The late registration and re-entry period has ended, so that's that.

Adam Lippert has busted out and now that the re-entry period has ended, he can't re-enter.

Things should settle down now and starting with level 11, blinds only increase every 30 minutes.

Event 8: Down to 55

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL        

Things are hopping now that they are in the money.  The short-stacks are making their moves. 

Wooyang Lin made his with AT, only to run into the pocket Aces of Ocsar Castagna.  Wooyang made his exit in 61st place, earning $817.

Margaret  Bruton finished 58th.
Robby Devries finished 57th.

Sherwin 'the chip taker' Agard, who said yesterday he came from Boston to conquer Atlantic City, busted out in 56th place.

All three earned $817.

Event 11: Omaha in the House

$300 + $50 PLO (high)

Filling the Seats

The second Omaha event of the Borgata Winter Open is underway and the players are taking their seats in the front of the Event Center.

The starting stacks are 10k and levels are 40 minutes long and the limits start at 50/100. Registration is open during the first two levels as the cards are in the air!

Event 10: Back from Break

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)    

After six levels, the DS Turbo players took a break.  A couple of tables have broken down and 29 remain in action.

They returned for level 7 with blinds of 300/600 with 75 antes.

Josh Brikis arrived late and has already busted out and re-entered.  He's played numerous events already during this series and has yet to cash.  He's not going down without a fight.

Event 8: In The Money!

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL       

With a double-elimination on table 5, the clock was stopped to get a head count.  Sure enough, 63 players remain so all are in the money!  The seven tables were balanced to 9 players each and play has resumed.

Event 10: Monteavarro Doubles; Lippert Re-enters

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)   

Joanne Monteavarro just arrived and took her seat during level 4 and has already doubled up.  "I'm off to a good start" she said.  Needless to say, the play during the re-entry period has been erratic.

Adam Lippert is now occupying a ten-seat, thanks to re-entering.  "He called 7,000 with a gutshot with a flush-draw on board" Adam said...and of course the gutter-ball came on the river.  Adam is now sitting in a new seat with a fresh 25k stack, and hoping his luck runs better this time around.

Blinds are already up to 200/400 with 50 antes.

Event 8: Day 2 Underway

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL      

69 Players returned for day 2 of this event...only 63 will get paid, so the first six to bust out will be disappointed.

Blinds are still 5k/10k with 1k antes and cards are in the air.

There was an error in the end of day one chip counts.  Nick Frangos' chip count was listed at 50,500, (67th of 69) but a digit had been dropped.  It should have been 500,500, making him 5th in chips of the 69 returning players, just ahead of Matt Mazzeo.

Event 10: That's Why They Call It Turbo

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)  

Blinds have already gone to 100/200.

More players have busted out.  Seems like about half of them are taking the re-entry cards and are planning to come back and take another shot.

Little Joe Wagner, however, is standing on the sidelines.  He hasn't decided if he wants to try this event.  He's never played a deep-stack semi-turbo.  He has until the end of level 8 (about 1 pm) to register.

Event 10: The Usual Suspects

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)  

Blinds are up, again.  Now playing 75/10.  Players continue to arrive and take their seats.  At least two players have already busted out.  The first one took a re-entry card from the dealer, so he'll be back.

The other player I saw departing was Bobby 'haha' Hanley.  He declined to take a re-entry card, so he won't be coming back.

Already spotted in today's field: 
Mike Sica
Sheree Bykofsky
James Boyle
Ted Geier
Alex Bolotin
Leo Gee
Al Riccobono
Adam Lippert
Alex Bolotin
Eric Siegel
Little Joe Wagner
Nicole Rowe
Mike Dentale

PPI UPDATE

PPI Players continue to excel at this years Borgata Winter Poker Open. Steve Dannenmann took the title in event #2, while WSOP bracelet winner Jason Young maneuvered through a tough field to take 3rd place in the 1k event collecting over $30,000. Several PPI members have survived day 1 of the $400 Deep Stack including Matt Mazeo, Mike Castaldo, Katie Stone, Ian Paloma and Anthony Campagna.

At this years BWO we are pleased to introduce the PPI "Play for the Main" which will award the PPI player with the most points accumulated through participation, cashes, and final table appearances a seat into the Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship Event. We will provide you with daily leaderboard updates here, along with PPI player news. You can check out our roster of players and bios, news, charity organizations we support, and see the trailer for the PPI produced documentary film On The Line: John Racener at PPIPOKER .

Here is your PPI "Play for the Main" Leader Board:
PTS: PLAYER
50: JASON YOUNG
45: JOSEPH CUTLER
45: RYAN ERIQUEZZO
45: ALBERT RICCOBONO
40: JOSHUA BRIKIS
40: STEVEN DANNENMANN
40: LAURENCE GOLDSTEIN
40: ADAM LIPPERT
35: JAMES BOYLE
35: VINEET PAHUJA
30: MICHAEL DENTALE
30: MICHAEL SICA JR
25: ANTHONY CASAGRANDE
25: MICHAEL CASTALDO
25: DAVID INSELBERG
20: CARLOS DELAFUENTE
20: GORDON ENG
20: CARL RESTIFO
20: JAMES SALTERS
20: JONATHAN WERZ
10: ROBERT HWANG
10: ROSLYN QUARTO
10: CHRIS RESLOCK
10: JAMES STENELLA
10: EUGENE TODD
10: JEFFREY VANCHIRO
10: DAVID ZEITLIN
5: KELLY ARMENTROUT
5: ANTHONY CAMPAGNA
5: CARLOS COLON
5: ALEXANDER CUKAR
5: EMANUEL FAILLA
5: ADAM GERBER
5: ELIZABETH GREY-PARDO
5: CHARLES MARCHESE
5: LISA PICKELL
5: JONATHAN SORSCHER
5: KATHRYN DOUGHERTY

*Note to all PPI players - If you have participated or cashed in any events and do not see your name on the leader board, please contact me at eric@ppipoker.com

Event 10: Blinds Up - Already!

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry) 

That's Turbo for you!  Blinds have already increased to 50/100.  The number of active tables has also increased to 31.

The ten seat at each table is left empty and that's where the initial re-entering players will be seated.  So far, there haven't been any.

 Henry Porcaro

Henry Porcaro is here from Warwick, NY.  He likes to come play tournaments when he can.  He likes the $300 + 40 buy-in and feels it give him good value for the money.  His strategy is to play conservatively and try to avoid re-entering, but if he's got the goods, he's going to push hard. 

He wants to accumulate chips early while other players might be playing a little loose.  Henry says it is like two tournaments "at first, you have to survive...then you try to make some money".

Event 10: Cards Are In The Air

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-entry)

Tournament Director Tab Duchateau has just issued the directive, 'Shuffle Up and Deal!".  24 tables are currently in action, but there is still a line at registration.


Players will be allowed to enter or re-enter (up to twice) through the first 8 levels.

They begin with 25,000 chips and blinds of 25/50.  Since this is a 'semi-turbo', blinds increase at 15 minute intervals for the first 10 levels.  After that, levels will last 30 minutes.

MONDAY, JANUARY 24

TODAY IN THE EVENT CENTER

11A - Event 10: $300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH
  • 2 Re-Entry
  • 25,000 in starting chips
  • Levels 1-10: each Level will last 15 minutes Levels 11+: each Level will last 30 minutes
  • 1-day event

1P - Event 11: $300 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha - High

  • 10,000 in starting chips
  • Levels last 40 minutes
  • 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

3P - Event 37: $300 + $50 Survivor NLH

  • 10,000 in starting chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes
  • approximately 1 in 10 wins $3,000 Cash
  • 1-day event

7P - Event 38: $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

  • 10,000 in starting chips
  • Levels last 20 minutes
  • 1-day event

Event 8 Chip Leaders

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 8: $400 + $50 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
January 23-24, 2011

Entries: 619
Total Buy-In: $247,600

END OF DAY 1 CHIP COUNTS:
1. MATTHEW BUTCH (CLARKSBURG, NJ): 749,000
2. JASON BRAUDA (MATTHEWS, NC): 664,000
3. PAYMAN AZIZOGHLI (FREEHOLD, NJ): 627,000
4. RODNEY ORD (ELKRIDGE, MD): 558,000
5. MATTHEW MAZZEO (E WILLISTON, NY): 498,000
6. BRETT MILSTEIN (NARBERTH, PA): 482,000
7. DUSTIN BRADLEY (BOCA RATON, FL): 463,000
8. MATTHEW KALINOWSKI (WESTAMPTON, NJ): 406,000
9. JINHING CHIN (NEW YORK, NY): 390,000
10. CHRIS EDWARDS (LITTLE SILVER, NJ): 339,000
11. NOEL DAMICO (OCEANSIDE, NY): 334,000
12. OSCAR CASTAGNA JR. (NEW YORK, NY): 309,000
13. MICHAEL SANTORO (EGG HARBOR, NJ): 304,000
14. MICHAEL CASTALDO (PALISADES, NY): 301,000
15. JOHNATHAN PEACOCK : 288,000
16. CHRISTINE NELSON (NORRISTOWN, PA): 277,000
17. MARK WAHBA (CLEVELAND, OH): 275,000
18. MICHAEL BIFTU (FORT WASHINGTON, MD): 274,000
19. ANTHONY CAMPAGNA (EAST SETAUKET, NY): 258,000
20. DOMINIC TELYMONDE (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 256,000
21. SHERWIN AGARD (RANDOLPH, MA): 255,000
22. PRALHAD DESHPANDE (TALEIGRO GOA): 254,000
23. CARLESS BOATWRIGHT (WOODBRIDGE, VA): 250,000
24. JAMES GOVERNA (RICHBORO, PA): 243,000
25. ROBERT MELO (HOWARD BEACH, NY): 222,000
26. RICHARD MAURER (SOMERS POINT, NJ): 221,000
27. KATHRYN DOUGHERTY (ALLEN, TX): 216,000
28. JOSEPH REDDICK : 216,000
29. GREGORY RUDOLPH (OCEANSIDE, NY): 215,000
30. ANNA DIKKER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): 213,000
31. ADRIAN STOCH (CHERRY HILL, NJ): 206,000
32. RYANONEIL AGUILA (VALLEY STREAM, NY): 204,000
33. BRANDON GUSS (WARMINSTER, PA): 195,000
34. IAN PALOMO (NEW YORK, NY): 187,000
35. MICHAEL LATOUR (CLAY, NY): 180,000
36. BRIAN GLEASON (NEWTOWN, PA): 178,000
37. RYAN ARNOLD (HAMPSTEAD, MD): 177,000
38. HEUNG YOON (WOODBRIDGE, VA): 177,000
39. GARY FRIEDMAN (BEACHWOOD, OH): 176,000
40. RAYMOND BIMSON (FORTUNA, CA): 173,000
41. SHERRY RYAN (MASSILLON, OH): 166,000
42. TERECE JONES (PISCATAWAY, NJ): 158,000
43. WOOYANG LIN (MORRISTOWN, NJ): 147,000
44. CHRISTOPHER GROVE (PASADENA, MD): 141,000
45. LAWRENCE FOLEY (BOONES MILL, VA): 138,000
46. ROBERT NGUYEN (W. NEW YORK, NJ): 136,000
47. VINCENT VILLAMOR (MAYS LANDING, NJ): 132,000
48. KIN-YARN LEE (TORONTO): 128,000
49. WILLIAM PATTERSON (NEW KENSINGTON, PA): 126,000
50. ALDO RUIZ- VALIENTE (ARLINGTON, VA): 119,000
51. FRANCIS ANDERSON (WAPPINGERS FLS, NY): 118,000
52. JOHN SILL (ABERDEEN, NC): 117,000
53. JORGE RIVERA CARRERO (BROOKLYN, NY): 107,000
54. STEVEN TINDLE (HYATTSVILLE, MD): 106,500
55. BRIAN MURRAY (SUNNYSIDE, NY): 102,000
56. MARGARET BRUTON : 98,000
57. MARIA KALANTZI (LONG ISL CITY, NY): 94,000
58. MICHAEL BONITA (NEW CITY, NY): 90,000
59. ROBBY DEVRIES (PATERSON, NJ): 83,000
60. NORMAN FIELD (ELIZABETH, NJ): 83,000
61. HOWARD BROWN (BRIGANTINE, NJ): 80,000
62. FURMAN PEARSALL (SELDEN, NY): 75,000
63. MARK DIKKER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): 72,000
64. RAYMOND DIDONATO (LAUREL SPRINGS, NJ): 61,000
65. JOHN WESLEY COBB (INDIAN HEAD, MD): 60,000
66. LINHKHOUNE VIRATH (NOKESVILLE, VA): 53,000
67. NIKOLAOS FRANGOS (MAYS LANDING, NJ): 50,500
68. BASRI VELIU (WYCKOFF, NJ): 50,000
69. JAMES OPDYKE (JACKSON, NJ): 40,000

Event 9 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 9: $260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em
January 23, 2011

Entries: 110
Total Buy-In: $28,600

FINAL RESULTS
1. CANDACE VERRASTRO (PT PLEASANT, NJ): $8,323
2. CARMEN HUGGINS (SPRINGFIELD, NY): $4,577
3. LIPING ZHANG (DOYLESTOWN, PA): $2,635
4. LINDA VAUGHAN (MONTCLAIR, VA): $2,219
5. PAMELA COSTANZO (VINELAND, NJ): $1,665
6. RENATA COLACHE (CLAYTON, NJ): $1,387
7. KAREN HARRIS (TRUMBULL, CT): $1,110
8. ANNA DUNN (BRONX, NY): $833
9. ELIZABETH CASTALDI (WASHINGTON, DC): $625
10. EMILY FLAX (PROVINCETOWN, MA): $555
11. CAROL NEAL (PROVINCETOWN, MA): $555
12. NATALIE BEREZNYAK (RUMSON, NJ): $555
13. SHALANDA NIX (BROOKLYN, MD): $485
14. ROSA KLANESKI (FARMINGTON, CT): $485
15. KIMBERLY EDMONDS (TOMS RIVER, NJ): $485
16. MARGUERITE SPAGNUOLO (STATEN ISLAND, NY): $416
17. ALLISON WEISBROD (MONTVILLE, NJ): $416
18. RHONDA BESCRIPT (ROYERSFORD, PA): $416

Event 6 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 6: $1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em
January 22-23, 2011

Entries: 336
Total Buy-In: $336,000

FINAL RESULTS
1. JONATHAN LESSIN (OCEANPORT, NJ): $87,998
2. MICHAEL DEMARTINO (LAURENCE HBR, NJ): $48,888
3. JASON YOUNG (SUFFERN, NY): $30,311
4. DANIEL FISCHER (BRIGANTINE, NJ): $24,444
5. NIKOLAI SEARS (DAVISBURG, MI): $18,903
6. JOSEPH ROSS (DUNMORE, PA): $15,970
7. THEODOROS KARIDIS (NORWALK, CT): $12,874
8. LOUIS LAZZINNARO (LAKE SUCCESS, NY): $9,615
9. JEREMY BURLESON (STANLEY, NC): $6,519
10. WAYNE MEDINA (WESTBURY, NY): $4,237
11. BRIAN ODONOGHUE (BAYSIDE, NY): $4,237
12. MATTHEW KLECKNER (COPLAY, PA): $4,237
13. ANTHONY HILL (EGG HBR CITY, NJ): $3,259
14. MICHAEL SWEENEY (SCRANTON, PA): $3,259
15. MICHAEL KRESSE (WEST ISLIP, NY): $3,259
16. SANTO LISANTI (GLENSHAW, PA): $2,770
17. JENNIFER SO (GALLOWAY, NJ): $2,770
18. ALEX KUCHIK (BROOKLYN, NY): $2,770
19. TERRY GRIMES (NEW ROCHELLE, NY): $2,444
20. RAMON RIVERA (BREATWOOD, NY): $2,444
21. RICHARD BUNTING (CHARLES CITY, VA): $2,444
22. THOMAS NEWMAN JR. (YORKTOWN HTS, NY): $2,444
23. OMORO COLVIN (NIAGRA FALLS, NY): $2,444
24. RUSSELL GREEN (SYOSSET, NY): $2,444
25. CHARLES FUREY (BRIDGEWATER, NJ): $2,444
26. SHAWN YESKO (TOMS RIVER, NJ): $2,444
27. DANIEL CARPENTER II (NEWPORT NEWS, VA): $2,444
28. LUKE VRABEL (W HARTFORD, CT): $1,956
29. BRANDON VARGAS (MALVERNE, NY): $1,956
30. JENNY NGUYEN (GARDEN CITY, NY): $1,956
31. ADAM LIPPERT (BROOKLYN, NY): $1,956
32. ARIEL ALBILIA (SYOSSET, NY): $1,956
33. JERRY ATKINS (NEW YORK, NY): $1,956
34. BENJAMIN SCHOLL (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $1,956
35. HAL NEEMAN (CHERRY HILL, NJ): $1,956
36. MICHAEL ANDERSON (CHESAPEAKE, VA): $1,956

Event 6 Recap

$1,000 + $90 NL

An improbable comeback was cut short of a championship when Jonathan Lessin (Oceanport, NJ) won the nearly $88,000 first prize when he beat Michael DeMartino (Laurence Harbor, NJ) for the title. DeMartino, who was one card away from not cashing, took home $48,888 for second place.

"It was a pretty good turn of events," DeMartino said, while beaming with his parents standing by. The turn of events actually came on the river when 37 players remained and 36 cashed. DeMartino hit a spade to give him a flush with A 2 vs A Q which helped him survive the bubble.

"I was lucky to start the day," said the runner-up who began Day 2 with the lowest chip stack of 26k. "But after that, I started to hit some hands and play some good poker."

On the final hand DeMartino lost to Lessin who held 9 8. Lessin flopped an 8 and faded straight cards on the river for the win.

"Luck is part of the game," said Lessin, who officially won $87,988. "This is awesome, I'm exhausted, but (feel) awesome."

Lessin cashed in his biggest luck chip when he was in a monster pot with Jason Young (Suffern, NY) while playing three-handed. Young, a WSOP Bracelet holder, turned two pairs and was all-in against Lessin's ace-king for only a pair of aces.

The river paired the board and gave Lessin, who only had a 14% chance to win the hand, a higher two pairs and the 4 million chip pot. "I've been on the other end of that hand, a hundred million times," says Lessin, "It was nice to be on the right end this time."

Lessin took the big chip advantage into heads-up play and after one hour was able to end DeMartino's miracle run.

"I'm disappointed I didn't win," said DeMartino, "but what are you going to do?"

The tournament began Saturday with 336 players and included another WSOP Bracelet winner Mike 'Little Man' Sica (North Brunswick, NJ), but he failed to make it through Day 1. When play resumed on Day 2 Ramon Rivera, (Brentwood, NY) was the chip leader, but finished in 20th place ($2,444).

The total buy-in of $336,000 was divided between the top 36 players.

Event 6 Champion - Lessin

$1,000 + $90 NL

Jonathan Lessin (Oceanport, NJ)
$87,998

After one hour of heads-up play Jonathan Lessin is able to finish off Michael DeMartino to win the Event 6 title.

Lessin had a 4.3 of the 5 million chips in play when heads-up began, but DeMartino was able to hang around as he doubled-up early with a set of kings. De Martino's luck eventually runs out on the final hand.

DeMartino: 9♣ 7♣
Lessin: 9 8

All the chips are in preflop and the board runs out: K♣ 3 8♠ 10 2♠ to give Lessin the title with a pair of 8s.




Event 6: 2nd - DeMartino

$1,000 + $90 NL

Michael DeMartino (Laurence Harbor, NJ)
$48,888

Event 9 Recap

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

The two biggest stacks going to the final table battled to the end and finished 1-2 in the Ladies Event with Candace Verrastro (Pt. Pleasant, NJ) winning the title and the $8,323 first prize.

"He told me I could win," said Verrastro, who was convinced by her husband to enter the tournament. "I didn't want to play it, but figured I was here and I'd give it a shot."

Verrastro beat Carmen 'Hunbunny' Huggins (Brooklyn, NY), who earned $4,577 for second place and was thrilled to finally go deep in a Borgata event. "It's the first time I've cashed," said Huggins who figured she was 0 for 3 in her previous attempts.

110 players entered the tournament as the top 18 players shared in the $28,600 total buy-in.

Notables in the field included author Sheree Bykofsky (Atlantic City, NJ - no cash), Rosa Klaneski (Farmington, CT - 14th/$485) and Marguerite Spagnuolo (Staten Island, NY - 16th/$416).

Event 9 Champion - Verrastro

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Candace Verrastro (Pt. Pleasant, NJ)
$8,323

Event 9: 2nd Place - Huggins

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Carmen 'Hunbunny' Huggins (Brooklyn, NY)
$4,577

Event 9: 3rd Place - Zhang

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Li Zhang (Doylestown, PA)
$2,365

Event 8 Recap

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

The second deep stack of the Borgata Winter Poker Open brought another strong field as 619 players entered the two day tournament. Play was stopped at 2 am with 71 players remaining including some of the usual suspects.

Borgata regulars Mike "The Nose" Castaldo (Palisades, NY) and "Muffins" Mazzeo (East Williston, NY) are still in the running for the top prize of $57,665 as 63 players will cash in the event. Newbies in the mix include Christine Nelson (West Norriton, PA) and Matt Kalinowski (Westampton, NJ).

Payman Azizoghli (Freehold, NJ) returns as the big stack with 627k, but players like Mike Ord (Elkridge, MD - 558k) and Mazzeo (406k) are within striking distance as both have top 5 stacks.

Play resumes Monday at high noon as the field chases its piece of the $336,000 total buy-in.

Event 9: 4th Place - Vaughan

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Linda Vaughan (Montclaire, VA)
$2,219

Event 9: 5th Place - Constanzo

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Pam Constanzo (Vineland, NJ)
$1,665


Event 8: Bag & Tag

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Aziz Doing Alright

Play has stopped with 71 players remaining and Payman Azizoghli (Freehold, NJ) appears to be the unofficial chip leader with 627k.

The players return just 8 spots from the money as they play for the nearly $58,000 first prize.

Here are some of the big stacks; check back after 9 am for a complete list.

Payman Azizoghli (Freehold, NJ) 627k
Mike Ord (Elkridge, MD) 558k
Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo (East Williston, NY) 498k
Matt Kalinowski (Westampton, NJ) 406k

Event 6: 3rd - Young

$1,000 + $90 NL

Jason Young (Suffern, NY)
$30,311

Shortly after Jason Young knocked out Daniel Fischer, he gets involved with chip leader Jonathan Lessin in the biggest pot of the tournament.

On a board of a A 8 49♣ , all the money gets in as Lessin barely has Young covered for a 4 million chip pot.

Young: 8♣ 9 (2 pairs)
Lessin: A♠ K♠ (top pair, top kicker)

River: 4

Despite being an 86% favorite to win the hand going to the river, the paired board gives Lessin a higher two pairs, and when the counting is done, the pot.

Lessin is now heads up with Michael DeMartino and has more than 4 of the 5 million chips in play.




Event 6: 4th - Fischer

$1,000 + $90 NL

Daniel Fischer (Brigantine, NJ)
$24,444

Daniel Fischer's fluctuating chip stack is finally brought down when he loses his last 900k to Jason Young.

Fischer: AQ
Young: K 10

The flop brings a 10 for Young and two diamonds for Fischer, but when Fischer bricks the turn and river he's out in 4th place.

Event 9: 6th Place - Renata Colache

$260 + $40 Ladies NL    


 Renata Colache - 6th Place - $1,387

Event 6: DeMartino Doubles Through Fischer

$1,000 + $90 NL

After losing a 400k river bet to Jonathan Lessin, Daniel Fischer loses a bigger chunk of chips
to Michael DeMartino.

DeMartino raises to 75k from the button. Jason Young (SB) and Lessin (BB) both call.

Flop: 7 8 9

DeMartino bets 200k
Young folds
Fischer reraises all-in
DeMartino snap calls and is at risk for 695k more a 1.75 million chip pot.

Fischer drops to 1 million chips.

Fischer: J 7♣ (pair of 7s, straight flush draw)
DeMartino: A 8♣ (pair of 8s, nut flush draw)

Turn: K
River: 5♣

DeMartino wins with a pair of 8s.



Event 9: 7th Place - Karen Harris

$260 + $40 Ladies NL    


Karen Harris - 7th Place - $1,110

Event 8: Big Stacks, Big Egos

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL      

With ten tables remaining, they're taking them down to 9-handed.  Blinds are 2,500/5,000 with 400 antes.

Over on table 5, Nick Frangos (White Plains, NY) has managed to build his stack up to about 410k.

Sherwin Agard, Payman Azizoghli, and Nick Frangos


The two players to his right are Payman Azizoghli (Freehold, NJ) and Sherwin 'the chip taker' Agard (Boston, MA).  They don't seem bothered by Nicky's growing stack.  Sherwin says "I've already conquered Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.  Now I'm here to take Atlantic City."  We'll see how that works out for him.

On the other side of the room, Matt Mazzeo's still the leader with ~460k.  Two seats to his right is another Matt -- Matt Kalinowski of West Ampton, NJ.  That Matt is up to ~390k.

Event 8: Fake All-in is Costly

$400 + $50 Deep Stack

Francis Anderson (Poughkeepsie, NY) learned that a small joke can get you into big trouble. Anderson is reraised by Marco Huijgen (New York, NY) and that's when chaos ensues.

Anderson slowly pushes his cards into the middle of the table and says, "all-in." Huijgen snap calls and there's a short debate on whether Anderson folded or is committed to the all-in bet.

The floor man rules that both hands are live and tabled:

Huijgen: A A
Anderson: 9 2

The aces hold and Anderson, who was a former big stack, gives away 175k to Huigen who doubles to 360k. Anderson is down to less than 100k.

Event 6: Chip Counts

$1,000 + $90 NL

The four remaining players are on break and when they return blinds are 15k/30k/3k ante.

Here's how they stack up.

Seat-Name-Chip Count

1
2 Daniel Fischer (Brigantine, NJ) 2.2 million
3
4
5
6
7 Jonathan Lessin (Oceanport, NJ) 1.25 million
8 Michael DeMartino (Laurence Harbor, NJ) 900k
9
10 Jason Young (Suffern, NY) 750k

Event 9: 8th Place - Anna Dunn

$260 + $40 Ladies NL    


Anna Dunn - 8th Place - $833

Event 8: 100 Players

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL     

Down to 100 players in this event.  Average stack is almost 155k.

Matt Mazzeo has lost a little bit, but looks like he's still the chip leader.

Still 37 to go to get to the money.

Event 6: 5th - Sears

$1,000 + $90 NL

Niko Sears (Davidsburg, MI)
$18,903

Niko Sears gets his last 350k all-in and it looks like he'll double through Jason Young.

Sears: K J
Young: K 10

A river 10 gives Young the pot and sends Sears home in 5th place.