Savage Busts Djokovic

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

After action folded to him in the small blind, Trevor Savage (Thorofarem NJ) announced he was all in.  Avdo Djokovic (Staten Island, NY) was the big blind and had less than 100k remaining.  He squeezed his cards, then called all-in, showing AK off. 

Trevor Savage

This is when we learned that Trevor had not looked at his cards yet.  He turned them over and discovered he was dominated with AQ suited.

The board came Q 8 4 3 6 and Trevor paired his Queen to take the pot.  Avdo took 41st place and $9,653.

The Right Read

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Aryeh Grunewald

Aryeh Grunewald (Jackson, NJ) just made a great read against Roslyn Quarto.

Aryeh lead out and bet the flop.

Then Quarto bet the turn and Aryeh called.

J♣ K♣ 8♠ 2♣ 9♣

Nobody had a club so both players checked the river.

Grunewalk tabled 10♥10♦ and Roslyn shook her head, showing A♠Q♥ .

"I was actually good on my read" said Aryeh as he scooped the 300,000 pot.

Gavin Smith chimed in and told me when writing up this post, just put, the guy with the hat.

Smith Approaching 1 Million

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

On the river with a board of 9♥7♥4♥8♠ Steven Tabb (Newton, MA) got all-in against Gavin Smith.  "You got a flush?" Steven asked, before tabling his pocket Jacks.  "Yep" Gavin replied, as he tabled 6♥5♥.  Steven was drawing dead and headed for the payout desk.  He collected $9,653 for 42nd place.

Gavin now has just under 1 million chips.

41 players remain.  Average stack is ~525k.

Gurevich Playing To The Max

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Kenneth Smaron is knocked out in 43rd place for $9,653.

Max Gurevich (Staten Island, NY) was as high as 800,000 and as low as 250,000.

In felting Kenneth Smaron he almost doubled up - close to $500,000.

Gurevich held 8-7 of clubs and saw a flop of Q-2-6, all clubs.

Both players checked the flop.

Smaron shoved on the turn card 4 and Max snap called.

River 10 didn't matter as Kenneth was drawing dead.

"I didn't know he was that strong...It's good to run good when you're playing bad" said Max.

Kovaci Doubles Thru Cammarota

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Play continued into level 22 with blinds of 6k/12k with 1k antes.  They will play through this level and call it a night unless they get down to 36 players, in which case they will stop sooner.

44 players remain.

Mirsad Kovaci

Mirsad Kovaci (Allentown, PA) got his last 85k all-in and called by Alfonse Cammarota (Fairfield, CT) who tabled pocket 6s.   Mirsad held KQ and it was post-time at the races.  The board came A Q 4 A 3 and Mirsad doubled up. 

Alfonse was left with ~95k...and busted out soon after in 44th place ($9,653).

Bubble Gump Shrimp

$170 + $30

Michael Aron - Bubble Boy

Barbara Rogers (Lockhaven, PA) just knocked out Michael Aron making him our bubble boy.

Aron had K-K and shipped all in for 16,400. After limping, Barbara called holding 10-9.

9-9-8 on the flop along with a clean turn and river was enough to felt Michael Aron who just missed cashing.

The silver lining for the still smiling Aron is that he has 7% of his friend Jason Deutch. Deutch has 75,000 in chips.

"I'm happy for everyone else" said Michael Aron who was celebrating his loss with a beer.

Muffins No More

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Mike Leah (Las Vegas, NV) busted out in 50th place when his all-in with AJ ran in to AK.  He earned $8,504 for his efforts over the last three days.

After the utg player raised, Gavin Smith called from the small blind, then Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo moved all-in from the big for 184k on top.


The raiser opted out and Gavin thought about it, counted out the chips, didn't have much left behind, but opted to make the call.  Matt held AJ offsuit.  Gavin tabled KQ suited.  "Gavin, what are you doin'?" Matt said.

The flop came 6 5 2 rainbow and changed nothing.  Turn was a King, however, giving Gavin the lead.  Only an Ace on the River would save Matt.  It was a 3, though, and Muffins was muffled in 45th place ($9,653).

Gavin basically doubled up to ~500k.

Event 24: Payouts

$170 + $30

Entires: 629
Total Buy-In: $106,930

Place-Amount

1 $24,904
2 $14,003
3 $8,816
4 $7,157
5 $5,705
6 $4,720
7 $3,786
8 $2,853
9 $1,971
10-12 $1,348
13-15 $985
16-18 $727
19-27 $570
28-36 $508
37-45 $456
46-54 $405
55-63 $353

Shannon Short Stack Session

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Shannon O'Grady (Fairfax, VA)

Yesterday Shannon O'Grady (Fairfax, VA), was bluffing and playing crazy.
Today however, is a different story.

"I've been short stacked all day. Started with 60 big blinds and was down as low as 6 big blinds" said O'Grady. But most of the day he's been stuck in the 8-12 big blind range.

How does he do it? "Patience. And I had Aces twice and still got called and paid off both times" said O'Grady.

Since the bubble burst his short stack has survived orbit after orbit and he continues to move up in the money. "Now that I've built up this image, I can open up my game a little" said Shannon.

As for tomorrow, maybe he'll go back to playing more like a maniac again. We shall see.

On the blog we like to focus on the chip leaders and big stacks but sometimes riding a short stack and surviving with it can be equally as impressive.

Sole Survior of Table 2

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

William Pilossoph

Table two has had more bust-outs than any other table today. Some are calling certain seats at this table, like the one Josh Brikis was in, a "revolving door". Other calls table two a "bus station" because people keep coming and going.

But no one at table two has busted more folks out than one of the tournament chip leaders, Or Abramov (New York, NY). "I think I busted over ten people so far" said Abramov. He busted out two in the last ten minutes. Seems like this kid wins every race he's in.

Through it all, William Pilossoph has not busted. In fact he's the only sole survivor of table 2. "I'm the only one whose been here the entire time" said Pilossoph. William has 205,000 and told me he's been grinding. "That's the best way to get em" stated Pilossoph who came in third in Event 20 six max.

So if you get moved to Table 2, don't get too comfortable. You won't be there long!

Free-Rolling Stoner Gutted by Gavin

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship   

After the small blind shoved for ~300k, Osagyefo Greene called from the big blind, showing AK off.  The small blind was dominated with A8 off.  

 Osagyefo Greene

The board came K 5 2 6 3 and another player hit the rail.  With that pot, Greene chipped up to close to 1 million.

John Myung (Vienna, VA) busted out in 55th place.

Fritz Stoner, who won his seat in this event via the Borgata online contest (and hence was free-rolling) moved in for his last 47k utg.  Action folded around to Osagyefo Greene on the button who gave it some thought, but opted out.

Gavin Smith took a look and made the call from the small blind.  Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo (big blind) also opted out.

 Gavin Smith

Fritz held K7 off and was trailing Gavin's A9 off.  The flop came T 6 5 and changed nothing.  Turn was an 8, which gave Fritz an open-ended draw and gave Gavin a gutshot.  River was a 7, which improved Fritz to a pair but completed the straight for Gavin, who took the pot.

The free-rolling Stoner finished in 53rd place, taking home $8,504!

Table 7 has broken and Roz Quarto landed at table 4 with Matt Mazzeo, Nick Ricciardi, Osagyefo Greene, and Gavin Smith.

52 players remain.

Event 24: Thou Shall Not Rabbit Hunt

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Jahson "Jaa Class" Spence Talk His Way Into A Win

Jahson "Jaa Class" Spence has been aggressive all day and is riding a stack around 140,000.

In this hand he bet 58,000 pre-flop, then 71,000 on a flop of:

3♥ 10♣ 6♠

Spence then declares an all in, in the dark and the turn card 10♥ hit the table.

Jahson's opponent, Tovia Jakubowitz was now put to a difficult decision. He had 50,000 of his children in and only 20,000 behind.

Jahson - "What hand can you beat?"

Tovia - "I have two overs and a flush draw."

Jahson - "I'm ahead now. Just fold. Don't spike a heart and send me home like that."

Another player joked about calling a clock as this banter went on for quite a while.

Finally Tovia folds. He shows his cards K♥ J♥ and Spence shows Q♥ Q♣ .

Then Tovia begs the dealer to rabbit hunt the last card. The table agrees and the 5♥ flips over.

Tovia would have hit the flush and looked physically ill.

A player not in the hand cried out, "That's why you never rabbit hunt that last card. Never."

Blinds: 1200 /2400 with 300 antes.

9 Tables remain.

Leaderboard Update

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship  

Players have just returned from a break and resumed play with level 21, blinds of 5k/10k with 1k antes.  The purple 500 chips were colored up and removed on the break.

Or Abramov is the chip leader with ~1.3 million.
Jeff Papola - ~1.2 million
Nick Ricciardi - ~1.11 million
Roz Quarto - ~1.1 million

Those are the only players over 1 million as of the break.

58 players remain.  Average stack is ~371k.

Papola & Ricciardi Join Million Chip Club

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship  

On a flop of A T 6 -- all clubs -- Jeff Papola tanked for a bit, then announced he was all-in.  The player in seat 7 called quickly, tabling AK -- no club -- for top/top.  Jeff held AT -- no club -- for top two pair and the lead.  The last two cards were offsuit 6 7 and Jeff took the pot, sending another player to the payout desk.  With that pot, Jeff is up to ~1.1 million and in the top three in chips.

Nick Ricciardi's pocket 2s hold up against Gavin Smith's AK to win a small pot.  Nick is now just over 1 million in chips and fourth in the field.

Battle of the Blinds

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship 

On the river with a board of T 3 2 K K, Roz Quarto (sb) fires a bet and the player on her left (bb) makes the call.  "Two pair" she says, seeming hesitant to turn over her cards.  The big blind is also hesitant, so she tables 83 off for a pair of 3s to go with the Kings on board.  Her opponent mucks and Roz claps and says "That's a woman on tilt...you called me with Ace-high, didn't you?"

With that pot, Roz is up to ~1.1 million and second in chips behind Or Abramov.

Boat vs. Dingy

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Peter Ippolito has 680,000 after hitting a stone cold miracle on the river.

Ippolito re-raised with A-A and Opponent called.

Opponent had pocket 5-5's and saw a flop of 10-10-5 for the full-house.

Opponent contained his excitement and checked. Ippolito bet, followed by a flat call.

Turn card - 2.

Opponent checked and Ippolito jamed all in.

Opponent tables 5-5 for the full house, felling good.

Peter is counting his outs when the Ace hits the river giving him the bigger boat.

To add another twist to the hand, Roslyn Quarto folded 10-5.

If she was in, all three would have had different full-houses.

When it rains it pours.

Brikis Four Flushed - Out

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Josh Brikis was short stacked all day.

He got his chips all-in pre-flop good holding A♣ K♦ vs. A♦Q♥

Board: 8♥ 2♥ 5♥ 6♥ 10♣

In the 200K pot, Brikis was drawing dead on turn.

Josh will take 64th place for $6,665

Einiger Busted by Abramov's Aces

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship 

Play resumed following dinner and they wasted no time getting back into the action.

On a flop of 8 7 2 with two clubs, Scott Einiger got all-in against big stacker Or Abramov.  Or tabled two red Aces and Scott tabled AJ of spades.  "I thought I had spades!" Scott says.  "You do have spades" someone at the table said.  Scott thought he had flopped the nut flush draw, but the flop was one spade and two clubs.

The last two came 3 7 (with no more spades) and Scott walked away, visibly upset with himself over the mis-read.  He will still get paid, however.

With that pot Or Abramov is up to 1.4 and has overtaken Roz Quarto for the chip lead.

Event 24: Dinner Break

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

~100 players remain as the field is on one hour dinner break. The average stack is 63k.

Play resumes at 8:30 pm

Big Game Hunter

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Putting the Rich in Lyndaker

Over the years internet phenoms have stepped away from the computers and have joined live play action. But rarely have we seen the likes of Rich Lyndaker (Lowville, NY) who, up until recently, has played mostly on-line high stakes cash games.

Lyndaker, who's known as "nutsinho" on PokerStars and "Kpederson" on Full Tilt, has won millions of dollars on-line playing $100/$200 NL. Now he's branching out to live action.

"I'm trying to do both, but more live and less on-line," says Lyndaker, who just cashed in the Championship Event. This is Lyndaker's second trip to Borgata, as he played in the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship last fall.

Lyndaker got the itch to play in live tournaments when his friend Tom Marchese (Boonton, NJ) finished third a year ago in the 2010 Borgata Winter Open Championship Event. The Card Player points Marchese earned for the deep run, helped propel Marchese to earn the magazine's top honor.

"He won player of the year and I have to try and match that," said Lyndaker, who's also friends with Chalie Hook (Philadelphia, PA), as both are part of the remaining 71 player field.

"I want to travel the country and play in more live events like this," says Lyndaker, and is hoping to hone his tournament skills to play exclusive high-roller events that can cost as much as $250,000 to enter.

But for now his focus is on Borgata and the shrinking field that's chasing the big money topped by the $533,210 first prize. Lyndaker currently has an above average stack with 450k.

Million Chip Mark

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

As players run off to break, Roslyn Quarto stops by media row and says she's just a few chips shy of 1 million. After Vanessa Selbt busted a few hours ago, Quarto is the last woman standing in the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

The local grinder began the day first in chips and has more than doubled her stack playing small ball throughout Day 3. "I can't believe I have almost a million," she says grinning from ear to ear as she's clearly still one of the biggest stacks in the room.

Dinner break continues.

Early Bird Special

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

After the bubble breaks, so does table 9 as 71 players remain. After everyone is settled, dinner break is a few minutes early and the Event Center is quiet.

Now that hand-for-hand play is over, 25 minutes go back on the clock and when play resumes 50 minutes remain on Level 20 (4k/5k/500 ante).

The cards are back in the air at approximately 8:20 pm.

Simultaneous Bubble Burst & First To Cash

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Bubble Breaks & First To Cash

Bob Courtney (Millbury, MA) began the day with 340,700 and is all in with 78,500. He's finds himself in the small blind with A-3 and is called by big blind Greg Marcus who has Q-Q.

Board runs: 3-2-J-9-4.

Queens hold up and Bob is out of the tournament and thinks he is the bubble.

Since we're hand for hand, Bob suddenly realizes that another hand in progress also has an all-in with a call. Which brings us over to...

Tim Latouch didn't know another player (Bob) just busted or he might have folded, although he said aloud he was never folding. Instead, with 78,000 all in, his K-Q ran into LJ Sande's J-J which failed to connect on a board of: A-9-5-5-6

Bob Courtney's 78,500 chip total before the hand had Tim Latouch's 78,000 covered by 500 chips which makes Tim Latouch the bubble and Bob Courtney first to cash for $6,665.

1 purple tournament chip (500) is the difference between $6,665 and $0.

Very sick. That's why you have to deal the bubble hand by hand.

Still Going

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Tournament Director Tab Duchateau (standing center)

Watches O'Grady, Suer & Latouch Play the Short Stacks

After 30+ minutes of hand-for-hand play (12 hands), there's yet to be one called all-in. There are several stacks that are less than 100k who are feeling the pinch as blinds are 4k/8k/500 ante.

Steve Ryan (New York, NY) says being on the bubble with 20 big blinds is "the worst."

Table 5 has three short stacks side-by-side. Shannon O'Grady (Fairfax, VA), Bobby Suer (and Tim Latouch (Devon, PA), who are all in the 60 to 80k range.

Also at their table is Allan Vrooman (Greenville, NC) and Mike Leah (Las Vegas, NV) who play a hand to the river. Vrooman bets 30k and says, "we shouldn't even be in this pot."

Leah reluctantly rolls his 6 blue chips into the middle, Vrooman tables trip 10s and Leah mucks.

Half the total time it takes break the bubble will be added back to the clock.

Event 24: Patti Looking For Cake

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

17 Tables remain

Level 10: Blinds - 600 / 1200 with 200 antes.

Started with 627 entries and will play throughout the night until there's a winner.

Borgata regular, Patti Haggerty (Brigantine, NJ) is among the chip leaders with 190,000.

Hand-for-Hand

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

One player busted before the break and now 73 remain. Play is now hand-for-hand as we're on the bubble, one elimination from the money

Each table will play one hand and stop until all 9 tables have completed their action. This is to ensure that no tables are deliberately stalling and playing less hands during this critical period.

Level 20 (4k/8k/500 ante) is underway.

Three Way Action Pot

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

A juicy flop and turn and a ton of chips gets Brian Lamanna (Las Vegas, NV) to push the rest of his short stack all-in. Gavin Smith quickly folds and the third Opponent in the hand calls.

7♥ 6♠ 7♣ 10♥

Brian tables 9♣ 8♣ vs. Opponent's 4♥ 5♥

River: 3♣

Lamanna fades the heart and his straight holds up.

With that pot Brian now has 334,000

Players are taking a ten minute color-up break.

Brikis Runs Bad

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Josh Brikis is in a 500k pot with KK and loses to QT, a short time later he's bitten by kings again.

Brikis and Aryeh Grunewald (Jackson, NJ) see a flop of 997, Grunewald shoves all-in and Brikis calls.

Brikis: KK
Grunewald: AQ

Turn: X
River: A

Brikis loses another 500k pot and doesn't say a word. Bill Pillosoph is across the table and says, "you've had some tough beats kid. You should have a million chips."

74 players remain, two from the money.

Simon Shlez - Chipleader

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Vadim Shlez (Manalapan, NJ)

Vadim started the day with 219,300 and has climbed all the way up to 900,000.

Can you say "chip leader"?

Shlez has what looks like a small rock protecting his cards.

Today he is a rock-climber.

Tomorrow he might be a rock-star.

Ryan About Ryan

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Steve Ryan - Four Away From Cashing

Steve Ryan never had a giant stack and never really was at risk for his life. He's slowly been grinding and chipping up form 74,000 day 1, to 160,000 to his current stack of 220,000.

Steve's friend Ryan Eriquezzo encouraged him to play in this Championship because he knows his game, knows he's a smart, intelligent player, and knew his style would suit this format well. Eriquezzo who took down Event 20 6-max, was just spotted rooting his boy from the rail.

"We all help each other out. There are a lot of ups and downs in this business and you need a solid network of friends" said Eriquezzo.

Steve Ryan agrees and added "emotionally, financially, or just to talk strategy, it's important to maintain good relationships."

These guys are friends but when it comes to the poker community a lot of them are really each others family.

Steve's strategy is serving him well since he's been at Roslyn Quarto's table all day along with some other big stacks.

76 players remain so Steve is just four away from cashing.

Chip Counts

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Various Chip Counts

Vadim Shlez 800k
Roslyn Quarto 650k
Steve Tabb 615k
Scott Eininger 435k
Tony Campagna 462k
Rich Lyndaker 460k
Chalie Hook 440k
Josh Brikis 400k
Ara Melikian 330k
Mike Leah 302k
Will Jaffe 240k

Short Shove Session

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Travis Allan's A-K runs down pocket Queens to keep his tournament alive.

Board: J-K-8-5-5 works for Travis who has doubled up his 93,500 to over 200,000.

For the short stacks we're obviously at the point where you have to win your coin flip races.

80 players remain on 9 tables.

Top 72 make the cake.

Selbst Sunk by Quads

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Selbst Says Goodbye

WSOP Bracelet holder Vanessa Selbst, who began the day 7th in chips, is on the rail after flopping a straight and losing to quads.

Selbst shoves all-in her last 90k on a board of K 9 10, Ara Melikian snap calls.

Melekian: 10 10 (set of 10s)
Selbst: Q J (straight)

Turn: X

River: 10

Melekian hits quad 10s to knock Selbst out and with her elimination Roslyn Quarto is the last woman standing.

420K Pot

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Or Abramov

This one got the rail chirping.

Or Abramov (New York, NY) just turned Q-4 off into gold.

Opponent limps so Or calls from the small blind and sees a flop of A-3-2.

Opponent checks and Or bets. Flat call.

Turn card 5 gives Or the wheel.

Opponent shoves all in. Abramov is covered and calls.

Opponent tables 33 for a set of threes.

The wheel holds and Abramov scoops the 420,000 pot.

Event 24: No More Chances

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Patel & Borrero

Now that the field is finalized with 627 entries, there are no more re-entries. Manny Patel is out, while his buddy Miguel Borrero is still in.

Jason Young is out for the third time, while Gene Castro calls his exit, "the stroll of sadness," instead of the customary "walk of shame."

250 players remain with an average stack of 25k.

Level 8 (400/800/75 ante) is underway

Playing Tightening Up

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Stone Faced

All eyes are on the short stacks and as 84 players remain, 12 from the money. The list includes
Fritz Stoner (Lancaster, PA) who is free rolling as the on-line contest winner for the Borgata free Championship Seat.

Stoner only has 135k and says, "just trying to get to sundown," he says while waiting for a premium hand.

Here's what they're playing for:

Entries: 718 Total Buy-In: $2,369,400

Place-Amount

1 $533,210
2 $310,273
3 $189,611
4 $156,286
5 $126,407
6 $103,425
7 $ 82,740
8 $ 63,204
9 $ 43,669
10-12 $ 28,729
13-15 $ 20,685
16-18 $ 14,250
19-27 $ 12,181
28-36 $ 10,802
37-45 $ 9,653
46-54 $ 8,504
55-63 $ 7,584
64-72 $ 6,665

Boston Three Party

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Jean Claude Moussa (Boston, MA) - 530,000

So how did Jean Claude Moussa suddenly climb up to 530,000 chips?

Three key hands with the last being most key.

1) Doubled up 80,000 when his AA in the small blind got in against A-K and held.

2) Got another 80,000 after hitting a set of Jacks, again against A-K (same guy).

3) Blinds are 2000 / 4000 and Jean Claude raises in the cut-off holding wired fives. Flop comes heart heavy K-10-5. Big blind checks so Moussa fires out 15,000. BB makes it 30,000 more. Moussa adds 60,000 on top and BB shoves the rest of his 250,000 stack.

BB tables A-3 of hearts and finds his flush on the turn card 9 of hearts.

Then the miracle river 9, paired the board giving Jean Claude the monster runner, runner, full-house along with a ton of chips.

Moussa has been sitting at the same table as today's chip leader Roslyn Quarto but the two haven't really played many significant hands together.

Muffins on the Rise

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Matt Mazzeo

"It's so gross, you don't want this hand, says Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo. The short version: Mazzeo gets it all-in bad with AK vs AA, flops a king, turns a king and busts a player.

"I would've been down to 80(k) if I lost the hand, instead I'm up to 400."

Event 24: After Re-Buys = 627 Entrants

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Numbers are in as announced by Tab over the loud speaker.

436 players initially bought in for the noon event.

Total entries = 627.

Still a packed house in the main event center.

This is a one day tournament and we'll be here to cover it until the very end.

Event 24: Flamer On Fire

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Neil Flamer

Neil hates to play the last hand before the break. He just broke his own rule after looking down at pocket tens. Things got better for Neil as he flopped a set with a guy betting into him.

Board: 4-6-10-6-8.

With Flamer's Full-house he knocked a player out and tripled up to 42,000.

Neil didn't think he was even going to make it into this tournament. He was playing in another casino, won at craps, called Borgata Poker, and they told him he could get in through Level 6.

So he rushed over, made it in, in time, and after twelve hands, tripled up.

Neil is a big blog fan and reads it religiously.

We appreciate the kind words.

Level 7: Blinds - 300 / 600 with 75 antes.

No more re-buys.

All In All Its Just A-nother Nick In The Wall

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Nick Ricciardi (Palm Beach, FL) - 530,000

This could be your second chip-leader just under Roslyn Quarto who recently took a small hit.

Ricciardi told me he received a couple of late Christmas presents when he saw his A-Q hit an A-9-4 flop and Opponent holding 8-8 decided to make an untimely shove.

So he's knocked out a couple players but other than that, not too many showdowns as Ricciardi is raising but not getting callers.

He's built a huge wall of chips to protect himself.

Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo is directly seated to his right and is building a wall of his own.

We'll report if these two decide to tangle.

Nobody Believes Me

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Roslyn Raising with the Goods

Roslyn Quarto, began Day 3 as the chip leader and continues to stay at the top of the list with 700k. The Jersey girl says she's been playing small ball and chipping up as, "nobody believes me."

RQ, as she's known by friends, is going off the grid and has shut her phone down. "I'm scared and confident at the same time."

Play continues as they'll go another 75 minutes before a color-up break. Level 18 (2,500/5,000/400 ante) is underway.

Marcus Marks Territory

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Greg Marcus played well and went deep in the last two of these Championships and is looking to go even deeper this year. The first step has been accomplished as he just scored a needed double up with his 94,700 tournament life at risk with only J-8 suited.

Josh Brikis gave him action with A-10 and the two saw a board play out: 5-5-4-J-5 giving Marcus the boat.

Also at table 2, Aryeh Grunewald (Jackson, NJ) just won a coin flip against a very tight player who is now out.

Grunewald's A-K vs. Opponent's 10-10.

King on the flop held up and Grunewald builds his stack to above average numbers.

"That was a tough call. That's why I took a minute to decide" said Aryeh.

Players are dropping out faster than we can keep up with them.

Event 24: 30 Minute Warning

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Players are wearing a path between the Event Center and the registration desk as they have up to three chances to enter the field.

One player, with his torn registration ticket in hand, says he busted with pocket kings. He's clearly frustrated and not looking for any attention and isn't interested in re-entering.

"It's a good tournament, but it's just not my day."

WSOP Bracelet holder Jason Young is already 0 for 2 and says he'll try and "jam one more time," when the blinds are 200/400. The time is now as Level 6, the last 30 minute level to re-enter is underway.

Melkersen Sacked

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Melkersen's Extended Coffee Break

Mike Melkersen (New Market, VA) puts his last 40k all-in with A9 against the AJ of Gil Sacks. The board runs clean for Sacks and Melkersen is out.

"I played bad all day," said Melkersen, who finished 4th ($44,000) in the Championship Event of the 2010 Borgata Summer Open. "It's nice when poker works out the way it's supposed to."

Certainly a better perspective than the players who try to justify a bad play and blame the deck.
Melkersen is one of the many Championship Event casualties who are taking a crack at Event 24.

Jattin Tries to Hook Clown Fish

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Farid Jattin (Miami, FL) and Borgata regular Eric "Clown Fish" Doerr have been verbally sparring all day at the same table. Clown Fish - "I looked up your tournament record and I know I'm a better player than you." Farid Jattin - "You don't even know my name." Clown Fish - "Isn't it Farid?" Farid - "No." I knelt down and asked, "what is your name?" and he answered, Farid F-A-R-I-D. The table laughed. Farid is up to 260,000 after his A-J shove held up against K-Q. "I played with the guy yesterday and actually like him" admitted Doerr.

Hot Corner

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Gavin Smith, Tony Campagna and Chalie Hook are side-by-side on table 8 and when I remark it's a reality show waiting to happen. Smith quips, "yeah it'll be called "Punch the Blogger."

That's the cue to find another table, so Hook points me towards Rich Lyndaker (Lowville, NY), one of the top on-line high stakes cash players who goes by 'nutsinho.' Lyndaker and Hook both have ~370k.

Hurwitz Hurting No Longer

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Jeffery Hurwitz (New Haven, CT) decided to jam with K♠ Q♦ in the small blind with 60,000 left.
9♥10♥ called him and did not like the results.

Hand kept getting better and better for Hurwitz.

Board: A♣ Q♣ 3♥ Q♠ K♥

After scooping with the full house, Jeffery (primarily an on-line player) said, "I'm happy with that result".

117 players remain on 13 tables.

Average chip stack is 184,102

Event 24: Re-buy Extravaganza

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Marguerite Spagnuolo (Staten Island, NY)

Maguerite Spagnuolo doubled up already, holding top two pair. Now she's at a new table that she believes will be the final table. Long way to go for that. Maguerite bubbled yesterday's $350 and said, "Not today. No way. No how. I have to win it for my kids Marco & Adriana."

She made a note that some in the tournament are getting their chips in horribly giving gifts away to other players than re-buying. Looks like she wants to capitalize on some of that Donk play while it lasts. "One guy bragged about re-buying three times already" said Spagnuolo.

Can only re-buy through Level 6 so if you're going for the re-buy record, go for it!

Event 24: The Real Poker Housewives

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Debbie "Mother Poker" Troncone
&
Gina "Ginevil" Cannone

Getting Nailed

Full time Borgata girls have no time for manicures and pedicures so in between their tournament and cash play they fit in their "girl time".

Debbie and Gina cram in a quick polish in between hands - poker hands that is.

They're both joking that they are fashion degenerates - but are having a fun time.

Some say, the better you look, the better you feel, the better you play.

Chip Counts on Break

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

While players are on a 10 minute break here's a look at the big stacks.

Vadim Shlez 620k
Roslyn Quarto 525k
Steve Tabb 460k
Vanessa Selbst 450k

126 player are on break with an average stack of 171k.

Play resumes at Level 17 (2k/4k/300 ante).

Seat Change

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

More Poker for Patti

Unfortunately for Patti Haggerty (Brigantine, NJ) switching seats means she's switching tournaments. She began the day with an average stack of 135k, but doesn't get anything going.

Event 24 is still open, so Haggerty makes a somber walk towards the back of the Event Center.
Once the Borgata regular shakes off the disappointment she'll buckle down for a shot of the $5o,000 guaranteed prize pool.

The Championship Event is down to 14 tables and 13o players remain with an average stack of 165k.

Breaking Good

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Sacks Blind Retreat

Short stack Gil Sacks (Bala Cynwyd, PA) jokingly says to the table, "you mind if I take a minute, I'm hoping they break our table." Sacks, who's due to pay the big blind, folds and as if on cue, the floor managers announce that Table 15 is next to go.

Everyone gets a good laugh and on the redraw Sacks moves to Table 12 where he winds up behind the button.

Event 24: Growing Field

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

The $50,000 guarantee is attracting a lot of players in the back of the Event Center. James Boyle and WSOP Bracelet holder Jason Young are late entrants as registration is open through Level 6.

500k

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Vadim Vanquishes Aces

Vadim Shlez (Manalapan, NJ) has been a force at Table 1 going from stalking the front runners to one of the top dogs. On the first hand of the day Shelz has pocket kings against the pocket aces of Dan Wach (Boonton, NJ) in a clash of top 30 stacks.

Shlez spikes a king on the flop and doubles 220k, while Wach is down to 7k and is out the next hand.

Shlez says, "it was the best hour of my life in live poker," as he takes his stack to 500k, one of several players in the 450 to 525k range.

Two Hands = Early Exit

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Max-Value on Jacks

As the clock for Level 15 hits 0:00 and players scurry on break, one hand lingers on table 6 and it involves Derek Buonano (Tolland, CT) who began the day 5th in chips with more than 300k.

Two hands earlier Buonano lost 160k when his aces are cracked by Steven Tabb (Newton, MA) and pocket queens. Down to 150k Buonano jams all-in after Eric "Pools" Siegel (Melville, NY) is all-in for 24k and Max Gurevich (Staten Island, NY) flat calls.

The action is back to Gurevich who tanks for a minute, but makes the call.

Siegel: J♠ 10♠
Gurevich: J♦ J♥
Buonano: A♣ K♥

The case jack flops and Gurevich takes out two players. Buonano sees his chip stack disintegrate in five minutes, while Gurevich is now at 440k.

Play resumes with Level 16 (1,500/3k/300 ante).

Event 24: Trophy Event

$170 +$30 NL (2 Re-Entry)

Players no longer in the Championship Event still have three chances to win a coveted Borgata title and the trophy that goes with it, including this noon event.

Mike "The Nose" Castaldo is in the field after a frustrating bust from the Main late in Day 2. He's sticking around to not only play, but to support his good friend Scott Eininger who has an above average stack in the Championship Event.

This is a re-entry tournament with a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000. Players start with 10k in chips, levels last 30 minutes long and blinds start at 25/50.

Seat Open

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

The cries of "Seat Open" are fast and furious as anyone who has the starting stack of 30k or less are in shove mode.

On the first deal of the day, Edward Jordan (Belle Mead, NJ) is all-in, but doesn't get a call. Unfortunately he's out a few hands later. Right in front of Media Row James Vannneman is out, he began the day with 32k.

Table 17 is breaking and those players are already looking for new seats.

Table Draws

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Smith & Selbst

As the players wait for "shuffle up and deal" it's a meet and greet for new faces and old acquaintances. The featured table draw is at 14, where WSOP bracelet holders Gavin Smith and Vanessa Selbst are playing. Selbst begins the day 7th in chips with 297k, while Smith is above average with half of that.

Other interesting tables:

Table 2: Josh Brikis and Scott Einiger
Table 5: Mike Leah and Will "The Thrill" Failla
Table 7: Roslyn Quarto (1st in chips) and Adam Wessley (3rd)

Play starts with Level 15 (1,200/2,400/300 ante).

Moving Day

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Day 3 is when players not only try to make the money, but can put themselves in position to take down the more than $500,000 first prize.

A quiet calm before the all-in storm is here as the field files into the Event Center. Players are taking their seats, stacking their chips, and ready to play.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

TODAY IN THE EVENT CENTER

11A - Event 21: $3,300 + $200 Championship No Limit Holdem
Day 3

12P - Event 24: $170 + $30 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 Guaranteed

• 2 Re-Entry
• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minutes
• 1-day event

6P - Event 57: $100 + $20 No Limit Hold'em

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

Event 23 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 23: $300 + $50 No Limit Hold'em
February 1, 2011

Entries: 172
Total Buy-In: $51,600

FINAL RESULTS
1. GREGORY WEBER (HOWELL, NJ): $15,015
2. TONY TRAN (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $8,258
3. PAWEL KULPA (WHITESTONE, NY): $4,755
4. ANTONIO SAVARESE (OLD BRIDGE, NJ): $4,004
5. HARRY WHITE (HUGHESVILLE, PA): $3,003
6. HARRY PIACITELLI (PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA): $2,503
7. DAN EICHHORN (HENDERSON, NV): $2,002
8. PAUL GALIANO (OLD BRIDGE, NJ): $1,502
9. ILYA VASSERMAN (HUNTINGDON VY, PA): $1,126
10. MARK ALAN GORDON (ROCKVILLE, MD): $1,001
11. RICHARD LOGUE (RICHMOND, VA): $1,001
12. THOMAS TAYLOR (MEDRCINE MAT AB, CAN): $1,001
13. YOSEF TARLOW (MORRISTOWN, NJ): $876
14. DOUGLAS ADKINS (GREENSBORO, NC): $876
15. MICHAEL DIMOLFETTO (STATEN ISLAND, NY): $876
16. ERIC STERN (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $751
17. FRANK GANGEMI (LONG BEACH, NY): $751
18. JAMES GOVERNA (RICHBORO, PA): $751

Event 23 Recap

Event 23: $300 + $50 No Limit Hold'em is in the books and wow was it exciting. I've never seen so many multiple all-in's with two tables to go.

First cards were dealt at high noon which allowed a couple bust-outs from the Championship Event to jump in, including Blake Purvis and WSOP bracelet holder John Spadavecchia.

Also in the field was Borgata tournament regular Marguerite Spagnuolo (Staten Island, NY).

Great turnout with 172 players battling for the $50, 052 total prize pool of which the top 18 got paid.

Tom "Shamrock" Gilligan (NYC via Sligo, Ireland) was the first player to reach 100k.

Other leaders included, Dwyte Pilgrim (Brooklyn, NY) 80k, Dan Eichhorn (Las Vegas, NV) 78k,
Frank Lomanno (Medina, OH) 75k, Greg Weber (Howell, NJ) 70k, and Michael DiMolfetto (Staten Island, NY) 62k.

Also in the field was Bill Childs (Pinehurst, NC) who finished 9th in Event 22 and the runner up, Angelo Modica. Both gentlemen did not cash.

One of the big three-way-action hands involved Richard Logue's K-10, Mark Gordon's A-K of diamonds, and Doug Adkins K-K. River Ace gave Logue broadway and Gordon the side pot.

A trend developed where the worst hand-in kept winning and destroying big hole card pairs.

Vincent Carbone was the bubble and now all his friends are telling him "he got Carbone-d" as he didn't make any money at all.

With so much action, this tournament didn't last too long - around 1am.
People were flying out and the final table flew by too.

When the dust settled, third place of $4,755 went to Pawel Kulpa, second place went to Tony Tran, and first place prize of $15,015 went to our youngest ever poker tournament winner, Greg Weber.

In one of the greatest stories of the entire 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open, today was Greg's 21st birthday.

You never saw someone so excited to win. "Nice birthday present" said Greg Weber (Howell, NJ) who has been playing on-line poker since he was 18 under the name Patty Weber.

Greg studies Sports Management at Rutgers University and had the day off today so figured he'd celebrate his 21st birthday at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

His big hand of the tournament had his Opponent turning a flush while Greg flopped a set then rivered a full house.

Greg won $15,015 worth of cake to dig into.

Tonight Greg Weber blew out the candles and his wish came true.

Event 23: Greg Weber - 1st Place - Happy Birthday

$300 +$50

Greg Weber - 1st Place - $15,015

Youngest Ever Borgata Winner

After playing all day, Greg Weber just pulled off the greatest 21st birthday and birthday present he could have ever wished for.

By winning Event 23, Greg has become the youngest ever Borgata Poker Open Winner. You can't get any younger, others can only tie.

"It's pretty amazing. Nice birthday present" smiled Weber.

Greg showed me a Borgata stamp on his hand to get into the bars. "I had my ID checked like three times today" said Greg.

Bet he's gonna go out and have a drink to celebrate. It's legal now, why not?

The final hand gave the victory to Greg holding only 2-6 of clubs. Two on the turn was enough to beat his Opponent and secure the win.

Happy Birthday To You.
Happy Birthday To You.
You Just Won $15,015 Dollars.
Happy Birthday To You.

Guess we know what Greg wished when he blew out the candles.

It was great to see so much excitement on the kids face.

He earned it and I'm sure will be back for more.

Event 23: Tony Tran - 2nd Place

$300 +$50

Tony Tran - 2nd Place - $8,258

Event 23: Pawel Kulpa - 3rd Place

$300 +$50

Pawel Kulpa - 3rd Place - $4,755

Event 23: Antonio Savarese - 4th Place

$300 +$50

Antonio Savarese - 4th Place - $4,004

Event 23: Harry White - 5th Place

$300 +$50

Harry White - 5th Place - $3,003

Earlier tonight, Harry went in with A-5 vs A-7. He stood up and started hollering, 2-3-4, 2-3-4. And right on cue, the 2-3-4 hit the flop and gave White the wheel. The irony is Whitey's Wheels is on his hat. Harry is retired but Wheels was and still is his business.

Then he shoved all in three times in a row. The last shove did him in. "The first two nobody called me, then this last time I actually had a hand, pocket Jacks" said White.

White's JJ vs A-K. Everyone stood up and shouted when the K came on the river whacking White out in 6th place for $3,003.

Event 23: Harry Piacitelli - 6th Place

$300 +$50

Harry Piacitelli - 6th Place - $2,503

Event 23: Dan Eichhorn - 7th Place

$300 +$50

Dan Eichhorn - 7th Place - $2,002

Dan Eichhorn was in the big blind with 11.5 blinds to go so he called the small blind's shove risking his final 115,000 into the middle.

Dan tabled K-2 suited up against pocket tens.

Board: Q-10-4-J-6

No straight on the river sends Eichhorn out in 7th place.

He'll take home $2,002 for his efforts today.

Event 23: Paul Galiano - 8th Place

$300 +$50

Paul Galiano - 8th Place - $1,502

Pretty standard knock-out for Paul Galiano who shoved a short stack with K-Q and ran into pocket aces.

"I played the last two hours and played three hands" said Paul.

"Fun table, nice guys" said the trainer from Old Bridge, NJ.

"I'm gonna get there one of these days" said Galiano when speaking about taking one of these Borgata tournament down.

Event 21 Recap (Day 2)

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Roslyn Quarto - Chip Leader

It was ladies night at the Borgata Winter Poker Open as two of the top 10 chip stacks belong to women, including WSOP bracelet holder Vanessa Selbst (New Haven, CT) who is 7th overall, just a shade less than 300k. Selbst, who is one of 167 players advancing to Day 3, trails Borgata regular Roslyn Quarto (Edison, NJ) who tops the chip count with 450k.

"A lot better than 20-thousand," said Selbst, who started Day 2 with a below average stack, "not a bad day."

Quarto, who won an event during the September, 2010 Borgata Poker Open, got off to a good start by winning a 150k pot when she turned a queen high flush and knocked out two people who had sets.

"I was playing well and put out a couple of bluffs and got lucky," she said. "You can't accumulate this many chips without some luck. I only lost one flip all day."

539 players returned for Day 2 to continue their quest for the $532,210 first prize, but many recognizable names were eliminated including WSOP Bracelet holders Eric Buchman (Valley Stream, NY) and Ryan Hughes (Phoenix, AZ).

Other notables who busted included: Dave Fox, "Action" Bob Hwang, Farzad Rouhani, Gene Catro, Mike "The Nose Castaldo and James Boyle.

Bracelet holders Gavin Smith (Las Vegas, NV) and Brian Lemke (Norristown, PA) are still alive for the $2,369,400 total buy-in as the top 72 players hit the money on Day 3.

Also still in the field are former Borgata Event winners Josh Brikis, Chalie Hook, Mike Leah, Mike Beasley and Jack Schanbacher, who with 400k, is currently second in chips.

Day 3 gets underway 11 am Wednesday in the Event Center at Borgata with the average stack at 129k.