Thursday, November 10, 2011

Event 1: 5th Place - B. Mossey

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Blinds are up to 150k/300k with 40k antes.

Bryan Mossey got all-in with J8, getting action from big stack Mike Lydon, who held KQ. 

 Bryan Mossey (Orlando, FL)
$20,700

Mike's hand held up and he took the pot.  He's now got over 12.2 million.

Bryan Mossey busted out in 5th place, earning $20,700 and besting his big brother by one spot (and about $4,000).

This final table is now Mossey-free.

Michael Michnik caught another double-up.  He's now back up to ~3.6 million.

Four players remain.

Event 1: 6th Place - D. Mossey

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

After Son Nguyen opened for 630k, Michael Michnik (button) moved all-in.  Son called all-in for 3.265 million, showing pocket Tens.  Michael was racing with AK suited.

The board came Q 8 2 7 6 and Son doubled up to over 7 million and the chip lead.  Michael was left with about 700k.

 Donald Mossey (Wilmington, DE)
$16,748

On the next hand, Donald Mossey was all in (bb) against Mike Lydon (sb).  Donald's AQ off was dominated by Mike's AK off.  The board came A 8 7 J A and Mike's kicker played.

Donald Mossey busted out in 6th place, claiming $16,748.

Donald's younger brother Bryan is now the last Mossey standing in this event.

Then short-stacked Michael Michnik was all-in and doubled up to ~1.4 million.

Five players remain.  Average is 4.8 million.

Event 1: B. Mossey Doubles

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

In a battle of the blinds, Bryan Mossey moved in from the small for 1.32 million.

Mike Lydon called from the big blind.

Bryan held Q3.  Mike was ahead with KT. 

The flop came K 3 3 and Bryan took the lead with trip 3s. 

A Queen on the turn improved his hand to a full house. 

A 2 on the river clinched the double-up for Bryan.  He chipped up to ~2.8 million.

Still six players.

Event 2: Loe"win"thal

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Eli Loewenthal - 600,000

Eli Loewenthal got a new zipcode and in back to back hands soars up to 600,000 and 2nd in the tournament in chips. He now has enough chips to take up two Borgata seats.

"First I woke up to QQ in the big blind vs. A-10 of clubs...Then in the small blind my 8-8 held up against a K-4 shove" explained Loewenthal.

Eli still has to worry about chip leader Phil Lockwood at the table holding on to 720,000 and the chip lead.

Joe Gatmaitan has chipped down to 320,000.

Blinds are up to 8000 / 16,000.

Getting close to two tables.

Event 1: Break Time Chip Counts

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

At the end of the level, the final six players took off for a break.  Here are some rough chip counts:

Mike Lydon - 6.7 million
John Hinds - 5.5 million
Michael Michnik - 3.6 million
Donald Mossey - 3.5 million
Son Nguyen - 3.3 million
 Bryan Mossey - 1.7 million

Play resumed after the break with blinds of 120k/240k with 30k antes.

Average stack is now over 4 million (~17 big blinds). 

Event 2: Two Ladies Left

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Amanda Musumeci & Katie Baxter

Both women are seated directly across from each other and both have around 200,000.

Title of Last Women Standing is up for grabs and of course both could catch a run and be the Last Person Standing, which is the ultimate goal.

Katie Baxter is from Laurel, MD.

26 players remain and we're down to three tables.

Leo Goldberger also at Amanda's and Katie's table just busted out in 27th place for $751.

Event 1: 7th Place - Glassman

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Greg Glassman (utg+1) open-shoved and action folded around to John Hinds in the big blind, who snap-called all-in.

Greg held AT off.  John had him dominated with AK suited.  The board came K J 8 7 5 and John doubled up to over 5 million, good for second in chips.

 Greg Glassman (Brooklyn, NY)
$13,361

Greg was left very short -- only about 270k.  He moved those chips in on the next hand utg.  Chip leader Mike Lydon moved all-in, folding the rest of the field.

Greg held KT off and was once again dominated by AK suited.  The board came Q 8 2 2 8 and Mike took the pot.

Greg Glassman finished 7th, good for $13,361.

Event 1: Leaderboard Update

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds are up to 100k/200k with 30k antes.

Seven players remain.  Average stack is almost 3.5 million.  That's 17.5 big blinds.

Mike Lydon is still the chip leader.  He's up to ~6.8 million (34 big blinds).

Michael Michnick is a distant second with about 4 million (20 big blinds).

Event 2: All That Glitters Is Not Goldberger

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Leo Goldberger Short But Not Out

Right before the break Leo Goldberger dusts off 200,000 in two hands leaving him with 60,000.

"Both times I had A-9 and both times I lost" laughed Leo.

A-9 vs. A-6 and a six hit for a 90,000 hit. Then in the next hand, Leo's A-9 raced against wired seven's and couldn't connect.

Players are back from the break and ready to roll.

Blinds 6000 - 12,000 with 2000 antes.

31 players remain.

Event 2: Break Time

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Tablemates Cuong Phung & Phil Lockwood

Phil Lockwood (Suffern, NY) builds a nice wall of chips before the ten minute break.
A rough count of 375,000 makes Phil 2nd in the room.

We started the day with 480 entries and only 32 players remain.

Event 1: 8th Place - Ben Avram

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Michael Michnik moved in and got looked up by Greg Glassman, who held AT .  Michael was ahead with pocket 4s. 

The board came T 9 4 9 6 and Michael doubled up with fours-full.  He's now up to ~4.3 million.  Greg was left with ~1.3 million.

 Robert Ben Avram (Canoga Park, CA)
$10,162

Robert Ben Avram moved his short-stack in and got called by big stack Mike Lydon.  Robert's pocket 4s did not work out so well.  Mike had pocket 8s.

The board changed nothing and Robert was busted in 8th place, earning $10,162.

Event 2: Hand Of The Tournament

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Joe Gatmaitan (Philadelphia) - 550,000

Now we have a definitive chip leader and his name is Joe Gatmaitan from Philadelphia.

Joe started the hand with 252,500. After some initial raises, Adam Lippert ships his newly acquired big stack and has his Opponent's covered.

Eli Lowenthal tanks and finally folds A-K.

Joe, looking down at QQ, quickly calls off his entire stack - at risk.

"He claimed he had AA in the 5-bet hand so I said if he has em again, he has em again" - explained Gatmaitan who prayed his ladies were ahead.

Lippert shows JJ and the board remained dry.
Eli was patting himself on the back with the big slick laydown.

Two hands later Lippert was on the rail in 37th place for $605.

New chip leader with four tables to go.

Event 1: 9th Place - Hen

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Bryan Mossey was all-in for his last 320k holding pocket 8s.  Greg Glassman had him crushed with pocket Queens.  Then the board ran out T 5 4 8 T and Bryan took the pot with eights-full.

Bryan is now up to about 1.1 million, thanks to 420k in blinds and antes.

 Yigal Hen (Hollywood, FL)
$6,963

Yigal Hen lost most of his chips to Bryan Mossey when Yigal's pocket Kings were beat by Bryan's AQ.

Yigal then got his last chips in with 94 and ran into another AQ, which held up.

Yigal Hen finished in 9th place, earning $6,963. 

Event 1: 10th Place - Wardell

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds are up to 80k/160k with 20k antes.

Scott Wardell moved all-in and then Donald Mossey moved all-in over the top.

Everyone else got out of the way.

 Scott Wardell (Tabernacle, NJ)
$4,516

Scott held Q2 and was in bad shape against Donald's pocket Kings.

The board brought no help for Scott and he reported to the rail in 10th place.  He'll pick up $4,516 for his efforts.

Event 2: Lippert Five Bets

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Poker pro Adam "Lippy" Lippert is up to 270,000 and among the chip leaders after a five-bet all in shove causes Opponent to tank hard, then fold. No cards were shown but Lippert tumbles in 88,000 without seeing a flop.

He's among the chip leaders after Joakim Brochard's stack just got whacked.

Everyone's asking who the chip leader is but right now there is no dominant leader. It's anybody's game. If you have 250,000 - 300,000 collectively you are in the lead.

39 players remain. They'll be playing and we'll be blogging until one winner tonight.

Event 1: Hen Doubles Thru Hinds

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Yigal Hen was all-in pre-flop holding pocket Kings.  John Hinds had him covered and held AT. 

An Ace on the flop gave John the lead and it looked like Yigal was headed for a 10th place finish.

Then a 2-outer King landed on the river, giving Yigal a set and the double-up.  He's now up to ~1.7 million. 

John was left with about 1.5 million.

Event 2: Bubbles

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Within five minutes, three players bust on three different tables and everyone celebrates making the money.

Triple bubble in 48th place was Mike Dentale who lost to A-J once an Ace spiked the river.

Double bubble in 47th place was Anthony Mancerri (Long Island, NY) whose A-K was crippled by Amanda Musumeci's A-Q after the queen hit, then was finished off when his A-3 nut flush draw didn't hit. Not a bad finish for Anthony's second biggest tournament he's ever played in.

Your 46th place bubble boy is 2011 Borgata Spring Poker Open Champion Russel Crane (Howell, NJ). In hand for hand play he open shoved utg with A-J and 80,000 but ran into chip leader, Joakim Brochard's KK.

Board of 9-9-8-2-Q gives Crane the disappointing news and puts our tournament chip leader in an even more dominating position with 360,000.

45th place will take home $605 while first place will enjoy $30,925 of the $124,800 total buy-in.

Event 1: Final Table Underway

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

They took a break in conjunction with the redraw and have now resumed play at the final table.  About ten minutes remained in the 60k/120k blind level.

Here the new lineup:

Seat - Player
1 - Michael Michnick
2 - Yigal Hen
3 - Greg Glassman
4 - Bryan Mossey
5 - Mike Lydon
6 - Scott Wardell
7 - Donald Mossey
8 - Robert Ben Avram
9 - Son Nguyen
10 - John Hinds

Event 1: 11th Place - Reddick

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Joe Reddick moved in for his last 265k (just over two big blinds) from the button.  Greg Glassman called from the small blind, then Donald Massey moved all-in from the big.

 Joe Reddick (Bronx, NY)
$4,516

Greg opted out and Donald showed AK off.  Joe was in bad shape with AJ offsuit.

The board came T 4 3 8 A and Donald took the pot with his superior kicker.

Joe finished in 11th place for $4,516.

The remaining 10 players are now moving to the final table.

Event 1: Short Stacks Surviving

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Bryan Mossey got his short-stack in and got three callers, who checked down the board of K Q 6 T 2.

Bryan rolled over KQ for opt two pair and all three opponents mucked.  Bryan quadrupled up to about 800k.

Blinds moved up to 60k/120k with 20k antes.  11 players remain.  Average is 2.2 million.  That's about 18 big blinds.

Yigal Hen was all-in for ~350k and got looked up by Son Nguyen.  Yigal's KT was racing against Son's pocket 5s.  The board came 9 8 7 9 K and Yigal caught his card on the river to double up.

Mike Lydon is still the chip leader with ~4.5 million.

Event 2: Ruslan Rush

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Event 2 players are back from dinner and it didn't take long to usher in some excitement.

Ruslan Dykshteyn (Staten Island, NY) rivers broadway to felt the player to his immediate right.

Opponent held pocket KK's up against Ruslan's A-J.

Board ran out 2-Q-10-5-K. The 110,000 pot gives Dykshteyn 200,000.

A bit of fireworks as some thought KK slow-rolled early on but the player adamantly claimed he only looked at one card before shoving. Nonetheless, the king on the river gave Opponent a set but also gave Ruslan the knock-out punch.

Event 1: 12th Place - Schletter

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Dave Schletter moved his short-stack in with AQ suited, getting action from Son Nguyen, who held JT suited.

Dave Schletter (Succasunna, NY)
$4,516

The flop came A Q 5 and it looked like Dave had ensured his double-up.

Turn was another 5 and meant nothing.  Then a King came on the river, giving Son the Broadway straight and the pot.

Dave finished in 12th place for $4,516.

Event 2: Moving Time

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

This event has been split between the Poker and Signature rooms, but the final 57 players are all now in the Poker Room.

The remaining 31 players in the Signature Room bagged and tagged before going on dinner break. The chips were set up next to the three remaining tables in the Poker Room.

We're just 18 spots from the money as the top 45 cash and things should tighten up when play resumes at 8:30 pm.

Event 1: Two More Out the Door

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Short-stack Mike Sweeney (Scranton, PA) was all-in and busted quickly after play resumed.  He finished 14th.

Eric Lyston (Hanover, PA) was next to hit the rail.  He finished 13th.

Both players earned $3,387 for their work.

12 players remain.  Average is now over 2 million.

Event 1: Back to Business

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Play has resumed following dinner with blinds of 50k/100k with 10k antes.

With 14 players remaining, the average stack is over 1.7 million, which is only 17 big blinds.


Event 2: Dinner Break Numbers

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Joakim Brochard (Long Island, NY) continues to lead the chip counts with 280k, while Larry Ribaudo (Fairlawn, NJ) is also with more than 200k with 217k.

Number of Entrants: 480
Players Remaining: 57
Chips In Play: 5.8 million

Average Stack: 102k (17 BB)
Big Stack: 280k (47 BB)

Next Blinds: 3k/6k/500 ante

Total Buy-In: $124,800
First Prize: $30,925
Places Paid: 45

Event 2: Chip Leaders

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

A look at the big stacks heading to the 7:30 pm dinner break.

Joakim Brochard (Long Island, NY) 200k
Matthew Wantman (Boston, MA) 190k
George Ninos (Belleville, NJ) 185k
Ruslan Dykshteyn (Staten Island, NY) 180k

90 players remain with an average stack of 64k (21 BB) as level 14 (1,500/3k/400 ante) continues.

Event 2: Saul Searching

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Brochard's Building Blocks

WPT title holder Kevin Saul (Chicago, IL) is on the rail after running pocket kings into the pocket aces of Joakim Brochard (Long Island, NY).

Saul's hashtag on twitter is #shrug as he hits the rail with less than 100 players remaining.

Brochard recaps the hand by saying all the chips are in preflop with Saul losing his last 75k.

Brochard is now the chip leader 190k as blinds are 1,200/2,400/300 ante.

Event 1: Dinner Time Chip Counts

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

At the end of the level, players were sent on a 50 minute dinner break.  Play will resume at 7:45pm.

Here are some rough chips counts as of dinner:

Mike Lydon - 4.275 million
Scott Wardell - 3 million
Michael Michnik - 2.7  million
Greg Glassman - 2.5 million
Son Nguyen - 2 million
John Allen Hinds - 1.8 million
Donald Mossey - 1.6 million
Dave Schletter - 1.3 million
Yigal Hen - 1.02 million
Eric Lyston - 1 million
Robert Ben Avram - 1 million
Joe Riddick - 900k
Bryan Mossey - 750k
Mike Sweeney - 650k

Event 1: 15th Place - Bardah

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds are up to 40k/80k with 10k antes.

Ronnie Bardah (Brockton, MA) got his last ~800k in holding pocket 9s, only to run into the pocket Aces of Michael Michnik.

 Ronnie Bardah

Ronnie got no help from the board and was busted in 15th place.  He'll pick up $3,387 for his efforts.

Event 1: 15 Remain

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Sead Duraku (Glendale, NY) was the first to depart after the redraw.  He finished 18th.

After Mike Lydon raised, Arkadiy Tsinis moved in for 1.1 million.  Mike called, showing pocket Tens.  Arkadiy had him crushed with pocket Jacks, but a Ten came on the flop giving Mike a set.

 Mike Lydon

Arakdiy couldn't find either of the two remaining Jacks and was busted in 17th place.  Mike is now up to over 4 million and clearly in the chip lead.

Jimmy Born (Clarksville, MD) got his last chips in with AQ and was racing against Son Nguyen's pocket 8s.  Jimmy failed to improve and was busted in 16th place.

All three of these players will collect $2,145 for their efforts.

Event 2: Amanda on the Move

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Musumeci Mulls Over a Call

She went from rural Pennsylvania to rolling in Vegas, and now Amanda Musumeci's poker tour is here at Borgata. But her whirlwind wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for Black Friday.

"I wouldn't be grinding live if could be grinding in my PJs," says the 27-year old pro, who's resorted to playing live ever since internet poker was shutdown in the U.S.

Musumeci's meteoric rise was highlighted by her 62nd place finish in the recently concluded WSOP Main Event, where she was the second to last woman standing in a field of nearly 6,900 players. The deep run earned her $131,000 and capped a series where she cashed four times in eleven events.

"I was looking forward to it and disappointed that I didn't get (last woman standing)," she says.

Musumeci's career began while studying PR/Speech/Mass Communications on the rural Pennsylvania campus of Kutztown University.

"I mostly played home games when somebody said I should play on-line," she says, adding that her first $150 on-line deposit was her only one. That was in the summer of 2007 and five months later, after training with regional pros, Musumeci moved to Las Vegas.

After four years of building a bankroll and picking up sponsors, Musumeci, like many pros, was forced to give up her laptop and find the best live tournaments she can.

The Borgata Fall Poker Open is the perfect series for Musumeci, who recently moved back to Philadelphia and is the oldest of six daughters in an extended family. And as her career continues to take off, Musumeci isn't hung up on if people only see her as a good woman player.

"Publicity, is publicity," she says, "if you can market yourself well, there's a lot more money to be made away from the table than there is just grinding."

And for the women professionals who long to be looked at for their skills and not their gender, Musumeci counters their thinking.

"A lot of women are outspoken against having specialty tournaments or women's events. I think they definitely should (have them). You should be looking to take advantage of the equity. Bad players are bad players whether they're male or female."

Musumeci has entered each of the first two events and plans on playing most of the tournaments, including the Championship Event, during the 15 day series before planning her next destination.

Event 1: Final Two Tables

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike 'Little Man' Sica busted out in 19th place ($1,769) and with his departure, the final 18 players drew seats and moved to the final two tables.

Here's the lineup:

Table One
1 - Greg Glassman
2 - Donald Mossey
3 - Ronnie Bardah
4 - Michael Michnik
5 - Mike Sweeney
6 - Scott Wardell
7 - Robert Ben Avram
8 - Sead Duraku
9 - Joe Riddick

Table Two
1 - Arkadiy Tsinis
2 - Bryan Mossey
3 - Yigal Hen
4 - Son Nguyen
5 - Mike Lydon
6 - John Hinds
7 - Dave Schletter
8 - Eric Lyston
9 - Jimmy Born

Both seat twos are occupied by the Mossey bothers, Donald and Bryan.  Poker must run in their family as they've both made it to the final two tables.  Donald is the older of the two.  We'll watch to see how this sibling rivalry plays out.

Event 1: Yet Another New Chip Leader

 $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

19 players remain as the blinds go up to 30k/60k with 5k antes.  The average stack of 1.2 million is only 20 big blinds.

 Greg Glassman

Greg Glassman has claimed the chip lead with about 2.7 million.

Ronnie Bardah's stack has been going in the wrong direction.  When action folded to his small blind, he moved in for his last 275k.  The big blind called showing K6 off.  Ronnie held Q7 and was at least drawing live.

A Queen on the flop was the salvation Ronnie was looking for.  He doubled up to ~550k.

Event 1: Klier Kaput

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Ben Klier was down to his last 470k when he moved all-in.  After getting his chip count, Greg Glassman (Brooklyn, NY) announced he was all-in from the button, folding both blinds.

 Ben Klier

Greg rolled over pocket Aces, which were crushing Ben's Q8 suited.  The board came A 6 4 7 4 and Ben reported to the rail in 22nd place ($1,769).

Greg chipped up to ~2.7 million.

Event 1: New Chip Leader

  $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Play has resumed after the break with blinds of 25k/50k and 5k antes.

22 players remain.

Average stack of 1.1 million is about 22 big blinds.

 Scott Wardell

Scott Wardell (Tabernacle, NJ) has taken the chip lead with ~2.6 million.

Arkadiy Tsinis has dropped back to ~1.87 million.

Son Nguyen has about 1.76 million.

All three of these big stacks are sharing the felt on table one.

Event 2: Payouts!

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Entries: 480
Total Buy-In: $124,800

Place - Amount

1st $30,925
2nd $17,856
3rd $10,895
4th $8,777
5th $6,900
6th $5,750
7th $4,600
8th $3,511
9th $2,421
10-12 $ 1,574
13-15 $1,211
16-18 $956
19-27 $751
28-36 $666
37-45 $605

Event 1: Sica Triples

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

After seat 1 opened for a raise, seat two moved all in for ~250k.  Seat 4 flat-called, then Mike 'Little Man' Sica (bb) shoved (having seat 2 covered).  The opener opted out and seat 4 called the extra.

When the cards were tabled, seat 2 was in bad shape with AQ off.  Seat 4 had pocket 9s and was ahead.  Mike had AK suited.

The board came A 8 4 7 2 and Mike took the pot, busting seat two in the process.  He chipped up to over 800k.

The level expired and 22 surviving players were given a break while the 1k chips were colored up.

Event 2: Back from Break

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The final number is 480 players as players are just back from break. The unofficial chip leader is Adam Lippert who has 125k.

Level 10 (600/1,200/200 ante) is underway.

Event 1: Syracuse Sacked

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

After seat 6 shoved for 361k, 'Syracuse' Chris Tsiprailidis wasted no time moving in his 352k. 

 'Syracuse' Chris Tsiprailidis

Chris was way ahead with pocket Kings.  His opponent held pocket 6s.

The door card was a 6, however, as the board ran out J 6 4 3 3 and his opponent took the pot with sixes-full.

Chris hit the rail in 25th place ($1,769).

Event 1: Blinds Up, Payouts Up, Bardah Up

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Play has continued into the next level wtih blinds of 20k/40k and 4k antes.  Average is 898k.

27 players remain and the next 9 to depart will claim $1,769 as their parting gift.

 Ronnie Bardah

Ronnie Bardah is making his move.  First, he doubled through Bern Klier in a battle of the blinds.  Then he flopped a straight flush to get to 800k.  Then he took out a couple of short-stacks to climb to about 1 million.

Event 1: Tsinis Takes Lead

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Arkadiy Tsinis (Las Vegas, NV) is the new chip leader with over 2 million chips.  He's holding court on table one with Mitchell Dobbs, former chip leader Son Nguyen, and John Hinds.

 Arkadiy Tsinis

You may not be familiar with Arkadiy, but he picked up his first WSOP bracelet this summer along with over half a million bucks.

Son Nguyen is down to about 1.6 million.

John Hinds doubled up to ~830k when his pocket Tens held up against pocket 4s.

Event 2: Chasing 500

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Signature Room Signature Table

More than 450 players are in the field and the final tally will be at least 475 as the number moves toward 500.

The unofficial featured table is in the Signature room where Adam "Lippy" Lippert, "Big" Al Riccobono, "Lucky" Lee Kirsch, and Eric "Chick Parm" Siegel are all playing.

Event 1: Klier Chips Up

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Ben Klier's pocket Queens held up against A8 suited, even after his opponent flopped a flush draw.  Ben sent another player to the rail and chipped up to about 1.3 million.

Son Nguyen has lost some ground, dropping back to about 1.7 million.

Chris Tsiprailidis has tripled up to about 300k.

29 players remain in the hunt for the top prize of $84,682.

Event 1: Stayin' Alive

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Ronnie Bardah lost a big pot when his pocket Queens were run down by AK.  He's left with ~350k.  His table broke and he was moved to able 4, immediately left of Borgata tournament regular Ben Klier.  Ben's got about 660k.

Also still alive are two WSOP bracelet holders: Mike 'Little Man' Sica with 350k and 'Syracuse' Chris Tsiprailidis, who is holding on with about 100k.

32 players remain making the average stack almost 758k (about 25 big blinds).

Blinds are currently 15k/30k with 4k antes.

Event 1: Inselberg Ousted

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

David Inselberg moved all-in for his last 148k from the middle and got action from the cutoff.  David's 86 suited was actually racing against pocket 5s.

David flopped pair of 6s to take the lead, but when an 8 came on the river to give him two pair, it made a straight for his opponent.  David hit the rail.

Son Nguyen is still the chip leader and is approaching the 2-million-chip mark.

Event 1: Numbers Update

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Number of Entrants: 970
Players Remaining: 42
Chips In Play: 24.3 million

Average Stack: 577k (24 BB)
Big Stack: 2.3 million (96 BB)

Next Blinds: 12k/24k/3k

Total Buy-In: $388,000
First Prize: $84,682
Places Paid: 90
Current Pay Level: $1,393 (37-45th places)

Event 1: Run Is Over

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Burin Burned by Jacks

Burin Shinawatra (Annadale, VA) began the day with an above average chip stack, but was just happy to still be playing. "I almost didn't make it to dinner," he says about his Day 1 play, "but I got lucky."

Shinawatra survived an all-in with KQ vs AK to double a 12k stack when he hit a straight on the river. After slowly building his stack to make the money, he returned for Day 2 with 331k (33 BB).

Shinawatra's good fortune comes to an end when his AK doesn't connect against the pocket jacks of chip leader Son Nguyen (Myrtle Beach, SC).

Shinawatra loses his last 350k, while Nguyen now has 1.7 million.

"I played my best, so I'm happy," he says after earning $1,242 for his 46th place finish, "but you always want to do better."

Shinawatra has been doing well in Virginia real estate, but is looking to play poker more seriously and improve his resume. "I usually cash, but only have two final tables. You need some luck at the end. If I hit that hand, who knows how it goes."

Event 1: Chip Leaders

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Chip Leader, Son Nguyen

The big stacks are now past the 1 million chip mark.

A look at the unofficial top 5:

Name-Chip Count

Son Nguyen (Myrtle Beach, SC) 1.4 million
Michael Dobbs (Sayville, NY) 1.2 million
Robert Ben Avram (Conaga Park, CA) 1.1 million
Jimmy Born (Clarksville, MD) 1 million
Arkadiy Tsinis (Las Vegas, NV) 1 million

Event 1: Million Chip Pot

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Born to be Alive

Dan Pignataro (Fairfield, NJ) begins the day as the chip leader, but loses half his stack to Jimmy Born (Clarksville, MD) in a one million chip pot.

Blinds: 10k/20k/3k ante

Pignataro opens from the cutoff to 38k
Born puts 100k on top
Pignataro reraises all in
Born calls ~500k total and is at risk.

Pignataro: AK
Born: AQ

Born has one foot out the door and until a queen hits the board and he doubles to more than one million chips. Pignataro is cut to ~500k.

58 players remain with an average stack of 418k (21 BB).

Event 1: Payouts

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

A reminder of what they're playing for:

Entries: 970
Total Buy-In: $388,000

Place - Amount

1st $84,682
2nd $49,868
3rd $30,109
4th $25,216
5th $20,700
6th $16,748
7th $13,361
8th $10,162
9th $6,963
10-12 $4,516
13-15 $3,387
16-18 $2,145
19-27 $1,769
28-36 $1,543
37-45 $1,393
46-54 $1,242
55-63 $1,129
64-72 $1,016
73-81 $903
82-90 $828

Event 1: Agonizing Fold

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Bardah & Britt

There's lots of table talk and nearly a half million chips on the line when Ronnie Bardah (Brockton, MA) finally folds to Danny Britt's (Bronx, NY) all-in bet.

We don't the history or what either player had, but the picture illustrates what's on the line as the payouts continue to grow. 64 players remain on eight tables as we've crossed off three pay levels and everyone is guaranteed more than $1,000.

Event 1: 3 Way All In

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Motley Makes Quads

On the first hand of Day 2, short stack Doug Motley (Danville, VA) moves all in for 71k. Ara Melikian (Scarsdale, NY) is also all in for 246k and Scott Gallant (Ambler, PA) joins the party and has both players covered.

Motley: 77
Melikian: 99
Gallant: AA

The flop brings an ace, but the table erupts when the turn and river are both 7s and Motley stays alive with quad 7s. Gallant wins the side pot, while Melikian is heading to the cashier to collect $828.

"I'm having fun," says the Virginia car man, "it's an absolute blast." And he's not just saying that because he tripled-up.

Motley says he's got an "awesome" wife who lets him come to Borgata a couple of times of year. He figures the getaway is best for both of them after 4 children, one grandchild and thirty years of marriage.

"I just love this place," he says while stacking more than 200k. Motley is a true family man
who's card protector that features his granddaughter Anna.

Daughter Donna & Granddaughter Anna

Event 1: 90 Proof

$400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The 90 remaining players are settling in and it doesn't take long to hear, "all-in," as the bust outs will be fast and furious.

Daniel Pignataro (Fairfield, NJ) is the big stack with 865k (87 BB), while Chau Nguyen (Mechanicsburg, PA) returns in 90th position with 29k (3 BB).

Play resumes with 14 minutes left on Level 20 (5k/10k/1k ante).

Event 2: Prep Work

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Vasserman's Adventure

The bubble broke for Event 1 at 2 am which means all 90 returning players are in the money for a min cash of $828. It also means that 17 players are starting with less than 10 big blinds (5k/10k/1k ante).

Ilya Vasserman (Huntingdon Valley, PA) is a shorty with only 60k and is warming-up by playing the early levels of Event 2.

"What do I have to lose," says Vasserman, who's a Borgata regular. "I'm making money over there," he says pointing across the room. "If I don't double-up in the first 10 hands I'll be right back here. So why not play and see what happens."

Vasserman says if he goes deep in Event 1 that he's be happy to forfeit the $300 entry for this tournament as he chases the $84,682 first prize.

Unfortunately Larry Gold isn't as lucky. He busted in 92nd place, two spots off the money, after grinding for 15 hours and is back to play Event 2.

Event 2: Quick Exit

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Lockwood Locking up Chips

It doesn't take long for Phil Lockwood (Suffern, NY) to take advantage of impatient play.

Lockwood's has pocket queens on the first hand and hits a queen on the river for a full house to practically double-up. "Usually I don't like to get involved that early," says the 4th grade teacher, "but it worked out."

His opponent is out three hands later and Lockwood is feeling good. "Usually I'm slow and steady," he says referring to his turtle card protector.

Lockwood says he's missing a teacher conference today and "might" attend tomorrow's depending on how well the tournament goes.

Towering Turtle

Event 2: Roll Call

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Quick attendance check reveals the follow players are present
and accounted for:

Austen Johnson
Adam Lippert
Al Riccobono
Eric Siegel
Kelly Armentrout
Lee Kirsch
Mike Summers
Larry Gold
Eric Doerr
Mike Castaldo
James Boyle
Mike Dentale

Level 2 (50/100) is underway.

Event 2: Deja Vu

$260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Another busy day for Borgata Poker as Event 2 kicks off with 25 tables in the Signature Room and another 25+ in the Poker Room.

To steal a Yogi Berra line. "it's deja vu, all over again." It's the second straight re-entry tournament, which means players will gamble it up early knowing they can jump right back in.

Today's structure is 12k in chips and 30 minute levels, blinds start at 25/50 as the cards are in the air!

This is the calm before the storm as it's Day 2 for the remaining 90 players in Event 1 as they take their shot at the nearly $85,000 first prize.

Thursday, November 10

Today's Events (Poker Room)

11AM: Event 2 - $260 + $40 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
  • Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
  • Levels will last 30 minutes each 
  • Players may Re-Enter during first 6 Levels (unlimited Re-Entry) 
  • 1-Day event
4PM: Event 24 - $260 + $40 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH
  • Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
  • This is a Bounty No Limit Hold'em tournament.  Players must have their Bounty Chip clearly displayed in order to remain active in tournament.
  • Levels 1-10: will last 25 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 30 minutes each 
  • 1-Day event

7PM: Event 25 - $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em
  • Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips 
  • Levels 1will last 20 minutes each 
  • 1-Day event

    Event 1 - Start of Day 2 Chip Counts

    Borgata Fall Poker Open
    Event 1: $400 + $50 Deep Stack NLH
    November 9-10, 2011

    Entries:  970
    Total Buy-In:  $388,000

    START OF DAY 2 CHIP COUNTS:

    1. DANIEL PIGNATARO (FAIRFIELD, NJ):  865,000
    2. ARKADIY TSINIS (LAS VEGAS, NV):  796,000
    3. SON NGUYEN (ELKRIDGE HO, MD):  692,000
    4. JOHN HINDS (WINTERVILLE, NC):  638,000
    5. VINCENT DEVITA (BAYVILLE, NJ):  631,000
    6. RONNIE BARDAH (BROCKTON, MA):  615,000
    7. THOMAS YANG (NO ARLINGTON, NJ):  599,000
    8. MICHAEL SWEENEY (SCRANTON, PA):  574,000
    9. GREGORY GLASSMAN (BROOKLYN, NY):  564,000
    10. SEAD DURAKU (GLENDALE, NY):  549,000
    11. ROBERT BEN AVRAM (CANOGA PARK, CA):  538,000
    12. ERIC LYSTON (HANOVER, PA):  520,000
    13. MICHAEL DOBBS (SAYVILLE, NY):  509,000
    14. BRANDON SCHAEFER (HOBOKEN, NJ):  469,000
    15. MICHAEL LYDON (MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY):  468,000
    16. ALEXANDER BELESON (MANALAPAN, NJ):  447,000
    17. MELAD MARJI (ONEIDA, NY):  443,000
    18. DAVID INSELBERG (LONG BEACH, NY):  437,000
    19. JAMES SPARACIO (MOORESTOWN, NJ):  432,000
    20. SCOTT WARDELL (TABERNACLE, NJ):  428,000
    21. RICHARD HALL (BRISTOW, VA):  400,000
    22. PAUL MARZARELLA (ANNANDALE, NJ):  398,000
    23. JOSEPH REDDICK (BRONX, NY):  393,000
    24. MICHAEL WOLL (MANAHAWKIN, NJ):  380,000
    25. MATTHEW JACOBI (DURHAM, NC):  352,000
    26. WILLIAM VANWAGNER (CAMPBELL HALL, NY):  350,000
    27. EDWARD PHAM (LANSDALE, PA):  348,000
    28. MATTHEW KLECKNER (COPLAY, PA):  333,000
    29. BURIN SHINAWATRA (ANNADALE, VA):  331,000
    30. KRISTOFFER BLAND (NEWPORT NEWS, VA):  316,000

    End of Day 1A Chip Totals

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

    Daniel Pignataro.............. 865,000
    Arkadiy Tsinis................. 796,000
    Son Nguyen..................... 692,000
    John Allan Hinds............ 638,000
    Vincent Devita............... 631,000
    Ronnie Bardah.............. 615,000
    Thomas Yang................ 599,000
    Michael Sweeney.......... 574,000
    Greg Glassman............. 564,000
    Sead Daraky................. 549,000
    Robert Benavram........ 538,000
    Eric Lyston.................. 520,000


    Dan Pignataro - 865,000

    Chip leader Daniel Pignataro is from Northern NJ outside of Manhattan.
    He graduated college in May, built up a bank roll on PS and is taking a shot at professional poker.

    See everybody tomorrow at high noon!

    Bubble Busto

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

    We're at 90 players after Dan Darmiento's A-6 knocked out Opponent's A-10.

    Board ran: K-K-K-6-3.

    Darmiento was happy to knock out the bubble boy as was the rest of the field.

    Bagging and tagging and calling it a night.

    Play resumes tomorrow at 12 noon.

    Chip Leader

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold-em (Re-Entry)

    Sead had Duraku had 678,000 and the tournament chip lead but ran into aces and dusted off 178,000.

    That means Son Nguyen, who re-built his whacked stack, is your chip leader with 620,000.

    As the chip leader I have granted Nguyen one request breaking normal blogger protocal. He wants to shout out to his friend James "mx4ever" S.

    93 players remain.

    High Hopes Short Stack

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

    Martin Morgan (New York, NY) has 156,000 but has proclaimed a comeback and a win. I like his determination and optimism. As for his strategy in this final hour he said he's going to let the cards dictate what happens.

    Word on the floor is if we reach the bubble we'll play until 2am. If we don't reach the money-bubble we're playing until we do.

    Looking To Cash

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

    Doug Motley (Danville, VA)

    Doug has three boys and one girl at home. His wife had this poker chip made of his youngest eighteen year old daughter and his grandchild.

    Doug owns a car dealership and is excited to play in his first ever big poker tournament. "I ain't hard to please" said Motley whose goal is to cash. Just twenty players away from reaching that mark and he seems to be on a tight table without any monster stacks.

    Doug's sense of humor and thick southern accent comes across. Believe me, this gentleman breaks every stereotype of a slick flashy car salesman.

    Riding a 200,000 stack, he has a good shot at making the cake, unless of course he runs into a couple of lemons.

    Break Before Bubble Breaks

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

    The remaining 117 players are on a ten minute break.

    Play began at 11AM - after a full day of poker, nobody wants to bubble-out in 91st place.

    Short stacks have to decide if they want to jam and go for the double up or fold and wait out the money.

    Everyone seems in a good mood, happy that the Borgata Fall Poker Open is underway.

    Have fun and get your poker fix on!

    Huge Double Up

    $400 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)


    Matt Jacobi (Durham, NC) - 550,000

    Matt Jocobi will be at Borgata for the 17 days and he's off to a great start with Event 1. Some drama earlier when he though his AA's were cracked and he was out the door.

    The pot ballooned up to 200,000 and Matt was at risk. Opponent's 9-10 flopped a straight while Jacoby shoved with AA. He hit a miracle river to catch a lucky Broadway show and scoop the pot.

    He's now sitting good with 550,000 and only 2 hours remaining in today's action.