Event 16: Benisty Leads $1K

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

 Benisty Comfortable at the Top

Michael Benisty (New York, NY) says this is only the third poker tournament he's ever played, so it's no surprise that the $1,000 tournament of the Borgata Summer Poker Open is the highest buy-in he's ever played.

So far, so good.

The derivatives trader who hails from Paris, France is on top of the chip counts with 308k as the final 18 players are all in the money and have bagged and tagged for the night.

"I'm playing well," says the Frenchman, who says he's only gotten serious about poker in the last year after he won a Friday tournament at Borgata, the first he every played.

The hand that vaulted Benisty into the chip lead was a 130k pot against Dan Walsh when he check-called every street.

"I felt I had a good read," says Walsh, who was confident that his opponent wasn't holding an ace with a better kicker.  "It seemed like he wanted to give up the last barrel, but he fired anyway and I called."

Benisty is confident heading into Day 2 as all remaining players are guaranteed a minimum cash of $1,761 as they chase the top prize of $35,210.

"I'm going to play my game," he says, as play resumes noon Sunday. "I'm not going to run the table or be the sheriff. When I have a hand I won't be afraid to push."

Event 16: Chip Counts

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

The remaining 18 players are in the money earning a min cash of $1,761 and still alive for the first place prize of $35,210.

The average stack is 135k (45 BB) as there are 7 minutes left on Level 15 (1,500/3k/400 ante).

Day 2 play resumes noon Saturday in the Poker Room.

Position-Name-Chip Count

1 Michael Benisty 307,800 (103 BB)
2 Arnold Dinio 276,900
3 Tom Evers 219,700
4 Karthik 205,500
5 Alex Torres 201,300
6 Mike Skrapits 179,700
7 William Klevitz 164,000
8 Jordan Ludwick 140,600
9 Danny Yusefzadeh 125,300
10 Seth Manfield 123,300
11 Pierre Bowery 113,900 
12 Jose Silverman 108,400
13 Jason Loehrs 71,200
14 Neil Lusher 62,700 
15 Nick Salimbene 41,000
16 Avi Kataria 29,400
17 Israel Casis 28,500
18 Dave Elliott 24,900 (8 BB)

Check back after 9 am for table and seat assignments.

Event 16: Bubble Breaks

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

After Nick Salimbene doubled-up through Tom Evers, table one has another all in and a call.

Danny Yusefzadeh calls the last 30k of Michael Newman who's in bad shape with A Q vs AK.

The board is no help to Newman and he's officially the bubble boy finishing in 19th place.

The final 18 players are bagging and tagging for the night.

Event 16: One Down, Hand-for-Hand

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

John Lecato ships the last of his chips to Arnold Dinio on a 10 high flop.  Dinio is out kicked A 10 vs K 10 and is the double-bubble in 20th place.

Play is now hand-for-hand as we're one spot from the money.

Event 16: Big Hand, Tough Fold

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 1,200/2,400/300 ante

Dan Walsh raises to 7500
William Klevitz reraises to 30k
Seth Manfield moves all in for 76k
Walsh calls and is all in for 40k
Klevitz goes into the tank for a bet that looks like will be roughly half of his stack.

Klevitz eventually folds.

Walsh: 7 7
Manfield 9 9

Flop: 6 J 8

Turn: 8

River: 5

Manfield's pair of nines hold and he knocks out Walsh in 21st place.  Klevitz doesn't reveal what he had, but his reaction leads the table to believe he folded a higher pocket pair.

Event 16: Two Down, Three from Money

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Joe "Black" Reddick and Dave Finkelstein are out in 22nd & 23rd places respectively. 

Finkelstein's pocket 10s are beaten by the AQ of William Klevitz who flops an ace.

The next elimination is Reddick's pocket queens running into the pocket aces of Arnold Dinio.

That leaves the field with 21 players, three spots from the money.

Blinds are now 1,500/3k/400 ante.

Event 16: Evers Dodges the Deck

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Happily Evers After for Tom 
as Danny Yousefzadeh Looks On

On a board of  9♣ 6♣ 7♥, Tom Evers (East Northport, NY) and Nick Salimbene check, Fred Jafarzadeh bets 15k.

Evers moves all in for 88k, Salimbene tanks and moves all in for more, Salimbene calls for less.

Salimbene: K♠ K♣ (pair of kings, 16% to win)
Jafarzadeh Q♣ 8♣ (flush draw, gutshot strait draw, 46% to win)
Evers 6♦ 9♦ (two pairs, 37% to win)

Turn: 4♠ (Evers the slight favorite at 52%)

River: J♦
 
Evers two pairs hold and he takes his stack to 250k, while Jafarzadeh is left with 34k and Salimbene is out in 24th place.

Evers didn't have the nuts, but says 6♦ 9♦ is close.

"Everybody out flops me," laments Salimbene.

Just before that Yizhaq Ben-Shabat misses a royal flush draw against the set of threes of  Joe "Black" Reddick and is knocked out 25th.

Event 16: Stefanski Misses Belly Buster

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Coming back from break Dave Stefanski is a short stack with only 50k and sees a flop of A Q 10 from the BB.  He moves all in holding J 8 and has a double belly buster, needing a king or nine for the straight.

Jose Silverman makes the call with a pair of aces while holding A 3.

Stefanski hits an 8 on the turn to pick up more outs, but the river is a brick and he's on the rail in 26th place.  Stefanski is looking forward to playing in Sunday's Day 1A of the Championship Event.

Event 16: Chip Counts

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

26 players remain with an average stack of 93k (39 BB) as blinds are now 1,200/2,400/300 ante.

Michael Benisty is the big stack with 290k (121 BB), while short stack Israel Casis says, "I'm just waiting for someone to put me out of my misery."

Casis has 19 BB with 46k.

Table 1

1 Nick Salimbene 125k
2 Fred Jafarzadeh 50k
3 Karthik 155k
4 Arnold Dinio 46k
5 Tom Evers 70k
6 Danny Yousefzadeh 108k
7 Dave Elliott 101k
8 Jason Loehrs 64k
9 Michael Newman 34k

Table 2

1 Avi Kataria 52k
2 Dan Walsh 115k
3 William Klevitz 70k
4 Neil Lusher 41k
5 Seth Manfield 92k
6 Dave Finkelstein 38k
7 Pierre Bowery 155k
8 Jordan Ludwick 168k
9 Michael Benisty 290k

Table 3

1 John Lecato 58k
2 Mike Skrapits 169k
3 Joe "Black" Reddick 80k
4 Dave Stefanski 50k
5 Jose Silverman 87k
6 Alex Torres  104k
7 Israel Casis 46k
8 Yizhaq Ben-Shabat 84k
9

Event 16: Benisty Beats Walsh

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Michael Benisty - Chip Leader

On the last hand before break Michael Benisty (New York, NY) checks-calls every street on a board of A 6 2 8 2. Dan Walsh slides out 40k into the 50k pot and Benisty calls.

"You're good," says Walsh, who waits to muck as Benisty turns over A 4 for a pair of aces.

The 130k pot gives Benisty, who is originally from Paris, France, the chip lead as he's up to 290k and Walsh slides to the middle of the pack at 115k.

Players are on a 10 minute break.

Event 16: Best Hand Holds

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

After seeing a series of bustouts where the better hand failed to hold, we get a typical elimination.

Philippe Casciola is all in and dominated with A 9 vs the A K of Dave Stefanski.

Casciola is out in 27th place, we're now eight spots from the money.

Event 16: Pocket Pairs No Good

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

After Billy Gazes pocket kings are roughed up twice, the next three players are all on the rail when their pocket pairs fail to hold (and none were dominated by a higher pair).

Position-Name (Pocket Pair)

28 Jeff Esterling  (J J)
29 John Kolaski 29 (8 8)
30 Walter Taylor 30 (7 7)

The final 27 players are now on three tables with an average stack of 90k (45 BB); blinds are 1k/2k/300 ante.

Event 16: Gazes Seeing Red (Kings)

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Gazes (center) Grimaces Watching Stefanski Count 

Out the Double-up as Yizhaq Ben-Shabat Looks on

 
"That's two of the worst beats I've ever seen," says Michael Newman, who watches Bill Gazes bust twice with two red kings on back-to-back hands.

First it's blind vs blind when Gazes raises Dave Stefanski who moves all in for 33k.  Gazes snap calls and shows K♦ K♥ vs A♥ 7♥.

Flop: 4 5 6 (Stefanski open ended)

Turn: 8 (Stefanski straight)

River:X

Stefanski's straight gives him the double-up and leaves Gazes with 15k.

On the next hand, Gazes moves all in again with K♦ K♥ vs. the A K of Dave Elliott.  Gazes' day is done in a flash as the ace is in the window.

"Brutal," says another player.

But you'd never know Gazes' kings were roughed-up up as he quietly walks away from the table without saying a word.

Gazes busts in 31st place, as he follows Ryan Schroeder who is out in 32nd.

Event 16: Still Standing

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The remaining 32 players are on four tables, a look at their seat numbers:

Table 1

1 Nick Salimbene
2 Fred Jafarzadeh
3 Karthik
4 Arnold Dinio
5 Tom Evers
6 Danny Yousefzadeh
7
8 Jason Loehrs
9 Ryan Schroeder

Table 2

1 Avi Kataria
2
3 William Klevitz
4 Neil Lusher
5 Seth Manfield
6 Dave Finkelstein
7 Pierre Bowery
8 Jordan Ludwick
9 Michael Benisty

Table 3

1 John Lecato
2 Mike Skrapits
3 Joe "Black" Reddick
4 Walter Taylor
5 Jose Silverman
6 Alex Torres
7
8 John Kolaski
9 Philippe Casciola

Table 4

1 Dan Walsh
2
3 Israel Casis
4 Yizhaq Ben-Shabat
5 Bill Gazes
6 Dave Stefanski
7 Michael Newman
8 Dave Elliott
9 Jeff Esterling

Event 16: Back from Dinner

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

One quick elimination as the field is back from dinner and the field is at 32.  We're now just 14 spots from the money as the min. cash is $1,761.

The field getting back in the groove as they eye the $35,210 first prize.

Level 12 (800/1,600/200 ante) is underway.

Event 16: Simmons & Gazes

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Shortly before the dinner break, Joe Simmons stopped by the tournament area and chatted with Bill Gazes who is playing today and still in.

 Joe Simmons & Bill Gazes

The pals let me snap a pic while they were chatting.

Joe made the WPT TV table during the 2007 WPT Borgata Poker Classic, finishing 4th for $387,709.

Bill Gazes has over $2.3 million in lifetime earnings, but is still looking for his first Borgata Open title.

Event 16: Dinner Break

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Down to 36 players at four tables.

Matt 'Muffins' Mazzeo is toast.  He busted out about 15 minutes before the dinner break.

A couple more hit the door and they were down to 33 players.  Average is 73k.

End of level and time for dinner.

Play will resume at about 8:30pm.

Event 16: Chip Leader

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Two more players have reported to the rail, leaving 39 with a shot at the top prize of $35,210.

Pierre Bowery

Pierre Bowery (Washington, DC) has emerged as a clear chip leader.  He's up to ~250k.

Average stack is 62k.

Event 16: 41 Players Remain

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

Level 21:  Blinds 6k/12k with 2k antes.

They've just returned from break and will play this 50-minute level, then take off for dinner.

41 players remain.  Average stack is 59k.

Among those still in the hunt:

Matt 'Muffins' Mazzeo
Seth Manfield
Ryan Schroeder
Jordan Ludwick
Nick Salimbene
Danny Yousefzadeh
Alex Torres
Bill Gazes

Event 16: Payouts

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Total Entries:  121
Total Buy-In:  $121,000

1:  $35,210
2:  $19,366
3:  $11,150
4:  $9,390
5:  $7,042
6:  $5,869
7:  $4,695
8:  $3,521
9:  $2,641
10 - 12:  $2,347
13 - 15:  $2,054
16 - 18:  $1,761

Event 15 Recap

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

In his first-ever tournament victory, Collin Whyte (Brooklyn, NY) held the chip lead from before dinner on day one, all the way to the finish.  A player made a move on him with pocket 7s when Collin had pocket Queens.  The ladies held up to give Collin a commanding lead, which he worked aggressively all the way to the end.

The win earned him $25,027 and his first Borgata Poker Open trophy.  He plays $10/$25 games back home and gives props to his friends for getting him started in the game:  Allen Chang, Simon Lim, and Jia Liu, who won the Borgata Spring Poker Open Chamionship ($312k) in April.

Borgata tournament regular Mike Summers (Charlottesville, VA) will pick up $13,764 for his runner-up finish.  The independent businessman got lucky to survive on day one.  Shortly before the dinner break with four tables remaining, Mike was all-in and at risk on the turn with nothing but a flush draw against Raj Patel's Broadway straight.  He made the flush on the river to survive and made it all the way to second place. 

Another Borgata regular, Bob Hwang (Barnegat, NJ) came back from the WSOP in Las Vegas to enjoy some tournament time at Borgata.  He finished 4th for $6,674.

Raj Patel, (Meriden, CT) who won $1.2 million at the 2007 WPT Foxwoods World Poker Finals, also made it to the final table of ten, but was short-stacked and the first player to depart on day two, earning $1,668 for 10th place

172 players started on Friday, creating total buy-ins of $86,000.  The final 18 earned a piece of the prize pool.

Cashing on day one of this event were former Borgata Poker Open winners Harry Korotki (Owings Mills, MD)  11th place - $1,668; and James Boyle (Havre de Grace, MD) 14th place - $1,460.

Borgata Summer Poker Open frequent flyers who did not cash in this event include John Hinds, Joe Wertz, Ari Albilia, Franco Bonacci, Jason Henrici, Joe Liberta, Barry Leventhal, Nick Salimbene, Steven Rodriguez, Vladimir Peck, Alyson Parker, Seth Manfield, Howard Wolper, Cuong Phung, Leonardo Palermo, and Tom Pomponio.

Collin Whyte plans to stick around and play the main event, hoping that his good run will continue.  He's parlayed his poker success into his own business, a restaurant called "Brooklyn Wings".  They make "everything from Amazon Garlic to Asian Fusion" chicken wings.   


Final Table Results

1 - Collin Whyte (Brooklyn, NY)  $25,027

2 - Mike Summers (Charlottesville, VA)  $13,764

3 - Paul Shedaker (Croydon, PA)  $7,925
4 - Bob Hwang (Barnegat, NJ)  $6,674
5 - Michael Lapadula (Massapeque Park, NY)  $5,005
6 - Paul Vacchio (Inwood, NY)  $4,171
7 - Brad Loveless (Ellicott City, MD)  $3,337
8 - Gary Schoengold (Olney, MD)  $2,503
9 - Scott Niebling (Cary, NC)  $1,877
10 - Raj Patel (Meriden, CT)  $1,668

Event 15: 1st Place - Whyte

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Collin Whyte (Brooklyn, NY)

$25,027

When the final hand was played, Collin Whyte had all 2.5 million chips in play.  For his victory in this two day event, he earned $25,027 and his first Borgata Open trophy.

Collin has a couple of small cashes here at Borgata before today, but this is his first win and biggest cash on record ("so far" he says with confidence).  He's a regular in the $10/$25 No Limit Hold'em cash games back "in the city", that being New York City/Brooklyn. 

Thanks to his poker winnings, he's opened his own restaurant, "Brooklyn Wings" that is so successful, he's looking to open a second location.  They make "everything from Amazon Garlic to Asian Fusion" wings.

Event 15: 2nd Place - Summers

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Summers (Charlottesville, VA)

$13,764

Collin Whyte had been whittling away at Mike Summers stack.

Then after Collin raised to 80k, Mike shoved for 353k and Collin called.

Mike was ahead with A6. Collin had Q3.  The board came K 5 5 A 7 and Mike doubled up to 714k.

Then they played a hand to the river with a board of J 7 3 T 6.  All the chips went in and Mike showed AT for a pair of Tens.  Collin had T6 for two pair to take the pot and the tournament.

Mike Summers finished in 2nd place, earning $13,764.

Event 15: 3rd Place - Shedaker

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Paul Shedaker (Croydon, PA)

$7,925

Paul Shedaker opened for 63k on the button.  Collin Whyte (sb) counted out the call and after his chips crossed the line but before he let them go, Mike Summers (bb) announced he was all in.  Both players folded.

Blinds went up to 20k/40k with 4k ante.

Paul was all-in from the small blind against Collin Whyte in the big.

Paul's K7 was trailing Collin's AT.  The board ran out T 9 6 T 4 and Collin took the pot.

Paul Shedaker will take home $7,925 for his third place finish.  He's probably going to stick around and play the main event first, though.

Heads-up play began with Mike Summers holding ~660k.  Collin Whyte had all the rest (about 1.9 million).

Event 15: 4th Place - Hwang

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Bob Hwang (Barnegat, NJ)

$6,674

Bob Hwang got his last chips in with A6 suited against the pocket Jacks of Collin Whyte.

Bob turned a flush draw, but whiffed all his outs as the board came 9 9 6 T T.

'Action' Bob Hwang finished in 4th place, earning $6,674.

Collin is up to 1.3 million.  Paul Shedaker has ~615k.  Mike Summers has ~600k.

Event 15: Shedaker Chipping Up

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Paul Shedaker (bb) and Collin Whyte (utg) get to the river with a board of 8 6 3 5 T (no flush possible).    Paul bet 100k and Collin called.  Paul showed KT for a pair of Tens.  Collin mucked.

Mike Summers raised (button) to 65k.  Paul (sb) called.

Flop came Q J T and both checked.  Turn was an 8 and Paul led out for 90k.  Mike called.  River was a 2.  Paul announced he was all-in.  Mike folded.

With that pot, Paul was up to ~730k.   Mike was down to ~550k.

Event 15: Whyte Chips Up

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Summers opened for 60k utg (min-raise).  Collin Whyte called from the small blind.

On the flop of K 9 8 with two clubs, Collin led out for 60k.  Mike called.

Turn was the 7 of hearts, putting two hearts on the board.  Collin fired 100k.

Mike gave it some thought, then let it go.  Collin has over 1 million.

Event 15: Break Time Chip Counts

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Chip Counts as of the break:

Collin Whyte - 920k
Mike Summers - 735k
Bob Hwang - 500k
Paul Shedaker - 415k

Play resumed with blinds of 15k/30k with 4k ante.

Event 15: Stuck at Four

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Still no big showdowns.

Bob Hwang opened for 52k, then Mike Summers raised to 116k on the button.  Everyone folded.

Then is was Paul Shedaker's turn.  He open-shoved for ~290k and everyone folded.  Paul flashed a 2.

Another level gone and time for a break.

Event 15: Hwang Movin' Up

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds are up to 12k/24k with 3k ante.

Still no big showdowns. 

'Action' Bob Hwang has taken it up a notch.  He's been all-in a few times and gotten no calls.  He's back up to almost 600k.

With a total of 2,580,000 chips in play, the average with four players remaining is 645k.

Event 15: Shifting Chips

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Almost an entire level has gone by without any significant hand going to showdown. 

Mike Summer had a little rush where he took several pots with bets and flashed an Ace each time.

Bob Hwang kept surrendering his big blind to a raise and showing a deuce each time.

Chips have shifted around the table, so here are some updated counts:

Collin Whyte - 1 million
Mike Summers - 740k
Paul Shedaker - 500k
Bob Hwang - 310k

Event 15: Break Time Chip Counts

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

End of level and time for another break.  Rough chip counts:

Collin Whyte - 945k
Paul Shedaker - 675k
Mike Summers - 600k
Bob Hwang - 360k

After the break, play resumed with blinds of 10k/20k with 3k ante.

Event 15: 5th Place - Lapadula

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Michael Lapadula (Massapeque Park, NY)

$5,005

Michael Lapadula got his short-stack all-in and called by Collin Whyte.

Michael had A9 off and was dominating Collin's 98 suited.  The board came A Q 7 K 8 and Michael doubled up to ~150k.  


Then he was all-in again, this time against Paul Shedaker.  Michael had AK suited and was racing against Paul's pocket 9s.

The board came 5 2 2 6 4 and Paul took the pot -- he's up to ~650k.

Michael Lapadula finished in 5th place, earning $5,005.

Event 15: Full Boat for Summers

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Summers opened for 36k and was called by Paul Shedaker (button) and Collin Whyte (bb).

On the flop of A 7 7, Mike checked out of turn, then Collin checked, (making Mike's check stand) and Paul checked behind.

Turn was another 7.  Collin bet 45k, Mike called, and Paul folded.  River was a Queen.  Both checked.

Mike showed AQ for the full house.  Collin mucked.  Mike chipped up to ~625k.  Collin dropped to ~850k.

Event 15: Lapadula Doubles

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Michael Lapadula was all-in pre-flop for 66k and Bob Hwang called from the small blind.

Michael's AQ suited was racing against Bob's pocket 8s.

The board came A 3 2 K 4 and Michael doubled up to ~160k.

Bob was left with 460k.

Collin Whyte has extended his chip lead.  He's got over 900k and is continuing his aggressive style, raising most hands pre-flop.

Blinds are up to 8k/16k with 2k ante.

Event 15: 6th Place - Vacchio

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Paul Vacchio (Inwood, NY)

$4,171

Collin White opened for 24k, then Paul Vacchio moved in for ~200k total.

Paul Shedaker (bb) moved in over the top, having Vacchio covered.  Collin let it go, saying he was folding AQ.

Vacchio rolled over J9 suited.  Shedaker was ahead with AK.

It was all over when the flop came A A K.  Vacchio was drawing dead.  The last two were irrelevant running 7s.

Paul Vacchio finished in 6th place for $4,171, a nice follow-up to his win of event 10 for over $20,000.

Paul Shedaker chipped up to ~600k.

Event 15: 7th Place - Loveless

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Brad Loveless (Ellicott City, MD)

$3,337

Collin Whyte opened for 26k (utg+1).  Both blinds called.

On the flop of A 6 5 with two hearts, Paul Shedaker (sb) checked, Brad Loveless (bb) moved all-in for 82k, and Collin tanked.

After a couple of minutes, Collin let it go and Paul insta-called.

Brad had T6 off for middle pair.  Paul had A7 of hearts for top pair with nut flush draw.

The last two came offsuit 3 7 and Paul improved to two pair to take the pot, chipping up to ~375k.

Brad Loveless busted out in 7th place, earning $3,337.

Event 15: Break Time Chip Counts

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

At the end of the level, the final seven took off for a break. 

Here are the rough chip counts:

Collin Whyte - 720k
Bob Hwang - 635k
Mike Summers - 415k
Paul Vacchio - 260k
Paul Shedaker - 250k
Michael Lapadula - 150k
Brad Loveless - 140k

Play resumed with blinds of 6k/12k, 2k ante.

Event 15: 8th Place - Schoengold

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Gary Schoengold (Olney, MD)

$2,503

Gary Schoengold opened for 22k utg, then Bob Hwang raised to 55k from the hijack.

Back to Gary, who shoved.  Bob called.

Gary had the two black Jacks.  Bob had pocket Kings (no spade).

The flop came T 9 4 -- all spades -- and Gary picked up a flush draw.

Turn was an offsuit 8 and Gary added an open-ender to his draws.

River was an offsuit 9, however, and no help to Gary.  He finished in 8th place, earning $2,503. 

After fading all those outs, Bob chipped up to 630k and said "Maybe I'll stay here and not go back to Vegas [for the WSOP].  I never run this good out there".

Event 15: Paging Paul Vacchio

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Paul Vacchio just turned up at the final table a few minutes ago and two players have already busted out.

Strategy?? or just over-slept??

Blinds are up to 5k/10k with 1k ante.

8 Players remain.  Average stack is 323k.

Event 15: 9th Place - Niebling

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Scott Niebling (Cary, NC)

$1,877

Scott Niebling got lucky once when he was all-in with 54 against pocket Kings and sucked out, but on his final hand, he was all-in holding A9.

Brad Loveless (button) looked him up with pocket 8s. 

The board ran out 7 6 4 9 T and Scott paired his 9 on the turn, but the river gave Brad a Ten-high straight to take the pot.

Scott will take $1,877 for 9th place.

Event 15: 10th Place - Patel

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Raj Patel (Meriden, CT)

$1,668

Raj Patel got his last ~50k in with KQ, but ran into the pocket Queens of Gary Schoengold.  The Ladies held up for Gary and he collected the pot.

Raj Patel finished 10th for $1,668.

He's planning to head over and join event 16, today's $1k NLH main event.

Championship Qualifier

$270 + $30 Championship Qualifier No Limit Hold'em

If today's $1000 + $90 NLH event is too steep for your bankroll, you can try your hand at winning a seat into the main event for much less.

Starting at noon is a $270 + $30 Championship Qualifier where approximately 1 in 10 players will win a seat into the Championship Event.

The Championship Event starts Sunday at 11am with Day 1A (second starting day 1B is Monday) and concludes Thursday June 21.  Qualifiers continue today and all through the weekend;  you can see the schedule here.

Event 15: Final Table Underway

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The final table of ten is underway in the back of the Poker Room.

Blinds 4k/8k with 1k ante (about 25 minutes remain in this level).

Here's a reminder of what's at stake:

Place - Payout

1:  $25,027
2:  $13,764
3:  $7,925
4:  $6,674
5:  $5,005
6:  $4,171
7:  $3,337
8:  $2,503
9:  $1,877
10:  $1,668

Event 16: Familiar Faces

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

More familiar faces have joined the field:

Ted Geier
Seth Manfield
Danny Yousefzadeh
Ryan Schroeder

Ten tables are up and running with room for more.  Late registration (and re-entry) is open through level four (about 2 pm).

Event 16: Early Birds

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Early Birds looking for worms:

Jason 'Gorilla Fish' Evans
Vladimir Peck
Jordan Ludwick
Barbara Rogers
Franco Bonacci
Matt Burnitz
Kurt Lichtman
Tim Bishop

Event 16: Play is Underway

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Today's main event is a $1k buy-in No Limit Hold'em event.  This is the last main event before the Championship begins on Sunday.

Late registration and re-entries will be allowed through level 4.  The first ten levels are 40 minutes long, which means registration will be open until about 2pm.

They'll play until about 2am, then call it a night, returning Sunday at noon for day two.

Players began with 20,000 chips.

Level 1 Blinds are 25/50.

Shuffle Up & Deal!

Saturday, June 16

TODAY'S EVENTS (POKER ROOM)
REGISTER IN POKER ROOM


11AM: Event 16 - $1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

• Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels 1-10: will last 40 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 50 minutes each
• Players that bust within the first 4 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
• 2-Day event 

12PM:  Event 40 - $270 + $30 Championship Qualifier No Limit Hold'em

• Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels 1-10: will last 20 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 25 minutes each
• Approximately 1 in 10 players will win a $2,700 Entry to play in the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship (June 17-21, 2012)
• 1-Day event

3 PM:  Event 41 - $540 + $60 Championship Qualifier No Limit Hold'em

• Players start with 15,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 30 minutes each
• Approximately 1 in 5 players will win a $2,700 Entry to play in the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship (June 17-21, 2012)
• 1-Day event

Event 15: Day 2 Chip Counts

Borgata Summer Poker Open
Event 15 - $500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em
June 15-16, 2012


Entries: 172
Total Buy-In:  $86,000


Average Chip Stack:  258,000


START OF DAY 2 SEAT ASSIGNMENTS & CHIP COUNTS:
T1 | S1 - SCOTT NIEBLING (CARY, NC):  33,000

T1 | S2 - PAUL SHEDAKER (CROYDON, PA):  233,000

T1 | S3 - BRADLEY LOVELESS (ELLICOTT CITY, MD):  97,000

T1 | S4 - RAJENDRA PATEL (MERIDEN, CT):  55,000

T1 | S5 - MICHAEL LAPADULA (MASSAPEQUE PARK, NY):  127,000

T1 | S6 - GARY SCHOENGOLD (OLNEY, MD):  243,000

T1 | S7 - COLLIN WHYTE (BROOKLYN, NY):  600,000

T1 | S8 - PAUL VACCHIO (INWOOD, NY):  380,000

T1 | S9 - ROBERT HWANG (BARNEGAT, NJ):  448,000

T1 | S10 - DENNIS SUMMERS JR (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA):  355,000

Event 15: Bag & Tag

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Collin Whyte - Chip Leader

The final ten players are done for the night and Collin Whyte (Brooklyn, NY) continues to maintain his chip lead bagging 609k. 

The biggest mover was "Action" Bog Hwang (Barnegat, NJ) who used pocket kings and pocket queens to go from 70k to second in chips with 448k.

Play resumes noon Saturday as all players are guaranteed at least $1,668 as they eye the $25,027 first prize.

The average stack is 258k (32 BB) with blinds at 4k/8k/1k ante and 25 minutes left on the level.

Check back after 9 am for final table seat assignments.

Good night from the Poker Room!

Position-Name-Chip Count

1 Collin Whyte 609k (76 BB)

2 Bob Hwang 448k

3 Paul Vacchio 380k

4 Mike Summers 355k

5 Gary Shoengold 243k

6 PaulShedaker 233k
7 Michael Lapadula 127k 

8 Brad Loveless 97k

9 Raj Patel 55k
10 Scott Niebling 33k (4 BB)

Event 15: 11th Place - Korotki

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Harry Korotki (Owings Mills, MD)

$1,668

Blinds 4k/8k/1k ante

Bob Hwang opens to 18k
Harry Korotki calls from the SB
Paul Vacchio tank-folds

Flop: 9♥ 2♣ 4♣

Korotki checks
Hwang bets 21k
Korotki calls

Turn: 10♦

Korotki checks
Hwang bets 42k
Korotki moves all in for 170k
Hwang calls

Korotki: 6♠ 6♣
Hwang: Q♣ Q♦

River: 10♥

Hwang's pocket queens are good and and Korotki is on the rail.

Harry Korotki earns $1,668 for his 11th place finish as the remaining 10 players are bagging and tagging for the night.

Event 15: Hwang Doubles Through Patel

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

"Action" Bob Hwang is all in and at risk with pocket kings vs the pocket 10s of of Raj Patel.

The kings hold and Patel ships 100k across the table leaving him with only 60k.  Hwang gets new life and is up to 200k.

Event 15: Break Time Chip Counts

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The eleven remaining players are on a 10 minute color-up break as the purple (500) chips are removed from play.

The two big stacks continue to be Collin Whyte (520k) and Paul Vacchio (380k) as blinds move up to 4k/8k/k ante.

Event 15: 12th Place - Pereira

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Jose Pereira (Langhorne, PA)

$1,668

3k/6k/500 ante

Paul Shedaker limps from cut off, Mike Summers completes from the SB, Jose Pereira checks his option.

Flop: 5♠ 2♥ 10♥

Summers bets 8k, Pereira moves all in for 30k, Shedaker reshoves for 75k, Summers tank-folds.

Pereira: 3♠ 4♣ (open ended straight draw)

Shedaker: K♥ 9♥ (flush draw)

Turn K♦ (Shedaker pair of kings)

River 5 ♠

Shedaker's pair of kings wins the pot, while Summers laments folding 6 5 as his trip 5s would have knocked out two players and sent everyone to the final table (and home for the night!).

Jose Pereira earns $1,668 for his 12th place finish.

Event 15: 13th Place - White

$500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Duane White (New Columbia, MD)

$1,460

Blinds 3k/6k/500 ante

White and Raj Patel are both all in preflop and both are around 100k.  

White: A♠ 8♣

Patel: A♦ K♥

Flop: 8♦ K♦ 2♠ (Patel pair of kings)

Turn: J♥

River 4♠

Patel's pair of kings is best and he virtually doubles to 200k

Duane White is out in 13th place and heads to the cage to pick up $1,460.