Frank DiRe (Columbus, NJ)
$2,106
DiRe loses his last 325k in a three-way all in with pocket queens against a Leo Goldberger's set of aces.
DiRe earns $2,106 for his 6th place finish.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Event 20: 7th Place - Miller
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Gregg Miller (Marlboro, NJ)
$1,685
Miller is down to 160k when loses a three-way all in with K J to Leo Goldberger's set of aces.
Miller, the brother of Borgata regular Eric Miller, is out in 7th place for $1,685.
Event 20: Bang, Bang on 1st Hand Back
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Gregg Miller open shoves 160k
Frank DiRe is also all in for 325k
Matt Piccolo pump fakes by moving his stack halfway towards the pot, reconsiders and folds
Leo Goldberger moves all in and has both players covered.
Miller: K♦ J♥
DiRe: Q♥ Q♦
Goldberger: A♦ A♠
Flop: K♥ 4♥ 10♥ (Miller pair of kings, DiRe has best flush draw)
Turn: A♣ (Goldberger set of aces)
River: 3♠
Goldberger's set of aces knocks out Miller and DiRe in 7th ($1,685) and 6th ($2,106) places respectively.
Leo G. adds nearly 500k to his stack and has 1.5 million, nearly half the chips in play.
Gregg Miller open shoves 160k
Frank DiRe is also all in for 325k
Matt Piccolo pump fakes by moving his stack halfway towards the pot, reconsiders and folds
Leo Goldberger moves all in and has both players covered.
Miller: K♦ J♥
DiRe: Q♥ Q♦
Goldberger: A♦ A♠
Flop: K♥ 4♥ 10♥ (Miller pair of kings, DiRe has best flush draw)
Turn: A♣ (Goldberger set of aces)
River: 3♠
Goldberger's set of aces knocks out Miller and DiRe in 7th ($1,685) and 6th ($2,106) places respectively.
Leo G. adds nearly 500k to his stack and has 1.5 million, nearly half the chips in play.
Event 20: Break Time Chip Counts
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Players are on break as the pace as slowed. Leo Goldberger is running over the table and giving them courtesy shows which includes a turned full house with pocket 5s.
Goldberger is the first player with one million chips as blinds are going up to 15k/30k, 4k ante.
Final Table
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller (Marlboro, NJ) 160k (5 BB)
2 Frank DiRe (Columbus, NJ) 325k
3 Matt Piccolo (Dumont, NJ) 257k
4 Doug Pinto (Princeton, NJ) 600k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy (Brooklyn, NY) 428k
6
7 Leo Goldberger (Brooklyn, NY) 1 million (33 BB)
8 James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) 570k
9
10
Players are on break as the pace as slowed. Leo Goldberger is running over the table and giving them courtesy shows which includes a turned full house with pocket 5s.
Goldberger is the first player with one million chips as blinds are going up to 15k/30k, 4k ante.
Final Table
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller (Marlboro, NJ) 160k (5 BB)
2 Frank DiRe (Columbus, NJ) 325k
3 Matt Piccolo (Dumont, NJ) 257k
4 Doug Pinto (Princeton, NJ) 600k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy (Brooklyn, NY) 428k
6
7 Leo Goldberger (Brooklyn, NY) 1 million (33 BB)
8 James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) 570k
9
10
Event 20: 3G Doubles
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Gregg Miller (Marlboro, NJ) moves all in for 64k and Stan Zavoyskiy (Brooklyn, NY) calls for 40k more out of the BB.
Miller: K 9
Zavoyskiy: J 7
The board is clean and Miller gets the double-up.
Gregg Miller (Marlboro, NJ) moves all in for 64k and Stan Zavoyskiy (Brooklyn, NY) calls for 40k more out of the BB.
Miller: K 9
Zavoyskiy: J 7
The board is clean and Miller gets the double-up.
Event 20: No Action
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
We haven't lost a player in a level and-a-half.
Leo Goldberger (Brooklyn, NY) is the chip leader with 700k.
Seven players remain with an average stack of 477k (20 BB) as blinds are now 12k/24k, 3k ante.
We haven't lost a player in a level and-a-half.
Leo Goldberger (Brooklyn, NY) is the chip leader with 700k.
Seven players remain with an average stack of 477k (20 BB) as blinds are now 12k/24k, 3k ante.
Event 20: 8th Place - Baracks
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Peter Baracks (Setauket, NY)
$1,264
Blinds 8k/16k, 2k ante
Baracks is all in for 383k and is at risk vs Stan Zavoyskiy
Baracks: 4♥ 4♠
Zavoyskiy: A♠ K♥
Flop: A♦ 7♣ 6♦ (Zavoyskiy pair of aces)
Turn: 3♦ (gutshot straight draw for Baracks)
River Q♣
Zavoyskiy's pair of aces knocks out Baracks in 8th place for $1,264.
Zavoyskiy's pair of aces knocks out Baracks in 8th place for $1,264.
Event 20: 9th Place - Nestor
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Patrick Nestor (Jersey City, NJ)
$948
Blinds 8k/16k, 2k ante
Leo Goldberger raises to 40k
Matt Piccolo moves all in for 120k
Nestor is all in for less from the SB
Goldberger folds
Piccolo: A♦ A♥
Nestor: A♠ K♠
Flop: 9♣ 3♦ 5♥
Turn: 10♦
River: 8♦
Nestor doesn't get a sweat and is out in 9th place for $948.
Event 20: 10th Place - DeMeo
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Dan DeMeo (Ballston Lake, NY)
$842
Blinds 8k/16k/2k ante
Leo Goldberger raises to 37k
DeMeo moves all in for 80k more
Goldberger (with 400k behind) calls
Goldberger: 7♦ 5♦
DeMeo: A♥ A♣
Flop: 3♦ 4♠ 6♣ (Goldberger straight)
Turn: Q♣
River: 4♥
Goldberger's flopped straight cracks pocket aces as DeMeo takes home $842 for his 10th place finish.
Event 20: Final Table
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller 180k
2 Frank DiRe 313k
3 Matt Piccolo 208k
4 Doug Pinto 290k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy 512k
6 Patrick Nestor 200k
7 Leo Goldberger 440k
8 James Sloat 600k
9 Dan DeMeo 280k
10 Peter Baracks 480k
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller 180k
2 Frank DiRe 313k
3 Matt Piccolo 208k
4 Doug Pinto 290k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy 512k
6 Patrick Nestor 200k
7 Leo Goldberger 440k
8 James Sloat 600k
9 Dan DeMeo 280k
10 Peter Baracks 480k
Event 20: 11th Place - Moussan
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Isaac Moussan (Randolph, NJ)
$842
Event 20: 13th Place - Fabijanic
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Mike Fabijanic (Chatham, NJ)
$737
Event 20: 16th Place - Weinstein
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Ken Weinstein (Chatham, NJ)
$632
Event 20: 17th & 18th Places
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Bob Piacentino (Mays Landing, NJ) and Jimmy Chan (Sterling, VA) are the first two eliminations at the final two tables and the first to cash.
Both take home $632.
Bob Piacentino (Mays Landing, NJ) and Jimmy Chan (Sterling, VA) are the first two eliminations at the final two tables and the first to cash.
Both take home $632.
Event 20: 11 am Updates
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
The final table is resuming play with all 10 players and an average stack of 334k (21 BB).
Blinds are now 8k/16k, 2k ante.
For consistency sake we'll be posting 11-18th places with a time stamp of 10-10:15 pm.
Even though these eliminations happened between 8:45-9:45 pm we want to keep the blog stream clean and not mix these bustouts with the Championship Event posts.
Final Table
The final table is resuming play with all 10 players and an average stack of 334k (21 BB).
Blinds are now 8k/16k, 2k ante.
For consistency sake we'll be posting 11-18th places with a time stamp of 10-10:15 pm.
Even though these eliminations happened between 8:45-9:45 pm we want to keep the blog stream clean and not mix these bustouts with the Championship Event posts.
Championship Recap
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Twenty-three-year-old Melad Marji (Atlantic City, NJ) essentially decided to flip for $88,034, the difference between first and second place money, when he called Michael Marder's six-bet-shove pre-flop. Marji came out on top of the flip when his AQ outran Marder's pocket 7s on the board of Q J 9 K T. Marji picked up $198,078 and the beautiful Borgata trophy in his first win in a live tournament.
Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ) came up short, finishing second for $110,044. Marder ran well through the whole four day event, getting good hands and having them hold up (until the last one). In contrast, Melad Marji kept getting his good hands cracked. On day 1B, near the end, he was in contention for the $3,000 bonus for end of day chip lead. Then his pocket Aces were cracked by K6 suited that made a flush, costing him 60,000 chips. Today his pocket Aces were cracked by Anthony Maio's pocket Queens, when Maio turned a Queen. Anthony Maio (Bensalem, PA) eventually finished 4th for $55,022.
Third place went to another Borgata regular, Yat 'Tony' Cheng (Brooklyn, NY). His tournament life rested on a coin-flip with AQ against Marji's pocket 5s. In that case the pair held up and Cheng finished 3rd for $68,227. This is his largest reported cash, but not his highest finish. Cheng won a $500 WSOP Circuit preliminary event in 2010 for over $55,000. Later that same year, he finished 2nd in a Borgata $1k Deep Stack No Limit event for almost $54,000.
The elder statesman at this final table was John Aglialoro (Haddonfield, NJ) at 68 years of age. John is best known for making the final table of the 1994 WSOP Main Event, where he finished 7th for $43,680. He won the 2004 US Poker Championship for over $691,000.
Aglialoro was short-stacked at the start of play and narrowly avoided finishing 10th by catching a 2-outer on the river. He took that double-up and parlayed it into a 7th place finish ($28,978) when he was on the receiving end of a bad beat.
2011 Borgata Summer Open Champion Tyng Low (Flushing, NY) made it to day two, but fell short of the money when his AJ lost a flip to pocket 7s. Other big names that failed to cash: Bill Gazes, Howard Wolper, Bo Toft, and preliminary event winners Paul Vacchio and Collin Whyte. Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) busted out of the Championship event, only to go on and win his second Borgata Open title in Wednesday's $200 Deep Stack event.
The Double Play and Re-Entry features of this event helped to generate a total of 305 entries over two starting days. Total buy-ins of $762,500 crushed the $500,000 Guarantee. The final 36 players earned a payday, with bonuses for the end of day 1A & 1B chip leaders.
The $3,000 bonus for chip leader on day 1A went to Eugene Fouksman, (Manalapan, NJ) a 2007 WSOP Circuit Champion. Eugene made it to day three and the money, finishing 23rd for $5,502. The day 1B bonus went to Cathy Dever, (Ephrata, PA) who busted out on day two before reaching the money.
The 2012 Borgata Summer Open Championship event first-place money of $198,078 is the biggest payday Melad Marji has ever seen. The college dropout is headed for Las Vegas on Sunday to play in the WSOP Main Event, hoping his run-good continues for an even bigger payday.
Final Table Results
1 - Melad Marji (Atlantic City, NJ) $198,078
2 - Michael Marder (Sewell, NN) $110,044
3 - Yat 'Tony' Cheng (Brooklyn, NY) $68,227
4 - Anthony Maio (Bensalem, PA) $55,022
5 - Vitaly Kovyazin (Brooklyn, NY) $42,550
6 - Michael Melkersen (New Market, VA) $35,948
7 - John Aglialoro (Haddonfield, NJ) $28,978
8 - Dennis 'Mike' Summers (Charlottesville, VA) $21,642
9 - Matt McElwee (Catonsville, MD) $14,673
10 - Robert Melo (Howard Beach, NY) $9,537
Twenty-three-year-old Melad Marji (Atlantic City, NJ) essentially decided to flip for $88,034, the difference between first and second place money, when he called Michael Marder's six-bet-shove pre-flop. Marji came out on top of the flip when his AQ outran Marder's pocket 7s on the board of Q J 9 K T. Marji picked up $198,078 and the beautiful Borgata trophy in his first win in a live tournament.
Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ) came up short, finishing second for $110,044. Marder ran well through the whole four day event, getting good hands and having them hold up (until the last one). In contrast, Melad Marji kept getting his good hands cracked. On day 1B, near the end, he was in contention for the $3,000 bonus for end of day chip lead. Then his pocket Aces were cracked by K6 suited that made a flush, costing him 60,000 chips. Today his pocket Aces were cracked by Anthony Maio's pocket Queens, when Maio turned a Queen. Anthony Maio (Bensalem, PA) eventually finished 4th for $55,022.
Third place went to another Borgata regular, Yat 'Tony' Cheng (Brooklyn, NY). His tournament life rested on a coin-flip with AQ against Marji's pocket 5s. In that case the pair held up and Cheng finished 3rd for $68,227. This is his largest reported cash, but not his highest finish. Cheng won a $500 WSOP Circuit preliminary event in 2010 for over $55,000. Later that same year, he finished 2nd in a Borgata $1k Deep Stack No Limit event for almost $54,000.
The elder statesman at this final table was John Aglialoro (Haddonfield, NJ) at 68 years of age. John is best known for making the final table of the 1994 WSOP Main Event, where he finished 7th for $43,680. He won the 2004 US Poker Championship for over $691,000.
Aglialoro was short-stacked at the start of play and narrowly avoided finishing 10th by catching a 2-outer on the river. He took that double-up and parlayed it into a 7th place finish ($28,978) when he was on the receiving end of a bad beat.
2011 Borgata Summer Open Champion Tyng Low (Flushing, NY) made it to day two, but fell short of the money when his AJ lost a flip to pocket 7s. Other big names that failed to cash: Bill Gazes, Howard Wolper, Bo Toft, and preliminary event winners Paul Vacchio and Collin Whyte. Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) busted out of the Championship event, only to go on and win his second Borgata Open title in Wednesday's $200 Deep Stack event.
The Double Play and Re-Entry features of this event helped to generate a total of 305 entries over two starting days. Total buy-ins of $762,500 crushed the $500,000 Guarantee. The final 36 players earned a payday, with bonuses for the end of day 1A & 1B chip leaders.
The $3,000 bonus for chip leader on day 1A went to Eugene Fouksman, (Manalapan, NJ) a 2007 WSOP Circuit Champion. Eugene made it to day three and the money, finishing 23rd for $5,502. The day 1B bonus went to Cathy Dever, (Ephrata, PA) who busted out on day two before reaching the money.
The 2012 Borgata Summer Open Championship event first-place money of $198,078 is the biggest payday Melad Marji has ever seen. The college dropout is headed for Las Vegas on Sunday to play in the WSOP Main Event, hoping his run-good continues for an even bigger payday.
Final Table Results
1 - Melad Marji (Atlantic City, NJ) $198,078
2 - Michael Marder (Sewell, NN) $110,044
3 - Yat 'Tony' Cheng (Brooklyn, NY) $68,227
4 - Anthony Maio (Bensalem, PA) $55,022
5 - Vitaly Kovyazin (Brooklyn, NY) $42,550
6 - Michael Melkersen (New Market, VA) $35,948
7 - John Aglialoro (Haddonfield, NJ) $28,978
8 - Dennis 'Mike' Summers (Charlottesville, VA) $21,642
9 - Matt McElwee (Catonsville, MD) $14,673
10 - Robert Melo (Howard Beach, NY) $9,537
Champ: 1st Place - Marji
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On the final hand, Melad Marji decided to call Michael Marder's 6-bet-shove for 4.155 million.
Melad had 4.34 million chips and would have had 185k left if he lost the hand (3 big blinds).
He didn't have to face that issue since his AQ out-ran pocket 7s to take down the tournament.
Melad Marji will collect $198,078 for the win, along with 2012 Borgata Summer Open Championship trophy.
This is Melad's first live tournament win and largest cash ever. He's headed to Las Vegas next week to play in the WSOP Main Event!
Melad sends thanks to all his friends and family, and especially his Mom!
Melad Marji (Atlantic City, NJ)
$198,078
On the final hand, Melad Marji decided to call Michael Marder's 6-bet-shove for 4.155 million.
Melad had 4.34 million chips and would have had 185k left if he lost the hand (3 big blinds).
He didn't have to face that issue since his AQ out-ran pocket 7s to take down the tournament.
Melad Marji will collect $198,078 for the win, along with 2012 Borgata Summer Open Championship trophy.
This is Melad's first live tournament win and largest cash ever. He's headed to Las Vegas next week to play in the WSOP Main Event!
Melad sends thanks to all his friends and family, and especially his Mom!
Champ: 2nd Place - Marder
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
After a raising war, Michael Marder was all-in and Melad Marji considered it for a moment, then called.
Michael had pocket 7s. Melad was racing with AQ off.
The board came Q J 9 K T putting a King-high straight on the board, but Melad's Ace gave him Broadway and the pot, and the win.
Michael Marder finished in second place, earning $110,044.
Michael finished 3rd in the 2012 Borgata Winter Open $500 No Limit Hold'em event, good for over $15,000. Today's second place finish is not only his highest finish ever, it is also his largest. In fact, the $110,044 prize money is almost quadruple his lifetime earnings to date!
Michael had lots of friends and family on the rail watching today, but wanted to send a Hi to his Uncle Paul, who has helped him with good advice.
Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ)
$110,044
After a raising war, Michael Marder was all-in and Melad Marji considered it for a moment, then called.
Michael had pocket 7s. Melad was racing with AQ off.
The board came Q J 9 K T putting a King-high straight on the board, but Melad's Ace gave him Broadway and the pot, and the win.
Michael Marder finished in second place, earning $110,044.
Michael finished 3rd in the 2012 Borgata Winter Open $500 No Limit Hold'em event, good for over $15,000. Today's second place finish is not only his highest finish ever, it is also his largest. In fact, the $110,044 prize money is almost quadruple his lifetime earnings to date!
Michael had lots of friends and family on the rail watching today, but wanted to send a Hi to his Uncle Paul, who has helped him with good advice.
Event 20: 11 am Final Table
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller 180k
2 Frank DiRe 313k
3 Matt Piccolo 208k
4 Doug Pinto 290k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy 512k
6 Patrick Nestor 200k
7 Leo Goldberger 440k
8 James Sloat 600k
9 Dan DeMeo 280k
10 Peter Baracks 480k
Seat-Name-Chip Count
1 Gregg Miller 180k
2 Frank DiRe 313k
3 Matt Piccolo 208k
4 Doug Pinto 290k
5 Stan Zavoyskiy 512k
6 Patrick Nestor 200k
7 Leo Goldberger 440k
8 James Sloat 600k
9 Dan DeMeo 280k
10 Peter Baracks 480k
Event 20: 11 am Too Fast, Too Furious
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
The bustouts have been happening left and right. We'll fill in the results throughout the night, but for now here's a look at those in the money
Position-Name-Amount
11 Isaac Moussan $842
12 Joe Aarons $842
13 Mike Fabijanic $737
14 James Broadbent $737
15 Rob Saladin $737
16 Ken Weinstein $632
17 Jimmy Chan $632
18 Bob Piacentino $632
The bustouts have been happening left and right. We'll fill in the results throughout the night, but for now here's a look at those in the money
Position-Name-Amount
11 Isaac Moussan $842
12 Joe Aarons $842
13 Mike Fabijanic $737
14 James Broadbent $737
15 Rob Saladin $737
16 Ken Weinstein $632
17 Jimmy Chan $632
18 Bob Piacentino $632
Champ: Heads-Up Underway
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
The final two are heads-up and Melad Marji has a slight lead over Michael Marder: about 4.7 to 4.4 million.
Here's what they are playing for (besides first place money of $198,078:
The runner-up will get $110,044, which is nothing to sneeze at!
The final two are heads-up and Melad Marji has a slight lead over Michael Marder: about 4.7 to 4.4 million.
Here's what they are playing for (besides first place money of $198,078:
Championship Trophy
The runner-up will get $110,044, which is nothing to sneeze at!
Champ: 3rd Place - Cheng
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Yat Cheng moved in for ~1.2 million and got called by Melad Marji. Melad had pocket 5s again. Yat had AQ.
The board came 9 8 7 3 2 and the baby pair was good. Melad took the pot, chipping up to ~4.8 million.
Yat 'Tony' Cheng took 3rd place and $68,227.
Tony splits his time between poker and his restaurant business. His favorite game is $5/$10 No Limit. "I love Borgata" he says. "I've played other places, but Borgata is the best."
Yat 'Tony' Cheng (Brooklyn, NY)
$68,227
Yat Cheng moved in for ~1.2 million and got called by Melad Marji. Melad had pocket 5s again. Yat had AQ.
The board came 9 8 7 3 2 and the baby pair was good. Melad took the pot, chipping up to ~4.8 million.
Yat 'Tony' Cheng took 3rd place and $68,227.
Tony splits his time between poker and his restaurant business. His favorite game is $5/$10 No Limit. "I love Borgata" he says. "I've played other places, but Borgata is the best."
Champ: Cheng Bleeding Chips
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder (button) opened for 130k. Yat Cheng (bb) raised to 400k. Michael announced he was all in. Yat let it go. He dropped to 1.7 million. Michael chipped up to 3.9 million.
Yat opened for 160 on the button and Melad Marji (bb) raised to 510k. Yat folded, dropping to 1.5 million.
Yat opened for 150k on the button and Michael Marder (sb) raised to 300k. Yat folded. He was down to ~1.2 million.
Michael Marder (button) opened for 130k. Yat Cheng (bb) raised to 400k. Michael announced he was all in. Yat let it go. He dropped to 1.7 million. Michael chipped up to 3.9 million.
Yat opened for 160 on the button and Melad Marji (bb) raised to 510k. Yat folded, dropping to 1.5 million.
Yat opened for 150k on the button and Michael Marder (sb) raised to 300k. Yat folded. He was down to ~1.2 million.
Champ: Marder Doubles
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder got all-in pre-flop against chip leader Melad Marji.
Michael's AK was racing against Melad's pocket 5s.
The board came A 6 2 8 3 and Michael doubled up to ~3.6 million.
Melad also has ~3.6 million, leaving 1.9 million for Yat Cheng.
Michael Marder got all-in pre-flop against chip leader Melad Marji.
Michael's AK was racing against Melad's pocket 5s.
The board came A 6 2 8 3 and Michael doubled up to ~3.6 million.
Melad also has ~3.6 million, leaving 1.9 million for Yat Cheng.
Event 20: 11 am In the Money
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Table 1
Seat-Name
1 Gregg Miller
2 Rob Saladin
3 Joe Aaron
4 Matt Piccolo
5 Peter Baracks
6 Dan DeMeo
7 Isaac Moussan
8 James Sloat
9 Frank DiRe
Table 2
Seat-Name
1 Mike Fabijanic
2 Ken Wienstein
3 Bob Piacentino
4 Jimmy Chan
5 Doug Pinto
6 Patrick Nestor
7 Stan Zavoyskiy
8 James Broadbent
9 Leo Goldberger
Table 1
Seat-Name
1 Gregg Miller
2 Rob Saladin
3 Joe Aaron
4 Matt Piccolo
5 Peter Baracks
6 Dan DeMeo
7 Isaac Moussan
8 James Sloat
9 Frank DiRe
Table 2
Seat-Name
1 Mike Fabijanic
2 Ken Wienstein
3 Bob Piacentino
4 Jimmy Chan
5 Doug Pinto
6 Patrick Nestor
7 Stan Zavoyskiy
8 James Broadbent
9 Leo Goldberger
Champ: Big Pot, No Showdown
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder (sb) opened for 120k.
Melad Marji (bb) raised 230k on top.
Michael 4-bet another 350k on top and Melad called.
Flop was A J T. Michael bet 500k. Melad called.
Turn was an Ace. Both checked.
River was a 3. Michael checked. Melad bet 800k. Michael tanked, then folded.
Melad picked up more than 1.1 million from Michael on that hand without a showdown.
Michael Marder (sb) opened for 120k.
Melad Marji (bb) raised 230k on top.
Michael 4-bet another 350k on top and Melad called.
Flop was A J T. Michael bet 500k. Melad called.
Turn was an Ace. Both checked.
River was a 3. Michael checked. Melad bet 800k. Michael tanked, then folded.
Melad picked up more than 1.1 million from Michael on that hand without a showdown.
Event 20: 11 am Aces Cracked on Bubble
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Dan Beavers is all in with AA vs Peter Baracks' JJ.
Flop: 10 9 5
Turn: Q (Baracks OE)
River: 8 (Baracks straight)
The queen high straight for Baracks knocks Beavers is out in 19th place and just misses the money.
The final 18 players are redrawing for seats at the final two tables.
Dan Beavers is all in with AA vs Peter Baracks' JJ.
Flop: 10 9 5
Turn: Q (Baracks OE)
River: 8 (Baracks straight)
The queen high straight for Baracks knocks Beavers is out in 19th place and just misses the money.
The final 18 players are redrawing for seats at the final two tables.
Event 20: 11 am Bubble Watch
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Players are back from dinner and the bustouts have been fast and furious including two on one hand by Doug Pinto when he rivers trip 2s with an ace kicker.
John Iraj and Jarred Slaughter are two of the casualties as we're down to 19 players. 18 get paid and the remaining three tables are playing hand-for-hand.
Players are back from dinner and the bustouts have been fast and furious including two on one hand by Doug Pinto when he rivers trip 2s with an ace kicker.
John Iraj and Jarred Slaughter are two of the casualties as we're down to 19 players. 18 get paid and the remaining three tables are playing hand-for-hand.
Champ: Play Has Resumed
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
The final three are back in their seats.
Blinds 30k/60k with 5k ante.
Play has resumed.
The final three are back in their seats.
Blinds 30k/60k with 5k ante.
Play has resumed.
Champ: Dinner Break Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
At the end of the level, the final three took off for a one hour dinner break.
Here are the exact chip counts:
Melad Marji - 3.805 million
Michael Marder - 3.210 million
Yat Cheng - 2.130 million
Play will resume at about 8:15 pm. Here's a reminder of what they're playing for:
1: $198,078
2: $110,044
3: $68,227
At the end of the level, the final three took off for a one hour dinner break.
Here are the exact chip counts:
Melad Marji - 3.805 million
Michael Marder - 3.210 million
Yat Cheng - 2.130 million
Play will resume at about 8:15 pm. Here's a reminder of what they're playing for:
1: $198,078
2: $110,044
3: $68,227
Event 20: 11 am Numbers
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Number of Entries: 157
Players Remaining: 25
Chips in Play: 3.3 million
Average Stack: 134k
Big Stack: 385k (48 BB)
Next Blinds: 4k/8k, 1k ante
Play Resumes: 8 pm (17 BB)
Total Buy-In: $43,420
First Prize: $12,636
Places Paid: $632
Number of Entries: 157
Players Remaining: 25
Chips in Play: 3.3 million
Average Stack: 134k
Big Stack: 385k (48 BB)
Next Blinds: 4k/8k, 1k ante
Play Resumes: 8 pm (17 BB)
Total Buy-In: $43,420
First Prize: $12,636
Places Paid: $632
Champ: Marder Collects a Big One
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Melad Marji opened for 125k on the button. Michael Marder called from the big blind.
The flop fell K J 2 with two spades. Michael checked, Melad bet 50k, Michael check-raised to 175k, and Melad called.
Turn was an offsuit 7. Michael led out for 400k. Melad called.
River was an offsuit Queen. Michael announced he was all-in. Melad folded. He was left with ~3.6 million.
Michael chipped up to over 3 million again.
Melad Marji opened for 125k on the button. Michael Marder called from the big blind.
The flop fell K J 2 with two spades. Michael checked, Melad bet 50k, Michael check-raised to 175k, and Melad called.
Turn was an offsuit 7. Michael led out for 400k. Melad called.
River was an offsuit Queen. Michael announced he was all-in. Melad folded. He was left with ~3.6 million.
Michael chipped up to over 3 million again.
Champ: Battle of the Blinds
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder (sb) and Melad Marji (bb) engage in a battle of the blinds and Marder was the first to link.
After Michael opened, Melad raised 95k more, then Michael raised 180k more, then Melad returned fired with another raise. Michael let it go. He dropped to ~2.5 million.
Melad chipped up to ~3.9 million.
Michael Marder (sb) and Melad Marji (bb) engage in a battle of the blinds and Marder was the first to link.
After Michael opened, Melad raised 95k more, then Michael raised 180k more, then Melad returned fired with another raise. Michael let it go. He dropped to ~2.5 million.
Melad chipped up to ~3.9 million.
Event 20: 11 am Tourn. on Dinnner Break
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Players are on a one hour dinner break with 25 players remaining. The big stacks are more than 30ok with James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) leading at 385k.
The field is fueling up for the grind to the money as the top 18 earn a min cash of $632. The top prize is $12,636.
Play resumes at 8:00 pm.
Players are on a one hour dinner break with 25 players remaining. The big stacks are more than 30ok with James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) leading at 385k.
The field is fueling up for the grind to the money as the top 18 earn a min cash of $632. The top prize is $12,636.
Play resumes at 8:00 pm.
Champ: Cheng Chips Up
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder opened for 11k on the button and Yat Cheng called from the big blind.
On the flop of 5 6 2, Yat checked, Michael bet 150k, and Yat called.
Turn was a Ten. Both checked.
River was an Ace. Yat checked. Michael fired 275k. Yat counted out the chips and looked for a moment like he might raise, but then called.
Michael showed J9 suited for Jack-high.
Yat showed A2 suited for Aces-up to take the pot. He chipped up to ~2.5 million.
Michael dropped down to ~3.2 million.
Michael Marder opened for 11k on the button and Yat Cheng called from the big blind.
On the flop of 5 6 2, Yat checked, Michael bet 150k, and Yat called.
Turn was a Ten. Both checked.
River was an Ace. Yat checked. Michael fired 275k. Yat counted out the chips and looked for a moment like he might raise, but then called.
Michael showed J9 suited for Jack-high.
Yat showed A2 suited for Aces-up to take the pot. He chipped up to ~2.5 million.
Michael dropped down to ~3.2 million.
Champ: Final Three Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
The final three stack up like this:
Michael Marder - 4 million
Melad Marji - 3.26 million
Yat Cheng - 1.8 million
The final three stack up like this:
Michael Marder - 4 million
Melad Marji - 3.26 million
Yat Cheng - 1.8 million
Champ: 4th Place - Maio
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On the turn with a board of K 9 6 5, Melad Marji (bb) bet 106k.
Anthony Maio (utg) raised to 226k. Melad called. River was a 3 and they checked it down.
"I missed" said Anthony. Melad showed K5 suited for two pair to take the pot, chipping up to just over 3 million.
Anthony was left with ~400k. He got a walk in the big blind on the next hand, then...
Melad opened for 125k on the button and Anthony shoved for 388k from the small blind.
Melad called, showing QT suited. Anthony was ahead with AJ.
The flop came A J 8 giving Anthony top two pair. 5 on the turn changed nothing. Then a 9 on the river gave Melad the straight and the last of Anthony's chips. He's up to ~3.5 million.
Anthony Maio finished in 4th place, earning $55,022.
Anthony Maio (Bensalem, PA)
$55,022
On the turn with a board of K 9 6 5, Melad Marji (bb) bet 106k.
Anthony Maio (utg) raised to 226k. Melad called. River was a 3 and they checked it down.
"I missed" said Anthony. Melad showed K5 suited for two pair to take the pot, chipping up to just over 3 million.
Anthony was left with ~400k. He got a walk in the big blind on the next hand, then...
Melad opened for 125k on the button and Anthony shoved for 388k from the small blind.
Melad called, showing QT suited. Anthony was ahead with AJ.
The flop came A J 8 giving Anthony top two pair. 5 on the turn changed nothing. Then a 9 on the river gave Melad the straight and the last of Anthony's chips. He's up to ~3.5 million.
Anthony Maio finished in 4th place, earning $55,022.
Event 20: 11 am Big Pot
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
On a flop of K 7 5 (two spades), James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) and John Iraj (Garden City, NY) both check.
The turn is a blank and Iraj bets. Sloat raises, Iraj re-raises, Sloat calls.
The river is another blank and does not complete the flush.
Iraj check, Sloat bets 50k, Iraj calls.
Sloat shows a winning set of 7s, while Iraj mucks and says he had a set of 5s.
"I'm luck to still have chips," says Iraj who's left with 30k.
Sloat takes his stack to more than 350k and is one of the big stacks heading to the dinner break.
On a flop of K 7 5 (two spades), James Sloat (Halethorpe, MD) and John Iraj (Garden City, NY) both check.
The turn is a blank and Iraj bets. Sloat raises, Iraj re-raises, Sloat calls.
The river is another blank and does not complete the flush.
Iraj check, Sloat bets 50k, Iraj calls.
Sloat shows a winning set of 7s, while Iraj mucks and says he had a set of 5s.
"I'm luck to still have chips," says Iraj who's left with 30k.
Sloat takes his stack to more than 350k and is one of the big stacks heading to the dinner break.
Champ: 5th Place - Kovyazin
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Vitaly Kovyazin (utg) moved in for ~550k.
Action folded around to Michael Marder who looked at his cards and snap-called, showing AK suited.
Vitaly had KT suited and was in bad shape.
The board came K 9 3 6 3 and was no help for Vitaly. He finished 5th for $42,550.
Michael Marder is now up to ~4 million chips. 9.15 million chips in play makes the average about 2.3 with four players remaining.
Vitaly Kovyazin finished second in the first-ever Latin American Poker Tour in 2008, pocketing $117,750. Today's 5th place is his best-ever finish at Borgata.
Vitaly Kovyazin (Brooklyn, NY)
$42,550
Vitaly Kovyazin (utg) moved in for ~550k.
Action folded around to Michael Marder who looked at his cards and snap-called, showing AK suited.
Vitaly had KT suited and was in bad shape.
The board came K 9 3 6 3 and was no help for Vitaly. He finished 5th for $42,550.
Michael Marder is now up to ~4 million chips. 9.15 million chips in play makes the average about 2.3 with four players remaining.
Vitaly Kovyazin finished second in the first-ever Latin American Poker Tour in 2008, pocketing $117,750. Today's 5th place is his best-ever finish at Borgata.
Champ: Shifting Chips
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Yat Cheng opened for 125k on the button.
Vitaly Kovyazin called from the big blind.
The flop came A K 5 rainbow.
Vitaly checked, Yat bet 155k, and Vitaly called.
Turn was a Ten. Vitaly checked, Yat bet 250k, and Vitaly folded. He's down to ~750k.
Yat chipped up to ~1.8 million.
Yat Cheng opened for 125k on the button.
Vitaly Kovyazin called from the big blind.
The flop came A K 5 rainbow.
Vitaly checked, Yat bet 155k, and Vitaly called.
Turn was a Ten. Vitaly checked, Yat bet 250k, and Vitaly folded. He's down to ~750k.
Yat chipped up to ~1.8 million.
Champ: Break Time Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
The final five have returned to play with blinds of 25k/50k with 4k ante.
Chip counts as of the break:
Michael Marder - 3.5 million
Melad Marji - 2.35 million
Yat Cheng - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 1.078 million
Anthony Maio - 1.015 million
The final five have returned to play with blinds of 25k/50k with 4k ante.
Chip counts as of the break:
Michael Marder - 3.5 million
Melad Marji - 2.35 million
Yat Cheng - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 1.078 million
Anthony Maio - 1.015 million
Champ: Kovyazin Doubles
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Vitaly Kovyazin's pocket Tens were good for a double-up through Melad Marji, who had A9 suited. Melad flopped a flush draw, but whiffed all his outs on the last two.
Vitaly chipped up to ~1.1 million. Melad was left with ~2.2 million.
End of level and players are taking a short break.
Vitaly Kovyazin's pocket Tens were good for a double-up through Melad Marji, who had A9 suited. Melad flopped a flush draw, but whiffed all his outs on the last two.
Vitaly chipped up to ~1.1 million. Melad was left with ~2.2 million.
End of level and players are taking a short break.
Champ: Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Michael Marder opened for 88k from the cutoff, got a call from Vitaly Kovyazin on the button, then Melad Marji (sb) raised to 269k. Both folded.
Rough chip counts:
Michael Marder - 3.2 million
Melad Marji - 2.65 million
Anthony Maio - 1.6 million
Yat Cheng - 1.3 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 700k
Michael Marder opened for 88k from the cutoff, got a call from Vitaly Kovyazin on the button, then Melad Marji (sb) raised to 269k. Both folded.
Rough chip counts:
Michael Marder - 3.2 million
Melad Marji - 2.65 million
Anthony Maio - 1.6 million
Yat Cheng - 1.3 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 700k
Event 20: Payouts
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Total Entries: 167
Total Buy-In: $43,420
1: $12,636
2: $6,949
3: $4,001
4: $3,369
5: $2,527
6: $2,106
7: $1,685
8: $1,264
9: $948
10 - 12: $842
13 - 15: $737
16 - 18: $632
Total Entries: 167
Total Buy-In: $43,420
1: $12,636
2: $6,949
3: $4,001
4: $3,369
5: $2,527
6: $2,106
7: $1,685
8: $1,264
9: $948
10 - 12: $842
13 - 15: $737
16 - 18: $632
Champ: Battle of the Blinds
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
In another blind confrontation, Anthony Maio (sb) and Yat Cheng (bb) get to the river with a board of A Q J K T.
Yat shows 53 suited; Anthony shows A6 suited; (neither ever had a flush draw) they chop the pot since both are playing the board. Anthony laments how lucky Yat got to catch up to his flopped pair of Aces with 53.
In another blind confrontation, Anthony Maio (sb) and Yat Cheng (bb) get to the river with a board of A Q J K T.
Yat shows 53 suited; Anthony shows A6 suited; (neither ever had a flush draw) they chop the pot since both are playing the board. Anthony laments how lucky Yat got to catch up to his flopped pair of Aces with 53.
Champ: Big Stack Gets Bigger
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Vitaly Kovyazin (bb) made the nut flush with his K2 suited in a hand against Anthony Maio. Anthony was left with ~1.5 million.
Melad Marji and Michael Marder tangled in a pot. Michael came out on top of the confrontation, showing Aces-up and chipping up to over 3.6 million.
Still five players.
Vitaly Kovyazin (bb) made the nut flush with his K2 suited in a hand against Anthony Maio. Anthony was left with ~1.5 million.
Melad Marji and Michael Marder tangled in a pot. Michael came out on top of the confrontation, showing Aces-up and chipping up to over 3.6 million.
Still five players.
Champ: Final Five Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Approximate chip counts for the final five players:
Michael Marder - 3 million
Melad Marji - 2.17 million
Anthony Maio - 1.8 million
Yat Cheng - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 870k
Average stack is 1.83 million. About an hour left in the 20k/40k blinds, 4k ante level.
Approximate chip counts for the final five players:
Michael Marder - 3 million
Melad Marji - 2.17 million
Anthony Maio - 1.8 million
Yat Cheng - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 870k
Average stack is 1.83 million. About an hour left in the 20k/40k blinds, 4k ante level.
Champ: 6th Place - Melkersen
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
After a break, play resumed with blinds of 20k/40k with 4k ante.
On the first hand:
Michael Marder opened for 83k, only to have Mike Melkersen shoved for a little over 500k.
Marder called, showing pocket Jacks. Melkersen was in bad shape with pocket 7s.
The board ran out T 6 2 3 5 and was no help for Melkersen.
Mike Melkersen busted out in 6th place ($35,948).
Mike finished 2nd in event 5 of the Summer Open ($22k) but is still looking for his first Borgata Open title.
Mike Melkersen (New Market, VA)
$35,948
After a break, play resumed with blinds of 20k/40k with 4k ante.
On the first hand:
Michael Marder opened for 83k, only to have Mike Melkersen shoved for a little over 500k.
Marder called, showing pocket Jacks. Melkersen was in bad shape with pocket 7s.
The board ran out T 6 2 3 5 and was no help for Melkersen.
Mike Melkersen busted out in 6th place ($35,948).
Mike finished 2nd in event 5 of the Summer Open ($22k) but is still looking for his first Borgata Open title.
Champ: Heartless Kings
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On a flop of 8♥4♥4♣, Melad Marji (utg) checked.
Anthony Maio (cutoff) bet 164k. Melad called.
Turn was the 9♥. Both checked.
River was the 7♥. Both checked.
Anthony rolled over pocket Kings -- no heart.
Melad rolled over pocket 3s, with the 3♥ for the flush to take the pot. He chipped up to ~2 million.
Anthony was down to 2.375 million.
On a flop of 8♥4♥4♣, Melad Marji (utg) checked.
Anthony Maio (cutoff) bet 164k. Melad called.
Turn was the 9♥. Both checked.
River was the 7♥. Both checked.
Anthony rolled over pocket Kings -- no heart.
Melad rolled over pocket 3s, with the 3♥ for the flush to take the pot. He chipped up to ~2 million.
Anthony was down to 2.375 million.
Champ: Final Six Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Rough chip counts for the final six:
Anthony Maio - 2.7 million
Michael Marder - 2.3 million
Yat Cheng - 1.5 million
Melad Marji - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 800k
Mike Melkersen - 650k
Mike Melkersen opened for 70k from the cutoff. Then Michael Marder (button) slid out a stack of 'watermelons' -- 25k chips in a stack of 20, good for half a million.
That effectively covered Melkersen, who tanked for a minute, then let it go. He was left with ~530k.
Yat Cheng opened for 100k on the button, only to have Vitaly Kovyazin move in from the big blind. Yat surrendered.
Rough chip counts for the final six:
Anthony Maio - 2.7 million
Michael Marder - 2.3 million
Yat Cheng - 1.5 million
Melad Marji - 1.2 million
Vitaly Kovyazin - 800k
Mike Melkersen - 650k
Mike Melkersen opened for 70k from the cutoff. Then Michael Marder (button) slid out a stack of 'watermelons' -- 25k chips in a stack of 20, good for half a million.
That effectively covered Melkersen, who tanked for a minute, then let it go. He was left with ~530k.
Yat Cheng opened for 100k on the button, only to have Vitaly Kovyazin move in from the big blind. Yat surrendered.
Champ: 7th Place - Aglialoro
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
John Aglialoro opened for 65k from the cutoff and Michael Marder raised to 155k on the button. John called.
The flop came 9♠4♣2♥.
John led out for 200k, leaving himself only 404k behind. Michael checked out John's remaining chips, then announced he was all-in. After giving it some thought, John called.
Michael made a "uh-oh" noise, showing K♥8♥ (zip, nada). John was ahead with pocket Jacks.
The the last two peeled off 3♥ A♥ giving Michael the back-door nut-flush. "Did I mention how good I've been running in this event?" Michael said.
John Aglialoro was busted in 7th place.
If you've been around poker for a while, you may remember John from the 1994 WSOP Main Event. He made the final table of that event, finishing 7th.
He's currently the CEO of Cybex Inernational, which is a fitness equipment company. He also was a producer of the movie "Atlas Shrugged".
At 68 years young,John was the elder statesman of this final table and held his own among the much younger players.
John Aglialoro (Haddonfield, NJ)
$28,978
John Aglialoro opened for 65k from the cutoff and Michael Marder raised to 155k on the button. John called.
The flop came 9♠4♣2♥.
John led out for 200k, leaving himself only 404k behind. Michael checked out John's remaining chips, then announced he was all-in. After giving it some thought, John called.
Michael made a "uh-oh" noise, showing K♥8♥ (zip, nada). John was ahead with pocket Jacks.
The the last two peeled off 3♥ A♥ giving Michael the back-door nut-flush. "Did I mention how good I've been running in this event?" Michael said.
John Aglialoro was busted in 7th place.
If you've been around poker for a while, you may remember John from the 1994 WSOP Main Event. He made the final table of that event, finishing 7th.
He's currently the CEO of Cybex Inernational, which is a fitness equipment company. He also was a producer of the movie "Atlas Shrugged".
At 68 years young,John was the elder statesman of this final table and held his own among the much younger players.
Champ: 8th Place - Summers
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Mike Summers got all-in pre-flop with AQ, but ran into the pocket Kings of Mike Melkersen.
The board ran out 7 6 3 T 9 and was no help to Summers.
Dennis 'Mike' Summers finished in 8th place, earning $21,642.
Mike has a couple of second place finishes here, including event 15 about a week ago ($13k) but is still looking for his first Borgata Open title.
Mike Summers (Charlottesville, VA)
$21,642
Mike Summers got all-in pre-flop with AQ, but ran into the pocket Kings of Mike Melkersen.
The board ran out 7 6 3 T 9 and was no help to Summers.
Dennis 'Mike' Summers finished in 8th place, earning $21,642.
Mike has a couple of second place finishes here, including event 15 about a week ago ($13k) but is still looking for his first Borgata Open title.
Champ: Battle of the Blinds
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On a flop of 7♦6♦4♣, Anthony Maio (sb) checked. Yat Cheng (bb) bet 65k. Anthony called.
Turn was the T♦. Anthony checked, Yat bet 130k, and Anthony called.
River was the 3♣. Anthony checked. Yat bet 350k. Anthony called.
Yat said "King-high". Anthony rolled over 5♥4♦ for the rivered straight to take the pot. He's up to ~3 million and well ahead of the table.
Yat was left with ~1.4 million.
Blinds up to 15k/30k with 3k ante.
On a flop of 7♦6♦4♣, Anthony Maio (sb) checked. Yat Cheng (bb) bet 65k. Anthony called.
Turn was the T♦. Anthony checked, Yat bet 130k, and Anthony called.
River was the 3♣. Anthony checked. Yat bet 350k. Anthony called.
Yat said "King-high". Anthony rolled over 5♥4♦ for the rivered straight to take the pot. He's up to ~3 million and well ahead of the table.
Yat was left with ~1.4 million.
Blinds up to 15k/30k with 3k ante.
Champ: Shifting Chips
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On a flop of 9 8 2 rainbow Mike Melkersen (bb) bet 75k. Melad Marji (sb) check-raised to 206k. Mike called.
Turn was a 7. Melad led out for 302k. Mike tanked for a couple of minutes, then folded. He's got 965k left. Melad's got ~1.4 million.
Melad opened for 64k from the cutoff, got a call from Anthony Maio in the small blind, then Yat Cheng (bb) raised to 225k. Both opponents folded and Yat picked up ~150k in dead money.
Yat has been very quiet today. This is how he's maintained his stack in the 1.7 to 1.8 million chip range.
Still 8 players. Average stack is about 1.14 million.
On a flop of 9 8 2 rainbow Mike Melkersen (bb) bet 75k. Melad Marji (sb) check-raised to 206k. Mike called.
Turn was a 7. Melad led out for 302k. Mike tanked for a couple of minutes, then folded. He's got 965k left. Melad's got ~1.4 million.
Melad opened for 64k from the cutoff, got a call from Anthony Maio in the small blind, then Yat Cheng (bb) raised to 225k. Both opponents folded and Yat picked up ~150k in dead money.
Yat has been very quiet today. This is how he's maintained his stack in the 1.7 to 1.8 million chip range.
Still 8 players. Average stack is about 1.14 million.
Champ: Aglialoro Doubles
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Melad Marji opened for 58k, then Anthony Maio 3-bet to 121k from the cutoff.
John Aglialoro (bb) moved all-in for 423k.
Melad folded and after getting the count, Anthony called the extra 302k.
John was ahead with pocket Tens. Anthony was racing with AQ off.
The board fell K J J 6 4 and John's pair was good. He doubled up to 946k.
Melad Marji opened for 58k, then Anthony Maio 3-bet to 121k from the cutoff.
John Aglialoro (bb) moved all-in for 423k.
Melad folded and after getting the count, Anthony called the extra 302k.
John was ahead with pocket Tens. Anthony was racing with AQ off.
The board fell K J J 6 4 and John's pair was good. He doubled up to 946k.
Champ: 9th Place - McElwee
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Matt McElwee shoved his short-stack and got looked up by Vitaly Kovyazin. Matt's A3 was dominated by Vitaly's AK.
An Ace on the flop changed nothing. Vitaly's kicker was good.
Matt finished in 9th place, earning $14,673.
'MatMan' McElwee is a Captain in the Baltimore County Police Department and lists this final table as his greatest poker accomplishment. Outside of poker, his family is his greatest accomplishment. "My wife Melissa is my world" he says.
Matt McElwee (Catonsville, MD)
$14,673
Matt McElwee shoved his short-stack and got looked up by Vitaly Kovyazin. Matt's A3 was dominated by Vitaly's AK.
An Ace on the flop changed nothing. Vitaly's kicker was good.
Matt finished in 9th place, earning $14,673.
'MatMan' McElwee is a Captain in the Baltimore County Police Department and lists this final table as his greatest poker accomplishment. Outside of poker, his family is his greatest accomplishment. "My wife Melissa is my world" he says.
Champ: Monster for Maio
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On the turn with a board of J T 7 Q, Melad Marji (sb) bet 168k. Anthony Maio (utg) called.
River was a 4. Melad took his time, then put out a bet of 336k.
Anthony took his time, counted out the call, then counted his remaining chips -- he had about 200k left after the call.
Anthony stood up, agonizing over the decision, said "Either that was the sickest gutter-ball turn ever..." [apparently speculating Melad had AK and hit Broadway] or I'm good".
Finally Anthony said "I'm not good enough to fold....Call" and turned over pocket Queens for top set.
Melad got a sick look on his face, flashed his pocket Aces to Vitaly Kovyazin on his right, and mucked.
Anthony's up to 1.7 million. Melad dropped to ~1.1 million.
On the turn with a board of J T 7 Q, Melad Marji (sb) bet 168k. Anthony Maio (utg) called.
River was a 4. Melad took his time, then put out a bet of 336k.
Anthony took his time, counted out the call, then counted his remaining chips -- he had about 200k left after the call.
Anthony stood up, agonizing over the decision, said "Either that was the sickest gutter-ball turn ever..." [apparently speculating Melad had AK and hit Broadway] or I'm good".
Finally Anthony said "I'm not good enough to fold....Call" and turned over pocket Queens for top set.
Melad got a sick look on his face, flashed his pocket Aces to Vitaly Kovyazin on his right, and mucked.
Anthony's up to 1.7 million. Melad dropped to ~1.1 million.
Champ: Break Time Chip Counts
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
They finished the level and took a 15 minute break.
Play resumed with level 25, blinds 12k/24k with 3k ante.
Here are the approximate chip counts as of the break:
Yat Cheng - 1.85 million
Melad Marji - 1.8 million
Michael Marder 1.7 million
Mike Melkersen - 1.13 million
Anthony Maio - 935k
Mike Summers - 425k
Vitaly Kovyazin - 420k
John Aglialoro - 420k
Matt McElwee - 261k
They finished the level and took a 15 minute break.
Play resumed with level 25, blinds 12k/24k with 3k ante.
Here are the approximate chip counts as of the break:
Yat Cheng - 1.85 million
Melad Marji - 1.8 million
Michael Marder 1.7 million
Mike Melkersen - 1.13 million
Anthony Maio - 935k
Mike Summers - 425k
Vitaly Kovyazin - 420k
John Aglialoro - 420k
Matt McElwee - 261k
Champ: Maio Doubles
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Melad Marji raised to 48k in the middle and Anthony Maio kicked it on up to 100k straight from the hijack.
Action folded back to Melad, who announced he was all-in. Anthony snap-called all-in for 445k total, showing AK suited.
Melad had AQ suited and was dominated.
The board fell 2 2 2 8 7 and Anthony doubled up to ~540k.
Melad dropped back to ~1.9 million.
Melad Marji raised to 48k in the middle and Anthony Maio kicked it on up to 100k straight from the hijack.
Action folded back to Melad, who announced he was all-in. Anthony snap-called all-in for 445k total, showing AK suited.
Melad had AQ suited and was dominated.
The board fell 2 2 2 8 7 and Anthony doubled up to ~540k.
Melad dropped back to ~1.9 million.
Champ: 10th Place - Melo
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
Robert Melo opened for 46k utg and action folded around to Vitaly Kovyazin (button) who called. Then Melad Marji (sb) announced he was all-in.
Before Mike Melkersen acted in the big blind, Robert moved all his chips across the line, calling all-in.
Mike took about a minute to consider his action, then folded. Robert was then all-in.
Vitaly folded, saying he folded AK. Melad had pocket Tens. Robert had AK suited.
The board came 9 7 2 2 2 and Melad took the pot with the full boat.
Robert Melo finished in 10th place, earning $9,537.
Melad chipped up to ~2.3 million.
Robert Melo is a Chiropractor from New York who impressed everyone with back-to-back final tables early in the Summer Open Series with an 8th place finish in event 3 and a 5th place finish in event 4. He tried for the three-peat the next day, but came up short.
Robert Melo (Howard Beach, NY)
$9,537
Robert Melo opened for 46k utg and action folded around to Vitaly Kovyazin (button) who called. Then Melad Marji (sb) announced he was all-in.
Before Mike Melkersen acted in the big blind, Robert moved all his chips across the line, calling all-in.
Mike took about a minute to consider his action, then folded. Robert was then all-in.
Vitaly folded, saying he folded AK. Melad had pocket Tens. Robert had AK suited.
The board came 9 7 2 2 2 and Melad took the pot with the full boat.
Robert Melo finished in 10th place, earning $9,537.
Melad chipped up to ~2.3 million.
Robert Melo is a Chiropractor from New York who impressed everyone with back-to-back final tables early in the Summer Open Series with an 8th place finish in event 3 and a 5th place finish in event 4. He tried for the three-peat the next day, but came up short.
Champ: Aglialoro Doubles
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
John Aglialoro opened for 60k early and action folded around to Melad Marji in the cutoff. Melad raised to 155k and John called -- leaving himself only ~80k behind.
On the flop of Q J 8, John put his last ~80k in and got called.
John's pocket 4s were in bad shape against Melad's AJ (pair of Jacks).
Then the last two rolled off 2 4 and John caught his 2-outer on the river to survive and double-up to ~500k.
The loss didn't even put a scratch in Melad's monster stack.
John Aglialoro opened for 60k early and action folded around to Melad Marji in the cutoff. Melad raised to 155k and John called -- leaving himself only ~80k behind.
On the flop of Q J 8, John put his last ~80k in and got called.
John's pocket 4s were in bad shape against Melad's AJ (pair of Jacks).
Then the last two rolled off 2 4 and John caught his 2-outer on the river to survive and double-up to ~500k.
The loss didn't even put a scratch in Melad's monster stack.
Champ: Passing Blinds and Antes
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
John Aglialoro opened for 55k in the middle, got a call from Matt McElwee on his left, then Melad Marji (button) raised to 189k.
John folded, leaving himself with only ~260k behind. Matt also let it go.
On the next hand, John opened for 60k and everyone folded. He picked up 50k in blinds and antes.
Players seem to be feeling out the table in early action.
John Aglialoro opened for 55k in the middle, got a call from Matt McElwee on his left, then Melad Marji (button) raised to 189k.
John folded, leaving himself with only ~260k behind. Matt also let it go.
On the next hand, John opened for 60k and everyone folded. He picked up 50k in blinds and antes.
Players seem to be feeling out the table in early action.
Champ: Shifting Chips
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
On the river with a board of 6 4 4 8 3, Mike Melkersen (bb) bet 150k. Anthony Maio tanked, then called, showing pocket Tens for two pair.
Mike rolled over 43 suited for the full house to take the pot.
Blinds up!
Level 24: Blinds 10k/20k with 2k ante.
Vitaly Kovyazin opened for 44k from the hijack. Mike Melkersen called from the button, then Robert Melo moved in for 267k straight from the small blind.
Both players folded.
*** Note to Michael Marder's Twitter followers (@MMarder86): He's getting errors on his phone and his Tweets are not going out. For now, you'll just have to follow him via the blog! ***
On the river with a board of 6 4 4 8 3, Mike Melkersen (bb) bet 150k. Anthony Maio tanked, then called, showing pocket Tens for two pair.
Mike rolled over 43 suited for the full house to take the pot.
Blinds up!
Level 24: Blinds 10k/20k with 2k ante.
Vitaly Kovyazin opened for 44k from the hijack. Mike Melkersen called from the button, then Robert Melo moved in for 267k straight from the small blind.
Both players folded.
*** Note to Michael Marder's Twitter followers (@MMarder86): He's getting errors on his phone and his Tweets are not going out. For now, you'll just have to follow him via the blog! ***
Champ: Play Has Resumed
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
They got back to business just after noon with blinds of 8k/16k and 2k ante. 11 minutes remain in this level.
On the first hand, Vitaly Kovyazin was utg and moved all-in. He got no action. and picked up 44k in blinds and antes.
They got back to business just after noon with blinds of 8k/16k and 2k ante. 11 minutes remain in this level.
On the first hand, Vitaly Kovyazin was utg and moved all-in. He got no action. and picked up 44k in blinds and antes.
Champ: Payout Reminder
$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack NLH
The final table players are assembling and unbagging their chips. Play will get underway shortly in Bogata's swanky 'Boardroom', the ultra high limit area in the back of the Poker Room.
Here's a reminder what's at stake:
1: $198,078
2: $110,044
3: $68,227
4: $55,022
5: $42,550
6: $35,948
7: $28,978
8: $21,642
9: $14,673
10: $9,537
The final table players are assembling and unbagging their chips. Play will get underway shortly in Bogata's swanky 'Boardroom', the ultra high limit area in the back of the Poker Room.
Here's a reminder what's at stake:
1: $198,078
2: $110,044
3: $68,227
4: $55,022
5: $42,550
6: $35,948
7: $28,978
8: $21,642
9: $14,673
10: $9,537
Event 20: Familiar Faces
$260 + $40 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Several familiar faces are in the crowd today:
Mike Lydon
Howard Wolper
Al 'Persian Diversion' Navidi
Matt Burnitz
Ibra Ibraimovic
Jason Warriner
Andrew Interdonato
Matthew Piccolo
Several familiar faces are in the crowd today:
Mike Lydon
Howard Wolper
Al 'Persian Diversion' Navidi
Matt Burnitz
Ibra Ibraimovic
Jason Warriner
Andrew Interdonato
Matthew Piccolo
Event 20: Frank the Bank
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Frank Rothgeb (Washington, DC) is back today to give it another go.
He played yesterday's monster $200 + $30 Deep Stack NLH Event (746 players) and came close to the bubble. After playing a very long day, he busted out around 82nd -- 72 got paid.
'Frank the Bank' is going to give it another shot today, in a much more subdued event. When I asked why they call him 'Frank the Bank', he said "Because the Bank's always Open!".
Best of Luck to Frank and all the players in today's main event. Fifteen tables are in action early today with plenty of room for more.
This is a one-day event, so they'll play as late as necessary to determine a winner.
Blinds up in 1 minute!
Level 2: Blinds 50/100.
Frank Rothgeb (Washington, DC) is back today to give it another go.
He played yesterday's monster $200 + $30 Deep Stack NLH Event (746 players) and came close to the bubble. After playing a very long day, he busted out around 82nd -- 72 got paid.
Frank 'the Bank' Rothgeb
'Frank the Bank' is going to give it another shot today, in a much more subdued event. When I asked why they call him 'Frank the Bank', he said "Because the Bank's always Open!".
Best of Luck to Frank and all the players in today's main event. Fifteen tables are in action early today with plenty of room for more.
This is a one-day event, so they'll play as late as necessary to determine a winner.
Blinds up in 1 minute!
Level 2: Blinds 50/100.
Event 20: Cards Fly!
$260 + $40 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Today's penultimate main event, the $260 + $40 Big Stack No Limit Event, is underway.
This is a Big Stack event, so players began with 20,000 chips.
Late registration and re-entry is allowed through six levels.
Levels 1-8 are 20 minutes long. That means registration will be open until about 1:20 pm.
Level 1 blinds are 25/50.
Shuffle Up & Deal!
Today's penultimate main event, the $260 + $40 Big Stack No Limit Event, is underway.
This is a Big Stack event, so players began with 20,000 chips.
Late registration and re-entry is allowed through six levels.
Levels 1-8 are 20 minutes long. That means registration will be open until about 1:20 pm.
Level 1 blinds are 25/50.
Shuffle Up & Deal!
Champ: Day 4 Seat Assignments & Chip Counts
Borgata Summer Poker Open
Event 17 - Championship No Limit Hold'em
June 17 - 21, 2012
Entries: 305
Total Buy-In: $762,500
Average Chip Stack: 915,000
FINAL TABLE SEAT ASSIGNMENTS & CHIP COUNTS:
Event 17 - Championship No Limit Hold'em
June 17 - 21, 2012
Entries: 305
Total Buy-In: $762,500
Average Chip Stack: 915,000
FINAL TABLE SEAT ASSIGNMENTS & CHIP COUNTS:
T01 | S|01 - MATTHEW MCELWEE (HANOVER, PA): 586,000
T01 | S|02 - MICHAEL MARDER (SEWELL, NJ): 1,640,000
T01 | S|03 - VITALY KOVYAZIN (BROOKLYN, NY): 433,000
T01 | S|04 - MELAD MARJI (BRIGANTINE, NJ): 1,800,000
T01 | S|05 - MICHAEL MELKERSEN (NEW MARKET, VA): 953,000
T01 | S|06 - ROBERT MELO (HOWARD BEACH, NY): 324,000
T01 | S|07 - ANTHONY MAIO (BENSALEM, PA): 1,006,000
T01 | S|08 - YAT CHENG (BROOKLYN, NY): 1,615,000
T01 | S|09 - DENNIS SUMMERS JR (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA): 423,000
T01 | S|10 - JOHN AGLIALORO (HADDONFIELD, NJ): 357,000
Leaderboard Update (6/21)
Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard
By participating in any Borgata Summer Poker Open event (June 6 - 22, 2012), players earn points based upon the Borgata Poker Tournament Leaderboard Formula.
Below are the top scores for the 2012 Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard*
By participating in any Borgata Summer Poker Open event (June 6 - 22, 2012), players earn points based upon the Borgata Poker Tournament Leaderboard Formula.
Below are the top scores for the 2012 Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard*
(Final Results from Main events: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19
Qualifiers and Secondary events: 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 29, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
Qualifiers and Secondary events: 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 29, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
693.860: CUONG PHUNG
573.200: VYACHESLAV
EYZEROVICH
441.300: POFUK YING
373.113: THOMAS MCGARRY
361.025: GREG POGARSKY
348.943: ZAUR MAMEDOV
341.225: JOHN HINDS
329.850: PAUL VACCHIO
303.470: CHARLES GEIER
299.575: JORDAN LUDWICK
299.475: YEVGENI
RAPOPORT
293.850: MICHAEL
LINSTER
290.540: BRIAN ADRAGNA
282.588: MICHAEL FORCA
282.130: ALPHONSE
DEVIVO
276.500: COLLIN WHYTE
274.100: BRIAN GROGAN
269.300: ANDREW KLEIN
268.665: DANIEL SPIRER
266.105: LANA OBRIEN
265.375: BYUNG YOO
258.250: JASON LEAKE
257.663: BENJAMIN LAVES
257.075: THOMAS EVERS
252.338: JAMES BOYLE
252.305: MICHAEL CARUSO
251.925: ERIC SUAREZ
251.125: CHRISTOPH CSIK
250.238: MITCHELL
MANTIN
Thursday, July 21
TODAY'S EVENTS (POKER ROOM)
REGISTER IN POKER ROOM
11AM: Event 20 - $260 + $40 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
12PM: Event 17 - $2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play No Limit Hold'em
6 PM: Event 48 - $150 + $30 + $100 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em
REGISTER IN POKER ROOM
11AM: Event 20 - $260 + $40 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips
- Levels 1-8: will last 20 minutes each | Levels 9+: will last 30 minutes each
- Players that bust within the first 6 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
- 1-Day event
12PM: Event 17 - $2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play No Limit Hold'em
- Day 4 (Final Table) action begins at 12PM
- Day 4 Levels: will last 75 minutes each
- Day 4 plays to conclusion.
6 PM: Event 48 - $150 + $30 + $100 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em
- Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips
- This is a Bounty tournament. Players must have their Bounty chip clearly displayed on the table.
- Levels will last 20 minutes each
- 1-Day event
Event 19 Recap
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
The fourth time was a charm for Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) who put the re-re-re in re-entry to win his second Borgata trophy. He defeated Pofuk Ying (Seattle, WA) heads up on his fourth chance (third re-entry) to take home the title and the $33,573 top prize.
"I played better," said Phung, who had pocket aces cracked on the first hand he played and started his parade to the cashier's window. "I was on tilt," he added about his fourth entry, "but knew I wouldn't have enough time to enter again."
On the final hand, Phung barely had Ying covered and when his A♦ 9♠ hit a nine for a pair it was the end of a long day.
For Ying it was his second career Borgata runner-up after finishing second in the 2010 Borgata Poker Open for $26,000.
"He was tricky to play against," said Phung. "It was hard to tell when he had a hand."
The tournament also featured a subplot that revolved around the Borgata Leaderboard.
Phung began the day second in the points race for the seat into September's WPT Championship Event. "That's been my motivation the whole time," said Phung. "I'm very competitive and am trying to play every tournament."
Once Phung settled down with his fourth entry, the hand that propelled him to the final table was a flopped set of queens versus a turned set of 6s for chip leader Andy Knee. The hand crippled Knee who finished 17th.
Phung watched Ying buzz through the final table by getting knockouts with 6 high (vs 5th place finisher Joe Demone) turning two pairs against a pair of aces on the flop (vs 4th place finisher Robert Pellegrino) and hitting the river against third place finisher Chris Grove.
Ying's unpredictable play also saw him victimize Keith Crowder (23rd) when Ying hit a three outer. But Ying's luck ran out when Phung overcame a 3 to 1 chip deficit heads up to win the title.
The day began with 746 entries that created a total buy-in of $33,573. A long list of Borgata notables made the money and included Ted Geier (56th and currently 11th in Leaderboard points), John Del Rossi (44), Frank Richardone (37) and Lisa Pickell (28).
Phung's first Borgata trophy game in the 2011 Borgata Poker Open, a $17,000 payday to go along with his recent $131,000 Deep Stack win in March.
He's a 32-year-old professional player and a family man who expects to play in the final two main events to earn those valuable Leaderboard points.
And yes both of those tournaments are re-entry, something Phung isn't shy about taking advantage of.
Final Table Results
Position-Name-Amount
1 Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) $33,573
2 Pofuk Ying (Seattle, WA) $19,538
3 Chris Grove (Brooklyn Park, MD) $11,940
4 Robert Pellegrino (Nanuet, NY) $9,841
5 Joe Demone (Freehold, NJ) $7,960
6 Glenn Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) $6,513
7 John Ciofalo (Newburgh, NY) $5,210
8 Joe "Black" Reddick (Bronx, NY) $3,980
9 Mitchell Mantin (Atlantic City, NJ) $2,750
10 Jeff Gross (Wall, NJ) $1,809
The fourth time was a charm for Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) who put the re-re-re in re-entry to win his second Borgata trophy. He defeated Pofuk Ying (Seattle, WA) heads up on his fourth chance (third re-entry) to take home the title and the $33,573 top prize.
"I played better," said Phung, who had pocket aces cracked on the first hand he played and started his parade to the cashier's window. "I was on tilt," he added about his fourth entry, "but knew I wouldn't have enough time to enter again."
On the final hand, Phung barely had Ying covered and when his A♦ 9♠ hit a nine for a pair it was the end of a long day.
For Ying it was his second career Borgata runner-up after finishing second in the 2010 Borgata Poker Open for $26,000.
"He was tricky to play against," said Phung. "It was hard to tell when he had a hand."
The tournament also featured a subplot that revolved around the Borgata Leaderboard.
Phung began the day second in the points race for the seat into September's WPT Championship Event. "That's been my motivation the whole time," said Phung. "I'm very competitive and am trying to play every tournament."
Once Phung settled down with his fourth entry, the hand that propelled him to the final table was a flopped set of queens versus a turned set of 6s for chip leader Andy Knee. The hand crippled Knee who finished 17th.
Phung watched Ying buzz through the final table by getting knockouts with 6 high (vs 5th place finisher Joe Demone) turning two pairs against a pair of aces on the flop (vs 4th place finisher Robert Pellegrino) and hitting the river against third place finisher Chris Grove.
Ying's unpredictable play also saw him victimize Keith Crowder (23rd) when Ying hit a three outer. But Ying's luck ran out when Phung overcame a 3 to 1 chip deficit heads up to win the title.
The day began with 746 entries that created a total buy-in of $33,573. A long list of Borgata notables made the money and included Ted Geier (56th and currently 11th in Leaderboard points), John Del Rossi (44), Frank Richardone (37) and Lisa Pickell (28).
Phung's first Borgata trophy game in the 2011 Borgata Poker Open, a $17,000 payday to go along with his recent $131,000 Deep Stack win in March.
He's a 32-year-old professional player and a family man who expects to play in the final two main events to earn those valuable Leaderboard points.
And yes both of those tournaments are re-entry, something Phung isn't shy about taking advantage of.
Final Table Results
Position-Name-Amount
1 Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) $33,573
2 Pofuk Ying (Seattle, WA) $19,538
3 Chris Grove (Brooklyn Park, MD) $11,940
4 Robert Pellegrino (Nanuet, NY) $9,841
5 Joe Demone (Freehold, NJ) $7,960
6 Glenn Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) $6,513
7 John Ciofalo (Newburgh, NY) $5,210
8 Joe "Black" Reddick (Bronx, NY) $3,980
9 Mitchell Mantin (Atlantic City, NJ) $2,750
10 Jeff Gross (Wall, NJ) $1,809
Event 19 Winner: Phung
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ)
$33,573
After getting a much needed double up, Phung wins his second Borgata title by defeating Pofuk Ying heads up.
Blinds 100k/200k/30k ante
All in preflop
Phung (9.4 million): A♦ 9♠
Ying (9.1 million): A♥ 3♦
Flop: 9♥ 6♠ 10♥ (pair of 9s for Phung)
Turn: 5♣
River: 2♦
The pair of 9s wins the pot and the title as Phung has Pofuk covered by just 300k.
"I've been trying to play as many tournament as I can," says Phung, who is second in the Borgata Leaderboard contest. "maybe this will get me on top."
Phung is a 32-year-old pro who works part-time for his family's nail salon business. "My wife works very hard," he says about his wife Thuy, "so if I can make money it will help her take time off and we can have more family time together."
This win goes along with Phung's victory in the 2011 Borgata Poker Open when he won $17,000.
This time he adds $33,573 to his bankroll after entering the tournament four times.
Flop: 9♥ 6♠ 10♥ (pair of 9s for Phung)
Turn: 5♣
River: 2♦
The pair of 9s wins the pot and the title as Phung has Pofuk covered by just 300k.
"I've been trying to play as many tournament as I can," says Phung, who is second in the Borgata Leaderboard contest. "maybe this will get me on top."
Phung is a 32-year-old pro who works part-time for his family's nail salon business. "My wife works very hard," he says about his wife Thuy, "so if I can make money it will help her take time off and we can have more family time together."
This win goes along with Phung's victory in the 2011 Borgata Poker Open when he won $17,000.
This time he adds $33,573 to his bankroll after entering the tournament four times.
Event 19: 2nd Place - Pofuk Ying
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Pofuk Ying (Seattle, WA)
$19,538
On the final hand Ying's A 3 is dominated by A 9 and Phung hits a pair of nines to win the title.
"He was tricky to play against," says Phung about Ying. "He got pocket aces and ace-queen and was hitting hands. It was hard to tell when he had a hand."
Ying's runner-up finish earns him $19,538. This is his second Borgata second place after finishing 2nd in the 2010 Borgata Winter Poker Open for $26,000.
Ying's erratic and unpredictable play comes to an end when he loses to Cuong Phung heads up.
On the final hand Ying's A 3 is dominated by A 9 and Phung hits a pair of nines to win the title.
"He was tricky to play against," says Phung about Ying. "He got pocket aces and ace-queen and was hitting hands. It was hard to tell when he had a hand."
Ying's runner-up finish earns him $19,538. This is his second Borgata second place after finishing 2nd in the 2010 Borgata Winter Poker Open for $26,000.
Event 19: Phung Doubles with King High
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Pofuk Ying gives Phung a double up and now the two are virtually even in chips.
Phung wins the hand with king high (K 7 vs 8 7) and goes from 4.5 to 9 million.
Ying drops from 14 million to 9.5 million.
Blinds continue at 100k/200k/30k ante.
Ying (left) Doubles Phung
Pofuk Ying gives Phung a double up and now the two are virtually even in chips.
Phung wins the hand with king high (K 7 vs 8 7) and goes from 4.5 to 9 million.
Ying drops from 14 million to 9.5 million.
Blinds continue at 100k/200k/30k ante.
Event 19: 3rd Place - Grove
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Chris Grove (Brooklyn Park, MD)
$11,940
Blinds 100k/200k/30k ante
Grove shoves the button for 2.2 million and Pofuk Ying calls.
Grove: Kx Jx
Ying: 10♦ 7♦
Flop: A♦ 3x 4♦ (Ying flush draw)
Turn: 8x (no change)
River 10♠ (Ying pair of 10s)
Instead of hitting the flush, Grove goes with second pair to notch another knockout. Grove is out in 3rd place for $11,940, while Ying has a 2 to 1 chip lead over Cuong Phung.
Event 19: 4th Place - Pellegrino
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Robert Pellegrino (Nanuet, NY)
$9,841
Blinds 80k/160k/20k ante
On a flop of 6♠ A♥ 7♦ Pofuk Ying checks, Pellegrino bets 1 million, Ying snap calls.
Turn: 9♣
Ying open shoves to put Pellegrino and his last 1.5 million at risk for a 3 million chip pot.
Pellegrino tanks and calls.
Ying: 7♣ 9♦ (two pairs)
Pellegrino: A♣ J♣ (top pair)
River: X
Yings two pairs, nines and sevens, sends Pellegrino home in fourth place, earning him $9,841.
Event 19: 5th Place - Demone
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Joe Demone (Freehold, NJ)
$7,960
Demone ships 800k from the SB and Ying calls.
In a rare blind on blind battle where 6 high is good, Joe Demone is ousted by Pofuk Ying.
Demone ships 800k from the SB and Ying calls.
Demone: 4 5
Ying: 4 6
Board: A 10 8 J 2
Ying's six plays and Demone is out in 5th place, earning $7,960.
Event 19: 6th Place - Wilkins
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Wilkins makes his last stand with A3 vs the K 10 of Cuong Phung, who hits a ten on the turn for the winning pair.
Wilkins is out in 6th place and takes home $6,513.
Glenn Wilkins (Freehold, NJ)
$6,513
Wilkins makes his last stand with A3 vs the K 10 of Cuong Phung, who hits a ten on the turn for the winning pair.
Wilkins is out in 6th place and takes home $6,513.
Event 19: Chip Counts
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Name-Chip Counts
Pofuk Ying 6.6 million
Robert Pellegrino 5 million
Cuong Phung 3.2 million
Chris Grove 1.9 million
Joe Demone 1 million
Glenn Wilkins 900k
Name-Chip Counts
Pofuk Ying 6.6 million
Robert Pellegrino 5 million
Cuong Phung 3.2 million
Chris Grove 1.9 million
Joe Demone 1 million
Glenn Wilkins 900k
Event 19: 7th Place - Ciofalo
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Ciofalo moves all in for 400k with 7 9 from the BB and Pofuk Ying calls with AQ. The flop brings an ace and a queen and Ciofalo is out in 7th place for $5,210.
John Ciofalo (Newburgh, NY)
$5,210
Ciofalo moves all in for 400k with 7 9 from the BB and Pofuk Ying calls with AQ. The flop brings an ace and a queen and Ciofalo is out in 7th place for $5,210.
Event 19: 8th Place - Reddick
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Joe "Black" Reddick (Bronx, NY)
$3,980
Reddick finds a cooler when his KK runs into the AA of Pofuk Ying for a 4 million chip pot.
Reddick doesn't even get a sweat and is out in 8th place for $3,980.
Event 19: 9th Place - Mantin
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Mitchell Mantin (Atlantic City, NJ)
$2,750
Mantin moves all in for 450k with pocket 6s and gets two calls from Robert Pellegrino and Cuong Phung who both have KQ. Pellegrino and Phung chop the pot and Mantin is out in 9th place for $2,750.
Event 19: 10th Place - Gross
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Jeff Gross (Wall, NJ)
$1,809
Gross is all in with pocket 8s against the pocket kings of Robert Pellegrino. There's no help from the board and Gross is gone in 10th place, taking home $1,809.
Event 19: Top 10
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
1 Joe Demone
2 Joe "Black" Reddick
3 Pofuk Ying
4 Glenn Wilkins
5 Robert Pellegrino
6 Cuong Phung
7 Mitchell Mantin
8 Chris Grove
9 Jeff Gross
10 John Ciofalo
Final Table
Seat-Name
1 Joe Demone
2 Joe "Black" Reddick
3 Pofuk Ying
4 Glenn Wilkins
5 Robert Pellegrino
6 Cuong Phung
7 Mitchell Mantin
8 Chris Grove
9 Jeff Gross
10 John Ciofalo
Event 19: Buzz Saw
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
It only takes 30 minutes to eliminate eight players and when Daniel McGinn (Corpus Christi, Texas) goes out in 11th place the final table is set.
Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) gets three of the eliminations, including McGinn and Bill Sussman (Riverdale, NY) in 12th place, and has a commanding chip lead with nearly 5 million of the 18.6 million in play.
The ten remaining players are drawing for their new seats.
Eliminations
Position-Name-Amount
11 Daniel McGinn (Corpus Christi, TX) $1,809
12 Bill Sussman (Riverdale, NY) $1,809
13 John Kostelac (Enola, PA) $1,303
14 Carey Lane (New York, NY) $1,303
15 Chris Buettner (Bel Air, MD) $1,303
16 David Grandieri (Danbury, CT) $897
17 Andy Knee (Mt. Sinai, NY) $897
18 Justin Cook (Jackson, NJ) $897
It only takes 30 minutes to eliminate eight players and when Daniel McGinn (Corpus Christi, Texas) goes out in 11th place the final table is set.
Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) gets three of the eliminations, including McGinn and Bill Sussman (Riverdale, NY) in 12th place, and has a commanding chip lead with nearly 5 million of the 18.6 million in play.
The ten remaining players are drawing for their new seats.
Eliminations
Position-Name-Amount
11 Daniel McGinn (Corpus Christi, TX) $1,809
12 Bill Sussman (Riverdale, NY) $1,809
13 John Kostelac (Enola, PA) $1,303
14 Carey Lane (New York, NY) $1,303
15 Chris Buettner (Bel Air, MD) $1,303
16 David Grandieri (Danbury, CT) $897
17 Andy Knee (Mt. Sinai, NY) $897
18 Justin Cook (Jackson, NJ) $897
Event 19: Two Table Redraw
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Cuong Phung, who is second on the Borgata Leaderboard, is the chip leader with 2.6 million with 18 players remaining. A look at the seat assignments:
Table 1
Seat-Name
1 Chris Buettner
2 Robert Pellegrino
3 Joe Demone
4 Glenn Wilkins
5 John Kostelac
6 Andy Knee
7 Pofuk Ying
8 Jeff G
9 John Ciofalo
Table 2
Seat-Name
1 Bill Sussman
2 Justin Cook
3 Joe "Black" Reddick
4 Mitchell Mantin
5 Daniel McGinn
6 Dave Grandieri
7 Chris Grove
8 Cuong Phung
9 Cary Lane
Cuong Phung, who is second on the Borgata Leaderboard, is the chip leader with 2.6 million with 18 players remaining. A look at the seat assignments:
Table 1
Seat-Name
1 Chris Buettner
2 Robert Pellegrino
3 Joe Demone
4 Glenn Wilkins
5 John Kostelac
6 Andy Knee
7 Pofuk Ying
8 Jeff G
9 John Ciofalo
Table 2
Seat-Name
1 Bill Sussman
2 Justin Cook
3 Joe "Black" Reddick
4 Mitchell Mantin
5 Daniel McGinn
6 Dave Grandieri
7 Chris Grove
8 Cuong Phung
9 Cary Lane
Event 19: Cotto and Peck Gone
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Dan Cotto (Camden, NJ) and Vladimir Peck (Glenview, IL) are out in 19th and 20th place respectively and earn $767.
The final 18 players are drawing seats for the final two tables.
Dan Cotto (Camden, NJ) and Vladimir Peck (Glenview, IL) are out in 19th and 20th place respectively and earn $767.
The final 18 players are drawing seats for the final two tables.
Event 19: New Chip Leader
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Andy Knee: 1.6 million
Cuong Phung: 1.3 million
Knee raises to 125k
Cuong Phung calls
Flop: A Q 7
Knee checks
Phung bets 175k
Knee raises to 400k
Phung calls
Turn: 6
Knee checks
Phung bets 400k
Knee moves all in
Phung snap calls
Knee: 66 (set of 6s)
Phung QQ (set of queens)
A blank on the river gives Phung the 2.6 million pot and the chip lead. Knee is down to 300k.
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Andy Knee: 1.6 million
Cuong Phung: 1.3 million
Knee raises to 125k
Cuong Phung calls
Flop: A Q 7
Knee checks
Phung bets 175k
Knee raises to 400k
Phung calls
Turn: 6
Knee checks
Phung bets 400k
Knee moves all in
Phung snap calls
Knee: 66 (set of 6s)
Phung QQ (set of queens)
A blank on the river gives Phung the 2.6 million pot and the chip lead. Knee is down to 300k.
Event 19: Places 21-27 ($767)
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
In addition to Motola and Crowder, others collecting $767 include:
Positition-Name
21 Jaren Chang (Melville, NY)
22 Ara Melikian (Scarsdale, NY)
23 Keith Crowder (Elkins Park, PA)
24 Leon Motola (East Windsor, NJ)
25 David Alvarado-Sanchez (Springfield, NJ)
26 Sean Perry (Columbia, MD)
27 Juan Cartagena (New York, NY)
In addition to Motola and Crowder, others collecting $767 include:
Positition-Name
21 Jaren Chang (Melville, NY)
22 Ara Melikian (Scarsdale, NY)
23 Keith Crowder (Elkins Park, PA)
24 Leon Motola (East Windsor, NJ)
25 David Alvarado-Sanchez (Springfield, NJ)
26 Sean Perry (Columbia, MD)
27 Juan Cartagena (New York, NY)
Event 19: Crowder Busted
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Pofuk Ying (Edison, NJ) raises to 125k
Keith Crowder (Elkins Park, PA) moves all in for 500k
Ying calls
Crowder: A♥ Q♥
Ying A♦ 5♦
The flop brings a five and Crowder can't believe he's out to a pair of fives when he was dominating the hand. "They can't beat me, they have to get lucky," says Crowder who finishes 23rd for $767.
"It's tough to beat players and the poker Gods."
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Pofuk Ying (Edison, NJ) raises to 125k
Keith Crowder (Elkins Park, PA) moves all in for 500k
Ying calls
Crowder: A♥ Q♥
Ying A♦ 5♦
The flop brings a five and Crowder can't believe he's out to a pair of fives when he was dominating the hand. "They can't beat me, they have to get lucky," says Crowder who finishes 23rd for $767.
"It's tough to beat players and the poker Gods."
Event 19: Academy Award
$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Andy Knee (Mt. Sinai, NY) raises from middle position to 150k and gets a call from Leon Motola (East Windsor, NJ), who's in the SB.
Flop: 9 3 8
Motola leads out for 250k, roughly half his stack, and Knee goes in the tank. He checks his cards, uses a lot of hand motions as he reenacts the hand, and grimaces multiple times.
Knee eyeballs Motola's stack and asks for a count. This goes on for two minutes before Knee shrugs and moves all in. Motola snap calls.
Motola: A J (two over cards)
Knee: 9 9 (set of nines)
"What are you worried about," says Motola who is dead to running straight cards.
"I didn't say I was worried," says Knee, "I wanted you to come along. I was playing the game."
The board bricks out and Motola is out in 24th place for $767.
"What a great performance," says Glen Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) who has a front row seat.
Knee has been a chip leader the last few levels and is up to 1.55 million.
Knee High in Chips and In the Tank
Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante
Andy Knee (Mt. Sinai, NY) raises from middle position to 150k and gets a call from Leon Motola (East Windsor, NJ), who's in the SB.
Flop: 9 3 8
Motola leads out for 250k, roughly half his stack, and Knee goes in the tank. He checks his cards, uses a lot of hand motions as he reenacts the hand, and grimaces multiple times.
Knee eyeballs Motola's stack and asks for a count. This goes on for two minutes before Knee shrugs and moves all in. Motola snap calls.
Motola: A J (two over cards)
Knee: 9 9 (set of nines)
"What are you worried about," says Motola who is dead to running straight cards.
"I didn't say I was worried," says Knee, "I wanted you to come along. I was playing the game."
The board bricks out and Motola is out in 24th place for $767.
"What a great performance," says Glen Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) who has a front row seat.
Knee has been a chip leader the last few levels and is up to 1.55 million.
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