Thursday, June 14, 2012

Event 13: Nines not Devine

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

Twice in two hands pocket 9s are no good on two different tables.

Tom Smargiassi (Union, NJ) moves all in with 9 9 and John Nigro (Brooklyn, NY) makes the call with pocket 7s.  When a 7 hits the flop, Smargiassi is on the rail laughing, "I wouldn't have made that call against me."

Two minutes later pocket 9s try and knock out a player, but again they don't hold.  This time it's a coin flip and John Morales (Union City, NJ) gets the double-up with K J when he flops two pairs.

130 of the ~180 players remain as Level 8 (400/800/75 ante) is underway.

Event 14: Barn Closed

$400 + $50 H.O.R.S.E.

Horse Tables Near the Horse Racebook

More than 50 players are in the field as registration is now closed. 

The deep structure allows for a lot of play and so far not one player has busted.  In fact every player still as their 5k blue chip so nobody is even short stacked.

The limit betting makes it tough to go broke early.

Level 5 (200/400 Limits) underway.

Event 13: "I Did Not Survive"

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

Phung Out of Survivor, but Cashing In

Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) is on the tournament rail, but knee deep in the cash tournament.

"I did not survive," he says with a laugh.  But something he's serious about is the Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard.

Early this morning Phung finished 4th in Event 12 for $12,982 vaulting him from 15th place to 4th overall.

He says a deep run in one of the side events is what has him in contention.

While he grinds away at the cash games, Phung is keeping an eye on the rest of today's schedule which includes a 4 pm bounty tournament ($120 + $100 bounty) and the 7 pm Championship Qualifier ($150, ~1 in 20 win seats) as all tournaments count in the standings.

Event 13: Radio Row

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

Harkenrider & Weixel

The Division of Poker Radio Network is on Media Row and unfortunately for Steve Weixel his appearance is premature after busting at the end of Level 3.

"I knew I was taking a chance when I over shoved," he says to radio partner Dan Harkenrider. Weixel is recounting how he shoved 100 BB from the SB with AK in a multi-way pot and was called by the original raiser's pocket 7s.

"I'll be criticized, but whatever," he adds.

Harkenrider skipped the survivor and is taking aim at the 4 pm Black Chip Bounty ($100 + $20 + $100 Bounty).

The Division of Poker Radio features multiple broadcasts including the Chris Moneymaker Radio Show.

Event 13: Elbow Room

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

Sykes, Troncone & Durso

Debbie Troncone ("I say I'm from Monroe Township, N.J., but really I live at Borgata") is a rose between two thorns and says, "it's not fair they're trying to knock me out so they can have more elbow room."

Troncone, who busted Event 2 in 12th place ($1,143) when her kings ran into aces, is between John Sykes (Brooklyn, NY) and Robert Durso (Benshonhurt, NY).

Somebody else at the table chimes in, "if you take them out, they won't have to worry about it."

Registration is closed as Level 5 (150/300/25 ante) is underway.

Event 13: Last Level for Late Registration

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

 Manns Not Dustin' off Chips

WSOP circuit ring holder Dustin Manns (Media, PA) is in the field after skipping out of work. 

The software engineer says the tournament is great value and fits his game perfectly. Manns is at the same table with Ted Geier (Sunnyside, NY) and Fritz Stoner (Lancaster, PA).

Level 4 (100/200) is underway and the last level to enter the tournament.

Event 14: Flower Day

$400 + $50 H.O.R.S.E.

Flowering Jacobs

The calendar may say it's Flag Day, but for Stephen Jacobs (Elberon, NJ) it's Flower Day.

The Borgata regular who has several nicknames including "Einstein," says everyday is flower day, and that "if I gave flowers to all my girlfriends, I'd be broke."


Event 14: Saddle Up

$400 + $50 H.O.R.S.E.

Borgata trophy winners Tim D'Alessandro (West Chester, PA) and Lana O'Brien (Bound Brook, NJ) are in the house and joining the field of familiar faces:

Tim D'Alessandro
Lana O'Brien
Jeff Jerome
Carlos Juarez
Frank Alger
Stephen Jacobs

Event 14: Corralling All Horses

$400 + $50 H.O.R.S.E.


The Horse players are champing at the bit (yes champing is preferred to chomping) to play the first mixed game of the Borgata Summer Poker Open.


One player is quickly becoming a favorite on Media Row and tweets:


Less than 15 minutes until the $450 horse summer event 14. Gonna avoid media area today. Run bad when i head over there.


Don't worry we'll try and change that luck and head to the area near the Racebook where this tournament is set to go.


Here's a H.O.R.S.E. refresher course


H: Hold'em
O: Omaha 8B
R: Razz
S: Stud (High)
E: Eight or better, Seven-card stud (High/Low)

Players start with 15k in chips and levels are 30 minutes each (Levels 11+ / 40 minutes.).

It's a one day tournament that starts at high noon.

Event 13: Face Time

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

Friendly Faces in the Field

James Boyle
Eric Miller
Ted Geier
Fritz Stoener
Martha Patella
Dan Spirer
Joe Mosca
David Heck
Jose Montes
Leo G
Antoine White
Leanne Rosenblatt
Stephen Rodriguez 
John Hinds
Howard Wolper
Alyson Parker

Event 13: I Will Survive

$400 + $50 Survivor No Limit Hold'em

After a day of mad house poker, players are catching their breath and bunkering down for a long grind. 

The survivor format is simple and is tailored made for those short stacks who typical min cash, but don't build enough of a stack to contend for the big money spots.  As long as you have chips when the bubble breaks, you're a winner.

Players put up $450 and all the survivors take home $4,000 in cool hard cash.

Stacks are 15k, levels are 30 minutes each (Levels 11+ / 40 min.) and this one day tournament is underway.

Thursday, June 14

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


11AM: Event 13 - $400 + $50 SURVIVOR No Limit Hold'em
  • Players start with 15,000 in tournament chips 
  • Levels 1-10: will last 30 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 40 minutes each
  • Approximately 1 in 10 wins $4,000 CASH
  • 1-Day event 

12PM: Event 14 - $400 + $50 H.O.R.S.E.
  • Players start with 15,000 in tournament chips 
  • Levels 1-10: will last 30 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 40 minutes each
  • 1-Day event 


4 PM:  Event 36 - $100 + $20 + $100 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
  • Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
  • This is a Bounty tournament. Players must  have their Bounty Chip clearly displayed on the table in order to remain active in tournament.
  • Levels will last 20 minutes
  • Players that bust within the first 6 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
  • 1-Day event


7 PM:  Event 37 - $135 + $25 Championship Qualifier No Limit Hold'em
  • Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
  • Levels will last 20 minutes each
  • Approximately 1 in 20 players will win a $2,700 Entry to play in the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship (June 17-21, 2012)
  • 1-Day event

      Event 12 Recap

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
        
      "My kids will never believe I won this" said Allen Mock (Manheim, PA).  After 5am in the morning, he's having a hard time believing it himself.  In his first ever reported tournament cash, Mock earned $44,295 and a Borgata Summer Poker Open trophy.

      Mock claimed the chip lead with three tables remaining, when he picked off a short-stack moving in light.  He then took out former chip leader Ed Grau, (Baltimore, MD) when his KT outran Grau's AJ on the board.  Grau, who won the inaugural 2011 Fall Poker Open version of this event, (963 entries, good for $42k first place) finished in 20th place ($1,012).

      Those pots gave Mock the momentum he needed to make the final table, then take down the tournament.

      "I play in bar tournaments back home, for practice" Mock said.   He's just had ankle replacement surgery and is out of work for a while, so came to Borgata for some R&R, and some poker.  He's headed back home with a first place cash and trophy.

      In an unusual coincidence, runner up Alex Beleson (Manalapan, NJ) is also an amateur booking his first ever tournament cash.  His second place finish was good for $25,774.  Beleson is a retail sales manager and feels that interacting with the public in his job helps him read opponents better at the poker table.  He is also headed home to celebrate.

      This event carried a $100,000 GUARANTEE on the total buy ins, but with 757 entries, the total swelled to nearly double that:  $196,820.  The final 72 players carved up the prize pool.

      Local poker pro and Borgata tournament regular Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ) finished 4th when his flopped trips ran into a flopped full house.  He collected $12,982 which will put his lifetime reported tournament earnings over a quarter-million dollars.

      Sandy Leonhardt (Beachwood, NJ) was the last woman in this event.  She finished 22nd for $1,012.

      Borgata regulars who cashed, include:
      42nd place  - Jose Montes (Bronx, NY)
      38th place - Jason Henrici (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ)
      37th place - Daniel Chan (New York, NY)  all earning $802;
      61st place - Dan Spirer (Mechanicsville, PA) earning $630;
      65th place - Ted Geier (Sunnyside, NY) earning $554.

      Borgata regulars who played, but did not make the money, include former Open winners Alex Rocha, Harry Korotki, Keith Crowder, Phil Neiman, Joe Liberta, Roz Quarto, and James Boyle.

      If Allen Mock's kids don't believe he won this event, he can show them the cash.  If that doesn't convince them, he can show them his shiny new 2012 Borgata Summer  Poker Open trophy.  


      Final Table Results

      1 - Allen Mock (Manheim, PA)  $44,295
      2 - Alex Beleson (Manalapan, NJ)  $25,774
      3 - Dan Beavers (White Plains, MD)  $15,751
      4 - Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ)  $12,982
      5 - Rick Chang (Lawrenceburg, IN)  $10,500
      6 - David Scherer (Manchester, CT)  $8,591
      7 - Henry Telias (N Woodmere, NY)  $6,873
      8 - Aaron Frese (Phoenixville, PA)  $5,250
      9 - Syed Dib (Brooklyn, NY)  $3,627
      10 - Ezra Mann (Brooklyn, NY)  $2,386

      Event 12: 1st Place - Mock

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Allen Mock (Manheim, PA)
      $44,295

      The final cards fell right around 5am Thursday morning, after 18 hours of poker.  Allen Mock had all 18.9 million chips in play.  For his win today, he'll take home $44,925 and the beautiful Borgata Summer Open Trophy.

      Allen gets his practice playing bar tournaments back home.  This is his first ever reported tournament cash.  He came to Borgata for a mix of vacation and poker, but his time is up and he has to go back home.  He works for the US Postal Service, but is currently disabled due to ankle replacement surgery.  In his spare time, he collects old toys and trains.

      Allen wanted to say Hi! to his kids back home, who he says will never believe he won this tournament and over $44,000.  If the cash doesn't convince them, he can show them the trophy.

      Event 12: 2nd Place - Beleson

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Alex Beleson (Manalapan, NJ)
      $25,774

      Alex Beleson was down to his last 465k and all-in pre-flop.

      His pocket Kings were ahead of Allen Mock's A5 suited.  The board fell 9 8 4 K 9 and Alex doubled up.

      Then he was all-in with pocket Queens against Allen's J4 suited.  The board was A 5 5 8 9 and Alex doubled up again to almost 2 million.

      On the final hand, Alex was all-in with T2 off against Allen's J9.  The board came J T 4 7 5 and Allen claimed the pot, and the tournament, with a pair of Jacks.

      Alex Beleson finished 2nd for $25,774.

      Alex makes his living as a retail sales manager and feels that his working with people all the time helps him read people at the poker table.  He's been playing tournaments for about three years.  This is his first ever reported tournament cash.

      He's got to get back home and back to work.  Congrats and good luck -- hope to see you again soon!

      Event 12: 3rd Place - Beavers

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Dan Beavers (White Plains, MD)
      $15,751

      Dan Beavers was all in with KQ off against Alex Beleson's JT off.

      The board came K K 8 3 6 and Dan doubled up to ~2.1 million.

      Not long after, Dan was all-in again, this time against Allen Mock.

      Dan's AK offsuit was dominating Allen's KJ offsuit, but the board ran out A J 2 4 J -- with four diamonds -- and Allen had the King of diamonds for the flush.

      Dan finished in 3rd place, earning $15,751.  (Dan did not want his picture taken.)

      At the start of heads-up play, Alex Beleson had about 3.6 million to Allen Mock's 15.3 million.

      Event 12: 4th Place - Phung

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       Cuong Phung (Atlantic City, NJ)
      $12,982

      On the turn with a board of J J 2 K, Cuong Phung was all in against Alex Beleson.

      Cuong had QJ for trip Jacks.

      Alex had pocket 2s for the full boat.

      River was a 9 and Alex took the pot.  He's up to ~7.5 million.

      Cuong will take home $12,982 for 4th place.

      Event 12: Final Four Chip Counts

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      End of level and time for a break, which means time to count the chips:

      Allen Mock - 7.2 million
      Alex Beleson - 5.2 million
      Cuong Phung - 3 million
      Dan Beavers - 3 million

      Play resumed after the break with blinds of 80k/160k and 20k ante.

      Event 12: 5th Place - Chang

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       Rick Chang (Lawrenceburg, IN)
      $10,500

      Rick Chang was all-in with pocket 9s against Allen Mock's AT off.

      The board came J 5 3 Q 7 with four diamonds and Allen had the right Ace.  He made the flush to take the pot, chipping up to ~7 million.

      Rick finished in 5th place, earning $10,500.

      Event 12: 6th Place - Scherer

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       David Scherer (Manchester, CT)
      $8,591

      Dan Beaver's A7 suited hit a flush on the turn.  He doubled up through Rick Chang.

      David Scherer was all-in with KT off against Rick Chang's A4 suited.  The board came A J 3 3 6 and Rick made Aces-up to take the pot.

      David will take $8,591 for 6th place.

      Event 12: 7th Place - Telias

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       Henry Telias (N Woodmere, NY)
      $6,873

      Henry Telias got his last chips in good with pocket Queens, but got looked up by the big stack of Alex Beleson, who held KJ.

      A King hit the board and the big stack got bigger.

      Henry Telias finished in 7th place, earning $6,873.

      David Scherer survived his encounter with Alex's big stack.  David's pocket Tens held up against Alex's 65 suited.  David doubled up.

      Event 12: 8th Place - Frese

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       Aaron Frese (Phoenixville, PA)
      $5,250

      Aaron Frese got his last chips in with 98 suited against the big stack of Alex Beleson, who held AT off.

      The cards ran out 7 3 3 A 9 and Alex made the bigger pair to take another pot.

      Aaron will take home $5,250 for 8th place.

      Event 12: 9th Place - Dib

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

       Syed Dib (Brooklyn, NY)
      $3,627

      Three players were all-in pre-flop:

      Dan Beavers - QQ
      Syed Dib -  AQ off
      Allen Mock - A5 suited

      Syed had the shortest stack and Allen had the biggest.

      The board came K 6 5 9 7 and Dan's Queens held up to take the main pot.

      Allen took the side pot with a pair of 5s.

      Syed will take home $3,267 for 9th place.

      Event 12: Final Table Chip Counts

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Here are the final nine with their seats at the final table and rough chip counts:

      1 - Rick Chang - 2.5 million
      2 - Alex Beleson - 4.3 million
      3 - Cuong Phung - 3.9 million
      4 - Syed Dib - 1.13 million
      5 - Henry Telias - 1.43 million
      6 - Dan Beavers - 500k
      7 - David Scherer - 800k
      8 - Aaron Frese - 1.04 million
      9 - Allen Mock - 3.45 million

      They've returned from break to blinds of 60k/120k with 20k ante.

      Event 12: 10th Place - Mann

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Ezra Mann (Brooklyn, NY)
      $2,386

      Blinds 50k/100k with 10k ante.

      David Scherer opened for 300k, Ezra Mann called from the hijack, then Alex Beleson shoved on the button.

      David then moved in, too, and Ezra tanked for a bit before calling all-in (he had the shortest stack of the three).

      David: AK suited
      Ezra:  55
      Alex:  JJ

      The board ran out Q 9 7 J Q and Alex scooped with Jacks-full.  David was left short-stacked.

      Ezra was eliminated in 10th place ($2,386).

      Event 12: 11th Place - Levi

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Dennis Levi (Jersey City, NJ)
      $2,386

      Dennis Levi was down to only three big blinds and he put them in utg without looking at his cards.

      He busted out in 11th place, earning $2,386.

      Event 12: 12th Place - Leach

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Richard Leach (Washington, DC)
      $2,386

      Richard Leach got his chips in the middle holding KJ suited and was racing against Cuong Phung's pocket 8s. 

      Cuong flopped a set and it was all over for Richard.  He will claim $2,386 for 12th place.

      Event 12: 13th Place - Adragna

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Brian Adragna (E Meadow, NY)
      $1,718

      Brian Adragna got his last chips in holding KJ and was ahead of Cuong Phung's Q8.

      The the board came J T 6 Q 4 and Cuong made the bigger pair on the turn. 

      Brian finished 13th for $1,718.

      Event 12: 14th Place - Kazan

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)   

      David Kazan (Merrick, NY)
      $1,718

      David Kazan got his last chips in with A5 against AQ.  The board came T T 4 Q 5 and David reported to the rail in 14th place.

      Event 12: 15th Place - Zollo

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Dennis Zollo (Middletown, NY)
      $1,718

      Dennis Zollo was all-in with A6 against Alex Beleson's pocket 5s.  Dennis was thrilled to see a 6 on the flop, but there was a 5 right behind it.  The board ran out T 6 5 4 8 and Alex took the pot.

      Dennis took 15th place and $1,718.

      Event 12: 16th Place - Grimberg

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)   

      Gennady Grimberg (Brooklyn, NY)
      $1,184

      In a three-way pre-flop all-in, the hands were
      Gennady Grimberg: 22
      Dennis Levi: 88
      Richard Leach:  QQ

      The board came K T 8 J 3 and Dennis took the pot.  Richard was left short.  Gennady busted out in 16th place ($1,184).

      Event 12: 17th Place - Black

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)   

       Dave Black (Robbinsville, NJ)
      $1,184

      After Rick Chang raised on the button, Dave Black moved in from the small blind. 

      Rick made the call, showing pocket Aces.

      Dave's pocket Kings were coolered.  He busted out in 17th place ($1,184).

      Event 12: 18th Place - Hatalovsky

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)   

       John Hatalovsky (Glen Head, NY)
      $1,184

      John Hatalovsky got his last chips in good with A6 suited, but ran into the pocket Tens of Aaron Frese.

      The board ran out J 9 4 4 K and the Tens held up.

      John busted out in 18th place ($1,184).

      Event 12: 27th - 19th Places

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry) 

      Earning $1,012
      27 - Gonzalo Villarreal (E Hanover, NJ)
      26 - Carlos Colon (E Patchogue, NY)
      25 - David Grandieri (Danbury, CT)
      24 - Richard Touma (Olney, MD)
      23 - Sergey Sprikut (Staten Island, NY)
      22 - Sandy Leonhart (Beachwood, FL)
      21 - Michael Fiumefreddo (Larchmont, NY)
      20 - Ed Grau (Baltimore, MD)
      19 - Nick David (Manchester, NH)

      Event 12: Grau's a Goner

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

      Ed Grau (Baltimore, MD) got his chips in good with AJ, but ran into the buzz saw of Allen Mock, who looked him up with KT.

       Ed Grau

      A King on the flop shipped the pot to Allen.

      Ed busted out in 20th place, good for $1,012.

      In the inaugural 2011 Fall Poker Open version, Grau was nicknamed the "Human Buzz Saw" on his way to the title as he outlasted 963 entries (earning $42k).

      Allen Mock is now up to over 3.1 million and the new Buzz Saw in town.

      Nick David (Manchester, NH) just busted out in 19th place, so it is time to redraw for the final two tables.

      That's also the end of the level and players are on break.

      Event 12: Leonhardt Eliminated

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Alex Beleson was moved to table three to balance.  He's now got David Kazan on his immediate left and chip leader Allen Mock three seats to his left.

      22 players remain.  Average stack is 860k.

       Sandy Leonhardt - Last Woman Sitting

      Sandy Leonhardt (Beachwood, NJ) is the last woman sitting, and she has been for quite a while.

      She got her last chips in good with AK against Q6.  A Queen on the flop was the killing blow.  Sandy got no help from the board and she was eliminated in 22nd place ($1,012).

      Event 12: Mock Takes Lead

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Blinds are up to 25k/50k with 5k ante.

      After a short-stack shoved, Allen Mock looked him up with KQ suited. 

      The shortie had 6 5 suited.

      The board fell J T 8 4 3 and Allen collected the pot with King-high.

      With that pot, Allen chipped up to 2.3 million, good for sole possession of the chip lead.

      Event 12: Beleson Down; Kazan Up

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Alex Beleson shipped about 300k to the player on his right when his pocket Jacks were cracked by the short-stack's A3.  

      The board came A T 2 5 4 giving his opponent a bigger pair on the flop, then a wheel on the river.

      Alex is down to about 1.2 million after losing that hand.

       David Kazan

      Over on table three, David Kazan (Merrick, NY) has chipped up to ~1.7 million.

      Event 12: 36th - 28th Places

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

      Earning $897
      36 - Michael Peck (Ft. Edward, NY)
      35 - Mario Rodriguez (Jersey City, NJ)
      34 - Luis Urioste (Flushing, NY)
      33 - She Lok Wong (Woodehaven, NY)
      32 - Elliott Gruen (Brooklyn, NY)
      31 - Mikhail Sher (Brooklyn, NY)
      30 - Michael Forca (Brooklyn, NY)
      29 - Francisco Martinez Rodriguez
      28 - Barry Clare (Bayside, NY)

      27 players remain at three tables.  Average is 701k.

      Event 12: Lead Changes

      $260 + $40 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)  

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

      Former chip leaders have lost some ground.

      Allen Mock

      Allen Mock (Manheim, PA) has taken the lead with 1.7 million.

      Alex Beleson (Manalapan, NJ) is close behind with ~1.6 million.

      Down to 28 players (average is 676k).