Tuesday, June 12

TODAY'S EVENTS (POKER ROOM)
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11AM: Event 10 - $350 + $50 Six-Max Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

• Players start with 25,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels 1-15: will last 30 minutes each | Levels 16+: will last 40 minutes each
• Players that bust within the first 4 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
• 1-Day event 

12PM: Event 11 - $260 + $40 Seniors (50+) No Limit Hold'em

• Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 30 minutes each
• 1-Day event

3 PM:  Event 32 - $150 + $30 SURVIVOR No Limit Hold'em

• Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 20 minutes
• Approximately 1 in 10 will win $1,500 CASH 
• 1-Day event

7 PM:  Event 33 - $150 + $30 + $20 Yellow Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

• Players start with 10,000 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 each
• Players that bust within the first 6 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
• 1-Day event

Event 9 Recap

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B  

Paul Hyman, an Optometrist from Bayonne, NJ, is the Omaha High/Low champion.  For his victory he will take home $7,856 and a shiny new Borgata Open trophy.

Hyman was in the middle of the pack when they reached the final table and they all trailed massive chip leader Terry O'Brien, who had 40% of all the chips in play when they were on the money bubble (ten players remaining).  "I got very lucky" Hyman admitted.  That assessment was backed up by second-place finisher Michael Block (Hampstead, MD) who claimed $4,265 for his runner-up performance. 

Hyman hit his stride when they were down to the final eight and took the chip lead from Terry O'Brien (Bald Knob, AR) when they got down to the final four.  O'Brien finished 3rd for $2,695.

89 players turned out for this $260 + $40 Omaha High/Low event, generating total buy-ins of $23,140.  The final nine earned a share of the prize pool.

Not earning a piece of the pie was Borgata regular and tournament veteran Bo Toft (Yarley, PA).  Bo busted out in 10th place, earning the title of 'Bubble-Bo'.  Toft has more than half a million dollars in reported tournament earnings, but has yet to claim a Borgata Open title.

The last woman remaining in this event was Borgata regular Gloria LoRusso.  Gloria has several cashes in Omaha H/L events including a couple of final tables here at Borgata.  Today she busted out 12th, just three spots short of the money.


Final Results

1 -  Paul Hyman (Bayonne, NJ)  $7,856
2 -  Michael Block (Hampstead, MD)  $4,265
3 -  Terry O'Brien (Bald Knob, AR)  $2,694
4 -  Mike Moore (Somerdale, NJ)  $2,020
5 -  Jamie Kaigh (Voorhees, NJ)  $1,571
6 -  John Scholato (Newwark, DE)  $1,347
7 -  Dan Shapiro (Great Neck, NY)  $1,122
8 -  Jeff Paradise (Brooklyn, NY)  $898
9 -  Arnold Cohen (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)  $673

Event 9: 1st Place - Hyman

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B   

Paul Hyman (Bayonne, NJ)

$7,856

Paul Hyman hit his stride late at the final table, taking the chip lead from Terry O'Brien with four players remaining.  The Optometrist saw his way clear all the way to the end, taking top honors and $7,856 for first place.

He's been playing Omaha for about 25 years.  Paul says "Hi!" to his five grandsons -- and he's NOT teaching them how to play poker.

Event 9: 2nd Place - Block

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    

Michael Block (Hampstead, MD)

$4,265

Michael Block is on the road most of the time selling auto parts.  He's just come back from the World Series of Poker where he did not run so well.

Since all the Omaha events are over for this series, we won't be seeing Michael again until the next open in September.

Event 9: 3rd Place - O'Brien

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B     

Terry O'Brien (Bald Knob, AR)

3rd Place - $2,694

Event 9: 4th Place - Moore

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    

Mike Moore (Somerdale, NJ)

4th Place - $2,020

Event 9: 5th Place - Kaigh

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    
 

Jamie Kaigh (Voorhees, NJ)

$1,571

Jamie Kaigh flopped a set of Aces and was all-in against Michael Block.  Michael made a straight to crack those Aces.

Jamie finished 5th for $1,571.

Jamie's just happy to be here at all.  He was given three to six months to live in 2006.  He's beat the cancer and is still here more than six years later.  Still playing tournaments and still going deep.

Event 9: 6th Place - Scholato

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    

John Scholato (Newwark, DE)

$1,347

John Scholato got his last chips in against Paul Hyman and got scooped.

John finished in 6th place, scooping up $1,347.

Event 9: Chip Counts

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    

After the break, play resumed with limits of 20k/40k.

With six players remaining, the average stack is 178k.

Here are the rough chip counts from the break:

Terry O'Brien - 400k
Paul Hyman - 280k
Michael Block - 135k
Mike Moore - 130k
Jamie Kaigh - 120k
John Scholato - 30k

Event 9: 7th Place - Shapiro

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B    

Dan Shapiro (Great Neck, NY)

$1,122

Dan Shapiro's luck ran out and he was felted in 7th place.  He'll pick up $1,122 for his efforts.

Another level ran out and the final six are taking a break.

Event 9: Quarter, Chop, Chop, Chop

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B   

Dan Shapiro got all-in against Jamie Kaigh.

Dan: AA64
Jamie:  AKJ4
Board: J 8 6 2 K

Jamie took the high with two pair, cracking Dan's pocket Aces.  They both had A4 for the same low, so Dan got quartered, winding up with only 22k.

John Scholato was all-in twice and chopped both times.

Dan was all-in again from the big blind against Jamie, again. 

Dan: QT42 (suited hearts)
Jamie: AA73
Board:  8 6 2 4 5 with three hearts. 

Dan took the high half with a flush.  Jamie had A3 for the nut low, so they chopped.

Event 9: 8th Place - Paradise

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B   

Jeff Paradise (Brooklyn, NY))

$898

Jeff Paradise picked up some chips on his big blind, then folded his small blind.

Jamie Kaigh raised from the hijack and Jeff three-bet from the button.  Jamie called and the flop came 6 4 4.  Jeff got his last chips in the middle and called.

Jamie:  KKT7
Jeff:  AAJT

Jeff was ahead with aces-up, but then the last two came 8 9, giving Jamie a Ten-high straight.  He scooped the pot.

Jeff Paradise finished in 8th place ($898).

Limits are up to 16k/32k.

Event 9: Hyman Scoops a Big One

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B   

Three players tangled in a pot and on the river the board read K T 2 Q 2.  It was checked to Paul Hyman, who bet (24k). 

Both Michael Block and Jeff Paradise folded, so Paul scooped the pot without showdown.

Paul chipped up to ~230k.

Jeff became the short-stack with only 33k.

Event 9: 9th Place - Cohen

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B  

Arnold Cohen (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

$673

Arnold Cohen scooped, tripling up to 45k.  That made Dan Shapiro the short stack with only 20k.

Dan got all-in heads-up twice, chopping both times, and ended up with 30k.

After Arnold raised, Dan got all-in for his last 30k from the big blind.  Arnold called all-in for his last 10k.

Arnold:  AJ73
Dan:  AQT3

The board came A Q 2 K Q making no low possible and giving Dan Queens-full.  He scooped the pot for 65k.

Arnold Cohen busted out in 9th place ($673).

Limits went up to 12k/24k.

Event 9: Bubble-Bo

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B  

At the start of this level (Limits 10k/20k) both Arnold Cohen and Bo Toft (Yardley, PA) only had 20k -- one big bet.  Luckily for both, there were behind the button.

Arnold was the first all-in from his big blind, but got lucky and chopped the pot.  He then folded his small blind, leaving himself with only 15k.

 Bo Toft - Bubble-Bo

Then Bo had half his chips in the middle for the big blind.  John Scholato raised and Bo tossed in the rest of his chips.

Bo: AKKQ
John:  AA72

The board came 9 6 4 T Q and John's Aces held.  Bo busted out in 10th place, becoming today's Bubble-Bo(y).

The final 9 players are now in the money and guaranteed to pick up at least $673.

Event 9: Break Time

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B  

End of level and time for a break.

Play will resume after the break with limits of 10k/20k.

Average stack is only 106k (5 big bets).

Terry O'Brien has extended his chip lead.  He's up to almost 400k.

Event 9: Shifting Chips

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B 

The final ten players have been moving chips around the felt for a while, with no major changes.  That's the way it is with Limit poker and split-pot games.

Still ten players.

Final Table in The Boardroom

Event 9: Final Table Chip Counts

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

Gloria LoRusso has busted out, along with one other player.

The final ten players drew for seats and relocated to the final table in The Boardroom, Borgata's new Ultra High Limit room.

Here's the new lineup with rough chip counts:
1 - Jamie Kaigh - 75k
2 - Mike Moore - 160k
3 - Jeff Paradise - 50k
4 - Paul Hyman - 110k
5 - John Scholato - 95k
6 - Terry O'Brien - 160k
7 - Arnold Cohen - 100k
8 - Michael Block - 87k
9 - Bo Toft - 95k
10 - Dan Shapiro - 111k

Limits are 8k/16k.  Average stack is 106k.

Event 9: Omaha Dozen

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

Frank Alger (Colonial Beach, VA) was eliminated in 13th place.

Frank Alger

Twelve players remain at two tables.

About half way through the level.

Limits are 6k/12k.  Average stack is 89k.

Terry O'Brien has moved into the chip lead with ~165k.

Event 9: Last Woman Sitting

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

As the approach the end of the level, there are 13 players remaining.

 Gloria LoRusso

Only one woman among them.

Gloria LoRusso (Brigantine, NJ) is the lone woman remaining.  She's gone deep in several Omaha Hi/Lo tournaments and even has a couple of final tables, but she's still looking for her first Borgata Open title.

Today Gloria is sporting her customized poker jacket that her granddaughter had made for her, and looking quite stylish.

Event 9: Payouts

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

Entries: 89
Total Buy-In: $23,140

Place - Amount

1st $7,856
2nd $4,265
3rd $2,694
4th $2,020
5th $1,571
6th $1,347
7th $1,122
8th $898
9th $673

Event 7: End of Day 1B

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Day 1B is a wrap and 83 players have bagged their chips for the night.

Gregory Shvartz bagged the most with 420k, got for the lead over both days 1A & 1B.

Here are all the chip counts from today that are over 300K:

Gregory Shvartz - 420k
Marcus Nguyen - 349k
Byung Yoo - 341k
Christine Brewer - 339k
William Brandise - 311k

The 84 survivors of day 1B will join the 46 survivors of day 1A for a total of 130 players remaining.  They will return at noon Tuesday for day two.

The only day 1A chip counts over 300k:

Mark Gomez - 344k
Russell Youngken - 308k

Event 9: New Chip Leader

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

Jamie Kaigh

Frank Alger was the chip leader as of the dinner break with ~94k, but Jamie Kaigh has climbed to the top of the Omaha heap.

He's up to over 130k now.

24 players remain at three tables.

Currently in level 18 with limits of 4k/8k.

Event 7: Brandy Brings Good Luck

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Angel Gonzalez (Brooklyn, NY) has a beautiful laser-etched crystal with the face of his daughter, Brandy, that he uses as a card protector.

 Brandy's photo in crystal, bring luck for dad, Angel Gonzalez

It must be bringing him good luck, because just as I walked up to ask him about it, he won a pot with KQ on a board with A Q x x x.

Angel is at a tough table, too.  He's got Nick David and Neal 'G-Money' Gay on his right, and big stack Marcus Nguyen on his left.

Event 9: Goners

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

These folks made the final table and the money of event 6, Pot Limit Omaha High/Low two days ago, but failed to go deep today playing the Limit version of the game:

2nd Place - Andy Blum (Brigantine, NJ)  $4,121

4th Place - Adrian Stoch (Jersey City, NJ)  $1,952

9th Place - Richie Rubinstein (Brooklyn, NY)  $651

Event 7: Dinner's Done

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Players are back and the clock is rolling.

Level 15:  Blind 2k/4k with 400 antes.

This will be the last level of the day, then they'll bag & tag for the night.

Familiar Faces still in the hunt:

Marta Patella
Rick Rossetti
Joe Wertz
Adam Agaev
Barry Leventhal
Mike Kalfa
Jason Henrici
Stephen Rodriguez
Ari Albili
Daniel Chan
Nick Salimbene
Nick David

Event 9: They're Baaaaak!

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

The Omaha-lics are back from dinner and settling back into the game.

Borgata regulars still in the hunt:

Gloria LoRusso
Jeff Hunter
Bo Toft
Claudangelo Beaudouin

Event 7: Numbers Game

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Number of Entries: 742
Players Remaining: 154 (including 46 from Day 1A)
Chips in Play: 18.6 million

Big Stack: 390k (98 BB)

Blinds: 2k/4k/400 ante

Play Resumes: 8:45 pm

Total Buy-In: $259,700
First Prize: $58,443
Places Paid: 72

Event 7: Nearing 400k

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

The biggest stack at dinner break belongs to Gregory Shvarts (Brooklyn, NY) who's sitting with 390k.

Second in chips is Marcus Nguyen (Williamstown, NJ) who has 307k after winning a big pot just before the break.

Players return at 8:45 pm to play one more level before bagging and tagging for the night.

Event 9: Dinner Break

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

The remaining 35 players are on dinner break and we expect a lot of action when play resumes. The average stack is 31k (8 big bets), but when play resumes the limits will be 2k/4k.

Frank Alger (Colonial Beach, VA) is the big stack with 94k (25 big bets) and says his opponents have been getting mad at him for his aggressive play.  "I bluffed all the way with only a pair of fours and everybody folded," he says, "I don't know how you can't call with all that money in the pot."

But even the big stack knows he's vulnerable with the blinds and limits so big and that he could lose half of it on one hand.

Should make for an interesting run to the final table as the last nine players cash.

Event 7: Last Call Before Dinner

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Mary Making Players Happy

This is the last level before the dinner break as Level 14 (1,500/3k/400 ante) continues

The one hour dinner break is at 7:30 pm so players are getting their last minute drinks from the Borgata Babes.

Just one more level after dinner before players bag and tag for the night.

Event 7: Friendly Quads

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Ludwick Likes 6 6 6 6

Chris Leong (New York, NY) & Jordan Ludwick (Cherry Hill, NJ) are good friends and apparently have the same luck.

In a span of ten minutes both guys pick up quad 6s just one table away from each other.

Ludwick called an all-in bet with pocket 6s and knocked out a player who hit the nut flush, adding 70k to his now 240k stack.

Leong didn't bust a player, but he got 50k to take his stack to 115k.

Leong Likes it Too

Event 7: 300k Club

 $350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Ari Looking for Aces

Ari Albilia (Syosset, NY) is no stranger to deep runs at Borgata so it's no surprise he's the only player with 300k.

Albilia biggest payday was the third place finisher in November's inaugural Borgata Fall Poker Open, taking home $138,000.

Event 7: Payouts

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Entries: 742
Total Buy-In: $259,909

Place - Amount

1st $58,443
2nd $34,008
3rd $20,782
4th $17,130
5th $13,855
6th $11,336
7th $9,069
8th $6,927
9th $4,786
10-12 $3,149
13-15 $2,267
16-18 $1,562
19-27 $1,335
28-36 $1,184
37-45 $1,058
46-54 $932
55-63 $831
64-72 $731

Event 7: 200k Club

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Only a hand full of players have cracked the 200k chip mark including Nicky Curattalo (Massapequa, NY) who was briefly at 300k before shipping 80k in a double up.

Big Stacks

Nicky Curattalo (Massapequa, NY) 225k
Robert Albet (Manalapan, NJ) 215k
John Mitchell (Media, PA) 210k

Event 9: Field of 64

$260 + $40 Omaha H/L 8B

The Omaha players are one elimination away from breaking a table as 64 of 89 players remain.

Jason Schmolze (Basking Ridge, NJ) has taken the chip lead with 48k (30 big bets).

Level 10 (800/1,600 limits) is underway.

Event 7: Simon Says, "Jack"

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

The case jack is the only thing keeping Simon Miluo (New York, NY) alive in the tournament as he's all in and at risk.

Milu: J J
Opponent: J 10

Flop: 2 10 10 (trip 10s for Opponent)

Turn: 4

River: J

The last jack in the deck, and the only card that can help Milu, gives him a full house and new life.

His opponent is visibly disgusted and prefers to remain anonymous.

Event 7: Big Stack

$350 + $50 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Nicky Not Fazed by Relocation

Nicky "Trips" Curattalo (Massapequa, NY) has been moved several times after his tables broke, but it hasn't stopped his momentum.

In the last hour he's chipped up from 165k to 230k (144 BB) and is one of the big stacks in the room.
  
Level 11 (800/1,600/200 ante) is underway.

Another Side Event Update

Monday 3 pm Six-Max

Taisiya Trying Out the Six-Max

In addition to the All In or Fold tournament, the other event getting some love is today's 3 pm, six-max tournament.

It's the first time the format is offered during this series (the six-max is usually reserved as a Main Event) and today's players are using the tournament as a warm-up for tomorrow's $400 event.

"I wasn't going to play this," says Taisiya Kuznetsova (New York, NY), who bagged 123k in Event 7's Day 1A, "but I figure I'll need to be more aggressive tomorrow and this would be good practice."

Kuznetsova is quickly becoming a Borgata regular after she was featured during the Winter Poker Open. and looking forward to returning for Day 2.

Other players in the field are using this six-max as primer for Tuesday's 11 am Main Event which is a $350 + $50 six-max.

All in or Fold, Calling Not an Option

Tuesday 7 pm Preview

 (clockwise from bottom) 

Leonardo Palermo, Tyler Newhouse, Joe Wertz & Jay Sharon 

Discuss Tournament Structure

Of the 49 events offered at the Borgata Summer Poker Open none has been more talked about than Tuesday's 7 pm All in or Fold tournament.

"Shut up," says Lisa Pickell (Bricktown, NJ), "I heard the rumor, so it's true," she says with a look of awe.

The concept is simple, either push all your chips in the middle or fold.  No calling, checking or min raising allowed.

"I love the idea," says Tyler Newhouse, "people have been talking about if for three days."

Joe Wertz chimes in, "people shouldn't be allowed to look at their cards and make it even more crazy,"

Fortunately it's a yellow chip ($20) bounty that offers re-entry ($150 + $30) so if your first all in doesn't work out, you have a chance to get right back into the mayhem.

Players start with 10k in chips, blinds start at 100/100 and levels are 20 minutes each.

"There's definitely high variance," adds Newhouse, who has played forms of the concept online. "You have to win so many races and run super good. But if you're good at math and know when the price is right based on stack size and the situation it in can be profitable."

"It's sick," says Pickell, "it will be a foldfest early and a shovefest late. It will be interesting."

In addition to the 21 Main Events, this is one of 28 side events that offer players a second chance at tournament poker. But non quite like All in or Fold.