Saturday, February 2, 2013

Event 25 Recap

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The final Event of the 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open has concluded with Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY) beating Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) heads-up and taking home $16,567 along with the Borgata engraved trophy.

The biggest hand of the tournament for Robert came early on when he called a Player's bluff and scooped a life-saving pot.  "The board came 7-7-3-3 and all I had was A-Q but I knew I was good.  I knew he had nothing so I called and survived," said Zybura.

"Poker is new to me.  This is only the 4th live-action tournament I've ever played in," said Zybura.  The other three came during the 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open series.

Event 25 kicked off at 11:00 AM in the Poker Room and allowed the 372 entrants a generous starting deep stack of 25,000 chips and a chance to Re-Enter.

Some of the Borgata regulars taking a shot at the $63,240 prize pool included Paul Spitzberg, Gil Sacks, Andrew Klein, Grace Son, Mark Zotti, Leanne Rosenblatt, Eric "Clownfish" Doerr, Howard Wolper, and Adam Gerber.  Jason Min ironically min cashed for $368 in 29th Place along with Andrew Interdonato who grabbed 28th Place for $368.

Expected mother-to-be, Brittany Havern (Long Island, NY) was the Last Woman Standing and finished 9th at the final table for $1,227.  Mike Purcher (Mt. Sinai, NY) is engaged to marry Brittany's cousin and finished 10th for $797.

A couple of brothers from Staten Island, Joseph & Nick Iacoviello , were both among the 36 players who cashed.

But once again, the person who captured all 9,300,000 chips was avid snowboarder and MMA fighter Robert Zybura who wrapped up the 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open in style to the tune of $16,567.

Final Table Results:
1. Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY) - $16,567
2. Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) - $9,201
3. Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY) - $5,705
4. Iverson "Cotton" Snuffer (Milton, WV) - $4,601
5. Marty Weinfeld (Brooklyn, NY) - $3,558
6. Chris C. (New York, NY) - $3,006
7. Andrew Kloc (Naugatuck, CT) - $2,423
8. Scott Finkel (Commack, NY) - $1,810
9. Brittany Havern (Long Island, NY) - $1,227
10. Mike Purcher (Mt. Sinai, NY) - $797

FINAL RESULTS

Event 25: 1st Place - Zybura

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Robert Zybura - (Catskills, NY)
$16,567

Congratulations to Robert Zybura who just won his first brick and motar tournament ever.  He's only been playing live action for 6 months.  "I started out playing on-line then tried out limit games, then cash" explained Zybura.

Robert Zybura is currently in between jobs and says, "Poker is always hiring".  He played in three other 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open Events but the fourth time was a charm.

He's going to use some of his prize money to bankroll future poker tournaments and opportunities.  "Poker is my passion" said Zybura who predicts he's the one to watch and is going to fulfill a promise he made to himself - to become the next up and coming star in the world of poker.

Robert knows about winning and competing as he snowboards almost every day and used to battle in Mixed Martial Arts.

Congratulations on your first Borgata win and on taking down $16,567.

Event 25: 2nd Place - Schmude

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Schmude - (Hawthorne, NJ)
$9,201

Mike had his share of lucky runs and miracle rivers today that propelled him to the final table.  
When he's not playing poker, Mike manages a liquor store.  Schmude and Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY) only played 4 hands heads-up.

Zybura had the monster chip advantage along with A-K on the winning hand.

Schmude Q-10 vs. Zybura A-K

Board: 5-4-7-A-9

Although Mike picked up a heart draw on the flop, he bricked out the turn and river.

Congrats on your 2nd Place finish and $9,201 prize.

Event 25: 3rd Place - Boyko

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Robert Boyko - (Yonkers, NY)
$5,705

Police Officer Robert Boyko books $5,705 for his 3rd Place finish.  He played the player, not the cards, and his reads brought him to the final table where he gave himself a good chance to win.

Boyko played three tournaments and was happy to take down his first cash of the series.

Event 25: 4th Place - Snuffer

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Cotton Snuffer - (Milton, WV)
$4,601

Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY) takes out two birds with one stone.  Zybura has AA vs. Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY) who has 10-10 and Iverson "Cotton" Snuffer who has A-K.  All three are all in pre-flop but Zybura has everyone covered.

Players stand and watch the board fall 5-Q-9-Q-5

Zybura cheers his double knock-out.  Cotton started the hand with less chips than Boyko and thus takes 4th Place.

Cotton says hi and thanks to his wife Jamie and his children.  "I'd also like to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to play, and for watching over me and my family" said Cotton.

Check out Cotton on TV the weeks of Feb. 14th and 21st as he finished 4th on the Heartland Poker Tour Main Event which will be televised.  Hmmm, also 4th here tonight.

He's also working on his autobiography and screenplay which documents his true-life story as one of the best poker cheaters and sleight of hand men in the world (back when poker was poker).

Cotton played a bunch of Event during the 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open and was running into a rash of bad beats at bad times.  He said to himself he didn't want to leave Borgata on a bad note and so gave himself one more fighting chance in today's tournament, determined to go deep.

"I'm a fighter" said Cotton who takes home $4,601 for his 4th Place finish.  Congratulations!

Event 25: 5th Place - Weinfeld

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Marty Weinfeld - (Brooklyn, NY)
$3,558

End of the road for Marty Weinfeld who said he was happy with 5th Place after riding the short stack for so long.

Marty's exit hand was A-8.  He hit an eight on the flop (top pair) and lead out.  Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) jammed with JJ and they held up.

Board: 2-8-3-6-9

After a count Marty had less than one big blind left and was out the very next hand.

But congratulations on earning $3,558 for your efforts today and 5th Place finish.

Event 25: 7th Place - Kloc

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Andrew Kloc - (Naugatuck, CT)
$2,423

Andrew Kloc was explaining how for a few weeks now over and over he'll hit the card he needs on the flop then watch his Opponent get there on the turn or river.  Earlier I watched him hit top pair only for his Opponent to river a set.  "It's torture" said Kloc.

In back to back hands, Andrew lost all his chips.  First he jammed with K-6 suited and ran into Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) who ended up with three eights.

That left Kloc with 500,000.  He shipped with K-J and was called by two players each holding Ace rag.  As if on cue, Andrew flopped his King only to watch an Ace spike the river and his Opponents chop up his chips.

Board: 3-K-3-6-A

4th Place last night for Andrew in Event 24 and 7th Place today.  He wanted to improve off of yesterday's finish but back to back final tables is very impressive.

Event 25: 8th Place - Finkel

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Scott Finkel - (Commack, NY)
$1,810

Scott Finkel was very short on the big blind so took a shot with Q-9.  He got three callers and saw a flop of J-7-3.

Chris C. leads out and isolates the hand heads-up.  Chris tables 7-6.

6 on the turn and 6 on the river gives Chris a boat and sends Finkel to the cleaners.

"I checked out this morning then figured I'd play one more Event" said Scott who is glad he played and final tabled today.

Congrats on your $1,810 score for 8th Place.


 

Event 25: 9th Place - Havern

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Brittany Havern - (Long Island, NY)
$1,227

Brittany Havern was The Last Woman Standing and said she had a great time playing in the tournament.

She went down swinging with A-Q vs. Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) holding 10-10.

Brittany hit her Queen on the flop but Mike was open ended.  The chips got in the middle and Schmude turned his straight.

Board: 9-J-Q-K-3

Brittany takes home $1,227 for her 9th Place finish.  I'm sure we'll be seeing more of her (or less of her once she has her baby boy).

Event 25: 10th Place - Purcher

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Purcher - (Mt. Sinai, NY)
$797

Mike says hello to his fiance Melissa and his kids Tony & Bella.  "Dad will be home soon and I miss you" said Purcher who just busted out of Event 25.

Mike was all in pre with K-6 and was called by Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY) and Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY).

Side pot grew on the turn 8-5-10-7... as Zybura re-raised all in causing Boyko to finally fold.

Zybura rolled over 6-9 for a straight, Boyko mucked 7-8 for two pair, and Mike Purcher did not catch a 9 for a chop.  River was an Ace.

So 10th Place for Mike Purcher who takes home $797.

Event 25: Leave Brittany Alone

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Cards and chips are flying at the final table still looking for their first bust-out.

Looked like it might be Brittany Havern (Long Island) who pushed in her last 110,000 pre-flop and got two callers.

Marty Weinfeld (Brooklyn, NY) and Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY) build up a monster side pot on a flop of 7-2-2.

With Brittany already all in at-risk, Marty goes all in and Robert calls.

Brittany tables J-J.
Robert tables 10-10.
Marty tables 9-9,

Turncard Q and River 3 gives Brittany the triple up to 350,000 and Robert the monster double-up to 1,800,000 and the chiplead.

Marty shakes his head and has to re-build his now short stack of 200,000.

Guys and Brittany are on a ten minute break while 1000 Orange are crushed off the table.

Event 25: Final Table Set

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Final Table of Ten

Seat - Name - Location - Chips
1. Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ) - 675,000
2. Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY) - 1,100,000
3. Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY) - 350,000
4. Mike Purcher (Mt. Sinai, NY) - 200,000
5. Brittany Havern (Long Island, NY) - 450,000
6. Andrew Kloc (Naugatuck, CT) - 1,100,000
7. Marty Weinfeld (Brooklyn, NY) - 1,400,000
8. Cotton Snuffer (Milton, WV) - 1,600,000
9. Scott Finkel (Commack, NY) 280,000

Cotton has the chiplead, looking to pick off some players.


Event 25: Peace Out For Reese

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Billy Reese - (Kingsville, MD)
11th Place - $797

That's it for Billy Reese who goes out as the Final Table bubble.  His chips went into the middle pre-flop with Q-J off and was called by Marty Weinfeld (Brooklyn, NY) who held A-10.

Board ran: 7-6-10-7-K

Billy Reese takes home $797 for his 11th Place finish today at Borgata.


 

Event 25: 12th Place - Young

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Robert Young - (Port Monmouth, NJ)
$797

Robert was down on chips so got it in all after hitting middle pair on a flop of 2-J-3.

He zigged when he should have zagged because Marty Weinfeld quickly called
 and tabled AA.  Although Robert had outs, he bricked out the turn and river.

Robert 3-4 vs. Marty A-A

Board: 2-J-3-6-10

Event 25: 14th Place - Phelps

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Andrew Kloc (Naugatuck, CT) raises to 100,000 causing Joseph Phelps (Diamondhead, MI) to ship it in with A-K.  Unfortunately for Phelps, Chris C. calls and tables A-A.

Board ran: Q-2-4-Q-J giving Chris C. the 1.5 million pot and felting Phelps.

Kloc couldn't believe he would have hit trips along with the monster chip lead had he called instead of folded.

When he's not working in the casino industry, Joseph plays the circuit.  In fact, last year he was 113th in the country and has a couple WSOP circuit rings.

"I always go for the win" said Joseph Phelps who earns $613 for his 14th Place finish.

Event 25: Gone Baby Gone

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The following Players have left the building, or at least the tournament.

14 - Joseph Phelps (Diamondhead, Miss) - $613
15 - Armando Then (New York, NY) - $613
16 - Anthony Hulbert (Reston, VA) - $521
17 - Francis Destefano (Spring Lake Hgt. NJ) - $521
18 - John Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ) - $521
19 - Paul Tarulli (Jamesburg, NJ) - $460
20 - Terence Rivada (Teaneck, NJ) - $460
21 - Joseph Iacoviello (Staten Island, NY) - $460
22 - Sean Fagan (Roanoke, VA) - $460
23 - Joseph Spillane Jr. (Westampton, NJ) - $460
24 - Richard Greenberg (Wynewood, PA) - $460
25 - Paul Villella (Oceanside, NY) - $460
26 - Glenn Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) - $460
27 - Fran Dire (Colombus, NJ) - $460

Players are on a ten minute break.

Blinds are 1,200 / 2,400 with 300 antes.

Event 25: Final Two Tables

$170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Down to two tables in the Poker Room.

Table 1:
1. Andrew Kloc (Naugatuck, CT)
2. Scott Finkel (Commack, NY)
3. Joseph Phelps (Diamondhead, MI)
4. Tony Hulbert (Reston, VA) - 16th Place
5. Chris C.
6. Cotton Snuffer (Milton, WV)
7. Armando Then (New York, NY)
8. Mike Purcher (Mt. Sinai, NY)

Table 2:
1. Robert Boyko (Yonkers, NY)
2. Brittany Havern (Long Island, NY)
3. Robert Young (Port Monmouth, NJ)
4. Robert Zybura (Catskills, NY)
5. Mike Schmude (Hawthorne, NJ)
6. Billy Reese (Kingsville, MD)
7. Marty Weinfeld (Brooklyn, NY)
8. Nick Iacoviello (Staten Island, NY)

Interesting sidenote: Mike Purcher is engaged to Brittany Havern's cousin.  The two are still on separate tables.