$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
A quality field turned out for Day 1A of the Borgata Winter Poker Open as 397 entries began their quest for the $2 Million Guaranteed prize pool.
Luis Vazquez (Taunton, MA) bagged and tagged the chip lead and the $5,000 bonus with 182k. He finished ahead of Martin Matranca (Miami, FL) who earned $3,500 for his 166k second place stack.
"It's nice," said Matranca who has experience at Borgata, "but I want first place and all the chips." He won a trophy and $49,000 during the 2012 Borgata Poker Open in September.
Ray Qartomy (Huntington Beach, CA) is another familiar face in the chip counts. He was third with 161k and finished 16th in this Championship event last year for $15,000.
Another familiar name who finished with more than 100k was three time WSOP bracelet winner Matt Matros (128k), he was joined by Jared Jaffee, Stan Jablonski and Lee Childs who all bagged ~123k.
209 players finished the day with an average stack of 57k (95 bb) and they return Tuesday for Day 2.
Day 1B is set for 11 am Monday in the Event Center.
Check back after 9 am for a complete list of Day 1A chip counts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Championship: Vazquez Grabs Bonus at the Wire
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
As the final hands unfold, Luis Vazquez (Taunton, MA) goes from ~160k to chip leader at 187,075 to claim the $5,000 bonus.
"I bet every street and he kept calling," says Vazquez who shows AQ for top pair-top kicker to pick up an additional 27k.
Vazquez finishes ahead of Martin Mantranca (Miami, FL) who settles for second place with 166,350 and the $3,500 runner-up bonus.
"Crazy, insane," says Mantranca, who had been one of the big stacks most of the day.
While Vazquez used a slow and steady approach to build his stack, Mantranca says he was up to 75k after just three hands. "Anyone who had my cards would have gotten chips," says Mantranca, "I flopped four sets."
Vazquez and Mantranca have Monday off and return Tuesday for Day 2.
Vazquez the Victor
As the final hands unfold, Luis Vazquez (Taunton, MA) goes from ~160k to chip leader at 187,075 to claim the $5,000 bonus.
"I bet every street and he kept calling," says Vazquez who shows AQ for top pair-top kicker to pick up an additional 27k.
Vazquez finishes ahead of Martin Mantranca (Miami, FL) who settles for second place with 166,350 and the $3,500 runner-up bonus.
"Crazy, insane," says Mantranca, who had been one of the big stacks most of the day.
While Vazquez used a slow and steady approach to build his stack, Mantranca says he was up to 75k after just three hands. "Anyone who had my cards would have gotten chips," says Mantranca, "I flopped four sets."
Vazquez and Mantranca have Monday off and return Tuesday for Day 2.
Championship: RIP.....Late Night Busts
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
brock parker @brock_parker
Busted 88 to 99 for my last 18k. Hope they are nicer tmw
Vinny Pahuja @vinpahuja
Bust JJ < AQ w 30 mins left in the day. Try again tmrw
David D'Alesandro @doubledave22
Ehhhh busted A9s vs croll on AJ62A rainbow in a 3bet pot where i thought better aces wouldnt be flatting. He had AJ tho :/
brock parker @brock_parker
Busted 88 to 99 for my last 18k. Hope they are nicer tmw
Vinny Pahuja @vinpahuja
Bust JJ < AQ w 30 mins left in the day. Try again tmrw
David D'Alesandro @doubledave22
Ehhhh busted A9s vs croll on AJ62A rainbow in a 3bet pot where i thought better aces wouldnt be flatting. He had AJ tho :/
Championship: Eye on the Prize
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
With less than 30 minutes to go there aren't any monster stacks, so players in the 150k-170k range are in the running for the end of night bonuses.
Martin Matranca (Miami, FL) is at 167k and knows he's in contention for the end of night bonuses.
Day 1A chip leader takes home $5,000, while the second biggest stack earns $3,500.
Matranca Calm, Cool & Collected
With less than 30 minutes to go there aren't any monster stacks, so players in the 150k-170k range are in the running for the end of night bonuses.
Martin Matranca (Miami, FL) is at 167k and knows he's in contention for the end of night bonuses.
Day 1A chip leader takes home $5,000, while the second biggest stack earns $3,500.
Championship: Twitter Deaths
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Busted 2 bullets today @worldpokertour @borgata not a hole went right. Good thing have more ammunition for tomorrow. #ishouldbeattheprobowl
— Noah j Schwartz (@noahjschwartz) January 28, 2013
And I bust the last level of the night. Gl everyone!
— Christine Brewer (@CBrewer_09) January 28, 2013
Championship: Last Level of the Night
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Level 8 (250/500/50 ante) is underway and currently 250 players remain (of 397 starting) with an average stack of 48k (96 bb).
Recent Tweet Counts
Kevin Saul 81k
Tim Reilly 57k
Joe Cappuccio 50k
Busted
Noah Schwartz
Shawn Cunix
Level 8 (250/500/50 ante) is underway and currently 250 players remain (of 397 starting) with an average stack of 48k (96 bb).
Recent Tweet Counts
Kevin Saul 81k
Tim Reilly 57k
Joe Cappuccio 50k
Busted
Noah Schwartz
Shawn Cunix
Championship: Ory Beats Uri
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
A hand between longtime friends is one of the more improbable run outs you'll see.
Ory Hen and Uri Kadosh traveled from Hollywood, FL to Borgata only to be at the same table and all in on a flop of K Q 9.
Hen: KK (set of kings)
Kadosh: KQ (top two pair)
Kadosh (minus straight chop outs) has less than 1% chance to win the hand and hits the miracle.
Queen-queen on the turn and river gives Kadosh quad queens for the winner.
"He runs better than I do," says Hen who sends his buddy a 14k double-up. Hen dropped to 55k at the time, but has since run his stack to 90k.
Kadosh (left) with Quad Queens to Beat Hen
A hand between longtime friends is one of the more improbable run outs you'll see.
Ory Hen and Uri Kadosh traveled from Hollywood, FL to Borgata only to be at the same table and all in on a flop of K Q 9.
Hen: KK (set of kings)
Kadosh: KQ (top two pair)
Kadosh (minus straight chop outs) has less than 1% chance to win the hand and hits the miracle.
Queen-queen on the turn and river gives Kadosh quad queens for the winner.
"He runs better than I do," says Hen who sends his buddy a 14k double-up. Hen dropped to 55k at the time, but has since run his stack to 90k.
Interview with Ryan Eriquezzo
Thanks to Jeanine Deeb and the WPT Live Updates crew, check out the video with Ryan Eriquezzo as he navigates his way through the Borgata Winter Poker Open Day 1A field:
Follow Ryan Eriquezzo on his blog
Follow Ryan Eriquezzo on his blog
Championship: Rail Babes
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Taya Kuznetsova and Britney Billian are Borgata regulars and hanging on the rail here in the Event Center.
Kuznetsova is set to play a Sit-and-Go before playing in Day 1B.
Billian unfortunately busted trying to satellite into the Championship event, so she's watching her boyfriend Terry Grimes play Day 1A
Level 7 (200/400/50 ante) continues.
Taya & Britney
Taya Kuznetsova and Britney Billian are Borgata regulars and hanging on the rail here in the Event Center.
Kuznetsova is set to play a Sit-and-Go before playing in Day 1B.
Billian unfortunately busted trying to satellite into the Championship event, so she's watching her boyfriend Terry Grimes play Day 1A
Level 7 (200/400/50 ante) continues.
Championship: More Big Stacks
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Here's a look at some other players who are putting themselves in position to make a run at the end $5,000 bonus for the end of night chip leader; runner-up gets $3,500.
Here's a look at some other players who are putting themselves in position to make a run at the end $5,000 bonus for the end of night chip leader; runner-up gets $3,500.
Jared Jaffee (Brooklyn, NY)
115k
Stan Jablonski (Las Vegas, NV)
110k
Travis Robertson (Quebec, Canada)
105k
Championship: Back in Action
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Play resumes with Ray Qartomy (Huntington Beach, CA) as the chip leader with 168k.
Level 7 200/400/50 is underway, but doesn't include Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler, who busted just before dinner break. Kessler's enjoying gelato in front of media row and says he'll be back in the field Monday for Day 1B.
Ray Qartomy
Chip Leader
Play resumes with Ray Qartomy (Huntington Beach, CA) as the chip leader with 168k.
Level 7 200/400/50 is underway, but doesn't include Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler, who busted just before dinner break. Kessler's enjoying gelato in front of media row and says he'll be back in the field Monday for Day 1B.
Championship: Tweet Counts
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Players tweeting their chip counts at the start of dinner break:
Marsha Wolak 90k
Ari Engel 74k
Ryan Eriquezzo 72k
Trevor Savage 63k
Josh Templeton 57k
Shawn Cunix 55k
Patrick Ricci 55k
Matt Waxman 54k
Lee Childs 53k
Chrstine Brewer 46k
Kyle Burnside 45k
David Stefanski 44k
Roman Valerstein 41k
Joe Hanrahan 41k
Joe Cappuccio 34k
Todd Terry 29k
Brock Parker 26k
Rob Brown 24k
David D'Alesandro 19k
Vinny Pahjua 10k
Players tweeting their chip counts at the start of dinner break:
Marsha Wolak 90k
Ari Engel 74k
Ryan Eriquezzo 72k
Trevor Savage 63k
Josh Templeton 57k
Shawn Cunix 55k
Patrick Ricci 55k
Matt Waxman 54k
Lee Childs 53k
Chrstine Brewer 46k
Kyle Burnside 45k
David Stefanski 44k
Roman Valerstein 41k
Joe Hanrahan 41k
Joe Cappuccio 34k
Todd Terry 29k
Brock Parker 26k
Rob Brown 24k
David D'Alesandro 19k
Vinny Pahjua 10k
Championship: Dinner Club
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
After 6 grueling levels of poker (8 hours total), dinner break is upon us.
Players are off for 75 minutes before returning for two more levels.
Play resumes at 8:30 pm.
Bon Appétit!
After 6 grueling levels of poker (8 hours total), dinner break is upon us.
Players are off for 75 minutes before returning for two more levels.
Play resumes at 8:30 pm.
Bon Appétit!
Championship: AA vs KK, and KK Folds
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
When 2012 WPT Borgata Poker Open Champion Ben Hamnett ($819,000 win in Sept.), opens the betting, he had no idea of the chaos that would ensue.
Blinds 100/200/25 ante
Hamnett 525k
Jared Jaffee 1,400
Anonymous 3,800
Andre Nyffeler 6,200
Hamnett folds
Jaffee 25k
Anonymous all in
Nyffeler folds
Jaffee calls
Jaffee: AA
Anonymous: KK
Nyffeler says he folded KK and is glad he did.
The aces hold for Jaffee and he takes his stack to 120k and is one of the big stacks.
When 2012 WPT Borgata Poker Open Champion Ben Hamnett ($819,000 win in Sept.), opens the betting, he had no idea of the chaos that would ensue.
Blinds 100/200/25 ante
Hamnett 525k
Jared Jaffee 1,400
Anonymous 3,800
Andre Nyffeler 6,200
Hamnett folds
Jaffee 25k
Anonymous all in
Nyffeler folds
Jaffee calls
Jaffee: AA
Anonymous: KK
Nyffeler says he folded KK and is glad he did.
The aces hold for Jaffee and he takes his stack to 120k and is one of the big stacks.
Championship: Still More Faces
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Level 6: Blinds 150/300 with 25.
This will be the last level before dinner break, which will be from about 7:15 pm to 8:30pm (75 minutes).
More faces appearing in the crowd:
Dan O'Brien
Aaron Overton
Joshua Mancuso
Jeremy Ausmus
Ravi 'Rags' Raghavan
Ben Hamnett
Steve Dannenmann
Rick Rossetti
Erik Cajelais
Matthew Waxman
Jacob Bazeley
Level 6: Blinds 150/300 with 25.
This will be the last level before dinner break, which will be from about 7:15 pm to 8:30pm (75 minutes).
More faces appearing in the crowd:
Dan O'Brien
Aaron Overton
Joshua Mancuso
Jeremy Ausmus
Ravi 'Rags' Raghavan
Ben Hamnett
Steve Dannenmann
Rick Rossetti
Erik Cajelais
Matthew Waxman
Jacob Bazeley
Championship: Charder Flight to Rail
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Christian "Charder" Harder (Annapolis, MD), Igor Zektser (Los Angeles, CA) and Mike Borovetz (Pittsburgh,PA) see a flop of 6♠ 9♣ J♣ and all three players check.
Turn: 5♣
Harder bets 4k (11k behind)
Zektser raises to 8k
Borovetz folds
Harder moves all in
Zektser calls
Harder: J♦ 9♦ (two pair)
Zektser: A♣ A♦ (over pair, flush draw)
River: 4♣
Zektser flush on the river sends Harder to the rail and we'll expect to see him back in the field, if not today, for Day 1B
Zektser is up to 40k.
Christian "Charder" Harder (Annapolis, MD), Igor Zektser (Los Angeles, CA) and Mike Borovetz (Pittsburgh,PA) see a flop of 6♠ 9♣ J♣ and all three players check.
Turn: 5♣
Harder bets 4k (11k behind)
Zektser raises to 8k
Borovetz folds
Harder moves all in
Zektser calls
Harder: J♦ 9♦ (two pair)
Zektser: A♣ A♦ (over pair, flush draw)
River: 4♣
Zektser flush on the river sends Harder to the rail and we'll expect to see him back in the field, if not today, for Day 1B
Zektser is up to 40k.
Sexton's Sit-N-Go
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
WPT Announcer Mike Sexton is hosting a $350 + $40 sit-n-go single table tournament here in the Event Center.
The winner will get $3,500 (enough to enter the Championship event tomorrow) and a special prize from the WPT: a WPT Poker Chip Set!
Borgata runs Sit-and-go tournaments daily, based on availability.
WPT Announcer Mike Sexton is hosting a $350 + $40 sit-n-go single table tournament here in the Event Center.
Mike Sexton playing host to nine hopefuls
The winner will get $3,500 (enough to enter the Championship event tomorrow) and a special prize from the WPT: a WPT Poker Chip Set!
Borgata runs Sit-and-go tournaments daily, based on availability.
Championship: Late Reg Table
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
This killer table was created by players registering late:
Faraz Jaka
Jared Hamby
Matt Matros
Eric Panayiotou
Paul Volpe
Manh Nguyen
Anthony Gregg
Nick Mitchell took the empty five seat after this photo was taken.
Table 34
This killer table was created by players registering late:
Faraz Jaka
Jared Hamby
Matt Matros
Eric Panayiotou
Paul Volpe
Manh Nguyen
Anthony Gregg
Nick Mitchell took the empty five seat after this photo was taken.
Chamionship: Caruso's Aces Cracked
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Anthony Caruso (Medford, NJ) got his chips in good with pocket Aces, getting action from Mohsin Charania (Des Planes, IL) who had pocket Kings.
The King on the flop meant the end of Anthony's day...until he returned to the table and asked the dealer for a re-entry ticket.
Remaining on table 37 with Mohsin are
Baruch Thaler
Amnon Filipi
Anthony Caruso (Medford, NJ) got his chips in good with pocket Aces, getting action from Mohsin Charania (Des Planes, IL) who had pocket Kings.
The King on the flop meant the end of Anthony's day...until he returned to the table and asked the dealer for a re-entry ticket.
Remaining on table 37 with Mohsin are
Baruch Thaler
Amnon Filipi
Championship: Bracelet Buddies
$3300 + $200 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship NLH
Table 12 has developed into another tough lineup. Terry Grimes was at this table, but busted out and re-entered, landing elsewhere.
Currently at table 12 are
Blake Purvis
Action Bob Hwang
David Fox
Brian Lemke
Marsha Wolak
Brian Lemke and Marsha Wolak each have WSOP bracelets and they are, coincidentally, seated next to each other.
Brian also has two Borgata Open titles, the second of which he won just a few days ago.
Table 12
Table 12 has developed into another tough lineup. Terry Grimes was at this table, but busted out and re-entered, landing elsewhere.
Currently at table 12 are
Blake Purvis
Action Bob Hwang
David Fox
Brian Lemke
Marsha Wolak
Brian Lemke and Marsha Wolak each have WSOP bracelets and they are, coincidentally, seated next to each other.
Brian also has two Borgata Open titles, the second of which he won just a few days ago.
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