Baker's Dozen

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Two players were all-in against a third:

Kostadines Kotatis held KQ55 and was the shortest stack.

Val Seifert (Baltimore, MD) held A972 and was the middle stack.

Adel Shakerian held AK44 and had them both covered.

The board came K 9 7 J 8 and with no low possible, Val Seifert took he pot with two pair, 9s & 7s. Konstadines Kotatis (New Milford, NJ) finished in 14th place ($514).

At the end of level 17, they took a break and colored up the 500 chips. Here are some chip counts as of the break:

Vince Coleman - 208k
Walter Soho - 118k
Adel Shakerian - 110k
Jeff Hunter - 107k
Terry Wells - 98k
Bill Hine - 71k
Toni Pennington - 54k
Val Seifert - 51k
Joseph Gaval - 31k

13 players remain. Average stack is 80k.

Level 18 has begun with limits of 8k/16k.

Walter Soho showed me a drawing his six year old daughter made for him. Her name is Victoria and she made this four-leaf clover to give her daddy good luck. It must be working as he is currently second in chips!

Six-Year-Old Victoria's Drawing of a 4-Leaf Clover

Down to 14

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Despite his comeback while playing down to the money, Norberto Sopeno wasn't able to maintain the momentum. He was the first player to cash out, finishing 18th and earning $454.

Daniel Spear (Newtown Square, PA) was next to hit the rail. He finished 17th ($454).

Early chip leader Kevin Dwyer has reported to the rail in 16th, good for $454.

Charles Cady, Jr (Middletown, NJ) made the first money bump, finishing 15th for $514.

Meanwhile, Vince Coleman (Camden, NJ) is staging a comeback of his own. During play-down, he was as low as 5,000 chips and now is back up to about 95k!

Vince Coleman

14 players remain as they move into level 18 with limits of 6k/12k. Average stack is just over 74k.

Bubble Burst!

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

The comeback kid, Norberto Sopeno, (Roanoke, VA) is back up to 17k after being down to only 1,500 chips at one point. As players were dropping between 27 and 20, Norberto was all-in repeatedly and kept winning at least half the pots. During hand-for-hand play he continued to chip up to About 24k.

With 19 players remaining, they began playing hand-for-hand. Also, level 16 concluded and they moved into level 17 with limits of 5k/10k.

Toni Pennington (Galloway, NJ) has been the last woman in this event for quite a while and she ended up also being the shortest stack at bubble-time. She had her last 4k all-in and short for the big blind, which should have been 5k. The under-the-gun player put his last 8k all-in and Adel Shakerian made the call. Here are their hands:

Adel: A943
Toni: A♥Q♣7♥7♠
utg: A332 (spades)

The flop came K♥T♥4♥ giving Toni new life with the nut flush. The last two came 2♥ J♠ and there was no low possible. The utg player was busted as the bubble-boy. Adel took the side-pot with just a pair of 4s and Toni was up to 14,500 and in the money!

With 18 players remaining they took a break and then will redraw for seats and move to the final two tables.

End of Day 1A Chip Counts

$500 +60 NL Deep Stack (1A)

Adam Cook

Position-Name-Chip Count

1. Adam Cook 255,400
2. David Goldstein 194,100
3. Shane Gosline 192,200
4. Ronald Sessinger 177,300
5. Philip Morton Feldman 175,000
6. Brett Asnas 161,800
7. Anthony Caruso 154,000
8. James Romoser 151,500
9. James Salters 148,300
10. Craig Hunkele 135,200
11. Tuan Gbehan 135,100
12. Patrick Hartill 119,400
13. George Zias 117,800
14. Thomas Hudson 116,600
15. Bryan Bindert 116,000
16. Usher Lemberg 115,500
17. Sheree Bykofsky 103,000
18. Jeffrey Kehoe 94,800
19. Mazen Karnaby 89,300
20t. Albert Garver 83,500
20t. Harry Piacitelli 83,500
22. Leiby Goldberger 81,100
23. Gregory Rochester 79,900
24. Misael Santiago 77,200
25. Joshua Hertz 67,200
26. Dominic Popolizio 56,300
27. Edwin Lau 55,900
28. Phil Lifschitz 52,600
29. Douglas Rosen 44,900
3o. Robert Geoghegan 28,000
31. Justin Blair 21,200

Bubble Looms

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

They resumed play after dinner with level 15, limits 3k/6k.

Only in Omaha Hi/Lo can you flop the nut straight, turn a straight-flush, and end up with only half the pot. That happened to a player holding 8♦6♦5♣5♠. The flop was 7♦6♠4♦ giving him the nut straight, then the 5♦ landed on the turn giving him the straight-flush and a hammer lock on half the pot. His opponent took the other half with A2xx for the nut low.

Terry Wells

Players were dropping fast as the high limits were eating up the short stacks. Terry Wells has taken the lead. He's up to 105k. Adel Shakerian has about 90k.

Walter Soho told me he's taking it easy right now, but as soon at they make the money, (18 players) he's going to kick it into high gear and take this one down!

With 21 players remaining, level 15 concluded and they continued into level 16 with limits of 4k/8k.

Another short-stack was dispatched and with 20 players left they were just two away from payday.

Joseph Gaval (Barnegat, NJ) wins the Father of the Day award this Father's Day. He has seven children, four girls and three boys, ranging in age from 18 down to 5. "I got up early and did the Father's Day thing, then left to come play poker". He lives about 40 minutes away, so the drive wasn't too bad. Perhaps his Father's Day present will be cashing in this tournament!

Joseph Gaval

It's a Wrap

$500 +60 NL Deep Stack (1A)

The final hand of the day 1A Deep Stack is unkind to Justin Blair who calls the all-in bet of Dominic Popolizio, who's at risk for his final 25k. Blair tables pocket aces vs K 5 and is way ahead until Popolizio flops two pairs and doubles up.

It's a tough hand for Blair who finishes the day last in chips with only 21,200, while giving Popolizio a much needed double up to 56,300.

The chip leader is Adam Cook (Pasadena, MD) who has 255,400 and is looking for another Borgata Summer Poker Open Deep run, after finishing 4th in Event 1 ($200 +$30).

31 players finish the day with an average stack of 124k. Day 1B is Monday at 11 am, with the Day 2 final scheduled for Tuesday.

Back in Action

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

The Omaha Hi/Lo players have resumed play with level 14, limits of 2k/4k. Already a couple of short-stacks have busted out.

They are down to 28 players at four tables (9-handed) and will break another table when one more player departs. Average stack is over 37,000.

Only the final two tables (18 players) will get paid.

Last Level

Players Remaining: 40
Average Chip Stack: 95k
Blinds: 1,200/2,400/300 ante (Level 13)

Still in the field: Mike Dentale, James Salters, Sheree Bykofsky & Tuan Gbehan

Stacking Greys

$500 +60 NL Deep Stack (1A)

Hunkele Hunkers Down

Craig Hunkele (Pittsburgh, PA) makes a 25k river bet on a board of 7♥ 4♦ Q♠ 9♣ 6♠, his opponent tanks and folds. Hunkele flashes pocket 4s for a flopped set and another big pot.

Hunkele is now the unofficial chip leader with ~200k as he has a healthy stack of the grey (5k) chips.

Level 12 (1k/2k/300 ante) continues. They'll play one more level and then shut it down for the night. Players will be bagging and tagging around 9 pm.

Dinner Time!

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

The fifth table broke meaning they are down to the final forty players as the last couple of minutes in level 13 ticked away.

Players were dispatched on a 50-minutes dinner break. Play will resume at about 8:20pm.

Walter Soho is at 60k and has been eclipsed for the chip lead by Kevin Dwyer, (Montaugh, NY) who is up to 65k. Coincidentally, Kevin landed in the seat to Walter's left when his table broke, so the two biggest stacks in the room are side-by-side.

Kevin Dwyer

Omaha Hi/Lo Defending Champ

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Adel Shakerian


Adel Shakerian (Falls Church, VA) is playing today trying to repeat his success from April. During the Borgata Spring Poker Open, Adel took top prize in the Omaha Hi/Lo event, earning $13,489. 



Adel's doing all right so far today with about 30k in chips.



Walter Soho is still leading the field with about 65k.

Walter Soho


Five tables remain with fewer than 50 players still alive. They're currently playing in level 12 with limits of 1k/2k.

1K Recap

Borgata Summer Open 2010
Event #10 - $1,000 + 90 NL
Entries: 153
Prizepool: $153,000

The biggest buy-in tournament of this year's series to date drew a tough field of 153 players. Over the course of two days we saw sensational poker and sick suckouts.

We began the day with the final 10 players fighting for their shot at the $45,710 first prize and Borgata trophy and it ended with Hal Neeman (Cherry Hill, NJ) standing alone as our champion. The Final Table saw Borgata regulars, 'Benny Benz' Bianco and Ed Corrado, put up a good fight, but fall short to the young kid on a card rush.

David Rosenau, Manny Patel, Adam Gerber and Tom Dobrilovic were listed as notables that anted up and busted on Day 1. Sheree Bykofsky and Joanne Monteavaro headlined the female participants, with Monteavaro placing sixth, good for $7,421.

After a busy Father's Day at Borgata, Monday's schedule includes:
- Day 1B of the $560 NL Deep Stack
- $120 NL tournament at 7 pm

Chugging Along

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Entries: 104
Total Buy-In: $31,200
Top Prize: $9,321
Places Paid: 18

Players Remaining:60
Average Chip Stack: 17k
Blinds: 500/1k (Level 11)

Courtesy Double-Up

$500 + $60 Deep Stack NL

Playing in level 9, blinds 500/1,000 with 100 antes:

After a raise to 3k and a couple of callers, Tomasz Gliniecki (Jackson, NJ) shipped his last 15k from the big blind. Everyone but big stack Larry Nguyen opts out and Larry makes the call, showing KT of clubs. Tomasz is holding the weapons of mass destruction, pocket Aces.

The board ran out 7 6 4 7 2 with not a club in sight and Tomasz more than doubled up.

Patrick Hartill

After that hand, Larry was down to about 125k and is no longer the chip leader. Patrick Hartill (Queens, NY) is currently sitting behind 162k.

Other stacks of interest:
James 'Suits' Salters - ~93k
Sheree Bykofsky - ~92k

There are currently 8 tables in action, so fewer than 80 players remain.

Congrats, Hal

$1,000 + 90 NL

Borgata has crowned another Champion,
we have a winner in the 1K...

Hal Neeman (Cherry Hill, NJ)
1st Place - $45,710

"It was two long days of poker, I never tilted and was fortunate enough to take it down," said the newest Borgata Summer Open Champion.

1K Busts

$1,000 + 90 NL

Event #10
Number of Entrants: 153
Total Buy-In: $153,000

Recent 1K Bustouts...

Jack Barnes (Brick, NJ)
2nd Place - $25,230

'Benny Benz' Bianco (Franklin Square, NY)
3rd Place - $14,099

Nut Nut

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Neil Levine (Norristown, PA) has been short stacked for the last few levels, but picks up new life when he turns the nut-nut. Levine's K ♦ 2 ♦ 3 ♦ 5♣ turns the high and low nuts on a board of
A ♦ Q♠ 5 ♦ 7 ♦.

His opponent flops top two and needs to pair the board to win the high part of the hand, but when the 6♠ hits the river Levin scoops the pot taking his stack back to 7,500.

The clear chip leader is Walter Soho (Long Island, NY) who has 37k. "Fast and steady," he says, while one player chimes in, "he's hitting boat after boat after boat." Soho smiles and responds, "yup."

80 players remain as Level 10 (400/800) continues.

1K Info

$1,000 + 90 NL

Number of Entries: 153
Prizepool: $153,000

Blinds @ 10,000/20,000/3,000a

Name - Chip-Counts:

Hal Neeman - 1,100,000
Jack Barnes - 810,000
'Benny Benz' Bianco - 475,000

Ed Exits

$1,000 + 90 NL

Ed Corrado (Naples, FL)
4th Place - $10,389

The long time gambler loses a coinflip with A♣ K♠ vs 3♠3♥ to bust in 4th. His wife packs up her romance novel and the couple exits Borgata's Poker Room, another solid showing from the old school poker veteran.

Doran Dusted

$1,000 + 90 NL

John Doran (Woolwich Twp, NJ)
5th Place - $8,905

Hal Neeman limped from the small blind and trapped John Doran, who found all his chips in the middle with Q♣10♣ vs A♥A♣.

The board ran out dry and we're left with 4 players.

Chip Leader Emerges

$500 +60 NL Deep Stack (1A)

Larry Nguyen (Bridgewater Twp., NJ) says he's been "lucky" early in this tournament and is riding the wave to the unofficial chip lead. Nguyen has 160k after flopping the nut flush against pocket jacks to win a 50k pot.

He also takes down a 40k pot when he hits a set of 7s on a 4 club board. "He only bet three-thousand," says Nguyen about the turn bet. "For that price I'll try and hit a boat." The board pairs on the river and Nguyen's opponent moves all-in with a 9 high flush, which is far from the nuts.

85 players remain as Level 8 (400/800/75 ante) is underway.

Jonestown

$300 + $50 Omaha H/L

Engelbert & Jones

After finishing 9th in the Pot Limit Omaha tournament two days ago, Mark Jones (Philadelphia, PA) is looking for another Borgata Summer Poker Open cash in the high/low version of the game.

"I'm a more cautious player," says Jones, "so this is my better game." Comparing PLO to H/L, Jones likes that you can see more cards without risking as many chips in this game. "Earlier today I had the best hand, but it only cost me one big bet. If it had been PLO, I would've been been bet off the hand because he was representing something better than what he had.

Jones has 13k as players are back from break. Sitting to his right is Glenn Engelbert (Gloucester Twp., NJ) who has 17k. "No big hands," he says, "nothing really."

Jones says he hopes to have a better run of cards than the did in PLO. "I was happy to make the money," he says. "I was lucky to get as far as I did."

Level 7 (200/400) is underway.

Last Girl Gone

$1,000 + 90 NL

Joanne Monteavaro (Bronx, NY)
6th Place - $7,421

Borgata local and last woman standing lost a critical coinflip to end her day. With her parents on the rail, she shoved 8♥8♠ into A♠K♣ to bust in sixth place. She dodged the flop and turn, but couldn't fade the river A♦. Joanne takes home a nice payday for her efforts, a solid showing from the tournament regular.

Jim with Jacks

$1,000 + 90 NL

Jim Defina (New York, NY)
7th Place - $5,936

The man we came to know as 'Jim Doe' ran J♥J♣ into A♥ A♦ to end his day in 7th, tough luck mystery man.

O8B Payouts

$300 + 50 Omaha H/L 8B

Number of Entries: 104
Prizepool: $31,200

Official Payouts:
1....... - $9,321
2....... - $5,145
3....... - $2,875
4....... - $2,119
5....... - $1,816
6....... - $1,514
7....... - $1,211
8....... - $908
9....... - $681
10-12 - $590
13-15 - $514
16-18 - $454

Grind on

Chips are flying in the Poker Room, action from
Borgata's 2010 Summer Open continues...


Event #12 - $500 + 60 NL Deep Stack
Number of Entrants: 139
Players Remaining: 115
Blinds @ 200/400/50a

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Event #13 - $300 + 50 Omaha H/L 8B
Number of Entrants: 104
Players Remaining: 99
Blinds @ 150/300, Limits @ 300/600

Sean, Solid

$1,000 NL

Sean McLaughlin (Holtsville, NY)
8th Place - $4,452

Another bustout and we're down to 7 players fighting for the $153,000 Prizepool.

Good luck to those left in the 1K.

Adios Ilya

$1000 + $90 NL

Ilya Soyfer (Morganville, NJ)
9th Place - $3,339

No Nit Neeman

$1,000 + 90 NL

Number of Entries: 153
Prizepool: $153,000

Hal Neeman (Cherry Hill, NJ) has taken an overwhelming chip lead in Event #10, he currently sits with 610,000 chips. Only 9 players left.

Official Payouts:
1 - ............... $45,710
2 - ............... $25,230
3 - ............... $14,099
4 - ............... $10,389
5 - ............... $8,905
6 - ............... $7,421
7 - ............... $5,936
8 - ............... $4,452
9 - ............... $3,339
10-12 .......... $2,894
13-15 .......... $2,523
16-18 .......... $2,226

Egan Out

$1,000 + 90 NL

Andrew Egan (Hickessin, DE)
10th Place - $2,894

The Nova' grad gets it all-in with A♣Q♥ vs K♣ J♣ , the K♥ flops right out the window and we have our first final table bust.

Good game kid.

Day 1A Numbers

$500 + 60 NL Deep Stack

Number of Day 1A Entrants: 137

Field size growing, Late Registration still OPEN.

Early Chip Counts:
James O'Boyle - 39,000
Mikey Dentale - 35,000
'Tony' Behbahani - 25,000
Joe Wertz - 23,500
'Suits' Salters - 20,500
Sheree Bykofsky - 13,500

1k Back in Action

$1000 + $90 NL

Entries: 153
Total Buy-In: $153,000

The railbirds flock as the 1K Final Table gathers a crowd,
play continues with Level 17 - 4,000/8,000/500a.


Final Table - Seat Assignments & Chip Counts:
Seat 6 - JACK BARNES (BRICK, NJ): 537,500
Seat 3 - JIM DEFINA (NEW YORK, NY): 376,000
Seat 7 - BENEDETTO BIANCO (FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY): 346,000
Seat 8 - SEAN MCLAUGHLIN (HOLTSVILLE, NY): 202,000
Seat 4 - EDWARD CORRADO (NAPLES, FL): 159,000
Seat 5 - JOANNE MONTEAVARO (BRONX, NY): 152,000
Seat 1 - ANDREW EGAN (HICKESSIN, DE): 107,000
Seat 2 - JOHN DORAN (WOOLWICH TWP, NJ): 84,500
Seat 9 - HAL NEEMAN (CHERRY HILL, NJ): 72,000
Seat 10 - ILYA SOYFER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): 235,000

Spike

$300 + 50 Omaha H/L 8B

Lazy kids and late arrivals pad the field size in Event #13,
101 players are registered.

Jersey

$500 + 60 NL Deep Stack

Forever the Fan...

The Philly native sports his Roy Halladay jersey on Table #11.

In the spirit of the World Cup, Nikolas Anelka on Table #5.

Mixed Game Start

$300 + 50 Omaha H/L 8B

Father's Day features another non Hold Em' event for all the limit mixed game players.

The Omaha H/L 8B Event is underway, 77 players are registered for Event #13.

Barry Levy returns to Borgata after his LA Poker Classic win in this same event, good luck to the big city card shark.

Deep Stack Start

$500 + 60 NL Deep Stack

Cards are in the air, play is underway on
Day 1A of the Deep Stack.

106 players have registered, Level 1 rolls on.

Sheree Bykofsky and Mikey Dentale spotted on the outer tables,
good luck to the field.

Sunday, June 20

TODAY IN THE POKER ROOM

11AM - Event 12: $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

• 25,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 40 minutes
• 2-day event (with Day 1A and Day 1B starting days)
• Day 2 starts on Tuesday, June 22 at 11AM

12PM - Event 13: $300 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• 1-day event

5PM - Event 33: $150 + $30 Survivor Cash No Limit Hold'em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 20 minutes
• Approximately 1 in 10 will win $1,500 Cash
• 1-day event

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Event 11: $260+$40 Ladies NLH Final Results

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 11: $260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em
June 19

Entries: 87 Total Buy-In: $22,620

FINAL RESULTS
1. BRIANA MYERS (BROOKLYN, NY): $7,679
2. ALYSON PARKER (PLAINSBORO, NJ): $4,169
3. JOSEPHINE PYSNIAK (WOODBRIDGE, NJ): $2,633
4. LIPING ZHANG (DOYLESTOWN, PA): $1,975
5. MIN ZHUANG (SMITHTOWN, NY): $1,536
6. GRACE RUFFINO (LTL EGG HBR R, NJ): $1,317
7. MOJDEH MOAYYED (LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ): $1,097
8. MELISSA RAMOS (NEWARK, NJ): $878
9. STEPHANIE HUBBARD (HAZLET, NJ): $658

Ladies Event Recap

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 11: $260 + $40 No Limit Hold’em
June 19

Number of Entries:
87 Total Buy-In: $22,620
Top Prize: $7,679

After barely surviving the bubble, Briana Myers (Brooklyn, NY) took down the Ladies championship by beating Alyson Parker (Plainsboro, NJ) heads-up for the title. Myers had a commanding chip lead and seals the deal after a flop of Q♦ J♣ 10♣.

Myers led out for 65k, Parker shoved all in for 120k more and Myers snap called. Both players flopped a pair as Myers tabled J♠ 6♠ vs Parker's 10♥ 5♦. The board was clean and Myers wins the crown.

"I'm not a terribly competitive person," says Myers. "So I was just happy to be in the money," adding this is her largest cash to date.

It's the same story for Parker who says, "this is my biggest casino cash in the universe. It was a great tournament. A lot of fun."

87 players hit the felt to compete for the total prize pool of $21,942. Josephine Pysniak (Woodbridge, NJ) was poised to take the title as she had a commanding chip lead four handed, but Myers doubled-up with pocket 6s through Pysniak's stack when she held A-5 offsuit.

The key hand at the final table was rare 4-way action to the flop with two players all-in, including Myers. Pysniak isolated after the flop and was ahead of both players at risk with her pocket kings, but Myers' hit a two outer on the river to stay alive with a set of 7s.

Early contenders and Borgata regulars, Nancy McLaughlin, Jennifer Keys, and Rosa Lee Klaneski were all eliminated midway through the day.

Sunday, June 20th there's a full slate of events. It's Day 2 of the $1000 Event as the final table resumes at 1 pm with Jack Barnes (Brick, NJ) the chip leader.

It's also Day 1A of the $560 Deep Stack (11 am) and Omaha's back in action with high/low 8 or better which kicks off at noon.

1K Seat Assignment

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 10: $1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em
June 19 - 20

Entries: 153 Total Buy-In: $153,000

Start of Day 2 Chip Counts:
1. JACK BARNES (BRICK, NJ): 537,500
2. JIM DEFINA (NEW YORK, NY): 376,000
3. BENEDETTO BIANCO (FRANKLIN SQUARE, NY): 346,000
4. ILYA SOYFER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): 235,000
5. SEAN MCLAUGHLIN (HOLTSVILLE, NY): 202,000
6. EDWARD CORRADO (NAPLES, FL): 159,000
7. JOANNE MONTEAVARO (BRONX, NY): 152,000
8. ANDREW EGAN (HICKESSIN, DE): 107,000
9. JOHN DORAN (WOOLWICH TWP, NJ): 84,500
10. HAL NEEMAN (CHERRY HILL, NJ): 72,000

Play resumes at 1 pm with 28 minutes left on Level 17 (4k/8k/500 ante).

Shut It Down at 10

$1000 + $90 NL

Barnestorming the Field

The final 10 players are bagging and tagging for the night as they return at 1 pm to play for the $45,710 first prize.

Here are the chip leaders after Day 1.

Place-Name-Chip Count

1. Jack Barnes 537k
2. Jim Defina 376k
3. Ben Bianco 346k
4. Ilya Soyfer 235k
5. Sean McLaughlin 202k
6. Ed Corrado 159k
7. Joanne Monteavaro 152k
8. Andrew Egan 107k
9. John Doran 84k
10. Hal Neeman 72k

Queen of the Day

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Briana Myers (Brooklyn, NY)
Champion - $7,679

After barely surviving the bubble, Briana Myers takes down the Ladies championship when she beats Alyson Parker heads-up for the title. Myers had a commanding chip lead and seals the deal after a flop of Q♦ J♣ 10♣.

Myers leads out for 65k, Parker shoves all in for 120k more and Myers snap calls. Both players flop a pair as Myers tables J♠ 6♠ vs Parker's 10♥ 5♦. The board runs clean and Myers wins the crown.

"I'm not a terribly competitive person," says Myers. "So I was just happy to be in the money," adding this is her largest cash to date.

It's the same story for Parker who says, "this is my biggest casino cash in the universe. It was a great tournament. A lot of fun."

Alyson Parker (Plainsboro, NJ)
2nd Place - $4,169

Phone a Friend

$1,000 + 90 NL

Andy Egan (Delaware) - 162,000

Nova' grad (Andy Egan) makes a phone call during the break, the Mechanical Engineer has been impressive through the first 15 levels.

Play continues with 16 left.

Stacks down the Stretch

$1,000 + 90 NL

Number of Entrants: 153
Players Remaining: 16

Name - Chip Counts:

Eugene Fouksman - 420,000
'Benny Benz' Bianco - 315,000
Ilya Soyfer - 250,000
Jack Barnes - 200,000
Hal Neeman - 175,000
David Thur - 175,000
Ed Corrado - 123,000
Andy Egan - 120,000

Bubble Broke

$1,000 + 90 NL

Number of Entries: 153
Players Remaining: 16
Prizepool: $153,000

The Money Bubble has broken,
good luck to the rest of the field.

17th - Joe Altomonte - $2,523
18th - James Morton - $2,226

Parker Staying Alive

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Alyson Parker stays alive and doubles her 117k to take a nibble out of Briana Myers 700k stack. Myers flops a 10 with 10♠ 9♣ to take the lead, but Parker's Q♥ J♥ is good when a queen hits the turn.

The camaraderie between the ladies have been evident all day, but the two finalist embody their spirit.

"We're playing real poker," says Myers as she refers to the deep stacks while playing heads up. "It's fun. I'm glad we're not all-in every hand.

"Listen luck box," Parker says with her sarcastic smile. "If I have to play someone heads up, it might as well be you." Parker's referring to Myers and her endless supply of big pocket pairs.

3rd Place - Pysniak

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Josie Pysniak (Woodbridge, NJ)
3rd Place - $2,633

After a commanding chip lead shifted from Josie Pysniak to Briana Myers stack, the two battle one last time. Psyniak is all in for her last 130k with A♠ 5♥ vs 6♠ 6♣.

The 6s hold and Psyniak finishes in third place. The taxi cab company owner gives a shout out to all her drivers who were following the blog.

Myers and Alyson Parker are now playing heads up.

Leader Takes a Hit

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Three handed play is now more level after Briana Myers doubles through Josie Pysniak. Myers' pocket 6s hold vs A 5 offsuit and doubles her 130k stack.

Psyniak, Myers and Alyson Parker are now all relatively even in chips.

Running Into Rockets

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Liping Zhang (Doylestown, PA)
4th Place - $1,975

Liping Zhang goes all in for 60k with K 7 but runs into the pocket aces of Briana Myers. The aces hold and Zhang is out in 4th place.

Josie Pysniak still has a dominating chip lead as it looks like Myers and Parker are fighting for second place.

1k Bubble

$1,000 + 90 NL

Money Bubble...

David Thur calls off an all-in shove with A♣9♣, he's a huge underdog vs A♥A♠, but turn s a flush to crack the big pair. The suckout brings us closer to the money, 19 players left.

More than a Min Cash

$260 + $40 Ladies NL

Min Zhuang (Smithtown, NY)

4th Place - $1,975

Pocket kings knocks out a queen as there's three way all-in action. Alyson Parker raises to 35k, Briana Myers moves all-in for 85k. Min "The Shark" Zhuang makes the call, but only has 71k. Parker calls as well.

Myers: KK
Zhuang: AQ
Parker: QJ

The flop is K 9 K, giving Myers quad kings, making the turn and river cards irrelevant. Myers doubles through Parker, while Zhuang is out in 4th place.

On the very next hand Myers gets pocket kings again and is up against Parker who tables A 10. Parker flops two pairs and turns a boat to get right back in the game.