Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Event 18: $2000+$200 Championship Results

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship

Event 18: $2000 + $200 No Limit Hold'em
June 25 - 29

Entries: 321 Total Buy-In: $642,000

FINAL RESULTS
1. WILLIAM ONEIL (COLLAGE PARK, MD): $180,595
2. MIRZA NAGJI (NEW YORK, NY): $104,620
3. TODD GEDDIS (ASTORIA, NY): $51,687
4. MICHAEL MELKERSEN (NEW MARKET, VA): $43,592
5. STEVEN CURTIN (INDIAN TRAIL, NC): $37,364
6. JOHN BORZIO (ROBBINSVILLE, NJ): $31,137
7. FRANK DELLARIA (BURGETTSTOWN, PA): $24,910
8. DEAN POTASHNER (MORRISTOWN, NJ): $18,683
9. EDWARD CORRADO (NAPLES, FL): $12,456
10. JOSHUA HAKAKIAN (WARFORDSBURG, PA): $8,096
11. ALEX KUCHIK (BROOKLYN, NY): $8,096
12. JAY JOHNSON (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $8,096
13. LARRY NELSON (HARLEYSVILLE, PA): $6,227
14. JAMES OSTRANDER (SOUTHERN PINES, NC): $6,227
15. FLORENTINO DELEON JR (JOPPA, MD): $6,227
16. MARK HNATOV (HUNTINGTON, NY): $4,359
17. ANTHONY BALLETTA (SANIBEL, FL): $4,359
18. JIA LIU (BROOKLYN, NY): $4,359
19. TYNG LOW (FLUSHING, NY): $3,736
20. DANIEL LEE (RICHMOND, VA): $3,736
21. AZIZ WEHBEY (WHITEHALL, PA): $3,736
22. EDIP AYAZ (NEW MILFORD, NJ): $3,736
23. DANIEL FISCHER (GLASSBORO, NJ): $3,736
24. BEHROOZ JAMSHIDI (ELLICOTT CITY, MD): $3,736
25. JOSEPH DADDARIO (CHESTERLAND, OH): $3,736
26. ARBEN KUPI (ELMHURST, NY): $3,736
27. SEAN KNITTER (FOX CHASE MNR, PA): $3,736
28. MICHAEL BUTTACAVOLI (VENTNOR, NJ): $3,114
29. JOHN DORAN (WOOLWICH TWP, NJ): $3,114
30. RICHARD MISKO (HOBOKEN, NJ): $3,114
31. BRYAN GREELEY (MASTIC BEACH, NY): $3,114
32. JOANNE MONTEAVARO (BRONX, NY): $3,114
33. MICHAEL CONTESSA (ROCHELLE PARK, NJ): $3,114
34. BENJAMIN LUDWIG (SCHWENKSVILLE, PA): $3,114
35. JOSH SPIEGELMAN (PRINCETON, NJ): $3,114
36. CARL RESTIFO (WARETOWN, NJ): $3,114

Bling Is Out

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Nagji & O'Neil Play for the trophy, bracelet &
the $180,595 first place prize

3rd place - Todd Geddis

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Todd Geddis - 3rd place
$51,687

Todd Geddis moved in from the small blind and Mirza Nagji (bb) asked for the count. Todd had 820k on top of the blind. Mirza made the call, showing A3 suited. Todd had KJ and would need help to survive.

The board came A Q 6 Q 8 and was no help to Todd. He finished in 3rd place, earning $51,687.

Todd won his seat in this event in the Borgata Poker Blog website contest, so his winnings today are all profit. He calls himself "40-ish" and works in a New York City music venue. He has a couple of cashes in small events here at Borgata, but this is his first five-figure score.

He owns a lovely farm in Farmville and enjoys travel, languages, (he used to be a translator) and food. In his own words, he has " a fascination for everything".

The final two are taking a break before they start heads-up play.

Billy O'Neil leads with 5.525 million chips to Mirza Nagji's 4.105 million chips.

3 Handed

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Lot's of button raises and not many flops.

Todd Geddis

Mirza Nagji & Billy O'Neil

4th place - Mike Melkersen

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Mike Melkersen - 4th place
$43,592

On the last hand of the level, Billy O'Neil raised to 150k from the small blind. Mike Melkersen moved all-in from the big. Billy asked for the count (620k on top) then made the call.

Mike's AJ offsuit was ahead of Billy's Q4, but the flop was a killer: KT3, giving Billy the flush. Since Mike had no club in his hand, it was all over.

Mike Melkersen finished in 4th place, earning $43,592.

Mike is a 35-year-old attorney and father of two, originally from Maryland, but living in Harrisburg, VA. He's cashed four times at the WSOP, but this is his first cash in a major event at Borgata. His greatest accomplishment outside of poker: "Marrying my best friend who prevents me from becoming the degenerate gambler I am".

After that hand, the final three took a ten minute break, then resumed play with blinds of 40k/80k and 5k antes. Here are their chip counts:

Billy O'Neil - 4.34 million
Mirza Nagji - 3.3 million
Todd Geddis - 1.99 million

Billy Bleeding Chips

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Billy O'Neil plays in the biggest cash games at Borgata ($50/$100 NL & $600/$1,200 HOSE) and has a lot of the high stakes players stopping by the table in between their own big hands. But the support doesn't help in a recent stretch when O'Neil loses three pots, including one that doubles-up Todd Geddis.

It starts with O'Neil losing back-to-back pots to Mirza Nagji. Nagji makes a 450k river bet with K 7 for two pairs. After O'Neil calls and sees the winner, he flashes a king on its way to the muck.

Right after that, Nagji gets another 175k from O'Neil on the river when Nagji shows the king high flush and again O'Neil mucks.

Geddis gets his double up through O'Neil when he shoves 430k all-in preflop. Geddis has A 6 vs O'Neils 8 3. Geddis hits the nut flush and takes his stack to nearly one million chips, while
O'Neil's stack is down to 2.1 million.




5th place - Steven Curtin

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

Steven Curtin - 5th place
$37,364

Steven Curtin opened for 180k and Billy O'Neil announced he was all-in on the button. The blinds got out of the way and Steven called all-in, showing AK suited. Billy was ahead with pocket 6s. His lead got bigger when the flop came T 7 6, but Steven had picked up a flush draw.

It was all over on the turn, however, as the case 6 fell, giving Billy quadzilla and the pot.

Steven 'SOS' Curtin finished in 5th place, earning $37,364.

Steven was born in Linden, NJ, but currently resides in Indian Trail, NC, outside Charlotte. He's a 40-year-old insurance agency owner and has been playing major tournaments for about two years. He finished 1st in the $350 No Limit event at the Borgata Winter Open in January 2010 ($26,175) and took 2nd in the $300 No Limit event at the Southern Poker Championship in Biloxi that same month ($16,107). His next major event will be the WSOP Main Event in Vegas next month.

When not playing poker, he volunteers with Elevation Church and enjoys magic, juggling, acting and supporting his local sports teams.

6th place - John Borzio

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event Final Table

John Borzio - 6th place
$31,137

Billy O'Neil opened for 150k, John Borzio called from the button, and Steven Curtin called from the big blind. The flop came 8 7 3 rainbow. Steven checked, Billy checked, then John bet 350k. Steven folded. Billy took his time, then raised another half-million on top.

John then took some time, finally announcing he was all-in. Billy said "I guess I picked the wrong time to bluff". He asked for the count and John had 610k on top. Billy finally called, tabling JT off. John was ahead with AQ off. The turn was a 6 and changed nothing. The river changed everything, however, when a Ten fell giving Billy a pair and the pot.

John Borzio finished in 6th place, earning $31,137.

John is a 59-year-old New Jersey native, currently residing in Robbinsville. He says he's a farm boy, grew up on a farm in South Jersey, fishing, boating, gardening and riding Harley's since he was 19. Today's finish is his first reported cash in a poker tournament, but probably not his last.

Lucky Number 7

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

After Todd Geddis, Mirza Nagji and Steven Curtin check the flop of 7 7 7, the turn is the 8.

Nagji bets 125, Geddis folds, Curtin calls. The river is the Q.

Nagji bets 275k and Curtin calls. Nagji shows 3 8 for a full house and Curtin folds.

Nagji's stack is now at 3 million, while Curtin drops to 1.1 million.


7th place - Frank Dellaria

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Frank Dellaria - 7th place
$24,910

After action folded to his small blind, Frank Dellaria moved all in. Mirza Nagji (bb) asked for the count and then made the call, showing pocket 2s. Frank was actually racing with 98 offsuit. The flop came A K 7 and changed nothing. Then a 2 fell on the turn, giving Mirza a set and a lock on the hand. River was irrelevant (4) and Mirza took the pot.

Frank Dellaria finished in 7th place, earning $24,910.

Frank was born in Burgettstown, PA and still lives there today, 57 years later. He's worked at his father's car dealership since he was 9 years old when he sold his first car -- a 1962 Mercury Comet. That car sold for $1995, which is less than it cost to enter this tournament. When not playing poker, he is an avid golfer and has made FOUR hole-in-ones!

8th place - Dean Potashner

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Play resumed with blinds of 30k/60k with 5k antes. Here are some chip guess-timates as of the break:

Billy O'Neil - 1.84 million
Steven Curtin - 1.63 million
John Borzio - 1.49 million
Todd Geddis - 1.34 million
Mike Melkersen - 1.19 million
Mirza Nagji - 955k
Dean Potashner - 650k
Frank Dellaria - 565k

Dean Potashner - 8th place
$18,683

Dean Potashner moved in on the first hand and Billy O'Neil called from the big blind. Dean's J9 would need help against Billy's A4.

Then the flop came QT8 and Billy flopped the nut flush, but Dean had the straight-flush redraw. He needed the 9 in order to survive, but the last two were bricks and Billy took the pot.

Dean Potashner finished in 8th place, earning $18,683.

Dean is a 48-year-old options trader from Harding, NJ. Many people find similarities between playing the market and playing poker. Apparently Dean's trading skills are paying off on the felt. His first reported cash was in the Borgata Winter Poker Open, January 2009, where he finished 10th in the $1k No Limit event.


Color Up Break

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Todd Geddis opened for 150k utg, Steven Curtin called, and Mike Melkersen called from the small blind. On the flop of T 8 5 with two diamonds, Mike announced he was all in. Todd took a couple of minutes, then folded. Steven didn't take long at all to release his hand.

Billy O'Neil (hijack) and Steven Curtin (bb) tangled up in a pot. At the river, the board read Q J J 6 4 and Steven bet 300k. Billy released his hand and Steven took the pot.

End of level and players are taking ten while the staff colors up the yellow 1k chips.

9th place - Ed Corrado

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Ed Corrado - 9th place
$12,456

Ed opened for 110k on the button and Billy raised to 300k from the small blind. Ed called and the flop came A 7 3 rainbow. Billy led for 200k and Ed called. Turn was a Jack. Billy announced he was all in, having Ed covered. Ed had about 320k behind. He made the call, showing A9 for a pair of Aces, but Billy had him out-kicked with AQ.

Only a 9 on the river would save Ed, but it was a 6. Billy pulled the pot.

Ed Corrado finished in 9th place, earning $12,456.

He was born in Chicago, but now resides in Naples, Florida. At the age of 79, he's retired and is a regular on the tournament circuit. His wife travels with him to casinos around the country where he has amassed over half a million dollars in tournament earnings in the last ten years, starting with a win at the US Poker Championships in December, 2000 ($40,800). His most recent cash before today was a 4th place finish at the WSOP Circuit Championship in New Orleans, where he took 4th place and $59,648.

When not playing poker, Ed can be found in the skies flying a twin engine airplane.

Chip Counts

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Play has resumed with blinds of 25k/50k with 4k antes. Here are some chip estimates as of the break:

Player - Chips
John Borzio - 1.594 million
Todd Geddis - 1.444 million
Billy O'Neil - 1.375 million
Steven Curtin - 1.353 million
Ed Corrado - 940k
Mike Melkersen - 885k
Dean Potashner - 825k
Mirza Nagji - 679k
Frank Dellaria - 541k

Three-Betting All-In

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Ed Corrado opened for ~120k, then Mike Melkersen moved in. The count was 523k on top. Ed tanked for a bit, then said "Screw it, I'm not gonna call" and mucked his hand. He's still got about 1 million chips. "You are wise beyond your years" said Mike, as he mucked his hand and collected his pot.

Frank Dellaria opened for 130k from the cutoff and Dean Potashner moved all-in from the button for an additional 453k. Frank gave it some thought, then surrendered. He's still got about 545k behind.

End of level and players are taking a break. Back in 15 minutes with chip counts.

Borzio Doubles; Mirza Doubles

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Mike Melkersen opened for 100k, John Borzio called, and Mirza Nagji called from the big blind. The flop came J 6 4 rainbow. Mirza led out for 300k, Mike folded quickly, and John tanked. "I knew you were going to do that" he said to Mirza, then said "All-In". Mirza called quickly, showing J9 suited for top pair. John tossed this pocket 4s onto the felt (bottom set).

Everyone stood as the last two peeled off 3 2 and John doubled up to about 1.7 million. Mirza was left with ~290k.

A couple of hands later, Dean Potashner opened for 95k from the cutoff and Mirza moved all-in from the button. Dean called, showing KQ. Mirza was ahead with A6 suited. The board ran dry, 7 4 4 2 8, and Mirza doubled-up with Ace-high. He's back to about 650k. Dean was left with about 600k.

Slow But Steady

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Mirza Nagji opened for 110k and Ed Corrado called. The flop came 4 2 2 with two clubs. Mirza checked, Ed bet 125k, then Mirza check-raised to 650k straight, leaving himself only about 300k behind.

Ed tanked for about a minute, then surrendered.

Todd Geddis opened for 100k from the hijack and Mirza Nagji (bb) was his only caller. The flop came J J 8 rainbow. Both players checked. Turn was a 4 and Mirza led out for 110k. Todd raised 300k on top. Mirza let it go.

Mike Melkersen opened for 100k under-the-gun, then John Borzio made it 230k straight. When action folded back to Mike, he open-mucked his pocket Jacks. John collected the pot without showing.

Dean Potashner opened for 90k utg. Ed Corrado three-bet to 290k smooth. Action folded back to Dean, who took a few seconds, then mucked.

Event 21 Underway

$250 + $30 NLH

As the final table for the Championship Event continues, players have only two more chances to win a Borgata Summer Poker Open Main Event title.

The table signs are down for Event 21, the penultimate event in this series, and the cards are in the air. Noon Wednesday is Event 22, the final chance to win a crystal trophy that goes along with all the championships.

Players get 10k in chips and levels last 30 minutes.
Blinds start at 25/50, as play is underway.

Flops Few and Far Between

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

After the excitement of that first hand, things settled down. One big hand took place between Ed Corrado and Billy O'Neil.

On the turn, the board showed J 7 3 J and Ed fired 200k. Billy tanked for a bit, then called. River was a King and both players checked. Ed showed A9 for ace-high, but Billy took the pot with AQ.

Most hands are concluded with a single pre-flop raise, but occasionally there are fireworks:

Frank Dellaria raised to 85k on the button, then Mirza Nagji made it 300k straight from the big blind. Frank tanked, then surrendered what he says was pocket 9s.

The level concluded and blinds went up to 20k/40k with 4k antes.

Dean opened for 90k from the hijack and Mike called from the big blind. The flop came A 8 2 rainbow. Both players checked. Turn was a King and both checked again. River was a 5 and Mike bet 200k. Dean said something about how bad the flop was for him as he mucked his pocket Queens. Mike was nice enough to show his A8 (flopped two pair).

10th Place - Joshua Hakakian

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

Championship Event Final Table

Cards are in the air at the final table of the main event here at Borgata. They're still playing with blinds of 15k/30k with 3k antes.

Joshua Hakakian - 10th place
$8,096

Joshua Hakakian was happy when he drew the button in seat 3, but then on the first hand, Frank Dellaria opened for 100k from the hijack (two off the button). Joshua looked down at AK suited and moved his 240k all-in. Frank insta-called, tabling the weapons of mass destruction, pocket Aces.

The board came scary for Frank, as the flop was J T 3 with two of Joshua's suit giving him both straight and flush draws, but the last two were offsuit 2 7 and Frank took the pot.

Joshua Hakakian finished in 10th place, earning $8,096.

Tuesday June 29th

TODAY IN THE POKER ROOM

11 AM - Event 18:
$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Championship Event Final Table

12 PM - Event 21: $250 + $30 NLH
  • 10,000 in starting chips
  • Levels last 30 minutes

7 PM - Event 45: $100 + $20 No Limit Hold'em

  • 10,000 in starting chips
  • Levels last 20 minutes

Event 20: $300 + $50 NLH Final Results

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 20: $300 + $50 No Limit Hold'em
June 28

Entries: 170 Total Buy-In: $51,000

FINAL RESULTS
1. BRANDON GUSS (WAR4MINSTER, PA): $15,235
2. KERRY SMALL (VENTNOR CITY, NJ): $8,410
3. CHRISTOPHER TINARI (POMPTON LAKES, NJ): $4,700
4. PHIL LIFSCHITZ (LIVINGSTON, NJ): $3,463
5. CHARLES GEIER (SUNNYSIDE, NY): $2,968
6. BENJAMIN COREN (LANSDALE, PA): $2,474
7. DANIEL CHAN (NEW YORK, NY): $1,979
8. DENNIS SUMMERS JR (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA): $1,484
9. JEFFREY BLACK (VENTNOR, NJ): $1,113
10. KENNETH SMILEY JR. (LANCASTER, PA): $965
11. JAMES MARCO (VENTNOR, NJ): $965
12. DENNIS GOKMAN (NEW CITY, NY): $965
13. SALVATORE POPOLO (BROOKLYN, NY): $841
14. CHRISTOPHER SENAPE (NEW YORK, NY): $841
15. STEVEN REESE (SEWELL, NJ): $841
16. HOWARD CRASH (WESTON, CT): $742
17. PAUL MAZUR (W HOLLYWOOD, CA): $742
18. ALAN LOWY (FARMINGVILLE, NY): $742

Event 20 Recap

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 20:
$300 + $50 No Limit Hold’em
June 28


Number of Entries: 170
Total Buy-In: $51,000
1st Place: $15,235
Places Paid: 18

Brandon Guss (Philadelphia, PA) was the best of 170 players who played in Event 20 of the Borgata Summer Poker Open. Guss won $15,235 and the crystal trophy that goes with the championship.

Notables in the field who missed the money included Eric Siegel (Melville, NY), Mike Dentale (Brooklyn, NY) and Mike Kalfa (Marlboro, NJ).

1st - Brandon Guss (Philadelphia, PA)
$15,235


2nd - Kerry Small (Ventnor, NJ)
$8,410


3rd - Chris Tinari (Pompton Lakes, NJ)
$4,700

4th - Phil Lifschitz (Livingston, NJ)
$3,463

5th- Ted Geier (Sunnyside, NY)
$2,968

Championship Event Day 3 Recap

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010

After 14 hours of play on Day 3 only 10 players remain for the $180,595 first place prize for the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship Event. When the dust settled it was Steven Curtin (Charlotte, NC) leading the way with nearly 1.5 million chips.

The day began with 48 players trying to make the money, but only 36 were going to cash. After going hand-for-hand for nearly 90 minutes, the bubble finally broke when Raymond Conta and his last 14k are sent to the rail in 37th place.

As expected, the next 10 eliminations went fast and furious with the short stacks that barely hung on extinguished one by one. After the final 27 redraw, there was a ton of action on table 3 as Curtin, Tyng Low, Dean Potashner and Joshua Hakakian traded large chunks of chips.

Hakakian had one foot out the door, but a river jack gave him a full house and he tripled-up through Low and Potashner who both flopped the nut straight with identical KQ hands. Curtin, Potashner and Hakakian all made it to the final 10, but Low wasn't as fortunate. The chip leader after Day 2 was eliminated in 19th place.

Surprisingly both chip leaders after Days 1A and 1B are both at the final table and both got late double-ups to stay alive. Borgata big cash game regular Billy O'Neil (1A) doubled through Hakakian when his A 10 won a coin flip vs pocket 5s, while Mike Melkersen (1B) hit a deuce on the turn against Alex Kuchik when he was dominated A 8 vs A 2.

The hand devastated Kuchik and he was eventually eliminated in 11th place by Mirza Nagji, which stopped play for the night.

Nagji had a roller coaster of a day in which he took his stack to 2 million chips, but lost one million on a big hand to Curtin, who flopped a set of kings, and dropped Nagji to 155k. He was then one of the short stacks that got on a roll and got off the deck later in the night.

Nagji worked his stack back to more than one million chips, which is the same story for Todd Geddis, who doubled through Potashner. It was blind vs blind as Geddis' 9 7 out kicked Potashner's 9 5 when both hit middle pair.

Both players have more than 1 million chips, as does Ed Corrado, the senior statesman of the group. Corrado quietly made his way through the field and took several big pots off Nagji, including one for 750k. Nagji double-barrel bluffed with 7 6 offsuit, but Corrado had a good read and took down the pot with a pair of 9s.

On the flip side, Nagji was on the winning side of arguably the biggest hand of the day when he was all-in and at risk against Melkersen. Nagji pushed on the turn and Melkersen tanked on the last hand before dinner break. Melkersen eventually folded and showed a flopped set of 9s and is crushed to see he was up against Nagji's flopped set of 2s.

Melkersen talked himself into a fold when he thought he was behind a straight. If he makes the call and avoids quad 2s on the river, Melkersen would've been close to 3 million chips and eliminated Nagji.

Later in the night, Melkersen ran pockets kings into Kuchik's pocket aces and was crippled to 90k, but managed to survive several all-ins. He and Hakakian are the two short stacks and well below the 960k chip average.

Also in the mix for the championship are John Borzio and Frank Dellaria who flew below the radar most of the day.

Play resumes 11 am Tuesday as they play for the cash, title, crystal trophy and gold bracelet.

Here's a look at the final 10.

Position-Name-Chip Count

1. Steven Curtin 1.459 million
2. Ed Corrado 1.349 million
3. Todd Geddis 1.324 million
4. Billy O'Neil 1.247 million
5. Mirza Nagji 1.136 million
6. Dean Potashner 1.09 million
7. Frank Dellaria 756k
8. John Borzio 686k
9. Michael Melkersen 429k
10. Joshua Hakakian 243k

Final Table Seating

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event
Final Table

Seat - Name - Count

1. Frank Dellaria 756k
2. Dean Potashner 1.09 million
3. Joshua Hakakian 243k
4. Mirza Nagji 1.136 million
5. Ed Corrado 1.349 million
6. Billy O'Neil 1.247 million
7. Michael Melkersen 429k
8. John Borzio 686k
9. Todd Geddis 1.324 million
10. Steven Curtin 1.459 million

End of Day 3 Chip Counts

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Championship Event
Final Table

Steven Curtin
Chip Leader
Position - Name - Count

1. Steven Curtin 1.459 million
2. Ed Corrado 1.349 million
3. Todd Geddis 1.324 million
4. Billy O'Neil 1.247 million
5. Mirza Nagji 1.136 million
6. Dean Potashner 1.09 million
7. Frank Dellaria 756k
8. John Borzio 686k
9. Michael Melkersen 429k
10. Joshua Hakakian 243k

Play resumes at 11 am with the average stack at 960k. There's 43 minutes left on Level 24 (15k/30k/3k ante).

11th Place - Alex Kuchik

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Championship Event Day 3

Alex Kuchik
$8,096

Alex Kuchik was a deuce away from making the final table, instead he has to wonder what could've been as he finishes in 11th place.

To set the stage, Kuchik had Mike Melkersen on the ropes with A 8 vs A 2, but when a two fell on the turn it doubled Melkerson up and took a bite out of Kuchik's stack.

On the next level, with the blinds 15k/30k/3k ante, Kuchik is all-in against Mirza Nagji, but this time he's on the wrong side of ace vs ace when his jack is out kicked by Nagji's queen. But, there's no three-out help for Kuchik who misses the final table by one spot.

"Ace-eight, that was the hand," says Kuchik. "I win that and it's a different story."

The grind to get to the final 10 was a tough one as the short stacks kept doubling-up. One of the more notable hands came in a battle of the blinds when Dean Potashner calls an all-in post flop shove from Todd Geddis.

Both had middle pair on a board of 10 9 3, but Geddis has Potashner out kicked 9 7 to 9 5, as he doubles to nearly 800k.

In another key double-up Billy O'Neil raises to 70k from the button and Joshua Hakakian raises to 250k. O'Brien says, "well I know the short stacks can't lose. I'm all-in." It's only 154k more to Hakakian who makes the call.

O'Neil: A 10
Hakakian: 5 5

Flop: 3 J 4
Turn: 7
River: A

The ace on the river gives O'Neil the hand, taking his stack to more than 700k, while the hit drops Hakakian to 240k.

Players are bagging and tagging for the night as they return at 11 am for the final table.

Curtin Crowns Nagji

$2000 +$200 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
Championship Event Day 3

Steve Curtin and Mirza Nagji battle on the final table bubble as we pick up the action on a flop of 5 7 K.

Nagji bets 120k and Curtin calls.

Turn: A

Nagji bets 130k and Curtin min raises to 260k.

Nagji tanks and moves all-in. Curtin snap calls and tables K K, while Nagji's drawing dead w ithA J.

Curtin's last all-in is for 586 more and he takes down a nearly 2 million chip pot. Nagji's left with only 155k.