$200 + $30 NL
22 players remain with an average stack of 346k.
There's a redraw for seats with 18 player remaining and we'll update the chip leaders at that time.
Level 21 (10k/20k/3k ante) is underway.
Friday, June 11, 2010
See You Tomorrow
$200 + $30 NL
Players continue to head to the cashier as the paydays are fast and furious. 28 players remain after Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY) loses with AQ vs A7.
"It's a shame to shove and lose like that," says Richardone who takes home $414 for 29th place. "But there's always tomorrow," as he looks forward to Saturday's $300 + $50 NL event, "I'll be here all (next) week."
Level 20 (8k/16k/2k ante) is underway.
Players continue to head to the cashier as the paydays are fast and furious. 28 players remain after Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY) loses with AQ vs A7.
"It's a shame to shove and lose like that," says Richardone who takes home $414 for 29th place. "But there's always tomorrow," as he looks forward to Saturday's $300 + $50 NL event, "I'll be here all (next) week."
Level 20 (8k/16k/2k ante) is underway.
Another Aguilera
$200 + $30 NL
Beautiful River for Aguilera
Christian Aguilera (Hicksville, NY) hopes he's as big a hit this tournament as what his pop music counterpart has produced. And so far this Aguilera has no need for Christina's "Genie in a Bottle," as he's been rubbing the cards the right way.
Aguilera takes down a 430k pot when he open shoves on the river with a straight and eliminates our mystery player from earlier in the day, who calls off his last 50k. "I had 10-9 off suit in the big blind," says Aguilera who's now the unofficial chip leader with 775k. "It only cost me 12-thousand more, so I took a shot."
As the hand unfolds Aguilera picks up an open-ended straight draw on the turn and connects against Mr. X who's eliminated with two pairs.
As for the Aguilera name he says, "it was great growing up because of (former Mets pitcher) Rick Aguilera, but now I get a little grief," noting that Christian is a two letter switch away from Christina.
While he doesn't admit to putting any Aguilera songs on his iPod, Christian's quick to point out, "Beautiful is a good song, you can write that."
Level 19 (6k/12k/2k ante) is winding down.
Beautiful River for AguileraChristian Aguilera (Hicksville, NY) hopes he's as big a hit this tournament as what his pop music counterpart has produced. And so far this Aguilera has no need for Christina's "Genie in a Bottle," as he's been rubbing the cards the right way.
Aguilera takes down a 430k pot when he open shoves on the river with a straight and eliminates our mystery player from earlier in the day, who calls off his last 50k. "I had 10-9 off suit in the big blind," says Aguilera who's now the unofficial chip leader with 775k. "It only cost me 12-thousand more, so I took a shot."
As the hand unfolds Aguilera picks up an open-ended straight draw on the turn and connects against Mr. X who's eliminated with two pairs.
As for the Aguilera name he says, "it was great growing up because of (former Mets pitcher) Rick Aguilera, but now I get a little grief," noting that Christian is a two letter switch away from Christina.
While he doesn't admit to putting any Aguilera songs on his iPod, Christian's quick to point out, "Beautiful is a good song, you can write that."
Level 19 (6k/12k/2k ante) is winding down.
Boat vs Destroyer
$200 + $30 NL
Mike Toback (Baltimore, MD) opens for more than 1/3 of his stack to 25k and is shoved on by Chris Lim (Bronx, NY).
Toback's all-in for 63k and at risk with A♠ Q♦ vs Lim's K♠ K♣.
Flop: 9♥ K♥ A♦ (set of kings for Lim and is a 97% favorite to win the hand)
Turn: A♣ (kings full of aces for Lim, Toback picks up a draw and has 7 outs)
River: Q♣ (bigger full house for Toback, aces full of queens)
The sick beat gives Toback a double up to 130k. "It's one of the worst beats I've taken," says Lim, who's crippled to 30k, "but what are you going to do? That's poker."
Level 17 (4k/8k/500 ante) is winding down.
Mike Toback (Baltimore, MD) opens for more than 1/3 of his stack to 25k and is shoved on by Chris Lim (Bronx, NY).
Toback's all-in for 63k and at risk with A♠ Q♦ vs Lim's K♠ K♣.
Flop: 9♥ K♥ A♦ (set of kings for Lim and is a 97% favorite to win the hand)
Turn: A♣ (kings full of aces for Lim, Toback picks up a draw and has 7 outs)
River: Q♣ (bigger full house for Toback, aces full of queens)
The sick beat gives Toback a double up to 130k. "It's one of the worst beats I've taken," says Lim, who's crippled to 30k, "but what are you going to do? That's poker."
Level 17 (4k/8k/500 ante) is winding down.
Bubbling Over
$200 + $30 NL
The bubble lasts 30 seconds as Ken Jacoby (New York, NY) isolates the all-in bet of Scott Tuchman (Mays Landing, NJ) and takes down the pot with KK vs A8. The pocket kings hold and sends the remaining 54 players into the money.
Tuchman isn't disappointed being the bubble boy, but it's two hands before that's unkind to him when his pocket queens are cracked.
Tuchman has 120k when he opens the betting and is put to the test when a 95k shove follows.
"I'm willing to fold queens in that spot if I think I'm beat" says Tuchman, a Borgata regular. "But he (opponent) had been shoving light and he got lucky."
The player in question tables JJ and is an 80-20 dog, but a jack in the window cripples Jacoby who can't overcome the set.
Level 16 (3K/6K/500 ante) continues.
The bubble lasts 30 seconds as Ken Jacoby (New York, NY) isolates the all-in bet of Scott Tuchman (Mays Landing, NJ) and takes down the pot with KK vs A8. The pocket kings hold and sends the remaining 54 players into the money.
Tuchman isn't disappointed being the bubble boy, but it's two hands before that's unkind to him when his pocket queens are cracked.
Tuchman has 120k when he opens the betting and is put to the test when a 95k shove follows.
"I'm willing to fold queens in that spot if I think I'm beat" says Tuchman, a Borgata regular. "But he (opponent) had been shoving light and he got lucky."
The player in question tables JJ and is an 80-20 dog, but a jack in the window cripples Jacoby who can't overcome the set.
Level 16 (3K/6K/500 ante) continues.
Player Profile - Joey "The B"
Name: Joseph Brooks
Town: Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Age: 43
Nickname: Joey "The B"
Occupation: Poker Pro since 2006 (Former Store Manager for family owned Brooks Supply)
Family: Wife, three childern
Interests: Watching the kids play softball and soccer.
Best Borgata Moment: Overcoming a 4 to 1 chip deficit heads-up against Lars Bonding to win the $2,500 event at the 2006 Borgata Poker Open ($241,000). "I was just an older on-line donk that nobody had heard of."
Favorite TV Show: Lost
Player Would Most Like to Face Heads-Up: Tom "durrr" Dwann
Cartoon Character that Best Represents Style of Play: Road Runner. "I take their chips, then run away."
Quote to Live By: "Life and poker are both 90% attitude. The only thing you can control is your attitude and how you act. The other 10% you have no control over."
Back at it
$200 + $30 NL
Level 16 underway (3k/6k/500 ante).
Top 5 Questions asked on Media row:
How many left? (64)
What's the average? (119k)
How much is the cash? ($296 for 54th place)
What's first place ($28,077)
When's the next break? (every three levels)
Level 16 underway (3k/6k/500 ante).
Top 5 Questions asked on Media row:
How many left? (64)
What's the average? (119k)
How much is the cash? ($296 for 54th place)
What's first place ($28,077)
When's the next break? (every three levels)
Color Up Break
Level 15 is in the books and players are on a 15 minute color up break, as the staff removes the black (100) chips.
Players continue to fall fast as 64 remain, but we expect things to tighten up as the money approaches. 10 more eliminations and we hit the first pay day of $296.
Players continue to fall fast as 64 remain, but we expect things to tighten up as the money approaches. 10 more eliminations and we hit the first pay day of $296.
Pot Committed = Chip Leader
$200 + $30 NL
Reid Ready for a Run
Right before the dinner break, Britt Reid (Robbinsville, NJ) calls a 27k all-in bet with A♥ 7♥ and then has to call 13k more on a re-shove over the top.
The first all-in player tables QQ, the second all-in has JJ.
The flop brings two hearts giving Reid a flush draw, and after picking up a straight draw on the turn, the river brings a third heart to give him the winning flush.
"I was just trying to call the short stack," says Reid who has the chip lead with 360k, "but then I was pot committed and had to call the other bet."
Level 15 (2k/4k/400 ante) continues.
Reid Ready for a RunRight before the dinner break, Britt Reid (Robbinsville, NJ) calls a 27k all-in bet with A♥ 7♥ and then has to call 13k more on a re-shove over the top.
The first all-in player tables QQ, the second all-in has JJ.
The flop brings two hearts giving Reid a flush draw, and after picking up a straight draw on the turn, the river brings a third heart to give him the winning flush.
"I was just trying to call the short stack," says Reid who has the chip lead with 360k, "but then I was pot committed and had to call the other bet."
Level 15 (2k/4k/400 ante) continues.
Unofficial Chip Leaders
$200 + $30 NL
Player-Count
Britt Reid (Robbinsville, NJ) 360k
Mr. X (refuses to reveal) 330k
Kevin Doyle (Harleysville, PA) 310k
Harry Piacitelli (Plymouth Meeting, PA) 235k
Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY) 220k
Player-Count
Britt Reid (Robbinsville, NJ) 360k
Mr. X (refuses to reveal) 330k
Kevin Doyle (Harleysville, PA) 310k
Harry Piacitelli (Plymouth Meeting, PA) 235k
Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY) 220k
Dinner Break
$200 + $30 NL
The 81 remaining players are on a 45 minute dinner break. The average stack is 94k as we count the big stack to post in a bit.
Level 15 (2k/4k/200 ante) when play resumes at 7:35 pm.
The 81 remaining players are on a 45 minute dinner break. The average stack is 94k as we count the big stack to post in a bit.
Level 15 (2k/4k/200 ante) when play resumes at 7:35 pm.
Dude Exits Tournament And Still Has Chips
As told by Pezman "Pez" Haghshenas (Persia, Iran) three players were all in pre-flop. Cards were flipped onto the felt to reveal K-K, A-Q suited, and 9-9.
As soon as the older gentleman playing pocket nines saw a flop of 4-K-2 he stood up with disgust, uttered an expletive and hightailed it out of the room, the tournament, and probably Borgata.
But...in his anger he never realized he won the side pot of 5500. The chips are sitting right there in front of his empty chair as I type this post - plus he was the dealer and could have seen several more hands for free.
Dealer will just blind him out as his chips are up for grabs.
Chip and a Chair but in this case, just the chair.
Meanwhile the winner of the hand with a set of kings was Scott Tuchman (Mays Landing, NJ) who took down the ^90,000 pot.
Pez, the player sitting to the now empty seat couldn't believe what he witnessed. I can't either.
There's probably a poker lesson in here somewhere.
As soon as the older gentleman playing pocket nines saw a flop of 4-K-2 he stood up with disgust, uttered an expletive and hightailed it out of the room, the tournament, and probably Borgata.
But...in his anger he never realized he won the side pot of 5500. The chips are sitting right there in front of his empty chair as I type this post - plus he was the dealer and could have seen several more hands for free.
Dealer will just blind him out as his chips are up for grabs.
Chip and a Chair but in this case, just the chair.
Meanwhile the winner of the hand with a set of kings was Scott Tuchman (Mays Landing, NJ) who took down the ^90,000 pot.
Pez, the player sitting to the now empty seat couldn't believe what he witnessed. I can't either.
There's probably a poker lesson in here somewhere.
Thorne Sees Rose Of A Flop
Dave Thorne (Lansford,PA) gains a needed double up when his pocket sevens annihilate K-J offsuit.
Not much of a sweat for short stack Dave once 8-J-7 hit the flop. Turn 6. River 2.
Dave has played in tournaments in British Columbia but loves Borgata settings and structures and that they draw so many players.
With that hand Dave goes from ^21,000 to 47,000.
Not much of a sweat for short stack Dave once 8-J-7 hit the flop. Turn 6. River 2.
Dave has played in tournaments in British Columbia but loves Borgata settings and structures and that they draw so many players.
With that hand Dave goes from ^21,000 to 47,000.
New Chip Leader Sitting Next To Matt Damon
$200 + $30 NLH
Adam Cook (Pasedena, MD) and Matthew Damon
Adam Cook (Pasedena, MD) counted out 236,000 chips after taking down a pot with 8-10.
A little controversy to set up the hand. Big Blind's stack accidentally falls over the line. Entire table and dealer agree it's an accident except for one player....
Third to act in the hand says it's binding and calls the floor over who indeed rules the incident as an accident.
Third to act raises. Big blind folds.
First to act, Adam, calls. They see a flop of 2-10-8.
Adam checks. Third to act shoves all in 100,000 and Adam insta calls.
Adam tables 10-8 up against 9-9. Cook spikes a ten on the river for an overkill full house.
Sidenote: The person to Adam's left showed me his ID to verify his actual name is Matthew Damon.
A couple hands later just to prove Adam Cook is human - his pocket aces lost to pocket queens after a queen hit the flop.
Adam Cook (Pasedena, MD) and Matthew DamonAdam Cook (Pasedena, MD) counted out 236,000 chips after taking down a pot with 8-10.
A little controversy to set up the hand. Big Blind's stack accidentally falls over the line. Entire table and dealer agree it's an accident except for one player....
Third to act in the hand says it's binding and calls the floor over who indeed rules the incident as an accident.
Third to act raises. Big blind folds.
First to act, Adam, calls. They see a flop of 2-10-8.
Adam checks. Third to act shoves all in 100,000 and Adam insta calls.
Adam tables 10-8 up against 9-9. Cook spikes a ten on the river for an overkill full house.
Sidenote: The person to Adam's left showed me his ID to verify his actual name is Matthew Damon.
A couple hands later just to prove Adam Cook is human - his pocket aces lost to pocket queens after a queen hit the flop.
Level 13 Underway
$200 + $30 NLH
Back from a ten minute break and the start of Level 13.
Borgata Blinds 1200 / 2400 with 300 antes.
^150 players remain on ten tables making the average stack 55,000.
That's 22 big blinds if you're average and thinking about shoving.
I eyeballed two stacks over 200,000 and a few more closing in.
Back from a ten minute break and the start of Level 13.
Borgata Blinds 1200 / 2400 with 300 antes.
^150 players remain on ten tables making the average stack 55,000.
That's 22 big blinds if you're average and thinking about shoving.
I eyeballed two stacks over 200,000 and a few more closing in.
Kitzerow On The Short-Stack-O
$200 + $30 NLH
This Lady Looking For More Luck
This Lady Looking For More LuckYeeman Kitzerow from Virgina started off great. Her full house gave her a quick double-up, or close to it.
After being card dead for a while she's now looking at 20,000 and admits she's short stacked.
Yeeman recently took down first place in a ladies tournament in upstate NY on the High Heels Poker Tour.
After being card dead for a while she's now looking at 20,000 and admits she's short stacked.
Yeeman recently took down first place in a ladies tournament in upstate NY on the High Heels Poker Tour.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Tables are collapsing at a good clip.
Borgata Poker Open regulars Jimmy Richards and Chris Lyons are seated next to each other until the table breaks down in front of me.
Jimmy Richards (Sommers Point, NJ) told me since I posted the empty seat picture nine individuals were moved to that seat and nine individuals went home. The rest of the table survived while that phantom seat kept terminating players.
Chris Lyons (Brick, NJ) won a race from the button when his pocket jacks held up against an A-Q pre-flop shove.
Chris is sitting on 120,000.
Within one orbit, Chris survived the same opponent hitting a one outter, then a seven outter, both on the river.
Borgata Poker Open regulars Jimmy Richards and Chris Lyons are seated next to each other until the table breaks down in front of me.
Jimmy Richards (Sommers Point, NJ) told me since I posted the empty seat picture nine individuals were moved to that seat and nine individuals went home. The rest of the table survived while that phantom seat kept terminating players.
Chris Lyons (Brick, NJ) won a race from the button when his pocket jacks held up against an A-Q pre-flop shove.
Chris is sitting on 120,000.
Within one orbit, Chris survived the same opponent hitting a one outter, then a seven outter, both on the river.
Richardone Not Done Yet
$200 + $30 NL
All Smiles From Frank Richardone
"This doesn't happen to me often, or ever. It's almost embarrassing. I'm just enjoying the whole ride" says Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY).
So here's the ride in a nutshell.
Frank comes to table 8 two levels ago bleeding and wounded with a measly 6200 in chips.
He sits down and triples up when his pocket aces hold. He gets aces again and they also hold.
From that point on Frank's hit everything building his stack up to 160,000.
"Even the hands I muck are hitting. Hopefully you'll be asking me questions in six hours."
James Boyle (also at table 8) joked that my posting Frank's picture is gonna give him a big head.
All Smiles From Frank Richardone"This doesn't happen to me often, or ever. It's almost embarrassing. I'm just enjoying the whole ride" says Frank Richardone (Staten Island, NY).
So here's the ride in a nutshell.
Frank comes to table 8 two levels ago bleeding and wounded with a measly 6200 in chips.
He sits down and triples up when his pocket aces hold. He gets aces again and they also hold.
From that point on Frank's hit everything building his stack up to 160,000.
"Even the hands I muck are hitting. Hopefully you'll be asking me questions in six hours."
James Boyle (also at table 8) joked that my posting Frank's picture is gonna give him a big head.
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