Event 18: 2nd Place - Held

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)    

Karl Held (Queens, NY)

$12,368

Jake Ferro continued to accumulate chips.  Karl Held was down to only 1.2 million.

Karl shoved on the flop and Jake let one go.  Karl was back up to 2 million.

Blinds Up!  80k/160k with 20k ante.

Suddenly, on a flop of 6 3 2, all the chips went in.

Karl had 65 off for top pair.

Jake had 32 suited for two pair.

The last two fell 9 7 and Jake 'the Snake' Ferro is the winner!

Karl Held finished second for $12,368.

Event 19: A Crowded Chainsaw

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

At what looked like the strongest table in the tournament, Allen Kessler continues to build a solid chipstack moving to around 32k.

Also taking space in front of Kessler is a rather large device designed to read and magnify cards without having to turn them up.  Not surprisingly, Kessler is disappointed in the functionality of the device and it is now taking up extra space in front of him.

Ylon Schwartz was eliminated from the table earlier and "Miami" John Cernuto also took early exits.

8 tables remain as we near end of play for the night.

Event 18: Held Holds On

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)    

Blinds 60k/120k with 20k ante.

Jake Ferro has clawed his way back into the chip lead.  He's back up to ~6 million, leaving 2 million for Karl Held. 

Jake continued to grind away at Karl's stack, shoving on the river and forcing Karl to release his hands.

Then on a flop of A 7 3 with two diamonds, all the chips went in.

Jake had K2 of diamonds for the flush draw.  Karl had AK for top/top.

The last two were offsuit 4 4 and Karl doubled up to about 3 million.  That leaves ~5 million for Jake.

Event 17: No Action

$1500+150 8/7/6 Max No Limit Hold 'Em

The pace has slowed considerably in Event 17.  With only one recent elimination and most players very deepstacked, it appears that it will be quite a while before we see any major collisions. 

23 players remain in this event with around 1/2 left to play tonight.

Event 18: Lead Change

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry) 

On the river with a board of A 9 8 4 4, Jake Ferro bet 1.15 million into an already bloated pot.

Karl Held tanked for a minute, then let it go.

Jake 'the Snake' Ferro

Jake is up to ~6 million.  That leaves just over 2 million for Karl.

On a flop of K 9 5 with two clubs, Karl Held was all-in and called.

Karl had A5 of clubs.  Jacob had top pair.

Turn was another club, completing the flush,  Karl doubled up to ~4.7 million.  Jake was left with about 3.4 million.

Event 19: Last Break

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

Event 19 is just finishing a quick 10 minute break.  10 tables remain with blinds going 600-1200.

All play will end for the night at 2AM regardless of remaining amount of players.

Event 18: Heads-Up

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)    

After a few hands of heads-up play, the level expired and the final two took off for a break.

Jacob Ferro is in the lead with about 4.7 million.

Karl Held has about 3.5 million.

Play resumed with blinds of 50k/100k with 10k ante.

Event 17: Musumeci Last Woman Standing

8/7/6 Max No Limit Hold 'Em

WSOP bracelet runner up and National Championship final tablist Amanda Musumeci is the last woman standing in Event 17 with 24 players to go.  The ever-exciting Musumeci stands at 110k and in solid position to drive toward a Borgata Poker Open Title.

Amanda Musumeci (Philadelphia, PA)

Event 18: 3rd Place - Gergus

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)  

Joseph Gergus (Orwigsburg, PA)

$7,670

Joseph Gergus got all-in with A3 of clubs and got called by Jacob Ferro, who had pocket 6s.

The flop changed nothing, but an Ace on the turn gave Joseph the lead.  Then a fourth heart landed on the river and Jacob had the 6 of hearts for the flush.

Joseph finished third for $7,670.

Event 19: Dayton "Whammies" Opponent

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B
 
John Dayton (East Hampton, NY) was all-in with only a pair of 9s and an A2 low draw on a J98 board versus an already made straight. 

But Peter Ippolito called for the turnaround with Jeff Hunter coming over from his table to watch the action.

Dayton hit running 9's for quads and surviving in spectacular fashion.  Ippolito and Hunter exploded with Hunter exclaiming Ippolito "whammied" Dayton's opponent and Ippolito loudly agreed.

Will Ippolito call for "Big Bucks" next time?  Only he and his beer know.

Event 18: 4th Place - Rabizadeh

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)  

Ramak Rabizadeh (Montvale, NJ)

 $6,185

Ramak Rabizadeh doubled up again through Karl Held.

Then Ramak was all-in with QJ and called by Jacob Ferro, who had pocket Tens.

Ramak failed to improve this time and was busted in 4th place ($6,185).

Event 18: 5th Place - Rebello

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)    

Todd Rebello (Oak Bluffs, MA)

$4,783

Ramak Rabizadeh was all-in again, against Karl Held.  Ramak's 84 off was trailing Karl's A3.  Then an 8 hit the board and Ramak doubled up to survive.

Todd Rebello's short stack was all-in with the best of it -- pocket Aces.

Karl Held called with K9 off.

Two Kings hit the board, giving Karl trips and another pot.

Todd finished in 5th place, earning $4,783.

Event 19 Payouts

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

Here are your payouts for Event 19:

1st - $17,314
2nd - $9,523
3rd - $5,483
4th - $4,617
5th - $3,463
6th - $2,886
7th - $2,309
8th - $1,731
9th - $1,299
10th-12th - $1,154
13th-15th - $1,010
16th-18th - $866

Event 18: 6th Place - Turco

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry) 

Michael Turco (Minneapolis, MN)

$4,041

Michael Turco was all-in holding QJ and called by chip leader Karl Held.

Karl's Ace-high held up and his big stack got bigger.

Michael finished 6th for $4,041.

Blinds: 40k/80k, 10k ante.

Event 19: Standish Survives Six

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

Ernie Standish continues to take command of his table.  But he had to pull out a six-way pot to do.

Peter Ippolito bet out, got raised and four other players followed into the pot.  With a harmless 9-5-3, Ippolito fired again with only Standish and one other player hanging in the pot.  One more round of betting took place after a 10 on the turn.  With a J on the river, Standish was the only one to fire as both players missed and mucked.

Standish takes down another 18k pot and continues to build his stack.  He now sits at 38k.

Ernie Standish (Mechanicsville, MD)

Event 18: 7th Place - Valerstein

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)    

Roman Valerstein (Newtown Square, PA)

$3,258

Ramak Rabizadeh was all-in with AJ against the pocket 7s of Todd Rebello.

The flop was all bricks, then an Ace on the turn sent the double-up to Ramak.

Roman Valerstein was all-in and got looked up by Jacob Ferro.

Roman's KJ was trailing Jacob's AQ.

The board ran out Ten-high and Jacob took the pot.

Roman finished in 7th place ($3,258).

Event 18: 8th Place - Crowder

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)   

Blinds 30k/60k.

Keith Crowder (Elkins Park, PA)

$2,433

After action folded to Jacob Ferro in the small blind, he shoved.  Keith Crowder called all-in (he only had 3 big blinds) in the dark, and found 62.

Jacob had A3.

The board ran dry until a 3 hit the river, sending the pot to Jacob and sending Keith to the rail in 8th place ($2,433).

Seven players remain.  Average stack is approaching 1.2 million.

Event 19: Floor!!!!

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

Omaha H/L 8B can always be a confusing game - not just for the players but tourney dealers who are just learning the game themselves.

The result is a LOT of calls for the floorpeople to come over and sort out the action.  The hard working yellow shirted tournament directors are flying around like bees trying to facilitate the action and order.  It's never a dull moment for anyone but the team is doing an outstanding job making sure they get it right.

They'll need to keep it going as 12 tables remaining and play is scheduled to end at 4 AM.

Event 16: Heads Up Winner - Frey

$2,000 + 150 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em

Kyle Frey (Connecticut)

Event 16 Winner - $40,352

Event 16: Heads Up Runner-Up - Templeton

$2,000 + 150 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em

Joshua Templeton (Tennessee)

Event 16 Runner-Up $20,176

Event 18: 10th - Kaziyev; 9th - Pirayesh

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)   

Leonid Kaziyev (Queens, NY) got his last chips in with AJ against Joseph Gergus' pocket Tens.

The pair held up and Leonid was busted in 10th place ($1,072).

On a flop of T T 5 with two diamonds, Jacob Ferro bet enough to cover Michael Pirayesh (Charlotte, NC).

Michael gave it some thought, then called with Q4 of diamonds (flush draw).  Jacob was ahead with A9 (Ace-high).

The last two came offsuit 3 5 and Jacob took the pot.

Michael will take $1,649 for 9th place.

Karl Held is still the chip leader with ~2.9 million.

Roman Valerstein is a distant second with ~1.4 million.

Event 19: Miami John Hijacked

$350+50 Omaha H/L 8B

A staple in the mixed game tourneys, "Miami" John Cernuto found himself in a three way pot with Ernie Standish (Mechanicsville, MD) and Event 11 runner-up William Zaliwciw (Philadelphia, PA).

After some controversial action figuring out Zaliwciw's pre-flop call of a three-bet, action continued with the board running out 6♠ Q♠ J♦ K♥ K♠.  After 3600 more made its way into the pot, Standish turned over JJK10 for the full house.  Cernuto was none to happy and mucked his cards followed by Zaliwciw and Standish took down a 13k pot to take the chip lead on the table. 

Event 18: Final Table

$260 + $40 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)   

After a redraw and color-up break, the final ten are getting back to business.  Here's the new lineup.

Seat - Player
1 - Michael Pirayesh
2 - Jacob Ferro
3 - Keith Crowder
4 - Karl Held
5 - Joseph Gergus
6 - Roman Valerstein
7 - Michael Turco
8 - Leonid Kaziyev
9 - Todd Rebello
10 - Ramak Rabizadeh

Ramak Rabizadeh got all-in against Michael Turco.  Ramak's pocket Aces held up against KT suited and he doubled up

Event 19: Joined At The Hip

As was the case in Event 14, Allen Kessler and Ylon Schwartz have found themselves together again playing Omaha 8 and they have company.

Leroy Jones (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) who final tabled Event 15 early this morning and Jeff Hunter (Bronx, NY) who final tabled the Event 14 Omaha 8 tourney are right there with them.

Jamie Kerstetter is on the other side of the room representing the new ladies pro team - The Grindettes - consisting of herself, Katie Stone, Katie Dozier and Jennifer Shadade. 

Event 17: Table Three Tougher

$1500 + 150 8/7/6 No Limit Hold'em  

Table three has gotten a bit tougher.

James 'Suits' Salters has busted out and been replaced by Ari Albilia.

The player is seat 6 has also departed and been replaced by Amanda Musumeci.

Chris Bell

Looks like Chris Bell (Raleigh, NC) has taken a slight lead over the field.  He's up to about 170k.

30 players remain. Only 12 get paid.