Event 6: Winner - Matranca

$1000 + 90 No Limit Hold'em

Martin Matranca (Miami, FL)

$48,595

Martin Matranca (Miami, FL) can no longer say he doesn't run that well in Borgata events, as he take home the trophy (and the $48,595 prize) for Event 6.  This $1000 buy-in event brought in a great field, and Martin outlasted a truly class field.

Event 6: Runner-Up - Skinner

$1000 + 90 No Limit Hold'em

Troy Skinner (Safford, AZ)

$26,728

With both players holding over 100 BB each beginning heads up play, this looked like a heads up match that could go deep into the night.  It was only three hands into the heads-up play before we would be crowning a champion.  With blinds at 6k/12k/2k Troy was first to act on the button and raised to 30k.  Matranca called from the big blind and we went to a flop of Kh Kc 8c.  Matranca checked-called Skinner's 40k bet on the flop, and the turn came out the 3d.  The players went check-check, and it was to the all important river, which brought the 4c.  Seemingly from left field Matranca shipped all in and was called by Skinner.  Skinner table As 5s, and Matranca thought he had lost the hand at first thought.  Martin had Ac 7h, and the kicker would play giving him the win, and the $48,595 first place.

Event 6: Lee Childs - 4th Place Interview

Video interview with Lee Childs - Event 6 4th Place Finisher - $12,959

Event 6: 3rd Place - McKeehen

$1000 + 90 No Limit Hold'em

Joseph McKeehen (North Wales, PA)

$15,389

McKeehen was the short stack when the players got to three handed, and it was going to take something monumental to get back in the game.  In a blind v. blind situation, Martin Matranca raises to 36k, and was three by McKeehen to 100k.  Matranca subsequently went all-in and was then called by McKeehen:

McKeehen: Ah Jd             Matranca: Ac 9c

Flop: 4c 10h 9h

Turn: 2s

River: 9s

Event 9: Playing Into The Night

$350 + 50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High

There are 29 players remaining, playing Level 14 with 1500/3,000 blinds and a chip average of 104k.  Allen Kessler has taken the chip lead from Eric Doerr (315k) with just over 330k.

Event 6: Updated Chip Counts

$1000 + 90 No Limit Hold'em

Three handed chip counts:

Joseph McKeehen - 360
Martin Matranca - 1.1 million
Troy Skinner - 1.3 million

Event 8: Bubble Burst

$260 + 40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

The bubble has finally burst for the ladies as two players are eliminated during the same hand-for-hand play.  The 17 remaining entrants are currently on break, and when they return we will be in Level 18 with 4k/8k/1k.

Event 6: 4th Place - Childs

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Lee Childs (Alexndria, VA)

$12,959

Martin Matranca shoved from the small blind and short-stacked Lee Childs called all-in from the big.

Lee was ahead with KQ.  Martin had 86.

Then the board brought a brutal 8 8 4 3 9 giving Martin trips.j

Lee busted out in 4th place, earning $12,959.  Not a bad finish considering he started the day 25th in chips out of 27 returning players.

Event 8: Interesting Happenings

$260 + 40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

With 19 players remaining, and being one from the money, we had a very interested situation.  It folded around to the blinds, who were two of the bigger stacks in remaining in the tournament.  The small blind open shoved for over 150k, and was called by Claire Chiang (Chandler, AZ) from the big blind.  The small blind tabled a pair of three's, while Claire showed A K.  Chiang took the lead with a king on the flop and never relinquished it.  So with a handful of stacks with less than eight big blinds, the two big stacks tangle, and Chiang takes a dominating chip lead in the event.

*After that hand, the player who was crippled tripled up, still leaving us on the bubble.

Event 6: Shifting Chips

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Level 21:  Blinds 6k/12, with 2k ante

Troy Skinner opened for 30k.

Lee Childs shoved from the small blind.

Troy gave it some thought, then said "I don't want to double you up" and folded.

Lee is still short with ~150k.

Joseph McKeehen opened for 24k and Troy called.

On the flop of K 8 2 -- all diamonds -- Joseph led out for 20k.  Troy raised to 40k.  Joseph shoved.  Troy folded.

Event 8: Martin Doubles On The Bubble

$260 + 40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

With two more bustouts we will be in the money, and Nancy Martin picked a great spot to double up.  After a raise to 12k (3k/6k blinds), Nancy shipped her last 30k with a pair of tens, and was called by the original raiser who held A Q.  The board ran all unders to Nancy's pocket tens, and she doubles up to over 60k.

Event 6: Childs Doubles; Doubles McKeehen

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Lee Childs opened for 22k and Troy Skinner called.

On the flop of T 5 4, all the chips went in the pot.

Lee had pocket Tens and had flopped a set.  Troy had A3 suited and had flopped a flush draw with gutshot.

Troy made his flush, but the board paired, giving Lee the full house.  He doubled up to 408k.

Then in a battle of the blinds, Lee flopped a pair of Aces, but ran into a set held by Joseph McKeehen.

Lee dropped to 170k.  Joseph is up to ~400k.

Event 8: Bubble Approaching

$260 + 40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Helen Ellis (New York)

There are 23 players remaining, and the bubble looms close (18 players paid).  Helen Ellis, who final tabled Event 2 (HORSE - 6th Place $2,767), is now creeping up the ladder towards the chip lead.  Helen sits with 180k and is looking to make her second final table of this series.

Event 9: Break Time

$350 + 50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High

Bryce Fox (Pittsburgh, PA)

The now 36 players remaining are on a 15 minute break as the black chips are colored off the table.  When they do return, Doerr will have some competition for the chip lead as Bryce Fox (Pittsburgh, PA) now sits with just under 260k.  Coming back the blinds will be 1k/2k, with a chip average of 83k.  We did get an update on Allen Cunningham's departure, as Robert Melo (Brooklyn, NY) flopped a full house against Cunningham who was super short and committed to the pot.

Event 6: 5th Place - Martini

 $1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)     

James Martini (Incline Village, NV)

$9,719

Lee Childs opened for 20k, Troy Skinner called, then James Martini raised to 65k.

Lee folded (pocket 4s, he said later) and Troy called.

On the flop of 7 5 3, Troy got all-in against James.

Troy had 96 suited for a double-gutshot straight-draw.

James was ahead with pocket Queens.

Then the last two came 9 6 giving Troy runner-runner two pair.  He doubled up.

James was then all-in and dominating with AJ against Troy's KJ.

But the board fell 8 7 3 K T and Troy paired his King to take the pot.

James Martini finished in 5th place ($9,719).

Event 6: Another Double Martini

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)     

James Martini was all-in with AJ suited against Troy Skinner's pocket 8s.

Board was J 7 3 A 6 and James doubled up to ~580k.

Troy was down to ~400k.

Martin Matranca is still the chip leader.  He got about 1 million.

Lee Childs has about 360k.

Joseph McKeehen is the short-stack with ~320k.

Level 20:  Blinds 5k/10k with 1k ante.

Event 9: Big Stacked Field

$350 + 50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High

Eric Doerr (Newark, DE)

The PLO field was a stacked one today, with a handful of notables still alive.  There are 41 players remaining, currently in Level 12 with 800/1500 blinds.  Our current chip leader is Eric Doerr (Newark, DE) with over 260k.  Players will play until 18 remain or 2:00 am (which ever comes last), and those remaining are all shooting for the $15,381 first place prize money.  Allen Kessler is just one of the many notables still remaining, while Allen Cunnigham is the most recent to hit the rail.

Event 6: 6th Place - Egan

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Andrew Egan (Hockessin, DE)

$8,100

Andrew Egan got his chips in the middle with KJ against Troy Skinner's AJ.

Andrew took the lead on the flop of K 4 4, and picked up a flush draw on the turn, but an offsuit Ace on the river sent the pot to Troy.

Andrew Egan finished in 6th place, earning $8,100.

Event 9: Payouts

$350 + 50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High

Entrants: 151

Total Buy-In: $52,850

1. $15,381
2. $8,459
3. $4,870
4. $4,101
5. $3,076
6. $2,563
7. $2,051
8. $1,538
9. $1,153

10-12. $1,025

13-15. $897

16-18. $769

Event 8: Ladies Rolling Along

$260 + 40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Robyn Resnick (Northfield, NJ)

The ladies event is moving at a brisk pace, with 29 players remaining of the 139 entrants that started the day.  The ladies are currently in Level 15, with blinds at 2k/4k/400 and a chip average of 58k (~14 BB).  The chip leader is Robyn Resnick with just over 165k, but there are a handful of players near that mark.  Some notables (and Borgata regulars) still alive are Nancy Martin and Marguerite Spagnuolo.  18 players will being making money in this event, and we will bring you more updates as we reach the money bubble.

Event 6: 7th Place - Brikis

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Josh Brikis (Pittsburgh, PA)

$6,480

Lee Childs got all-in holding AK against Martin Matranca's KQ.

The board fell 6 3 4 9 4 and Lee's nut-no-pair was good for the double-up.  He's now got 375k.

Josh Brikis got his chips in with AK suited against Martin's pocket 6s.

The flop of A A 6 was crushing.  Josh made trip Aces, but Martin flopped 6s-full.

Bricks on the turn and river were no help to Brikis.

Josh Brikis finished in 7th place, earning $6,480.

Event 7 Recap

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Having this much fun in a poker tournament should be illegal, that's how the final three players felt about the inaugural All in or Fold trophy event.  In the end Chris Jones (Nyack, NY) had 70% of the chips in play before he finished off Mike Holm (Woodridge, IL) as runner-up and Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, SC) in third place.

"This made my day right here," said Jones while holding his first Borgata trophy to go along with $8,019 for the win. "I didn't care about the money, I just wanted the trophy."

The final three players were having such a good time that midway through the event they wrote on the prize pool sheet that they would be at the top.  "It suited our play well because we both play conservatively," said Jones about his and Holm's play.

"Avoid the big stack, avoid calling with good hands, and don't be afraid to push with good hands," said Holm who authored the prophetic prediction and listed his keys to success.

None of the top three had ever played in this format. "I wanted to have some fun," said Battaglia, "and we had a blast. This was a great tournament."

The 106 entries put up a total buy-in of  $27,560 and featured 5 time WSOP bracelet winner Allen Cunningham and 2005 WSOP Main Event runner-up Steve Dannenmann.  At one point they were seated side-by-side putting more than $15 million in career tournament earnings at the table, but both failed to reach the money.

Borgata regulars who cashed included, Mike Marder (9th), Thomas Hoglund (14th), Joe Opie (15th) Byung Yoo (16th), and Ari Alibiliav (18th). Opie's cash comes on the heels of his 4th place finish in Event 3 for $14,360.

Jones is a physical therapist who plays poker "seriously" and now has his sights set on the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event.

Final Table Results

1 Chris Jones (Nyack, NY) $8,019
2 Mike Holm (Woodridge, IL) $4,410
3 Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, SC) $2,540
4 Mikhail Patish (Edison, NJ) $2,139
5 Rich Pyne (Turnversville, NJ) $1,604
6 Robert Miller (Nanuet, NY) $1,337
7 Terry Grimes (New Rochelle, NY) $1,069
8 Peter Bowman (Sullivans Island, SC) $802
9 Mike Marder (Sewell, NJ) $602
10 Darryl Tam (New York, NY) $535

Event 7 Winner - Jones

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Chris Jones (Nyack, NY) 

$8,019

After holding 70% of the chips in play, Jones finishes off the final two players to win the All In or Fold tournament.  Jones finishes ahead of Mike Holm and Jack Battaglia.

"This made my day right here," says Jones while holding his first Borgata trophy, "I didn't care about the money, I just wanted the trophy."

Jones is a physical therapist who plays poker "seriously."  He says he'll play just about any tournament and this format suits his conservative game.  

Jones now has his sights set on the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event.

Event 7: 2nd Place - Holm

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Mike Holm (Woodridge, IL) 

$4,410

Holm and Jack Battaglia were close in chips, but Holm finishes runner-up as both players were way behind event winner Chris Jones.

Holm is having a heck of a run at the Borgata Poker Open as he's cashed in all four events he's played.  He cashed in Events 1 & 5 and a Survivor tournament for $6,000.

Holm also had a great run at this series in 2011 when he won a tournament for $34,000 and finished 9th on the Borgata Points Leaderboard promotion.  He's on his way to another successful series with more than $10,000 in earnings in just five days.

When he's not playing poker, Holm runs his audio/video company and is a head hunter in the food industry.

Event 7: 3rd Place - Battaglia

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, SC) 

$2,540 

Battaglia was just eked out by Mike Holm for second place, but was a distant third to tournament winner Chris Jones.

Battaglia says he was short stacked most of the tournament and was down to five big blinds at the final table, but manged to hang around with a couple of double-ups.

"I wanted to have some fun," Battaglia says, while playing in this format for the first time, "and we had a blast. This was a great tournament."

Battaglia is a tax accountant who says he'll try and satellite into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event.

Event 7: 4th Place - Patish

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Mikhail Patish (Edison, NJ) 

$2,139 

Patish and his AK is ahead of Chris Jones' A 2, but a two on the turn ends Patish's tournament.

Jones is up to 700k and has 70% of the chips in play.

Event 6: 8th Place - Linster

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Mike Linster (Island Park, NY)

$4,860

Mike Linster was all-in with pocket 7s, but ran into James Martini's pocket 9s.

The board came K Q T 2 A and James took the pot.

Mike Linster will collect $4,860 for 8th place.

Event 6: New Chip Leader

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Martin Matranca raised pre-flop and was called by chip leader Troy Skinner.

On a Queen-high flop with two clubs, all Martin's chips went in and were matched by Troy.

Martin had KQ of clubs for top pair with flush draw.  Troy was ahead with pocket Aces.

Turn was a brick, but then the Ace of clubs landed on the river, giving Troy a set, but giving Martin a flush.  He doubled up to about 800k, claiming the chip lead. 

Troy's stack was cut by almost a half.  He's got about 500k.

Event 6: 9th Place - Gradinaru

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)      

Gheorghe Gradinaru (Chicago, IL)

$3,645

Gheorghe got his last chips in with four callers, who checked to the river as the board came K 4 2 J T.

On the river, Josh Brikis bet 25k and the others folded. 

Gheorghe had A2 for a pair of ducks, but Josh had AQ for Broadway.

Gheorghe finished in 9th place, earning $3,645.

Event 6: Back to Business

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)     

Level 19:  Blinds 4k/8k with 1k ante.

Players have returned and are back in action.

Event 7: 5th Place - Pyne

 $260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

 Rich Pyne (Turnversville, NJ) 

$1,604

Pyne puts in the last of his 125k with pocket 10s, but it doesn't hold against the KQ of Chris Jones.

Jones hits a queen on the turn to eliminate Pyne in 5th place, while Jones is still the chip leader with 540k.

On a side note, Pyne has the best tee shirt in the building:

I LOVE it when MY WIFE let's me play Poker

Dinner Break Updates

Borgata Poker Open

Ladies Tournament:

Players Remaining: 34
Places Paid: 18
Avg. Stack: 49k (16 BB)
Next Blind: 1,500/3k/400 ante
Top Prize: $10,518

PLO Tournament:

Players Remaining: 51
Avg Stack: 59k (49 BB)
Blinds: 600/1,200
Places Paid: 18
Top Prize: $15,381

Both tournaments resume at 8:30 pm.

Event 7: 5 Guys, No Burgers

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

(l-r) Holm, (dealers Sandra & Ross), Jones, Pyne, Battaglia & Patish

The remaining five players have agreed to skip the dinner break and keep playing.

Chris Jones (Nyack, NY) continues to lead the way as they chase the $8,019 first prize.

Also still alive:

Rich Pyne (Turnversville, NJ)
Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, SC)
Mikhail Patish (Edison, NJ)
Mike Holm (Woodridge, IL)

Event 6: Dinner Time Chip Counts

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)     

Rough chip counts from dinner time:

Troy Skinner - 800k
Joseph McKeehen - 460k
Martin Matranca - 425k
Lee Childs - 242k
Andrew Egan - 200k
Josh Brikis - 195k
Mike Linster - 82k
James Martini - 75k
Gheorghe Gradinaru - 19k

Event 7: 6th Place - Miller

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Robert Miller (Nanuet, NY) 

$1,337

After surviving a chop just a few hands earlier, Miller is finally ousted by Mikhail Patish.

Miller: 88

Patish: A 6

An ace hits the turn and Miller loses his last 29k for a 6th place finish.

Event 6: Matranca Doubles; Dinner!

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)     

After a couple of limpers, Gheorghe Gradinaru shoved from the small blind.  Martin Matranca called all-in, folding the others.

Gheorge had A7 suited.  Martin had AQ.  The board came 9 5 2 T A and Martin doubled up.

Gheorghe was left with only about 20k.

The clock ran out on the level and the dinner bell has rung.

Players get an hour away from the felt and play will resume at about 8:30pm.

Event 8: Chip Leader Extends Lead

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Catherine Catches Kings

Just after returning from break, chip leader Catherine Lee (Pawcatuck, CT) three-bets Sarah Wasch (Philadelphia, PA), who folds and shows an ace.  Lee returns the favor and shows pocket kings saying, "I don't need an ace sucking out me," as she is now up to 92k.

Play is rapidly approaching the money bubble as the top 18 cash.

42 players remain with an average stack of 40k (17 BB) as blinds are moving up to 12k/24k/300 ante.

Event 6: Brikis Doubles

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    

Josh Brikis moved all-in from the button, but got no takers.

Next hand, Gheorghe Gradinaru opened and John moved in from the cutoff (65k straight).

Gheorghe called and showed AQ.  Josh had pocket Kings. 

The board ran out J J 2 8 7 and Josh doubled up to ~140k.

"Uh Oh.  Most chips I've had all tournament" Josh said.

He picked up some more chips on the next hand when he bet the flop and his opponent folded.

Event 7: 7th Place - Grimes

 $260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

 Terry Grimes (New Rochelle, NY) 

$1,069

It's a heck of a run for Grimes who was down to one big blind (1200) earlier in the day, but survives for a 7th place finish.  He finally busts with KJ against the pocket jacks of Mikhail Patish.

Event 6: Double Martini

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    

After Troy Skinner opened, James Martini moved all-in.  Troy called, showing A7 suited.  James had the lead with AJ.

The board fell Q 3 3 6 4 and James doubled up to about 180k.

Mike Linster opened for 14k, Troy flatted, James raised to 35k, and Mike made a painful-looking fold (later told the table he folded pocket 8s).

Troy called to see the flop of T 7 4.  He check-called James' 40k bet.

Turn and river were both Jacks and checked down.  Troy showed T9 of for a pair (James had AK suited).  Troy got some of his chips back.   He's close to 1 million now and way ahead of the field.

Fifth Street Radio is back on the air from the Borgata Poker Open at 8 PM ET!  Coverage of all four events going including the final table of the 1K plus an on-air mindset coaching session.  Please join us at www.fifthstreetradio.com for the action from the Borgata!

Event 7: 8th Place - Bowman

 $260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

 Peter Bowman (Sullivans Island, SC) 

$802

Bowman's A9 is dominated by the AK of Jack Battaglia who gets Bowman's last 50k.

Event 6: 10th Place - Beren

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    

Eric Beren (Dallas, TX)

$3,240

Eric Beren shoved from the button.  Then Lee Childs discovered pocket Aces in the big blind and called.

Eric had KJ and flopped a King, but failed to catch anything else.  He busted in 10th place for $3,240.

Lee chipped up to 256k.

Level 18:  Blinds 3k/6k with 500 ante.

Event 7: 9th Place - Marder

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

 Mike Marder (Sewell, NJ) 

$602

Marder ships 25k to Mike Holm when his Q♠ 8♠ is dominated by the Q♥ Q♣ of Mike Holm.

Marder says he's now two for two in All in or Fold tournaments after cashing in the Summer Poker Open's version of the event.

Event 6: Brikis Doubles

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    

Josh Brikis was all-in with pocket 5s and called by Joseph McKeehan who had KT suited.

Josh flopped a set, but still had to sweat when Joseph picked up a flush draw on the turn.

The board paired on the river giving Josh a boat and a double-up to about 85k.

Troy Skinner is still the chip leader and he's got over 850k.

Joseph McKeehan is a distant second with about 400k.

Event 6: Final Table

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    


Here's the seating for the final table.  With ten players remaining, the average stack is 250k.

Final Table Lineup
Eric Beren
Josh Brikis
Lee Childs
Joseph McKeehan
Mike Linster
Andrew Egan
Gheorghe Gradinaru
Troy Skinner
James Martini
Martin Matranca

Event 7: 10th Place - Tam

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Darryl Tam (New York, NY) 

$535

Tam is out when his A 9 doesn't improve against the pocket 6s of Chris Jones. Tam ships 110k to Jones who extends his chip lead and now has more than 400k.

Tam was the talk of the tournament as he used a homemade grid to determine which hands he would play.  He never revealed the complicated system, but Tam had a good time as players nicknamed him Sudoku.

Tam's "Sudoku" Grid

Event 6: 12th - Sita; 11th - Risman

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)    

Damon Sita (Alexandria, VA)

$3,240

On a flop of A J 6, Damon Sita got all in against Joseph McKeehen.

Damon's A6 (Aces-up) was in bad shape against Joseph's AJ (better Aces-up)

No help for him and he was busted in 12th place ($3,240).

Philip Risman (Greenwich, CT)

$3,240

After a raise from Troy Skinner, Philip Risman shoved with J8.  Troy looked him up with QJ.

The board changed nothing and Troy took the pot with Queen-high.

Philip took $3,240 for 11th place.

The final ten drew for seats and moved to the final table.

Event 6: 13th Place - Dibella

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)   

John Dibella (Eastchester, NY)

$2,835

Troy Skinner opened and John Dibella moved all-in. 

Troy looked him up holding pocket 7s.  John was racing with A9 suited.

The board brought no help for John and he was sent to the rail in 13th place ($2,835).

Event 7: Final Table

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

A look at the final table lineup and what they're playing for:

Seat-Name

1 Darryl Tam (New York, NY)
2 Chris Jones (Nyack, NJ)
3 Rich Pyne (Turnversville, NJ)
4 Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, SC)
5 Mikhail Patish (Edison, NJ)
6 Robert Miller (Nanuet, NY)
7 Peter Bowman (Sullivans Island, SC)
8 Terry Grimes (New Rochelle, NY)
9 Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ)
10 Mike Holm (Woodridge, IL)

Position-Amount

1 $8,019
2 $4,410
3 $2,540
4 $2,139
5 $1,604
6 $1,337
7 $1,069
8 $802
9 $602
10 $535

Event 6: Baker's Dozen

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

The final 13 players have returned from a break to level 17 with blinds of  2,500/5,000 with 500 ante.

Here are some approximate chip counts from the break:

Troy Skinner - 400k
Gheorghe Gradinaru - 340k
Eric Beren - 310k
Mike Linster - 250k
Lee Childs - 215k
John Dibella - 200k
Joseph McKeehan - 200k
Martin Matranca - 180k
James Martini - 140k
Philip Risman - 135k
Damon Sita - 105k
Josh Brikis - 46k
Andrew Egan - 45k

Average stack is 193k.

Event 8: Ladies Chip Leaders

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

The women are just back from break and the two big stacks are both in the 60k range.

Patricia Cahill (Port Jefferson Station, NY) and Malika Evans (Woodbridge, VA) lead the way
with 65 players remaining with an average stack is 26k (16 BB).

Play resuming with blinds 800/1,600/200 ante.

Event 6: 14th Place - Dempsey

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)   

Derek Dempsey (Pittsburgh, PA)

$2,835

Derek Dempsey was all-in for his tournament life with pocket 7s against Joseph McKeehen's AQ.

Joseph took a huge lead when the flop came A Q x.  Derek was left looking for a 7, but it didn't appear.  He busted out in 14th place, good for $2,835.

Event 7: 11th - Clark / 12th - Houed

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

The latest casualties are Ryan Clark and Marcus Houed who each earn $535.  The remaining 10 players are redrawing for their final table seats

Position-Name

11 Ryan Clark (Hurricane, WV)
12 Marcus Houed (Carteret, NJ)

Event 7: 13th-15th Places ($468)

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

13 Ernest Vidal (Nutley, NJ)
14 Thomas Hoglund (New Bedford, MA)
15 Joe Opie (Fairhaven, NJ)

Event 6: 15th Place - Betlow

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)   

Edward Betlow (Morris Plains, NJ)

$2,835

Lee Childs opened for 9k.  Edward Betlow 3-bet to 18k and Lee called.

On the flop of T 3 2 (all clubs) against Inside The Minds instructor Lee Childs checked.  Edward shoved and Lee called.

Edward had pocket Kings (both red).  Lee had pocket 3s and had flopped a set.

The last two changed nothing and Edward was busted in 15th place ($2,835).

Lee's now up to more than 170k.

Event 7: 16th-18th Places ($401)

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

16 Byung Yoo (Norwood, NJ)
17 Andrew Bryant (Hanover, PA)          
18 Ari Albiliav (Syosset, NY)

Peter Bowman knocks out Yoo and Bryant on the same hand when he spikes a jack on the river to collect $100 in bounties.

Bowman: AJ
Bryant: K 6
Yoo: AK

Event 6: 16th Place - Hui

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

Adam Hui (Markham, Ontario)

$2,430

Adam Hui got his last chips in with A2, only to run into John Dibella's pocket Tens.  The pair held and Adam was dispatched in 16th place ($2,430).

Josh Brikis was all in with a pocket pair against Q9.  Josh made quads to double-up.

Event 7: Final 18 Redraw

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

The following players are all in the money and guaranteed $401 as they play for the top prize of $8,019.

Table 1

Seat-Name

1 Ryan Clark
2 Michael Marder
3 Rich Pyne
4 Joe Opie
5 Chris Jones
6 Thomas Hoglund
7 Mike Holm
8 Jack Battaglia
9 Mikhail Patish

Table 2

Seat-Name

1 Terry Grimes
2 Byung Yoo
3 Darryl Tam
4 Ernest Vidal
5 Marcus Houed
6 Ari Albilia
7 Andrew Bryant
8 Robert Miller
9 Peter Bowman

Event 6: Linster Likes It

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)   

On the turn with a board of A 3 3 T, Mike Linster (cutoff) bet ~15k and got raised to 40k by Troy Skinner (button). Mike made the call and checked the river in the dark.

River was a 2 and Troy checked behind. Neither played seemed to want to show their hand. "Show it" said Mike "or muck it". Troy tossed his cards to the dealer face down, saying "Mucking sounds better".

Mike showed KT off for Two pair to take the pot and take a small bite out of the chip leader.

Mike Linster won the inaugural All-In or Fold tournament here during the Summer Open in June, but was unable to try for back-to-back wins in today's All-In or Fold event (Event 7) due to making day two of this event.

He'll have to make at least 6th place in this event ($8,100) to beat the top prize in event 7, which is $8,019.
Level 16: Blinds 2k/4k with 400 ante.

Event 7: Quacks Crack Bubble

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

The bubble breaks when Peter Bowman (Moorestown, NJ) and his pocket 2s hold against his opponents A J.

The ducks quack and the bubble breaks sending the final 18 players into the money.

Event 6: 17th Place - Dykshteyn

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)   

Ruslan 'Russ' Dykshteyn (Brooklyn, NY)

$2,430

Russ Dykshteyn got all in with 87 suited against Joseph McKeehen's AK off.

The flop came J 9 7 giving Russ the lead with a pair of 7s, but then the last two fell 6 A giving Joseph the bigger pair and the pot.

Russ busted in 17th place ($2,430).

Event 7: Bubble Holds Strong

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

We've seen a couple of double-ups, including Mikhail Patish (New York, NY) whose aces survived against 10s.

Players are on a 10 minute break as the bubble refuses to break.

Event 6: 18th Place - Borrero

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ)

$2,430

Miguel Borrero got it in good with pocket Jacks, but got called by Eric Beren, who had AQ.

An Ace hit the board to ship the pot to Eric.

Miguel busted out in 18th place for $2,430.

Event 9: PLOdding Along

$350 + $50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High (Re-Entry)

Level 6 (600/1200 big bets) is underway, the last level for re-entry.

A look at who's in the field:

Allen Cunningham
Chris Reslock
"Miami" John Cernuto
Allen Kessler
Manh Nguyn
James Boyd
Ted Geier
Eric Doerr
Anthony Zinno
Austen Johnson
Bruce Frank

Event 6: Bubble-Time

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)  

After Eric Beren opened for 7,500 on the button, Lee Childs moved in from the big blind for about 30k more.

Eric tanked for a bit, then called, showing A6.  Lee was ahead with pocket Jacks.

The board ran out K 5 4 4 2 and Lee doubled up.

Patrick Paris - Bubble-Boy

A couple of hands later, Patrick Paris (Youngstown, OH) was all-in with A7 suited against Eric.

This time Eric was ahead with pocket Tens.

The board fell 9 8 2 9 2 and Eric took the pot, making Patrick today's Bubble-Boy, finishing 19th for $0.

The final 18 drew for seats and moved to the final two tables.  Play has resumed.

All players are now in the money and guaranteed to leave with at least $2,430.

Event 7: 19 Left, On the Bubble

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Rich Pyne (Turnersville, NJ) and his pocket kings eliminates a player with pocket queens. 19 players remain and play is now hand-for-hand as the top 18 make the money.

Min cash: $401
1st Place: $8,019

Event 8 - Payouts

Borgata Poker Open
Event 8: $260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Entries:  139
Total Buy-In:  $36,140

PAYOUTS
1.                     $10,518

2.                     $5,785

3.                     $3,330

4.                     $2,804

5.                     $2,103

6.                     $1,753

7.                     $1,402

8.                     $1,052

9.                     $789

10 - 12.             $701

13 - 15.             $613

16 - 18.             $526

Event 6: Ionescu Misses By Two

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

 Mircea Ionescu

Mircea Ionescu (Brooklyn, NY) got his last chips in with 76 suited and was up against AK off.

The board came Q 3 3 Q 4 and Mircea was busted in 20th place, missing the money by two.

With his departure, the final 19 players are now playing hand-for-hand on the bubble.

Event 7 - Payouts

Borgata Poker Open
Event 7:  $260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty 
All In or Fold No Limit Hold'em

Entries: 106
Total Buy-In:  $27,560

PAYOUTS

1.                     $8,019

2.                     $4,410

3.                     $2,540

4.                     $2,139

5.                     $1,604

6.                     $1,337

7.                     $1,069

8.                     $802

9.                     $602

10 - 12.             $535

13 - 15.             $468

16 - 18.             $401

Event 9: PLO all a Twitter

$350 + $50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High (Re-Entry)

Brian Woods and Bruce Frank are a couple of players keeping us posted on the PLO tournament via their Twitter accounts:

Brian Woods ‏@bwoodspoker 
Just got to @BorgataPoker Poker Open. PLO my first event Flop set, turn boat, fish rivers smaller boat. Fireworks ensue. #hesout

bruce frank ‏@misterflop
22.7k/20k in plo. table ok enuf with aggo 2 to my right.

Level 5 (400/800 big bets) is underway.

Event 6: Skinner Leads Final 20

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

The final 20 players have just returned from a break.

Level 15:  Blinds 1,500/3,000 with 400 ante.

Average stack is 125k.  They're two away from the money so it's double-bubble time.

The next two players to bust out will leave with nothing.

Event 8: Getting the Wurst of It

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

After featuring Kelly Armentrout (Alexandria, VA) and Loryn Wurst (Charlotte, NC) earlier in the tournament, the two are all in.

Wurst raises from under the gun and after a couple of callers, Armentrout comes along from the big blind.

On an ace-high flop everyone checks.  On the turn, Armentrout checks again, Wurst moves all in for 6k and it folds back to Armentrout who calls.

Wurst: KK
Armentrout: AK

Wurst bricks the river and her pocket kings lose to Armentrout's pair of aces.

This is is a case of the blogger curse being a wash as Wurst is out, but Armentrout plays on.

Event 6: Dunek Done

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Kenneth Dunek

Kenneth Dunek (Mt Laurel, NJ) shoved his last ~100k with K9 suited, but ran into the chip leader's pocket Aces.

Troy Skinner (Safford, AZ) had already pulled ahead of the field, but with the addition of Kenneth's chips, he's now got over 500k.

20 players remain.  Two away from the money!

Event 8: Family Pots

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

 Josephine Looking for Hands

Walking through the Ladies tournament has the feeling of being at a home game.  Lot's of laughs and a few family pots.

Josephine Hand (Lakewood, NJ) is by far the most popular table as she regales everyone about her life. "I love this table," says the 83-year-old great grandmother.  "We're having so much fun."

Borgata trophy winner Jennifer Sherwood (Newport News, VA) quips, "it's great, she can't see the cards, so we make it up. She doesn't know," as everyone at the table laughs.

Hand says she has five kids, 10 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren and "loves playing poker."

Josephine at the Head of the Table

Event 6: Oshima Out

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Kazu Oshima

Kazu Oshima (Temecula, CA) got his last chips in with KT, but ran into Gheorghe Gradinaru's AJ suited.

The better hand held up and Gheorghe collected the pot.  Kazu was sent packing.

21 Players remain.

Event 7: Rolling Along

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

 Mikhail's Big Stack....For Now

Now that re-entry is closed, players are being a little more conservative because the next bust is your last.

Mikhail Patish (New York, NY) is one of the bigger stacks with 60k, but he's not impressed.  "It doesn't mean too much," he says, "it can be gone real quick."

Play is down to three tables and the eliminations continue to be fast and furious.

Borgata Poker Open Leaderboard (Update 9/9)

Borgata Poker Open Leaderboard
By participating in any Borgata Poker Open event (September 5-21, 2012), players earn points based upon the Borgata Poker Tournament Leaderboard Formula.

Below are the top scores for the 2012 Borgata Poker Open Leaderboard*

(Final Results from Main events: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Qualifiers and Secondary events: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)

350.000:  BENEDETTO BIANCO

329.700:  JOHN HINDS

268.200:  ERIC BALDWIN

247.250:  PAOLO NARDI

245.500:  CHRISTOPHER GROVE

245.000:  DANIEL WACH

231.350:  STEPHEN COWAP

212.100:  GEORGE LEANDROU

209.200:  DERRICK JOHNSON

198.100:  ELON DIAMOND

197.363:  IVERSON SNUFFER

192.500:  WALTER ENGLISH

185.600:  LAURENCE SAMET

184.000:  GEORGE MEDRANO

181.413:  FRANK DELLARIA

170.500:  SEAN SISCO

164.563:  FRANK INGARDIA

161.000:  KAREN PEREZ

157.700:  DAVID LABRIOLA

156.650:  YUAN SHEN

154.000:  GARY ACKERMAN

151.200:  SIROUS JAMSHIDI

Event 6: Goners

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 14:  Blinds 1,200/2,400 with 300 ante.

Michael Maletta, Andres Pada & Alan Schein

Three More Goners:

Michael Maletta (Hicksville, NY)
Andres Pada (Cresskill, NJ)
Alan Schein (Dania, FL)

Still 22 players in the hunt.  Average stack is 114k.

Event 9: Bills *Oar* Jets

$350 + $50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High (Re-Entry)

Buffalo Gets Top Billing for Oars

The first NFL Sunday of the season means one eye on the cards and one eye on the big screens.

A couple of Buffalo fans are bravely wearing their Bills gear in Jets country.  "I've seen a couple of (Jets) fans over there, so we'll see when I get closer," says Jennifer Oar (Alexandria, VA).

Oar is on break from the Ladies event and watching her husband Michael play the PLO.

"I'm fully confident they'll make the playoffs and end the drought," Michael says with the Jets holding a 7-nothing lead.

"It's a big game for both teams," Jennifer says about the opener.

Unfortunately for the Oar family, since we stopped by, the Jets are now leading 21-0.

Event 6: Payouts

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Entries:  167
Total Buy-In:  $167,000

PAYOUTS
1.             $48,595

2.             $26,728

3.             $15,389

4.             $12,959

5.             $9,719

6.             $8,100

7.             $6,480

8.             $4,860

9.             $3,645

10 - 12.      $3,240

13 - 15.      $2,835

16 - 18.      $2,430

Event 8: Ladies Break Dance

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Armentrout & Wurst

The women's tournament is on it's first break of the day and the event has a different dynamic for two reasons.  First, it's all women, to which Kelly Armentrout (Alexandria, VA) sums up by saying, "women play more consistent,"

Secondly, there's no re-entry, so there's no safety net if players catch a bad beat or want to be über aggressive.

Loryn Wurst (Charlotte, NC) is playing in her first ladies event and after winning a hand before the first break of the day says, "I feel more confident playing my game at this type of tournament."

She adds that she can be "more aggressive," than she normally is when playing in a tournament with both men and women.

Level 3 (75/150) is complete and the ladies are on a 10 minute break.

Event 6: Kessler Runs Into Kings

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

A short-stacked Allen Kessler (Las Vegas, NV) was all-in with AQ against Gheorghe Gradinaru's pocket Kings.

Allen Kessler

The board fell J 6 3 6 4 and was no help to Allen.  He reported to the rail.

Alek Givotovsky (New York, NY) has also busted out.

16 players remain.

Event 7: Bountiful Day

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Renner Runs Down Allen's 10s

Five time WSOP bracelet winner Allen Cunningham is on the rail and Robert Renner (Lawrenceville, NJ) is honored to get the knockout.

"Clean 50," says Renner, while admiring Cunningham's $50 bounty.  "Never spending this, it's going to the grave."

Cunningham has 10 10 UTG and Renner has AQ from the BB and hits an ace on the flop and turn to win with trip aces.  "One of my (poker) goals was to bust a pro," and Renner has no qualms with getting it in this format, adding "a bust is a bust."

It looks like this is a one and done for Cunningham who hasn't re-entered the tournament.

Event 6: Day Two Underway

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Play has resumed with blinds of 1k/2k and 300 ante.

27 players survived day one and have returned to battle for the money.

Only the final 18 will get paid.

Event 9: Omaha in the House

$350 + $50 Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha High (Re-Entry)

The first of the three Omaha tournaments in the Borgata Poker Open is underway and a lot of familiar no limit faces are in the field.

Robert Melo, Mike Dentale and Anthony Zinno are some of the early arrivals.

Players start with 20k in chips and the early levels are 30 minutes each (Levels 7+ / 40 min.).

Re-entry is available for the first six levels of this two-day tournament.

Event 7: Break Time, Face Time

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Steve Dannenmann and Allen Cunningham were seated side-by-side at the same table, but their table has now broken and they've moved to different locations.

Steve Dannenmann & Allen Cunningham

More familiar faces:

Hobart Adkins
Eric Natishvilli
Michael Marder
Alex Bolotin
Thomas Hogund
Sirous Jamshidi

They're coming back from their first break of the day to level 4, blinds 200/400.

Event 8: Familiar Ladies

$260 + $40 Ladies No Limit Hold'em

Several familiar faces among the ladies

Gloria LoRusso
Hellen Ellis
Kelly Armentrout
Marguerite Spanguolo
Nancy Martin
Jennifer Shahade
Sarah Wasch
Ariutuva Ochirivaani

Late registration is available through four levels, which are 30 minutes long.

Event 7: Restifo Re-Enters

$260 + $40 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty All In or Fold NLH (Re-Entry)

Carl Restifo has relocated to a 10 seat, which is initially reserved for re-entering players.

Carl Restifo

Sure enough, Carl's pocket Jacks were cracked by A9 on the third hand.  An Ace on the board sent him to the re-entry line.

He's back now at table one in the 10 seat, and hoping for better luck this time.