Saturday, September 8

TODAY'S EVENTS (EVENT CENTER/POKER ROOM)

11AM: Event 5 - $350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 GUARANTEED

• Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 30 minutes each 
• Players may Re-Enter through Level 6
• 1-Day event

1PM: Event 6 - $1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

• Players start with 15,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels 1-10: will last 50 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 460 minutes each 
• Players may Re-Enter through Level 4
• 2-Day event.  Day 2 begins Sunday at 1PM

3 PM: Event 33 - $400 + $50 SURVIVOR No Limit Hold'em 

• Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 30 minutes each
• Approximately 1 in 10 will win $4,000 CASH
• 1-Day event

7 PM: Event 34 - $150 + $30 + $50 Double Green Chip Bounty NLH (Re-Entry)

• layers start with 12,000 in tournament chips 
• Levels will last 20 minutes each 
• This is a Bounty tournament. Players must have their Bounty chip clearly displayed on the table to remain active in the tournament. 
• Players may Re-Enter through Level 6
• 1-Day event

Event 2 Recap

$350 + $50 HORSE            

HORSE event winner Elon Diamond (El Portal, FL) summed it up nicely: "I ran well, I played well."  The professional poker player collected $16,603 for the win along with his first Borgata Open trophy.  He was never noted as chip leader throughout this tournament, until the very end when he held all 2.4 million chips in play.

Second place and $9,131 went to Nick Cochinos (Poughkeepsie, NY) who also flew under the radar for most of this event.  He, too, is a professional poker player, but never held the chip lead.

Maksim Serebrinskiy (Brooklyn, NY) did hold the chip lead off and on during day two, but fell short, finishing third for $5,257.

163 players entered this incredibly tough field, generating total buy-ins of $57,050.  The final 18 got a piece of the prize pool.  Most accomplished among those cashing was Chris Reslock (Atlantic City, NJ).  He holds one WSOP bracelet and has amassed more than $1.7 million in tournament earnings.  Today he busted out 17th for $830.

Borgata tournament regular Helen Ellis (New York, NY) was the last woman sitting in this event.  She claimed 6th place and $2,767.

Lots of big names played this event, but did not cash.  Among those were three-time Borgata Open winner Yuebin Guo, and two-time Borgata Open winners Barry Levy, Glenn Engelbert, and Gil Sacks.

After two very long days, this HORSE race finally came to an end.  After getting some sleep, most of these players will be back for more in upcoming Borgata Poker Open events.


Final Table Results

1 - Elon Diamond (El Portal, FL) - $16,603

2 - Nick Cochinos (Poughkeepsie, NY) - $9,131

3 - Maksim Serebrinsky (Brooklyn, NY) - $5,257

4 - Russ Salzer (Westpark, FL) - $4,427

5 - Kevin Nettles (Pottstown, PA) - $3,320

6 - Helen Ellis (New York, NY) - $2,767 

7 - Jeff Jerome (Philadelphia, PA) - $2,214

8 - Edward McGahan (Ridgewood, NJ) - $1,660

9 - Gerard Fabiano (Belleville, NJ) - $1,245 

Bagged and Tagged!

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Play has ended for the night for Event 1, and the remaining 33 players will be back at it again at 1pm tomorrow, when the blinds will be at 60k/120k with a 20k ante.  The average chip count is just about 2.8 million, if my limited math skills serve me correctly.  

Our chip leader at the end of the night is Gary Ackerman (Collegeville, PA) with 9.5 million.  Maksim Rozenfeld (NY, NY) has the second biggest stack with 6.765 million in chips.

The complete chip counts and seating assignments will be posted tomorrow morning, but here's a sampling of some other notable chip stacks to whet your appetite:


Niazi Ozair (Dover, NJ) - 6.1 million
Alex Rapoport    -  6 million
Hobart Adkins (Ona, WV) -   5.6 million
Barry Leventhal (Brooklyn, NY)  - 4.7 million
Wendy Freedman (Las Vegas, NV) - 4.565 million
Benny Bianco (Franklin Square, NY)   -  4.5 million
Kazu Oshima (Temecula, CA)  - 3.365 million
Sal Esposito (Blue Point, NY) -  2.245 million

Join us at 1pm when 33 players will be clawing and scratching their way to the $309,196 grand prize that awaits the champion of the 1st event of the 2012 Borgata Poker Open.  Until tomorrow, poker fanatics...

Event 3: Ramnauth Eliminated, Down to 18 - Play ends, Opie Leads with Schwartz Right Behind

Play has ended for the night in Event #3 with 18 players remaining after the elimination of Dinesh Ramnauth.  Ramnuth hit a K on the flop holding K6 in a blind vs. blind situation but his opponent holding 3's caught running threes on the turn and river to end play for the night.

Here are your chip standings heading into Day 2:

John Opie - 955,000
Justin Schwartz - 941,000
Vinny Pahuja - 808,000
George Landrou - 655,000
Max Digilou - 500,000
Joseph Tracy - 438,000
Lana O'Brien - 386,000
Jose Montes - 384,000
John DeGeorge - 328,000
Matthew Burnitz - 313,000
Henry Bumble - 306,000
Christopher Grove - 272,000
Kambiz Behbahani - 269,000
Peter Sennon - 230,000
Jonathan Giordano - 209,000
Sheldon Gross - 147,000
Thomas Hoglund - 138,000
Priala Gheoghe - 88,000

Good luck to all the players tomorrow!  And please join us for Fifth Street Radio tomorrow at 8 PM ET at www.fifthstreetradio.com as we broadcast live from the Borgata Poker Open.

Event 2: 1st Place - Diamond

$350 + $50 HORSE             

Elon Diamond (El Portal, FL)

$16,603

Elon Diamond was the victor after two long days of HORSE-play.  He came all the way from near Miami, Florida, to play poker here.  He's new to the mixed games, but obviously plays them well.

Event 2: 2nd Place - Cochinos

$350 + $50 HORSE              

Nick Cochinos (Poughkeepsie, NY)

$9,131

Nick is a poker pro who plays both tournaments and cash games.  He started day two in the exact middle of the field, 53rd in chips out of 106 returning players.  He ran that stack all the way up to a second-place finish.

Event 2: 3rd Place - Serebrinskiy

$350 + $50 HORSE              

Maksim Serebrinsky (Brooklyn, NY)

$5,257

Event 3: 4th Place - Salzer

$350 + $50 HORSE             

Russ Salzer (Westpark, FL)

$4,427

Event 4 Recap

$400 + $50 Seven Card Stud        

Despite suffering a personal tragedy during this event, Bill 'Bumperino' Munley (Throop, PA) played through the pain to claim the win and $8,381, along with his second Borgata Open trophy.

Bill's brother Mike fell from a scaffold this afternoon and was killed.  Bill learned via calls and texts from his family.  Since there was nothing that could be done, he continued playing, determined to make this one count.  "Dedicate this one to him, Clement Michael Munley" Bill said.  Mike was 60 years old.

Rogerio Sousa (Durham, NC) had been a big stack most of the day and finished runner-up to Bill, earning $4,656.  He passed his construction company on to his children so he could retire to play poker and golf.  He might've gone all the way, but his pair of Aces fell to a flush, costing him a big pot.

Third-place went to 3-time WSOP bracelet winner 'Miami' John Cernuto (Las Vegas, NV) who earned $2,794.  He was among the chip leaders most of the day "but I was never rolled-up" he said.

A total of 48 players entered this event generating total buy-ins of $19,200.  Only the top five got paid.  It was originally scheduled to be a two-day event, but they finished up in only 12 hours. 

The field included a couple of other big names, who did not cash.  2009 November Niner Ylon Schwartz, who won his first WSOP bracelet this summer and well-known tournament grinder Allen 'Chainsaw' Kessler.

Bill Munley wrote this poem, in-between Stud hands and taking calls from his family:

"No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye.  You were gone before we knew it and only God can tell us why.  RIP Mike"

Final Results

1 - Bill 'Bumperino' Munley (Throop, PA) - $8,381

2 - Rogerio Sousa (Durham, NC) - $4,656

3 - 'Miami' John Cernuto (Las Vegas, NV) - $2,794

4 - Michael Frejka (New York, NY) - $1,862

5 - Jim DiCarlo (White Lake, NY) - $931

From Rags to Riches

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em


Blinds are now at 50k/100k/5k.  The player under the gun goes all-in for about 2 million.  Benny Bianco (Franklin Square), NY re-shoves for just over 2 million.  Action folds around to the big blind, who decides to go all-in as well.  The hands are tabled as follows:

UTG player:  A♦Q♠
Bianco:    9♦9♥
Big Blind:   AK

The board runs clean for Bianco when it comes 4♥5♥J♣4♠2♣

                                                    Benny Bianco (Franklin Square)
                                                   
Bianco was down to his last 600k in chips just a short while ago, but is now the chip leader with 6.35 million after knocking out both of his opponents.  38 players remain.  Our former chip leader Wendy Freedman (Las Vegas, NV) is still chugging along with a healthy 5.2 million or so.

Event 3: Be Careful What You Wish For

Peter Sennon (Bronx, NY) re-raised Jack Battaglia (Staten Island, NY) putting him all in.  After leaning back in his chair, Battaglia exclaimed "Let's go!" and flipped over AQc vs Sennon's AdKh.

With the flop coming 2c-10d-4h, Battaglia was ready to head out the door.  3d came on the turn and Lana O'Brien said "A five would be interesting".

5s comes on the river gives both player the wheel as an exasperated Peter Sennon expressed his frustration.

Play continues with 21 players remaining.

Jack Battaglia and Peter Sennon

Event 2: 5th Place - Nettles

$350 + $50 HORSE             

Kevin Nettles (Pottstown, PA)

$3,320

Kevin has gone by the name 'Kev' all day, but now is known as Kevin Nettles, finishing 5th for $3,320.

The final four play on.

Couple o' Counts

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Here's a few random chip counts around the room:

                                                Gary Ackerman (Collegeville, PA)   - 4.8 million

                                                Dan Wach (Boonton, NJ) -   5.2 million

                                             Mike "Mad Dog" Shasho (Ramsey, NJ)  -  600k

                                               Tom Aprea (East Marion, NY) -   1.2 million

Event 2: 6th Place - Ellis

$350 + $50 HORSE              

Helen Ellis (New York, NY)

6th Place - $2,767

Helen Ellis has been the last woman sitting for quite a while.  She finally lost the last of her chips, finishing 6th for $2,767.

The final five guys are still battling it out.  Limits are up to 40k/80k.

Event 3: Two More Eliminated

Rex Clinkscales was eliminated in 24th Place (1,145) in a 250k pot.  Clinkscales had re-raised the player to his right only to see Joe Opie of Fairhaven, NJ go over all-in over Clinkscales bet.  Rex took his time, shook his head and made the call.  Opie confidently flipped over his pair of kings while Clinkscales showed pocket 10's.

A board of 5-5-4-J-3 was no help to Clinkscales and he was eliminated in 24th.

John Miller was eliminated in 25th place and the players thought their day was over but one more player objected to stopping so play continues on.

Update:  Three more players have been eliminated and the field is now down to 21.

John Opie

Short Stack Ninja

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Barry Leventhal (Brooklyn, NY) raises from late position and the button shoves, but not for much more.  Leventhal goes into the tank for a bit before calling.  Leventhal turns over Q♥9♠, but he finds out he is behind when the button tables Q♦J♦.  Leventhal doesn't get any help when the board runs out 7♥J♣3♣2♣4♠, and the button doubles up his short stack through Leventhal.  

                                                              Barry Leventhal (Brooklyn, NY)

Event 4: 1st Place - Munley

$400 + $50 Seven Card Stud        

Bill 'Bumperino' Munley (Throop, PA)

1st Place - $8,381

Rogerio Sousa (Durham, NC)

2nd Place - $4,656

'Miami' John Cernuto (Las Vegas, NV)

3rd Place - $2,794

Michael Frejka (New York, NY)

4th Place - $1,862

Jim DiCarlo (White Lake, NY)

5th Place - $931

Two more players departed out of the money.  Allyn Marshall (Elberson, NJ) and Marty Muncus (Lewisville, NC) failed to cash.

Event 3: An Unpopular Chop

John Miller, the player refusing to end play at 27 players, went all in causing the other players to watch anxiously as Vinny Pahuja quickly made the call.  Pahuja was in a dominating position holding AK vs. Miller's AQ.

But no relief was in sight for the players as the board ran 2-2-5-J-5 double-pairing the board, chopping the pot and leaving the rest of the group a little more bleary-eyed.

Play continues at Level 20 with blinds at 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 ante.

Quit Pushin' Me Around!

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Wendy Freedman (Las Vegas, NV) is still our chip leader with just under 6 mill.  She raises from late position and her opponent calls from the big blind.  The flop comes 7♦Q♥8♠.  The big blind bets out about a 3/4 pot size bet.  Freedman tanks for a little under a minute before announcing she's all-in.  The big blind then teases Freedman about her frequent raising of  his big blind before finally releasing his hand.  Freedman now has just over 6 million in chips.  

Event 3: Rinaldi Eliminated in 27th, O'Brien Last Woman Standing

Shortly after the table consolidation, Connie Rinaldi was eliminated in 27th Place ($1,145) leaving Lana O'Brien as the last woman standing in the event.  O'Brien stands at a little over 400k.

Lana O'Brien

Ladies' Man

Event 1 - $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

Blinds are now at 40k/80k/1k.  The cutoff min-raises to 160k.  Kazu Oshima (Temecula, CA) then three bets to an additional 390k on top from the big blind...almost putting the player in the cutoff all-in, but not quite.  The cutoff then slides the rest of her chips in the middle and Oshima quickly calls.  Cutoff shows A♥10♥, Oshima tables QQ.  The flop seals the deal for Oshima when the board runs out QKQ4K and Oshima makes quads to eliminate his opponent.  Oshima now has about 1.85 million and is grinding away.  43 players remain.

Event 4: 8th Place - Gagliano

$400 + $50 Seven Card Stud       

Frank Gagliano (Brooklyn, NY)

8th Place - $0

Bill 'Bumperino' Munley (Throop, PA) had already moved into the chip lead.

Then Frank Gagliano got all in against Bill.

Bill had trip 9s by 5th street, then improved to a Queen-high straight-flush on the river.

Frank as busted.  Bill increased his lead, chipping up to ~140k.

Event 3: Down to 27

Three tables remain in Event 3 and the players are getting antsy.  With one player still objecting to stop play at 27 instead of 18, play is continuing.  The decision by one player was met with a "Bounty on Seat 4!" exclamation from another table. 

All players are now guaranteed at payday of $1,145 for the efforts.

Event 4: 9th Place - Benci

$400 + $50 Seven Card Stud      

Branko Benci (W Babylon, NY)

9th Place - $0

Eight Studs remain.  Average is 72k. 

Event 2: 7th Place - Jerome

$350 + $50 HORSE             

Jeff Jerome (Philadelphia, PA)

7th Place - $2,214

Playing Stud:

Jeff Jerome got his last chips in on third street with wired 3s and a 4 in the door.

Helen Ellis was ahead with wired 6s and an Ace in the door.

Helen made Aces-up on 6th street while Jeff hadn't improved.

Only a 3 on the river would save him but he whiffed his two-outer and was busted.