Borgata Spring Poker Open 2012: Apr 11, 2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Event 11: Yuster Yanked

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Kim Yuster - 64th Place
$536

Kim Yuster hadn't played a hand in about an hour. She thought she deserved some poker cred when she finally shipped her short stack into the middle and was surprised when Opponent called holding only Q♦ 8♦.

Kim tabled 2♣ 2♥.

Sick flop for both players bringing a flush for Opponent and a set for Kim.

The board failed to pair and Kim was sent to the rail in 64th Place, just making the next pay level increase.

Board: 3♦ 2♦ 6♦ J♣ 10♥

Event 11: Table Two-rrific

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

It's that time of night when short stacks shove and big stacks bully.

With the blinds up to 8,000 / 16,000 Yiming gets his stack in holding Q-10 up against Patrick Brown's JJ.

River brings a Q on a board of 6-K-4-7-Q.

With that pot, Yiming doubles up to 120,000.

The very next hand, possibly steaming, Brown calls off his stack pre-flop and finds himself at risk against QQ.

Brown tables A-3 but fins a wheel on a board of 4-5-7-2-4. Brown smiles and says, "I'm still in there."

Chips are passing around in rapid fashion.

1105 entries today with 80 players remaining.

Event 11: Break Time

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Our 82 remaining players are on a ten minute break.

Alex Rivera is the chip leader with just South of a million in chips.

Mike Borovetz has increased to 695,000.

Don't forget we'll be playing this one to the wee hours of the morning until it's over.

Event 11: Buzz With Buzgone

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Daniel Buzgone - 150,000

If you've been watching the 2012 WPT Borgata Championship coverage in the last couple weeks you've certainly watched Daniel Buzgone who finished 3rd for $335,433.

Daniel told me he had an interesting time watching the TV tournament.

"It was as if I had no idea what happened. I was almost in a trance when I was actually playing in it. It was nerve wracking to watch."

Daniel is anxious to someday make it back to the final table under the lights. "I'd love to get back there" said Daniel.

He's in Event 11 with 130,000 looking to double up.

97 players remain.

Average stack - 227,835

Event 12: Miami John's Twitter Update

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Thanks to Miami John Cernuto's use of Twitter, we're getting updates on the PLO/8 event, going on across the hall in the Signature Room.

John Cernuto ‏ @MiamiJohnC

Level 8 I have 44K stack which is 2nd highest. Leader has over 140k. Deal with him later. 38 players left and avg. stack is 22k.

That sums it up nicely.

Event 11: Bubble Burst!

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

After several hands of hand-for-hand play, the money bubble burst.

100 players remain at 10 tables.

The bust-outs should come even quicker now as the short-stacks take their shots.

Some time was added back to the clock so they've got 40 minutes to play in level 20, blinds 6k/12k with 2k antes.

The first player to cash out of this event was Jeremiah McKenna (Norwalk, CT). His 100th place finish was good for $429.

Event 11: Rockets Launch

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Matt Galluzzo - 520,000

Now the men are starting to separate themselves from the boys.

Matt Galluzzo (Marlboro, NJ) finds himself with a healthy stack after his AA holds up for a 200,000 pot. Opponent shoved pre with 10-10 and Matt called.

He then won another hand with AA only this time his opponent had them. Matt had K-J in the big blind, caught a Jack on the flop and a King on the river for a huge pot. Aces cracked!

Right after the bubble broke, Matt's table in the far back right of the Poker Room also broke up.

Everyone has their eye on the giant first place prize of $47,160. Great pay day for one day's worth of work.

Event 11: New Chip Leader

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Chris Kusha's pocket Kings were cracked by pocket 6s that flopped a set.

Greg Glassman's T9 suited was good for a double-up against a player holding pocket 8s. He's up to 440k.

Alex Rivera

Alex Rivera is up to ~600k and possibly the chip leader.

Michael Borovetz is coming on strong. He's up to 520k.

Players are dropping fast. Adam Agaev was among the recent departures.

Event 11: Borovetz Scores

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Borovetz - 520,000

Sick run for Mike Borovetz (Pittsburgh, PA). He was down to 80,000 then doubled up with AA, then caught a Q at the right time with A-Q.

Dealer accidentally exposed Mike's card, a 9, and replaced it with a 6. That mishap gave Mike pocket 66's. So he jumped in a hand he previously would have folded.

Of course he flopped a set of sixes and scooped a monster pot.

Mike took a couple years off but is back strong. He's having a great Borgata Spring Poker Open.

Came in 2nd in Event 2, then cashed 17th in another Event. Looks like he's gonna make some more money tonight as we're hand for hand on the bubble.

Mike is a protege of another Mike "Little Man" Sica.

With 520,000, Borovetz is among the chip leaders.

Event 11: 116 Remain

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds Up: 5k/10k, 1k

They're down to 12 tables now with a few empty seats, leaving 116 players in the hunt.

Michael Borovetz is making a nice comeback. He's built his way back to 330k.

Alex Rocha was all-in holding KQ versus KT. He held on to double-up to ~200k.

Dan Buzgon also caught a timely double-up -- to 120k.

Event 12: Chip Leader Goes Bottoms Up

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Action Table Three

Six tables strong in the Signature Room with table three getting the most action.

A big hand had 5 players going at it with 2 punching their ticket out the door.

Chip leader, Anoput Phimmasone continues to dominate after scooping the big 5-way.

His secret, "lots of beer".

PLO Master Barry Levy will try his hand at Anoput's table after a recent move. Barry knows that Anoput is hot with 130,000 chips but that there's still a lot of game left.

49 players remain.

Blinds are 200 / 400.

Event 11: 15 tables

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 4k/8k, 1k ante

Play has resumed with all remaining players in the Poker Room.

15 tables remain with a few empty seats, so about 145 player remain.

100 get paid. Min-cash is good for $429.

Event 11: DeStefano Making News

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Robert DeStefano (Franklin Square, NY) - 118,000

So you say having 118,000 isn't newsworthy when the chip leader has over 500,000? Well when you were as short as 24,000 and had to grind and battle your way back, it's a pretty good feeling.

Robert DeStefano works for the NY Daily News and he's trying to make headlines in Event 11.

A key hand for Robert was winning an A-Q race vs. 10-10.

DeStefano is one of three tables placed in the back old high stakes cash room.

"It's my first time back here...I feel like I'm a big limit player" said DeStefano.

Event 11: Mikhail Making Moves

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mikhail Volfson

On the last hand before the color-up break, Michael Borovetz tangled with the big stack of Mikhail Volfson (Belarus via Brooklyn, NY). Michael surrendered to a raise on the turn.

Mikhail chipped up to ~500k, possibly good for the chip lead.

All players are on break while they color up the 500 purple chips and combine all players into the Poker Room.

Event 12: Payouts

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Payouts:

Position.............Amount
1.............................$9,625
2............................$5,225
3............................$3,300
4............................$2,475
5............................$1,925
6............................$1,650
7............................$1,375
8...........................$1,100
9...........................$ 825

Total Buy-In - $28,350

Number of Entries - 81

Everybody is breaking play at 2am and will return tomorrow to finish.

Event 11: Glassman's Twitter Feed

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Greg Glassman has come close a couple of times, (a second and a third place finish) but is still waiting for his first Borgata Open win.

He's in contention today and is keeping the Twitter-verse up to date on his progress:

96k at dinner #howdidthathappen #atleastigotfreenoodles #imeant10buxworth #BSO2012

Got very lucky for once! Double to ~200k #weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee #BSO2012

Oops doubled a shorty 33 < JJ 150ish #BSO2012

Wowee AQ > 10 10 aipf for heaps. Yeeeeahhhhboyeeeeeeeeeeeee 310k #BSO2012

Event 11: Moving Time

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Last hand for Event 11 in the Signature Room. The remaining 49 players will merge with the other players and finish out this tournament in Borgata poker room.

Floor are coloring up the purple chips then players are bagging and tagging the rest.

After the move players will receive a 20 minute break.

Instructions shouted out: Whoever is the button must put the button in their bag.
There should be no purple chips in your bag.

See you on the other side!

Event 11: Bajrami Busted; Vyacheslav Up

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Eduart Bajrami got his last chips in pre-flop with AQ and was racing against Desmond Gulston's (Brooklyn, NY) pocket Jacks.

Eduart flopped two Aces, but Desmond back-doored a heart-flush to claim the pot, sending the early chip leader to the rail.

Vyacheslav Eyzerovich had a shorter stack all-in holding pocket Jacks.

Vyacheslav's AK of diamonds flopped a flush and despite catching a third Jack on the board, his opponent couldn't catch up.

Vyacheslav chipped up to ~330k.

Event 11: A Lead For Kalid

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Kalid Ali - 420,000

After the break poker pro Kalid Ali soars up to 420,000 after his pocket kings hold up and knock two players out.

More recently he turned the nut flush and got paid off.

Ali is sitting to the right of Patrick Brown who finished 6th last night in Event 10.

"I'm back for more action" said Brown.

Event 11: Back to Business

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Dinner's done and it is time to get back to business.

Play resumed with blinds of 3k/6k and 500 antes (level 17).

Event 11: Dinner Time Chip Counts

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Here are some chip counts collected from dinner-time Tweets:

Cherish Andrews - 350k-ish
Patrick Brown - 350k
John Hinds - 238.5k
Chris Kusha - 210k
Jose Montes - 131k
Alex Rocha - 130.5k
Chris Brand - 110k
Greg Glassman - 96k
Dan Buzgon - 70k

With an estimated 189 players remaining, the average stack is 117k.

Other Random counts:
Anonymous (72-2) - 500k
Vyacheslav Eyzerovich - 250k
Desmond Gulston - 240k
John Zoldak - 60k
Eduart Bajrami - 25k

Event 12: Dinner Break

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Anoput Phimmasone (Fairfax Station, VA) is the chip leader with 72k (206 BB) as the 58 remaining players are on dinner break. "This is my specialty," says Phimmasone as it's been a steady climb during this PLO split game.

The average stack is 17k (48 BB) as blinds are going to 150/300 when play resumes at 8:40 pm.

Event 11: Payouts

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Entries: 1,105
Total Buy-In: $221,000

Place - Amount

1st $47,160
2nd $28,340
3rd $17,150
4th $14,363
5th $11,790
6th $9,539
7th $7,610
8th $5,788
9th $3,966
10-12 $2,572
13-15 $1,822
16-18 $1,179
19-27 $965
28-36 $836
37-45 $750
46-54 $665
55-63 $600
64-72 $536
73-81 $493
82-90 $450
91-100 $429

Event 12: Registration Closed

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

The last few straggles are into the PLO field and it includes two players recently eliminated from the no limit field. Larry Gold and Mike Leah are taking advantage of the later start time of this tournament.

80+ players are in the field.

Event 11: The Mighty Has Fallen

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

I guess getting those Aces cracked sent Eduart Bajrami into a tailspin. He has spewed his chips across table 77 and is down to only 25k.

One table over, another player (who wishes to remain anonymous) is up to over 500k and most likely the chip leader.

189 players remain and they're off for a one hour dinner break.

Play will resume at about 8:30pm.

Event 11: Aces Cracked

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

This time Eduart Bajrami was ahead when all the chips went in the middle. Two shorties were in against his pocket Aces.

One of them held KJ and caught a Jack on the flop, then a King on the river to crack those Aces with two pair. He doubled up, but it only cost Eduart about 40k, less than 10% of his stack.

Event 11: Cherish with Chips

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Andrews Angling for More Pots

Cherish Andrews (St. Thomas, PA) isn't used to having a lot of chips. "I'm not sure what to do, I'm used to grinding 15 bigs," she says just back from break. Her 275k is a top five stack in the Signature Room.

Signature Room Stacks

Raphael Wieczorek 290k
Luis Urioste 289k

Event 11: Back From Break

After enjoying another break from the action, players have returned to blinds of 2,500/5,000 with 500 antes. During the break, the black 100 chips were colored up and removed from play.

They'll play through this level, then take a dinner break.

Chip Leader Eduart Bajrami is sitting behind ~450k.

21 tables remain active (210 players max). That makes the average stack about 105k (based on unofficial number of entries - 1,105).

Event 11: Break Time Tweets

Tweets from the break:

Chris Kusha ‏ @TooBusyWINNING
91.5k going to 2500/5000. I'm above average lol #ninjapenguin #TPedge #BSO2012 #BeastModeEngaged #gotenoughhashtags?

Greg Glassman ‏ @theglassdog
150k last break before dinner #BSO2012

jose ivan montes ‏ @suganills
About 91k and running good alil card dead but the Pokergods won't let me lose when I get it in!!! #BSO2012

Daniel Buzgon ‏ @WiLDmAn_75
96k. Coming back to 5k bb. Prob 260 left. Prob 110ish pay.

John Allan Hinds ‏ @JABistro
228k coming back to 2.5k/5k/500. No clue how many left, don't care really #1stornothing #teammurder

Event 11: More Goners

Blinds: 2k/4k, 400 ante

Larry Gold has busted out and headed over to the Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event, which is going on in the Signature Room (late registration open until about 7pm).

Josh Cranfill's pocket Queens lost a flip to AK and he was busted.

Eric Doerr got his chips in the middle on a Ten-high board. Unfortuately for him, Vyacheslav "Alphabet Soup" Eyzerovich had pocket Jacks.

Eric mucked and headed for the exit. The 'Soup' chipped up to ~120k.

Soon after, the 'Soup' lost the same flip when his pocket Queens fell to AK (King on the river). He shipped a double to the short-stack.

Adam Agaev has arrived to fill one of the empty seats here at table 77.

14 tables remain here in the Poker Room.

Event 12: PLO Still Open

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Play continues on 8 tables as registration is open for another 40 minutes.

Level 4 (75/150) is underway.

Event 11: Bajrami Busts Another

Blinds: 1,500/3k, 400 ante

Eduart Bajrami has sent another player packing when they were all-in on the flop and Eduart made his flush draw on the river.

He's now approaching 500k, and took off for an unscheduled restroom break, missing a few hands.

Blinds Up: 2k/4k, 400 ante

Event 11: Aces Hold for Wieczorek

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Minutes after aces hold for Luis Urioste, Raphael Wieczorek (Paderborn, Germany) takes the Signature Room chip lead when his own pocket aces hold up.

Wieczorek is part of a four way all in: AA vs KK vs JJ vs 44, and his aces dodge all the landmines on a 10 high board.

Wieczorek, fresh off his 14th place/$1,175 finish in Event 8, not only doubles his 105k stack, but picks up another 81k with two knock outs to win a 290k pot.

Wieczorek and Urioste (232k) are two of only a handful of players with more than 200k in the Signature Room.

Event 11: Bajrami Busts Two

Big stack Eduart Bajrami was involved in a three-way all in against pocket Aces and KQ. Eduart had pocket 8s.

The board brought four bricks, then an 8 on the river.

Eduart cracked those Aces with a set of 8s. He's now up to ~380k and definitely the Poker Room chip leader.

Eric 'clownfish' Doerr has arrived to fill the empty seat on Eduart's left.

Twenty tables still cranking here in the Poker Room.

Event 11: Aces Hold for Urioste

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 1,500/3k, 400 ante

Harry Piacitelli (Plymouth Meeting, PA) makes it 16k from MP
Luis Urioste (Flushing, NY) calls from the SB
Big Blind moves all in for 7,500

Flop: 10 9 6

Both players check

Turn: X

Piacitelli bets 25k into the side pot
Urioste raises to 50k
Piacitelli calls

Before the river is dealt, Urioste moves all in for 42k and is at risk

River: K

Piacitelli calls and shows QQ
Urioste shows AA

Urioste's aces hold and he scoops a 232k pot.

Piacitelli is left with 50k, while the third player is eliminated.

Urioste is looking for another cash after finishing 17th in Sunday's Big Stack PLO (Event 9).

Event 11: Soup's On

Blinds Up: 1,200/2,400, 300 ante

When his table broke, this room's chip leader Eduart Bajrami was moved to table 77, conveniently located right in front of media row.

Also at table 77 is Vyacheslav "Alphabet Soup" Eyzerovich and these two tangled up in a hand.

On the flop of K 9 5, the 'Soup' (bb) was all-in against Eduart and his K5 (two pair) was good for the double-up to ~110k, taking a bite out of Eduart's big stack.

Event 11: Stacks Up, Players Down

Blinds Up: 1,200/2,400, 300 ante

Players are back in action following the break.

Nicholas Palmer & Anthony Maio

Nicholas Palmer (Bronx, NY) has built himself a nice stack. He's up to ~170k.

Tough beat on another table. Player was all-in with AK against AQ and TT. The board came with an Ace and a Queen, shipping the pot to AQ and sending the player with AK to the rail (Pocket Tens was left short-stacked).

Down to 22 tables in the Poker Room.

Event 11: Dropping Like Flies

Jason Warriner (Absecon, NJ) opened with AT and got it all in against Patrick Brown (Brooklyn, NY) who was dominated by JT.

Nevertheless, Patrick got a Jack and the pot. Jason was busted.

Rathe Miller (Philadelphia, PA) sufferred the same fate when he was all-in with A5 against 66 and AA. The Aces held up and Rathe joined Jason on the rail.

Also gone:
Edward Pham
Steve Scales

24 tables still active here in the Poker Room.

End of level 12 and time for another break.

Event 11: Another Big Stack (Poker Room)

Tim Lahey

Another big stack spotted in the Poker Room belongs to Tim Lahey (Waterbury, CT). He's over 150k now, but well behind this room's chip leader Eduart Bajrami.

All the tournament tables in the high-limit area have broken down, but the two in the ultra-high-limit area are still in use. That leaves 28 tournament tables still active in the Poker Room.

Event 12: Street Cred

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

A look at some players in the field and their credentials:

George Fotiadis, 2012 Winter Open PLO 8B Champion
Chris Reslock, WSOP bracelet winner
Joe Maher, PLO runner-up to Reslock in Sept. 2009
Anthony Zinno, 3rd place finisher of Event 9, PLO 2012 Spring Open
Barry Levy, 2x Borgata trophy winner
Bo Toft, 3rd place finisher of Event 6, Omaha H/L 2012 Spring Open
"Miami" John Cernuto, 3x WSOP bracelet winner
Sirous Jamshidi, Casualty from today's 11 am NL Tournament
Sach Ranrakhani, Self proclaimed "bubble boy"

Reslock's Pearls of Wisdom:

"If hold'em is the Cadillac of poker, then Omaha is the Lamborghini."

Event 11: Early Chip Leader (Poker Room)

Eduart Bajrami

The biggest stack I can find in the poker room right now belongs to Eduart Bajrami (Boston, MA). He was stacking chips when I walked up and it looks like about 200k.

When I inquired how he accumulated the big stack, he replied simply "I play big!"

Event 11: Childs' Play

♣♥♥

♦♦ (two pairs)
♠♠

♣ (Childs higher two pairs)

♠

Kong hits a full house on the river and barely has Childs covered in the 90k pot. Childs is on the rail and tweets:

‏ @leechilds

60k@1200/200. UTG(bad plyr) open 2700. I raise AKss 8600. He calls. A67hh. Ck, 13k. He jams. I Call. He A7 :( Turn K! River 7. #howamirunnin

Event 11: Mad Viking Out Kicked

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds Up: 800/1,600, 200 ante

Bob 'the Mad Viking' Haavind has busted out. He raised with A9 and got flatted by the big blind. On the flop of A K x, all the chips went in the middle.

Bob's A9 was out-kicked by his opponent's AJ. The last two brought no help and Bob was done.

He's now waiting for a $10/$20 Limit Hold'em cash game to start up so he can get some more poker in today. He's headed home tomorrow.

Event 12: PLO on the Go

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

The third Omaha tournament of the Borgata Spring Poker Open is PLO high-low where players are looking to scoop their opponents.

Omaha specialist Barry Levy (Brooklyn, NY) is making his first series appearance. He won two Borgata trophies in the Borgata Fall Open by going back to back in the HORSE and the Omaha H/L for a combined haul of $25,000.

Players start with 12k in chips and levels last 40 minutes each. The two day tournament is underway.

Event 11: More Familiar Faces

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

More Borgata regulars spotted among the masses in the Poker Room:

Vyacheslav "Alphabet Soup" Eyzerovich
Jason Henrici
Eric Miller
Chris Edwards
Larry Gold
Mike Summers
Elliott Zaydman
Anthony Maio

Tables are starting to break down now and as soon as they're empty, they're filled in with cash games.

Event 11: Time to Check the Tweets

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds Up: 600/1,200, 200 ante

Recent updates from the Twitter-verse:

Daniel Buzgon ‏ @WiLDmAn_75
Chipped up to 35k. Got 2 sneaky streets in with 93 v 67hh on 245h2h5.

jose ivan montes ‏ @suganills
25k and tilted

Chris Kusha ‏ @TooBusyWINNING
34.6k going to 600/1200. Took down another pot 4bet shoving pre. #BSO2012 #BeastModeEngaged

Felix M. ‏ @FelixFromNYC
Full double up with KK vs QQ. 45k+ good for 45bbs now #teamtorture

John Allan Hinds ‏ @JABistro
39k now. Actually won a race 88>109hh aipf for 16k each. Blinds 500/1000/100 for another 8 mins. Still 54,732 players left #teammurder

Antonio Payne ‏ @1njpayne
Sitting on about 39k. Feel like its getting ready to take off

Keep those Tweets coming! #BSO2012

Event 11: Goners

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo and Manh Nguyen are both out and done for the day. Mazzeo had 30k after returning from break, but runs 99 into QQ.

Nguyen, who has two final tables, including a win in Event 2 ($30,159) for a total haul of ~$39,000, won't be making another deep run.

Also on the rail is Jerry Callahan who also has two final tables in the Borgata Spring Poker Open.

Event 11: Killer Table

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Seats 1-5: Jennifer So, Grace Sun, Mark Wahba, Bill Blanda, & Ta Wey

Table 32 has got to be one of the toughest in this tournament. Currently seated there are:

Jennifer So
Grace Sun
Mark Wahba (a 1st and a 2nd place finish in this series; current leader on points leaderboard)
Bill Blanda (3 Borgata Open titles)
Ta Wey
'Lucky' Lee Kirsch
Eric 'clownfish' Doerr

Event 11: Play Resumes in Poker Room

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Play has resumed with level 9, blinds 500/1,000 with 100 antes.

Now that the re-entry period is over (and once they get the last of the re-entries processed and seated) tables will start breaking down fast.

Still alive over here in the Poker Room are:

Joe Wertz
Michael Borotvetz
Bradley Utz
Mike Linster
Steve Ryan
Martha Patella
Alex 'Jedi' Nepomnyaschiy
Thomas Hoglund
Julie Cornelius
Aaron Pinson
Rathe Miller
Kim Edmonds

Event 11: Never Ending Line

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Some heavy hitters are in line for their last chance re-entries including Mike Leah, Sirous Jamshidi and Bob Santilli.

Fast & Furious III, Re-entry Line Bustout Chronicles

Mario Rodriguez (Jersey City, NJ): AK vs AJ vs A10, out with a 10 on the river

Ilya Vasserman (Huntington Valley, PA): 10 2 for his final 5k

B.J. Espinal (New York, NY): 88 vs 55, out with a 5 on the river

Allan Taylor (Baltimore, MD): KK vs AA, flop a king, out to an ace on the river

Joe Mosca (Bronx, NY) 44 vs AK, out to the king high four flush

Level 9 (500/1k/100 ante) is underway.

Event 11: Break Time

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 8 is done and players are enjoying a 15 minute break while the green 25 chips are colored up (it might take a little longer with all these tables).

This break is also the end of the entry/re-entry period. Those in the re-entry line are guaranteed to get back in, but those still in the registration line are not.

Gordon Eng is one player opting NOT to re-enter. He got his chips in good with pocket Jacks, but got run down by AQ. He's not going to fire another bullet into this maelstrom.

Event 11: Big Stack

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

With tons of eliminations, there are plenty of chips in play, but they're spread out. The lack of big stacks in the Signature Room means Justin Reibschied (Manalapan, NJ) is worth mention at 150k, who says he's knocked out "six or seven players."

We're at the five minute warning as Level 8 is winding down. Re-entry is available through the next break (~2:45 pm) as players may surrender their chips and get a fresh 20k stack.

Event 11: Update From the Poker Room

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

All available tables are in action, including those in the high-limit area and the two in the new ultra-high-limit area, so entering and re-entering players are waiting for seats to open up.

Registration Lines

A couple dozen players are still standing in the registration line, hoping to make their first entry into this event. Among those are
Steve Scales
John Zoldak
Sach Ramrahkani

Over in the re-entry line, I ran into Orson Young. When I asked how he ended up over there, he said "you know, AK ran into Kings, standard stuff."

Blinds are up to 400/800 with 75 antes (level 8).

Event 11: One & Done

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Not everyone is going with the machine gun fire approach. Don Brown (Westbury, NY) and Sheree Bykofsky (Atlantic City, NJ) are both out and not using the re-entry option.

Bykofsky is crippled with bottom two pairs vs Dwyte Pilgrim's top two pairs to double-up the "Short Stack Slayer." Bykofsky says it was a slow bleed after that.

Brown, another Borgata regular, moves all in with queens, but "runs into aces."

The last dash for the re-entry line is underway as the window closes at the end of level 8 (400/800, 75 ante).

Event 11: Fast & Furious II

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mark Weinstein (Long Beach Island, NY): flopped flush beaten by full house

Joe Cramer (Carlisle, PA): AA in the BB vs KK in the SB, loses to five flush

Joe Melo (Staten Island, NY): KK vs AA, flopped set loses to turned set

John Del Rossi (Mantua, NJ): AA vs QQ for 100k pot, loses to river queen, "gross."

Event 11: Fast & Furious

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Taylor (middle) & Koerber (right)

The re-entry line has been steady all day. A sampling of how they got there:

Sam Taylor (New York, NY): AK, flops an ace, loses to a rivered straight.

Robert Koerber (Waterbury, CT): seven high flush beaten by higher flush.

Roman Valerstein (Newtown, PA): missed flush draw and two overs

Most players are quick to point out they were short stack when they were all in.

Event 11: Break Time Tweets

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Four levels are in the books and familiar faces on re-entry line include Jerry Callahan (third time's the charm?), Lee Childs and the Original Gorilla, Tony Shurilla.

Players are on a ten minute break.

Break Time Tweets

‏ @callahanja911

Up to 3rd buy in lol. 4 levels left Til real poker. #bso2012

‏ @leechilds

27.5 300/25 coming up

‏ @mscell

17.3K at first break. 150-300-25 when we resume play.

‏ @TooBusyWINNING

17925/60bb at first break coming back to 150/300. #BeastModeEngaged #BSO2012 #TPedge

‏ @suganills

17k on break uneventful trying to gamble or bust for 2nd bullet #bso2012

‏ @CherishAndrews

25k and change from 20k starting. Table is absurdly crazy. #bso2012

‏ @theglassdog

49k from 20ss 1st break #BSO2012

‏ @JamesonSinger

5k. Blinds 300/25. I will double. I will double. #bso2012 @StackEmCoaching

‏ @poochpoker

18K 150/300/25

Event 11: New York Hat Trick

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Bergman, Rocha & Hartmann

New York City is one of the most fashionable places in the world and today we find three different looks from NYC residents.

Douglas Bergman, Alex Rocha and Peter Hartmann sport their lids at Borgata while looking for a piece of the $100,000 guaranteed pie.

Event 11: Welcome Back!

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Players making their first appearance in the Borgata Spring Poker Open:

Sirous Jamshidi
Mike Summers
Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo
Andrew Interdonato
Sheree Bykofsky
Chris Edwards
Rosa Lee Klaneski
Darlene Jackson
Rich Lipson
Dawn Santoli
Julian Miranda

Event 11: Tweetville #BSO2012

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Players checking in via Twitter:

‏ @suganills
‏ @TooBusyWINNING
‏ @tworedducks
‏ @Flashgordon227
‏ @CherishAndrews
‏ @callahanja911
‏ @mscell
‏ @poochpoker
‏ @JamesonSinger
‏ @JABistro
‏ @YoungOrson
‏ @THE_ALEX_ROCHA
‏ @summerspro
‏ @breakforhippies

Blogger extraordinaire ‏ @Kaelaine has a list you can follow of Borgata Spring Poker Open tweeters Borgata-SPO-2012.

Event 11: Early Exits

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Re-entry means fire early and fire often, and we've already seen familiar faces reloading their second bullet.

Mike "Little Man" Sica is out when his queen high flush loses to the nut flush. "The way the hand played out I wasn't getting away from it," says Sica.

Right behind him is 2010 Borgata Poker Open Champion Dwyte Pilgrim who turns a flush only to lose to a river boat.

Level 2 (50/100) is underway.

Event 11: $100,000 Guaranteed!

$200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

With more than 70 tables set up between the Signature (26) & Poker Rooms (45+), it will be another blockbuster day at the Borgata Spring Poker Open. Players are turning out for the $100,000 guaranteed prize pool and the fabulous structure.

Stacks are 20k, levels are 25 minutes each (Levels 11+/30 min.) and players that bust may re-enter during the first 8 levels.

This is a one day tournament and blinds start at 25/50. Shuffle up and deal!

Leaderboard Update (4/11)

Borgata Spring Poker Open Leaderboard
By participating in any Borgata Spring Poker Open event (April 4-20, 2012), players earn points based upon the Borgata Poker Tournament Leaderboard Formula.

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

(Final Results from events 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)

429.573 PTS: MARK WAHBA (CLEVELAND, OH)

337.563 PTS: MANH NGUYEN (MUNHALL, PA)

325.900 PTS: BRIAN LEMKE (NORRISTOWN, PA)

276.000 PTS: YUEBIN GUO (BROOKLYN, NY)

275.850 PTS: MICHAEL DENTALE (BROOKLYN, NY)

220.463 PTS: H MICHAEL BOROVETZ (PITTSBURGH, PA)

205.813 PTS: JUSTIN LIBERTO (FALLSTON HA, MD)

203.500 PTS: ROBERT SANTILLI (JACKSON, NJ)

201.250 PTS: JOSEPH DADDARIO (HAUPPAUGE, NY)

201.000 PTS: SEAN PERRY (COLUMBIA, MD)

196.813 PTS: WAHEED GUIRGUIS (MONMOUTH JCT, NJ)

195.658 PTS: JEREMIAH MCKENNA (NORWALK, CT)

189.800 PTS: RONALD RHOADS (DOUGLASSVILLE, PA)

187.638 PTS: KARL TRETTER (WANTAGH, NY)

185.115 PTS: HANA CHO (WASHINGTON, DC)

182.575 PTS: RATHE MILLER (PHILADELPHIA, PA)

182.548 PTS: JEREMIAH CALLAHAN (OYSTER BAY, NY)

182.335 PTS: ERIC SUAREZ (GLEN MILLS, PA)

180.513 PTS: ROBERT ALBERT (MANALAPAN, NJ)

179.090 PTS: ERIK GORMAN (MATTHEWS, NC)

178.500 PTS: DARYL BLACK (VOORHEES, NJ)

175.000 PTS: KARTHIK (ALEXANDRIA, VA)

April 11

TODAY'S EVENTS (THE SIGNATURE ROOM & POKER ROOM)
REGISTER IN POKER ROOM

11AM: Event 11 - $200 + $30 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed

Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips
Levels 1-10: will last 25 minutes each | Levels 11+: will last 30 minutes each
Players that "bust" within the first 8 Levels may Re-Enter (unlimited re-entries)
1-Day event

4 PM: Event 12 - $350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha 8B

Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips
Levels will last 40 minutes each
2-Day event

7 PM: Event 32 - $150 + $30 + $100 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold'em

Players 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 table in order to remain active in tournament.
1-Day event

Event 10 Recap

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Karl Tretter (Long Island, NY) captures the Event 10 trophy and $21,768 first place prize after felting Anthony Spadola in 2nd place. "Ho Vinto!" says the Italian teacher which translates into "I won!"

When the average stack was 60,000 and Karl had 26,000 a player limped so he shoved. Three players called. Karl tabled 3-3 and was up against AA, A-Q, and KK. With one foot out the door, Karl turned a miracle 3 and set sail to dinner break and the final table.

It wasn't an easy journey to the top as Karl had to battle the likes of 229 other bounty hunters like WPT Borgata Champ Dwyte Pilgrim, Edward Pham, Bob Santilli, and Andrew Klein all vying for the $80,150 Total Buy-In.

In the end Karl won all of the 3,435,000 chip in play, the Borgata trophy, eight $100 black chip bounties, and the $21,768 prize. He took it down for his 9-month pregnant wife and 2 year old son.

Final Table:
1. Karl Tretter (Long Island, NY) - $21,768
2. Anthony Spadola (Hamilton Square, NJ) - $12,828
3. Mike Moore (Yonkers, NY) $7,386
4. Jerry Callahan (Oyster Bay) $5,986
5. Joseph Miceli (New York, NY) 4,665
6. Patrick Brown (Brooklyn, NY) $3,887
7. Gordon Eng (Cliffside Park, NJ) $3,110
8. Eric Natishvili (Hoboken, NJ) $2,332
9. Mark Borges (Hoboken, NJ) $1,555
10. Ilya Vasserman (Huntingdon, PA) $1,011

Event 10: 1st Place - Tretter

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Karl Tretter - (Long Island, NY)
$21,768

Karl Tretter has a 9-month pregnant wife and a two year old staying with him here at Borgata. He dedicates this victory to them.

Tretter is an Italian and Spanish teacher in Long Island. "Ho Vinto!" means "I Won!" in Italian and tonight Karl can say that proudly.

He scooped up 8 total bounties for another $800. Of course he gets to keep his own as the winner.

No more tournaments in this series for Karl as his baby is due in three weeks.

Congratulations!

Event 10: 2nd Place - Spadola

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Anthony Spadola - (Hamilton Square, NJ)
$12,828

Well, he told his kids he'd be coming home late tonight and Anthony Spadola was right.

Eight $100 bounties for Spadola who said he had a great time today. A sign of a great poker day was that Anthony just realized he never was all-in even once the entire day.

Event 10: 3rd Place - Moore

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Mike Moore (Yonkers, NY)
$7,386

He was supposed to be watching basketball but instead just took down $7,386 in Event 10. Mike also tacks on 4 bounties.

KK followed by AA were two nice back-to-back wins for Moore at the Final Table.

Event 10: 4th Place - Callahan

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Jerry Callahan - $5,986

Jerry built back then flopped top pair against Anthony Spadola flopping two pair.

Callahan had K-6 vs. Spadola's K-3 on a board of 3-K-2-4-7.

Callahan was covered and exited in 4th Place.

In addition to his $5,986 Jerry knocked out 11 total players for $1,100 in bounty cash.

Event 10: 5th Place - Smith

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

John Smith was knocked out in 5th Place. He was a little camera shy so no picture.

John had A-K and ran into KK or Mike Moore.

Dry board of 8-10-9-2-10

The very next hand Mike had AA and picked up the big blind only.

Smith takes home $4,665 for 5th Place.

Event 10: 6th Place - Brown

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Patrick Brown (Brooklyn, NY)
$3,887

Patrick took the Inside the Minds poker class yesterday and it already paid dividends. Four bounties and $3,887 for the grinder from Brooklyn.

WPT Borgata Champ Dwyte Pilgrim rooted from the rail and also helped tutor his friend.

After losing most of his stack on the flopped set of eights vs. Broadway hand, Patrick's survived a couple more orbits then lost a Q-10 vs. A-Q battle.

"I picked up a heart draw but missed" explained Brown.

Great job and congrats to Patrick Brown who I'm sure we'll be seeing more of.

Pretty good advertising for the class too!

Event 10: Bowling For Callahan

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

A couple of big hands just went down in the far end of the Poker Room where our last 6 players are battling it out.

Patrick Brown has friend and poker mentor Dwyte Pilgrim railing for him.
Patrick hit a set of eights on a spade-heavy board and let Anthony Spadola turn broadway holding A-10.

Spadola bet 250,000 on the river and Brown paid him off.

A couple hands later, Mike Moore does some Bowling for Callahan as he rivers quad aces and gets paid off against Jerry's full house - Aces full of tens.

Board: 10 A A 6 A

Anthony is just North of a million in chips while Moore is just South of a million.

Callahan has to battle back sitting on 250,000.

Event 10: 7th Place - Eng

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Gordon Eng - $3,110

Gordon looked at K-J on the button and shipped his last 200,000.

Anthony Spadola woke up to QQ in the small blind and snapped.

Gordon hit a Jack but couldn't improve any further. Spadola's QQ's gave him the scoop and Gordon's $100 black bounty chip.

Event 10: 8th Place - Natishvili

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Eric Natishvili - (Hoboken, NJ)
$2,332

Eric was short stacked and shipped holding 9-10.

Jerry Callahan got to see five free cards in the big blind and his 8-2 held up after hitting an 8 on the flop.

Eric enjoyed the chip lead before and after dinner break.

He takes home $2,332 for his day's worth of work.

Event 10: 9th Place - Borges

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Mark Borges (Hoboken, NJ)
$1,555

Mark Borges 3-bet shoved with Jacks followed by Patrick Brown jamming on top with A-K off.

Board ran out: 6-Q-K-3-10.

Mark scored four $100 bounties to add to his $1,555 prize.

Event 10: Final Table Time

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Final Table:

Seat - Name
1. Mark Borges
2. Anthony Spadola
3. Patrick Brown
4. Mike Moore
5. Karl Tretter
6. John Smith
7. Eric Natishvili
8. Jerry Callahan
9. Gordon Eng

Congrats to our final table.

Playing tonight until a winner.

Event 10: More Bustouts

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

James Karalis (Middletown, NY) - 11th Place - $1,011

Ilya Vasserman (Huntingdon, PA) - 10th Place - $1,011

With James and Ilya out we're down to a final table of 9.

Event 10: Dubimchik Done

$350 + $50 + $100 Black Chip Bounty NLH

Alex Dubimchik (Philadelphia, PA) - $1,011

Alex made a move with 83 on a J-4-J-3 board but Karl Tretter (Long Island) had a Jack and insta-called.

With that Alex said farewell and made an exit in 12th place.

11 remain. One away from the final table.