Event 6: Tweet from Miami

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

An O8B update from one of the greatest, the 3 time WSOP bracelet winner tweets from Event #6.

John Cernuto - @MiamiJohnC

Omaha 8 players got another good structure but a low turnout as only 54 runners so far showed up for the event. Avg stack's 12, 14 for me.

Dinner Break Pics

Dinner Break Photos

compliments of The Cafeteria at Borgata

Phong "VIP" Nguyen shows off his chicken stir-fry from Panda Express.

Event #5 Railbirds enjoying ice cream from Ben & Jerry's.

Event 5: Dinner Break

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The clock has stopped for Dinner Break, players will return at 8:35pm.

Number of Entrants: 162
Players remaining: 36
Total Prizepool: $113,400

Still alive:
Mike Borovetz
Joe Liberta
Manh Nguyen
Barry Leventhal
Jesse Cohen
Mike Dentale

Recent Eliminations:
John Allan Hinds
Dwyte Pilgrim

Event 5: Hoover on the Hustle

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Gerry Hoover (Baltimore, MD)

The former Chipleader is back to his old ways, he's chipped back up to 90,000 to become a force in Event #5.

The part-time Engineer/Poker Player has high expectations after "running good" on the cash tables.

Event 5: Len is Lurking

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Len Vizirov (Chalfont, PA)

The cool, calm and collected weekend tournament player has 140,000 chips and plenty of confidence.

The 2012 Event #7 Winter Poker Open Champion is poised to capture another title, "I've always got a chance to win if I don't get unlucky" he tells us.

Vizirov has a top 3 stack with Dinner Break approaching.

Event 6: O8B Update

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

Bo Toft (Yardley, PA) is no stranger to Borgata, the tournament regular and all-around nice guy is busy scooping pots in Event #6. He has 25,200 chips with re-runs of Frasier playing on his iPad.

Veteran pros, Chris Reslock and "Miami" John Cernuto, have average stacks with blinds and antes still small.

Event 5: Usual Suspects

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Number of Entrants: 162
Players remaining: 59

Familiar Faces still alive:

Mike Dentale - 127,000
Barry Leventhal - 91,000
Mike Borovetz - 82,000
Anthony Moore - 53,000
Dwyte Pilgrim - 37,000
Manh Nguyen - 33,000
Eric Siegel - 31,000
Jesse Cohen - 29,000
John Allan Hinds - 8,000

Event 4 Recap

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

While Mohammed Hakim (Parsipanny, NJ) was busy building a big stack, Mark Wahba (Cleveland, OH) waited patiently for his chance to strike. In the end, it was Mark Wahba who claimed the top prize of $32,267 and the Borgata Spring Open trophy.

The tide turned in Hakim's favor with eight players remaining.  Hakim was all-in with pocket Queens and racing against Borgata regular Jerry Callahan's AK suited.  Hakim flopped a set and turned a full house to double up, taking the chip lead.  Callahan (Oyster Bay, NY) busted out soon after in 7th place ($4,720).

Hakim took out most of the final table with while Wahba took out the rest, including Alex Rocha (S Setauket, NY) who won over $150,000 in the $500 No Limit event during the 2011 Borgata Winter Open.  Rocha finished 6th ($5,856). 

When Hakim and Wahba got heads-up, the chips were nearly even and it was anyone's game, but Wahba came out on top.

The field of 308 players ponied up $400 + $50 to enter generating total buy-ins of $123,200.  Among the field were many Borgata regulars, including Howard Wolper, 'Action' Bob Hwang, Russell Crane, Lee Childs, Eric Siegel, John Hinds, Mark Sykes, Mike Dentale, and Jerry Maher.

Also in the mix, but not cashing, were WSOP bracelet holder Jeff Papola and 2010 Borgata Poker Open Champion Dwyte Pilgrim.

Mark Wahba is a poker pro and comes all the way from Ohio to play the big tournaments at Borgata.  "I play cash games, too, but tournaments are what I really love" he said.  Now that he's familiar with the Borgata's Spring Poker Open Tournament Leaderboard promotion, "I'm gonna play 'em all!" said Wahba.

Final Table Results:

1.  Mark Wahba (Cleveland, OH)  $32,267

2.  Mohammed Hakim (Parsipanny, NJ)  $17,926

3.  Phong 'VIP' Nguyen (Fairfax, VA)  $11,114

4.  Fedor Khrapatin (Brooklyn, NY)  $8,963

5.  Mario Dragone (Totowa, NJ)  $6,931

6.  Alex Rocha (S Setauket, NY)  $5,856

7.  Jerry Callahan (Oyster Bay, NY)  $4,720

8.  Oren Taylor (Bridgeton, NJ)  $3,525

9.  Edwin Lau (Philadelphia, PA)  $2,390

10.  Hoa Nguyen (Fairfax, VA) $1,554

Event 4: 1st Place - Wahba

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Mark Wahba (Cleveland, OH)

$32,267

 
Mark Wahba out-lasted 307 other players to claim the top prize of $32,267 and the shiny Borgata Spring Poker Open trophy.

Wahba  now has a second Borgata Open trophy to go with the one he took home during the 2011 Borgata Winter Open ($260 No Limit, $14,073).

He lives in Ohio, but comes to Borgata during the big tournament series to play the game he loves.  He'll play in the cash games, but tournaments are what he enjoys.

When not playing poker, Mark enjoys playing sports, especially basketball "and drinking...I drink and play sports".

Event 4: 2nd Place - Hakim

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Mohammed Hakim (Parsipanny, NJ)

$17,926

Blinds: 30k/60k, 5k ante

When the final two got heads-up, their stacks were nearly identical, making the chip lead too close to call.

It was over quickly, with former chip leader Mohammed Hakim coming up short.  He's taking home $17,926 for second place.

Event 4: 3rd Place - P. Nguyen

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

 Phong 'VIP' Nguyen (Fairfax, VA)

$11,114

Blinds Up: 30k/60k, 5k ante

In a battle of the blinds, Phong 'VIP' Nguyen was all-in from the small blind.  Mark Wahba looked him up from the big blind holding 63 off.  VIP was actually ahead with 74 off.

The board ran out J 8 5 2 4 and Mark made a 6-high straight to take the pot.

Phong 'VIP' Nguyen finished in 3rd place, good for $11,114.

VIP had a couple of cashes here during the 2012 Borgata Winter Open, then went to the WSOP Circuit event in Florida, where he made the final table, finishing 6th.  That was good for over $40,000.

He's continuing his hot streak back here at Borgata and we'll be seeing more of him during the Spring Open.

Event 4: 4th Place - Khrapatin

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

 Fedor Khrapatin (Brooklyn, NY)

$8,963

Blinds: 20k/40k, 4k ante    

Fedor Khrapatin called all-in holding AJ suited.  He was racing against Mohammed Hakim's pocket 7s.

The board came 9 6 3 4 5 and Mohammed improved to a straight. 

Fedor Khrapatin finished in 4th place, earning $8,963.

Event 4: 5th Place - Dragone

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

 Mario Dragone (Totowa, NJ)

$6,931

Blinds: 20k/40k, 4k ante  

In a battle of the blinds, Mario Dragone (sb) was all-in pre-flop against Mohammed Hakim (bb).  Mario's pocket Aces were way ahead of Mohammed's T 3.

The flop came A T 3, giving Mohammed two pair, but giving Mario a set of Aces.  The last two were 5 6 and Mario doubled up.

The same two tangled on the next orbit.  Mario (sb) had AJ and was all in on the river with a board of A 8 2 5 A (trip Aces).  Mohammed (bb) had 43, however, for the wheel to take the pot.

Mario Dragone finished in 5th place, earning $6,931.

Event 4: 6th Place - Rocha

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Alex Rocha (S Setauket, NY)

$5,856

Blinds: 20k/40k, 4k ante  

Alex Rocha shoved his short-stack from the button and Mark Wahba (bb) looked him up.

Alex held 97 suited.  Mark had T2 off.  The board came T 4 2 6 A and was all Mark.

Alex Rocha finished in 6th place, earning $5,856.

Event 4: 7th Place - Callahan

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
 

Jerry Callahan (Oyster Bay, NY)

$4,720

Blinds: 20k/40k, 4k ante    

Mario Dragone was all-in with KQ against Jerry Callahan's QJ.  The board ran dry and Mario doubled up.

Jerry was all-in again soon after, this time holding KT and getting called by Fedor Khrapatin (bb) who held AJ.

The board came A Q 6 7 6 and it was curtains for Jerry.  He finished 7th for $4,720.

Event 4: 8th Place - Taylor

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

 Oren Taylor (Bridgeton, NJ)

$3,525

Blinds: 20k/40k, 4k ante  

Oren Taylor (sb) got his short-stack in the middle holding AQ.  He was way ahead of big stack Mohammed Hakim's (utg) QT of clubs, but the flop came A T 5 with two clubs.

Oren picked up top pair, but Mohammed picked up a flush draw.  It was over on the turn when the 3 of clubs completed the flush.

Oren Taylor finished in 8th place, picking up $3,525.

Event 5: Fresh Faces

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Hoover (right) Waits to Act After Cho (left) Raises

Poker attracts a lot of different people and two new Borgata tournament players are strikingly different.  Jaeik Cho and Gerry Hoover are both at table 6, but the their contrasts are world's apart.

Cho is a 22 year-old from Japan, Hoover is 54 and originally from Louisiana.
Cho is an on-line pro, Hoover is a live player, who's a semi-pro.
Cho is visiting East Coast friends, Hoover is visiting from Baltimore.

Despite the differences, both are playing their first "real" Borgata tournaments.

Hoover emphasizes "real," because he's previously played at Borgata, but never for more than six hours at a time. "I wanted to see if I would have the stamina in a two day tournament," he says.

But for Cho poker is old hat. "I play a lot in Asia," says Cho, who's truly making his first trip to the casino.  He adds, "the games are tougher here. They're a lot softer back home."

And so far, so good as both players are top ten in chips with Cho at 65k, while Hoover's 75k leads the way.

Another stark contrast has Cho sitting on his economics degree from William & Mary College in Virginia to play professionally.  Meanwhile, Hoover is earning a few dollars at the tables as he's a tooling sales engineer who's in between jobs.

But when you're at the poker table age, ethnicity and careers don't matter, it's all about the cards and chip stacks.

Jaeik Cho

Event 4: Break Time Chip Counts

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

End of level and time for a break.  Here are some rough chip counts:

Mohammed Hakim - 1.5 million
Mark Wahba - 1.2 million
Fedor Khrapatin - 480k
Jerry Callahan - 335k
Phong Nguyen - 235k
Alex Rocha - 185k
Mario Dragone - 170k
Oren Taylor - 135k

With 8 players remaining, the average stack is 577k.

After the break, play resumed with blinds of 20k/40k and 4k antes.

Event 4: New Chip Leader

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Blinds: 15k/30k, 4k ante   

Mohammed Hakim was all-in pre-flop for 714k against Jerry Callahan.

 Mohammed Hakim takes the lead

Mohammed's pocket Queens were up against Jerry's AK suited.

The board came Q T 5 T K and Mohammed improved to Queens-full.  He doubled up to ~1.5 million, good for the chip lead.

Jerry was left with about 280k.

Event 4: 9th Place - Lau

 $400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Edwin Lau (Philadelphia, PA) 

$2,390

Blinds: 15k/30k, 4k ante
 
VIP Nguyen opened for 65k.  After getting a count of his remaining chips, Edwin Lau moved in over the top.

VIP called all-in (168k total) showing QT off.  Edwin was racing with pocket 9s.  The board came A K Q 3 2 and VIP doubled up.

Edwin was all-in for less than the 30k big blind on the next hand.  The blinds called and checked down the board of A J 3 8 T.

Mark Wahba showed A7 suited for top pair to take the pot.

Edwin Lau busted in 9th place, good for $2,390.

Event 4: Double; Double

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Blinds: 15k/30k, 4k ante  

In a battle of the blinds, Fedor Khrapatin (bb) got all-in against Alex Rocha (sb).

Fedor's AK suited was crushing Alex's K5 suited.

The board came K Q 8 2 6 and Fedor doubled up to ~730k.  Alex was left with ~260k.

On the next hand, Mario Dragone was all-in for 106k.  Action folded around to Fedor in the big blind, who called.

Mario's AK suited was dominating Fedor's AQ off.  The board came K J 3 9 9 and Fedor doubled up over 250k.

"That's the first [all-in] hand I've lost this whole tournament" Fedor said.  "Make sure you put that in the blog".  Done.

Event 6: Erik the Great

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

Gorman (left) playing with Sergio Vargas (S. Hadley, MA) &

Kelvin Goode (Farmington, CT)

After his early elimination from Day 2 of Event 4 (18th place - $1,016), Erik Gorman (Matthews, NC) takes a break before playing the Omaha.

"I didn't come here to play no-limit," he says, "The only reason I was in (the NL tournament) was because I busted the H.O.R.S.E."

Gorman is making the most of his week at Borgata and is now looking for a deep run in the Omaha.

Event 4: 10th Place - H. Nguyen

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Hoa Nguyen (Fairfax, VA) 

$1,554

Blinds: 15k/30k, 4k ante  

Hoa Nguyen opened for 68k.  Jerry Callahan (sb) raised to 155k.  After some thought, Hoa called.

Flop came A Q 9.  Jerry checked.  Hoa announced he was all-in.  Jerry snap-called.  Hoa held Q8 suited for middle pair but Jerry had AQ for top two pair.

The 8 on the turn was too little, too late for Hoa.  River was a 6 and Jerry took the pot, chipping up to over 1.2 million.

Hoa Nguyen busted out in 10th place, earning $1,554.

Event 5: Pilgrim & Shasho Lead

$700 + $70 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Mike Movin' Up the Charts

Dwyte Pilgrim (Bronx, NY) and his first hand double-up has him at the top of the chip counts along with Mike "Mad Dog" Shasho (Ramsey, NJ). Both players are at 63k.

Also in the mix are Norman Rodriquez (Dominican Republic) and Mike Borovetz (Pittsburgh, PA) who are at 61k and 57k respectfully.

Players are back from break as 87 players remain with an average stack of 28k (56 BB); blinds are 250/500/50 ante.

Event 4: Short Stacks Keep Doubling

$400 + $50 Big Stack NLH (Re-Entry)

Blinds: 12k/24k, 3k ante 

Hoa Nguyen moved in and got no action.

He moved in again on the next hand (154k) and got called by Alex Rocha (bb) who had A3 off.  Hoa had T9 off.

The board came A J T 2 T and Hoa caught trips on the river to double-up to ~350k.

Next it was Mario Dragone who was all-in against VIP Nguyen.

Mario's AT off was dominated by VIP's AK off.

Then the board came J T 7 J 8 and Mario paired his kicker to double up to nearly 200k.

Another level is done and the blinds are going up to 15k/30k with 4k antes.