It seems that no sooner do we mention a player that they turn around and do something interesting. Alvin Delgado got the nod last post and he showed some skill just before the end of Level 12.
Opening the action preflop with a standard mid-position raise with QQ, he was faced with a hefty re-raise. The player was relatively new to the table so Delgado took his time. Five minutes later he told the young player, "My queens are no good against your kings." He mucked face up, the winner shook his head before showing his kings to the table.
We are just 40 some players away from making the money, play is really tightening up and it's gotten much quieter in the room.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Event #1 Level 12
We continue to creep closer to the money bubble with just 140 remaining. The players are getting moved around the room and we are trying to keep track of those remaining.
The Stout-Failla show has been postponed as Mr. All-in-at-420 had his table broken and he's on the shortstack. Borgata favorite Alvin Delgado busted another player out to move up near 70,000 in chips and is sharing a table with Mike Kalfa.
We are always open to tracking down players now that the field is at a reasonable size. Feel free to drop a comment.
Alvin Delgado stacking chips
The Stout-Failla show has been postponed as Mr. All-in-at-420 had his table broken and he's on the shortstack. Borgata favorite Alvin Delgado busted another player out to move up near 70,000 in chips and is sharing a table with Mike Kalfa.
We are always open to tracking down players now that the field is at a reasonable size. Feel free to drop a comment.
Event #1 The Thriller Ships
Moving through Level 11 with Will Failla still sitting near our perch on media row and quietly gathering chips. That was until Jason Young joined us on media row for a little good natured ribbing. "The Thrill" wouldn't respond because he was working a hand.Before the hand was done he would jump from 60k in chips up to 120k. He got it all in preflop against fellow PPI player Roz Quarto, his KK held up versus her AQ.
He was then free to converse freely with us at the media table as he stacked up his chips.
Entering level 11
6 minutes left on the break and we will be heading to level 11. A 200 ante with 800/1600 blinds that just about 200 players will face.
They are now planning on playing until 2 am or 27 players. Odds are that 2 am gets here first. the play today, as I have stated almost every time, has been brutally slow. The whole room is playing either very cautious, or very smart. Depending on who you ask.
"It's been a real grind." said Gene Castro who is sitting on just over 60k in chips. "I was down to 2800 in chips in level 4, have never gone all in yet today, and am now sitting on 60k".
It has however been a very long day, and you can see that wearing on some of the players. Physical stamina does play a role in tournament poker, so we will see who can survive that part of it, and who is affected by it the most.
More to come...
They are now planning on playing until 2 am or 27 players. Odds are that 2 am gets here first. the play today, as I have stated almost every time, has been brutally slow. The whole room is playing either very cautious, or very smart. Depending on who you ask.
"It's been a real grind." said Gene Castro who is sitting on just over 60k in chips. "I was down to 2800 in chips in level 4, have never gone all in yet today, and am now sitting on 60k".
It has however been a very long day, and you can see that wearing on some of the players. Physical stamina does play a role in tournament poker, so we will see who can survive that part of it, and who is affected by it the most.
More to come...
PPI Players holding their own
Poker Players International has a big showing here at the 2009 Borgata Poker Open. Will Failla, Matt Stout, Gene Castro, Mike Sica, Eric Siegel, and others all showed up to play. So far today in event one, Failla, Stout, Campagni, Castro, and Joe Brooks are still in.
Play is really slow with no one really making any moves. As the night continues we'll bring the action. The goal is to play down to 27 tonight, but it doesn't seem as if we will hit that number unless play picks up in hurry.
Play is really slow with no one really making any moves. As the night continues we'll bring the action. The goal is to play down to 27 tonight, but it doesn't seem as if we will hit that number unless play picks up in hurry.
Event #1 Post Dinner Pushing
30 minutes into Level 9 and we are sitting on approximately 276 players remaining. Play has moved quicker than we expected, going on the assumption that it has something to do with bellies full of food.
The luck of the draw has now brought us Will "The Thrill" within hearing distance of our position and Matt Stout's table. The banter between two was the most entertaining part of the last level until Stout found himself in a huge pot.
Tammy Lloyd open shoved with A8, "Reggie Bush" (so called due to his New Orleans Saints jersey) called with KJ, Matt Stout RE-shipped his stack in middle with 99 and the player to his left called it all down with pocket Jacks. An ace pealed right off the top to triple up Lloyd, a fan favorite at the table, and Stout gave up some chips the man with the Jacks. He still has plenty of room to play and has moved his way back north.
The luck of the draw has now brought us Will "The Thrill" within hearing distance of our position and Matt Stout's table. The banter between two was the most entertaining part of the last level until Stout found himself in a huge pot.
Tammy Lloyd open shoved with A8, "Reggie Bush" (so called due to his New Orleans Saints jersey) called with KJ, Matt Stout RE-shipped his stack in middle with 99 and the player to his left called it all down with pocket Jacks. An ace pealed right off the top to triple up Lloyd, a fan favorite at the table, and Stout gave up some chips the man with the Jacks. He still has plenty of room to play and has moved his way back north.
Event #1 Dinner Break
Players are heading off on their one hour dinner break. Just over 300 players will return to battle for another 6 hours trying to make their first cash of the 2009 Borgata Poker Open. With 81 making the money, we still have quite a trip to whittle the field down to that number. In the mayhem over the last two levels we lost Mike "GoLeafGoEh" Leah when his short stack lost a race with AJ versus tens.
Walking around the empty tables and enable to find any monster stacks pulling away. We found a seats with between 60k and 80k but nothing huge. Depending on the official number remaining after the break, the average stack is 26k - 30k.
We will return after the break with more pictures and stories.
We will return after the break with more pictures and stories.
One hour til Dinner
Entering level 8 we are down to just about 370 players. The tables are moving fast and short stacks are taking bigger chances. The field is thinning at about the rate of 3 players every 5 minutes.
Suddenly, more and more groans and "SHIP IT"'s are being heard across the room. Evelyn Ankers went out when she hit a set of jacks on the flop and got it in against a player holding KK. The K hit the turn and ended her day. It's almost a certainty that more and more 1 and 2 outers will be ending tournament hopes for many.
We are at the point in the tournament where players will start to separate themselves from the pack, and stories of spectacular bluffs, and sick lay downs. We'll have those stories and more shortly. We will also be able to start posting chip leaders and chip stacks once the dinner break hits.
Stay tuned!
Suddenly, more and more groans and "SHIP IT"'s are being heard across the room. Evelyn Ankers went out when she hit a set of jacks on the flop and got it in against a player holding KK. The K hit the turn and ended her day. It's almost a certainty that more and more 1 and 2 outers will be ending tournament hopes for many.
We are at the point in the tournament where players will start to separate themselves from the pack, and stories of spectacular bluffs, and sick lay downs. We'll have those stories and more shortly. We will also be able to start posting chip leaders and chip stacks once the dinner break hits.
Stay tuned!
Calling Will The Thrill
"Attention Will Failla, if in the room your table for three at Ben & Jerry's is ready. Will Failla, your table for three at Ben & Jerry's is ready. Thank you."
Announcement in the tournament area
Announcement in the tournament area
Event #1 Update on notables
We've come to the end of Level 6, the bustouts are going fast and furious. We are down near 500 players remaining with some notables hitting the rails. Former World Series of Poker and Borgata champion Jason Young was out the door early after some crazy action. Lacey Jones build up her stack early in the day but ran into trouble over the last few levels and will look to bounce back in her next event.
Matt "All in at 420" Stout is sitting near our vantage point, having a good time but nursing a short stack. Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah, Will "The Thrill" Failla, and Eric Seigel continue to make noise at their tables.
Players will return for two more levels before their hour long dinner break.
Mike "GoLeafsEh" Leah
Will "The Thrill" Failla
Matt "All in at 420" Stout is sitting near our vantage point, having a good time but nursing a short stack. Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah, Will "The Thrill" Failla, and Eric Seigel continue to make noise at their tables.
Players will return for two more levels before their hour long dinner break.
Day one Crazies!
Walking the room I got to witness two specific hands that were a little more than CRAZY!
Al Riccobono was sitting in the bb holding KK. 5 limpers came around to the sb who had just about 8k left in chips. The small blind shoves his remaining 8k and Riccobono re-ships for a total of 17k.
The small blind stated that he was hoping to get folds around and pick up an easy 1600 before he turned over his cards a little sheepishly. He tabled 2 4 off and Riccobono opened up his Kings.
The flop came 4 4 x, the turn brought a 2, and the river brought a meaningless 4th diamond giving Riccobono the K high flush but still losing to the boat.
At another table, I saw it fold around to the sb who limped. The bb raised a pretty standard 3 1/2 times the blind and the sb answered with a shove.
With both players holding no less than 30 bb's the big blind decided he had to call holding AA. The small blind tabled ATo and they went to the flop. The flop came 8 T T, and the tabled sighed.
The turn was a blank and the river, just for giggles, brought a fourth third T giving him quads. The bb was left crippled with just less than 1k in chips and exclaimed, "What a sick shove dude... What did you have, like 3 thousand big blinds???"
We'll have more action as the day goes on!
Al Riccobono was sitting in the bb holding KK. 5 limpers came around to the sb who had just about 8k left in chips. The small blind shoves his remaining 8k and Riccobono re-ships for a total of 17k.
The small blind stated that he was hoping to get folds around and pick up an easy 1600 before he turned over his cards a little sheepishly. He tabled 2 4 off and Riccobono opened up his Kings.
The flop came 4 4 x, the turn brought a 2, and the river brought a meaningless 4th diamond giving Riccobono the K high flush but still losing to the boat.
At another table, I saw it fold around to the sb who limped. The bb raised a pretty standard 3 1/2 times the blind and the sb answered with a shove.
With both players holding no less than 30 bb's the big blind decided he had to call holding AA. The small blind tabled ATo and they went to the flop. The flop came 8 T T, and the tabled sighed.
The turn was a blank and the river, just for giggles, brought a fourth third T giving him quads. The bb was left crippled with just less than 1k in chips and exclaimed, "What a sick shove dude... What did you have, like 3 thousand big blinds???"
We'll have more action as the day goes on!
Event #1 by the numbers
At the second break we have the official numbers for Event #1. We will be playing today til 2am or the final 27 players.
Event #1 - $350 + $50 No Limit Hold'em
Entrants: 850
Prizepool: $297,500
First place: $72,143
1st - $72,143
2nd - $44,030
3rd - $23,056
4th - $20,081
5th - $17,106
6th - $14,131
7th - $11,156
8th - $8,181
9th - $5,950
10th to 12th - $3,687
13th to 15th - $2,826
16th to 18th - $1,785
19th to 27th - $1,338
28th to 36th - $1,131
37th to 45th - $952
46th to 54th - $833
55th to 63rd - $744
64th to 72nd - $655
73rd to 81st - $595
Event #1 - $350 + $50 No Limit Hold'em
Entrants: 850
Prizepool: $297,500
First place: $72,143
1st - $72,143
2nd - $44,030
3rd - $23,056
4th - $20,081
5th - $17,106
6th - $14,131
7th - $11,156
8th - $8,181
9th - $5,950
10th to 12th - $3,687
13th to 15th - $2,826
16th to 18th - $1,785
19th to 27th - $1,338
28th to 36th - $1,131
37th to 45th - $952
46th to 54th - $833
55th to 63rd - $744
64th to 72nd - $655
73rd to 81st - $595
Event #1 at the first break
Event #1 is underway at the 2009 Borgata Poker Open and it's a great turnout for the initial event in the series. The unofficial count shows 850 players putting up $350+50 to battle it out for our first title. We have a good group of East Coast pros and regular grinders. We will have the official numbers and payouts shortly.
On our initial walk through the field we see Borgata favorites Lacey Jones and Alvin Delgado, Matt "All in at 420" Stout, Will "The Thrill" Failla, Jason Young, Gordon Eng, Matt Fox, Liz Grey, Al Krux, and Mike Leah.
Lacey Jones
Jason Young
Rock N Roll
The 2009 Borgata Poker Open has officially started. The very first event has over 800 players and the room is full. We will have an official number shortly. Among the field of Day 1's $350 buy-in are the usual suspects. Al Krux, James Boyle, Mike Kalfa, and others are all here to stake their claim in this years Open.
We will have pictures and final counts along with the prize pool shortly, so keep checking back!
We will have pictures and final counts along with the prize pool shortly, so keep checking back!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Today in the Event Center:
11AM: $350 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Event #1)
8PM: $200 + $30 Second Chance Cash
11AM: $350 + $50 No Limit Hold'em (Event #1)
- 10,000 in starting chips
- Levels last 50 minutes
- 8,000 in starting chips
- Levels last 25 minutes
8PM: $200 + $30 Second Chance Cash
- 8,000 in starting chips
- Levels last 25 minutes
For tournament details and information visit theborgata.com
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