BUBBLE BREAKS (EVENT #3 - PLO )

Keller Mixing It Up in PLO

It takes 15 minutes of hand-for-hand play to break the bubble in the Pot Limit Omaha - High event.

Vinnie Colombo (Brooklyn, NY) gets his last 34k in preflop with (AA 66) vs. the (KK xx) of Brent Keller (Horsham, PA). The flop destroys Colombo has it brings (KKx) giving Keller quads.

"It's not the first time, and it won't be the last," says Colombo who finishes 19th, one spot out of the money. "I got it in with the best hand and it didn't work out."

Keller's Borgata success continues, as this cash comes after winning Event #18 (1K HOSE) at the Summer Open. "I like mixed games," says Keller, "PLO and HOSE are my two best events, but I play a lot of no-limit as well."

18 players remain with 16-18th place collecting $793.

EVENT #1 WE HAVE A WINNER

We have our first champion of the 2009 Borgata Poker Open. James Stenella picked his spots to move his way through the final 70 players to take home the trophy and the cash. The PPI member was never the chip leader until we we near the very end but was always within striking distance and picked his spots.

In the end he beat out the other 3 players left in the field for the hardware. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. You can find our post earlier in the day outlining his pledge to donate a portion of his tournament winnings to Nephcure.

We'll be back later with an interview after we've had a chance to sit down for an interview.

Salah Levy, Eric Rockwell, and Marcus Nguyen were our runners up for the event. They will take home a nice addition to their bankroll.

1 James Stenella - $72,143
2 Salah Levy - $44,030
3 Eric Rockwell - $23,056
4 Marcus Nguyen - $20,081


Marcus Nguyen finishes 4th in Event #1

Eric Rockwell finishes 3rd in Event #1

Salah Levy finishes 2nd in Event #1

James Stenella wins Event #1

EVENT #1 FINAL TABLE CRAZINESS

It would be near impossible to describe some of the crazy action we're seeing once the we pulled out the official final table. While I was writing up the previous post I missed two bustouts. Carmen Genovese and Tuan Ben were both eliminated from the tournament withtout the benefit of a hand writeup.

7th - Carmen Genovese - $11,156
9th - Tuan Ben - $5,950

Our 8th place finisher was our chip front runner for most of the day, Chris Lyon. Things didn't go well once he hit the final table and was forced to ship his chips in with T8. Eric Rockwell called his push with AQ and no help came for our once monster chip leader. Lyon takes home $8,181 for his 8th place finish.

Our 5th and 6th place finishers hit the rail after a crazy hand. By the time action was complete we were looking at a 4-way all in. Eric Rockwell with 55, Marcus Nguyen with 32, Ed Cybolski with JTd, and Pedro Munoz with QJ. When all was said and done, Nguyen ended up taking down the pot when the board ran out 7d 8d Qc 8s 3s after he sweat a diamond on the turn and river. Both Munoz and Cybolski were covered and eliminated. Ed Cybolski takes home $14,131 for his 6th place finish and Pedro Munoz will pocket $17,106 with the 5th place finish.


Chris Lyon finished 8th in Event #1

EVENT #1 FINAL TABLE "BUBBLE"

LJ Sande was one of our bigger stacks throughout the day but ends up the day as our final table "bubble boy".

The action folded around to Erik Rockwell in the SB who opened with a raise. Sande repopped all-in and Rockwell called with his Big Slick. Sande was drawing slim with his AQ with miracle. LJ Sande takes home $3,867 for his 10th place finish.


LJ Sande finishes 10th in Event #1

TONY PUTS UP A BAGEL

Weinstein Sends Bagels Packing

Tony "Bagels" Cavezza (Huntington Station, NY) is sent to the rail when his (A 8) goes up against the pocket aces of Mark Weinstein (Long Island, NY).

Cavezza, who finished third in Event #3 at the Borgata Winter Open, puts 20k in preflop and sees a board of (10 8 5). Weinstein bets enough to put his opponent all-in, Cavezza makes the 50k call and sees he's way behind with middle pair.

"It surprised me because we only playing good cards," says one player at the table.

"Other than that one hand, I've been patient," says Weinstein who's unofficially the chip leader with 150k.

Right on his heels is John Costello (Bayonne, NJ), who used pocket kings to double to 75k just after the dinner break and has steadily climbed to the 150k range.

"It was funny, I laid down pocket queens to pocket aces right before the break," says Costello, "and then on one of the first hands back, I pick up pocket kings."

81 players remain with an average stack of 47k as Level 11 play continues (800/1600 ante 200).

Costello's Steady Climb

EVENT #1 CHIP COUNTS

With our next to knockouts we are at the "unofficial" final table of ten players. They will probably drastically swing by the time I finish posting this but they players are currently drawing for new seats.

- Nick Gonzalez was the first to go out in the new pay level. He was nursing his short stack he pushed his chips in the middle against Erick Rockwell. His KJ was no match for the 99 of Rockwell. Nick Gonzalez takes home $3,867 for his 12th place finish.

- Billy Hill was our next player out when the chips went in pre-flop once again against Salah Levy. Levy's A9 outlasted the mighty T8s of Hill. Billy Hill also takes home $3,867 for his 11th place finish.

Here are our "current" chip counts:

Eric Rockwell - 1,200,000
James Stenella - 1,000,000
Chris Lyon - 900,000
Tuan Ben - 900,000
Ed Cybolski - 820,000
Carmine Genovese - 810,000
Pedro Munoz - 720,000
LJ Sande - 640,000
Marcus Nguyen - 620,000
Salah Levy - 510,000

JAMES STENELLA MAKES IT COUNT

One of the feel good stories throughout the Open so far is PPI player James Stenella. Stenella pledged a portion of all tournament winnings to Nephcure, and organization that raises awareness and funds for two potentially devastating Kidney diseases. Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

PPI has set up information on their site to learn how you can do the same. Visit Nephcure to learn more about their efforts on helping find a cure.

EVENT #1 DINNER BREAK

The remaining 13 players are returning from their dinner break. We will have an update on the last three bustouts and up-to-date chip counts as we get them.

After careful accounting, it seems that everyone except Chris Lyon are sitting with between 700,000 and 900,000 chips. With the blind levels, they are staying the same but moving between players. Lyon is hanging with 1.5million and picking on the six handed table.

Things are starting to take shape as we start to get an idea of our final table. Here are the last 4 finishers.

13 - Ben McAninch - $2,826
14 - Josh Braskett - $2,826
15 - Francis Cheung - $2,826
16 - Mike Linster - $1,785

EVENT #3 PAYOUTS

$350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha - High
151 Entries - $52,850 Prize Pool

Place - Amount
1 $16,277
2 $8,984
3 $5,020
4 $3,700
5 $3,171
6 $2,643
7 $2,114
8 $1,586
9 $1,189
10-12 $1,031
13-15 $898
16-18 $793

EVENT #2 PAYOUTS

$500 + $60 NL Hold'Em
379 Entries - $189,500 Prize Pool

Place - Amount

1	$ 54,954
2	$ 31,836
3	$ 15,728
4	$ 13,265
5	$ 11,370
6	$ 9,475
7	$ 7,580
8	$ 5,685
9	$ 3,790
10 - 12	$ 2,463
13 - 15	$ 1,895
16 - 18	$ 1,326
19 - 27	$ 1,137
28 - 36	$ 948

EVENT #1 SLOW DOWN

It was impossible to continue the insane pace of bustouts and we've finally slowed down. During the 50 minutes of Level 20 we only lost two players. Chris Lyon continues to ride near the top of the leaderboard now sitting with around 1.5million in chips. James Stenella is stacked around 875,000 and we are grabbing other chip counts as the players take their break.

- Ryan Devine was on the bad end of a brutal hand earlier in the level when a near certain chopped pot of AK versus AK ended up poorly. His opponent was freerolling to clubs and flopped the nuts. The moved Devine near the felt and was finished off by chipleader Chris Lyon on another bad beat. Devine was ahead with his AT versus A3 but prophesied his own demise when he said "You can catch up.". The turn card 3 ended his run. Ryan Devine takes home $1,785 for 18th.

- Brandon Mueller battled his way through the field staying out of most trouble but found himself with a shorter stack. After a preflop raising battle, he ended up with all chips in the middle covered by Francis Cheung. Cheung's 88 was ahead and stayed ahead of Mueller's A4. Brandon Mueller takes home $1,785 for 17th.

CHIP LEADER EMERGES (EVENT #3 PLO)

Reslock Running Well

The Pot Limit Omaha - High field is quickly thinning, as less than half of the starting field of 151 remains.

The clear chip leader is Chris Reslock (Atlantic City, NJ) who collects a 100k+ pot and cripples David Ristick (Turnersville, NJ) in the process.

All the money gets in after both players flopped a straight, but Reslock gets the upper hand when his club flush redraw hits on the river.

Two hands later, Reslock wins another big pot and is up over 125k.

"I'm running strong," says Reslock, "Somebody please snap me off so I can come back to reality," he adds while racking his chips as the table breaks."

65 players remain as they vie for the first place prize of $16,277.

We'll post the full 18 place payouts shortly.

Level 8 is winding down and players are set to go on dinner break.

EVENT #1 OUT FROM 19TH TO 26TH

The start of 3 table play so the bustouts happening with most of the action and pushing occurring preflop. The following players were eliminated to get us down to 2 tables, 18 players remaining.

- Mike Kalfa's run to the title ended in a classic coinflip. After an early position raise by LJ Sande, Kalfa pushed on button for his remaining 200,000+ chips. After tanking for quite a while Sande eventually called and we were racing. No help came on the board and Sande's TT outran Kalfa's AK. Mike Kalfa takes home $1,338. for 26th.

- Edward Pellegrini decided to make a post-flop stand for all his chips on a K 6 3 board. Unfortunately his bottom pair with A3 was no good, and never improved, against Eric Rockwell's top two K6. Eric Rockwell takes home $1,338 for 25th.

- William Hagis pushed his small stack in the middle pre-flop where it folded around to Matt Stout in the big blind. Stout called in the dark and surprised himself when he tables AQ. Hagis was dominated and found no help when the dealer ran out 2 6 K 9 A. Hagis takes home $1,338 for 24th.

- Alvin Delgado is one of favorites. Alvin found himself very short stacked as we neared the bubble last night but battled his way through to the money and onto Day 2. At one point he was up over 250,000 but ran into some bad luck. His day finally ended with a little more bad luck getting his few chips in ahead with his AJ versus James Stenella's K8. Delgado was gold until the river King. Alvin Delgado also takes home $1,338 for 23rd.

- Gene Castro, former Borgata Winter Open Champion, ended his run by running into big stack Chris Lyons. Lyons opened the action and Castro pushed with KQ. Lyons eventually called the extra 175,000 with A5. He was ahead and stayed ahead. Gene Castro takes home $1,338 for 22nd.

19 - Matt "All in at 420" Stout - $1,338
20 - Margaret Martin - $1,338
21 - Ray Bimson - $1,338
22 - Gene Castro - $1,338
23 - Alvin Delgado - $1,338
24 - William Hagis - $1,338
25 - Edward Pellegrini - $1,338
26 - Mike Kalfa - $1,338
27 - Frank Belizario - $1,338

EVENT #1 DOWN TO THREE TABLES

Level 18 moved us down to the final 3 tables and 23 players left with a shot at the first championship. We grabbed a quick look at the chip counts and here's how they look heading into Level 19 with blinds at 8,000 - 16,000 and 2,000 ante.

LJ Sande - 960,000
Chris Lyon - 930,000
James Stenella - 618,000
Ryan Devine - 600,000
Carmine Genovese - 501,000
Mike Linster - 490,000
Salah Levy - 480,000
Josh Braskett - 425,000
Ed Cybolski - 400,000
Marcus Nguyen - 385,000
Brandon Mueller - 307,000
Eric Rockwell - 280,000
RJ Bimson - 280,000
Gene Castro - 275,000
Ben McAninch - 270,000
Francis Cheung - 261,000
Tuan Ben - 260,000
Margaret Martin - 240,000
Billy Hill - 240,000
Matt Stout - 160,000
Pedro Munoz - 125,000
Nick Gonzalez - 110,000
Alvin Delgado - 70,000

Bustouts getting us down to the final three tables:

27 - Frank Belizario - $1,338
28 - Thurston Cunningham - $1,131
29 - Stephen Silverman - $1,131
30 - Anthony Campagna - $1,131
31 - Patricia Barsanti Chou - $1,131
32 - Daniel Lee - $1,131
33 - William Hickey - $1,131
34 - Arthur Bressler - $1,131
35 - Marco Grasso - $1,131

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND (EVENT #2)

Ryan Express Runs Through Florida

Pulling into the Borgata parking garage you see a lot of New York license plates, and as always Brooklyn is well represented. Steve Ryan's a 26 year old pro who's been playing in the NYC games the last three years and has had success in the Poker Open.

Last year he finished third in Event #3 and has developed some friendly rivalries along the way.

"Talk to him, he's the pro," says Maurice Hawkins (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). "He's taking all my chips."

Hawkins and Ryan get involved with a hand where Ryan calls Hawkins' three bet preflop with (A 4 suited). Ryan hits a gut shot straight on the turn and by the end of the hand takes 25k from Hawkins.

"Every time I'm about to break the threshold, I give him more chips," says Hawkins.

"Come on man, you won a pot off me," replies Ryan, but Hawkins is quick to counter,"yeah, but you got me three times."

Hawkins is above the chip average of 23k, while Ryan is healthy at 60K+

167 players remain as play continues on Level 8 (400/800/75 ante)

This is the last level before the dinner break.

KALFA QUIETLY MAKING HIS MARK

Over the last two years of blogging for the Borgata you have read about Mike Kalfa pretty consistently. You may even have started to think that we here on the blog are sort of infatuated with the guy. Maybe you think we give him a lot of press because one of us here are friends with the guy. In fact, I will tell you that I've met many more men, far greater than Mike, that I would rather give press time to. OK, maybe that's a shot, but the presence he gets here on the blog is for no other reason than he performs.

"I'm not a pro. I don't consider myself a pro. I just play to win.", said Mike. Playing to win is certainly something he has proven over the years.

This past March in the Borgata Deep Stack Extravaganza, Mike placed 9th for a $27,750 pay day. in January he cashed in two events during the Winter Open for a total of $2500.

2008 was a great year cashing for over $34,700 in 5 events including 2 final tables and a fifth place finish for $12,305. His best of that year.

2007 was his best in total money earning over $70k cashing in 4 events with a 2cnd place finish for $47, 815.

"My approach to the game has been to play pretty tight early, take advantage of weakness when I sense it, and to just be cautious until I get to a spot in the tournament when it's time to turn it on."

All told, Mike has listed lifetime earnings of over $134k and is working on adding to that today. In day 2 of Event #1 Mike is sitting on 300k in chips with just about 30 left. With a first place prize of over $71k he has the opportunity to add a big chunk.

We'll keep an eye on him and as well as everyone else left in event #1

EVENT #1 START LEVEL 18

Level 17 continued the torrid pace of knockouts at the start of Day 2. We lost another 14 players with 35 remaining. They will begin this level with 6,000 - 12,000 blinds 2,000 ante. Average chipstack is around 242,000. Adam Schlain was our first player to earn a 4 digit payout ($1,131), Will "The Thrill" Failla dropped out in 43rd, leaving him free to pick back up in Event #2 where he still had some chips while two tabling.

Some notable chip counts (to the best of my counting) and the players we lost during the last level.

Mike Linster - 638,000
Chris Lyon - 600,000
Mike Kalfa - 300,000
Gene Castro - 250,000
Alvin Delgado - 155,000
Matt Stout - 120,000

36 - Adam Schlain - $1,131
37 - Dajuan Whorley - $952
38 - Jason Moreno - $952
39 - Ioannis Konstantinidis - $952
40 - Leonardo Palermo - $952
41 - Antiuwan Jones - $952
42 - Mike Moore - $952
43 - Will "The Thrill" Failla - $952
44 - Fabio Pawlus - $952
45 - Joseph Grodowski - $952
46 - Maksim Shchetkovskiy - $833
47 - Domimic Carlo - $833
48 - Patrick Lowrie - $833


Current Event #1 chipleader Mike Linster

EVENT #1 HOME TOWN KNOCKOUT

Chris Lyon started the day with the chip lead but gave a little bit back in the first level with some short stack double ups including his friend Jason Moreno. He was only down for a little while as he put a hurt back on him.

Lyon raised to 40k UTG and it folded around to Moreno in SB who shoved in over the top. Moreno tabled AA to Lyon's QQ, with a table mate telling him he mucked a weak queen preflop. He didn't have long to sweat because the case queen came out on the flop. They shook hands and Moreno took off for the cage.

Lyon has built his stack back up and sitting with around 600,000.

EVENT #1 DAY 2 OFF TO FLYING START

The start of Day 2 for Event #1 started off blazing. 9 players were eliminated in the first half hour of play, dropping so fast there were many hands I was unable to capture. Two tables side by side lost two players per table on the same hand. Here are some of the hands I was able to grab in the first 30 minutes.

- Chip leader Chris Lyon already dropped a few chips doubling up Jason Moreno, then he called an all-in by Christian Francia along with Mike Kalfa. Francia more the tripled up from his starting stack when his Kings held up against Lyon's AQ and Kalfa's mystery hand.

- On the next hand at the table, Moreno and Kalfa got all their chips in the middle on a Qh Ks 6h flop. Kalfa's AQ needed help against Merono who was sitting with Kings up with the 6. The turn brought no help but the spiked Ace on the river gave Kalfa a double up.

- Dominic Carlo and Margaret Martin where both all-in preflop with Martin being at risk. She was looking solid with her TT versus 66. Carlo asked the dealer for his "one time, I haven't sucked out all tournament". He got pulled his chips back with a chop when the board ran out 8 J 9 7 and the big Ten on the river.

- There were three-way all-ins at tables 4 and 5. I was only able to capture the action as Alejandro Rayas, Erick Rockwell, and Francis Cheung were looking at a big pot before the flop. Cheung had the other two covered when he tabled KK, up against the tens of Rayas and AQ of Rockwell. The dealer ran out nothing but baby cards and Cheung knocked out two players while nearly tripling up.

- Erwin Benz was drawing completely dead when all his chips went in the middle. He was all-in on a two Queen, two heart board looking for the nut-flush with his A6h. Unfortunately his opponent Patricia Barsanti-Chou was holding the mortal nuts with flopped quad Queens. Benz will return to his radio program at WTBQ with an extra $744 in his pocket.

- Just before the break, Mike Linster moved into the chip lead. After playing many hands during the first level, Rich Russell decided to look him up. On a three spade board, they both got all the chips in holding a fourth spade. Unfortunately for Russell, Linster was holding KK versus his 55 and never drew his miracle two outter. This pot moved Linster to over the 500,000 chips

The following players were eliminated during Level 16:

49 - Jason Kluska - $833
50 - Basile Khourg - $833
51 - Richard Russell - $833
52 - Orfilio Chaviano Jr - $833
53 - Donald Lawrence - $833
54 - Christian Francia - $833
55 - Steven Monaco - $744
56 - Michael Nitti - $744
57 - Robert Negrin - $744
58 - John Barberarie - $744
59 - Anthony Hill - $744
60 - Francis Gottron - $744
61 - Erwin Benz - $744
62 - Phen Su Khou - $744
63 - Anthony Debliech - $744
64 - William Prentiss - $655
65 - Alejandro Rayas - $655
66 - Nikolay Karman - $655
67 - Eric Rockwell - $655
68 - Tom Kracinovich - $655
69 - Matthew Gingras - $655
70 - Ronnie Bardah - $655

Event #1 trophy with Tournament Director Tab Duchateau

AN APPLE A DAY (EVENT #2)

A Set of Rotten Apples

In a room full of pizzas, soft pretzels and Ben & Jerry's, Eric Doerr (Newark, DE) is going with the healthy approach, as a red delicious apple is perched next to his stack.

After calling a turn bet, a third heart peels off and Doerr check-calls his opponent's all-in bet for 3k. Doerr turns over the flush (10 9 hearts) and his opponent mucks, knowing he's eliminated.

"I'm going to sign it (the apple) and give it to whoever knocks me out," says Doerr who cashed in Event #1 of the Summer Open. Doerr's joke isn't lost on the rest of the table, as he steals a page from Barry Greenstein, who gives a signed copy of his book to players that knock him out of tournaments.

A few orbits later Doerr's (10 10) is up against the (K J) of Max Almonor (Brooklyn, NY). A river 10 gives Doerr a set, but Almonor the straight, to eliminate Doerr who ships 22k.

"I had a lot of outs," says Almonor who shoves after the flop, but didn't get the victory apple. "That's okay, I ate already," he says while stacking 50k.

"I'm keeping it," says Doerr, who says he'll be back to play in Saturday's 1k.

The final total for Event 2: 379 players, prize pool under construction.

Level 5 underway (150/300/25 ante)

EVENT #1 DAY 2 READY TO KICKOFF

We're just a few minutes from restarting the 2009 Borgata Poker Open Event #1. 70 players come back today and we'll be playing down to our champion. That will complete filling up the tournament area as we have two other events going at the same time. Event #2 ($600+$60 No Limit Hold'em) kicked off at 11am and Event #3 ($350+$50 Pot Limit Omaha) at 1pm.

The floor staff have the bags of chips out on the tables ready for the players. They are starting the day 10-handed at 7 tables. Chris Lyon will start the day as our chip leader (587,000) and Thomas Kracinovich is our short stack (8,500). Day 2 will start in Level 16 with blinds at 4,000-8,000 500 ante, average chipstack is around 121,000. Full chip counts are listed further below are you can click here.

Notables:

Chris Lyon - 587,000
Mike Linster - 372,500
Matt "All in at 420" Stout - 234,000
Gene Castro - 198,500
Mike Kalfa - 121,000
Alvin Delgado - 68,000
Will "The Thrill" Failla - 60,000
John Barbieri - 46,500

Event #1 chipleader Chris Lyon

EVENT #3 UNDERWAY

Pot Limit Omaha - high ($350 + $50) is up and running at the front of the Event Center.

This tournament is a smaller field than the more popular NL events, but the die hards are enthusiastic to play in the rare game. The main reason players like it: two extra hole cards, creating more options.

"That's why this game is so good," said Neil Levin (West Norriton, PA). His neighbor pipes in, "yeah, he tried to discard one earlier."

FAMILIAR FACES

Event #2 has the usual suspects in the house. Media Row's featured table contains Chris Lindh and Howard Wolper who both fared well in June's Summer Open. Next store is Jimmy "Suits" Salters, who takes down a mini pot as I walked by.

James Boyle is sitting at the next table over sporting a wrist brace because of strained tendons. "They told me I need to shove more instead of folding," Boyle joked.

Also in the house: Will "The Thrill" Failla, Henry Doiban, Manny Patel, Mickey Woll and Mike Leah.

Level 2 complete, players are on break as registration closes. Final numbers are being tallied.

Event #3 (PLO - High) players are filtering in as the 1 PM start is imminent.

BUSY DAY UNDERWAY!

Day 2 of the Borgata Poker Open is up and running at the palatial Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Event #2 (NL $500 + $60) is approaching the 350 player mark with more than an hour before registration closes.

At 1 PM, it's Event #3, Pot Limit Omaha - High ($350 + $50)

At 2 PM, the quest for the first championship resumes with 70 players returning for their shot at the $72,000+ first prize. The bubble broke late last night and everyone is in the money.

Event #2 notables, final player count and prize pool on the way.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Today in the Event Center:
11AM: $500 + $60 No Limit Hold'em (Event #2)

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 50 minutes

1PM: $350 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha - High (Event #3)

• 8,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 40 minutes

4pm: $200 + $30 SURVIVOR (1 in 10 wins $2,000 Cash)

• 8,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 25 minutes

7PM: $200 + $30 Second Chance Cash

• 8,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 25 minutes

For tournament details and information visit theborgata.com

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/BorgataPoker

EVENT 1 - END OF DAY 1 CHIP COUNT LEADERS

Borgata Poker Open
Event 1 - $350 + $50 No Limit Hold'em
September 9 - 10, 2009

Entries: 850
Prize Pool: $297,500

End of Day 1 Chip Count Leaders


1. CHRISTOPH LYON (BRICK, NJ): 587,000
2. MICHAEL LINSTER (LEVITTOWN, NY): 372,500
3. SALAH LEVY (COOKEVILLE, TN): 329,500
4. JOSHUA BRASKETT (NEW EGYPT, NJ): 237,500
5. MATTHEW STOUT (CLIFTON, NJ): 234,000
6. LEONARD J 3RD SANDE (WEST HEAVEN, CT): 226,500
7. FABIO PAWLUS (CAPE MAY, NJ): 206,500
8. JAMES STENELLA (PIPERSVILLE, PA): 205,500
9. BASILE KHOURY (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 201,500
10. EUGENE CASTRO (NEW YORK, NY): 198,500
11. BENJAMIN MCANINCH (LITTLE RIVER, SC): 196,000
12. TUAN GBEHAN (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 195,500
13. MARCUS NGUYEN (WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ): 187,500
14. ORFILIO CHAVIANO JR (MANALAPAN, NJ): 182,500
15. ALEJANDRO RAYAS (SANTA MARIA, CA): 176,500
16. BRANDON MUELLER (YORK, PA): 172,000
17. DOMIMIC CARLO (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 169,000
18. DANIEL LEE (FAIRFAX, VA): 168,500
19. RAYMOND BIMSON (MONTAUK, NY): 165,000
20. STEPHEN SILVERMAN (MILLWOOD, NY): 154,000
21. ARTHUR BRESSLER (MANALAPAN, NJ): 141,000
22. NECTALIER GONZALEZ (LINCOLN PARK, NJ): 141,000
23. ADAM SCHLAIN (VIRGINIA BCH, VA): 139,500
24. FRANCIS GOTTRON (LAGRANGEVILLE, NY): 138,500
25. IOANNIS KONSTANTINIDIS (MONROE TWP, NJ): 138,000
26. MARCO GRASSO (CHATHAM, NJ): 133,000
27. RYAN DEVINE (FISHING CREEK, NJ): 126,500
28. LEONARDO PALERMO (ORTLEY BEACH, NJ): 126,000
29. MICHAEL KALFA (LTL EGG HBR, NJ): 121,000
30. CARMINE GENOVESE (LONG BEACH, NY): 114,000
31. MICHAEL NITTI (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 110,500
32. RICHARD RUSSELL (NEWBURGH, NY): 105,000
33. ERWIN BENZ (HIGHLAND MLS S, NY): 102,000
34. ANTIUWAN JONES (ARLINGTON, VA): 101,000
35. ERIC ROCKWELL (CHESAPEAKE, VA): 100,000
36. NIKOLAY KARMAN (GERAN, RUS): 99,500
37. PATRICIA BARSANTI-CHOU (METUCHEN, NJ): 99,000
38. FRANCIS CHEUNG (BROOKLYN, NY): 99,000
39. JASON KLUSKA (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 98,000
40. EDWARD CYBULSKI (LAUREL SPGS S, NJ): 96,000
41. THURSTON CUNNINGHAM (AMITYVILLE, NY): 89,500
42. MICHAEL MOORE (N CAPE MAY, NJ): 85,000
43. ANTHONY DEBLIECK (HOBOKEN, NJ): 83,000
44. JASON MORENO (BAYVILLE, NJ): 82,000
45. MAKSIM SHCHETKOVSKIY (BELLEVILLE, NJ): 79,500
46. ANTHONY CAMPAGNA (MANORVILLE, NY): 78,000
47. DAJUAN WHORLEY (ACCOKEEK, MD): 75,500
48. WILLIAM HILL (SILVER SPRING, MD): 75,500
49. EDWARD PELLEGRINI (SAINT ROSE, LA): 72,000
50. MARGARET MARTIN (BROOKLYN, NY): 71,500
51. ALVIN DELGADO (MORRIS PLAINS, NJ): 68,000
52. PATRICK LOWRIE (CHARLOTTE, NC): 67,000
53. PEDRO MUNOZ (ELIZABETH, NJ): 62,500
54. EMANUEL FAILLA (COMMACK, NY): 60,000
55. JOSEPH GRODOWSKI (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 59,500
56. ANTHONY HILL (EGG HARBOR CITY, NJ): 56,000
57. CHRISTIAN FRANCIA (BAYONNE, NJ): 52,500
58. STEVEN MONACO (BAY SHORE, NY): 48,500
59. JOHN BARBIERI (RUNNEMEDE, NJ): 46,500
60. ROBERT NEGRIN (WEEKI WACHEE, FL): 42,500
61. FRANK BELIZARIO (GLENDALE, NY): 41,500
62. WILLIAM HAGIS (FREDERICK F, MD): 40,500
63. WILLIAM HICKEY (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 36,500
64. WILLIAM PRENTISS (WILLIAMSBERG, VA): 35,500
65. RONNIE BARDAH (STONEHAM, MA): 35,000
66. PHEN SU KHOU (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 29,500
67. DONALD LAWRENCE (NEW BERN, NC): 27,500
68. GLENN LAZELLE (ATLANTA, GA): 23,000
69. MATTHEW GINGRAS (DOYLESTOWN, PA): 22,000
70. THOMAS KRACINOVICH (GREAT MILLS, MD): 8,500

Event #1 Day 1 complete

Our first day of the 2009 Borgata Poker Open is in the books. Players remaining in Event #1 are now counting and bagging chips. 70 players will return tomorrow at 2pm to play down to our first champion of the series. As you would expect, the bustouts took off fast and furious immediately after the bubble as short stacks tried to build up or go home. No one wants to come back tomorrow with 3 big blinds. We have some monster stacks and some big names remaining.

The following players finished in the money but will not return. We will be back later this evening/morning with official chip counts starting Day 2.

71 - Mirsad Kovaci - $655
72 - Anthony Miggliacio - $655
73 - Jorge Rivera Carrero - $595
74 - Leonard Wychunas - $595
75 - Daniel Bajes - $595
76 - Louis Dobrick - $595
77 - Michael Ng - $595
78 - John Stojvanosky - $595
79 - Raymond Barth - $595
80 - Jonathan Vatcher - $595
81 - Thomas Murphy - $595

Event #1 Pop goes the Bubble

With just 15 minutes left before the scheduled end of day and we're finally in the money. It took 3 shots at hand-for-hand including Matt Stout running into Aces from a poor soul who was afraid to bubble out. It was just a small dent in his stack. Eventually we had a player who was all-in in the BB and got a little action. Unfortunately his 6-2 couldn't outrun a flopped pair of Aces.

I attempted to get his name and information, but after 14 hours of play you can understand that he wasn't in a talkative mood.

81 players remain and everyone is in the money. Spots 73 through 81 payout $595.

Bubble Time!

We have reached the bubble and Al is out and about on the tourney floor getting the action. We'll have it as it transpires.

Level 15 starts in 15 min

Level 14 just ended and we are down to 91 players (although that is not official). the bottom line is that we will play for at least one more level. If at that time we haven't broken the bubble, they will play until they do. We realistically could be here for two more levels assuming we are 10 off the bubble. Of course, the opposite could happen and we the bubble could break in two minutes after play resumes. Time will tell.

The chip leader is Chris Lyon who is sitting on just about 400k. Will Failla is at around 160k and Matt Stout is sitting on 190k.

Matt turned it around last level and said he really didn't understand it. "Cards just came, and people kept playing with me", said Matt. I witnessed one hand where, from the small blind, Matt raised the bb after the table had folded. The BB shoved his remaining stack which wasn't enough to illicit a fold from Stout holding any 2. The pot was now at 70k and the call from Stout sat less than 19k. He made that call proclaiming it was a gift, and opened up Js 5s.

The BB showed Ac Ks and the flop came As Ts 6h. The turn came a 5s giving Stout the flush and the bb a draw to the nut flush. Unfortunately for the bb, the river brough a meaningless Kh and ended his run. The bb had some words for Stout, and played them off as if he was talking to himself. Matt got a little upset over it for about 3 seconds. Right about the time the guy walked out of the room busted, and ready to turn in for the night.

"It's been a long day", said Stout. People are getting cranky, and after playing for that long and going out, no matter the circumstances, it's dejecting."

Alvin Delgado is the shortest stack in the field right now sitting at 35k and it looks as if he will need a miracle to make the money. We will let you know how he, and everyone else makes out.

Event #1 Level 14

We begin Level 14 very close to double digit players remaining. 107 start the level with an average stack around 80,000. Several of the big names we've been following throughout the day remain and continue to build up their stacks. Matt Stout, Mike Kalfa, Alvin Delgado, Will Failla and Roz Quarto are working the bubble.

From our perch it appeared that either Delgado or The Thrill were knocked out as both jumped out of their seats. A quick run over showed one of those suck REsuck hands that make people love this game. After a raise and call preflop, the board ran out 9-high with two spades. That's when all the money went in the middle.

One player was sitting very pretty when his pocket 9's flopped the pretty set and his opponents tens were looking in bad shape. That was right up until the turn and river came out with two other spades and Mr. Pocket Tens scooped with his four flush.

Bubble time is getting closer.

Who wants one??

22 of these trophies are up for grabs at this Borgata Poker Open.