BAG AND TAG - DAY 1A

Championship Event

Molinari - Unofficial Leader

More than half of the Day 1A starting field's been eliminated in the Borgata Poker Open Championship Event. Frank Molinari's the unofficial chip leader with 169k. "I'm pleased," he says, "I was running well and glad the day's over."

158 players are bagging and tagging as they advance to Monday's Day 2.

Day 1B kicks off 11 am Sunday and the field's expected to be double Saturday's total of 326. Notables that'll be playing include: Lacey Jones, Robert Varkoyni, Gavin Smith, Roy Winston, Gene Castro, Eric Siegel and Cathy Dever.

Unofficial Day 1A Chip Counts

Frank Molinari 169k
Anthony Gregg 160k
Sunil Waila 156k
Jeremy Brown 156k
Soheil Shamseddin 145k
Steve Brecher 139k
David Filippi 125k
Ray Henson 120k
Jonathan Little 111k
Michael Binger 110k

Other Notables

Chris Reslock 98k
Lee Childs 91k
Kathy Liebert 76k
Mike Leah 64k
Bill Blanda 50k
Matt Brady 43k
Theo Tran 35k
Matt Glantz 25k

Notable Bust Outs

Nick Frangos
JC Tran
Kenna James
Tony Cavezza
Victor Ramdin
Steve Dannenmann
Chino Reem
Amnon Filippi

EVENT #17

EVENT #17 has ended, and the players are checking out and cashing up.

Vitor Coehlo (Tampa, FL) wins the tournament and cashes for $107,100.








2cnd Place - Ralph Stoia $60,690
3rd Place - Jeff Coutroulis $33,380
4th Place - Michael Caruso $24,990
5th Place - Andrew Badecker $21,420
6th Place - Sharon Levin $17,850


Everyone at the final table, literally played their hearts out. "I feel as if I just gave birth. These guys were the toughest guys I ever played against. Towards the end, it was very tough to commit to a decision, even with a monster.", said Jeff Coutroulis.

Congratulations to Vitor!

DAY 1A HAS ENDED...

WPT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Event #18 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $3,300 + $200

Unofficial number of players remaining: 160
Official Chip Counts coming soon...

WPT Championship Event - 09' Borgata Poker Open

Tournament Director - Tab Duchateau


Day 1A Main Event - The Borgata Ballroom

Full Tilt Poker Pro - Steve Brecher

EVENT #17 - FINAL TABLE ELIMINATIONS

The incredible run of Mike Castaldo finally came to an end at the final table of Event #17. After being down to a single 5,000 chip before the money bubble burst, he went on a huge heater to grab the chip lead at one point. Castaldo couldn't keep put the pace and eventually bowed out in 10th place. Not a bad turn around.

8th - James Wheeler - $10,710
9th - Chris Dombowski - $7,140
10th - Mike Castalso - $4,641

STACK SIZES

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

Event #18 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $3,300 + $200

Blinds @ 250/500/50a
198 players remaining

CHIP COUNTS:

Steve Brecher - 118k
Jonathan Little - 98k
Michael Binger - 98k
Allen Bari - 92k
Todd Terry - 91k
Chris Reslock - 83k
Chino Rheem - 75k
Brent Keller - 71k
Kathy Liebert - 61k
Josh Brikis - 35k
Amnon Fillipi - 31k

EVENT #17 BACK FROM BREAK

The $1500 nlhe is back from dinner. However, 2 players were eliminated right before the break. Because they are playing all the way over the other side of the room, it's difficult to get live updates.

The 8 remaining and their chip stacks are:

Seat 1: James Wheeler $366k
Seat 2: Mike Caruso $356k
Seat 3: Andrew Badecker $833k
Seat 4: Vitor Coelho $887k
Seat 5: Sharon Levin $225k
Seat 6: Chris Dombrowski $160k
Seat 7: Jeff Coutroulis $388k
Seat 8: Ralph Stoia $363k

We'll have eliminations as they come....

NEVER ON BREAK

Championship Event

Hungry at the Table

After sitting at the poker table for 8 1/2 hours, the players are eager to stretch their legs and leave the Event Center for the 1 hour and 15 minute dinner break. Everyone except Derrick Burroughs (Harlem, NY).

"I'm not leaving until everyone's gone," he says scanning the room while eyeballing his opponent's stacks.

Burroughs knows it's a long road to the Championship Event title and that it starts with solid play on Day 1A. "It depends on the cards. I'll see a flop and then take it from there. No real game plan."

326 players began play at 11 AM and the other 209 remaining players are away from the table. "It's not something I normally do, but I've been here (Borgata) so many times I just feel comfortable here (at the table)," he says while chowing on two hot dogs in front of his 100k stack.

Burroughs feels more comfortable after taking chips from Angelo Miele (Davey, FL) who's been blasting away at the table. "I got a lot of his chips," he says, after taking a couple of healthy pots.

Burroughs ran into a Miele's straight earlier in the day when he called with king high. "I didn't believe him," Burroughs says, "I thought my high cards were good."

The average stack is 47k as players return from break.

They'll play two more levels Saturday before shutting it down for the day. Day 2 is Monday after Sunday's Day 1B.

EVENT #17 - FINAL TABLE

With our latest victim, we are now down to the final table for the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Event #17. They are off on their one hour dinner break and we are collecting chip counts. Below you can find the seat assignments and payouts.

Seat 1 - James Wheeler
Seat 2 - Mike Caruso
Seat 3 - Andrew Badecker
Seat 4 - Vitor Coelho
Seat 5 - Sharon Levin
Seat 6 - Chris Dombowski
Seat 7 - Jeff Coutroulis
Seat 8 - Abe Ayati
Seat 9 - Ralph Stoia
Seat 10 - Mike Castaldo

1st - $107,100
2nd - $60,690
3rd - $33,380
4th - $24,990
5th - $21,420
6th - $17,850
7th - $14,280
8th - $10,710
9th - $7,140
10th - $4,641

FOOD

*** ALL PLAYERS ON 1:15 DINNER BREAK ***

Event #18 - WPT Championship Event
Buy-In: $3,300 + $200
Number of Entrants: 326
Players remaining: 210

Tony "Bagels" Cavezza called off 10K chips on the river after Chris Reslock slowplayed his flopped nut flush. "I flopped top set, I can't get away from the hand, it's gross."

Poker journeyman, John Spadavecchia, raves about the structure and good food here at the Borgata. "The structures are great, there's some really good restaurants, I've always enjoyed this place" says the salty tournament veteran.

HITTING EVERYTHING

Championship Event

Miele Hits Again

One of the more animated players is Angelo Miele who holds court during breaks.

"I'm hitting everything," says the Davey, FL resident, "I've got three of a kind, trips, flushes, full houses. I came to this table and say, 'I haven't had a straight,' next thing you know I get a straight."

First hand back from break Miele continues his heater. On a board of [5 6 8] [5] [9] he bets 7k and his opponent reluctantly calls. "I got it again he says," showing (6 7) for the straight, followed by a bold move in asking the dealer to expose the mucked cards at the other end of the table.

The reveal shows (K J), "he's calling me with nothing," Meile shouts, as he scoops the 20k pot, "I want to see what he's playing."

"Keep it down," says a friendly voices at a nearby table, as the good-natured ribbing goes back and forth.

Miele's also quick to point out that he busted on the first hand of this year's WSOP Main Event when he called an all-in with (Q Q) against (A A). "The fact that I got past the first hand today, I'm doing alright," he says with healthy stack of 120k.

Level 6 (150/300/25) winding down.

Players start their dinner break at 7:25 PM.

FROM THE WEST COAST...

Event #18 - WPT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Buy-In: $3,300 + $200

A group of world-class Asian profssionals are in today's field.
The Borgata welcomes these members of The Poker Pack:

Quinn Do
Chino Rheem
JC Tran
Hien Tran

LEONARD CORTELINO OUT

Championship Event

Leonard Cortelino was sitting with a little less than a starting stack, but felt well about his game and chances. Until he picked up pocket Kings in middle position. An early raiser made it 700 to go with blinds at 100/200. Leonard smooth called and a player on the button made it 3500.

The original raiser folded and leonard re-popped to 13k. His re raise was met with a shove and Leonard called. He had his opponent covered by 600 chips.

With his pocket Kings proudly displayed, the opponent showed AQ off, and before he could get them all turned over, Leonard snorted out, "friggin of course... the door card".

Leonard was more than miffed and went to the rail to explain what happened to his friends. By the time he got back he put the rest of his 600 in blind, and was eliminated the next hand.

There is another half hour left in level 6 before they hit dinner break.

EVENT #17 - CASTALDO TOUGH TO KILL

Mike Castaldo's day has been all over the place since the Event #17 players took their seats. He started with one of the smaller stacks in the field but chipped up nicely before the bubble. He then took a huge hit when his flopped set of aces was rivered by Broadway leaving him with just a single 5,000 chip.

He moved all-in three consecutive hands, flopping a set and trips with two of those hands, and moved back up over 100,000. He lost a few chips in a big hand but just managed another double up to 150,000 when his AQ crushed an opponent's KQ with two aces on the flop and the case ace on the turn.

He could well prove the age old poker adage about "a chip and a chair" if he can manage to take down the tournament.

15 players still remain in Event #17 and waiting to see who makes the final table.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Championship Event

Chino Being Chino

After building a solid reputation in California and Las Vegas card rooms, David "Chino" Rheem was introduced to the mainstream poker world with his 7th place finish in the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

Here at Borgata, Rheem's slowly building his stack on day 1A of the Championship Event and is hovering around 80k after knocking out an opponent with (K J).

Rheem displays his colorful personality when asked how he's been playing. "I'm an animal kid, you know that," as he stacks his chips.

One other player chimes in, "Chino's, Chino. We're having fun."

Players are past the halfway point of Saturday's day as Level 5 (100/200/25 ante) continues.

They'll play through Level 8 before shutting it down.

260 of the 326 starting field remains with an average stack of 38k.

LEVEL 5

Championship Event

Liebert Stepping Up Her Game

A quick survey of notable chips stacks:

Chino Rheem 80k
Mike Leah 70k*
Kathy Liebert 50k
Steve Dannenmann 20k*

*Same table

Liebert was spotted early this morning in the Poker Room. "I was up early and couldn't sleep," she says after an erratic schedule had her at the tables at 6 AM.

The fact that she was in the Poker Room isn't unusual, but that she was playing in a $1/$2 NL cash game is, considering she's won millions in her career. "I wasn't there for the money, I was there for the social aspects," she says. "It's a good place to meet men, young guys in small games."

Level 5 (100/200/25 ante) continues.

ONE MORE CHANCE

Don't miss your chance to play for a $2 Million Guaranteed Prize Pool.

Last satellite runs tonight at 7pm.

Event #46 - ACT 2 SATELLITE
Buy-In: $700 + $50
1 in 5 players win entry to WPT Championship Event

EVENT #17 - MATT STOUT ELIMINATED

Matt "All in at 420" Stout began the day second in chips but will have to settle for 20th place money. His initial table draw had him battling with chip leader Chris Dombrowski and he shipped more than his share of chips that way.

The 27-player redraw moved him away from Dobrowski put him with Bill Gazes and Brian "SN8WMAN" Hawkins. Neither of those players figured in his final demise.

Mike Caruso called Stout's button raise from the small blind. Caruso check-called his bet on the 7s Th 4h flop. He then checked called Stout's bet on the 7d turn. Caruso finally put in a bet on the river when a third 7 and third heart hit the board. Stout re-raised Caruso all-in with Stout being covered.

Caruso went in the tank for a long while before finally calling. Caruso held nothing but a pair of baby ducks (22) but it was good enough to take Stout out with his 9h 8h.

Matt "All in at 420" Stout unhappily collects his $2,677 for finishing 20th.


Matt Stout finished 20th in Event #17

TRAN GONE

Championship Event

JC Tran busted early on Day 1A when his 56 offsuit failed to improve versus AQ. Tran turned a pair and an open-ended straight draw, but bricked on the end versus top pair. The veteran tournament pro was eliminated on one of the outer tables.

Notable names still playing on Day 1A:

Chino Rheem
Steve Brecher
Chris Reslock
Kenna James
Amnon Filippi
Victor Ramdin
Jonathan Little

EVENT #17 - IN THE MONEY

The $1,500 No Limit Hold'em tournament is now in the money with 27 players remaining.

29 players were still standing when Bill Gazes moved in on a Ac Qs Xc board. He was waiting for his opponent to make a decision whe the 4-seat player, not in the hand, called for the clock which set off a battle of words. While they were dealing that situation there was an elimination on both tables 2 and 3.

Players are now redrawing for the final 3 tables and everyone is now in the money.

MAKING IT TO LEVEL 3

Championship Event

They've only played two levels, but Steve Bottcher's already had a roller coaster day. "I'm just happy to see the card girls one more time," he says, just back from break.

Bottcher (Columbia, MD) builds his stack to 45k, drops to 10k when his set loses to a straight, but then doubles-up on the last hand before break. "I was on tilt from the hand before," he says. "I'm still alive, my heart skipped a beat, but I'm here."

Nobody wants to make an early exit this early in the Championship Event.

Level 3 (75/150) underway.

Bottcher Still Here

EVENT #17 - DAY 2 RESTART

While the rest of the room concentrates on the start of the WPT Championship, we still have to crown a winner in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event. It's a stacked field that starts the day with Chris Dombrowski, Matt "All in at 420" Stout, Don Matusow, Brian "SN8WMAN" Hawkins, and Bill Gazes still alive for the title. Dean Hamrick, our unfortunate shortstack, will have to pull a magic trick.

They continue in Level 13 with blinds at 1,500-3,000 300 ante, average chip stack around 125,000.

1 - Chris Dombrowski - 406,800
2 - Matt "All in at 420" Stout - 287,800
3 - Abe Ayati - 260,200
4 - Andrew Badecker - 256,400
5 - Jonathan Rodack - 189,800
6 - Don Matusow - 161,200
7 - Dennis Levy - 150,800
8 - Ralph Stoia - 148,200
9 - James Wheeler - 131,400
10 - Brian "SN8WMAN" Hawkins - 128,100
11 - Justin Adams - 108,100
12 - Robert Suer - 102,500
13 - Vitor Coelho - 95,300
14 - Jack Barnes - 88,000
15 - Michael Shasho - 83,800
16 - Jeff Coutroulis - 81,900
17 - Shawn Cunix - 80,500
18 - Frank Cullen - 72,300
19 - Jim French - 68,700
20 - Christos Arvanitis - 64,400
21 - Mike Caruso - 60,500
22 - Mike Castaldo - 59,000
23 - Darryle Price - 58,800
24 - Lance Carter - 55,600
25 - Bill Gazes - 54,500
26 - Sharon Levin - 50,000
27 - Armando Gabrielli - 48,800
28 - Leonard Parkin - 48,800
29 - George Lusby - 44,200
30 - Bob Lauria - 37,300
31 - Jeff Gottesman - 30,200
32 - Peter Collela - 29,500
33 - Alan Kraut - 24,200
34 - Dean Hamrick - 4,600

ZINGER BY BINGER

Championship Event

Binger & Blanda

Lots of recognizable names are in the field including Michael Binger (Delray Beach, FL), the third place finisher of the WSOP 2006 Main Event. On the first hand back from break, from the button, he tells fellow pro Bill Blanda (Galveston, TX), "if it folds to me I'm raising with any two cards," this while the big blind is absent.

"That's okay, I'll call you dark," Blanda says from the small blind.

The hand plays out exactly as hoped, Binger raises, Blanda calls. After a bet and call on the flop, Binger leads out again on the turn, Blanda mulls it over and folds showing (A J).

"Why didn't you reraise me?" Binger asks showing pocket queens.

"Just sick," Blanda says shaking his head.

Also at the table is Brent Keller (Horsham, PA), the 7th place finisher in the HOSE (Event #11), "I liked my table when I first sat down, but there was an empty seat. Then Michael Binger showed up, so I didn't like it as much."

Level three (75/150) continues.

LEVEL #3

Championship Event

Teal decks are in play as we enter level 3. 75/150 blinds to start the level and the boys are out and about trying to find the first bust outs, double ups, and movers.

We'll update the field shortly.

ROUND 2

Championship Event

With day 1a entering into level 2 (blinds 50/100) we have some early action. Frank Cieri gets into it with his opponent holding pocket 4's. The flop comes [4 3 5]. Frank leads out and his opponent calls. The turn brings the case [4]. Frank leads out again and his opponent calls again. The river brought a brick, and this time, Frank checks. Unfortunately, so does his opponent, who flips over the flopped wheel holding A 2.

Frank shows his quads, and the opponent states, "We're so deep here, I figured why bother with even a value bet on the river".

The room is filling up and with another 45 minutes or so remaining in late registration, we won't have an official number for at least another hour and a half. Some other notables that have shown up...

Steve Danneman is sitting at Mike Leah's table. Nicki Frangos is at table #22, Bill Blanda in at Brent Kellers starting table, and Adam Gerber, who had his third kid a few days ago is sitting at table #32.

Adam wanted to thank his wife for "allowing" him to play in this event being so close to the birth of his third son. I asked who wore the "pants" in the family, and he just smiled. I immediately knew that he must have gotten permission.

Matt Brady is playing today as are Mark Reynolds, and Kyle Bowker.

More action as it comes!

JAMESTOWN - KENNA GETS IT STARTED

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT UNDERWAY

The event has just gotten underway after Kenna James sung the National Anthem. He requested that all veterans and current members of the service stand up and be recognized before he belted out an unbelievable rendition.

So far there are more than 300 players seated and play has started. Each player starts with a $30k starting stack and levels go for an hour and 15 minutes. The first level starts at 25/50 allowing a ton of play. With the event being a $2 million guarantee, they certainly allow for a ton of play.

Late registration runs through the first two levels which will close it at just around 2pm. More players are taking their seats as I write this and the more are walking into the room.

Some of the notables playing today are Matt Glantz, Mike Leah, Brent Keller, Frank Cieri and Leonard Finkel.

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT #18 DAY 1A

It's an hour before the start of Event #18 and the event center is buzzing with personnel and media. Everything is ready to go.

I don't have a preliminary number as of yet, but they are set up for 400 in the room. Kenna James will be starting off the day with the singing of the National Anthem.

History has shown that day 1b's are always attended a little heavier than day 1a's. But with tomorrow being week 2 of the NFL, plus the Sunday online major events, time will tell.

The $1500 (Event #17) will finish up today as well. We will bring news, highlights, player profiles, pictures, and even some video throughout the day. Stay tuned!

DONE FOR THE DAY

The Borgata Ballroom has emptied out for the night as players, dealers and floor personnel gear up for a big day tomorrow...Bring your game!

Saturday September 19, 2009

Day 1A of the WPT Championship Main Event starts at 11am.

EVENT #16 WINNER

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $500 + $60

CHAMPION

Adam Adler (Fort Lauderale, FL)
1st Place - $59,242

PRO COMES CLOSE...

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $500 + $60

David Baker (Katy, TX)
2nd Place -$32,084

THE WRECKING BALL

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em
Buy-In: $500 + $60

"Real amateurs can't hide..."

Steve "the Wrecking Ball" Fiorentini (Winchester, MA)
3rd Place - $16,560

EVENT #17 - END OF DAY

Things really began to crawl over the last two levels of play. The stacks in relation to the blinds meant that no one really had to put themselves at risk with pushy preflop moves. We only lost a few players since the last break and 34 players will now return at 2pm tomorrow to continue through to the money and beyond.

The player most unhappy about the day ending would be Dean Hamrick. On the shortstack, he was encouraging his table mates to get moving so he could get doubled or get moving. When he finally got in a spot to add chips, he found himself in a 3-way allin pot holding 66 versus AA and KJsoooted. The river brought a flush to the KJd hand, a straight to Hamrick, and the AA finished third in the hand. Hamrick had the guy covered by just 4,600 and play was ended for the day. He implored the floor staff to deal one more hand but the decision was made.

As the players were bagging their chips we picked up a few counts along the way in addition to the 4,600 Hamrick stack. The chip leader in the clubhouse appears to be Chris Dombrowski with 406,800. Matt "All in at 420" Stout finished the day very comfortable with 287,300. Bill Gazes comes back to 54,500 in chips and Jeff Coutroulis with 81,900.

Play will start with 30 minutes remaining in Level 13. Blinds will be at 1,500-3,000 and 300 ante. The average chip stack is around 125,000.

Back tomorrow as they play down to the $107,100 first place.

GONE IN 4TH...

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em'

Buy-In: $500 + $60

Shawn Pilot (North Hills, CA)

4th Place - $14,490

DOWN TO 4...

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $500 + $60

Mike Moore (N Cape May, NJ)
5th Place - $12,420

Pietro Mastroserio (Franklin Square, NY)
6th Place - $10,350

EVENT #16 - FINAL TABLE

Event #16 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $500 + $60

Brian Goldstein (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

7th Place - $8,280

POKER CASH THURSDAYS

Poker Cash Thursday $600 Winner - Mr. Gorilla

September is the month to get paid for just being at Borgata, specifically Thursday's.

The special promotion, "Poker Cash Thursdays," is a chance for players to pick up money extra money in the Poker Room

Congratulations to my dad, Mr. Gorilla, for claiming $600 this week. "I had a feeling I was going to hit," he says, "that's one reason why I didn't play in the Seniors Event."

Play live action each Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in September and collect entries to win CASH!

Drawings every Thursday in September:

12PM - $200
2PM - $400
4PM - $600
6PM - $800
8PM - $1,000

One more Thursday left, so get after it!

FULL DETAILS