Event 20 - 10th place Marella

$350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Blinds 15K/30K Antes 4K

Divakar Marella moved all in for just over 200K and was called by Chris Cornell. Marella had 9's and was against Cornell's pocket jacks. Marella needed a lot of help and would get it when he flopped a nine. The turn was cruel, however... a jack to give Cornell a bigger set. No miracle nine on the river and Marella was the first player eliminated.

Divakar Marella (McLean, VA) - $1,492

Event 19: Bag & Tag, Still Bubbling

$1500 + $150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)


Play ends for the night with the field stuck at 10, one spot off the money.

After playing for more than one hour, play is shutdown and resumes at high noon.

Jay Nair (Redmond, WA) is the chip leader with 435,500, while the short stack is Michael Malm,(Ontario, CAN) 34,500. Also in the field is WPT Player of the year Matt Salsberg (Studio City, CA) with 99k.

The average stack is 186k (37 bb) with blinds resuming at 2,500/5k/500 ante as play was stopped mid-level.

Final Table

Seat-Name-Chip Count

1 Matt Salsberg (Studio City, CA) 99,000
2 Michael Gagliano, (Glen Gardner, NJ) 335,000
3 Jesse Yaginuma (Los Angeles, CA) 338,500
4  Ken "Teach" Aldrich (Pleasant Garden, NC) 114,500
5 Jay Nair (Redmond, WA) 435,500
6  Michael Malm,(Ontario, CAN) 34,500
7 Thomas Hoglund (New Bedford, MA) 102,500
8 Mike Melkersen (New Market, VA) 135,000
9  Roger Lussier (East Islip, NY) 138,500
10 John Iraj (Garden City, N)130,500

Prize Pool

Place-Amount

1st $47,360
2nd $25,710
3rd $16,238
4th $12,178
5th  $9,472
6th  $8,119
7th  $6,766
8th  $5,413
9th  $4,059

Event 20 Update

$350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12K/24K Ante 3K

There are 11 players remaining, average stack is 615K (25 big blinds). James Woods just lost a big pot when he flopped a bigger set than his opponent but his opponent hit quads. Woods is still over a million though.

Event 19 - Final table set

$1500 + $150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 2K/4K Ante 400

The final table is set but there's still work to be done as only nine get paid. The chip counts and seating assignments are as follows:

Seat 1: Matt Salsberg, Studio City, CA 125K
Seat 2: Michael Gagliano, Glen Gardner, NJ 415K
Seat 3: Jesse Yaginuma, Los Angeles, CA 350K
Seat 4: Ken Aldridge, Pleasant Garden, NC 112K
Seat 5: Jay Nair, Redmond, WA 220K
Seat 6: Michael Malm, Ontario, CAN 170K
Seat 7: Thomas Hoglund, New Bedford, MA 160K
Seat 8: Mike Melkersen, New Market, VA 45K
Seat 9: Roger Lussier, East Islip, NY 155K
Seat 10: John Iraj, Garden City, NY 145K

Event 17 Recap

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Two Borgata trophy winners were heads up for the title, but it wasn't close as Brian O'Donohue (Bayside, NY) used a 7 to 1 chip lead to defeat Alex Rocha (S. Setauket, NY) for the title.  O'Donohue held 6♥ 5♥ on the final hand and flopped a six to beat Rocha's pocket 4s.

"This is prestigious," says O'Donoghue who won his third Borgata trophy and earned $60,663 for the win, "everyone in the poker world was saying this was a crazy tough final table, so to win it means something."

The win prevented Rocha's bid for a second Borgata trophy. "I'm happy, no regrets," said Rocha who nursed a short stack most of the final table, "I played well."

O'Donoghue got most of the chips in a 4 million chip pot against third place finisher Ronnie Bardah (Brockton, MA) when O'Donoghue's pocket 10s held against Ace-Jack. Bardah's WSOP bracelet and nearly $1 million in career tournament earnings was just part of the final table prestige.

In addition to O'Donoghue and Rocha's trophies, two other players are Borgata winners.

4th place finisher Russell Crane (Howell, NJ) won the 2011 Borgata Spring Poker Open Championship as part of his $1 million in career earnings, while Kevin Calenzo (Las Vegas, NV) won his trophy in the $1K event during the 2010 Borgata Poker Open.

Sixth place finisher Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA) earned his 11th career Borgata cash, while two-time WSOP circuit ring holder Daniel Gilmer (Ashland, OH) rounded out the final seven.

The final stage made it an impressive win for O'Donoghue, who made a name for himself in the 2012 Borgata Poker Open when he won consecutive tournaments for two straight trophies. 

Day 2 began with 24 player who were all going after the $246,000 total buy-in created by the 236 entries.

Those who cashed in this talented laden field included Borgata trophy winners John DiBella (10th), Mike Linster (12th), who has two titles, Jack Schanbacher (15th), Tyler Patterson (18th), Steve Scales (19th) and "Action" Bob Hwang (24th).

Also in the money was WPT Champion Jonathan Little (16th).

Final Table Results
 
Entries: 236
Total Buy-in:  $236,000

Place-Name-Amount

1st Brian O'Donoghue (Bayside, NY) $60,663
2nd Alex Rocha (S. Setauket, NY) $36,055
3rd Ronnie Bardah (Brockton, MA) $27,470
4th Russell Crane (Howell, NJ) $21,747
5th Kevin Calenzo (Las Vegas, NV) $17,169
6th Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA) $12,591
7th Daniel Gilmer (Ashland, OH) $9,729

Event 17 Winner - O'Donoghue

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Brian O'Donoghue (Bayside, NY) 

$60,663

It doesn't take long for Brian O'Donoghue to finish off Alex Rocha to earn his third Borgata trophy.

O'Donoghue begins heads up play with a 4 million to 700k chip lead, nearly 7 to 1, and gets the win on the first all in.

Rocha:4♦ 4♥

O'Donoghue: 6♥ 5♥

Board: 8-6-K-10-3

O'Donoghue wins the flip with a 6 on the flop and dodges Rocha's two-outer on the turn and river.

"This is prestigious," says O'Donoghue who earns $60,663 for the win, "everyone in the poker world was saying this was a crazy tough final table, so to win it means something."

The final six played for nearly three hours before the first elimination and featured Ronnie Bardah, Russell Crane, Abe Faroni and Kevin Calenzo.

O'Donoghue made a name for himself in the 2012 Borgata Poker Open when he won consecutive tournaments for two straight trophies. 

"I hope I go back-to-back again," says O'Donoghue, who's next tournament will be Monday's Day 1B of the WPT Borgata Championhip Event.

In addition to the title, trophy and cash, O'Donoghue also gets a framed winner's photo.

Won the borg 6 max. Crazy tough FT. They all played amazingly.
— Brian O'Donoghue (@Brian__OD) September 15, 2013

Event 17: 2nd Place - Rocha

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

 Alex Rocha (S. Setauket, NY) 

$36,055

Alex Rocha's bid for a second Borgata trophy comes up short when he finishes runner-up to Brian O'Donoghue who wins his third title.

"I'm happy, no regrets," says Rocha who began heads up with a huge chip disadvantage, "I played well."

Rocha's in a coin flip on his final hand with pocket 4s, but O'Donoghue flops a pair with 5♥ 6♥ and Rocha doesn't hit a set on the turn or river.

Rocha earns $36,055 as runner-up.

Event 17: 3rd Place - Bardah

 $1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 20k/40k/4k ante

Ronnie Bardah (Brockton, MA) 

$27,470

Ronnie Bardah raises to 80k, Brian O'Donohue makes it 200k, Bardah pops it to 460k, O'Donohue moves all in for 2.2 million and barely has Bardah covered.  After a few minutes, Bardah tank-calls.

Bardah: A♠ J♣

O'Donohue: 10♠ 10♣

Flop: 2♣ Q♣ 7♠ (O'Donohue still leads)

Turn: 9♣  (Bardah adds higher flush draw)

River: 2♠

O'Donohue wins the huge 4 million chip pot and is now heads up with Alex Rocha for the title.

Bardah takes home $24,470 for his third place finish.

Heads Up Chip Counts

Brian O'Donohue 4 million

Alex Rocha 700k

Just lost a race for 85 percent of chips in play.Took 3rd place.Thx for all the support and GL's.Always Love the Love:)
— Ronnie Bardah (@RonnieBardah) September 15, 2013

Fight Night at Borgata

There are more people in the tournament area watching the Mayweather fight on the big screen then there are playing poker. That being said, there is still some poker going on here. The six max is down to four players. The $1500 + $150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) is down to 11 players, 2 away from the money. The average stack is at 169K with the blinds at 1.5K/3K (400 ante) meaning the average stack has 56 big blinds.

James Woods is still leading the way in Event #19, the $350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) tournament, with 1.1 million but a few others are chipping up and approaching his stack size. There are 16 players left in that tournament with an average stack of 422K. The blinds are 8K/16K (2K ante) meaning the average stack has 26 big blinds.

 Fight Night

Event 17: 4th Place - Crane

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 30k/60k/4k ante

Russell Crane (Howell, NJ)

$21,747

On a flop of K♠ 6♠ 8♦, Russell Crane check-raises Ronnie Bardah from 69k to 205k and Bardah calls.

Turn: 7♦

Crane open shoves for 625k and Bardah snap calls.

Bardah: 7♥ 6♥ (two pairs)

Crane: K♥ Q♦ (pair of Kings)

River: 5♥

Bardah's two pairs hold and he takes his stack to 2.2 million.

Crane is out in 4th place for $21,747.

Final Three Chip Counts

Ronnie Bardah 2.2 million (73 bb)
Brian O'Donoghue 1.7 million (57 bb)
Alex Rocha 1.3 million (43 bb)

Event 17: 5th Place - Calenzo

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 15k/30k/4k ante

Kevin Calenzo (Las Vegas, NV) 

$17,169

In a blind vs blind, short stack vs short stack Kevin Calenzo's day ends at the hands of Alex Rocha.

Calenzo: 10♥ 8♥

Rocha: A♥ 6♥

Flop: 6 2 3 (Rocha pair of 6s)

Turn: A (Rocha two pairs, Calenzo drawing dead)

River: 8

"Great an 8 on the river," laments the good natured Calenzo, who ships 350k to Rocha, who is now close to 1 million chips.

Calenzo finishes in 5th place for $17,169.

Event 20 Update

$350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 6K/12K Ante 2K

We're down to 23 players with an average stack of 293K (24 big blinds). James Woods continues to run good as he picked up Aces against A-K and then flopped a set of 3's against an opponent's jacks. He is by far the chip leader with just under one million in chips.

Event 17: Calenzo Doubles Through Barda

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Perpetual short stack Kevin Calenzo isn't going anywhere as he gets a double-up through chip leader Ronnie Bardah.

Calenzo's AK holds against AJ to which Bardah says, "I can't believe I had to call."

Calenzo doubles 306 to more than 600k, while Bardah is still the leader at 1.4 million.

Event 17: Fight Night

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

 Event Center Big Screens

While the final five players fight to hand on to their chips, rail birds have their eyes on the big screens and the fights in the Event Center.

The Mayweather/Alvarez title bout is set to go and boxing fans have been keeping an eye on the poker and the under card.

Also in the Event Center, the 4 pm satellite just wrapped, while the 7 pm continues; plus a $350 +$40 sit-n-go is underway.

"Little Man" Mike Sica (center) Checking Out the Action

Event 20 - Woods running good

$350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 5K/10K Ante 1K

Hard to not write about James Woods when he is running so hot. An older gentleman threw out a single 25K chip from the cutoff meaning to raise but it was ruled just a call. Woods was in the big blind and checked his option. The flop came A♦Q♦2♦ and James checked. The older gentleman moved all in for 135K and Woods called instantly. A-Q for the all in and 8♦3♦ for a flopped flush. James still had to avoid an ace or queen and was able to do so. He's up to 596K after that hand. There are 34 players remaining with an average stack of 198K (20 big blinds).

Event 19 Update

$1500 + $150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 1.2K/2.4K Ante 300

The drama from earlier won't have the opportunity to go any further as Deemo Monosson has busted out. We are down to 12 players with an average stack of 155K (65 big blinds). We are going to play through the completion of level 16. Currently there is about 10 minutes left in level 14.

Event 17: 6th Place - Faroni

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12k/24k/3k ante

Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA) 

$12,591

Abe Faroni puts his last 500k all in with pocket 10s against the AJ of Ronnie Bardah.

Flop: A-9-3

Bardah hits an Ace and dodges the last two 10s in the deck to take his stack to nearly 1.5 million.

Faroni finishes in 6th place for $12,591.

Event 17: No Change

$1,000 + $90 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12k/24k/3k ante

In the last two hours, the only action we've seen is Kevin Calenzo all in three times, but has yet to be called.  On the last hand he flashes Q♥ J♥ after 3-betting Russell Crane's initial raise.

Ronnie Bardah 1 million (42 bb)
Brian O'Donoghue 950k
Alex Rocha 935k
Russell Crane  790k
Abe Faroni 660k
Kevin Calenzo 400k (17 bb)

Event 20 - In the money!

$350 + $50 Big Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 4K/8K Ante 1K

The bubble burst quick and we're in the money. 36 players remain with an average stack of 188K (23 big blinds). The aforementioned James Woods appears to be the chip leader with approximately 375K in chips. He joked that he had 400K but that an opponent "cracked my deuces."

James Woods with lots of chips

Event 19 - The heat is on

$1500 + $150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 1K/2K Ante 300

There are 14 players left with an average stack of 133K (66 big blinds). A bit of high drama between Matt Salsberg and Deemo Monosson going on that required the floor to step in. After winning a hand, Deemo screeched loud like a bird. Salsberg called the floor over to ask him to be quiet. They aren't at the same table and Deemo turns his head to look at him. "He's acting like a five year old," Salsberg explained his frustrations to the floor person. Deemo glares at Matt and calls him something we won't repeat in this blog - suffice it to say it was very derogatory. "Let's go outside," Deemo says to Matt and then proceeds to whisper to his wife "one more time and I'm going to knock his f***ing head off". The floor did the best they could to calm the peace but definitely a situation to keep an eye on as we near the final table and the money.