ParxBigStaxV

Monday, March 10, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 1st Place - Alabsi ($164,469)

Level 29 (Blinds 75,000/150,000/25,000)
Players Remaining: 0

Emad Alabsi (Cleveland, OH)
1st Place - $164,469

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 2nd Place - Guttman ($102,796)

Level 29 (Blinds 75,000/150,000/25,000)
Players Remaining: 0

Henry Guttman (Brooklyn, NY)
2nd Place - $102,796

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Heads Up Play

Level 29 (Blinds 75,000/150,000/25,000)
Players Remain: 2
Chip Average: 11,800,000

Emad Alabsi is slowly chipping away at Henry Guttman, and he now has a three to one chip advantage. Alabsi has been very chatty heads up, doing his best to get under the skin of Guttman.

Alabsi - 18,000,000
Guttman - 5,500,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Level Up

Heads up play continues after a (10) minute break, with the blinds going up to 75,000/150,000/25,000. The tournament floor will color off the grey (5,000) chips, and the two remaining players will continue until one has all the chips.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Heads Up Chip Counts

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)

Players Remaining: 2

Chip Average: 11,700,000

Emad Alabsi (15,000,000)

Henry Guttman (8,500,000)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 3rd Place - St. Vincent ($62,637)

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 11,800,000

Brad St. Vincent (Bristol, RI)
3rd Place - $62,637

In only a few minutes Brad St. Vincent went from the chip leader (three-handed), to out of the tournament. The first hand after the players decided to not chop, Brad lost a 6,000,000 pot to Emad Alabsi. It would be Alabsi who took him out as St. Vincent shipped on the 10♣ 3♠ 3♣ flop, only to see how bad of shape he was in. Brad showed K 10, but from his look almost seemed to know he was beat, as Emad tabled K K. Brad would turn club outs, but end up bricking the river .

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Three-Handed Chip Counts

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 7,850,000

Here are the three handed chip counts:

Emad Alabsi - 10,000,000
Henry Guttman - 6,800,000
Brad St. Vincent - 5,400,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Discussion Over

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 7,850,000 (79 BB)

One of the three remaining players have decided he does not want to chop, and play will continue.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 4th Place - Pahuja ($44,682)

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 7,850,000

Vinny Pahuja (New York, NY)
4th Place - $44,482

Once Dan Wach was eliminated, Vinny would be the shortest of the four players remaining. After opening the button, Pahuja was three bet out of the big blind by St. Vincent. Vinny then four bet all-in and was called by Brad.

Pahuja's K J < A 2 of Vincent, drawing very thin on the A 8 3 flop. Vinny is always the consummate professional, and wished his opponents good luck as he walked to the cage. The three remaining players are now discussing a chop while the clock is paused.

4th for 45k. 4b jammed my last 24bbs BTN vs BB w KQss and lost to Ad2d. Thx the GLs! Thx @parxpokerroom for a great event
— Vinny Pahuja (@vinpahuja) March 11, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 5th Place - Wach ($34,402)

Level 28 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 4
Chip Average: 5,900,000

Dan Wach (Boonton, NJ)
5th Place - $34,402

Players came back ready to play, and the action was swift right out of the gates. Only a few hands in Dan would lose 10 10 < A Q for a 6,000,000 pot. Moments afterwards in a blind v. blind situation, Dan's K J < Q 9 of Brad St. Vincent. Although the finish may feel disappointing for Wach (who is used to getting heads up once making it this far), it definitely cements him as one of the more dangerous players in the field (when he steps away from the cash game).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Dinner Counts

Here are the chip counts going into dinner break:

Emad Alabsi - 2,900,000
Vinny Pahuja - 2,300,000
Henry Guttman - 6,200,000
Brad St. Vincent - 7,000,000
Dan Wach - 4,700,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 6th Place - Glantz ($27,070)

Level 27 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 4,000,000 (50 BB)

Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hills, PA)
6th Place - $27,070

After winning the pot against TJ Shulman, Brad St. Vincent was once again healthy, and it wouldn't take long for him to get into another huge pot. After St. Vincent opened, Wach called behind and Glantz three-bet. Brad would then four-bet, Wach would fold behind, and Glantz would five-bet shove.

St. Vincent was thinking for a little, talking aloud and saying that if he lost he'd be super short (this pot would basically be for the chip lead). Brad said he couldn't fold, and made the call:

Glantz: K K St. Vincent: Q Q

Flop: 6 8 Q

Turn: J

River: 10

This was Matt's first Big Stax (trophy event) final table, and largest tournament cash here as well. The end of level came only moments after the conclusion of the hand, and dinner break counts will be posted shortly.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Dinner Break

The remaining six players will be going on a (75) minute dinner break, and will return at approximately 9:00pm. Live coverage of the event will continue once pay has resumed.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 7th Place - Shulman ($22,204)

Level 27 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 3,600,000 (44 BB)

TJ Shulman (Boyton Beach, FL)
7th Place - $22,204

TJ Shulman (Boyton Beach, FL) took his last hand in stride, as difficult as it may have been. He was the shortest stack at the table (in the big blind), and Brad St. Vincent was the second shortest stack in the small blind. When the action folded around the Brad he shoved all-in and would be immediately called:

Shulman: A A St. Vincent: 9 10

Flop: Q 7 8

Turn: 6

River: X

This Shulman's second Big Stax final table (final tabled this same event in May), and coming into he was the second shortest stack in the field, so he can't be too disappointed.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts

Level 27 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 3,300,000 (40 BB)

Here are the updated counts for remaining players:

Emad Alabsi - 3,600,000
Matt Glantz - 3,000,000
Vinny Pahuja - 2,100,000
Henry Guttman - 4,300,000
Brad St. Vincent - 1,700,000
TJ Shulman - 900,000
Dan Wach - 7,100,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Pahuja Doubles

Level 27 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 3,300,000 (40 BB)

7 left. Just got all in for the second time all tourney and TT > 99. 2.1mm at 80k. $22k locked up. @parxpokerroom 1600 Day 3
— Vinny Pahuja (@vinpahuja) March 10, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 8th Place - Grodowski ($17,457)

Level 26 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)

Players Remaining: 7

Chip Average: 3,300,000

Joe Grodowski (Staten Island, NY)
8th Place - $17,457

Joe had lost a crucial pot only moments before his last, as he shoved his remaininig eight blinds in over an open from Henry Guttman. The action would fold back around to Henry and he would make the call:

Joe: A 10 Guttman: J J

Flop: Q 3 8

Turn: J

River: J

With that cash Joe brings his career tournament earnings over $140,000 and gets his first recorded cash at Parx.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 9th Place - Temel ($13,226)

Level 27 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 8
Chip Average: 2,900,000

Izzet Burak Temel (Arlington, VA)
9th Place - $13,226

Joe Grodowski opened the pot to 180,000 and Dan Wach flatted behind. The action would fold around to Temel (in the small blind), who would three-bet to 625,000. Joe would fold behind and Wach would four-bet enough to put Temel all-in (Temel would call):

Temel: 10 10 Wach: A K

Flop: 10 8 J

Turn: 3

River: Q

For Izzet to chop the Big Stax 500 would be considered a great series…but for him to repeat that with a final table in this main trophy event is above the rim. Temel will definitely consider these past few weeks as his breakout point in the poker world.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Break Time Chip Counts

Here are the chip counts from break:

Emad Alabsi - 1,600,000
Matt Glantz - 2,200,000
Vinny Pahuja - 1,000,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 2,600,000
Henry Guttman - 2,300,000
Brad St. Vincent - 2,800,000
Joe Grodowski - 2,400,000
TJ Shulman - 2,900,000
Dan Wach - 5,200,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Deep Waters

Level 26 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)

Players Remaining: 9

Chip Average: 2,600,000

The play at the final table is still super deep, and we haven't seen many huge pots since going down to 10 players. The shortest stack of the players left now belongs to Vinny Pahuja (just over 1,000,000), and Emad Alabsi managed to crawl out of the dreaded ten big blind point.

Players will finish this level (20 minutes), and then go on a (10) minute break. Once Level 27 is finished, the players left will go on their dinner break.

Big Stax (Heads Up): Round 4 Results

Big Stax $500 Heads-Up NL (Round of 8)

Kenny Kavowras def. Chris Deoliveira
Tim Mullen def. Robert Gallagher
Dean Chen def. David Datashvili
Jason Rivkin def. Russ Denlevy

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts

Level 26 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)

Players Remaining: 9

Chip Average: 2,600,000

Emad Alabsi - 570,000
Matt Glantz - 2,900,000
Vinny Pahuja - 1,100,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 2,600,000
Henry Guttman - 4,100,000
Brad St. Vincent - 3,100,000
Joe Grodowski - 1,900,000
TJ Shulman - 2,600,000
Dan Wach - 3,200,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 10th Place - Cohen ($9,937)

Level 26 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)

Players Remaining: 9

Chip Average: 2,600,000 (43 BB)

Jesse Cohen (Ardmore, PA)
10th Place - $9,937

Jesse Cohen was down to two big blinds, and he got his last chips in ahead versus TJ Shulman. Cohen's A2 < J5 of Shulman after Shulman flops a flush draw, and then rivers a pair of fives to win the pot.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Much Ado About Nothing

Level 26 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 2,400,000 (40 BB)

There was just a 4,000,000 pot between TJ Shulman and Izzet Burak Temel, but the tanking and posturing was all for not. On the Q Q J board, Temel was really at a decision with TJ having bet enough for Temel to commit his stack. With two players super short (Cohen and Alabsi), a misstep could of be terrible for Temel. All of the chips did end up getting in the middle, but both players held A Q and it would be a chop.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Level Up

Players took their (10) minute break moments ago, so the blinds are now going up to 30,000/60,000/10,000 (2,300,000 chip average).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Final Table/Payouts

Here is the final table with chip counts, as well as the payouts for the players remaining:

Emad Alabsi - 600,000
Matt Glantz - 2,900,000
Vinny Pahuja - 1,400,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 2,700,000
Henry Guttman - 4,100,000
Brad St. Vincent - 3,300,000
Jesse Cohen - 340,000
Joe Grodowski - 1,300,000
TJ Shulman - 2,100,000
Dan Wach - 4,000,000

Payouts:

$164,469
$102,796
$62,637
$44,682
$34,402
$27,070
$22,204
$17,475
$13,226
$9,937

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 11th Place - Tuthill ($9,937)

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 2,300,000

Nathan Tuthill (Fredericksburg, VA)
$11th Place - $9,937

Nathan open shoved his remaining 600,000 from the hijack, and got called by Dan Wach (who was the button). The two blinds fold behind:

Nathan: A 10 Dan: K♥ Q♥

Flop: 3♥ 6♦ 8♥

Turn: 7♥

River: 2♥

The remaining players are now getting new seats at the final table and taking a (10) minute break. This break will replace the end of level break (which was to happen in five minutes anyway).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Shulman Doubles

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 2,100,000

TJ Shulman is now over 2,800,000 as he doubles through Izzet Burak Temel. TJ had flopped a set of nines (on a nine high board), and had Temel calling both the flop and turn bets. After Shulman bet the river, Temel raised enough to put Shulman all-in and he immediately called. Temel's hand was never tabled, and we no have a shift in power between the two:

TJ Shulman - 2,800,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 1,400,000

Big Stax (Heads Up): Round 3 Results

Big Stax $500 Heads-Up NL (Round of 16)

Chris Deoliveira def. Cathy Dever
Kenny Kavowras def. Jeff Wicker
Robert Gallagher def. Sardor Gaziev
Tim Mullen def. William Daloisi
Dean Chen def. Joseph Stiers
David Datashvili def. Erik Wolfensen
Russ Dunlevy def. Brian Erhardt
Jason Rivkin def. Brian Hewitt

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Alabsi Doubles

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 2,100,000

Emad Alabsi just doubled through Brad St. Vincent in a blind v. blind matchup. There was an open by Alabsi, and Brad jammed from the big blind. Alabsi would make the call and would flip well as his
77 > J9 on St. Vincent, with Brad drawing dead on the turn.

Emad Alabsi - 1,200,000
Brad St. Vincent - 3,500,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Two Shorties

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 2,100,000

Players are one elimination away from the final table, and at the moment there are two players with stacks less than 20 bigs. Emad Alabsi (600,000) and Jesse Cohen (400,000) are patiently picking there spots, with Cohen shoving once since returning and getting through.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Break Time

Players are on a (10) minute break, and when they return the blinds will be going up to 20,000/40,000/5,000 (2,100,000 chip average). Here are the updated counts from break:

Table 57:

Vinny Pahuja - 1,800,000
Jesse Cohen - 350,000
Joe Grodowski - 1,400,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 3,000,000
Henry Guttman - 3,900,000
TJ Shulman - 1,700,000

Table 58:

Dan Wach - 3,100,000
Emad Alabsi - 600,000
Brad St. Vincent - 4,200,000
Matt Glantz - 1,600,000
Nathan Tuthill - 1,300,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 12th Place - Patel ($9,937)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 1,950,000

Akash Patel (Mechanicsburg, PA)
12th Place - $9,937

Akash Patel was beginning to build a little stack after getting some all-ins through, and scooping up little pots here and there. He opened from the hijack and was called by Dan Wach in the big blind. The flop would run out 7♠ 7♣ 9♠, and after being check-raised by Wach on the flop, Patel would three-bet jam:

Patel: K♥ 7♥ Wach: 5♠ 6♠

Turn: J♠

River: x

Patel would have himself in good position to double up, and get over the average for the first time since the middle of Day 2, but Wach's run good stole the pot away.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 13th Place - Dehlin ($8,224)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 12
Chip Average: 1,750,000

Barry Dehlin (Dresher, PA)
13th Place - $8,224

The action was caught on the flop of J 8 9, and Dehlin had check called a 150,000 bet for St. Vincent. After the 4 on the turn Dehlin check-raised St. Vincents's 350,000 bet, declaring himself all-in for close to 1,000,000. St. Vincent made the call, and the hands were tabled:

Dehlin: J 10 St. Vincent: A A

River: 5

Dehlin would be behind when he shoved, and would find no help on the river. Barry started the day with over 2,000,000, but couldn't really seem to find much traction in the early stages of Day 3…eventually leading to his departure.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): 14th Place - Lillis ($8,224)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 13
Chip Average: 1,670,000

Jimmy Lillis (Robinsville, NJ)
14th Place - $8,224

Lillis was one of the shorter stacks remaining, and when the action would fold to him on the button, he would shove his remaining 400,000. Izzet Burak Temel would call out of the big blind, and Lillis would be behind. The K 10 < A 9 for Lillis, and he would be our first person to be eliminated on Day 3.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Grodowski Doubles

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)

Players Remaining: 14

Chip Avergae: 1,600,000

It didn't take long for Joe Grodowski to recover the chips lost in the pot with Guttman. After the action folded around to Jesse Cohen on the button, he shoved (covering both Lillis and Grodowski in the blinds). Joe would make the call, and his AQ > 44 on the K 8 8 10 J runout. It seemed as if Cohen had to fade the word going into the river, and he just couldn't sweat out the find card. Joe's all-in was for 625,000, giving hime over 1,300,000 and taking Cohen down to less than eight blinds.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Grodowski v. Guttman

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 1,600,000

The action was picked up on the flop (Q♠ 3♣ 5♦) between Joe Grodowski and Henry Guttman. Henry bet 140,000 into a pot of 320,000, and Grodowski check raised to 350,000. Henry then put in a three-bet enough to put Joe all-in, and he tanked for at least three minutes before folding. The loss would bring Joe down to 500,000, while Henry pads his chip lead.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Slow Start

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 1,600,000

About half the way through the first level, and not too much to note in lines of action. Since doubling earlier, TJ Shulman has been involved in a lot of pots, and has chipped back down to 450,000. Akash Patel has used a few timely all-ins that have gotten through, as he tries to dig himself out from the short stack. The chip lead is really neck and neck at the moment between Temel and Guttman, with the two sitting directly next to each other, and getting involved in many pots heads up.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Shulman Doubles

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 1,600,000

TJ Shulman came into the day the second shortest stack of the fourteen. Only two hands in his ships from the small blind, and gets called from Vinny Pahuja in the big. TJ wasn't too pleased to see Vinny table QQ against his K5, but there was a king in the window, and TJ would double to 860,000.

Only a few hands later TJ would once more get it in with a set, but would come out of the hand with a chop as the board ran out all diamonds.

First hand of the deck lose 900k pot. TJ shoves SB I snap QQ and lose to K5. 1.85mm at 30k. 14 left. @parxpokerroom 1600 Day 3
— Vinny Pahuja (@vinpahuja) March 10, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Cards In The Air

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 1,600,000

All of the players have arrived on time and action is already underway. The final fourteen is a mix of grizzled veterans, up and coming youngsters, and a few amateurs. A very interesting note is the fact that Izzet Burak Temel and Henry Guttman came into the Big Stax 500 Day 3 number one and two in chips (and they did the same thing going into today). It's a pretty amazing feat if you actually think about, and they've cemented two solid deep runs already.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 3): Action Begins At 1:00pm

The remaining 14 players return to the poker room at 1:00pm to finish the main trophy event of the series. Live coverage of the event will begin when the cards are in the air.

Big Stax 1500: Day 3 Chip Counts/Seating Assignements

Name	Last Name	Hometown	Chip Count	Table #	Seat #
Vinny	Pahja	New York City NY	2,470,000	57	2
Jesse	Cohen	Ardmore PA	925,000	57	3
James	Lillis	Robbinsville NJ	420,000	57	4
Joe	Grodowski	Statenn IsLand NY	1,170,000	57	5
Izzet Burak	Temel (Button)	Arlington VA	3,525,000	57	7
Henry	Guttman	Brookyln NY	3,750,000	57	8
TJ	Shulman	Boyton Beach FL	470,000	57	9

Dan	Wach	Boonton NJ	1,945,000	58	1
Emad	Alabsi	Cleveland OH	1,385,000	58	2
Barry	Dehlin	Dresher PA	2,125,000	58	3
Brad	St. Vincent	Bristol RI	1,580,000	58	4
Akash	Patel	Mechanicsburg PA	600,000	58	5
Matt	Glantz	Lafayette Hill PA	2,650,000	58	8
Nathan	Tuthill (Button)	Fredericksburg VA	770,000	58	9

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 15th Place - Sarmiento ($8,224)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 1,500,000

Steven Sarmiento (Forest Hills, NY)
15th Place - $8,224

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Bagging For Tomorrow

Players are finishing the final hands of the night, and they will then return tomorrow for Day 3 (beginning at 1:00pm). The chip counts and table draw will be posted shortly after the tournament directors verify the bags.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 16th Place - Furey ($7,196)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 15
Chip Average: 1,500,000

Charles Furey (Bridgewater, NJ)
16th Place - $7,196

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 17th Place - Gross ($7,196)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 16
Chip Average: 1,385,000

Steve Gross (New York, NY)
17th Place - $7,196

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 18th Place - Andersen ($7,196)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 17
Chip Average: 1,385,000

Benjamin Andersen (Phoenixville, PA)
18th Place - $7,196

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Redraw At 18

Here is the final redraw of the tournament (before reaching the final table). This redraw will be where the players will come into tomorrow:

Table 46:

Dan Wach
Emad Alabsi
Barry Dehlin
Brad St. Vincent
Akash Patel
TJ Shulman
Matt Glantz
Nathan Tuthill

Table 51:

Steve Gross
Vinny Pahuja
Jesse Cohen
Jimmy Lillis
Joe Grodowski
Steven Sarmiento
Izzet Burak Temel
Henry Guttman
Charles Furey

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 19th Place - Linster ($6,305)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 18
Chip Average: 1,300,000

Mike Linster (Island Park, NY)
19th Place - $6,305

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 20th Place - Wallace ($6,305)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 19
Chip Average: 1,240,000

Sean Wallace (Horsham, PA)
20th Place - $6,305

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 21st Place - Gross ($6,305)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 20
Chip Average: 1,200,000

Jeff Gross (Wall, NJ)
21st Place - $6,305

BIg Stax 1500 (Day 2): 22nd Place - Taormina ($5,620)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 21
Chip Average: 1,121,000

Joseph Taormina (Warminster, PA)
22nd Place - $5,620

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 23rd Place - Longo ($5,620)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Players Remaining: 22
Chip Average: 1,000,000

Vinny Longo (East Hanover, PA)
23rd Place - $5,620

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 24th Place - Klein ($5,620)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)

Players Remaining: 23

Chip Average: 1,000,000

Michael Klein (Henderson, NV)
24th Place - $5,620

Klein had only ten bigs in front of him to start the level, and would get eliminated by Ben Andersen. Klein's K 9 < A J of Andersen, and Robert would fall shot of Day 3.

Big Stax (Heads Up): Round 2 Results

Big Stax $500 Heads-Up (Round of 32)

Cathy Dever def. Karl Tretter

Chris Deoliveira def. Mao Li

Jeff Wicker def. Patrick Martorella

Kenny Kavowras def. Andy Hong

Sardor Gaziev def. Tim Latouch

Robert Gallagher def. Sergio Ramirez

Tim Mullen def. Robert Brown

William Daloisi def. Alan Kraut

Joseph Stiers def. Keith Deangelis

Dean Chen def. Alex Deutch

David Datashvili def. Robert Palmer

Erik Wolfenson def. Kevin Buro

Russ Dunlevy def. CJ Joshi

Brian Erhardt def. Patrick Kelly

Brian Hewitt def. Ben Samara

Jason Rivkin def. Jeff Coon

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Final Break

Players are taking their final break of the night, and when they return for the last level, the blinds will be 12,000/24,000/4,000 (981,000 chip average).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 25th Place - Pizzolato ($4,934)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Players Remaining: 24
Chip Average: 981,000

Guiseppe Pizzolato (Ridgewood, NJ)
25th Place - $4,934

Pizzolato was one of the shortest stacks in the room, and after limped in early position, Vinny Pahuja raised out of the big blind. Guiseppe then three-bet all-in for just over 250,000, and Pahuja called. Vinny's A 10 > KK of Pizzolato, sending Giuseppe home in 25th place.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Players Remaining: 25
Chip Average: 942,000

Here are the updated chip counts:

Table 45:

Joe Grodowski - 1,100,000
Steven Sarmiento - 580,000
Vinny Longo - 800,000
Emad Alabsi - 480,000
Jimmy Lillis - 950,000
Sean Wallace - 900,000
Henry Guttman - 2,800,000
Jesse Cohen - 290,000

Table 46:

Brad St. Vincent - 1,200,000
Mike Linster - 650,000
Nathan Tuthill - 1,200,000
Joseph Taormina - 380,000
Charles Furey - 600,000
TJ Shulman - 940,000
Barry Dehlin - 600,000
Matt Glantz - 2,000,000

Table 51:

Jeff Gross - 180,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 1,500,000
Giuseppe Pizzolato - 230,000
Dan Wach - 1,300,000
Akash Patel - 600,000
Steve Gross - 1,300,000
Ben Andersen - 590,000
Vinny Pahuja - 2,000,000
Robert Klein - 320,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 26th Place - Eriquezzo ($4,934)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Players Remaining: 25
Chip Average: 942,000

Ryan Eriquezzo (Danbury, CT)
26th Place - $4,934

Busted in 26th place. Just wasnt meant to happen this trip
— Ryan Eriquezzo (@RyanEriquezzo) March 10, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 27th Place - Petrella ($4,934)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Players Remaining: 26
Chip Average: 905,000

Edmond Petrella (Lumberton, NJ)
27th Place - $4,934

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Back From Break

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Players Remaining: 27
Chip Average: 872,000

Tournament officials gave the remaining players the option to end play at the conclusion of this level, but they have decided to go with the original plan (play to the end of Level 23).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Break Time

Level 22 will begin at a (10) minute break, and when the players return the blinds will be going up to 10,000/20,000/2,000 (chip average of 872,000). We haven't lost any players since the redraw, with play still super deep (and only a few short stacks).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Dehlin Doubles

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 27
Chip Average: 872,000

Barry Dehlin gets a big double through Charles Furey, as all the money gets in on the flop (9♦ 5♦ J♥). Dehlin's 7♦ 8♦ > Q Q after Barry spikes the flush on the turn, chipping up to 1,000,000. Furey took a solid hit to his stack, and is now down to 400,000.

Big Stax (Heads Up): Round 1 Results

Big Stax $500 Heads-Up NL (Round of 64)

Cathy Dever def. Donald Demaise
Karl Tretter def. Eric Mutshier
Mao Li def. Gerard Grapp
Chris Deoliveria def. Kevin Meyer
Jeff Wicker Def. Mike Azzarro
Patrick Martorella def. Ralph Staia
Andy Hong def. Brian Lee
Kenny Kavowras def. Patrick Basquill
Tim Latouch def. Brian Bascome
Sardor Gaziev def. Jamie Raslowsky
Robert Gallagher def. Matthew Lo
Sergio Ramirez def. Patrick Lavecchia
Robert Brown def. Server Mustapaev
Timothy Mullen def. Warren Colaric
Alan Kraut def. Zachary Epstein
William Daloisi def. Ranak Patel
Keith Deangelis def. Ben Coren
Joseph Stiers def. Drew Small
Dean Chen def. Joseph Neiman
Alex Deutsch def. Joseph Lapinta
Robert Palmer def. Kevin Lutz
David Datashvili def, Roqeu Estevez
Kevin Buro def. Veronica Rivera
Erik Wolfenson def. Marco Kushner
CJ Joshi def. Moe Farah
Russ Dunlevy def. Joe Palma
Patrick Kelly def. Bret Hood
Brian Erhardt def. Mike Pennisi
Brian Hewitt def. Kevin Huber
Ben Samara def. Tai Yuen
Jeff Coon def. Daryl Black
Jason Rivkin def. Peter Chan

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Redraw At 27 (Table Lineup/Chip Counts)

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)

Players Remaining: 27

Chip Average: 872,000

Table 45:

Joe Grodowski - 1,000,000
Steven Sarmiento - 400,000
Vinny Longo - 280,000
Emad Alabsi - 780,000
Jimmy Lillis - 800,000
Ryan Eriquezzo - 290,000
Henry Guttman - 1,800,000
Edmond Petrella - 1,150,000
Jesse Cohen - 700,000

Table 46:

Brad St. Vincent - 1,100,000
Mike Linster - 700,000
Nathan Tuthill - 1,000,000
Joseph Taormina - 600,000
Charles Furey - 750,000
TJ Shulman - 900,000
Barry Dehlin - 500,000
Sean Wallace - 950,000
Matt Glantz - 1,900,000

Table 51:

Jeff Gross - 340,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 1,200,000
Giuseppe Pizzolato - 300,000
Dan Wach - 1,000,000
Akash Patel - 400,000
Steve Gross - 820,000
Ben Andersen - 1,000,000
Vinny Pahuja - 1,500,000
Robert Klein - 760,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 28th-36th Places ($4,180)

The following players have cashed in the event for $4,180:

28. Matt Beier (Fishkill, NY)
29. Ray Ross (Maple Glen, PA)
30. Michael Murphy (Wilkes Barre, PA)
31. James Anderson (Pittsburgh, PA)
32. Justin Adams (Fairfield, CT)
33. Peter Ippolito (East Meadow, NY)
34. Jameson Singer (Brooklyn, NY)
35. Konstantin Frangomihalos (Mount Holly, NJ)
36. Edward Blount (Mineral, VA)

The remaining 27 players are redrawing for new seats.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Petrella Doubles

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 29
Chip Average: 812,000

Edmond Petrella (Lumberton, NJ) finds a huge double, as his 66 > AJ of Matt Beier, with all of the money getting in on a flop of 6 J 8. Beier would be drawing dead on the turn, and would chip up to 910,000. Beier is now one of the shortest stacks in the tournament, just under 200,000 (Eriquezzo is also short after he ran KK < AA).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Complete Update At 27

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 29
Chip Average: 812,000

With two more eliminations there will be 27 players remaining. Once the floor redraws those players, there will be an update of all players remaining and their chip counts.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Break Time

Players are going on another (10) minute break, and when they return the blinds will have gone up to 8,000/16,000/2,000 (785,000 chip average). When were reach 27 players (from the 30 we are at now), there will be a total redraw.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Anderson's Falls Short Of Fourth Final Table

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 30
Chip Average: 800,000

Both Taormina and Anderson were on the shorter side, and in a blind v. blind situation, something was likely to happen. Anderson shipped over Joseph's open, and his KQ < 66 sent him home short of what would of potentially been his fourth Big Stax final table (he's the only player with three final tables).

Anderson finishes in 31st place ($4,180), while Taormina is back up over 770,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Trading Places

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 31
Chip Average: 759,000

Joseph Taormina was one of our chip leaders at one point of the day today (once we were in the money), while Henry Guttman was grinning a below average stack. The tables have since turned over the last few hours (especially since dinner), with Guttman chipping up to 1,400,000 and Taormina trending down to 480,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Shulman Doubles

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 32
Chip Average: 760,000

TJ Shulman was one of the shorter stacks remaining in the field, grinding a less than average stack since before we were on the money bubble. In a blind v. blind situation, TJ's AK > AQ of Joseph Taormina (all-in pre). Shulman is now up to 500,000, but still sitting below the average.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Heavy Hitters

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 32
Chip Average: 735,000

The three largest stacks in the room belong to Izzet Burak Temel (winner of the Big Stax 500), Matt Glantz (Parx Poker Room Ambassador), and Brad St. Vincent:

Temel - 1,600,000
St. Vincent - 1,500,000
Glantz - 1,400,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Remaining Tables

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Players Remaining: 32
Chip Average: 735,000

Here are the active table lineups in the room:

Table 45:

Edmond Petrella
Izzet Burak Temel
Justin Adams
Benjamin Andersen
Joe Grodowski
Matt Beier
Jeff Gross
Giuseppe PIzzolato

Table 46.

Ray Ross
Charles Furey
Sean Wallace
Jimmy Lillis
Vinny Pahuja
Mike Linster
Michael Murphy
Vinny Longo

Table 51:

Matt Glantz
Dan Wach
Henry Guttman
Robert Klein
Brad St. Vincent
Steven Sarmiento
Akash Patel
Jesse Cohen

Table 52:

Barry Dehlin
TJ Shulman
Joseph Taormina
James Anderson
Emad Alabsi
Ryan Erriquezzo
Nathan Tuthill
Steve Gross

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Back From Dinner

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/200)

Players Remaining: 32

Chip Average: 735,000

Players have returned from dinner, and this would be like "moving day" in golf. The play is very deep, and gives the opportunity to maneuver and end up in great shape for Day 3 tomorrow. There are some really excellent players remaining, including Matt Glantz, Steve Gross, Vinny Pahuja, James Anderson, and Dan Wach. And then we have the breakout players like Izzet Burka Temel, Henry Guttman, Sean Wallace, and Ray Ross.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Lost Before Dinner

(Dinner Break)

Right before dinner break we lost Peter Ippolito (33rd - $4,180), and the one time chip leader only hours agos, Konstantin Frangomihalos (35th - $4,180).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Dinner Break

Players are going on a (75) minute dinner break. They will return to play until Level 23 (or) the final table (which ever comes first).

They will return to Level 20 and blinds of 6,000/12,000/2,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 37th-45th Places ($3,564)

The following players cashed in the event for $3,654:

37. Greg Himmelbrand (Bayside, NY)
38. Aileen Freifeld (Philadelphia, PA)
39. Justin Liberto (Fallston, MD)
40. Lou Santoro (Lansdale, PA)
41. Ying Ching Wong (Flushing, NY)
42. Philip Marsico (East Rutherford, NJ)
43. Joe Gola (Philadelphia, PA)
44. Ken Silberstein (Edison, NJ)
45. Tyler Gaston (Westerville, OH)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 38
Chip Average: 620,000

Here are some updated counts from the field:

Brad St. Vincent - 1,400,000
Matt Glantz - 1,300,000
Dan Wach - 1,300,000
Joseph Taormina - 1,300,000
Izzet Burak Temel - 1,200,000
Vinny Pahuja - 1,100,000
Mike Linster - 1,000,000
Edmond Petrella - 900,000
Steven Sarmiento - 890,000
Ryan Eriquezzo - 800,000
Jimmy lillis - 775,000
Ray Ross - 770,000
Henry Guttman - 700,000

------ Chip Average ------- (620,000)

Steve Gross - 500,000
Sean Wallace - 450,000
Pete Ippolito - 400,000
James Anderson - 350,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Back To Back Deep Runs?

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 39
Chip Average: 603,000

Three players from our Big Stax 500 final table are still remaining in the field, and the fact they've made it this far would be considered a great. Here is how they stand at the moment:

Henry Guttman - 600,000

James Anderson - 450,000

Izzet Burak Temel - 1,000,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Big Stax Triple Crown +

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 45
Chip Average: 523,000

What Pete Ippolito has done during this series is something that will be super difficult to repeat:

Hat trick complete. Itm of parx main with 178k (523k avg). 3 main events, 1 bullet each, 3 mincashes #selfpromotion time to chase real $ now
— Peter Francis (@peter_ippolito) March 9, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 45
Chip Average: 523,000

Top Stacks:

Brad St. Vincent - 1,900,000
Dan Wach - 1,600,000
Konstantin Frangomilhalos - 1,400,000

Notables:

Vinny Pahuja - 800,000
Ryan Eriquezzo - 800,000
Sean Wallace - 670,000
Edmond Petrella - 640,000
Ray Ross - 610,000
Justin Liberto - 600,000
James Anderson - 500,000
Mike Linster - 450,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Break Time

The players (who are all in the money) are now going on a (10) minute break, and will return to blinds of 5,000/10,000/1,000 (523,000 chip average).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Bubble Bursts!

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 45
Chip Average: 523,000

The money bubble has burst after only three hands of hand-for-hand play. Mike Dentale got his remaining three bigs in vs. Edmond Petrella, and Dentale's AJ < QQ. Mike's day was a roller coaster, after being down to 15,000 and building that back up to 300,000. The rest of the players are all guaranteed their share of the prize pool, with the min cash sitting at $3,564.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Hand-For-Hand

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 46
Chip Average: 511,000

Matt Glantz sends home a player in a blind v. blind situation, as his AA > JJ sending the rest of the field into hand-for-hand play. The shortest stack remaining is currently Mike Dentale, who lost two hands (three-outers) to take himself down from the 300,000 he built up.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Last Lady Standing

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 47
Chip Average: 500,000

Aileen Freifeld

It's all up to Aileen to hold the torch for the ladies, as Jacquelyn Tatar busts just two places short of the money. After the next elimination, the players will be hand-for-hand, and that will end once we have reached the money.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): White Knuckles

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 48
Chip Average: 490,000

Only three places from the money, and there are at least five players left in the field with less than 15 blinds. It's definitely anxious moments for a group of players still in.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Money Bubble Looms

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 49
Chip Average: 480,000

There are currently 49 players remaining, which means we are only four bustouts away from the money. Once the money is reached the first table to break is the "Table of Doom," and they are already happy talking about it. The field is full of quality players and amateurs alike, and it should be very interesting down the homestretch.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Gboro Doubles

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 53
Chip Average: 444,000

Steve Gross is still a threat in this tournament as he doubles to just under 400,000, as his KQ > AJ of Ken Silberstein. Gross hit a king on the river to stay alive, and now sits just under the chip average. The money bubble is looming, and players will begin hand-for-hand play when 46 remain.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 54
Chip Average: 436,000

After Mike Dentale lost the hand to Jonathan Recchi, he was left with 15,000 in chips. He had JJ the very next hand and tripled up. Mike's AK > AQ of Mike Colgna just minutes ago, and now Dentale has gone from basically out the door to 300,000. He is still below average, but amongst the 54 players remaining, there are at least eight players below 15 bigs.

Was down to 12k 15 minutes ago pic.twitter.com/wdtSJX19UX
— Michael Dentale (@Mikunbelievable) March 9, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Dentale Loses Big One/Conniff Busts

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 56
Chip Average: 417,000

At Table 45, Mike Dentale was left with 15,000 after losing a healthy pot to Jonathan Recchi (Philadelphia, PA). Recchi had flopped bottom set, good enough to take down the pot, and to leave Dentale super short (Dentale tripled up the very next hand to 50,000).

Asher Conniff (Brooklyn, NY) shoved his last 15 bigs from the button, and was called by Joe Gola in the small blind. Asher's A4 < AQ of Joe and he was eliminated just ten spots from the money.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Pre-Break Busts

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)

Players Remaining: 57

Chip Average: 406,000

Scanning the tables during the break (and looking at Twitter), a few more players have been eliminated from the Day 2 field. Ari Engel and Jonas Wexler did not return from break, leaving us with 57 players in the field, only eleven from the money.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Break Time

Players are going on their second (10) minute break of the day, and when they return the blinds will have gone up to 4,000/8,000/1,000 (60 remain going into break).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Marder & Morris Bust/Chip Counts

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 60
Chip Average: 392,000

Both Michael Marder and Maggie Morris busted about half the way through this level, leaving us now with 60 players (45 get paid). With Maggie busting it means there are only two women remaining in the field (Aileen Freifeld and Jacuelyn Tatar).

Here are some updated counts going into our second break of the day:

Konstantin Frangomilhalos - 1,600,000
Mike Linster - 1,350,000
Joseph Taormina - 1,100,000
Dan Wach - 1,000,000
Jimmy Lillis - 800,000
James Anderson - 770,000
Matt Glantz - 750,000
Edmond Petrella - 700,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): New Shooter

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)

Players Remaining: 65

Chip Average: 362,000

Konstantin Frangomihalos

The action was picked up at Table 51 on the flop of K♦ Q♦ 6♥, with Jake Perry and Kevin McColgan all-in, and a decision to Frango. Frango had to call the 373,000 of McColgan, with Perry all-in for less than 110,000. Frango thought for a while, and almost with a pained look on his face throughout, finally decided to make the call. His KQ > AK (McColgan) > 6♦8♦ (Perry), and Frango would become our new chip leader with over 1,500,000.

Konstantin Frangomilhalos - 1,500,000
Kevin McColgan - Eliminated
Jake Perry - Eliminated

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Table Of Doom

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 69
Chip Average: 341,000

Just like the FIFA World Cup, these tournaments end up will tables that are just seemingly unfair for the players seated. Table 54 is today's unlucky group:

Mike Linster
Ryan Eriquezzo
Izzet Burak Temel
Sean Wallace
Jonas Wexler
Greg Himmelbrand
James Anderson

All of the players listed above have at least average stacks, with Linster leading the entire field.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Who We Lost

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 72
Chip Average: 327,000

The following players have been eliminated:

Mike Azzarro
Jeffrey Spence
Sachin Ramrakhani
Norman Michalek

BIg Stax 1500 (Day 2): Linster Over 1,000,000

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 76
Chip Average: 305,000

The action at Table 54 was picked up on the flop (5♣ J♠ 2♠), with a 40,000 bet from Saraidarov Semyon. Sean Wallace flatted the bet, and Eugene Zaslavsky shoved for 155,000. Mike Linster raised it to 300,000, and after some thought both Semyon and Wallace folded behind.

Linster asked Eugene if he had a jack, but found out that Zaslavsky flopped a set of fives. Linster had the 5♠ 6♠ (Semyon said he folded K♠ Q♠) and would turn the flush, sending Eugene home and chipping up over 1,100,000 after the river ran clean.

Mike Linster - 1,100,000

In Other News:

- Mike Azzarro busts early in the level as his 44 < 99 of Joe Gradowski

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Bustout Tweets

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Players Remaining: 83
Chip Average: 283,000

Busto ajs v 1010 for 20bb each. At least I can go watch tiger and play online. #backupplan
— Daniel Buzgon (@WiLDmAn_75) March 9, 2014

Busto ~85th in last hand of level, crippled when QQ can't beat 77 aipf. Thx to those who invested in me, sorry it didn't work out
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) March 9, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts

Here are some updated counts of the larger stacks going into break:

Mike Linster - 950,000

Joseph Taormina - 910,000

Jimmy Lillis - 740,000

Steven Sarmiento - 620,000

Ray Ross - 610,000

Dan Wach - 610,000

Sean Wallace - 550,000

Matt Glantz - 530,000

Vinny Pahuja - 530,000

Kevin McColgan - 500,000

Matt Beier - 500,000