Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Updated Counts

Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Entries: 185

Justin Reibschied 

Here are some updated counts going into the last level:

Justin Reibschied - 414,000

Kevin McColgan - 342,000

George Wong - 320,000

Jonas Wexler - 310,000

Mike Linster - 245,000

Joe Galazzo - 200,000

Ari Engel - 150,000

Alan Kraut - 150,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Final Break

Players are on their final break of the night, and when they return the blinds will be 2,000/4,000/500 for the last level.  There are 30 players remaining in the 1B field, which is right on pace with the 22 that ended up bagging chips that night.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Marder Busts Late

Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Entries: 185

Michael Marder has just busted, but has already Tweeted that he will be back tomorrow for Day 1C:

KK<JThh aip for ~40k each to bust :( #parxbigstax
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) March 8, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Level 14 Starts

The blinds in Level 14 are going up to 1,500/3,000/400 (185 total entries).  The satellite running at the moment will be adding 17 seats to this event, which means that going into tomorrow the field will start at 202 (lowest possible number).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Still Alive

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Entries: 185

Here is a short list of notable players that are still active in the field:

Jonas Wexler
Mike Linster
Mahn Nguyen
Jeff Wicker
Kevin Lutz
Pete Ippolito
Mohammed Farrah
Jeffrey Spence
Vimy Ha
Ari Engel
George Wong
Kevin McColgan
Maggie Morris
Michael Marder
Alan Kraut

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Updated Chip Counts

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Entries: 185

Here are some updated counts from the field:

Alan Kraut - 270,000
George Wong - 260,000
Ben Anderson - 250,000
Mike Linster - 240,000
Kevin McColgan - 215,000
Jospeh Gallazo - 182,000
Jonas Wexler - 180,000
Jeffrey Spence - 170,000
Vimy Ha - 165,000
Ari Engel - 129,000
Maggie Morris - 81,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Break It Up

Players are on another (15) minute break, and they will return to blinds go 1,000/2,000/300 (185 total entries).  In the late stages of the last level we lost Melissa Burr, and it's yet to be seen if she will be entering the tournament once again.  Joe McKeehen also busted, as his JJ < 74 on the 7 4 2 board for his remaining 70,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Consolidating Tables…Queen Busts

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 185

The tournament floor has consolidated tables and we now have 40 active players on five different tables.  Just before the end of Level 11 we lost Alex Queen, who mentioned that he will return tomorrow for Day 1C.  With many players shuffling tables, we have ended up with some tough ones:

Table 68:

Joe McKeehen
Peter Ippolito
Kevin Lutz
Jeff Wicker

Table 70:

Kevin McColgan
Alan Kraut
Michael Marder

Table 71:

Jonas Wexler
Melissa Burr
Manh Nguyen

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Level Up

Level 12 started less than a minute ago, and the blinds have gone up to 1,000/2,000/300.  There will be a (15) break at the end of this level, and players will return to finish the night.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Wong Leads the Crew

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Entries: 185

George Wong

George Wong was mentioned earlier in a prop bet with Jonas Wexler, and what wasn't mentioned was Wong's most recent (and only recorded cash).  It's nothing too shabby, just a 28th place finish in the WSOP Main Event for $229,000. 

Wong is currently our chip leader after his 10 10 > A A of Ibraim Ibraimovich, good for a pot worth close to 300,000.  All of the chips got in between the two on the ten high flop, and even though Ibraim turned a heart draw, he would brick the river and double Wong up.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Hubbard Out…Updated Chip Counts

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Entries: 185

In a blind v. blind situation, Stephanie Hubbard busts to Joe McKeehen flush over flush.  Joe's queen high flush took down the pot, and he chips up to 160,000.  Here are some other chip counts from the field:

Mike Linster - 200,000
Alan Kraut - 165,000
Kevin McColgan - 160,000
Joe McKeehen - 160,000
Alex Queen - 97,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Shahade Busts…Level Up

Only a few hands before Level 10 ended we lost Jennifer Shahade, and it doesn't seem as if we are going to see her again today.  Since returning from dinner, it's been noticed that Allison Schultz is also no longer in her seat (and has yet to re-enter room).

1010<AK with a K on the river for all of it.
— allison schultz (@allipearl) March 7, 2014

Level 10 ends in a few moments and they blinds will be going up to 800/1,600/200.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Morris Making Moves

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 184

Maggie Morris

Maggie Morris (Stamford, CT) has eclipsed 100,000 and is looking at bagging chips on the first bullet.  When questioned about why she missed the Big Stax 500, Maggie mentioned that she couldn't play in multi day tournaments for a long while because of work.  Morris's schedule now affords her time to play these events, and also affords her more tournaments to play in general after her finish for $95,000.  Many of the players who had a chance to play with Maggie throughout the three days had nothing but kind words to say about her, and about her play.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): After Dinner

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 184

Players have returned from dinner, and the trend of post meal entries continue, as Miguel Borrero takes his seat at Table 69.  Borrero is coming off his final table appearance during the Big Stax 500, and a cash in the Big Stax 300 (48th Place - $1,694).

The satellite that is running at the moment has 96 players, with registration still open.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Dinner Time

Players are headed to their dinner destinations, and will return in (75) minutes.  When they players return the blinds will be 600/1,200/200 (Level 10), and the satellite for this event will have started in the main poker room.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): The Patch Battle

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 183

Jonas Wexler (Southampton, PA) and George Wong (Flushing, NY) were having a discussion in regards to wearing patches at the WSOP/WSOP Final Table.  The discussion grew and eventually became a bet between the two, with Jonas taking the side of not being able to wear much of anything in regards to final table patches.

The discussion lasted close to 15-20 minutes, and once the talk died down, the two found themselves involved in a sizable pot.  The betting has not been confirmed, but Jonas had a 60,000 bet out (leaving less than 10,000 behind).  Wong put Wexler all in, and Jonas's A J > K K of Wong on the ace high flop.  Wong turned club outs as well, but missed everything and doubled Wexler up.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Photos Before Dinner

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 183

Mike Linster

Miguel Borrero 

Alan Kraut

Leonardo Palermo

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Dinner Approaching

Level 9 has just started, and the blinds have gone up to 500/1,000/100 (182 total entries).  Players will finish this level and go on a (75) minute dinner break.

There are seven tables in action currently, which means that approximately 63 active players are seated (of the 88 that have entered today).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Updated Chip Counts

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Entries: 182

Here are some updated counts from the field:

Alan Kraut - 210,000
Chuck Tonne - 170,000
Manh Nguyen - 110,000
Jesse Letchworth - 90,000
Michael Marder - 75,000
Maggie Morris - 74,000
Joe McKeehen - 73,000
Jonas Wexler - 66,000
Pete Ippolito - 56,000
Mike Linster - 49,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Level Up

Level 8 started a few minutes ago, and the blinds have gone up to 400/800/100.  The total number of entires has gone up to 180, as both Ari Engel (bullet two) and Mike Linster (bullet three) have busted and re-entered.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Letchworth Runs Good

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Entries: 177

There was a three-way all-in at Table 68, with Jesse Letchworth, Joe Reddick, and Frank Conti.  Frank was visibly agitated while the dealer was counting the chips down for each player, as his AA was miles behind the 55 of Reddick and 66 of Letchworth on the J 5 6 board.  Once the stacks were counted down and the side pots were settled, the turn and river changed nothing.  Letchworth would triple up to over 110,000, while Conti would bust in the hand and Reddick would leave moments later.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Twitter Counts

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Entries: 176

Here are some chip updates posted via Twitter:

2nd break. 50k->20k->76k. Starting 300/600/100. Now know entire 9-handed table. Open to a table trade if anyone's interested.
— allison schultz (@allipearl) March 7, 2014

Will not be 2x'ing my stack every 3 lvls today I guess. 104,000 coming back to 600/100. #parxbigstax
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Break Time

Players are going on their second break of the day, and when they return the blinds will have gone up to 300/600/100 (173 total entries).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Dude Out…And Back In

Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Entries: 171

Joe McKeehen was seen walking out of the clubhouse room, and then right back in looking for a new table.  McKeehen posted his displeasure with the last table on Twitter (McKeehen is now seated at Table 73 with Allison Schultz, Stephanie Hubbard, Antonio Walker, and Kevin McColgan):

Got rivered four times in big pots and then got 3b/c by the kj when I had ak for 30 bigs. Enjoy the table @JosephLiberta
— Joe McKeehen (@dude904) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Recent Entries/Satellites Upcoming

Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Entries: 169

Players continue to file in late, as a few more names entered the field in the past few minutes:

Joe Liberta
Daniel Lupo
Jeff Wicker

Tonight at 7:00pm there will be a $230 Super Satellite into this event, and with the most recent satellite attracted over 290 players, there should be a good amount of seats handed out tonight.  There will also be a $175 Super Turbo Satellite that runs tomorrow morning at 9:00am (the first time Parx is ever running a tournament of its kind).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Blinds Going Up

Level 6 has just started, with the blinds going up to 250/500/50, and the total amount of entries sitting at 168.  Josh Albin (Fairfield, CT) chopped this event in the last series (Big Stax IV - October), and isn't letting a small bump in the road get in his way.  Albin busted just moments ago, but went immediately to the cage and is seated at the same table, but different seat.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): @TallMikePoker Arrives

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Entries: 165

Another WPT has walked into the room, but this one has actually taken a seat in the field.  Mike Linster (Levittown, NY) won the WPT BestBet Jacksonville for just over $296,000 in April of 2013.  Mike also went on to win the Full Tilt Montreal Festival Main for $189,000, bringing his career total just under $1,000,000.

It didn't take long for him to get involved as he pays off a 18,000 river bet from Kevin McColgan, only to see Kevin table a rivered full house.  Linster is down to 20,000, but still sits with over 50 bigs in front of him.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Late Arrivals

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Entries: 164

Here are some of our late arrivals to the field:

Tarun Gulati
Maggie Morris
Manh Nguyen
Antonio Walker
Josh Albin

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Moving Up

Level 5 has just started with blinds going up to 200/400/50, with the total number of entries going up to 161.  WPT champ Jared Jaffee has walked into the clubhouse room, but will be waiting until tomorrow to enter the event.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): The Champ Is Here/Photo Time

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Entries: 156

The question for the past week was, "Where is Maggie Morris?"  Maggie chopped the Big Stax 300, signing for first and taking home $95,000.  She was our first female player to win a Big Stax event, and did it in somewhat runaway fashion.  Morris was a no-show during the Big Stax 500, but she just walked into the clubhouse room with entry receipt in hand.  She is seated at Table 75 with the likes of Peter Ippolito, Leonardo Palermo, Kevin Lutz, and Scott Blumstein.

The camera was busy during the last level, catching some of our notables in action:

Kevin McColgan

Joe McKeehen

Melissa Burr

Jonas Wexler

Jeff Gross

Ari Engel

Allison Schultz & Stephanie Hubbard

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Checkmate

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Entries: 151

Jennifer Shahade

In case you didn't already know, Jennifer Shahade is plain and simple an amazing person.  For those in the poker world who only know her from playing at the table, she may just seem to be another solid player.  Those who know her a little better understand how special she really is.  Beyond poker, Shahade is a two-time American Womens Chess Champion, author, and chess commentator.  She's created variations of chess games and even a chess reality show.

It's a pretty standard life…traveling the world doing exhibitions where she plays 50 players simultaneously, lecturing at MIT and TEDx Baltimore, and crushing OFC when she chooses.  Just like Katie Stone earlier in the week, there is so many great things to say about Jennifer, that a little piece on this page doesn't do justice.  Here is a link to her personal webpage where you can learn more about her, and purchase books/videos:

http://www.jennifershahade.com/site/

Below is a video from her most recent speaking engagement regarding chess at the TEDx Baltimore:

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Standard Four-Way All-In

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Entries: 150

Robert Portas

Players are about to go on their first break of the day (15 minutes), and will return to Level 4 with blinds of 150/300/50.  Four players were standing up at Table 69, all of which had their cards tabled in a four way all-in:

Board: 6 9 10 K

Player X: Q J (Turned nut straight)     Player Y: 7 8 (Flopped nut straight)

Jeffrey Spence: 6 6 (Flopped set)        Robert Portas: K 10 (Turned two pair)

River: K

Robert Portas would quadruple up to over 150,000, and would def be the chip leader in these early stages.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): In The Crowd

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Entries: 148

Another group of players just walked in, giving us a good amount of notables in the field:

Melissa Burr
Jennifer Shahade
Stephanie Hubbard
Jonas Wexler
Peter Ippolito
Marguerite Spagnuolo
Alex Queen
Alan Kraut
Scott Blumstein
Ari Engel
Akib Ali
Michael Marder
Jeffrey Spence
Jason Rivkin
Allison Schultz
Jeff Gross

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Level Up

Players are now posting blinds of 100/200/50 in Level 3, and the trend continues as we see many of the notable ladies choosing this starting day:

Playing the $1600 @parxpokerroom today! Currently know every face but 1 at my 7-handed table. 😁😁
— allison schultz (@allipearl) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Ladies Day

Level 2 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Entries: 136

Day 1B is bringing out the ladies, as there were less than a handful to play all day yesterday.  Stephanie Hubbard (Old Bridge, NJ) final tabled this event (it was a $1100 buy-in) last October during Big Stax IV.  She came into Day 3 extremely late because she could not make arrangements to get off of work, but ended up finishing in seventh place for just under $16,000.  Hubbard has taken her seat in the clubhouse room, looking for another deep run:

@parxpokerroom Main Event Day 1b! Excited to play this and hopefully run deep again! #leggo
— Stephanie Hubbard (@StephHub31) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Twitter Intro/Level Up

The second level of the day is about to start, with blinds going up to 75/150.  The total number of entries continues to grow at a steady early pace, and some are letting there whereabouts be known via Twitter:

Parx 1B w @MMarder86 on my direct left
— Alan Kraut (@AlanKrautPoker) March 7, 2014

$1600 $250k gtd Main Day 1B @parxpokerroom today. GL friends! #ParxBigStax pic.twitter.com/NEXtHxP7fn
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1B): Play Underway

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Entries: 120

Day 1B play is now underway, and the name to chase is Ryan Eriquezzo (Danbury, CT) who bagged 430,500.  We expect to see many new faces in the field to today, as well as those that didn't end up bagging chips last night.  Those players who are in the clubhouse room today got a message from the Parx Casino VP of Table Games (former Director of Poker Operations) Ari Mizrachi:

Good luck all of those folks in our main today @parxpokerroom @parxcasino #bigstax #igotluckyparx
— Ari Mizrachi (@PokerAri57) March 7, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1A): End Of Day 1A Chip Counts

Total Players:	94	Players left:	22
Total Chips:	4,700,000	Average Chips:	213,636
Ryan	Eriquezzo	Danbury CT	430,500
Henry	Guttman	Brooklyn NY	425,000
Emad	Alabsi	Cleavland OH	415,000
Jonathan	Recchi	Philadelphia PA	370,500
Dan	Wach	Boonton NJ	341,500
Adam	Larkin	New York NY	328,000
Justin	Liberto	Baltimore MD	312,500
Matt	Glantz	Lafayette Hill PA	274,000
James	Anderson	Pittsburgh PA	264,000
Sal	Busacca	Colts Neck NJ	186,500
Ken	Silberstein	Edison NJ	160,500
Anthony	Laicastro	Long Valley  NJ	145,000
Vinny	Napolitano	Williston Park NY	144,000
Robby	Yass	Philadelphia PA	134,500
Ariel	Albilia	Syosset NY	127,000
Joel	Gola	Philadelphia PA	122,000
Amanda	Musumeci	Philadelphia PA	121,500
Richard	Knauer	Brooklyn NY	116,000
Kenneth	Kavowras	Staten Island NY	107,500
Chris	Whitall	Hainesport NJ	72,000
Hector	Franco	Philadelphia PA	57,000
AJ	DeNicco	Pottstown PA	41,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1A): Final Hands Of The Night

Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Entries: 94

The tournament floor is pausing the clock with 10:00 remaining, and will announce how many hands remain in the night.  Players will finish the hands and bag their chips for Day 2 on Sunday.  Chip counts will be posted shortly after the counts are verified.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 1A): Win And Move On

Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Entries: 94

Amanda Musumeci and Justin Liberto were both all-in and they each are still around to continue the night.  Amanda was behind Ari Albilia to start the hand, but her AJ > JJ, and she doubles to 100,000.  Justin Liberto opened the pot from the button and had to call a three-bet all-in, but he 8♣8♥ > AQ on the runout of K♣ Q♣ 5♥ J♣ 10♣.  He is over 200,000 now, and trying to finish the night strong.