Borgata Fall Poker Open 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Championship: Pro Bags Bonus, Melkersen Second

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Arthur Pro

Chip Leader

When the dust settled, it was Arthur Pro (Dallas, TX) who bagged the biggest stack of 252k and the $3,000 bonus after Day 1A of the Borgata Fall Poker Open. Second place goes to Mike Melkersen (New Market, VA) who finishes just ahead of Vimy Ha (Brooklyn, NY) by less than 3k in chips.

"They called our table the 'table of death,' and I did all the killing," said Pro, who was moved off Table 5 and had to adjust his game the last few levels. "I was the big stack and running over the table, but had to shift gears when I got here."

'Here,' is Table 3 where Pro was joined by Ha, who also had a big stack.

"Just short," said Va as he agonized while counting the last of his green (25) chips knowing he was only at 212,600, shy of Melkersen's 215,300.

Melkersen had the chip lead on dinner break, but suffered a few hits and fell into second place.

While Melkersen and Ha are seasoned regulars, each with a tournament win, Pro is looking for his first Borgata cash, but he's no stranger here.

"I'm home for the holidays," said Pro who grew up in Philadelphia before moving to Texas. "I got to have dinner with my dad and got the bonus, the trip can't get any better."

Pro, who doesn't play as much as his last name suggests, says that poker is a hobby but is a "serious hobby" and he plays a lot.

72 players from Day 1A bagged an average stack of 71k (71 bb) with blinds going to 500/1k/100 ante when they return for Tuesday's Day 2.

The Championship Event continues 11 am Monday with Day 1B. Those survivors merge with those who advanced from Day 1A.

Tony & Arthur Pro on Dinner Break

(photo provided)

Championship: Four More Hands

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 8: 400/800/100 ante

Each table is dealing four more hands to conclude play for the night. Right in front of media row Table 5 continues to be the table of death.

During the last four hands, three players bust out and they finish the night 6-handed. There were a steady stream of bustouts from here all day including Chris Reslock and Gary Ackerman.

A potential big stack for the end of night bonus Arthur Pro (Dallas, TX) was on Table 5, but was moved across the room. The big stacks are looking for $3,000 as chip leader and $1,500 for the second biggest stack.

Event 12 Slideshow

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

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Event 12 Recap

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The wild scene at any six-max tournament got even more crazy three-handed at the Borgata Fall Poker Open. The big chip swings, double-ups and and survivals all led to Sardor Gaziev (North Brunswick, NJ) winning the title.

On the final hand, Gaziev's K♣ 9♣ held against Richard Corley's (Brooklyn, NY) Q♥ 9♥, one of the few times the best hand won.

"You need skill and a little luck (to win a tournament), but I had a lot of luck when we were heads up," said Gaziev who won his first Borgata trophy and $30,463.

Twice Gaziev was one card from elimination, but was saved by the river both times.

He first survived on a double-paired board that counterfeited Corley's pocket 3s and allowed Gaziev's Ace-kicker to play. He then split a pot when one of his 15 chop outs hit the river.

"He played well," said Corley who refused to blame the deck for his runner-up finish which beat his previous best Borgata result. "It's higher than 4th," he said about his finish in the 2012 Borgata Spring Poker Open, "but I don't have a trophy yet."

Jon Sorscher (Lynbrook, NY) was looking for his second career trophy, but was victimized in the three-handed fire works. He had Aces cracked by Gaziev and dropped to less than 5 big blinds before building back only to be have Gaziev cripple him again.

"I didn't have any expectations three-handed," said Sorscher who won his first title in the 2012 Borgata Winter Poker Open. "The way the chips were flying, anything could happen."

The two-day tournament began with 237 entries for buy-ins that totaled $118,500. The top 27 made the money with the final 18 returning for Day 2.

Two Borgata regulars made the final table in Tom Dobrilovic (4th) and Mark Sykes (5th), who was looking for his third trophy.

Other notables who cashed included Antonio Walker (8th), Scott Baumstein (11th), Mike Shahso (14th), Nancy Martin (19th), Josh Brikis (20th), Roland Israelashvili (22nd) and Paul Vacchio (24th).

While Gaziev only plays poker "occasionally," he's building a nice resume. This is his 9th Borgata cash and third final table to push his career earnings to more than $150,000.

"It's tough to get one of these," said Gaziev while holding his new hardware. "I'm going home happy, I got the trophy."

Final Table Results

Entries: 237
Total Buy-Ins: $118,500

Place-Name-Payout

1st Sardor Gaziev (North Brunswick, NJ) $30,463
2nd Richard Corley (Brooklyn, NY) $18,104
3rd Jon Sorscher (Lynbrook, NY) $13,793
4th Tom Dobrilovic (W. Nyack, NY) $10,920
5th Mark Sykes (Margate, NJ) $8,621
6th Brandon Fisher (Richmond, VA) $6,322
7th John McGinley (Jersey City, NJ) $4,885

Event 12 Winner - Gaziev

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante

Sardor Gaziev (North Brunswick, NJ)

$30,463

After getting multiple double-ups to stay alive, Sardor Gaziev defeats Richard Corley heads up to win the title and trophy at the Borgata Fall Poker Open.

Final hand:

Gaziev: K♣ 9♣
Corley: Q♥ 9♥

Flop: K♥ 6♣ 5♦ (Gaziev pair of Kings)

Turn: 10♣ (Corely, gutshot straight draw for 3 outs; Gaziev flush draw)

River: 8♥

Gaziev's pair of Kings is best as he earns $30,463 for the win.

"It's tough to get one of these," says Gaziev while holding his first Borgata trophy. "You need skill and a little luck, but I had a lot of luck when we were heads up."

Gaziev survived two all ins when the river bailed him out, once for a double-up, the second time in a chopped pot.

Gaziev says he plays poker "occasionally" and this is one of the highlights of his career. It's his 9th Borgata cash and third final table to push his career earnings to more than $150,000.

Event 12: 2nd Place - Corley

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante

Richard Corley (Brooklyn, NY)

$18,104

Richard Corley is snake bitten heads up, twice he's one card away from winning the tournament, but settles for second place behind Sardor Gaziev.

After shipping a double-up and chopping a second pot on the river, Corley has his pocket Jacks cracked that left him short stacked. The tournament ends when his Q♥ 9♥ doesn't improve against Gaziev's K♣ 9♣.

"He played well," says Corley who refused to blame the deck for his runner-up finish.

Corley works in New York City and says he's only played in four six-max tournaments, but has three cashes, all at Borgata.

"It's higher than 4th," he says about his finish in the 2012 Borgata Spring Poker Open, "but I don't have a trophy yet."

Corley earns $18,104 for second place, his largest career cash.

Championship: Last Level of the Night

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 10: 400/800/100 ante

It's a two horse race for the end of night bonuses as Arthur Pro (Dallas, TX) leads with 270k, while Mke Melkersen (New Market, VA) took a hit and dropped to 235k.

There are plenty of stacks in the 125k-150k range including Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA). Also with more than 100k is Roman Valerstein (Philadelphia, PA) who tweets:

102k at 400-800-100. Shoutout to @AntZinno for hooking up the “little man” bracelet, im now more likely to win pic.twitter.com/fcTfpjgRyH
— Roman Valerstein (@GrimeRat420) November 25, 2013

Event 12: Corley One Card from Win, Sardor Surviving

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 40k/80/10k ante

Richard Corley has been one card away from the win twice, but both times, Sardor Gaziev stays alive and then gets a double-up to take the lead.

Survival Hand #1

Gaziev (780k all in) with A8 vs 33, but a double-paired board counterfeits Corley and the Ace kicker plays.

Survival Hand #2

Gaziev (no count all in) with A6 vs A7, but a run out of K Q T 5 J is a chop, both players Ace-high straight.

Double-up

Gaziev (1.26 all in) with A7 vs JJ, flops two pairs to take the chip lead.

Event 12: AJ Chop it Up

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 30k/60k/5k ante

Richard Corley and Sardor Gaziev have been playing small pots and there's only been one called all-in in heads up play

Both players have AJ, with Gaziev at risk, and not only do they chop the pot, they don't even use the cards. The board runs out to a 7-high straight.

They're heading towards a ten minute break.

Heads Up Chip Counts

Richard Corley 2.1 million
Sardor Gaziev 1.4 million

Championship: 170 Unoffical Day 1A Entries

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 9: 300/600/75 ante

The three empty seats on dinner break were filled by two re-entries and a new player, so that puts the remaining players at 90 (of ~170 entries) with registration closed for Day 1A.

One player sticking around is Nicholas Palma (Bronx, NY) who tweets:

Came back positive from dinner and double to 29k first hand! One of the strangest hands I've been a part of. Time to finish the night strong
— nicholas palma (@nicholas_palma) November 25, 2013

Event 12: 3rd Place - Sorscher

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 30k/60k/5k ante

Jon Sorscher (Lynbrook, NY)

$13,793

Jon Sorscher's chip stack was all over the map after the dinner break and he eventually busts in third place.

Sorscher had his Aces cracked by Sardor Gaziev which left him with only 195k, but after two double-ups including with AA against A3, he's back to 800k and in the mix.

But an unlucky 7 on the river cripples Sorscher, again by Gaziev.

Sorscher: AJ

Gaziev: T9

Flop: A J 8 (Sorscher two pairs, Gaziev OE straight draw)

Turn: 2

River: 7

The river gives Gaziev a Jack-high straight and a 660k double-up. The hand leaves Sorscher with 330k (6 bb) and is eventually knocked out by Richard Corley.

"I feel pretty good," says Sorscher, who began Day 2 as the chip leader. "I got my chips in with the best hand," he says about the AA and AJ hands that crippled him.

Sorscher is out in third place for $13,793. He and his wife Connie can't play the Championship Event and are heading back to New York.

Heads Up Chip Counts

Richard Corley: 2.3 million

Sardor Gaziev 1.2 million

Championship: Twitter Chirp Counts

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Dinner Break, Play Resumes 9:05 pm

Mike Melersen 252k
Todd Breyfogle 132k
Cliff Josephy 116k
Jordan Ludwick 72k
Brock Parker 60k
Anna Khait 45k
Joe McKeehen 39k
Kevin McColgan 24k
Joe Kuether 15k
Nicholas Palma 14k

Event 12: Three Way Action

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante

(l-r) Corley, Gaziev & Sorscher with Jon's Wife Connie in the Background

Richard Corley, Sardor Gaziev and Jon Sorscher are back from dinner and playing for the trophy.

Remaining Prize Pool

1st      $30,463
2nd     $18,104
3rd      $13,793

Championship: 2012 Flashback

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Dinner Break, Play Resumes 9:05 pm

2012 Day 1A Chip Leader Vinny Pahjua

The chip leader last year at the end of Day 1A was Vinny Pahuja with 411k, with Matt Stout second at 350k. They earned the end of night bonuses, something today's field will focus on over the last two hours of play.

Championship: Dinner Break

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Dinner Break, Play Resumes 9:05 pm

Players are on a 75 minute dinner break and registration is open until play resumes with Level 9 (300/600/75 ante).

The big stack is Mike Melkersen who's up to 252k (420 bb).

The field is down to 87 players of 169 entries and the average stack is 58k (97 bb).

They'll play two more levels after dinner with a bag and tag at ~11 pm.

Championship: Sharkslayerr Stacking Chips

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 8: 250/500/50 ante

After cashing in 12th place ($1,437) in the six-max, Todd Breyfogle (Hopkins, MN) jumps into the Championship Event and runs his stack to 130k heading to dinner break.

Here's his update on Twitter:

Todd Breyfogle ‏@sharkslayerr

Just went on a massive heater flopping stones going all in guys paying me off been all in 6 times 6-6

Event 12: Dinner Break

$500 + $60 Six-Max No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Next Blinds: 25k/50k/5k ante

The final three players are on dinner break with play resuming at 8:15 pm.

Sardor Gaziev has been very active and playing bigger pots with Richard Corley, while the hands Jon Sorscher has been in have been on the smaller side.

Chip Counts

Sardor Gaziev 1.415 million (28 bb)
Jon Sorscher 1.185 million (24 bb)
Richard Corley 970k (19 bb)

Championship: Ha!, Cracks Aces, No Joke - Chip Leader

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 8: 250/500/50 ante

Vimy Ha

Borgata trophy winner Vimy Ha (Brooklyn, NY) is now one one of the big stacks at 185k after adding 25k when he cracks pocket aces. Ha not only flops a set of queens, but hits a four-flush on the river.

Another Borgata stalwart Mike Melkersen (New Market, VA) is in the 185k range. Melkersen has five Borgata final tables on his resume, including a win in July's Deep Stack Double Play for $87,000. Melkersen ($260,000 and Ha ($300,000) have combined tournament earnings of $560,000.

Earlier chip leader Arthur Pro (Dallas, TX) is still in the mix at 170k. While he's new to Borgata, Pro has been on the rise in 2013 including a runner-up finish at the WSOP for nearly $500,000.

This is the last level before the 7:51 dinner break and players were reminded by Tournament Director Tab Duchateau that the end of night chip leader gets a $3,000 bonus, while second place earns $1,500.

Mike Melkersen

Championship: Poker Fish Out of Day 1A

$2,500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH (Re-Entry)

Level 7: 200/400/50 ante

Busted day 1a of Borgata, got in ~38k @ 200/400 with 89dd on 883 vs @JohnnyBaxPoker KK and he rivers a king Day 1b tomorrow
— Darryll Fish (@DarryllFish) November 24, 2013

Tough table, made a good call.. At 80k @BorgataPoker
— Anna Khait (@Annakhait) November 24, 2013

Out. AJ < QQ on J high board, then QQ < AA aipf for last 36 BBs. #BorgataME
— Todd Terry (@toddbterry) November 24, 2013