Event 6: Another Level in the Books

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

Edward Mehnert

Another level came to a close and there are exactly 30 players remaining (three tables of ten). Edward Mehnert has claimed the chip lead with ~76k. Edward is the first player I have met here who actually lives in Atlantic City. He's also a poker dealer who works over at Harrah's (among other places).

WSOP bracelet holder Chris Reslock is still alive, but very short-stacked.

Only the final 18 players will get paid, so it's crunch-time.

Event 5: 21 Players Remain

$200 + $30 (NL)

They're down to three tables in the back of the Borgata's Poker Room. That's a long way from the 682 that started 12 hours ago, but it is still a long way from the final table.

There are a handful of guys over 500k in chips so it is too close to call a chip leader at this point.

Vinh Nguyen is still in. He finished 5th in Event 3, busting out at 3am this morning, so he's got some amazing stamina, joining this event at 11am and still going strong 12 hours later.

Paul Spitzberg is also still alive and doing well with over 460k.

They finished a level and departed for break time while I was there. Business will resume in ten.

Event 4: Final Table Chip Counts

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Place-Name-Amount

1. Dave Peters 419,500
2. Sorel Jay Mizzi 383,100
3. Chris Klodnicki 277,300
4. Philip Collins 180,900
5. Scott Blackman 166,500
6. Taha Maruf 137,300
7. Gavin Smith 123,300
8. Miguel Borrero 112,000
9. Lee Markholt 101,200

Event 6: Chip Leader Emerges

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

Jaime Kaigh

They're down to 5 tables, which means fewer than 50 players remain alive in this event.

Jaime Kaigh (Voorhees, NJ) appears to be the chip leader with about 65k. Edward Mehnert (Atlantic City, NJ) might be second with ~46k.

Chris Reslock and Gregory Bock are still in the hunt, but it appears that Joe Simmons has departed.

Event 4: Israel Bubbles

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Roland Israel

Taha Maruf raised and Roland Israel shoved his short stack across the line. Taha called the extra chips, tabling AK off. Roland held pocket 4s and it was a typical race situtation. The flop was good for R0land, coming T 8 6. He cleared the turn, which was a 7. The river, however, was a killer as the ubiquitous Ace on the river gave Taha the bigger pair and the pot.

Roland Israel leaves with the title of bubble-boy for this event, finishing tenth.

The final 9 are counting and bagging their chips for the night. Counts will be posted shortly.

Final table action gets underway at noon eastern time Thursday.

Event 4: Terry is Toast

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Todd Terry

Todd Terry made his last stand, shoving ~30k all in with QJ suited. Big stack Dave Peters looked him up with AT. The board ran out dry and Dave took the pot with Ace-high. Todd took the walk in 11th place, two out of the money.

That means it's bubble-time! They are continuing play at two tables with 5 players each until one more bust-out, then will merge to one table of nine (and call it a night).

They are NOT playing hand-for-hand as the floor does not think it is necessary. If it appears that anyone is stalling, that might change.

Event 4: Glantz is a Goner

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Matt Glantz

Despite his valiant effort, Matt Glantz was not able to pull it off. He raised under the gun and Taha Maruf three-bet from the small blind, enough to cover Matt. Matt committed the last of his chips, showing pocket Tens. Taha had him notched with pocket Jacks. The board bricked out and Matt hit the rail, three out of the money.

11 players remain.

Event 4: Play Resumes

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Play has resumed with level 13, blinds 1,200/2,400 with 300 antes.

Event 4: 6-Bet-Fold? & Chip Counts

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

End of level and players are taking 10.

During the previous level, Scott Blackman 6-bet, then folded. We think this is a record. Anybody out there know?

Here are some rough chip counts for the final 12:
Dave Peters 400k
Sorel Mizzi 335k
Chris Klodnicki 280k
Philip Collins 146k
Scott Blackman 130k
Miguel Borrero 125k
Gavin Smith 120k
Lee Markholt 80k
Roland Israel 68k
Taha Maruf 56k
Todd Terry 41k
Matt Glantz 35k

Event 4: JohnnyBax Busto

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Cliff Josephy

Miguel Borrero caught a double-up while I wasn't watching because when Cliff 'JohnnyBax' Josephy moved in on him, Miguel had him covered. Cliff opened for 5k two off the button and Miguel re-raised to 19,300. Action folded back to Cliff, who moved all in. Miguel tanked for a bit, then put his last chips in.

Cliff tabled pocket Aces, crushing Miguel's A♣K♣, but the flop was a scary one: 7♣4♦3♣, giving Miguel the flush draw. It was over quicky as the J♣ fell on the turn, completing the flush and leaving Cliff drawing dead. He headed for the door as Miguel celebrated quite loudly.

Down to 12 players now. Three more will leave with nothing.

Event 6: Play Resumes

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

Players have returned from dinner for Level 9 with blinds of 300/600 and limits of 600/1,200.

Event 4: Play Resumes

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

The final 13 players have returned from dinner and play resumed with level 12, blinds 1k/2k with 200 antes.

Event 4: Generous Glantz

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Raising the Stakes

Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA), if he wins the East Coast Championship, is pledging nearly $19,000 to the tournament staff and dealers.

"The casino came through with the guarantee and I want to make sure the people who work so hard to make these events run smoothly are taken care of."

Glantz was the 62nd and last person to enter the field as he hustled from another destination. He arrived late Tuesday night, joining play during Level 5.

"I've never been above 60-thousand," Glantz says after starting with a blinded off stack of 25k, which was 5k short of the starting amount.

He's currently next to last with 37k and is more than 100k below the chip average. "I've got some work to do, so we'll see."

Event 6: Payouts

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

The final player count for this event was 129, generating total buy-ins of $45,150. The final 18 players will get paid as follows:

Place Payout
1 $13,489
2 $7,445
3 $4,160
4 $3,065
5 $2,628
6 $2,190
7 $1,752
8 $1,314
9 $985
10-12 $854
13-15 $745
16-18 $657

Event 5: Payouts

$200 + $30 (NL)

Player count for this event is 682 generating total buy-ins of $136,400. The final 63 players will get paid as follows:
Place Payout
1 $36,702
2 $19,846
3 $10,253
4 $8,931
5 $7,608
6 $6,285
7 $4,962
8 $3,638
9 $2,646
10-12 $1,720
13-15 $1,257
16-18 $794
19-27 $596
28-36 $503
37-45 $423
46-54 $370
55-63 $344

Event 5: Running Good

$50,000 Guarantee (NL)
$200 + $30

Valence Looking for Another Victory

When you're hot, you're hot and Chris Valence (Hampstead, NH) is smoking. Fresh off his Event 2 win, Valence is the chip leader with 330k in Event 5.

Iis he playing well or getting hit by the deck? "I don't know, ask him," Valence says pointing across the table.

Seat 5 replies, "don't get me wrong, he's playing well, but he's getting hit by the deck."

Also in the mix is Ryan Ortiz (Pinehill, NJ) who has 210k. He's at table three along with another big stack, John Manwearing (Queens, NY) and his 210k.

Less than 80 players remain with an average stack of 85k. The top 63 cash, so the money bubble is quickly approaching.

Ortiz on the Prowl

Event 6: Update

$350 + $50 Omaha H/L 8B

They've just broken a table in The Signature Room so they're down to nine 10-handed tables, meaning 90 or fewer players remain. We still haven't gotten the final, official numbers or payouts, but hopefully soon.

Joe Simmons and Gregory Bock

On my first pass through this crowd, I only recognized a few faces. Chris Reslock, of course, and Joe Simmons, Robert Toft, and Gregory Bock, (Union, NJ) who finished 33rd in Event 1 a couple of days ago.

Joe and Gregory are at the same table and just as I was typing this, Gregory got his last 275 chips all-in against three opponents, including Joe. The board read A Q 6 K 3 (no flush possible) and there was a small side-pot. Arthur Mitchell (Pasadena, TX) tabled AJ42 for the nut low and a pair of Aces. All three of the others held JTxx for the Broadway straight, which was the nut high. Arthur claimed half of both the main and side pots. Joe and seat 8 had to split the side pot and the other half of the main pot got cut into thirds. Gregory survived his all-in with about 3k in chips.

Level 8 wrapped up and players were dispatched on a 45 minute dinner break. Play will resume at about 8:45pm.

Event 4: Dinner Break Chip Counts

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

Level 11 ticked away with no further fireworks. The final 13 players headed for the door to enjoy their 75 minute dinner break. Play will resume at about 8:25pm.

Here are some rough chip counts:
David Peters 405k
Chris Klodnicki 278k
Sorel Mizzi 240k
Philip Collins 200k
Gavin Smith 177k
Lee Markholt 105k
Cliff Josephy 99k
Scott Blackman 95k
Roland Israel 84k
Taha Maruf 69k
Todd Terry 64k
Matt Glantz 37k
Miguel Borrero 27k

Event 4: Slow Going

East Coast Championship
$7200 + $300 (NL)

With 13 players remaining and only 9 getting paid, every decision made by these players is given serious thought.

Chris Klodnicki opened for 4k utg and Roland Israel made it 14,300 straight from the small blind. Chris tanked for a couple of minutes, then plopped out a stack of blue chips, enough to cover Roland, who only had about 64k left. Roland then took his turn in the tank, eventually deciding to wait for a better spot.

A couple of hands later, Roland raised to 4,500 from the cutoff and Matt Glantz made it 11,600 from the button. Roland eyed Matt's remaining chips, which was only about 35k, then opted to call. The flop came Q J 9 rainbow and Roland moved all-in. Matt let it go and Roland took the pot.

Over on table two, Todd Terry bet the 9 9 8 flop and got a call from Gavin Smith on the button. They both checked the Queen on the turn, then a Jack hit the river. Todd checked, Gavin bet 12,800 and after a few seconds, Todd made the call. Gavin showed T7 suited for the rivered straight. Todd flashed a 9 in disgust and mucked his hand. He was left with about 70k.

Event 4: Borgata Championship Bracelet To Winner

Borgata Bling - Hold'em Hardware

First Prize: In addition to the $170,313 the winner will be presented with this East Coast Championship Borgata Bracelet.