Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Kostoulas Is Champion

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,000,000

After a seven way chop, all seven players were walking away with over $25,000, but Chris Kostoulas (New York, NY) was the last player left standing and is the technical "Champion" of the Parx Big Stax VIII 300. 

This is the biggest cash of Chris' career, adding to $8,000 won at the WPT $1,000,000 GTD Aria 500 early this summer. 

Kostoulas took his chip lead entering into Day 3 to make the Final Table and was one of the top three stacks when a chop was made, netting him $50,000. 

The action returns tomorrow here at the Parx Poker Room with a single day tournament before the Big Stax 500 kicks off later in the week.

Thank for following along and we look to see you at Parx soon. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Final Results

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,000,000

The final seven players in the Big Stax 300 were able to work out a chop that gave three players $50,000 and the remaining four players just under $26,000. 

Joe Santoro - $50,000
Jonathan Borenstein - $50,000
Chris Kostoulas - $50,000
Tyreem Williams - $26,000
Joshua Hertz - $26,000
Joe Shinn - $26,000
Scott Blackman - $26,000

The "Champion" of the Big Stax 300 was left up to a high card deal between Santoro, Borenstein and Kostoulas. 

Borenstein drew first, flipping over the 2♠, the table erupted in laughter.

Kostoulas then turned over the K♦ followed by Santoro turning over the 8♦.

While Borenstein probably felt he deserved the title, as he knocked out three of the final four players in the Big Stax 300 and bossed much of the last two levels, it was Kostoulas who would be "crowned" the first Champion of the Big Stax VIII series. 

Kostoulas and Santoro, along with all the players at the Final Table, battled through a massive field of over 1,600 players and played through an extremely difficult Day 3 field and are more than deserving of their winnings. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Chopping Up the 300

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,000,000

Just a few hands into Level 30, Jonathan Borenstein had a proposition to the rest of the table.

Borenstein, who was currently sitting 3rd in chips, proposed that he, Chris Kostoulas and chip leader Joe Santoro each take $50,000 and the remaining four players each take $26,000 in a seven-way chop. 

After a few minutes of deliberation, a decision was met and a chop was made. 

The $26,000 won by the four shorter stacked players was better than 4th place money, and the $50,000 won by the three bigger players was just under 2nd place money, so it seems like no one got a raw deal at this Final Table. 

Players are currently calling and texting their friends and families to tell them about their Big Stax 300 results. 

Finalized results and a championship photo will be posted shortly. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Break Updates

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,000,000

The remaining 7 players are now on a short break, and will return to Level 30.

Updated chip counts of the remaining players are:

1. Tyreem Williams -4,500,000
2. Joshua Hertz - 3,200,000
3. Chris Kostoulas - 10,400,000
4. Jonathan Borenstein - 9,800,000
5. Joe Shinn - 3,500,000
6. Joe Santoro - 15,400,000
7. Scott Blackman - 2,000,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 8th Place - Ross ($7,999)

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,000,000

Ray Ross (Maple Glen, PA)

The last half hour has been rough for Ray Ross, and with just 10 minutes before break, it got even worse as he was sent to the rail in 8th place.

The action was picked up with Ross opening to 225,000 from early position. 

The table folded to Joe Santoro, who made it 500,000 from the big blind. 

Ross then moved all-in and Santoro snap called, turning over 10♣10♥. 

Ross held A♦Q♦.

Most of the rail surrounding the tournament area were there to sweat Ross, who is part of #TeamKittenPoker and they were all calling for a Queen on the flop, but fell grimly silent when the 10♥ was in the window. 

The rest of the board bricked out and Ross and his rail were eliminated in 8th place, for just under $8,000. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Borenstein Getting It Back

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 8
Chip Average: 6,100,000

Jonathan Borenstein (Teaneck, NJ)

Jonathan Borenstein was unlucky to not have knocked out Tyreem Williams in an earlier hand, and many players would probably have just imploded after a "bad beat" of that degree. 

But, not Borenstein, has spent the last half hour or so chipping back up. 

His most recent win was against Ray Ross in a three-bet pre-flop hand, in which Borenstein raised the turn to 2,000,000 after Ross led for 850,000 on a board of 6♥2♠k♠4♣.

Ross, who has taken his time to make most of his decisions tonight, did so again and eventually seemed to angrily muck his cards, conceding the pot to Borenstein. 

Borenstein is now currently sitting with a top three stack, with just under 10,000,000 in chips. 

Ross on the other hand, is now below the chip average. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 9th Place - Walsh ($6,117)

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 8
Chip Average: 6,100,000

Ed Walsh (Langhorne, PA)

One pay jump has been made by the remaining players, all but Ed Walsh, who is out in 9th place.

In somewhat of a cooler situation, Walsh moved all-in and was called by Jonathan Borenstein, who both held top pair on a board of 10♦3♣7♠. 

Walsh held a King kicker and Borenstein held the superior Ace kicker. 

The board would run out clean for Borenstein, as he notches his 2nd elimination of this Final Table. 

Walsh, who was treading water for some time as one of the shortest stacked players in the room, bows out in 9th for just over $6,000. 

There is just over 30 minutes remaining in Level 29. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Pay Jumps On The Mind...

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 5,553,000

Joe Shinn (Cherry Hill, NJ)

One player who has flown relatively under the radar so far today is Joe Shinn, who just moved over the 4,000,000 chip mark in a recent hand with Ray Ross.

Shinn opened the action to 350,000 and was called by Ross in middle position. 

Shinn then open shoved for 2,400,000 on a board of 10♦Q♣9♣. 

Ross was put in a very difficult spot as the shove was for close to 2.5 times the pot.

He was also seen glancing up at the tournament monitor, perhaps checking the chip counts, but, most likely looking at the pay jumps, as they are quite steep moving foward. 

Ross would have put close to 30% of his stack at risk if he had called and elected to fold and wait for a better spot and perhaps wait for some of the shorter stacks to be sent to the rail. 

Shinn is peaking at the right time and is now close to the average chip stack with 9 players remaining. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Sick Runner Runner

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 5,553,000

Tyreem Williams (Philadelphia, PA)

Everyone who makes a deep run in a tournament will look back at one hand that they maybe "got lucky" on or that should have knocked them out earlier in the tournament. 

And while we aren't sure how Tyreem Williams' Day 1 and Day 2 went, we are certain that a recent hand with Jonathan Borenstein was "that hand" for Tyreem. 

The action was picked up with Tyreem all-in and at risk and turning over J♥J♠ for an over pair to the board of 5♥3♥4♠.

Tyreem was drawing as good as dead as Borenstein held A♥2♥ for a flopped straight, with a redraw to the nut flush draw. 

As the turn card came, Tyreem had a 4% chance of winning the hand. 

The turn was the 4♦ giving Tyreem close to 2% more equity to win the pot with a full house. 

Borenstein realized that, and almost couldn't watch the river, despite being a near lock to win the hand. 

He certainly couldn't watch or even bare to be near the table as the J♣ spiked on the river, giving Tyreem a runner-runner full house to save his tournament. 

A massive roar was heard from Williams' rail, and Borenstein's emotions were the polar opposite. 

Borenstein was chopped down to 6,500,000 while Tyreem Williams is now up over the chip average for the first time in Day 3. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 10th Place - Farah ($4,611)

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 5,553,000

Mo Farah (Bensalem, PA)

The action was picked up with Ed Walsh raising to 210,000 from middle position.

Mo Farah would then flat call from the cut off, only to see Jonathan Borenstein raise to 580,000 from the small blind. 

Walsh would fold and Farah would move all-in for close to 2,200,000 more, Borenstein would make the quick call and turn over A♦K♦. 

Farah would turn over 9♣9♦ and the race would be on. 

Borenstein would shoot ahead on a flop of 6♦3♥A♣ and not give up his lead as the turn and river would brick out. 

Borenstein would move above the 9,000,000 chip mark with the knockout. 

Farah, who is one of the most successful local tournament players, has made some serious runs at Parx Big Stax series over the past year, and adds another Final Table to his poker resume, finising in 10th place, good for $4,611. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Updated Counts

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 4,953,000

Updated chip counts are as follows:

1. Tyreem Williams -2,600,000
2. Ed Walsh - 2,200,000
3. Joshua Hertz - 2,800,000
4. Mo Farah - 2,400,000
5. Chris Kostoulas - 9,900,000
6. Jonathan Borenstein - 7,000,000
7. Joe Shinn - 2,600,000
8. Joe Santoro - 10,200,000
9. Scott Blackman - 1,900,000
10. Ray Ross - 7,000,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Enough Chit Chat

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 4,953,000

Players are now back from "break". 

We say "break" because nearly everyone spent their 15 minutes staying around the tournament area, talking amongst themselves and watching the Monday Night Football game. 

The seriousness of the moment will surely come back, now that the cards are in the air, as there is nearly $250,000 of prize money still waiting to be paid out. 

Someone is going to win some life changing money tonight, as the there is $100,000 up top for the Big Stax 300 Champion.

And, as Ed Walsh was overheard saying on break, with stacks this deep, you could go from first to last in a couple of hands.

He's right, and that should certainly make for a very exciting Final Table. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Quick Break

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 4,953,000

Players are now on a quick 15 minute break and will return to Level 29. 

The current chip average is just under 5,000,000, meaning players in that range now only have 50 big blinds to work with, as opposed to the 60 big blinds that the previous blind level was affording them. 

Scott Blackman is still the shortest stack in the room, sitting with just under 2,000,000, but Tyreem Williams and Ed Walsh are both under the 3,000,000 chip mark and sitting with under 30 bigs. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Locking It Up On The Turn

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10

Scott Blackman (Egg Harbor Twp, NJ)

Scott Blackman has been up and out of his seat for most of the early portions of this Final Table. 

He's mostly been folding and then heading to the rail to lament how he hasn't even had a "marginal" spot to move all-in with. 

Well, he picked a certainly "marginal" spot and got there when he moved all-in for his final 710,000 from the cut off. 

The action was folded to Tyreem Williams in the small blind, who called. Ed Walsh folded in the big blind and Williams was slightly ahead. 

Blackman held 7♥4♥, to Williams' A♦10♣.

The flop of J♠5♥3♥ couldn't have been much better for Blackman, who "locked it up" on the turn when the 10♥ spiked. 

The needless 8♣ fell on the river and Blackman was doubling up to just over 1,500,000. 

Williams was chopped down to close to 2,600,000. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Feeling Out The Final Table

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10

It's been nothing short of a cagey affair over the first 20 minutes of the Big Stax 300 Final Table. 

Few hands have made it past the flop, with most of the action being decided pre-flop or on a continuation bet by the pre-flop aggressor. 

A few numbers to note:

The chip average is currently 4,953,000 or 61 big blinds. 

The smallest stack in the room is still Scott Blackman with just under 10 bigs.

The next player eliminated will make $4,611. 

The current "chop value" is $27,262. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Final Table Draw

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10

The final ten players have redrawn for a Final Table and will resume play with just over 45 minutes left in Level 28. 

The table draw and chip counts is as follows:

1. Tyreem Williams -3,400,000
2. Ed Walsh - 2,900,000
3. Joshua Hertz - 2,800,000
4. Mo Farah - 2,500,000
5. Chris Kostoulas - 11,000,000
6. Jonathan Borenstein - 5,600,000
7. Joe Shinn - 3,000,000
8. Joe Santoro - 9,500,000
9. Scott Blackman - 800,000
10. Ray Ross - 6,600,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 11th Place - Menzer ($4,611)

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 10

Michael Menzer (East Brunswick, NJ)

After Michael Menzer lost nearly half his stack to Chris Kostoulas in a previous hand, Kostoulas finished the job close to 10 minutes later, knocking Menzer out one spot away from the Final Table.

Kostoulas would flop a set of 4's on a board of 5♣4♥J♦10♣7♠ and moved all-in on the river. Menzer would tank for a moment and then call and look to the skies as he saw the young player turn over his flopped set. 

Kostoulas had Menzer's number over the last 20 minutes or so, but he'll be consoled by the fact that he cashes for just over $4,500. 

Kostoulas has been on a tear since returning from dinner and is now the chip leader of the Big Stax 300. 

Players are now redrawing to a ten handed Final Table, seating assignments will be posted shortly. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 12th Place - Johnston ($4,611)

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 11

John Johnston (Howard Beach, NY)

Chris Kostoulas is on a roll after the dinner break, and is now sitting with just over 10,000,000 in chips after he sent John Johnston to the rail in 12th place. 

Johnston moved all-in for his final 1,800,000 from the cut off and was called by Kostoulas in the small blind. 

The big blind fold and Kostoulas had his opponent dominated holding AK versus the A10 of Johnston. 

The board would run out clean and Johnston would be eliminated for just over $4,500. 

The Big Stax 300 is now one elimination away from the Final Table. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Kostoulas Wins Leveling War

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 12

Chris Kostoulas (New York, NY)

The action was picked up on a board of 5♥8♠9♠ with Chris Kostoulas checking to the pre-flop aggressor Michael Menzer.

Menzer would then bet out 175,000 only to see Kostoulas check-raise to 425,000.

Menzer would take a minute to think and cut out some chips before re-raising to 950,000. 

Most thought the action would end there, but Kostoulas immediately announced, "All-in" and Menzer now had a decision for all his chips.

Close to three minutes went by before he flicked his cards across the line and Kostoulas would take in the pot, putting him close to the 8,000,000 chip mark.

Menzer lost nearly 50% of his stack and is now well below half of the chip average. 

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Pay Out Reminder

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 1,651
Players Remaining: 12

As play picks back up, a reminder of the pay out structure is in order. 

1. $99,563
2. $59,758
3. $31,996
4. $22,115
5. $16,939
6. $13,175
7. $10,352
8. $7,999
9. $6,117
10. $4,611
11. $4,611
12. $4,611