Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 32
Wayne Kaufmann was talking to the media as players returned to break, referencing the final hand of Level 23 when he doubled up a short stack (and lost about 270,000). Only four hands after returning, he was in the big blind when Robert Sichelstiel shoved for 350,000. "I gave away 270,000 before break, I'm about to give away 350,000," Kaufmann said aloud. That wasn't the case when Wayne made the call, holding 9♠ 9♣ against Robert's A♠ 9♦. The pocket nines would hold up, and Kaufmann would chip up to 1,800,000, sending Sichelstiel home in 33rd place.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Final Break Of The Night
Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 33
The remaining players are heading on their final (15) minute break of the night, returning to blinds of 15,000/30,000/5,000 in Level 24. This will be the last level of the night, with those still left at the end bagging for Day 3 tomorrow. Here are the updated counts from break:
Matt Elsby - 2,200,000
Rocco Luciano - 2,200,000
Sal Busacca - 1,700,000
Michael Briggs - 1,600,000
Justin Liberto - 1,600,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 1,400,000
Frank DiRe - 1,200,000
James Kaplan - 1,200,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 33
The remaining players are heading on their final (15) minute break of the night, returning to blinds of 15,000/30,000/5,000 in Level 24. This will be the last level of the night, with those still left at the end bagging for Day 3 tomorrow. Here are the updated counts from break:
Matt Elsby - 2,200,000
Rocco Luciano - 2,200,000
Sal Busacca - 1,700,000
Michael Briggs - 1,600,000
Justin Liberto - 1,600,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 1,400,000
Frank DiRe - 1,200,000
James Kaplan - 1,200,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Briggs Is Back Again
Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 33
Michael Briggs and Aaron Mermelstein basically swapped positions over the past level, with Mermelstein grabbing the chip lead, while Briggs dropped down to just above average. Well the tables have turned once more as the two get the chips in pre with Briggs at risk for a 1,600,000 pot. Although he may have been at risk, Briggs was comfortably ahead before the runout with aces versus Aaron's kings. The board would run out nine high, and Michael would stay alive and one again swap positions with Aaron.
Michael Briggs - 1,600,000
Aaron Mermelstein - 980,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 33
Michael Briggs and Aaron Mermelstein basically swapped positions over the past level, with Mermelstein grabbing the chip lead, while Briggs dropped down to just above average. Well the tables have turned once more as the two get the chips in pre with Briggs at risk for a 1,600,000 pot. Although he may have been at risk, Briggs was comfortably ahead before the runout with aces versus Aaron's kings. The board would run out nine high, and Michael would stay alive and one again swap positions with Aaron.
Michael Briggs - 1,600,000
Aaron Mermelstein - 980,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Final Four Tables
Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 34
Here are the lineups for the final four tables:
Table 45:
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 34
Here are the lineups for the final four tables:
Table 45:
- Steve Paris
- Cornel Andrew Cimpan
- Cathy Dever
- Sardor Gaziev
- Tyreem Williams
- Greg Himmelbrand
- Rocco Luciano
- Steven Dippolito
- Joe Munoz
Table 46:
- Justin Liberto
- Tim Jukiewicz
- Ernest Gozman
- Christopher Larrea
- Alex Berdichevsky
- Chris Csik
- DJ MacKinnon
- Frank DiRe
- Eric Rappaport
Table 47:
- Emmanuil Digilov
- Matt Elsby
- Wayne Kaufmann
- Ken Silberstein
- James Kaplan
- Jay Sharon
- Michael McGuire
- Robert Sichelstiel
- Joe Rieg
Table 48:
- Michael Sandler
- James McKeon
- David Heck
- Michael Briggs
- Aaron Mermelstein
- Rocco Derosa
- Frank Ferrigno
- Sal Busacca
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts
Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 35
The chip average at the moment is 885,000, but we are beginning to see a lot of stacks well above that number:
Matt Elsby - 2,100,000
Rocco Luciano - 1,900,000
Justin Liberto - 1,500,000
Joe Munoz - 1,400,000
Frank DiRe - 1,100,000
Greg Himmelbrand - 1,100,000
Michael Briggs - 1,000,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 35
The chip average at the moment is 885,000, but we are beginning to see a lot of stacks well above that number:
Matt Elsby - 2,100,000
Rocco Luciano - 1,900,000
Justin Liberto - 1,500,000
Joe Munoz - 1,400,000
Frank DiRe - 1,100,000
Greg Himmelbrand - 1,100,000
Michael Briggs - 1,000,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 37th-45th Places ($1,860)
Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 36
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,860:
37. Ron Rosenberg (Basking Ridge, NJ)
38. Ray Ross (Glen Mill, PA)
39. Vinny Pahuja (New York, NY)
40. Matthew Itkin (Oceanside, NY)
41. Richard Gargel (Brigantine, NJ)
42. Trevor Deeter (Langhorne, PA)
43. Gregory Wish (West Grove, PA)
44. Chetn Joshi (Bensalem, PA)
45. Gino Gesso (Woodbridge, NJ)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 36
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,860:
37. Ron Rosenberg (Basking Ridge, NJ)
38. Ray Ross (Glen Mill, PA)
39. Vinny Pahuja (New York, NY)
40. Matthew Itkin (Oceanside, NY)
41. Richard Gargel (Brigantine, NJ)
42. Trevor Deeter (Langhorne, PA)
43. Gregory Wish (West Grove, PA)
44. Chetn Joshi (Bensalem, PA)
45. Gino Gesso (Woodbridge, NJ)
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Cimpan's Up And Down Runout
Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 38
On the last hand of Level 23, Rocco Luciano would open the pot for a raise, with action folding to Cornel Andrew Cimpan. Cimpan would shove for 255,000, with a fold from the button and small blind, and action on Sardor Gaziev. Sardor also announced himself all-in (600,000), with Rocco then folding behind, leaving the hand heads up between the two:
Cimpan: K♦ K♣
Sardor: A♦ Q♣
Flop: 7♣ Q♥ Q♦
Turn: 4♦
River: K♠
Cimpan couldn't believe it when the flop came out, putting his hands in the air in disgust. He'd start collecting his things...until the king hit the river. He'd clap his hands once before sitting back down and waiting to receive his new chips.
Cornel Andrew Cimpan - 600,000
Sardor Gaziev - 310,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 38
On the last hand of Level 23, Rocco Luciano would open the pot for a raise, with action folding to Cornel Andrew Cimpan. Cimpan would shove for 255,000, with a fold from the button and small blind, and action on Sardor Gaziev. Sardor also announced himself all-in (600,000), with Rocco then folding behind, leaving the hand heads up between the two:
Cimpan: K♦ K♣
Sardor: A♦ Q♣
Flop: 7♣ Q♥ Q♦
Turn: 4♦
River: K♠
Cimpan couldn't believe it when the flop came out, putting his hands in the air in disgust. He'd start collecting his things...until the king hit the river. He'd clap his hands once before sitting back down and waiting to receive his new chips.
Cornel Andrew Cimpan - 600,000
Sardor Gaziev - 310,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Mermelstein Joins His Friend
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 39
Players are about to head on a (15) minute break, before returning to Level 23 and blinds of 12,000/24,000/4,000. Aaron Mermelstein (Philadelphia, PA) was pictured earlier with Eric Rappaport, but now he gets a solo shot after grabbing the chip lead.
Mermelstein just knocked out a short stacked player as his A♣ Q♦ held against the K♥ Q♠ of his opponent. That hand would add 260,000 to his stack, taking him over 1,700,000. There are still a lot of notables remaining with average to below average chips, including the likes of:
Justin Liberto
DJ MacKinnon
Tyreem Williams
Frank Ferrigno
Rocco Luciano
Sardor Gaziev
Cathy Dever (last lady standing)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 39
 |
| Aaron Mermelstein (Philadelphia, PA) |
Mermelstein just knocked out a short stacked player as his A♣ Q♦ held against the K♥ Q♠ of his opponent. That hand would add 260,000 to his stack, taking him over 1,700,000. There are still a lot of notables remaining with average to below average chips, including the likes of:
Justin Liberto
DJ MacKinnon
Tyreem Williams
Frank Ferrigno
Rocco Luciano
Sardor Gaziev
Cathy Dever (last lady standing)
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 46th-54th Places ($1,600)
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 45
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series:
46. Richard Hanheide (Wallkill, NY)
47. Nick Spence (Bensalem, PA)
48. Eugene Curzio (Clifton, VA)
49. Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA)
50. Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA)
51. Ryan Gutzler (Drexel Hill, PA)
52. Philip Neiman (Flushing, NY)
53. Andrew Lydon (Royersford, PA)
54. Anthony Elmo (Morgantown, PA)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 45
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series:
46. Richard Hanheide (Wallkill, NY)
47. Nick Spence (Bensalem, PA)
48. Eugene Curzio (Clifton, VA)
49. Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA)
50. Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA)
51. Ryan Gutzler (Drexel Hill, PA)
52. Philip Neiman (Flushing, NY)
53. Andrew Lydon (Royersford, PA)
54. Anthony Elmo (Morgantown, PA)
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Rappaport Leads Updated Chip Counts
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 46
It's Eric Rappaport's birthday today, no better time to run good and grab the chip lead in the Big Stax 500. He's above 1,600,000, and the tournament professional seems poised to make his first deep run in the Big Stax series.
Here are other counts from the field, taken just moments ago:
Eric Rappaport - 1,600,000
Joe Munoz - 1,400,000
Michael Briggs - 1,200,000
Robert Sichelstiel - 1,100,000
Frank DiRe - 1,000,000
Aaron Mermelstein - 970,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 890,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 46
 |
| Eric Rappaport (Philadelphia, PA) |
Here are other counts from the field, taken just moments ago:
Eric Rappaport - 1,600,000
Joe Munoz - 1,400,000
Michael Briggs - 1,200,000
Robert Sichelstiel - 1,100,000
Frank DiRe - 1,000,000
Aaron Mermelstein - 970,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 890,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Can't Question His Decision Now
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 49
So maybe Chris Larrea (Philadelphia, PA) knew what he was doing when he folded his hand to Matt Elsby for the extra 262,000 (825,000 pot). Larrea just got it in pre against Matt Glantz, holding just a 1,000 advantage in chip stacks. The two would be vying for the pot worth just under 1,000,000:
Glantz: A♥ Q♥
Larrea: A♦ K♣
Runout: 9♦ 8♦ J♣ 6♠ 8♣
Larrea found his spot to recoup the lost chips, and his hand would hold up. Glantz counted his chips to find that he had 1,000 less than Larrea, and the Parx Poker Room Ambassador adds another cash to his resume.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 49
 |
| Christopher Larrea (Philadelphia, PA) |
Glantz: A♥ Q♥
Larrea: A♦ K♣
Runout: 9♦ 8♦ J♣ 6♠ 8♣
Larrea found his spot to recoup the lost chips, and his hand would hold up. Glantz counted his chips to find that he had 1,000 less than Larrea, and the Parx Poker Room Ambassador adds another cash to his resume.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Elsby Wins 800,000 Pot Pre-Flop
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 52
It's not often that you can title a post that way, but Matt Elsby (Chandler, AZ) just took down a pot worth 825,000 without the hand going to the flop. The hand would be approached just as Elsby five-bet shipped, with his opponent left to call another 262,000.
Elsby sat still as could be as his opponent got up from his seat, cut out the chips for a call, and deliberated for minutes. Eventually the cards would be pushed across the line and into the muck. The identity of his opponent has yet to have been verified, but he's left with over 350,000.
Elsby is over 1,000,000 for the first time today, and has one of the top ten stacks.
Level 22 has just started, with blinds going up to 10,000/20,000/3,000 (620,000 chip average).
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 52
 |
| Verifying The Counts |
Elsby sat still as could be as his opponent got up from his seat, cut out the chips for a call, and deliberated for minutes. Eventually the cards would be pushed across the line and into the muck. The identity of his opponent has yet to have been verified, but he's left with over 350,000.
Elsby is over 1,000,000 for the first time today, and has one of the top ten stacks.
Level 22 has just started, with blinds going up to 10,000/20,000/3,000 (620,000 chip average).
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 55th-63rd Places ($1,339)
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 53
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,339:
55. Jack King (Clayton, NJ)
56. Nancy Martin (Washington Crossing, PA)
57. Eric Most (Midlothian, VA)
58. Michael Bertolini (Las Vegas, NV)
59. James Gilbert (Bensalem, PA)
60. John Green (Yardley, PA)
61. Alex Queen (Crabsville, PA)
62. Dan Dizenzo (Sussex, NJ)
63. Ed Blount (Mineral, VA)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 53
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,339:
55. Jack King (Clayton, NJ)
56. Nancy Martin (Washington Crossing, PA)
57. Eric Most (Midlothian, VA)
58. Michael Bertolini (Las Vegas, NV)
59. James Gilbert (Bensalem, PA)
60. John Green (Yardley, PA)
61. Alex Queen (Crabsville, PA)
62. Dan Dizenzo (Sussex, NJ)
63. Ed Blount (Mineral, VA)
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Cards Back In The Air
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 53
The remaining (53) players are back in their seats, and the cards are once again in the air. As mentioned earlier, there will be three more levels played tonight, before those left bag for Day 3 (starting at 1:00pm tomorrow).
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 53
The remaining (53) players are back in their seats, and the cards are once again in the air. As mentioned earlier, there will be three more levels played tonight, before those left bag for Day 3 (starting at 1:00pm tomorrow).
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Day 2 Dinner Break
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 57
Players are just under (10) minutes from dinner break, which will last from 6:30-7:45pm. Those remaining will then return to play three more levels, all of which will be (90) minutes in length. When players come back to Level 22, the blinds will have gone up to 10,000/20,000/3,000. Live coverage of the event will pick back up the moment cards are once again in the air.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 57
Players are just under (10) minutes from dinner break, which will last from 6:30-7:45pm. Those remaining will then return to play three more levels, all of which will be (90) minutes in length. When players come back to Level 22, the blinds will have gone up to 10,000/20,000/3,000. Live coverage of the event will pick back up the moment cards are once again in the air.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Level Transitions...Updated Chip Counts
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 61
Level 21 is about to begin, and the blinds will be going up to 8,000/16,000/2,000. The dinner break for the day will be at exactly 6:30pm, which means the level will be paused. Here are some updated chip counts from the end of Level 20:
Robert Sichelstiel - 1,400,000
Ray Ross - 1,000,000
Chris Csik - 1,000,000
Michael Briggs - 990,000
Vinny Masino - 880,000
Jack McKeon - 850,000
Joe Munoz - 805,000
Matt Glantz - 780,000
Michael Sandler - 770,000
DJ MacKinnon - 740,000
Rocco Luciano - 500,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 61
Level 21 is about to begin, and the blinds will be going up to 8,000/16,000/2,000. The dinner break for the day will be at exactly 6:30pm, which means the level will be paused. Here are some updated chip counts from the end of Level 20:
Robert Sichelstiel - 1,400,000
Ray Ross - 1,000,000
Chris Csik - 1,000,000
Michael Briggs - 990,000
Vinny Masino - 880,000
Jack McKeon - 850,000
Joe Munoz - 805,000
Matt Glantz - 780,000
Michael Sandler - 770,000
DJ MacKinnon - 740,000
Rocco Luciano - 500,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 64th-71st Places ($1,116)
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 63
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,116:
64. Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ)
65. Yao Wu (New York, NY)
66. Jonathan Cachola (Wayne, NJ)
67. David Britchow (Dresher, PA)
68. Joshua Beckely (Marlton, NJ)
69. Frank Dorigo (Hamilton, NJ)
70. Michael Mariner (Staten Island, NY)
71. Vincent Teutonico (Staten Island, NY)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 63
The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 500 of the Big Stax VIII series for $1,116:
64. Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ)
65. Yao Wu (New York, NY)
66. Jonathan Cachola (Wayne, NJ)
67. David Britchow (Dresher, PA)
68. Joshua Beckely (Marlton, NJ)
69. Frank Dorigo (Hamilton, NJ)
70. Michael Mariner (Staten Island, NY)
71. Vincent Teutonico (Staten Island, NY)
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): McGuire Sends Field Into The Money
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
There were two players all-in at the same time (at different tables), one of which would be eliminated to bust the bubble. Chetna Joshi would double up to 260,000 as her pocket aces bested pocket eights to stay alive. At Table 47, there would be a blind v. blind scenario, with the player in the small blind open shoving for 181,000. Michael McGuire was in the big blind, and he tanked for close to four minutes before announcing a call:
Player X: A♠ 10♠
McGuire: K♦ Q♥
Runout: 9♦ Q♠ Q♦ 3♣ 10♣
McGuire was unhappy to see the hand when the cards were tabled, but his expression changed greatly after basically flopping the "bubble boy" dead. Everyone is now in the money, with four players already making their way to the tournament podium in a matter of minutes.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
 |
| Michael McGuire (Mahwah, NJ) |
Player X: A♠ 10♠
McGuire: K♦ Q♥
Runout: 9♦ Q♠ Q♦ 3♣ 10♣
McGuire was unhappy to see the hand when the cards were tabled, but his expression changed greatly after basically flopping the "bubble boy" dead. Everyone is now in the money, with four players already making their way to the tournament podium in a matter of minutes.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Big Stax 500 On The Bubble
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 72
The tournament is now on the stone bubble, and the clock has been paused so hand-for-hand play can start. There will be two minutes taken off the clock for each hand played during the process, with everything going back to normal after the next elimination. The min-cash for the event will bring players $1,116, with the main goal for everyone remaining being the $85,926 up top.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 72
The tournament is now on the stone bubble, and the clock has been paused so hand-for-hand play can start. There will be two minutes taken off the clock for each hand played during the process, with everything going back to normal after the next elimination. The min-cash for the event will bring players $1,116, with the main goal for everyone remaining being the $85,926 up top.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Tweets During Break
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
As the tournament reaches the money bubble, the Twitter-verse begins to pick up a little, with posts from players still alive:
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
As the tournament reaches the money bubble, the Twitter-verse begins to pick up a little, with posts from players still alive:
195k, 3 away from money, going back to 6k/12k
— Ryan (@s1nnr) October 12, 2014
155,000 coming back to 12k/2k after winning A4hh>ATo aip vs @JustinLiberto to stay alive 😬. 75 left, 71pd, $86k up top. #ParxBigStax
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) October 12, 2014
600k going into 12k bb. A few people from the money.
— Eric Rappaport (@Rappy300) October 12, 2014
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Deeter Doubles On Bubble
Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
Players are close to going on break, and also close to reaching the money in the second trophy event of the series. Trevor Deeter just opened a pot at Table 47 after action folded to him on the button (raised to 25,000). Joe Black shoved for 195,000 from the small blind, and after the big blind folded, Deeter made the call (Black at risk):
Deeter: 7♦ 7♣
Black: A♠ Q♠
Runout: 6♠ 6♥ 6♦ J♥ 2♠
Deeter's pocket pair would hold up, and he would chip up to 430,000, only four spots from the money. One notable that will not be cashing this event is Alex Rocha (Brigantine, NJ), as he loses two critical pots to bust.
Players are going on break as we type, and they will return to Level 20 and blinds of 6,000/12,000/200.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 75
 |
| Trevor Deeter (Philadelphia, PA) |
Deeter: 7♦ 7♣
Black: A♠ Q♠
Runout: 6♠ 6♥ 6♦ J♥ 2♠
Deeter's pocket pair would hold up, and he would chip up to 430,000, only four spots from the money. One notable that will not be cashing this event is Alex Rocha (Brigantine, NJ), as he loses two critical pots to bust.
Players are going on break as we type, and they will return to Level 20 and blinds of 6,000/12,000/200.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): First Across 1,000,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 82
 |
| Robert Sichelstiel (Perkasie, PA) |
Robert Sichelstiel - 1,200,000
Michael Sandler - 850,000
Ron Rosenberg - 600,000
Vinny Pahuja - 530,000
Matt Elsby - 505,000
Cornel Andrew Cimpan - 320,000
Jesse Cohen - 300,000
Nancy Martin - 300,000
Cathy Dever - 250,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Level Going Up...Money Bubble Approaching
Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 87
The field is just (16) bustouts from the money, as Level 19 begins and players start posting blinds of 5,000/10,000/1,000 (360,000 chip average). While that number equates to (36) big blinds, there are many short stacks in the field sitting with less than (20) bigs. There have been a handful of notables that have had their day cut short, falling an arms length from the money:
Jose Montes
Antonio Payne
Marvin Siegel
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 87
The field is just (16) bustouts from the money, as Level 19 begins and players start posting blinds of 5,000/10,000/1,000 (360,000 chip average). While that number equates to (36) big blinds, there are many short stacks in the field sitting with less than (20) bigs. There have been a handful of notables that have had their day cut short, falling an arms length from the money:
Jose Montes
Antonio Payne
Marvin Siegel
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Feinstein Finds Miracle Runout
Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 91
"That was a pretty sick hand over there," a spectator told the media, referencing a big pot between Rhand Feinstein (Shorehan, NY) and Vinny Masino. The two were all-in pre for a pot worth close to 450,000, with Feinstein at risk:
Masino: A♣ A♥
Feinstein: 4♠ 4♣
Flop: 5♠ 3♣ 6♦
Turn: A♠
River: 2♣
Feinstein couldn't really ask for a better flop without flopping a set, and while the turn took away two outs, the river was exactly was Feinstein was hoping for. His chips were counted down, and after everything was shipped his way, Rhand would have 465,000.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 91
 |
| Rhand Feinstein (Shorehan, NY) |
Masino: A♣ A♥
Feinstein: 4♠ 4♣
Flop: 5♠ 3♣ 6♦
Turn: A♠
River: 2♣
Feinstein couldn't really ask for a better flop without flopping a set, and while the turn took away two outs, the river was exactly was Feinstein was hoping for. His chips were counted down, and after everything was shipped his way, Rhand would have 465,000.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Briggs Bringing The Noise
Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 99
Michael Briggs climb is continuing, as he just took down a big pot against Justin Liberto. We approached the hand on the turn, with the board reading 3♥ 3♣ 9♣ 8♣. Briggs checked to Liberto (who was on the button), and watched as Justin put out a bet of 71,000. After asking for the amount, Briggs put in the chips for a call. The dealer placed down the 7♠ on the river, and Michael checked once again to Liberto. Justin's bet was 70,000 on the river, and Briggs went through the same process before making the call.
Liberto said to Briggs that he was good, and Michael turned over J♣ J♦. Liberto dropped down to 300,000 after absorbing the loss, while Briggs jumped up to 660,000.
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 99
Michael Briggs climb is continuing, as he just took down a big pot against Justin Liberto. We approached the hand on the turn, with the board reading 3♥ 3♣ 9♣ 8♣. Briggs checked to Liberto (who was on the button), and watched as Justin put out a bet of 71,000. After asking for the amount, Briggs put in the chips for a call. The dealer placed down the 7♠ on the river, and Michael checked once again to Liberto. Justin's bet was 70,000 on the river, and Briggs went through the same process before making the call.
Liberto said to Briggs that he was good, and Michael turned over J♣ J♦. Liberto dropped down to 300,000 after absorbing the loss, while Briggs jumped up to 660,000.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Briggs Busts Duong
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 105
 |
| Michael Briggs (Hamilton, NJ) |
Briggs: A♥ K♦
Duong: 9♦ 9♥
Runout: 2♥ A♣ 3♥ 5♣ J♠
Duong would be eliminated from Day 2 play, with Briggs scooping up the pot and eclipsing the 430,000 mark. The field is just over (30) away from the money, with short stacks trying to navigate their way to that point.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Chip Counts Before First Break
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 117
Players are about to go on their first break of the day, returning to Level 18 and blinds of 4,000/8,000/1,000 (265,000 chip average). Chris Csik (Hoboken, NJ) had just over 100,000 in front of him about (30) minutes ago...he's now one of the chip leaders with over 750,000. After winning a critical flip to get his first double (6♠ 6♣ > A♥ K♠), Csik made a big call with pocket eights on a 2♦ 3♦ 6♣ flop when his opponent shoved for 260,000. His 8♠ 8♥ held against his opponent's 5♣ 6♦, and that's basically the back story. Here are some other counts from the field:
Patrick Curzio - 800,000
Chris Csik - 750,000
DJ MacKinnon - 700,000
Ray Ross - 680,000
Michael Sandler - 630,000
Joe Munoz - 575,000
Frank DiRe - 550,000
Rocco Derosa - 540,000
Matthew Giametta - 500,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 475,000
Justin Liberto - 470,000
Mike Berto - 460,000
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 117
 |
| Chris Csik (Hoboken, NJ) |
Patrick Curzio - 800,000
Chris Csik - 750,000
DJ MacKinnon - 700,000
Ray Ross - 680,000
Michael Sandler - 630,000
Joe Munoz - 575,000
Frank DiRe - 550,000
Rocco Derosa - 540,000
Matthew Giametta - 500,000
Wayne Kaufmann - 475,000
Justin Liberto - 470,000
Mike Berto - 460,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Kaplan Wins The Classic Flip
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 126
Passing Table 54, there would be an all-in and a call pre-flop, with Timothy Bryan at risk against James Kaplan. The pot was worth close to 180,000, with Bryan leading going in (but just marginally):
Kaplan: A♣ K♠
Bryan: Q♦ Q♣
Flop: 7♣ A♦ J♥
Turn: A♥
River: 7♥
Kaplan outflopped Bryan to take the lead, and would chip up to over 500,000 in the process. James in no stranger to this event, having signed for first place money in a four-way chop of the Big Stax VI 500 event ($40,362).
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 126
 |
| James Kaplan (Boca Raton, FL) |
Kaplan: A♣ K♠
Bryan: Q♦ Q♣
Flop: 7♣ A♦ J♥
Turn: A♥
River: 7♥
Kaplan outflopped Bryan to take the lead, and would chip up to over 500,000 in the process. James in no stranger to this event, having signed for first place money in a four-way chop of the Big Stax VI 500 event ($40,362).
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): First Level In The Books
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 132
The first level of the day is now done, and players are posting blinds of 3,000/6,000/1,000 in Level 17. The action was a little slower than expected over that first hour of the day, but not slow enough for some players who didn't make it out of the level. Notables that were seen walking away from the tournament area for the day included Sean Wallace, Bob Brady, Steven Sarmiento, and Mohammad Farah. Alex Rocha (Brigantine, NJ) felt a little bad about sending home a good friend, making it clear on Twitter:
Total Entries: 775
Players Remaining: 132
The first level of the day is now done, and players are posting blinds of 3,000/6,000/1,000 in Level 17. The action was a little slower than expected over that first hour of the day, but not slow enough for some players who didn't make it out of the level. Notables that were seen walking away from the tournament area for the day included Sean Wallace, Bob Brady, Steven Sarmiento, and Mohammad Farah. Alex Rocha (Brigantine, NJ) felt a little bad about sending home a good friend, making it clear on Twitter:
All hotels sold out last night so @Walllllly let me sleep in his bed. I return the favor by eliminating him from day 2. I'm an awful human.
— alex rocha (@THE_ALEX_ROCHA) October 12, 2014
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Rocha Triples Up...KO's Wally
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 775
The action at Table 51 was recapped for us, so some of the details may be a little cloudy. Steve Thorton opened the pot for a raise, with Sean Wallace shoving his ten big blind stack in. Alex Rocha was next to act (and had a 15 big blind stack), and he would re-shove. The original raiser Thorton would call (having both players covered):
Thorton: K♠ K♥
Wallace: A♥ J♦
Rocha: 9♠ 9♣
Flop: A♠ 6♣ 4♣
Turn: 10♣
River: K♣
The lead in the hand would change throughout the runout, with Thorton holding strong going in, Wallace grabbing the lead on the flop, and Rocha winning the hand with the only club of the three hands tabled. He is now up to 250,000, while Sean Wallace leaves the tournament area.
Total Entries: 775
 |
| Alex Rocha (Brigantine, NJ) |
Thorton: K♠ K♥
Wallace: A♥ J♦
Rocha: 9♠ 9♣
Flop: A♠ 6♣ 4♣
Turn: 10♣
River: K♣
The lead in the hand would change throughout the runout, with Thorton holding strong going in, Wallace grabbing the lead on the flop, and Rocha winning the hand with the only club of the three hands tabled. He is now up to 250,000, while Sean Wallace leaves the tournament area.
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Official Payouts
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 774
Here are the official payouts for the Big Stax VIII 500 event:
Big Stax 500 - $500 + 50 No Limit Hold'em
October 9-13, 2014
Total Entries: 775
Total Prize Fund: $372,000
Payouts:
Total Entries: 774
Here are the official payouts for the Big Stax VIII 500 event:
Big Stax 500 - $500 + 50 No Limit Hold'em
October 9-13, 2014
Total Entries: 775
Total Prize Fund: $372,000
Payouts:
- $85,926
- $51,150
- $29,016
- $21,130
- $16,442
- $12,685
- $9,523
- $7,663
- $5,766
10-12. $4,538
13-15. $4,018
16-18. $3,534
19-21. $3,125
22-24. $2,753
25-27. $2,418
28-36. $2,158
37-45. $1,860
46-54. $1,600
55-63. $1,339
64-71. $1,116
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Sandler Sees Through The Cards?
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 775
Table 51 bore witness to one of the more interesting hands to start the day, as action folded around to Michael Sandler on the button. Sandler raised to 13,000, and after the small blind folded, Sean Wallace (Horsham, PA) called out of the big. The dealer fanned out a flop of A♠ A♦ 2♠, and the action followed with checks from each player. After the J♠ on the turn, Wallace bet out 16,500 and Sandler made the call.
The dealer tabled the 6♦ on the river, and Wallace once again bet out, this time for 32,500. Sandler thought for a moment and then collected the correct amount for a call. He then had a moment of indecisiveness, almost looking like he wanted to put the chips back where they came from. Sandler's mind was made up though, and he placed the chips across the line. "Queen high," Wallace said as he looked over, with Michael then tabling K♠ 5♣. His king high was good, and he'd win the pot worth over 100,000.
Michael Sandler - 310,000
Sean Wallace - 90,000
Total Entries: 775
Table 51 bore witness to one of the more interesting hands to start the day, as action folded around to Michael Sandler on the button. Sandler raised to 13,000, and after the small blind folded, Sean Wallace (Horsham, PA) called out of the big. The dealer fanned out a flop of A♠ A♦ 2♠, and the action followed with checks from each player. After the J♠ on the turn, Wallace bet out 16,500 and Sandler made the call.
The dealer tabled the 6♦ on the river, and Wallace once again bet out, this time for 32,500. Sandler thought for a moment and then collected the correct amount for a call. He then had a moment of indecisiveness, almost looking like he wanted to put the chips back where they came from. Sandler's mind was made up though, and he placed the chips across the line. "Queen high," Wallace said as he looked over, with Michael then tabling K♠ 5♣. His king high was good, and he'd win the pot worth over 100,000.
Michael Sandler - 310,000
Sean Wallace - 90,000
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Waiting For Action To Get Underway
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 774
There is just a slight delay in the action getting underway, as the tournament supervisors cater to the unexpected number of Day 2 buy-ins. It looks like Jose Montes and Ryan Eriquezzo have made believers out of people in regards to the (8) big blinds buy-in.
Tournament supervisor David Rolo is going over the rules announcement with those seated in the field, making sure that all details are gone over. The action today will start with Level 16 and blinds of 2,500/5,000/500, with the early levels of the day lasting (60) minutes.
Everything is now taken care of and the cards are in the air!!!
Total Entries: 774
There is just a slight delay in the action getting underway, as the tournament supervisors cater to the unexpected number of Day 2 buy-ins. It looks like Jose Montes and Ryan Eriquezzo have made believers out of people in regards to the (8) big blinds buy-in.
Tournament supervisor David Rolo is going over the rules announcement with those seated in the field, making sure that all details are gone over. The action today will start with Level 16 and blinds of 2,500/5,000/500, with the early levels of the day lasting (60) minutes.
Everything is now taken care of and the cards are in the air!!!
Big Stax 500 (Day 2): Day 2 Chip Counts/Table Draw
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 762
Below is the Day 2 table draw for the Big Stax 500. An easy way to find your table is to CLICK HERE, and find your name on the alphabetical list first:
Total Entries: 762
Below is the Day 2 table draw for the Big Stax 500. An easy way to find your table is to CLICK HERE, and find your name on the alphabetical list first:
| First Name | Last Name | Chip Count | Table # | Seat # |
| Steve | Pares | 108,000 | 45 | 1 |
| Nancy | Martin | 158,500 | 45 | 2 |
| Jason | Rivkin | 230,500 | 45 | 3 |
| Drew | Johnson | 50,500 | 45 | 4 |
| Eric | Most | 344,000 | 45 | 5 |
| Mike | Kalfa | 104,000 | 45 | 6 |
| Mikhail | Kazakevich | 111,000 | 45 | 7 |
| Jon | Rublee | 201,500 | 45 | 8 |
| Ching | Poon | 12,000 | 45 | 9 |
| Greg | Wish | 180,500 | 46 | 1 |
| Jim | Jamison | 149,500 | 46 | 2 |
| Rick | Hanheide | 194,500 | 46 | 3 |
| David | Britchkow | 125,000 | 46 | 4 |
| Christopher | Kounoupis | 129,000 | 46 | 5 |
| Rich | Gargel | 239,000 | 46 | 6 |
| Michael | Mariner | 202,000 | 46 | 7 |
| William | Daloisi | 98,000 | 46 | 8 |
| James | Lillis | 117,500 | 46 | 9 |
| Emmanuil | Digilou | 280,500 | 47 | 1 |
| Sean | Byars | 215,500 | 47 | 2 |
| Wayne | Kaufmann | 219,500 | 47 | 3 |
| Ken | Silberstein | 162,000 | 47 | 4 |
| Michael | Pszczola | 161,500 | 47 | 5 |
| Steven | Nacht | 100,000 | 47 | 6 |
| Mike | Mcguire | 135,000 | 47 | 7 |
| Bobby | Sembler | 63,500 | 47 | 8 |
| Ido | Ashkenazi | 310,500 | 47 | 9 |
| Dan | DiZenzo | 187,500 | 48 | 1 |
| Eric | Nilsen | 153,500 | 48 | 2 |
| Vincent | Teutonico | 201,500 | 48 | 3 |
| Alexander | Queen | 329,000 | 48 | 4 |
| Frank | Dire | 475,000 | 48 | 5 |
| Aaron | Mermelstein | 135,000 | 48 | 6 |
| Pavel | Krapivin | 96,000 | 48 | 7 |
| James | Gilbert | 270,500 | 48 | 8 |
| Chetna | Joshi | 192,000 | 48 | 9 |
| Steven | Sarmiento | 182,500 | 49 | 1 |
| Allan | Lubin | 276,500 | 49 | 2 |
| Daniel | Shelbo | 93,500 | 49 | 3 |
| Justin | Liberto | 347,000 | 49 | 4 |
| Frank | Dorigo | 293,500 | 49 | 5 |
| Mike | Kemeter | 102,000 | 49 | 6 |
| Mark | McDonough | 76,000 | 49 | 7 |
| Jeff | Gross | 112,000 | 49 | 8 |
| David | Heck | 208,500 | 49 | 9 |
| Joseph | Montervino | 139,500 | 50 | 1 |
| Jose Ivan | Montes | 76,000 | 50 | 2 |
| Kevin | Mcgee | 141,500 | 50 | 3 |
| Jonathan | Cachola | 64,000 | 50 | 4 |
| Carlos | Colon | 61,000 | 50 | 5 |
| Ron | Rosenberg | 454,000 | 50 | 6 |
| Mohammad | Farah | 145,500 | 50 | 7 |
| Christopher | Larrea | 210,500 | 50 | 8 |
| Sardor | Gaziev | 332,500 | 50 | 9 |
| Sean | Wallace | 254,000 | 51 | 1 |
| Alex | Rocha | 100,500 | 51 | 2 |
| Frank | Ferrigno | 117,000 | 51 | 3 |
| Matt | Weasen | 112,000 | 51 | 4 |
| Staffan | Lind | 263,000 | 51 | 5 |
| Richard | Devivo | 92,000 | 51 | 6 |
| Steven | Thornton | 85,000 | 51 | 7 |
| Mike | Sandler | 284,500 | 51 | 8 |
| Rich | Kates | 54,500 | 51 | 9 |
| Ryan | Gutzler | 151,000 | 52 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 52 | 2 | ||
| Vincent | Masino | 337,000 | 52 | 3 |
| Satish | Surapaneni | 383,000 | 52 | 4 |
| Eric | Siegel | 135,000 | 52 | 5 |
| Rhand | Feinstein | 90,500 | 52 | 6 |
| Tyler | Beaton | 297,500 | 52 | 7 |
| Matthew | Giametta | 457,000 | 52 | 8 |
| Benjamin | Chan | 110,000 | 52 | 9 |
| Ed | Blount | 279,500 | 53 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 53 | 2 | ||
| Yao | Wu | 152,000 | 53 | 3 |
| Eugene | Curzio | 306,000 | 53 | 4 |
| Dave | Elliott | 146,000 | 53 | 5 |
| Matt | Elsby | 287,500 | 53 | 6 |
| Jay | Kell | 257,000 | 53 | 7 |
| Cullen | Hofmann | 186,500 | 53 | 8 |
| Christopher | Senape | 237,000 | 53 | 9 |
| Rocco | Luciano | 150,500 | 54 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 54 | 2 | ||
| Ray | Ross | 354,500 | 54 | 3 |
| James | Kaplan | 212,000 | 54 | 4 |
| Matthew | Silberzweig | 40,000 | 54 | 5 |
| Dominick | Pelli | 164,000 | 54 | 6 |
| Trevor | Deeter | 96,500 | 54 | 7 |
| Tim | Bryan | 149,500 | 54 | 8 |
| Ian | Hodges | 99,500 | 54 | 9 |
| Marvin | Siegel | 202,000 | 55 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 55 | 2 | ||
| Joseph | McKeehen | 161,500 | 55 | 3 |
| Juno | Kim | 113,000 | 55 | 4 |
| Stephanie | Hubbard | 101,500 | 55 | 5 |
| Louis | Russo | 116,500 | 55 | 6 |
| Philip | Neiman | 250,000 | 55 | 7 |
| Steven | Dippolito | 214,500 | 55 | 8 |
| Craig | Bateman II | 234,500 | 55 | 9 |
| Darius | Studdard | 111,000 | 56 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 56 | 2 | ||
| Hugh | Martin | 464,500 | 56 | 3 |
| Catherine | Dever | 283,500 | 56 | 4 |
| Brian | Kim | 147,000 | 56 | 5 |
| DJ | MacKinnon | 577,500 | 56 | 6 |
| Nicholas | Spence | 305,500 | 56 | 7 |
| Gino | Gesso | 243,000 | 56 | 8 |
| Joseph | Palma | 115,000 | 56 | 9 |
| Ray | Taylor | 76,000 | 74 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 74 | 2 | ||
| Steven | Kobitz | 97,000 | 74 | 3 |
| Matt | Glantz | 292,500 | 74 | 4 |
| Tanios | Abi-yaghi | 68,000 | 74 | 5 |
| James | McKeon | 272,500 | 74 | 6 |
| Eugene | Fouksman | 120,000 | 74 | 7 |
| Joshua | Beckley | 264,000 | 74 | 8 |
| Joseph | Munoz | 97,000 | 74 | 9 |
| Mark | Amabile | 80,000 | 75 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 75 | 2 | ||
| Anthony | Pagan | 129,500 | 75 | 3 |
| Taemee | Feuer | 151,500 | 75 | 4 |
| Abraham | Faroni | 189,000 | 75 | 5 |
| George | Dgheim | 35,500 | 75 | 6 |
| Ozea | Ingram | 31,000 | 75 | 7 |
| Mike | Schoultz | 53,500 | 75 | 8 |
| Joe | Rieg | 276,500 | 75 | 9 |
| Anothony | Garofalo | 65,000 | 76 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 76 | 2 | ||
| Alex | Berdichensury | 101,000 | 76 | 3 |
| Jeffrey | Spence | 250,500 | 76 | 4 |
| Sal | Busaeca | 191,500 | 76 | 5 |
| Jacob | Neff | 118,500 | 76 | 6 |
| George | Alberto | 463,500 | 76 | 7 |
| Steven | Benkovic | 236,500 | 76 | 8 |
| Chris | Csik | 67,000 | 76 | 9 |
| Edward | Pham | 308,500 | 77 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 77 | 2 | ||
| Jack | Doung | 119,000 | 77 | 3 |
| Rocco | Derosa | 427,500 | 77 | 4 |
| Eric | Rappaport | 220,000 | 77 | 5 |
| Ernest | Gozman | 143,000 | 77 | 6 |
| Robert | Sichelstiel | 504,500 | 77 | 7 |
| Hector | Pedraza | 183,000 | 77 | 8 |
| Max | Pinnola | 89,500 | 77 | 9 |
| Artur | Zaikansky | 184,500 | 78 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 78 | 2 | ||
| Dave | Penna | 340,000 | 78 | 3 |
| Jay | Sharon | 97,500 | 78 | 4 |
| Jesse | Cohen | 112,500 | 78 | 5 |
| Jack | King | 204,000 | 78 | 6 |
| John | Green | 73,500 | 78 | 7 |
| Andrew | Lydon | 104,000 | 78 | 8 |
| Stephen | Jones | 64,000 | 78 | 9 |
| Matt | Itkin | 254,500 | 79 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 79 | 2 | ||
| Joe | Loscialo | 115,500 | 79 | 3 |
| Tracy | Childress | 78,500 | 79 | 4 |
| Michael | Hollenberg | 99,000 | 79 | 5 |
| Michael | Marder | 135,000 | 79 | 6 |
| Michael | Briggs | 224,000 | 79 | 7 |
| Greg | Himmelbrand | 91,500 | 79 | 8 |
| Paul | Shedaker | 119,000 | 79 | 9 |
| Tony | Elmo | 177,000 | 80 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 80 | 2 | ||
| Craig | Curran | 23,000 | 80 | 3 |
| Tyreem | Williams | 130,500 | 80 | 4 |
| Ryan | Hohner | 206,000 | 80 | 5 |
| James | Sivolella | 61,000 | 80 | 6 |
| Mike | Bertolini | 475,500 | 80 | 7 |
| Richard | Rossetti | 90,500 | 80 | 8 |
| Justin | Schwarts | 149,000 | 80 | 9 |
| Anthony | Serino | 180,000 | 81 | 1 |
| EMPTY | 81 | 2 | ||
| Vinny | Pahuja | 355,500 | 81 | 3 |
| Geno | Raman | 112,000 | 81 | 4 |
| Timothy | Jurkiewicz | 51,000 | 81 | 5 |
| Toung | LE | 110,000 | 81 | 6 |
| Antonio | Payne | 106,500 | 81 | 7 |
| Richie | Knauer | 183,000 | 81 | 8 |
| Justin | Wong | 86,500 | 81 | 9 |
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