Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Kraut Is Not Sour

Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Day 1A Entries: 167
Day 1A Players Remaining: 50
Average Stack: 167,000 (56 big blinds)

Alan Kraut

Action was picked up after a flop of J♠9♣4♣ with maybe 25,000 chips already in the pot.

Sitting UTG+2, Alan Kraut put out a bet of 35,000 before the big blind shoved all-in over the top for about 130,000.

Kraut counted out his chips several times, determining that he and his opponent had nearly even stacks. If he made the call, the loser might not quite be eliminated, but he definitely would have had fewer than 5 big blinds to his name.

After 2 minutes of contemplation, he deemed his draw worthy of a call.

Kraut: 8♣6♣     BB: J♦2♦

Turn: K♣
River: Q♣

The drama ended in a hurry when Kraut made his flush on the turn. Big blind was eliminated, and Kraut now has a shade under 300,000 chips.

Players are about to take a 15-minute color up break to remove the brown 100 chips from play before the final level of the night.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Gagliano Sets A Trap

Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Day 1A Entries: 167
Day 1A Players Remaining: 53
Average Stack: 157,500 (53 big blinds)

Michael Gagliano

Without even once being the aggressor, Michael Gagliano was able to steal nearly 30,000 chips from an opponent.

The player sitting UTG+1 raised to 6,600 pre-flop before Gagliano made the call from the small blind.

Flop: 9♠ 2♥ 2♦

UTG+1 put out another bet of 8,800, which Gagliano again thought about for 20 seconds before making the call.

Both players checked the 7♠ on the turn, bringing the 6♠ on the river.

Gagliano checked, allowing his opponent to set his own trap. UTG+1 bet 13,000 and Gagliano made the call, showing J♠J♣. His opponent had 9♦6♦ for two pair, but Gagliano's two pair was better.

Gagliano now has a little less than an average stack.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Siegel Scoops a Set

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 167
Day 1A Players Remaining: 60

Marvin Siegel

Sitting UTG+1, Marvin Siegel raised the action to 7,000 pre-flop. The rest of the table folded around to the big blind, who made the call.

Flop: 10♣ 3♣ 2♠

Big Blind performed the first half of his check-raise, allowing Siegel to bet 9,000 before responding with a raise to 20,000. Siegel flat-called.

Turn: A♦

This time, Big Blind bet immediately, throwing out seven 5,000 chips. Siegel responded by putting 105,000 into the middle. Technically he wasn't all-in. He still had some non-gray chips in front of him, but both players flipped up their cards anyway when Big Blind announced a call.

Big Blind: Ax 2x (two pair)
Siegel: 10♦ 10♠ (Set of 10s)

River: 5♦

Siegel didn't quite eliminate his opponent, but he was seen leaving the table after the following hand, while Siegel chipped up to more than 250,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): King David

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 167
Day 1A Players Remaining: 80

David Zemel

For a hand in which no one went all-in, there sure were a lot of chips involved at the most recent development on Table 50.

Cathy Dever got the action started by raising to 5,100 UTG+1 pre-flop. Four players (David Zemel, Cutoff and both blinds) made the call, making it a 5-way party to the flop.

Flop: Q♣10♥10♦

All five players checked.

Turn: 7♦

After the blinds checked, Dever resumed her role as the aggressor, making it 12,000 to play. Zemel and the cutoff seat made the call, but both blinds folded.

River: 10♣

Dever checked, and now it was Zemel's turn to fire. He led out for 28,000 and both players flat-called, resulting in a pot of just under 150,000 chips.

Zemel showed K♥K♦ for a full house. Cutoff showed the Q♥ before mucking his other card. Dever didn't reveal either of her cards, and Zemel chipped up to about 350,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Notable Stacks At Final Break

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 167
Day 1A Players Remaining: 80

With three more levels left to be played tonight and an average chip stack of approximately 110,000, here are some of the notable stacks left in the room:

Jon Borenstein - 380,000
Max Pinnola - 315,000
Matt Glantz - 275,000
Matt Matros - 250,000
David Zemel - 235,000
Joe McKeehen - 160,000
Jeff Gross - 150,000
Chalie Hook - 130,000

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Pinnola's Big Break Before Break

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 166
Day 1A Players Remaining: 80

Max Pinnola

Players are moments away from their final break of the night, and Max Pinnola will be heading to that break as one of the chip leaders in the room after scoring a double knockout on Table 45.

Max raised pre-flop from the hijack seat for an uncaptured amount before big blind pushed all-in for about 50,000. UTG, who originally limped into the hand, flat-called big blind's raise before Pinnola shoved all-in over the top, having both of the other players covered.

UTG made the call and they were three-handed.

Pinnola: 10♥10♣     BB: 9♥9♦    UTG: A♦J♠

Flop: K♦5♠2♥
Turn: 4♣
River: K♥

Pinnola's pocket 10s held up and he chipped up to close to 300,000.

While waiting for more players to join the now-shorthanded table, players discussed the action that took place on the hand, and wondered why UTG didn't shove all-in instead of flat-calling. Pinnola said that if UTG had shoved instead of flat-calling, he would have gotten out of the hand, meaning that big blind would have more than doubled up instead of getting eliminated.

Should've could've would've.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): "I Hate To Double You Up"

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 165
Day 1A Players Remaining: 90

Matt Fitzgerald

Matt Fitzgerald limped into the hand from UTG+1. The player seated in the small blind also limped before Travis Greenawalt raised to 7,500 from big blind.

A call would have been close to 20% of Fitzgerald's stack, so it was either shove or fold. He chose option A, making it a total of 38,100 to play. Small blind folded and Greenawalt struggled with the decision, saying "I hate to double you up..."

Ultimately, Greenawalt made the call and was way behind.

Fitzgerald: A♠K♥     Greenawalt: A♦J♣

Flop: 7♥4♠2♦
Turn: 7♣
River 5♠

After that board full of duds, Fitzgerald doubled up (to Greenawalt's chagrin) to nearly 80,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Big Stack-a Busacca

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 165
Day 1A Players Remaining: 90

Sal Busacca

Over on Table 52, Jeff Gross raised to 4,000 from UTG+2 and got a call from UTG+3 before the button pushed all-in for roughly 25,000.

After watching all that unfold, Sal Busacca - who cashed in the Big Stax 300 and final tabled the Big Stax 500 earlier in this series - dropped a big stack of grey 5,000 chips in front of him, announcing all-in. Those who could still cut their losses chose to do so, leaving two players heads up.

Busacca: J♥J♦    Button: Q♣Q♥

Flop: J♠4♣3♠
Turn: 4♦
River: 6♦

Busacca was dominated, but his hot October continued as he tripped up on the flop and was able to fade a bigger set on the turn and river.

Busacca now has close to 200,000 chips, which is more than double the current chip average in the room.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Rieg'd Deck - Joe Triples Up

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 162
Day 1A Players Remaining: 95

Joe Rieg

Sitting UTG+2 and down to less than 10 big blinds, Joe Rieg pushed all-in with his final 14,300 chips and got a call from the player seated in the hijack seat.

Before they could go heads up, though, small blinds counted out his own stack of chips about 7 times before re-raising to 45,000. Big blind got out of the way and UTG+2 threw his cards into the muck as well.

Rieg: A♠5♥    SB: K♦K♠

Flop: 8♦4♣2♠
Turn: 3♣
River: 10♠

Rieg was pretty well behind at the start of the hand, but he made a wheel on the turn and more than tripled up to get back to roughly a starting stack of 50,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Chang Turns A Trey

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 162
Day 1A Players Remaining: 95

Jeffrey Chang

Jeffrey Chang raised to 15,000 from the button and got a call from the player sitting UTG+2 before Frank Loffreno pushed all-in from the hijack seat for what amounted to exactly a min-raise, allowing Chang to re-raise all-in to get UTG+2 out of the hand.

Chang: A♠3♠   Loffreno: A♥J♣

Flop: Q♣10♠9♣
Turn: 3♥
River: 2♦

Loffreno had Chang dominated on the flop. He already had the higher kicker, and could now knock Chang out of the hand by pairing his Jack or by hitting a King or Eight to make a straight. Instead, two low cards came out, one of which gave Chang the winning pair.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): O'Donoghue Chips Up

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 159
Day 1A Players Remaining: 98

Brian O'Donoghue

Facing an early position pre-flop raise to 8,000 from Brian O'Donoghue and a call from the player seated in the hijack position, Joe Black pushed his final 15,500 chips into the middle of the table.

O'Donoghue wasted little time in re-popping all-in for 43,900. The player in the hijack seat tanked for a few minutes before folding.

O'Donoghue:  Q♥ Q♣  Black: J♣ 7♣

Flop: 10♠ 7♥ 2♦
Turn: K♥
River: 5♣

O'Donoghue's pocket queens held up, and he was once again pushing the action on the following hand, raising pre-flop to 2,500 before getting a call from the button and a re-raise to 8,600 from the small blind. O'Donoghue dropped a large stack of grey 5,000 chips into the middle, effectively announcing all-in and forcing the other two players out of the hand.

He now sits with close to 80,000 chips.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Full Stomachs, Clear Eyes, Can't Lose

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 157
Day 1A Players Remaining: 100

Players have returned from their 75-minute dinner break, resuming play in Level 10.

It has been a full day of poker already, but the night is still young. Play for the day will conclude at the end of Level 15, meaning the remaining players have a little over 4 hours left to either pad their lead or climb out of the hole they've dug.

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): Farah Wins Six-Max ($10,563)

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 66
Players Remaining: 1

Six-Max Champ: Mohammad Farah

Mohammad Farah emerged victorious from heads-up play against Ken Silberstein to claim the title of Six-Max champion. Farah has been running hot this year, as this marks his 4th first-place finish in 2014.

Six-Max here at Parx has treated Farah well. He placed 2nd in this event during Big Stax VI back in May.

For the win, Farah takes home $10,563.

Silberstein takes home $6,882 for the second-place finish.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Players About To Head To Dinner

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 151

The day has moved along pretty quickly, as players have already reached their dinner break.  The tournament area will be empty in just over (10) minutes, with players heading to grab a bite to eat from 6:30-7:45pm.  Play will resume with Level 10 and blinds of 600/1,200/200, with six more levels remaining in the night.  Followers of the blog are in for a big treat, as the one and only Kerry James ("Fedora") will be taking over blogging duties for the rest of the weekend.  James is an avid poker fan/follower, and also a contributor for Bleacher Report (NCAA basketball).

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): Heads-Up For The Title

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 66
Players Remaining: 2

With the elimination of Michael Gagliano in third place ($4,161), Mohammad Farah and Ken Silberstein are now heads-up for the Six-Max title.  Here are the updated chip counts as players head on a quick break, returning to Level 20 and blinds of 6,000/12,000/2,000:

Mohammad Farah - 940,000
Ken Silberstein - 380,000

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Kerstetter Falls To Rivkin

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 142

Eric Rivkin (Bensalem, PA)

The action at Table 49 was approached just as Jaime Kerstetter (Brigantine, NJ) shoved for 27,900.  There were two players left to act in the hand, the first being Eric Rivkin.  Rivkin thought for a long while, cutting out the chips for a call and looking back at the third player in the hand, Frank Ferrigno.  After about three minutes, Eric dumped in the chips for the call, and Frank folded behind:

Kerstetter: A♣ 10♣
Rivkin: A♠ Q♦

Flop: 8♥ 9♣ K♣
Turn: 3♠
River: J♥

Jaime was able to flop extra outs, needed to make a pair or a club to double up and stay alive, but the turn and river would not bring her any help.  Eric would scoop in his new found chips, stacking up over 125,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Marv Helps Marder Survive

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 139

Michael Marder (Sewell, NJ) has had himself a tough series over the past two weeks, but things look like they may be turning around (sort of).  Marder found himself short stacked, and shoved his remaining (13) big blinds in over an open from Marvin Siegel.  The button and blinds ended up folding, and Marv would call with action back on him:

Marder: A♥ K♦
Siegel: Q♣ 10♠

Flop: 7♥ Q♠ J♠
Turn: K♥
River: 10♣

It looked like Marder's tough luck would continue, as Siegel out flopped him, but the turn would leave Marv searching for a two-outer to win.  The ten gave Marder a straight, and while he's only up to 24,000, it's an improvement from how his Big Stax series has been.

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): Three Handed Play Returns

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 66
Players Remaining: 3

The three players left in this event have returned from break, and they are now posting blinds of 5,000/10,000/1,000.  Here are the updated chip counts from break:

1. Michael Gagliano - 258,000
2. Mohammad Farah - 708,000
3. Ken Silberstein - 370,000

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Updated Chip Counts

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 129

Players have returned from break, and the cards are once again in the air.  There were some more new arrivals just before break, including WSOP bracelet winners Loni Harwood and Philip Hui.  The color off break has given us an opportunity to spot some of the larger stacks in the field at the moment:

Marvin Siegel - 180,000
Ibraim Ibraimovic - 140,000
Yaser Al-Keliddar - 136,000
Rocco Luciano - 120,000
Matt Glantz - 110,000
Alan Kraut - 110,000
Nancy Martin - 105,000
Anthony Anastasi - 100,000
Andrew Cimpan - 85,000
Eric Rivkin - 80,000

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Color Up Break

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 123

Players are now heading on their second (15) minute break of the day, with action returning to Level 7 and blinds of 300/600/100.  After players exit the tournament area, the supervisors will color off the green (25 denomination) chips, making it a little easier to eye stacks on the table.  Updated chip counts will be posted for the first time once play resumes.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Mr. Day 1 Meets Matt

Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 122

Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA)

Matt Glantz (Lafayette Hill, PA) started the afternoon playing a little cash game, but he took his seat in this Day 1A field about (30) minutes ago.  It didn't take long for Matt to get involved in the action, as he three-bet an UTG open of 1,200 to 3,000.  Marvin Siegel was next to act, and he'd four-bet to 8,500.  The original raiser folded, and Glantz made the call, as the two would go to the flop.

The dealer fanned out 2♠ 4♠ 5♣, with Glantz checking and Marvin shoving all-in (having Glantz's 50,000 remaining stack well covered).  Matt made the call and the cards were tabled:

Glantz: 2♣ 4♣
Marvin: A♣ K♠

Turn: 9♦
River: 10♦

Glantz's hand would flop two pair, with Marvin looking for a gut-shot after the turn to steal the hand away.  Matt's bottom two pair held, and he'd chip up to 135,000.  Mr. Day 1 would drop to 150,000 after the hand, but got all of the lost chips back the next hand, when he played the 2♥ 4♥ and rivered the wheel!!!

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): 4th Place - Fishberg ($3,201)

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 66
Players Remaining: 3

Greg Fishberg (Willow Grove, PA)

We walked over to the final table to get some updated chip counts post-break, and ended up catching the two hands that would end the tournament for Greg Fishberg (Willow Grove, PA).  After Michael Gagliano opened UTG, action folded to Greg in the big blind.  Greg then three-bet to 60,000, with Gagliano following that up with a four-bet shove (200,000).  Fishberg made the call and the cards were turned over:

Fishberg: A♥ Q♠
Gagliano: J♣ J♠

Flop: 8♠ 5♠ K♣
Turn: A♠
River: J♥

After the ace on the turn, things seemed all but over from Gagliano, as his only outs were the two remaining jacks in the deck (Fishberg had the spades covered).  Miraculously, a red jack hit the river, and Gags would double up to his Day 2 starting stack (430,000).  Fishberg was left with less than ten big blinds after absorbing the loss, and shoved the very next...only to be called by Gagliano and eliminated (Q♣ 8♣ < A♦ 4♣).

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): USB Chargers Added To All Cash Tables

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 113

Personal Charging Station

The Parx Poker "braintrust" is always looking for ways to better the poker room experience for all of it's players.  For a long time, players that wanted to charge their phones had the option of handing their license and phone to the front desk and getting power back.  While that was a great option for those instead of jamming up all of the outlets and leaving phones unattended, a better solution was out there.  The solution was USB charging outlets at ALL cash tables in the room, giving each player their own personal plug while seated.

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): Updated

Level 18 (4,000/8,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 66

Players Remaining: 4

Here is a quick update on the finishes for this event, with updated chip counts to follow during the tournament's next break:

1. $10,563
2. $6,882
3. $4,161
4. $3,201
5. Sardor Gaziev ($2,401)
6. Michael Lavenburg ($1,921)
7. Brian O'Donoghue ($1,601)

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): More Late Arrivals

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Entries: 106

The Day 1A field eclipsed the (100) entry mark just a few moments ago, with a fairly steady stream of new players (or entries) arriving throughout each passing level.  There were over ten notables that arrived after the first break of the day, including Big Stax 300 champion Jonathan Borenstein (Teaneck, NJ).  Jonathan is rocking the fedora, and hoping for some more of the #FedoraMagic during this event.  Here are some others to arrive recently:

Rocco Luciano
Tony Sinishtaj
Ed Pham
Jeff Gross
Igor Rabinovich
Travis Greenwalt
Joshua Beckley
Alan Kraut
Eric Rivkin
Keith Crowder
Chalie Hook

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Table 52 Is Where The Action Is

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 102

Sal Busacca (Colts Neck, NJ)

Sal Busacca (Colts Neck, NJ) has had a solid series up to this point, cashing in the Big Stax 300 (82nd Place - $894), and final tabling the Big Stax 500 (9th Place - $5,766).  He is already off to a good start this afternoon, thanks in part to a hand moments ago with Kevin Grabel.

The action was approached on the flop, as Grabel sat with his entire stack across the line, waiting for Busacca's action.  The board would read 8♥ 9♦ 4♥, and Sal was in the tank for close to two minutes.  He eventually put together his stacks of chips and pushed them across the betting line:

Grabel: J♥ 10♥ (combo draw)
Busacca: J♦ J♣

Turn: 3♦
River: 5♣

Sal faded all of Kevin's outs, and he would double to over 75,000 with the pot. Grabel was left very short after losing the hand, and has since busted his first bullet.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Getting Over The Loss

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 97

The Orioles loss in the ALCS may still sting Justin Liberto (Baltimore, MD) just a bit, but building up a big stack and putting a solid number in the bag could change that mood.  Approaching Table 52, Justin Liberto was heads-up on the flop of 4 4 9, and checked the action to his opponent on the button.  With a pot well over 20,000 already, his adversary announced himself all-in, and Liberto immediately through in chips signifying a call.

The cards were turned over and Justin would be in dominating shape, holding A♠ A♦ against Q♠ Q♣.  The paint card on the turn brought a slight sweat to Liberto, but a five on the river sealed things for him, and he'd chip up to 90,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): First Break Of The Day

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 90

Players have just been advised by tournament supervisor David Rolo to exit the tournament area, as the first (15) minute break of the day has just started.  They will return to Level 4, with blinds going up to 150/300/50.  A lot of players are heading to the $500 Six-Max Final Table to check in on the action, as play is still six handed.  Ken Silbestein has started very strong and is now the chip leader at the table, flipping the script with Michael Gagliano, who came into the day with over 420,000.

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Mr. Day 1 Is Back!!!

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Day 1A Entries: 86

Marvin Siegel (Monroe Township, NJ)

Marvin Siegel (Monroe Township, NJ) has been given the nickname "Mr. Day 1," consistently building up huge stacks in the early stages of these Big Stax tournaments.  It hasn't just been this series, it's been something he has been doing for a long time.  The only problem for Marvin is that it's not how you start in these events...it's how you finish.  Siegel does have eight Big Stax cashes to his name, but he's still searching for his first final table.

Moments ago at Table 47, every player but one was standing, as four players were all-in on a flop of 8♠ 10♥ 6♥:

Nancy Martin: A♥ J♥ (flush draw)
Frank Loffreno: 10♦ 10♣ (top set)
Eric Rappaport: 6♦ 6♣ (bottom set)
Marvin Siegel: 7♥ 9♥ (straight/straight-flush redraw)

Turn: A♦
River: 7♣

You couldn't really ask for a more action flop for those hands, as every player had outs to grab the lead from Marvin, who flopped the straight (with a re-draw).  The red card on the turn was a sweat, but it wouldn't change the complexion of the hand.  It took a second for players to scan the cards after the river, but they realized that it would still be Siegel holding strong, taking down the pot worth just under 230,000!!!

Big Stax VIII ($500 Six-Max NLH): Payouts

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 66
Players Remaining: 6

The final table has lost it's first player, as Brian O'Donaghue falls to Ken Silberstein all-in pre.  Brian collects $1,601 for his finish, and has already jumped into the main event field.  Here are the payouts for the final table:

1. $10,563
2. $6,882
3. $4,161
4. $3,201
5. $2,401
6. $1,921
7. Brian O'Donaghue ($1,601)

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Arriving In Bunches

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Entries: 76

Joseph Hebda (Bloomington, IN)

Notable players are continuing to arrive and join this main event field, showing up in small waves.  Just moments ago we saw Jaime Kerstetter (Brigantine, NJ) and Joseph Hebda (Bloomington, IN) arrive together, the latter making one of his first appearances here are Parx.  Hebda has close to $314,000 in tournament earnings, with many of his cashes coming in the Midwest, highlighted by a 6th place finish in the 2011 WSOPC $1,600 Main Event at Hammond ($81,774).

Some other players to show up over the last hour include:

Justin Liberto
Eugene Fouksman
Jacob Neff
Andrew Cimpan
Cathy Dever
Andrew Lydon

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Close Call Becomes Closing Time

Level 2 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Day 1A Entries: 64

Darren Elias (Cherry Hill, NJ)

Darren Elias (Cherry Hill, NJ) had two WPT final tables during Season IX, finishing 5th at Borgata ($230,610) and 3rd at Jacksonville BestBet Open ($147,850).  The close calls were good for some serious cashes, but that wasn't the end goal for Darren...he wanted a championship.

It's not often that players get a second chance to reach their ultimate goals, but Elias was able to do just that last month during the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship.  Darren reached the televised final table, and watched at Kane Kalas (Philadelphia, PA) steamrolled the table to start the day, holding over 70% of the chips in play only a few hours into the day.

Eventually Darren would begin to chip up, and get heads-up with Kalas for a chance to put his hands (and name) on the WPT Champions Trophy.  In the fateful hand, Elias would turn two pair, just as Kalas turned top pair.  The chips would get in on that street, Darren would hold, and he'd be crowned champion and earn his largest lifetime cash ($843,477).

The soft-spoken poker professional may have accomplished something he set out to do years ago, but he's hungry for more.  Darren is currently seated at Table 49, looking to possibly add yet another trophy to his mantle.

Big Stax VIII (Six-Max Final Table): Final Table

While there may not have been coverage yesterday of the Big Stax VIII $500 + 50 No Limit Hold'em Six Max event live, that didn't stop the tournament from attracting some big names.  The final table resumes in just a few minutes, with a familiar name in each seat at the final table.  Here is the lineup with chip counts coming into Day 2:

1. Brian O'Donaghue - 143,000
2. Greg Fishberg - 179,500
3. Michael Gagliano - 422,000
4. Sardor Gaziev - 59,500
5. Mohammad Farah - 176,5000
6. Ken Silberstein - 130,0000
7. Mike Lavenburg - 209,000

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): It's A Very Quality Start

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 54

There are currently six tables in play in this opening hour of Day 1A, and all of those tables host some very potent notables.  Just at Table 47 alone (which is the table in front of media row), we see Nancy Martin, Michael Marder, Vincent Tuetonico, and Marvin Siegel.  Also spotted in the field to start the day:

Ibraim Ibraimovic
Kevin Grabel
Jim Bucci
Anthony Anastasi
Norman Rogers
Joshua Albin

Big Stax 1100 (Day 1A): Let's Get This Show On The Road

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: TBD

The players are beginning to file into the tournament area, with one of the tournament supervisors ready to go over the rules announcement with those present.  Things are pretty much the same as you've heard of the past two weeks, but we will give you a reminder anyway.  This is a four-day tournament, with two starting flights (today and tomorrow).  Players will sit down to starting stacks of 50,000, with late-entries, re-entries, and alternates all being given full stacks.  Levels will be (45) minutes in length on both Day 1's, transitioning to (60) minutes to begin Day 2, and (90) minutes from Level 21+.  Registration is open until the cards are in the air on Day 2, which means if you don't get the chance (or were unable to) bag chips, you can still show up on Sunday afternoon (before 12:00pm) and get in the event.