2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 7: $2,700 Spring Poker Championship
Day: 1a
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
94
Prize
$256,508
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$1,003,950
Entries
414
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

Top Two for Madsen

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante
Jeff Madsen
Jeff Madsen

On one of the last hands of Level 7, Jeff Madsen and Dan Wach were heads up in what looked like a three-bet pot. Wach check-called a bet on a flop of {4-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}, and check-called another 5,600 after the turn brought the {a-Diamonds}.

The river was the {7-Spades}, Wach check-called one last bet of 15,050, and Madsen ripped over {a-Hearts}{10-Diamonds} for two pair. It was good.

Player Chips Progress
Dan Wach us
Dan Wach
90,000
-1,475
-1,475
Eric Ladny us
Eric Ladny
81,000
7,575
7,575
She Lok Wong us
She Lok Wong
76,000
9,000
9,000
Jeff Madsen us
Jeff Madsen
70,000
30,000
30,000
WSOP 4X Winner
Matt Salsberg ca
Matt Salsberg
40,000
15,425
15,425
Greg Ostrander us
Greg Ostrander
38,000
13,000
13,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Alex Queen us
Alex Queen
24,000
-18,525
-18,525
Dave Stefanski us
Dave Stefanski
11,100
-10,900
-10,900

Tags: Dan WachJeff Madsen

Level: 8

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 75

All the World's a Stage

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Melanie Weisner
Melanie Weisner

A stroll through the tournament often provides fleeting glimpses into the lives of touring pros, as longtime acquaintances from around the circuit converse and catch up.

Passing by Melanie Weisner's table recently, we overheard the young pro engage in a bit of banter with actor and poker enthusiast James Woods. Weisner mentioned her background in classical opera singing, with the accomplished thespian listening on and offering the occasional commentary.

Although neither player risked a chip during this brief pause in the action, moments like this demonstrate successful poker players are often possess many talents away from the felt. With the best and brightest from the world of law, literature, music and the stage increasingly diverting their skills to the gritty game of poker, its always refreshing to learn that life goes on once the chips are bagged and tagged.

Player Chips Progress
Melanie Weisner us
Melanie Weisner
18,000
4,975
4,975
James Woods us
James Woods
14,000
14,000
14,000

Tags: James WoodsMelanie Weisner

Registration Closed

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Cards
Cards

Registration is closed for Day 1a of Event 7: $2,700 Spring Poker Championship. The first flight attracted a total of 115 entrants, and currently 74 remain. The average stack is 46,621.

King Kuether

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Joe Kuether
Joe Kuether

After Paul Volpe opened to 1,200 from middle position, fellow pro Joe Kuether came along from the button, as did the big blind.

The dealer fanned the {9-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} and Volpe c-bet for 2,700 after the big blind tapped the table. Kuether flatted the bet and the big blind got out of the way, bringing the {2-Diamonds} to the table on the turn.

Volpe and Kuether checked fourth street down, as they did on the {q-Spades} river.

"Jack-high," announced Volpe, before mucking when Kuether produced {k-Clubs}{j-Spades} for top pair on the flop. Despite the small dent to his stack, Volpe still holds more chips than nearly everybody in the room.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Volpe us
Paul Volpe
175,000
-5,325
-5,325
WSOP 3X Winner
Joe Kuether us
Joe Kuether
36,500
6,500
6,500

Tags: Paul VolpeJoe Kuether

Borerro Snaps it Off

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Miguel Borrero
Miguel Borrero

Joe Liberta raised to 1,100 in early position, Miguel Borrero called on the button, and the flop came {4-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}. Liberta led out for 1,300, Borrero called, and both players checked on the turn ({j-Diamonds}).

The {5-Hearts} completed the board, Liberta fired another 3,700, and Borrero immediately called, showing {8-Hearts}{8-Spades}.

Liberta revealed the winner - {j-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} - and dragged the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Liberta us
Joe Liberta
60,000
14,800
14,800
Miguel Borrero
Miguel Borrero
25,000
-5,000
-5,000

Tags: Joe LibertaMiguel Borrero

Blank Best Stammen, Pro Pushes Back

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Keven Stammen
Keven Stammen

Keven Stammen just shipped a double up across the table to Ryan Blank, after the latter's {2-Spades}{2-Diamonds} held up over the pro's {A-Hearts}{q-Hearts} in a preflop coin flip.

The final board ran out {8-Clubs}{9-Spades}{9-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{10-Hearts} and the ducks survived a five-card hunt against two overcards.

On the very next deal, Stammen responded to Christian Harder's open to 3,000 by calling off his last 1,875 with {J-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}. Harder smiled while tabling a dominated {J-Clubs}{9-Clubs} and after asking the dealer for a double up, Stammen's wish was granted with a {10-Diamonds}{a-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{7-Diamonds} run out.

Stammen, the current leader of the Global Poker Index Player of the Year race, restored his stack to about 5,000 - good for a still shortened stack of about 10 big blinds.

Player Chips Progress
Christian Harder us
Christian Harder
42,000
-11,075
-11,075
Ryan Blank
Ryan Blank
19,750
19,750
19,750
Keven Stammen us
Keven Stammen
5,200
-10,300
-10,300
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Christian HarderKeven StammenRyan Blank

Gagliano Gone

Level 7 : 250/500, 75 ante
Mike Gagliano - Eliminated
Mike Gagliano - Eliminated

Mike Gagliano raised to 1,200 from early position, Jonathan Little called in the hijack, and Aaron Massey three-bet to 4,025 on the button. The two players in the blinds released their hands, Gagliano moved all in for 20,000 or so, and Little folded.

Massey reached for a single black T100, tossing it forward to signify a call.

Gagliano: {q-Spades}{10-Spades}
Massey: {a-Diamonds}{k-Spades}

Both players flopped a pair, but Massey remained in the lead after the dealer fanned {10-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{k-Hearts}. Neither the {6-Clubs} on the turn nor the {5-Hearts} on the river saved Gags, and he was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Massey us
Aaron Massey
80,000
20,500
20,500
Jonathan Little us
Jonathan Little
29,000
-1,450
-1,450
WPT 2X Winner
Mike Gagliano
Mike Gagliano
Busted

Tags: Aaron MasseyJonathan LittleMike Gagliano