Andrew Kelsall in Event #15 at the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open
A total of 373 entries and re-entries were recorded in Event 15 ($200,000 Guaranteed Six-Max NLHE Re-Entry), and at $1,000 per bullet the play was intense right from the start. Leading the counts after Day 1 was experienced tournament player Andrew Kelsall (400,900) with veteran James Carroll (388,700) hot on his heels.
A number of professionals were seen for the competing for the first time here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open, with the bigger buy-in attracting a higher caliber field and building buzz throughout the building. Some of the more experienced touring pros to fire away - while falling short before chips were bagged - at this six-handed event include Phil Collins, Matt Stout, Chris Tryba, Aaron Massey, Keven Stammen, Eric Cajelais, Bob "Uncle Krunk" Panitch, Ravi Raghavan, Roland Israelashvili, Steve Dannenmann.
There are still plenty of notable names to track tomorrow as Day 2 brings on the money bubble in short order. Just 43 players remain - including Natale Kuey (337,000), Ronit Chmanai (209,000), Amanda Musumeci (164,500), Matt Affleck (153,800) and Andy Hwang (108,900) - and only 36 will make the money. With a first-prize payout of $88,643 awaiting one of the final 43, the play tomorrow is expected to be top notch throughout the race to the final table.
Check back with PokerNews at noon local time to continue following live coverage of the Borgata Winter Poker Open's $200,000 Guaranteed Six-Max NLHE Re-Entry event.
Joe Mckeehen only had about 25,000 left during a recent scan of his stack, but on our latest pass by his table we've discovered his chip count to have doubled.
"About fifty now," said Mckeehen as we eyeballed his new holdings. "Look at all those black chips... I'm proud of those."
Natale Kuey is Dominating the Six-Handed Event Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open
There is still quite a selection of notable names left in the field, so we thought you'd like to know where they stand late on Day 1 of this $250,000 Six-Max tournament.
Natale Kuey appears to be the clear leader with a stack that is approaching 350,000 (about 2.5 times the current average).
Zohair Karim (Seen Here Playing an Earlier Tournament Series)
Three players saw a flop of , including veteran tournament grinders Alex Queen and Zohair Karim.
Holding the button, Karim fired out a bet of 5,700 when the action checked around to him, and when both Queen and the other player flatted a sizable pot began to swell.
The turn card came and both players tapped the table once again, prompting a moment of deliberation from Karim while he cut out a stack of 14,800 and moved it forward. The aggression worked wonders, and after two quick folds Karim increased his chip stack without having to show his hand.
Amanda Musumeci is Spinning a Yarn and Setting a Trap While Flashing a Sinner's Smile
Anthony Pagan has been talkative throughout the night, his gregarious nature no doubt influenced by a growing chip stack. Seemingly on every pass through the tournament floor, we've heard the young player making casual banter with anyone willing to listen.
Pagan's latest conversation, however, might not be what it seems. Seated to the right of Amanda Musumeci - she of nearly $1 million in live tourney earnings, including a runner-up performance here last night for $17,214 - Pagan was overheard asking about the professional's experience with poker.
"My dad bought me into this, so..." answered Musumeci, obviously amused at the chance to go incognito for a change. "I mean, he taught me how to play, so I know what I'm doing."
"Very cool, that's what's up..." said Pagan, blissfully unaware that he was playing out of position against one of the best players in the room. "This is fun, huh?"
Musumeci continued her effort at concealment, flashing a knowing wink as we passed by and stringing Pagan along the whole time.
Should the friendly banter between Pagan and the neighbor he doesn't recognize eventually end, there's no need to worry, as he can always turn the other way and strike up a conversation with Andy Hwang.
All-In is En Vogue for Daesun Yu Late on Day 1 of Event 15 ($250,000 Guaranteed Six-Max NLHE Re-Entry)
With the blinds currently set at 800-1,600 with a 200 ante, the standard opening raise is between 3,600 and 4,000.
Not for Daesun Yu. He decided to open-shove for about 62,000 recently - good for an overbet of about 39 big blinds with no action before him.
The extreme power play drew a few raised eyebrows from Yu's tablemates, but each of them folded dutifully to send the pot his way. Their eyebrows stayed elevated though, as Yu tabled triumphantly as the pot was pushed to him.
Joey Couden Just Doubled Ian Davis Up When he Couldn't Mine a Fifth Diamond From the Deck
After raising to 2,400 before the flop, Joey Couden watched Ian Davis and another player both flatted. Before Davis had called, however, Couden leaned into the dealer and said "come on man," although to the man pitching the cards, Couden's tablemates and even the trained ear of this reporter, the words sounded more like "I'm all in then."
"Nah man," Couden told the dealer. "I don't want you calling me all in..."
Davis eventually called the bet though, and after the dealer's confusion at the comment was sorted out, a flop of appeared on board. When it was checked to him Couden fired away with a 3,600 c-bet, but Davis raised the action to 9,000 even.
Couden didn't hesitate before sliding a stack forward for the 21,000 three-bet, and Davis beat him to the pot for his last 43,800 while tabling for top pair. The was Couden's holding and he needed any ace or diamond to take the pot and increase his chip lead.
River:
"What?" asked Couden as the deck failed to deliver. "I lost? That hasn't happened yet..."
Ronit Chamani (Seen Here Playing an Earlier Tournament Series)
Zohair Karim raised to 2,700 holding the button and Ronit Chamani three-bet to 6,100 in defense of her big blind.
The flop fell after Karim flatted and Chamani c-bet for 6,300, a wager which Karim reraised to 17,500. A smooth-call by Chamani brought the to the table on the turn, and both players checked the scare card to see the complete the board on the river.
Chamani then fired out a big bet of 19,000 or so and Karim quickly made the call.
Showdown:
Chamani:
Karim: (X)
Chamani tabled aces full and the enormous pot was pushed her way, while Karim flashed his four to show that she had outdrawn him after he flopped trips. With the win, Chamani becomes one of the bigger stacks in the room, while Karim drops back down to below average.
Andy Hwang Just Knocked a Player Out After Flopping a Set of Queens
We saw a player stand to make his exit from the table and his stack being slid to Andy Hwang, so we headed over to take a look at the carnage.
Hwang had gotten the better of a set-over-set confrontation when his connected on the board. His opponent held , and it appeared that the money all went in on the turn after he found a double belly-buster straight draw.
![[user253757]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, including veteran tournament grinders Alex Queen and Zohair Karim.
and both players tapped the table once again, prompting a moment of deliberation from Karim while he cut out a stack of 14,800 and moved it forward. The aggression worked wonders, and after two quick folds Karim increased his chip stack without having to show his hand.
triumphantly as the pot was pushed to him.
appeared on board. When it was checked to him Couden fired away with a 3,600 c-bet, but Davis raised the action to 9,000 even.
for top pair. The 
was Couden's holding and he needed any ace or diamond to take the pot and increase his chip lead.
to the table on the turn, and both players checked the scare card to see the 
complete the board on the river.
(X)
board. His opponent held 
, and it appeared that the money all went in on the turn after he found a double belly-buster straight draw.