$300 No Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Started
2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Warm-Up
$300 No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Warm-Up
Buy-in
$300
Prize Pool
$39,021
Entries
155
Level
23
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
3,000
The 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Warm-Up Begins Today!
Temperatures are warming up and so are the players at the beautiful Seneca Niagara Casino and Resort. In anticipation of the Western New York Poker Challenge coming up on March 31st, players will have a chance to practice their skills and win their way in to the $1,000 Main Event on April 7th.
The first tournament kicks off at 11:00AM today with a $300 buy-in and $25,000 guaranteed in the prize pool. Players begin the day with 20,000 chips and 30-minute levels with unlimited re-entries and late registration closing after eight levels. The top ten finishers will win a $145 qualifier seat into the satellite on Sunday at 6:00PM with at least five seats guaranteed into the $1,000 Main Event on April 7th.
Saturday's event kicks off at 11:00AM with a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000, costing just $600 to play. The starting stack is 30,000 with levels going for 40 minutes. Late registration goes for eight levels and players are able to re-enter until then. The top ten finishers in this tournament will also have a shot at a Main Event seat on Sunday.
The final event to wrap up the weekend is on Sunday at 11:00AM with a buy in of $150. There is $10,000 guaranteed in this prize pool with late registration closing after eight levels. Players begin with a stack of 15,000 chips and will play 30-minute rounds.
Finally, players have a chance to get in to the $1,000 Main Event by playing the 6:00PM qualifier on Sunday for just $145. There are five seats guaranteed and players begin with 8,000 chips, playing 15-minute levels. Late registration will close after four levels.
Stick around as PokerNews follows the action all weekend long. Good luck!
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Cards are in the air as the tournament has kicked off the first event for this weekend!
Familiar Faces
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
As expected, quite a few local players have already secured their seats in this opening event with many more due to join us as the day progresses. Here are some of the ones who are already with us:
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
|
20,000 | 20,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Omar Stefanini: From the Ring to the Felt
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Canadian MMA Fighter, Omar Stefanini, is in the field today and is looking to add an American flag to his poker resume.
Stefanini hails from British Columbia in Western Canada and has been casually playing poker across the country. He has now ventured across the border and hopes to make a run this weekend.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 |
Bob Wideman Takes One Down
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Bob Wideman was in the hijack and decided to limped in, as did the player on the button.
The player in the small blind raised to 500 and the big blind quickly called. Wideman thought about it for a moment and called, with the button coming along as well.
The flop came 
and all four players checked.
The turn was the 
. The blinds checked to Wideman who bet 700. The button called and both the small and big blind opted to fold.
The river was the 
. Wideman checked and his opponent decided to fire out a bet of 1,200. Wideman wasted no time and tossed out a few chips, indicating a call.
The button tabled 
for a pair of nines and Wideman eventually showed 
for a pair of tens, sending the pot his way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
23,000 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
Cameron Bartolotta is Chasing a Title
Level 3
: 100/200, 0 ante
Cameron Bartolotta of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is no stranger to the poker scene here in Niagara Falls, New York. His last cash was a runner-up finish here in the 2016 Fall Poker Classic for a whopping $40,781. He fell at the hands of Dan Wagner and looks to best his last finish and take a title back across the border. Bartolotta last won a tournament here in 2014 and has a list of cashes in this very room, contributing to his $120,000 in recorded career earnings.
Bartolotta has entered the field now and looks to make a run this weekend!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 |