Event #10: $300 Deepest Stack
Day 1a Completed
2020 Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event #10: $300 Deepest Stack
Day: 1a
Gelman Claims Day 1a Chip Lead in Event #10: $300 Deepest Stack Double Header; Stone and Buzgon Also In
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Day 1a of Event #10: $300 Deepest Stack Double Header has come to an end after 16 30-minute levels with 105 survivors making it through to Day 2. The first twelve levels of the day attracted 650 entries giving the tenth tournament on the schedule of the 2020 Borgata Winter Poker Open a great shot at surpassing last year’s attendance numbers.
Grabbing the chip lead honors for Day 1a is Gary Gelman with 647,000 in chips. He has collected over $270,000 in live tournament cashes in just over a decade according to The Hendon Mob with his biggest score a few months back when he finished in 16th place in the Black Chip Bounty tournament during the Borgata Fall Poker Open. As a matter of fact, four out of his top five cashes were collected at the payout desk here at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.
Gelman is accompanied by Artur Dukaj (596,000) and She Lok Wong (535,000) on the podium. The top five is completed by Rob Saladin and John Manzella. Other notable big stacks include Adam Harrow, Albert Nguyen, Michael Haberman, Po Ying, Ryan Eriquezzo, Steven Snyder, and many more players.
Event #10: $300 Deepest Stack Double Header Day 1a Top 5 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Gelman | United States | 647,000 | 81 |
| 2 | Artur Dukaj | United States | 596,000 | 75 |
| 3 | She Lok Wong | United States | 535,000 | 67 |
| 4 | Rob Saladin | United States | 511,000 | 64 |
| 5 | John Manzella | United States | 497,000 | 62 |
BorgataPoker.com Pros Katie Stone and Daniel Buzgon also made Day 2 with 276,000 and 191,000 in chips respectively. Another familiar name to the Borgata regulars is David Jackson. The 2019 Borgata Spring and Fall Poker Open Championship winner will be returning to the felt with 181,000 in chips.
Not everyone was that fortunate though, Kevin Mathers, Men Nguyen, Erik Cajelais, and the defending champion Ralph Macri fell at one of the many hurdles Day 1a brought them but most players who busted in the first starting flight have taken another shot by entering Day 1b which started at 5 p.m. local time.
When the players return at noon on Tuesday, January 21, they will join the players who managed to make the cut on Day 1b to battle it out for their share of the prize pool which has already surpassed the $200,000 guarantee. The full chip counts of all surviving players will be posted before the start of the day with the corresponding seat draw.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be there from the first cards in the air until the winner has been crowned so make sure to follow along to see who else will be bringing a BWPO trophy home with them!
End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
647,000 | 147,000 |
|
596,000 | 266,000 |
|
535,000 | 470,000 |
|
511,000 | 436,000 |
|
497,000 | 47,000 |
|
488,000 | 38,000 |
|
471,000 | -89,000 |
|
468,000 | -67,000 |
|
467,000 | 440,000 |
|
448,000 | 210,000 |
|
448,000 | 48,000 |
|
436,000 | -124,000 |
|
428,000 | 388,000 |
|
420,000 | -45,000 |
|
415,000 | 15,000 |
|
414,000 | 347,000 |
|
400,000 | 400,000 |
|
391,000 | |
|
375,000 | 335,000 |
|
366,000 | |
|
358,000 | |
|
|
356,000 | -44,000 |
|
|
356,000 | |
|
333,000 | |
|
|
331,000 |
Play Ended
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
A selection of end-of-day chip counts and the recap of today's action are to follow.
Last Year's Runner Up
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Last year, this event ended in a heads-up deal with Ralph Macri taking first place. The other half of that deal was Everton Taylor, who took second place and $49,026.
Although Macri busted out of this flight earlier tonight, Taylor is still in the hunt, although as they play the last three hands, he's only got ~50,000 chips (8 big blinds).
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
50,000 | 50,000 |
Last Three Hands
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The tournament clock has been paused and three more hands need to be played before the remaining players can bag and tag their chips for Day 2.
Haberman Doubles Up with Aces
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The player in Seat 2 and Michael Haberman got all the chips in before the flop and Haberman was way ahead with pocket Aces. His opponent had 
and paired his jack on the flop, but failed to improve beyond that. Haberman actually turned a third Ace to secure his double-up.
Seat 2 was left with only 3,000 chips and Haberman got those on the very next hand, moving his stack up even further as they approach the end of the flight.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
535,000 | 355,000 |
More for Frangias
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The board read 
when the player in the big blind bet 16,000 which Demetrios Frangias called from under the gun.
The river completed the board with the 
and both players checked.
"Trips," Frangias said before showing 
for the turned set and the rivered flush. "Oh, a flush!" Frangias realized a second or two later while his opponent mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
560,000 | 197,000 |
|
|
370,000 | 41,000 |
Level: 16
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Last Break of the Day
Level 15
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
The 135 remaining players have now been sent for their last 15-minute break of the day while the purple 500-value chips are being raced off. When the players return, they need to play one more level of 30 minutes before bagging up for Day 2.