2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 1: $560 $1 Million Guaranteed Deep-Stack NLHE Reentry
Day: 1a
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Carlos Alvarado
Prize
$127,652
Event Info
Buy-in
$500
Entries
2,482
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
40,000

Raskin Flush With Chips

Level 2 : 75/150, 0 ante
Micah Raskin
Micah Raskin

When we arrived at the table, a severely short-stacked player was already all in, and Micah Raskin and an opponent were playing for a much bigger side pot on a board of {3-Spades}{a-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{10-Hearts}.

The player led out for 800, and Raskin bumped it up, raising to 2,500. Raskin's opponent grinned, to which Raskin shrugged innocently, and the player made the call. Raskin showed {k-Hearts}{9-Hearts} for a rivered flush, and raked in the entire pot.

Raskin is already over 30,000 chips.

Player Chips Progress
Micah Raskin us
Micah Raskin
33,000
8,000
8,000

Tags: Micah Raskin

Playing Poker for All the Right Reasons

Level 2 : 75/150, 0 ante
Chris Tryba
Chris Tryba

Chris Tryba is an accomplished professional player who has earned nearly $1.5 million in live play during a storied career on the felt.

With a World Series of Poker bracelet to his credit, in addition to dozens of final table appearances in regional events around the country, Tryba is one of the more experienced players spotted in today's field. With a $1 million guarantee at stake today, everybody with a stack to work with has high hopes, but a recent tweet issued by Tryba indicates that today is more than just another tournament on the schedule:

christopher trybaIts go time inda @BorgataPoker openin 1 Milly Gtd. 10% of my profits goin to my cousins @PeterTryba kidney fund!! http://t.co/Wi0N00QSPM

Tags: Chris Tryba

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/200

Ante:

Buzgon Doubles

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

After dropping down well below the starting stack of 25,000, Daniel Buzgon has doubled to 32,000 chips.

We're unsure of the action, but Buzon was at risk with {a-Spades}{q-Clubs} and the board rolled out {8-Clubs}{j-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{k-Clubs}. His opponent's hand was in the muck by the time we arrived at the table.

Player Chips Progress
Daniel Buzgon us
Daniel Buzgon
32,000
7,000
7,000

Tags: Daniel Buzgon

It's a Small World After All

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante
Joe McKeehen
Joe McKeehen

We've spotted a few more familiar faces among the masses, including a winner from the previous Borgata Winter Poker Open, and a member of that series' World Poker Tour Main Event.

Joe McKeehen is an accomplished local player with numerous big scores to his credit. One of those scores occurred right here at the Borgata in January, when McKeehen took down Event 3 for nearly $70,000.

Anthony Maio nearly captured the biggest prize of the Borgata Winter Poker Open, reaching the final table of the $3,500 WPT Main Event Championship before falling in 3rd place.

Jim Boyd is a boisterous gentleman with a penchant for table talk, and although some of his boasts have not been verified, his bona fides on the felt are not in dispute. Boyd recently made the final table of the HPO Charles Town Regional Championship, where he registered an impressive 5th place finish.

Finally, Aaron Mermelstein is an up-and-coming young tournament pro who has made multiple deep runs in World Series of Poker events over his brief but bright career.

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Mermelstein us
Aaron Mermelstein
25,000
25,000
25,000
WPT 2X Winner
Jim Boyd
Jim Boyd
25,000
25,000
25,000
Anthony Maio us
Anthony Maio
25,000
25,000
25,000
Joe McKeehen us
Joe McKeehen
25,000
25,000
25,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Aaron MermelsteinAnthony MaioJim BoydJoe McKeehen

Gone Fishin'

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

"I'll let you pick one," Carmine Tirone said. "If you fold."

Tirone, who won the 2006 Borgata Summer Open Championship event for $267,300, was talking to D.R. Froebel, who was faced with an all-in bet on a board of {2-Diamonds}{j-Spades}{k-Hearts}{3-Hearts}.

Froebel opted to call, committing the remainder of his stack, and showed {k-Spades}{6-Spades}. It was no good against Tirone's {k-Clubs}{2-Hearts} for two pair, however, and the {10-Diamonds} bricked off on the river.

Tirone, who is up to 35,000 chips, said he's been "fishing" today, and finally caught one.

Player Chips Progress
Carmine Tirone us
Carmine Tirone
35,000
D.R. Froebel
D.R. Froebel
Busted

Tags: Carmine Tirone

Back to the Grind

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

The recent break is now over and cards are back in the air here at the opening event of the Borgata Spring Poker Open.

Level: 4

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

Delbrocco Shows No Fear

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

We passed by Louis Delbrocco's table recently as the flop fell {a-Spades}{q-Spades}{10-Hearts} in a four-handed pot. The players in the blinds both checked and a third player decided to take a stab with a 1,250 feeler bet.

Delbrocco was the lone caller and the dealer produced the {5-Spades} on the turn. The aggressor then slowed down by tapping the table for a check, and Delbrocco responded with a 2,000 wager of his own. Attempting to represent a made hand on the straightening and three-flushed board, the opponent check-raised to 4,000, prompting Delbrocco to tank for about a minute before ultimately flatting.

On the {8-Diamonds} river, Delbrocco's opponent continued his aggressive line with a 5,000 bet, and after a brief moment to ponder his options, Delbrocco made the call.

Delbrocco: {10-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}
Opponent: {J-Clubs}{J-Hearts}

Delbrocco tabled a set of tens to scoop the pot, much to the dismay of his opponent.

"Not afraid of the flush or the straight?," he asked Delbrocco incredulously. "Couldn't find a fold huh?"

"I play the player not the cards my man," replied Delbrocco, turning the needle just a bit. "Nice hand though."

Player Chips Progress
Louis Delbrocco
Louis Delbrocco
38,500
38,500
38,500