2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

We just watched Adam Shulman take down three consecutive pots against Paul Cheung, furthering his lead by forcing folds each time.

First, Shulman tossed out a bet of 3,000 with the flop showing . Cheung checked his cards for a few seconds before saying "nice hand" and sliding them forward.

On the next deal, the dealer fanned a flop of across the felt, and Cheung led out for a bet of 1,600. Shulman wasted no time in cutting out a stack of raising chips, and a bet of 3,700 or so was enough to push Cheung off the pot.

Finally, Shulman took a pot down preflop with a raise to 1,900 to build an even bigger lead, and as we returned to pen this report the finishing blows we're dealt to send Shulman into the Sweet Sixteen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adam Shulman	20,000
Paul Cheung	Busted

Tags: Adam ShulmanPaul Cheung

We just watched Andy Hwang - having already notched a win in this best-of-three match - put William Punzo out his misery in a series of of three hands.

Punzo, holding about 10,000 of his original 20,000 starting stack, tried opening the pot for a raise of 2,000. Hwang just grabbed two of the baby blue T5000 chips and tossed them in, forcing Punzo to a decision for his tournament life - and forcing off of the hand as well.

Next, Hwang and Punzo played a small pot in which Hwang bet 400 with the board reading . Punzo called the bet, but insta-folded when Hwang bet the river.

Finally, in his last hand of the night, Punzo bet 1,500 on the flop, and Hwang flatted to see the fall on the turn. When Punzo announced himself all in, Hwang snapped him off and tabled for top two pair. Punzo was drawing dead when he revealed and he made his way from the tournament area in short order, congratulating Hwang for a job well done before making his ext.

Hwang will play in the Sweet Sixteen later on this evening, one night after final tabling and finishing in 3rd place in Event 10, and as the defending champion of this series' World Poker Tour Main Event his status as the favorite would be disputed only by Matt Stout - who is has built a 4-0 record so far.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Hwang	20,000
William Punzo	Busted

Tags: Andy HwangMatt StoutWIlliam Punzo

With the board reading , Matt Stout fired 4,500. Joe Tracy went deep into the tank, and after a few minutes, he moved all in for about 6,000 total. Stout made the call, but he held only for a draw. Fortunately for him, Tracy's was actually behind, and the river kept it that way.

Stout advanced with a 2-0 victory, and he will play the winner of Alex Queen versus Michael Shklover.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matt Stout	20,000
Joe Tracy	Busted

Tags: Joe TracyMatt Stout

Anthony Zinno and Joseph Stiers got it all in on a flop.

Zinno:
Stiers:

Stiers was way ahead with a superior flush draw and high card, and the turn did nothing. An fell on the river though, giving Zinno a pair.

"Good game," Zinno said after the stacks were counted. "Oh my God, I hit an eight."

It appears Zinno had been drawing so thin he had mentally checked out of the hand, but spiking that river pair gave him an overwhelming chip lead instead. He's now poised to take the first game.

Update: Zinno finished off Stiers, who he called his "best friend in the field," in game one. Both players appear disappointed in the draw. Our condolences, it can't be fun to eliminate a friend from a $1,500 buy in.

Tags: Anthony ZinnoJoseph Stiers

James Ruszkiewicz just took Dan Buzgon's last chip for the second time, meaning he will be playing in the Round of 16 later this evening.

Player	Chips	Progress
James Ruszkiewicz	20,000
Dan Buzgon	Busted

Tags: Dan BuzgonJames Ruszkiewicz