Event 8: $250,000 Guarantee Deeper Stack NLHE Re-Entry | 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

01-22-2014 03:48 UTC-4

Chip Counts for the Final Five

[user253757]

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

Nicholas Immekus is the Only Man to Cross the 10 Million Mark

Here is where the final five players in Event 8 currently sit as we enter a short break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Immekus	14,950,000 -1,350,000	-1,350,000
Andrew Carnevale	9,100,000 860,000	860,000
Allyn Marshall	8,300,000 60,000	60,000
David Heck	6,950,000 250,000	250,000
David Gerard	2,340,000 -2,550,000	-2,550,000

01-22-2014 03:40 UTC-4

Eric Rappaport Eliminated in 6th Place - ($20,530)

[user253757]

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

After suffering a few losses in previous hands, Eric Rappaport open-shoved with and hoped to hold live cards at the very least if somebody called.

Unfortunately for him, David Heck woke up with and Rappaport went from hoping to be live to life support.

The final board read when it was all said and done, sending Rappaport to the rail in 6th place for a $20,530 payday. Heck, meanwhile, is now approaching the 7 million chip mark with just four players between him and a $99,144 score.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Heck	6,700,000 3,300,000	3,300,000
Eric Rappaport	Busted

Tags: David Heck Eric Rappaport

01-22-2014 03:21 UTC-4

Gerard Jumps Back in This Thing

[user253757]

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

Dan Gerard is Riding the Roller Coaster at the Final Table

Just a few hands after losing a huge flip, Dan Gerard just doubled through Eric Rappaport to recoup his earlier loss.

Gerard's last 2.3 million went in before the flop, and Gerard tabled his just hoping to have live cards. When he saw Rappaport's , his hand was live indeed, and he found four more outs on the flop. Rappaport's big slick gave him a BRoadway straight draw, however, so Gerard essentially traded his three outs to the jack for the decks' four remaining nines.

Turn:

Just like that, Gerard's gin card arrived on board, but Rappaport's king of spades meant the drama was far from over. Gerard would need to dodge jacks and spades to survive.

River:

The board pairing was just what Gerard wanted to see, and his straight was enough to secure his survival. He now sits with nearly 5 million, while Rappaport dropped to just under 4 million.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Gerard	4,890,000 4,890,000	4,890,000
Eric Rappaport	3,920,000 -2,230,000	-2,230,000

Tags: Dan Gerard Eric Rappaport

01-22-2014 03:13 UTC-4

Carnevale Games

[user253757]

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

Andrew Carnevale Ran Faster Than David Gerard, and He Won a Race for More than Eight Million Chips

After a raise into his small blind, Andrew Carnevale took his to war for his last 4.06 million, shipping them all in for the three-bet.

David Gerard went deep into the tank with the decision of his tournament now facing him, but eventually he decided to look Carnevale up with his .

We had what's known as the classic coin flip situation on our hands, but when the showed her face right in the window, Carnevale took the inside lane.

By the time the final board of was spread across the felt, Carnevale crossed the finish line first, and he doubled up in a big way.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Carnevale	8,240,000 4,035,000	4,035,000
David Gerard	2,100,000 1,760,000	1,760,000

01-22-2014 03:06 UTC-4

Jason Tulloss Eliminated in 7th Place ($15,895)

[user253757]

Level 33 : 100,000/200,000, 30,000 ante

Jason Tulloss in the Final 18 of Event #8 at the Borgata Winter Poker Open

Jason Tulloss open-shoved for his last 1.915 million, only to see Eric Rappaport move in over the top for the isolation play.

When the action folded around, Tulloss tabled his and said "good playing with you boys," obviously anticipating that he would be dominated by Rappaport's holding. Sure enough, Rappaport revealed the and Tulloss' premonition was proven correct. He would now need to catch lucky to keep himself in contention for the $99,144 first prize payout.

Flop:

When the lifesaving three fell in on the flop, Tulloss pumped his fist at the sight of his salvation. The turn card came and he was now fading the deck's three remaining ten-balls for all the marbles.

River:

Just like that, the roles were reversed and it was Rappaport who caught his kicker, eliminating Tulloss in the process. For his 7th place finish Tulloss took home $15,895, while Rappaport moved to over 6 million in chips with just six players left.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Rappaport	6,150,000 3,650,000	3,650,000
Jason Tulloss	Busted

Tags: Eric Rappaport Jason Tulloss

01-22-2014 02:43 UTC-4

Local Spotlight: Anthony Caruso

mnuwwarah

Level 32 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Anthony Caruso is trying to win his second PLO tournament.

Anthony Caruso found himself taken aback when Amanda Musumeci started training him to improve his poker game.

"She was the first person who ever called me middle-aged," the 47-year-old said with a laugh. "She helped me with my table image. She was really, really helpful."

"I see improvements all the time," he added. "It's more fun when you can win a little."

Caruso, a Marlton, N.J., native, has done a bit of winning recently. Last fall, he took down a Pot-Limit Omaha tournament here, and he's back for more. He's currently four-handed in the $450 PLO tournament.

Caruso said PLO is his favorite game "by far."

"I like the action," he said, adding that he enjoys playing $5/10 PLO when he plays cash games.

Poker is a mere hobby for Caruso, though. Most of his life, he said, revolves around his children. He has two daughters, ages 14 and 11, and a 16-year-old son. Caruso and his son spend a lot of time working for a charity called Wish Upon a Hero, Caruso said. He also runs a shipping company called luggageahead.com.

Those commitments mean he lags behind players more focused on the game. Every day that they log more hours than Caruso, he has more of a gap to make up, which is where his training with Musumeci helps.

Still, he's optimistic about making a big run in the main event here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open, where he could add considerably to his $74,424 in recorded cashes. He said there's always an amateur or two running up a big stack and making a run.

"Maybe I could be that guy," he said.

Tags: Amanda Musumeci Anthony Caruso

01-22-2014 02:41 UTC-4

Carnevale!

[user253757]

Level 32 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

Andrew Carnevale Just Spiked a Five-Outter to Stay Alive

Andrew Carnevale was riding a short stack when the action folded around to him in the small blind. He looked down to find the in the hole, and with just Jason Tulloss left to fade, he made his move with an all-in shove for 1.905 million.

Tulloss happened to have a big hand, however, and he made the call with to put Canevale at risk of elimination.

Flop:

Both players flopped a piece, but Tulloss' pair of aces kept him out in front. Nothing had changed, however, and Carnevale still needed to catch a king or eight to keep his seat.

Turn:

"No!," was Tulloss' anguished cry at the sight of the five-outter coming on board.

The river was the to keep Carnevale's lead intact, and after a bit of stack accounting, the two players essentially traded places on the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Carnevale	4,205,000 1,805,000	1,805,000
Jason Tulloss	2,100,000 -1,100,000	-1,100,000

Tags: Andrew Carnevale Jason Tulloss

01-22-2014 02:28 UTC-4

James Governa Eliminated in 8th Place ($11,665)

[user253757]

Level 32 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

The last of James Governa's stack was just shipped across the table to David Heck, after his failed to overcome Heck's .

A final runout of left the ladies out in front, and Governa was busted in 8th place for a $11,665 score.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Heck	3,400,000 2,100,000	2,100,000
James Governa	Busted

Tags: James Governa David Heck

01-22-2014 02:24 UTC-4

David Gerassi Eliminated in 9th Place ($8,399)

[user253757]

Level 32 : 80,000/160,000, 20,000 ante

David Gerassi's magical ride was just derailed, and after he built a big stack throughout the day by playing untraditional hands like and , of course he crashed and burned holding a monster.

Gerassi moved all-in over the top of an opening raise by Nicholas Immekus - our chip leader going into the hand - but he was snapped off.

Showdown:

Gerassi:
Immekus:

Despite finding a pair of cowboys in the hole, the second-best hand in poker was second-best for Gerassi, as Immekus tabled aces for the second time at this final table.

The final board failed to bring Gerassi any more miracles, and after the hit the board, Gerassi stood up to make his exit. The gracious Gerassi shook Immekus' hand and told him "nice hand" before heading to the cashier's cage to collect his $8,399 for an 8th place finish.

Immekus continues to run over the final table, and he now holds the biggest stack in the room by a large margin.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Immekus	16,300,000 6,160,000	6,160,000
David Gerassi	Busted

Tags: David Gerassi Nicholas Immekus

01-22-2014 01:49 UTC-4

James Stenella Eliminated in 10th Place ($5,529)

[user253757]

Level 31 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante

After an opening raise by Nicholas Imeekus, the sight of in the hole must have seemed like a sight for sore eyes, because Jim Stinella jammed his last 2 million or so into the middle.

Immekus snapped the bet off and tabled his , putting Stenella's over-matched underpair in a deep hole.

The final board rolled out to keep the rockets out in front, and with the win Stenella became the first player in the tournament to cross the coveted 10 million chip mark.

Stenella took home $5,529 for his deep run here today.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Immekus	10,140,000 2,190,000	2,190,000
Jim Stenella	Busted

Tags: Jim Stenella