2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

$3 Million Guaranteed WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship
Day: 3
Event Info

2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q3
Prize
$842,379
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Entries
1,229
Level Info
Level
39
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
75,000

Level: 23

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Ante: 2,000

Dog Bites Man

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Laz Hernandez Just Made a Hero Call but Mike "Mad Dog" Arrington Held the Goods
Laz Hernandez Just Made a Hero Call but Mike "Mad Dog" Arrington Held the Goods

A flop of {q-Hearts}{9-Spades}{3-Hearts} hit the board and with a huge pot already developed Laz Hernandez heaped a stack forward for a bet of 108,000.

Mike "Mad Dog" Arrington didn't waste much time before announcing himself all in, and the bet turned out to for 366,000 total.

The camera crews on hand to record this World Poker Tour Main Event Championship readied themselves to capture the clash, and Laz went into the tank to figure out where he stood. Soon enough, Laz actually did stand up and he stared his man down while taking a sip of water a comically undersized water bottle. Eventually, despite appearing ready to fold a few times during his tank, Hernandez suddenly announced the call, and Arrington tabled his {q-Diamonds}{j-Spades} with confidence after Hernandez' hesitated for so long.

"Gimme a king..." said Hernandez as he rolled over the {k-Clubs}{j-Clubs}. "Or a ten."

Hernandez had went for the kill but he brought a blunted blade to battle, and with no pair to speak of he was far behind heading to the turn. Fourth street came {8-Diamonds} to leave Hernandez with one shot to spike a seven-outter, but the {5-Hearts} came on the river to keep Arrington out in front with top pair.

"Tell 'em he doubled through Laz..." said Hernandez with a smile, seemingly unfazed by the turn of events. Perhaps his unshaken confidence was merely a front after shipping a few stacks across the table, but after watching Laz endure the swings common to big stack bully poker, we expect him to keep shooting from the hip and going with his gut.

Player Chips Progress
Laz Hernandez us
Laz Hernandez
1,425,000 -95,000
Michael Arrington
Michael Arrington
855,000 611,500

Tags: Laz Hernandez

Baron Busto

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Isaac Baron on Day 3 of the 2014 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event
Isaac Baron on Day 3 of the 2014 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event

Isaac Baron pushed all in before the flop, but Frank Toscano shoved behind him with {q-}{q-}. Baron held only {8-}{8-}, and he was unable to catch up. As Toscano had him covered, he's now out of the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Isaac Baron us
Isaac Baron
WSOP 1X Winner
Busted

Tags: Isaac Baron

Haugen Barrels Down

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
David Paredes considers calling. Matt Haugen on Day 3 of the 2014 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event
David Paredes considers calling. Matt Haugen on Day 3 of the 2014 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event

Matt Haugen opened for a minraise on the button, and both David Paredes and Naveh Morris came along from the blinds. Both then checked the {q-Spades}{4-Hearts}{k-Hearts} flop, and Haugen bet 40,000. Only Paredes called. He followed by check-calling 80,000 on the {4-Clubs}, and he checked a final time on the {2-Clubs} river. Haugen moved all in for 345,000, and Paredes went deep into the tank. For about three minutes, he intermittently counted his chips and studied his opponent up and down. Haugen's only discernible movement was the blinking of his eyes. Finally, Paredes lifted his cards and threw them to the dealer.

"Bluff?" he said with a smile for his neighbor.

Haugen wouldn't say.

Player Chips Progress
David Paredes us
David Paredes
WPT 1X Winner
1,580,000 -170,000
Matt Haugen
Matt Haugen
700,000 -350,000

Tags: Matt HaugenDavid Paredes

Dan and the Dusted

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Dan Heimiller Finished in 57th Place to Add $9,795 to an Already Impressive Career Record
Dan Heimiller Finished in 57th Place to Add $9,795 to an Already Impressive Career Record

These are the latest eliminations we've recorded, closing out the $9,795 payout tier. You can check the payouts tab to see where each one placed, and from now on busted players will take home at least $11,323.

Player Chips Progress
Alexander Kuzmin ru
Alexander Kuzmin
WPT 1X Winner
Busted
Douglas Stewart
Douglas Stewart
Busted
Dan Heimiller us
Dan Heimiller
WSOP 2X Winner
Busted
Issac Schachtel
Issac Schachtel
Busted
Suk Lee us
Suk Lee
Busted

Mezheritsky Shows Down The Nuts vs. Merulla

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Robert Merulla Went With His Instinct, but the Call Proved to Be Ill-Timed
Robert Merulla Went With His Instinct, but the Call Proved to Be Ill-Timed

A pot of 200,000 or more was piled in the middle of the table when Vladislav Mezheritsky slid a single stack of twenty baby blue T5000 chips forward for a half-pot sized bet.

The 100,000 wager was a sizable one for Mezheritsky, as he only had about 155,000 left to his name, but Merulla could afford to make the call with about 400,000 to work with.

Merulla tanked for more than three minutes before making his decision, but when he tossed a single baby blue forward for the call, Mezheritsky immediately table the nuts with {a-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}. He had turned the wheel straight and Merulla's read proved to be off base, so he slowly cut out the chips he lost and pushed them to the dealer.

Player Chips Progress
Vladislav Mezheritsky us
Vladislav Mezheritsky
555,000 242,500
Anthony Merulla us
Anthony Merulla
295,000 -210,000

Tags: Robert MerullaVladislav Mezheritsky

The Sacrifice of Isaac

Level 22 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante

Isaac Schachtel lost his tournament life when he ran {4-Clubs}{4-Hearts} into the {8-Spades}{8-Hearts} held by Eric Wasserson.

The flop ended any thoughts of the underpair overcoming long odds, as the first three cards on board read {q-Spades}{3-Hearts}{8-Clubs}. With a flopped set, Wasserson sent Schachtel to the rail while keeping himself in contention late on this third day of play.

Player Chips Progress
Eric Wasserson us
Eric Wasserson
405,000 150,000
Isaac Schachtel
Isaac Schachtel
Busted