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Players are on a five-minute break.
partypoker US Network Players Choice Series (Dec.13-20)
Event #1: Sunday $35K GTD 1/2 Price NLH
Day: 1
Dan “mj23style” Sewnig Studying to Become One of New Jersey’s Best Online Players
There’s a new breed of online poker players emerging in the United States, namely those thriving in the few regulated markets out there. One of them is Dan “mj23style” Sewnig, who has proven himself one of the most accomplished players among the New Jersey contingent.
The 29-year-old Sewnig, who graduated from Ramapo College with a degree in math and a concentration in education, has amassed well over a million in earnings playing online, where he’s also known as “RedsoxNets5”.
Finding His Way to Poker
Sewnig learned poker at 11 years old when his cousin taught him the rules to Texas hold’em. In 2003 when Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker, Sewnig was in seventh grade and playing $5 SNGs with his friends.
“I'll always remember our friend's mom asked us who we thought was going to win. There were about 50 players left in the TV coverage and Ivey and Farha were the popular answers. I said, ‘I don't know, I've got a good feeling about that guy Moneymaker.’ She gave me a look at the time that I thought meant she thought I was stupid. I had no idea at the time that these shows were prerecorded and she already knew that he had gone on to win!”
In 2014, Sewnig was on track to become a teacher, even doing some student teaching. However, the call of poker was too strong to ignore.
“I decided to test the waters of the relatively new regulated online poker sites in New Jersey. I've been playing poker professionally ever since,” said Sewnig, who lives in New Jersey with his girlfriend of two years, Amy. “I'm a full-time professional poker player and put most of my volume into online tournaments. I do play live tournament series when they run at Borgata and Parx and head out to the Vegas for the WSOP each summer.”
In the live realm, Sewnig has amassed nearly $150K in earnings including a career-best $27,276 for finishing fourth in the 2016 WPT Borgata Poker Open Event #12: $1,060 NLH 6-Max.
Taking His Game to the Next Level
While Sewnig plays on all the New Jersey online sites, he’s become a familiar and successful player on the partypoker US Online Network.
“There's a lot of great value on partypoker,” he told PokerNews. “The site appeals to all sorts of different types of people and leads to a bunch of very fun tournaments. You truly never know what you're going to see in these MTTs and I am very grateful for that.”
One of the reasons we continue to see Sewnig crushing is because of the progress he’s made in poker over the past 18 months, which he ranks as his proudest accomplishment.
“I've put more work into studying and improving over that timespan than I have in the rest of my career combined. I've also done a much better job of dealing with adversity. Downswings are inevitable in poker and people react to them in all different types of ways.”
He continued: “For a long time, I'd react to them by taking way too much time off, sometimes even weeks at a time. From 2019 on, I've bounced back from tough stretches way more quickly and healthily and I think that's what I'm most proud of, more so than any individual tournament score or win.”
When asked who he thought was the best player among the New Jersey online crowd, Sewnig actually named a Borgata Poker Ambassador.
“I'd have to say Michael Gagliano. You could argue a few different people for best cash player in the state and a few different people for best tournament player, but I think he is the only name that comes up in both conversations. There are a few cash guys, such as Sean Ruane and Jake Toole, who could also fall into that category but just don't put in much tournament volume. Honorable mention to David Coleman.”
If he continues on his current trajectory, don’t be surprised to see Sewnig’s name mentioned among New Jersey’s best.
You can follow Sewnig on Twitter @RedsoxNets5.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
338,360
194,706
|
194,706 |
"Believer111" Leaves Lupo With Pebbles
In Level 14 (2,000/4,000/500), action folded around to "Believer111" who raised all in for 45,346 from the cutoff and Daniel "centrfielder23" Lupo isolated after he came over the top for 51,593 from the small blind.
"Believer111": 
Daniel "centrfielder23" Lupo: 
Lupo was behind but wasn't in the worst position as he was holding two over cards. The 
flop wasn't what Lupo wanted to see and the 
turn left him drawing to a queen or nine on the river.
Unfortunately for Lupo, the 
completed the board on the river leaving him with just 6,247.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
98,692 | |
|
|
6,247
-195,079
|
-195,079 |
Level 15 Chip Counts
The start of Level 15 sees a total of 372 entries logged meaning, the 35k guaranteed prize pool has been surpassed with 162 players still in contention.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
820,406
469,900
|
469,900 |
|
|
501,718 | |
|
|
496,095 | |
|
|
484,374
114,570
|
114,570 |
|
|
448,847
268,055
|
268,055 |
|
|
438,829 | |
|
|
423,074
131,813
|
131,813 |
|
|
412,410
-18,544
|
-18,544 |
|
|
333,560
-4,800
|
-4,800 |
|
332,910
52,349
|
52,349 |
|
||
|
|
324,287
88,497
|
88,497 |
|
283,450
116,400
|
116,400 |
|
|
261,124
31,507
|
31,507 |
|
|
254,864
83,303
|
83,303 |
|
|
232,291
138,255
|
138,255 |
|
|
226,202
165,225
|
165,225 |
|
|
214,591 | |
|
177,424 | |
|
|
170,010 | |
|
169,092
10,797
|
10,797 |
|
|
167,703
-1,347
|
-1,347 |
Level 15 Chip Counts
The start of Level 15 sees a total of 372 entries logged meaning, the 35k guaranteed prize pool has been surpassed with 162 players still in contention.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
820,406 | |
|
|
501,718 | |
|
|
496,095 | |
|
|
484,374 | |
|
|
448,847 | |
|
|
438,829 | |
|
|
423,074 | |
|
|
412,410 | |
|
|
333,560 | |
|
|
332,910 | |
|
|
||
|
|
324,287 | |
|
|
283,450 | |
|
|
261,124 | |
|
|
254,864 | |
|
|
232,291 | |
|
|
226,202 | |
|
|
214,591 | |
|
|
177,424 | |
|
|
170,010 | |
|
|
169,092 | |
|
|
167,703 | |
Nines Hold for "jmoney99"
In Level 16 with blinds at 3,000/6,000 (750 ante), there was three-way all in action preflop with "jmoney99" having both "dadadada" and Daniel “leinad” Buzgon covered.
"jmoney99": 
"dadadada": 
Daniel “leinad” Buzgon: 
"jmoney99" was ahead with their made hand of nines and nothing changed after the 
flop.
The 
turn made things interesting as it gave both "dadadada" and Buzgon straight draws, but the paired the board on the river and secured the pot for "jmoney99".
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
377,899 | |
|
|
75,000 | |
|
|
75,000 |
Stone Puts "Sahiidaprince86" to the Test
In Level 17 with blinds at 3,500/7,000 (875 ante), Anthony "supremetny" Chin raised to 17,500 from middle position and was called by "Sahiidaprince86" from the button before Katie "KatieStone" Stone three-bet to 77,000 from the big blind.
Action was back on Chin who mucked his hand, while "Sahiidaprince86" called to see a 
flop appear.
Stone quickly put a 182,000 bet in the middle, putting "Sahiidaprince86" to the test as they only held 107,840.
"Sahiidaprince86" took their time in the tank but ultimately gave up their hand giving Stone the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
369,603
108,479
|
108,479 |
|
|
353,680 | |
|
|
107,840 |
Sign Up for Borgata Poker Today!
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New customers who sign up will receive a 100% deposit match up to $600, plus $20 on the house!
It's easy to get started:
- Sign Up — Register an account with Borgata Poker
- Download — Get the app on iOS or Android to start playing
- Deposit — Make your first deposit and we'll match it up to $600
Break Time
The remaining 125 players are on a five-minute break.
Get to Know BorgataPoker.com Sponsored Pro Daniel Buzgon
You might recall that In early 2019, Daniel "leinad" Buzgon signed on as a BorgataPoker.com Sponsored Pro – one of three alongside Michael “Gags” Gagliano and Katie Stone.
“It took a little bit of time to get all the paperwork and stuff like that,” Buzgon previously told PokerNews of becoming sponsored. “It was in December when it started but wasn’t official until just before the Borgata Winter series. Duties include mainly playing a lot online, promoting the site, and trying to get new players on the site.”
According to HendonMob, Buzgon has more than $2.3 million in lifetime live tournament earnings since 2007. He’s a four-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner has played for big money before. In 2001, he finished third in the WPT Borgata Poker Open for $335,433, and last year he finished fifth in the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event for $202,942. He also finished fourth in the 2012 WPT bestbet Jacksonville for $94,624.
Additionally, Buzgon is a beast online where he’s amassed more than $3.1 million in earnings, of which $435,457 has come on BorgataPoker.com where he plays under the screen name “leinad.”
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
75,000 |