Event #3: $12K GTD Mega Tuesday 1/2 Price NLH
Day 1 Started
partypoker US Network Players Choice Series (Dec.13-20)
Event #3: $12K GTD Mega Tuesday 1/2 Price NLH
Day: 1
Welcome to partypoker US Network Online Players Choice Series Event #3: $12K GTD Mega Tuesday 1/2 Price NLH 6-Max
The partypoker US Network Players Choice Series continues tonight with another half-priced event as PokerNews coverage of Event #3: $12K GTD Mega Tuesday 1/2 Price NLH 6-Max will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The buy-in for tonight's event is $215 and gives players 100,000 chips to start. Unlimited entries and re-entries are available through the first 15 levels of play.
Blinds will begin at Level 1 (250/500/60) and will increase every 10 minutes for the duration of the tournament.
All within New Jersey are able to play across the three platforms of partypoker US, Borgata Poker and BetMGM Poker are eligible to compete.
Tonight's tournament looks to be a juicy one as the $12K guarantee has already been obliterated with 545 players already registered.
partypoker US Players Choice Series Schedule
Remember, PokerNews will be providing daily live updates from each tournament.
| Day | Date | Time (EST) | Tournament | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12/15/20 | 8:00 PM | Event #3: $12k GTD MEGA TUESDAY 1/2 PRICE 6MAX | $215 |
| Wednesday | 12/16/20 | 8:00 PM | Event #4: PLO 6MAX | $215 |
| Thursday | 12/17/20 | 8:00 PM | Event #5: $7.5K GTD PROGRESSIVE KNOCKOUT BOUNTY | $320 |
| Friday | 12/18/20 | 8:00 PM | Event #6 NLH R+A 8MAX | $55 |
| Saturday | 12/19/20 | 8:00 PM | Event #7: SHOOTOUT 6MAX NLH | $215 |
| Sunday | 12/20/20 | 5:00 PM | Event #8: SUNDAY $40K GTD NLH | $320 |
Play Started
The clock has struck 8:00 p.m. ET and play has officially begun in Level 1 of the partypoker US Network Online Poker Players Choice Series.
Blinds are 250/500 with an ante of 60, and 609 players are in their virtual seats to start the event. Registration will remain open until the end of Level 15.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
"cpman27" Wins With Hooks
In Level 1 with blinds at 250/500/60, action folded to "badjw" who limped in from the button and "cpman27" raised to 2,500 from the small blind.
"King99" called from the big blind and action was on "badjw" who came along as well bringing the 
flop.
"cpman27" continued for 6,300 and only "badjw" called to see the 
appear on the turn. Both players checked and did the same after the 
completed the board on the river.
"cpman27" rolled over 
which was good enough to scoop the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
108,900 | |
|
|
97,760 | |
|
|
89,060 |
Aces Are Good for "BrianFantana"
In Level 2 with blinds at 300/600/75, Ryan “simlSgg” Hagerty raised to 1,500 from the hijack and then called "BrianFantana's" 6,500 three-bet from the big blind.
The 
flop was checked by both players to the turn where "BrianFantana" check-called Hagerty's 9,900 bet.
Both players checked the 
river and "BrianFantana" showed 
to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
206,385 | 106,385 |
|
|
104,654 |
Level 3 Chip Leaders
The start of Level 3 sees BorgataPoker.com sponsored pro Michael "Gags30" Gagliano leading the pack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
395,170 | 295,170 |
|
|
310,905 | |
|
|
260,424 | |
|
|
242,121 | 35,736 |
|
|
239,731 | 139,731 |
|
|
239,665 | |
|
|
230,484 | 130,484 |
|
|
220,674 | |
|
|
219,064 | |
|
|
209,835 | 109,835 |
"HellHound" Wins With Aggression
In Level 4 with blinds at 500/1,000/125, Eric “alwaysliquid” Vanauken raised to 2,000 from under the gun and was called by "Edsebo" from the button before "HellHound" three-bet to 8,500 from the small blind.
Action folded back to Vanauken who called and "Edsebo" came along as well to see a 
flop appear.
"HellHound" continued for 16,000 and Vanauken quickly folded while "Edsebo" called.
Once the 
came on the turn, "HellHound" fired out 24,750 and that did the trick as "Edsebo" mucked their hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
188,842 | |
|
|
134,154 | |
|
|
60,827 |
Kwon Can't Bully Stone
In Level 5 with blinds at 600/1,200/150, action folded around to Yong "IReadYrSoul" Kwon who limped in from the small blind and Katie "KatieStone" Stone checked her option from the big blind.
Once the 
flop appeared Kwon fired out 1,920 and Stone quickly called bringing the turn.
Kwon continued with a 5,760 bet only to fold after Stone raised to 16,800.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
249,150 | 39,315 |
|
|
98,300 | -1,700 |
Take 5
Players are on a quick five-minute break.
Get to Know Family Man & Stock Trader Don "dhimp20" Himpele
If you’ve ever played poker either at Borgata or online in New Jersey, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Don Himpele, who has more than $630K in online lifetime tournament earnings and $89K in live scores on HendonMob.
Himpele, a father of five who has been married for 24 years, graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in Business and Economics, and for the last 25 years he has worked as a trader on the New York Stock Exchange as a Managing Director for Goldman Sachs and IMC Trading. So how did the professional family man find poker?
“I began playing as a teenager,” he told PokerNews. “My mother was an early influence and taught me many ‘gameplay skills.’ I have combined that and my skills as a trader to make strong decisions on the felt.”
He continued: “I consider myself a recreational player, as family and work obligations don't allow for a robust live game tournament schedule. I do play the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main yearly, and many Parx Big Stax tournaments. I am a regular online tournament player who targets buy-ins usually ranging from $200-$2,000. I play in local cash games – usually $5/$10.”
While he only plays when his schedule allows, it’s worth noting Himpele has been playing for a long time. In fact, one of his favorite poker memories stems all the way back to the 2004 WSOP Main Event.
“My most notable experience was my first WSOP Main Event in 2004 and sitting at ESPN feature TV table with top pros,” he recalled. “Also, I cashed in the 2010 WSOP Main Event after being sponsored by Absolute Poker.”
While his Absolute Poker days are behind him, Himpele does spend a fair amount of time competing on the partypoker US Network, which is comprised of partypoker US, Borgata Poker and BetMGM Poker.
“partypoker US brings a strong level of competition and I particularly like when they run a series as it brings a variety of games and a strong turnout with a commensurate prize pool,” said Himpele. “I have a lot of respect for New Jersey's top pros such as Mike Lavenburg, Mike Gagliano, Katie Stone and David Coleman. I enjoy the challenge of battling against them as a test of skill.”
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,676 | -59,324 |