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Day 1 Completed
2016 PokerNews Cup Borgata
Main Event
Day: 1
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Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
The first ever PokerNews Cup on American soil got underway at The Borgata yesterday. A total of 120 entries were made into the $2,000-buy-in event, resulting in a prize pool of $222,324. A total of 26 players remain after 16 levels in play, all still gunning for the $68,676-first place prize.
The event got saw an action packed start with Jarrett Blakeley and Scott Sissler allin pre-flop in the first level. Blakeley had aces and was up against the jacks of Sissler. The latter flopped a jack to get ahead, but the former found a straight on the turn and doubled up.
Action was fast and furious, undoubtedly motivated by the option for players to reenter if they busted before the 9th level had finished. Right before registration closed, a couple new players entered. Ryan Van Sanford, Tim West and Stan Jablonski were just a few of the players that got it last minute. After registration closed, action tightened up a bit.
John Dolan was one of the first players to bust without the option to give it another go again. The former November Niner got it in with aces against Dave Olshan who had turned a straight with eight-five. The ace on the river didn't help Dolan anymore and he got up and made his exit.
Alex Rocha, winner of the Venetian Deepstack 1 million guaranteed for $173,861 just last week, also went down with a big hand. He had ace-king with the ace of clubs on a paired board with four clubs. On top of all the cards out, Rocha and the other players had some extra information to work with as the dealer had accidentally exposed several cards dealing the turn. Rocha called with the best flush possible but turned out to be beaten by a full house.
Familiar names like Ben Keeline, Joey Weissman, Matt Stout, Jeremy Ausmus, Kevin Saul, Mukul Pahuja and Shannon Shorr all gave the PokerNews Cup a try but failed to survive to battle on Day 2.
A total of 26 players did make it through, with Dominic Picnic leading the charge. Picnic turned his 30,000-starting stack into a 323,500. His closest competitor is Jason Deutsch with 273,500 in chips. Jake Bazeley (235,000), Christian Harder (150,000), Ryan Van Sanford (116,000), Aaron Massey (78,500) and Mike Dentale (53,000) are some of the others to come back for Day 2. Play resumes at The Borgata at noon with level 17 (2,500/5,000, 500-ante). A total of 18 players will make it to the money.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
We found Christian Harder all in for his last 33,000 with 
, having been called by two players with 
. There was a bit of a squabble over whether a side pot should be made, and the dealer eventually ran out a board of 
.
"Was there ever any doubt?" someone said of Harder finding a three to triple up.
Moments later, Ray Qartomy opened to 10,000 and was shoved on by Joe Cappello, who had about 45,000 on the button. Harder jammed in the big blind and Qartomy folded.
Harder: 
Cappello: 
The race was on, and Cappello looked set to grab yet another double after 
hit. However, a 
turn left him drawing dead, and he winged his cards muckward as the rest of the table prepared for the final hand before bagging.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
Christian Harder opened to 10,000, Kevin Saul moved all in for 63,300, an unknown player moved in for 12,000 and Ray Qartomy moved all in. Harder mucked and the cards were tabled.
Qartomy: 
Player: 
Saul: 
The board ran 
, Qartomy still had the best hand and knocked out both players.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
The clock was paused and the field will play five more hands.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
Aaron Massey open-shoved on the button, Jakov Klatzkin moved all in from the small blind and Muhammad Rahim called off from the big blind.
Massey: 
Klatzkin: 
Rahim: 
The board ran 
, Massey tripled up with a straight and Rahim was nearly felted.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
We missed the hand but we saw Stan Jablonski send most of his chip stack over to Ryan Van Sanford. Jablonski was nearly eliminated with just over a big blind remaining after his lost to Van Sanford's 
.
Level 16
: 2,000/4,000, 400 ante
Joe Cappello got his last 6,500 in preflop and was called in two spots. The board ran out 
and Cappello paired up with 
to beat a player with 
.
Moments later, Cappello was all in again with and at risk against . Again, the board favored the former Borgata Winter Poker Open champ: 
. He still doesn't have a ton of chips, but he's got a definite pulse with over 50,000.
