$1,500 Main Event
Day 3 Started
2013 Seneca Niagara Fall Poker Classic
$1,500 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2013 Seneca Niagara Fall Poker Classic
Buy-in
$1,350
Prize Pool
$194,110
Entries
149
Level
26
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000
A Champion is Crowned Today
![[user153906]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Welcome to our Day 3 coverage of the 2013 Seneca Niagara Fall Poker Classic $1,500 Main Event! Over the past two days inside the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino Events center, a field of 146 entrants was trimmed down to nine. The conclusion of the tournament will take place today inside the poker room, where each of the nine players will play for the trophy and a top prize of $52,410.
Leading the way entering the final table is 25-year-old Andy Spears, a part-time poker pro who is making a name for himself on the felt in 2013. In August, Spears won the Summer Slam Series Main Event at Seneca Niagara for $23,700. He followed that up with a victory at the World Series of Poker Circuit stop in Cincinnati where he collected his first WSOP-C ring. Spears will take 1,549,000 in chips to today's final table, more than 1 million ahead of his closest competitor.
Spears will be joined by some familiar faces at the final table. Two-time WSOP-C winner Travell Thomas enters the final table sixth in chips and his talkative demeanor will add some entertainment value to the Day 3 action. Alex Barker is third in chips going into the final table and is attempting to one-up his second-place finish in this event from last year. Also among the final nine is local pro Jason Nablo, who has racked up several victories inside the poker room he's playing in today.
The underdog story of this Main Event belongs to Brian McCormick. Unknown to most of the field coming into the event, McCormick won a seat to a Main Event qualifier through a cash game "hot seat" drawing this month. He has parlayed that into a chance to win more than $50,000.
Here's a look at today's final table seat draw:
$1,500 Main Event Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian McCormick | 507,000 |
| 2 | Budway Salhab | 440,000 |
| 3 | Ryan Hall | 194,000 |
| 4 | Jason Nablo | 249,000 |
| 5 | Andy Spears | 1,549,000 |
| 6 | Johannes Mueller | 392,000 |
| 7 | Alex Barker | 501,000 |
| 8 | Scott Gaddi | 292,000 |
| 9 | Travell Thomas | 339,000 |
The action kicks off at noon E.T. Don't go anywhere!
Level: 20
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 1,000
Cards In The Air!
The player introductions have been made, and the Fall Poker Classic Main Event final table is underway! We're picking up where we left off last night with 50 minutes remaining in Level 20.
Playing Eight-Handed
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
The first few hands were played seven-handed as Travell Thomas arrived late and Ryan Hall is stuck in traffic. Thomas just sat down, so now we're only waiting on Hall. It could create an interesting dynamic early as Hall is the shortest stack at the table and is blinding off.
Scott Gaddi Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,823)
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Andy Spears min-raised from middle position and the action folded over to Scott Gaddi, who shoved for 191,000 from the small blind. After Travell Thomas folded his big blind, Spears called.
Gaddi: 
Spears: 
The board ran out 
, and Spears eliminated yet another player in this tournament to increase his lead. Gaddi picked up $5,823 for ninth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,800,000 | 251,000 |
|
Busted |
Ryan Hall Arrives
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Ryan Hall made his way to the final table to discover that he's already moved one spot up the pay ladder. It looks like he sprinted through the casino to get here as he is completely out of breath.
Spears Keeps The Pressure On
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Andy Spears raised to 20,000 from the cutoff and found a call from Travell Thomas in the big blind. Thomas announced a check in the dark and the flop came 
. Spears continued for 20,000 and saw Thomas come over the top for 55,000 total. Spears called.
The 
fell on fourth street and Thomas slowed with a check once again. Spears bet 63,000 and Thomas stuck around. Thomas checked for a third time when he saw the 
complete the board on the river. Spears announced an all in bet and Thomas quickly ditched his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,900,000 | 100,000 |
|
165,000 | -174,000 |
Images From the Final Table
Ryan Hall Eliminated in 8th Place ($6,891)
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Action folded over to Ryan Hall, who moved all in for 122,000 on the button. Jason Nablo was sitting in the small blind, and after getting an official count on Hall's stack he decided to call, leaving just 10,000 behind. Andy Spears folded his big blind, and the cards were tabled.
Hall: 
Nablo:
Both players were essentially committed for their tournament life, and Nablo's 10 kicker held up through the 
board.