Event 1: $200 No-Limit Hold'em | 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge

03-28-2014 09:10 UTC-4

Welcome to the 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge!

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Hello and welcome to PokerNews' live coverage of the 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge in Niagara Falls, New York! For the next 10 days the Seneca Poker Room will play host to the annual series, and we'll be on the floor providing up-to-the-minute reports from seven of the 16 events on the schedule.

The WNY Poker Challenge begins this morning at 11 a.m. with Event #1, a $200 no-limit hold'em event. Each player will receive 15,000 in chips and the blind levels will increase every 30 minutes. Re-entry will be available for the first four levels. The one-day tournament will end when a champion is crowned later this evening.

Along with live reporting, PokerNews will also be activating the MyStack App, allowing players to directly update their chip counts in the PokerNews blog using their iPhone or Android phone. We'll have more information about how to use My Stack once the action gets underway.

We'll be getting started here shortly.

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge

03-28-2014 13:46 UTC-4

You Want Payouts? We Got Payouts

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Level 6 : 200/400, 50 ante

We were just handed the payouts for Event #1. A total of 144 entries created a prize pool of $24,480, which will be shared by the top 15 finishers. The eventual winner will take home $6,514.

Place	Payout	Place	Payout
1	$6,514	7	$930
2	$4,023	8	$721
3	$2,907	9	$581
4	$2,174	10-12	$477
5	$1,581	13-15	$395
6	$1,209

03-28-2014 15:01 UTC-4

Interview: Seneca Poker Room Manager Amanda Scarcelli

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Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

Scarcelli (left) and WNYPC tournament director Jason Brooks

What can players look forward to during the WNY Poker Challenge? Earlier this week we spoke with Seneca Niagara Poker Room Manager Amanda Scarcelli about the series. Scarcelli has overseen the poker room in Niagara Falls since 2012.

PokerNews: What sort of things has the Seneca Poker Room been doing to prepare for the WNY Poker Challenge?

Scarcelli: To prepare for the WNYPC we have been hitting the radio hard, we made a commercial, advertised in poker magazines and social media. We gave away over 300 satellite seats and been running two step satellites since February 14th.

Are you introducing anything new to this series?

New to this series we are allowing 18-and-over players for events 10 through 16.

You've been running Main Event satellites for a couple months now. How many players have qualified so far?

We’ve qualified over 30 so far. We have about two weeks left and we plan on qualifying at least 80 total.

Some of the bigger poker tournaments in the past have been held on the balcony of the Seneca Niagara Casino. Where will tournaments be held for the WNY Poker Challenge?

We start off in the poker room with Events 1 through 9. Events 10 through 16 are on the hotel balcony.

The Seneca Poker Room has some of the best dealers I've seen on the tournament circuit. Where do you find these talented guys and girls?

Our dealers are very talented and sharp. Most of the dealers have been here since day one when the poker room opened 10 years ago.

Several of the tours and poker rooms around the world don't allow players to chop at the final table. We know that it's a common occurrence in Seneca Poker events. What's your opinion about deal making?

Our opinion on chops is to not get involved. We do prefer to see the tournament finish but if the players can all agree we don’t see a problem with it.

Andy Spears has won two of the major tournaments at Seneca over the past year. He's already told us that he's playing in next month's Main Event. Does anyone else have a chance?

Andy has definitely been on a roll the last couple of years — not just here. We are proud of him and he always makes it interesting to watch.

We feel all of our tournament players are skilled and experienced and have the ability to take first.

Who are some of the other players to watch for during the WNY Poker Challenge?

Some of the other players to watch are Travell Thomas, Jason Nablo, Alex Rivera, Shawn Smalls, Dietrich Kuhlman, Ray Book and Lou Tomassi. I could go on and on we have so many good players.

Finally, for those who haven't visited Niagara Falls before, where are the best spots to visit? Any tips for tourists?

My favorite spot is Prospect Point at the Horse Shoe Falls. You can feel the power of the falls and the mist of the water, but dress warm because it’s still a little chilly.

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge

03-28-2014 20:27 UTC-4

Sarah Khajavi Eliminated in 15th Place ($395)

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Level 16 : 2,500/5,000, 500 ante

Sarah Khajavi raised, Thomas Hawthorne three-bet and Khajavi four-bet shoved for a little more than 100,000. Hawthorne went into the tank before deciding to call.

Khajavi —
Hawthorne —

The board ran out and Khajavi was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Hawthorne	220,000 175,000	175,000
Sarah Khajavi	Busted

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge Sarah Khajavi

03-28-2014 20:44 UTC-4

Mitch Polanski Eliminated in 13th Place ($395)

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Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

While Shamel Thomas () was doubling through Matthew Hawthorne () at Table 2, Mitch Polanski met his demise at Table 5. Polanski shoved his short stack into the pocket aces of Brett Short and was unable to improve. We're down to 12 players.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mitch Polanski	Busted

03-28-2014 22:06 UTC-4

Art Demmerley Eliminated in 9th Place ($581)

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Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante

Art Demmerley is a final table machine here at the Seneca Poker Room. He made another one today, but his run is now over. Demmerlay was all in with the and ran into the of Joe Latona. The aces held up and Demmerley was eliminated.

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge Art Demmerley

03-28-2014 22:42 UTC-4

Joe Ciffa Eliminated in 7th Place ($930)

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Level 20 : 6,000/12,000, 1,000 ante

Joe Ciffa turned the nut straight in a massive pot against Thomas Hawthorne, but it turned out he was already drawing dead. On a board of , the two players got it all in for a pot worth around 630,000. Ciffa showed , but Hawthorne had the superior for a flush. Ciffa couldn't even draw to a straight flush as Hawthorne had it blocked with his . Ciffa hit the rail, and Hawthorne is our new leader.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Hawthorne	670,000 310,000	310,000
Joe Ciffa	Busted

03-28-2014 22:59 UTC-4

Shamel Thomas Eliminated in 6th Place ($1,209)

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Level 20 : 6,000/12,000, 1,000 ante

Shamel Thomas limped from late position, Jason Nablo raised to 35,000 from the small blind, and Thomas Hawthorne flatted from the big. Thomas then responded with a raise to 90,000, and Nablo folded. Hawthorne called, and they went to the flop.

The action moved quickly from there. In fact, Thomas acted out of turn and announced "all in" a split second before Hawthorne did. They were both ruled all in. Nablo shot out of his seat because he folded sevens preflop, The other two flipped their hands over, and neither had a pair.

Hawthorne:
Thomas

Thomas was in front with his ace-high, but Hawthorne took command when the peeled off on the turn. The completed the board, and Thomas was eliminated. Hawthorne is now nearing 1 million in chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Hawthorne	970,000 300,000	300,000
Shamel Thomas	Busted

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge Jason Nablo Shamel Thomas Thomas Hawthorne

03-29-2014 00:06 UTC-4

Joe Latona Eliminated in 4th Place ($2,174)

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Level 23 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

Joe Latona moved all in for his last 110,000 from late position and Thomas Hawthorne called from the small blind.

Latona:
Hawthorne:

The board came up empty for Latona, and he exited in fourth place for $2,174.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Hawthorne	950,000 135,000	135,000
Joe Latona	Busted

Tags: 2014 Western New York Poker Challenge Thomas Hawthorne

03-29-2014 00:15 UTC-4

Jason Nablo Eliminated in 3rd Place ($2,907)

[user153906]

Level 23 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

Action folded to Kevin Mathias in the small blind and he put Jason Nablo all in. Nablo called off for around 300,000, and the cards went on their backs.

Mathias:
Nablo: