Level: 19
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 1,000
2014 Western New York Poker Challenge
Event 10: $300 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Western New York Poker Challenge
Buy-in
$265
Prize Pool
$29,958
Entries
119
Level
26
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
Thomas vs. Grana: One Will Be the Bubble Boy
Level 18
: 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
It didn't take long for the bubble to burst, and it wasn't even one of the short stacks.
It happened when action folded to Travell Thomas on the button and he raised to 20,000, which Dave Grana called from the big blind. When the flop came down 
, Grana moved all in for 77,000 and Thomas shifted in his chair. He thought long and hard before finally declaring, "I can't fold top pair."
Thomas: 
Grana: 
Grana decided to go with his open-ended straight draw, but on this hand it proved an unwise investment as both the 
turn and 
river failed to help him. Grana was eliminated as the bubble boy while the remaining 12 players are guaranteed at least $629.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
300,000 | 85,000 |
|
Busted |
Table 3 Chip Counts
![[user153906]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 18
: 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
640,000 | 40,000 |
|
170,000 | -20,000 |
|
115,000 | 5,000 |
|
90,000 | -150,000 |
|
80,000 | -25,000 |
|
65,000 | -7,000 |
Table 1 Chip Counts
Level 18
: 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
275,000 | 85,000 |
|
245,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
215,000 | 55,000 |
|
175,000 | 45,000 |
|
|
116,000 | 4,000 |
|
110,000 | -100,000 |
|
85,000 | -115,000 |
Level: 18
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 1,000
Break It Up
Level 17
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
We're on a 10-minute break. When we return, the remaining 13 players will play hand-for-hand on the money bubble.
Kurek the Penultimate Bubble Boy
Level 17
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
In the last hand before the break, a short-stacked Michael Kurek moved all in under the gun for 28,500 and cleared the field to Scott Aitchison, who called from the big blind.
Aitchison: 
Kurek: 
The 
flop kept Kurek firmly in the lead, and the 
turn meant he just needed to dodge a king and ten on the river to double. Unfortunately for him, that proved easier said than done as the 
spiked on the river.
Kurek was eliminated in 14th place, which means the final 13 players will return from the break on the bubble and playing hand for hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
110,000 | 45,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Photos From the Final 18
Last Woman in the Field Falls
Level 17
: 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Not long after being crippled, Kali Zurek moved all in for her last 19,000 from early position. Chris Myers then three-bet to 35,000 from the small blind, and Kevin Reyes snap-called from the big. The main pot was straightened out, a side pot created, and then the dealer put out the flop — 
.
Reyes wasted little time in moving all in for 129,000 and Myers thought for a couple of minutes before releasing his hand. Reyes then tabled the 
, and Zurek showed the 
. The 
turn gave Zurek some hope, but the 
river failed to deliver on it.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
210,000 | 40,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 17
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 500