2015 Western New York Poker Challenge

Event 5: $50 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Event Info

2015 Western New York Poker Challenge

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$5,700
Event Info
Buy-in
$39
Prize Pool
$41,040
Entries
1,026
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Randy Pfeifer Wins The 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge Event #5: $25,000 Guarantee

Level 29 : 50,000/100,000, 10,000 ante
Randy Pfeifer
Randy Pfeifer

After four days of poker that saw 1,026 entries over six different starting flights, veteran local rounder Randy Pfeifer has been crowned the champion of Event 5: $50 No-Limit Hold'em from the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge.

With hundreds of players firing multiple bullets, the $25,000 guarantee was laid to waste with a $41,040 prizepool created. The event was designed to attract poker room regulars, recreational players, and the area's best. By all accounts it did so in spades and was a smashing success.

A total of 119 players pushed through to Thursday's second and final day, with Shayne Shackelford leading them all, having built an incredible stack on his starting flight. But things did not go well for Shackelford, as he was cut down to size early and eventually busted 49th for $160.

Pfiefer, who came into this event with $945,683 in career tournament earnings on his résumé, emerged as the first player past the 1 million chip mark as they day wore on, winning pot after pot without showdown.

While the chip lead changed hands several times, Pfeifer took control at the final table with patience and veteran savvy, grabbing the lead for good by the time they reached five-handed play, then holding out for the better end of the deal and the trophy when the players decided to chop up the prize money.

While this was by far the busiest event on the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge schedule so far, the biggest will begin Friday with Day 1a of the $200,000 guaranteed $1,000 buy-in Main Event going off at 11 a.m. local time.

The PokerNews Live Reporting team will be back to provide live coverage all day as soon as the cards hit the air.

Tom Guidon Eliminated in 9th Place ($821)

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Tom Guidon
Tom Guidon

Ray Espinosa open shoved and Tom Guidon pushed in behind him with just a few less chips.

Guidon: {4-Clubs}{4-Spades}
Espinosa: {9-Hearts}{9-Clubs}

The flop fell {6-Clubs}{j-Diamonds}{q-Spades} keeping the nines out front, but the miraculous {4-Hearts} turn gave Guidon a set. Down to two outs, Espinosa hit the {9-Spades} on the river and jumped from his chair as Guidon went out ninth.

Player Chips Progress
Gary Espinosa
Gary Espinosa
1,100,000 200,000
Tom Guidon
Tom Guidon
Busted

Another River

Level 26 : 25,000/50,000, 5,000 ante
Brandon Louvier
Brandon Louvier

Brandon Louvier made it 150,000 to go before Gary Espinosa pushed all in having him covered.

Louvier tank-called with {8-Spades}{8-Clubs} and was well behind Espinosa's {10-Spades}{10-Diamonds}.

The {j-Diamonds}{a-Clubs}{5-Diamonds} flop was safe for Espinosa and Louvier looked all but dead after the {2-Spades} turn before suddenly spiking a set on the {8-Diamonds} river to come back to life.

Player Chips Progress
Brandon Louvier
Brandon Louvier
1,550,000 800,000
Gary Espinosa
Gary Espinosa
900,000 -800,000

He Fought The Law

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

Heading into the break Peter Craniotis made it 45,000 from the button and Tom Law defended his big blind.

The flop fell {k-Clubs}{3-Spades}{5-Spades} and Law checked. Craniotis made it 60,000 and Law pushed for 250,000 more.

Craniotis called with {a-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and Law was on the flush draw with {9-Spades}{2-Spades}. Somehow, ace-high held and Craniotis moved into the top spot on the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Peter Craniotis
Peter Craniotis
1,000,000 360,000
Tom Law
Tom Law
Busted

Pied Pfeifer

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

Randy Pfeifer has skyrocketed into the chip lead and is closing in on the one-million chip mark now.

Pfeifer told PokerNews most of the chips were collected without showdown, including one hand where he picked up kings and pushed all in preflop after a series of raises, forcing a fold. His opponent showed jacks.

Player Chips Progress
Randy Pfeifer
Randy Pfeifer
950,000 490,000

Klein Kicks Into Gear

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

Jeff Klein has moved into the chip lead after a flurry of action.

First he pushed all in pushing Peter Craniotis off a 200,000 pot on an {a-Hearts}{8-Clubs}{7-Spades} flop. Then he busted Mike Boncore flopping a set of eights against his top pair aces.

Klein even managed to make quads on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Jeff Klein us
Jeff Klein
760,000 628,900
Mike Boncore
Mike Boncore
Busted