The 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge began with 275 total entries across two Day 1 starting flights. Only 74 returned for Day 2 on Sunday, and after 12 hours the field was trimmed down to the final table of nine.
Guy Klass will lead the way when the final nine return at noon on Monday to play for the $59,000 top prize. Klass took the chip lead with a set of fives early in the evening and never looked back, bagging 2,869,000 — nearly triple the amount of his next closest competitor.
Klass was a one-man wrecking ball on Sunday. He first made his presence known against the chip leader at the time, Adam Foster, who doubled Klass up to more than 1.1 million when Klass flopped a set against Foster's top pair top kicker.
With 11 players remaining, Klass took out Day 1a chip leader Damian Baird when his clipped Baird's in brutal fashion on a board. Then, at the unofficial final table, Klass eliminated Day 1b chip leader Scott Hosbach — and once again it happened on the river.
Hosbach three-bet shoved for 331,000 from middle position with the and Klass called with his . The changed nothing, but the turn made it interesting as Hosbach paired his queen and Klass picked up a flush draw. The river — the — completed the flush for Klass.
Among those joining Klass on Monday at noon ET will be Seneca Poker regulars Blake Napierala and Alex Rivera, as well as 2014 Seneca Summer Slam champion Buck Ramsey, who will attempt to win his second Main Event title in Niagara Falls.
The WNY Poker Challenge Main Event continues Monday at noon. We’ll have complete coverage of the tournament until a champion is crowned so keep your browsers locked to PokerNews.com until the conclusion!
Guy Klass opened from early position and Scott Hosbach shoved for 331,000 from middle position. Action folded back to Klass, who crunched the numbers before announcing a call.
Hosbach:
Klass:
The changed nothing, but the turn made it interesting as Hosbach paired his queen and Klass picked up a flush draw. The river — the — completed the flush for Klass, and Hosbach shook his head before heading to the cashier.
The remaining nine players are bagging their chips. Full chip counts coming shortly.
Day 1 chip leader Damian Baird shoved for 172,000 from the cutoff and current chip leader Guy Klass called from the button. The blinds released, and Baird was in front.
Baird:
Klass:
The flop gave Baird a huge advantage, but Klass went runner-runner with the turn and river to eliminate Baird in 11th place.
The remaining 10 players are making their way to the unofficial 10-handed final table. We'll have a seat draw for you shortly.
Adam Foster shoved for 180,000 from under the gun and Charles Johnson, Jr. called from the small blind. Damian Baird released from the big, and the cards went on their backs.
Foster:
Johnson:
Foster picked up additional outs on the flop, but only Johnson improved on the turn and river. Foster was the chip leader hours ago but will have to settle for a 12th-place finish here in the Main Event.
On a flop, Adam Foster and Guy Klass checked to Blake Napierala, who bet 40,000. Adam Foster called, and Klass raised to 240,000. Napierala folded and Foster called.
The turn was the and Foster checked. Klass moved all in for 470,000, and Foster went into the tank.
"Are we allowed to talk," he asked poker room manager Amanda Scarcelli.
"What are you going to say," she reponded. "Don't reveal your hand."
Foster tried to get some info from Klass but was unsuccessful. A minute went by and Foster tossed in a call with only to find out he had run into Klass'
The meaningless landed on the river, and Klass scooped a massive 1.5 million-chip pot.
With the blinds still at 5K/10K, Blake Napierala raised to 20,000 from early position and five players called to se a flop. Kevin Cunningham was first to act and bet 100,000, leaving around 80,000 behind. Two players folded, and Blake Napierala min-raised to 200,000. Charles Johnson folded, putting the action back on Cunningham. He peeked back at the tournament clock a few times, thought a bit longer, and finally pounded his chips into the middle. He was nearly drawing dead.
Napierala:
Cunningham:
The turn and river put the final nail in Cunningham's coffin, and he shook everyone's hand before making his exit.
With the board showing , Jeff Hagen was all in with pocket jacks against Lawrence Schumacher, who had come from behind with his . The river improved Schumacher to a full house, sending Hagen to the rail in 17th place.
Scott Hosbach opened to 20,000 from middle position with the and Ivan Mamuzic moved in for his last 58,000 from the button with . Hosback called, and his kicker held through the board.
![[user153906]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
clipped Baird's 
in brutal fashion on a 
board. Then, at the unofficial final table, Klass eliminated Day 1b chip leader Scott Hosbach — and once again it happened on the river.
. The 
changed nothing, but the 
— completed the flush for Klass.
flop, but only Johnson improved on the 
river. Foster was the chip leader hours ago but will have to settle for a 12th-place finish here in the Main Event.
flop, Adam Foster and Guy Klass checked to Blake Napierala, who bet 40,000. Adam Foster called, and Klass raised to 240,000. Napierala folded and Foster called.
landed on the river, and Klass scooped a massive 1.5 million-chip pot.
flop. Kevin Cunningham was first to act and bet 100,000, leaving around 80,000 behind. Two players folded, and Blake Napierala min-raised to 200,000. Charles Johnson folded, putting the action back on Cunningham. He peeked back at the tournament clock a few times, thought a bit longer, and finally pounded his chips into the middle. He was nearly drawing dead.
turn and 
river put the final nail in Cunningham's coffin, and he shook everyone's hand before making his exit.
. The 
river improved Schumacher to a full house, sending Hagen to the rail in 17th place.
