2016 Western New York Poker Challenge

$1,000 Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b23
Event Info
2016 Western New York Poker Challenge
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
97
Prize
$52,768
Event Info
Buy-in
$910
Prize Pool
$215,379
Total Entries
244
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
Players Left 1 / 244
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Break!

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

With 12 levels of play behind them, the remaining players are now on the final 10-minute break of the night. They will return to play two more before bagging up.

Cool It Now

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Mike Rellinger
Mike Rellinger

The new and improved Mike 'The Mayor' Rellinger, who swears he's miraculously transitioned from loose-aggressive to tight-aggressive over the past five months when it comes to both women and poker, may actually be telling the truth.

He picked up a big stack early playing aces to perfection and waited patiently throughout play today for another opportunity to chip up.

That came when he picked up two kings versus two queens moments ago, and after the cowboys held, Rellinger shot to a spot near the top of the leader board sitting on 200,000 now.

Tags: Mike Rellinger

Another Five Bet; Another Cooler

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Matt Shanahan
Matt Shanahan

The player under the gun made it 5,400 and when it folded to Matt Shanahan in the big blind, he three-bet, making it 15,000.

UTG put in a fourth bet of 35,000 total and Shanahan five-bet shoved. UTG called it off with pocket kings and, as expected with the five-bet shove and all, Shanahan had two aces.

A third ace showed up somewhere on the board and as UTG hit the rail, Shanahan booked a spot among the late leaders heading into the final break of the night.

Tags: Matt Shanahan

Son Of Beach, He Trapped Me

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Cameron Bartolotta
Cameron Bartolotta

The patience of Cameron Bartolotta has finally paid off, as he just checked his way into a full house over trip aces and got paid off big time on the end.

He opened the button with two eights and only the small blind defended. They both checked the {a-}{a-}{j-} flop and the {2-} turn. But when the {8-} river came down, there were fireworks, with the small blind leading, Bartolotta shoving and the small blind calling it off.

Bartolotta is now peaking at over 80,000 and heading into the late levels with a smile and a stack.

Tags: Cameron Bartolotta

The Favorite

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Blake Napierala
Blake Napierala

The Seneca Niagara Poker Gods continue to smile upon Blake Napierala.

Moments ago, he snapped off one shorty running {a-}{8-} into the dominating {a-}{10-}, finding a way to get there, make a pair and bust him.

As a result, Napierala has pushed above six figures for the first time today and now looks poised to make a deep run and add to the more than $90,000 in career tournament earnings he's collected here at Seneca.

Tags: Blake Napierala

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 300

Elia Rises

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Joseph Elia
Joseph Elia

Perennial Seneca threat Joseph Elia has just made a strong move up the leader board, all thanks to being on the right side of a massive cooler.

He got his 76,000-chip stack in with pocket aces against a player with just a little less, holding just a little less: {k-}{k-}.

The board ran out {q-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}, aces held, and if Elia wasn't a player before, he certainly is now, sitting on 160,000-plus.

Tags: Joseph Elia

Oh Meyers: Burkett Loses a Pot

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Chris Meyers
Chris Meyers

'Jersey' Chris Meyers just became the first person to beat Jim Burkett in a pot today, doubling through to knock the chip leader back down to earth a little.

Burkett opened and Meyers three-bet the big blind to 11,000 with the {j-Spades}{j-Diamonds}. Burkett came along, then called again when Meyers led the {7-Diamonds}{8-Spades}{3-Hearts} flop for 17,000. Then, when Meyers shoved the {4-Clubs} turn for 36,000, Burkett went deep into the tank.

Eventually he emerged with a call and the {5-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}. Burkett's pair and a gutshot whiffed the {k-Spades} river, and while he still has a healthy lead, perhaps his luck is running out.

Level: 12

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 200

Clash of the Titans

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante
Blake Napierala
Blake Napierala

A battle between two titans of the Seneca Niagara poker scene just played out on the felt here, with the crafty Blake Napierala taking on the venerable Cameron Bartolotta.

It all started when Napierala opened to 2,500 in early position with the {j-Diamonds}{10-Spades}. It folded around to Bartolotta and he defended his big blind with ace-rag. The flop came down {a-Diamonds}{a-Hearts}{3-Spades} and Bartolotta slyly checked trips. Napierala checked behind.

The turn brought the {K-Spades}, giving Napierala a gutshot and when Bartolotta continued to slow play, checking again, he bet a cagey 1,200. Bartolotta smooth called and the {q-Diamonds} river completed Napierala's straight.

Bartolotta must have sensed it wasn't a good card for him, and he checked, just calling when Napierala bet 5,000.

Tags: Cameron BartolottaBlake Napierala