$1,000 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
$1,000 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
The field played down from 50 players to just six on Day 2 of the 2016 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event on Sunday, and Rick Block will start on top in the battle for the title on Monday.
The 28-player money bubble burst part way through the day when Block cracked Timothy Andruschat's kings with a weak ace and the playdown to an unofficial final table of 10 went rather fast.
By the time they got there, Mike "The Mayor" Rellinger got short and fell in 10th. Soon after, Jeremy Halaska bowed out in ninth and Jeff Wells gifted Block the lead, shoving second pair into Block's set of aces to exit in eighth.
The final six was reached soon after when Frank Dellaria lost a classic race with big slick to Dan Wagner's queens. Wagner built a big stack by making a flush against Joseph Elia's flopped top two pair in a huge pot at the final two tables, and after busting Dellaria, he will come into the final six just a handful of chips behind Block.
Ray LaRouech, Charles Johnson, Joseph Reichenbacher, and Newton Graziano round out the final six, and are all within striking distance of the two leaders, but it'll be Block and Wagner's names on the marquee when things get rolling inside the Niagara Falls Poker Room at 12 p.m. local time on Monday.
Block's record at Seneca Niagara speaks for itself. He won the 2014 Seneca Fall Poker Classic Main Event and binked a prelim at the 2015 Summer Slam. With $159,594 in career tournament earnings, Block also owns a World Series of Poker Circuit ring.
In the meantime, the affable Wagner is a respected cash-game player in the Niagara Falls area with $171,962 in career tournament earnings, including a career best $109,114 score booked when he finished second in the $1,100 event at the 2015 Fallsview Poker Classic, across the bridge in Canada.
Everyone in the final six is guaranteed at least a $9,907 payday, and there are five-figure scores awaiting each of the final five. However, all eyes will surely be on the top prize of $52,768 when they return to the felt to play down to a champion.
PokerNews will be there from start to finish, and you can follow the fight for the 2016 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event title right here when it all kicks of at noon local time on Monday.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Rick Block | 1,824,000 | 324,000 |
Dan Wagner | 1,805,000 | 5,000 |
Ray LaRouech | 1,019,000 | 69,000 |
Charles Johnson | 954,000 | -46,000 |
Joseph Reichenbacher | 932,000 | 372,000 |
Newton Graziano | 786,000 | -64,000 |
Frank Dellaria made it 66,000 and Dan Wagner three-bet to 141,000.
It folded back to Dellaria and he shipped it in. Wagner called with and Dellaria was in a classic race for his tournament life with the .
The board rolled out , taking Dellaria with it.
With his elimination they are now down to just six remaining and have halted play for the night. They will return Monday at 12 p.m. local time to play down to a champion. Chip counts and a full recap of the day's play will follow.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Frank Dellaria | Busted |
Rick Block raised the button and Jeff Wells defended his big blind.
The flop came down and after Wells checked, Block continued for 41,000. Wells shoved way over the top and Block called instantly, showing the for top set.
Wells had just the and although the turn gave him a gutshot, the river filled up Block and sent him to the rail eighth.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Rick Block | 1,500,000 | 500,000 |
Jeff Wells | Busted |
Level: 24
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 3,000
Charles Johnson made it 50,000 and Rick Block was the only caller. Johnson continued for 75,000 on the flop and Block called.
Johnson checked the turn and called when Block bet 100,000. Finally, on the river, Johnson checked and Block slid out a stack covering Johnson's 250,000 behind.
Johnson made the call for his tournament life with the for just ace-king high. He was correct though, Block had the airball and Johnson doubled up.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Rick Block | 1,000,000 | -1,000,000 |
Charles Johnson | 1,000,000 | 450,000 |
Jeremy Halaska open-shoved the button with the and Ray LaRouech defended his big blind with the .
A queen on the turn and an ace on the river were the last cards Halaska would see as he hit the rail ninth.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Ray LaRouech | 950,000 | 150,000 |
Jeremy Halaska | Busted |
Rick Block has just became the first player to hit the 2 million mark.
He took a chunk out of Frank Dellaria moments ago, firing bets in quick succession against the non-believing Dellaria until he'd turned jacks and fives into two pair and fleeced him out of a few hundred thousand.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Rick Block | 2,000,000 | 400,000 |
Frank Dellaria | 250,000 | -140,000 |
The official final table is now set with Mike Rellinger's exit in 10th.
He snap called with the for his last 120,000 in the big blind after Ray LaRouech jammed the small blind. LaRouech had the and made a set on the run out to pour salt in the wound.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Ray LaRouech | 800,000 | 180,000 |
Mike Rellinger | Busted |