2016 Western New York Poker Challenge

$1,000 Main Event
Day: 2
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
Entries
244
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000

$1,000 Main Event

Day 2 Completed

Rick Block Leads Final Six After Day 2 of the 2016 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event

Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante
Rick Block
Rick Block

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.

Tags: Charles JohnsonDan WagnerFrank DellariaJeff WellsJeremy HalaskaJoseph EliaJoseph ReichenbacherMike RellingerRay LaRouechRick Block

Frank Dellaria Eliminated in 7th Place ($7,754)

Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante
Frank Dellaria
Frank Dellaria

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 {q-Clubs}{q-Diamonds} and Dellaria was in a classic race for his tournament life with the {a-Hearts}{k-Clubs}.

The board rolled out {6-Hearts}{6-Spades}{6-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}, 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 us
Frank Dellaria
Busted

Jeff Wells Eliminated in 8th Place ($6,031)

Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante
Jeff Wells
Jeff Wells

Rick Block raised the button and Jeff Wells defended his big blind.

The flop came down {a-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds} and after Wells checked, Block continued for 41,000. Wells shoved way over the top and Block called instantly, showing the {a-Clubs}{a-Spades} for top set.

Wells had just the {j-Hearts}{5-Hearts} and although the {3-Hearts} turn gave him a gutshot, the {3-Clubs} river filled up Block and sent him to the rail eighth.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Block
Rick Block
1,500,000 500,000
Jeff Wells us
Jeff Wells
Busted

Tags: Jeff WellsRick Block

Level: 24

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 3,000

Johnson's Ace-King High

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson made it 50,000 and Rick Block was the only caller. Johnson continued for 75,000 on the {8-Hearts}{5-Clubs}{2-Spades} flop and Block called.

Johnson checked the {7-Diamonds} turn and called when Block bet 100,000. Finally, on the {9-Clubs} 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 {a-Clubs}{k-Hearts} for just ace-king high. He was correct though, Block had the {a-Spades}{10-Diamonds} airball and Johnson doubled up.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Block
Rick Block
1,000,000 -1,000,000
Charles Johnson us
Charles Johnson
1,000,000 450,000

Tags: Charles JohnsonRick Block

Block On Top

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Rick Block
Rick Block

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
Rick Block
2,000,000 400,000
Frank Dellaria us
Frank Dellaria
250,000 -140,000

Tags: Frank DellariaRick Block

Relliger Bubbles The Final Table

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Mike Rellinger
Mike Rellinger

The official final table is now set with Mike Rellinger's exit in 10th.

He snap called with the {k-Spades}{4-Spades} for his last 120,000 in the big blind after Ray LaRouech jammed the small blind. LaRouech had the {q-Diamonds}{q-Hearts} and made a set on the {j-Clubs}{q-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{7-Clubs} run out to pour salt in the wound.

Player Chips Progress
Ray LaRouech
Ray LaRouech
800,000 180,000
Mike Rellinger us
Mike Rellinger
Busted

Tags: Mike RellingerRay LaRouech