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Buffalo, NY's own David Stephens just picked up aces and flopped a set, marking at least the third time he's found three of a kind tonight.
As a result, Stephens sits among the leaders approaching Level 5.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
65,000 |
Level: 5
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 50
There's little doubt it's a Friday night inside the Niagara Falls Poker Room. The cash game tables are filling up fast and the tournament players are enjoying a rather jovial atmosphere with drinks flowing and fun conversation filling the air.
However, the action has not followed suit of late. Play has been tight over the past half hour with most players content to play small ball rather than risk stacks.
The same cannot be said for the enigmatic Jason Nablo, who made an Ali-like return to the Niagara Falls Poker Room after a conspicuous absence by entering the earlier flight today and busting within an orbit.
Nablo has been back in and out again already tonight, lasting a grand total of what appeared to be four hands before ringing the rebuy bell.
Cocktails to Table 12! Nablo's back and he's thirsty as hell.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 |
Level: 6
Blinds: 250/500
Ante: 50
Western New York's own Dan Frederick has reserved a spot among the leaders heading into Level 7.
Solid poker and one big pot where he turned 
into top pair queens and got paid off by pocket tens has Frederick on 60,000.
Frederick said he would prefer to stay out of the spotlight until late Sunday night when the big money is on the line, but it's too late for that now.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
Level: 7
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 75
There's one tournament table still playing tucked on the risers in the back of the poker room.
A quick check on the action up there revealed Maria Parlatore has been dumping chips to Bob Kiehl for most of the night.
He rivers her, she needles him. Rinse and repeat.
In the meantime, discussions have turned to the topic of Canadians, and who is laughing at who when it comes to the 30 percent withholding tax they pay on tournament earnings here. Apparently the joke is in everyone, but perhaps Jeffrey Hobrecker more than most.
He's on at least his second bullet, fourth beer and last legs.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,000 | |
|
16,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
Level: 8
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 100
Blake Napierala got it all in three ways with the 
versus one player's 
and Alex Visbisky's 
.
Like only Napierala can, he flopped the case queen and rode to victory on a 
board.
Napierala is now in contention, but Visbisky looks to be calling it quits after five buy-ins and too many beers to count.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,000 | |
|
Busted |
Level: 9
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 100
