$600 Main Event Day 1a | 2017 Seneca Niagara Falls Summer Slam

07-28-2017 20:25 UTC-4

The Local Legend

[user127999]

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

They just don't get any more legendary in this locale than the enigmatic Jason Nablo.

He's a true local hero with too many deep runs to count and the leader on the property's all-time cashes list. However, something seems to have changed lately. Nablo is still building big stacks, he's just blowing them up a little more often than he did before.

"I'm trying some new stuff," he said. "I'm really going for it. I'm tired of sitting around being patient and watching my stack melt away. When I get chips now I want more. I want to win the whole thing."

So far it hasn't worked out quite like Nablo has planned. He was the clubhouse leader in the massive $125 Reentry event here at Summer Slam, but fizzled before the real money was on the table - The local boy's hopes and dreams floated a way like a barrel over the Falls.

Yet still, he soldiers on here, in this Summer Slam Main Event. And don't look now, but he is actually putting together a bit of a zero to hero story once again.

Nablo went to dinner with 24,000 and now has about 100,000 more than that. He picked up big slick, jacks, and managed to crack top two hitting an open ender on the turn for heaps.

Luck is on his side for now, and he's building the stack again. It's just a matter of this old dog getting some new tricks to work.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Nablo	125,000	10,000

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 300

07-28-2017 19:52 UTC-4

Bailed Out By The Deck

[user127999]

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Adam Foster is suddenly among the leaders after getting bailed out by the deck two hands in a row.

The first hand saw him squeeze with the and call off some 60,000 after one player shoved queens. A king on the river gave Foster the double up.

It was almost deja vu the next hand when there was a raise and too many callers to count. This time Foster picked up two kings and raised before Chris Harker jammed 25,000 with aces two spots to his left. Foster called again, and although no king would save his day, a four-flush did the trick.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adam Foster	160,000	160,000
Chris Harker	Busted

Level: 12

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 200

07-28-2017 19:39 UTC-4

Pfaffenbach Spells The Lead

[user127999]

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

By his own admission, North Tonowanda, NY's Nick Pfaffenbach has been very lucky today.

Highlights have included defying domination by turning and into two separate and distinct full houses. One of those boats actually sunk a set of fours.

Plus, Pfaffenbach had the honor of busting Dan Wagner, holding with versus Wagner's suited. Wagner never stood a chance and Pfaffenbach has 200,000 and the lead now, heading into the late levels.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Pfaffenbach	200,000

07-28-2017 19:11 UTC-4

145 And Counting

[user127999]

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

With registration and reentry now closed for this first starting flight in the 2017 Seneca Niagara Summer Slam Main Event we can tell you it drew 145 entries.

That's slight off the 184 the first flight drew in 2016, but a big second flight is expected Saturday, so meeting or exceeding the 475 total entries from last year cannot be ruled out.

In the meantime, the chase to bag big for Sunday's Day 2 continues now with Mark Roberts continuing a hot 2017 Summer Slam series and leading the way.

Level: 11

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 200

07-28-2017 18:06 UTC-4

Heading to Dinner

[user127999]

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

Level 10 is coming to a close with the board reading 143 entries and 79 players remaining.

Registration and reentry will remain open through a 45-minute dinner break coming up at the end of the level. After that, play will resume at approximately 7 p.m. local time.

In the meantime, you will find updated counts for the early leaders and a look at some of the biggest stacks in the room below:

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Roberts	155,000	20,000
Tom Basch	150,000
Russ Campanella	145,000
Gabriel Frank	135,000
Omar El-Nasrallah	135,000
Bob Nolen	120,000
Tom Matacale	115,000
Chris Damick	110,000	-20,000
Chris Neusatz	100,000	25,000
Joseph Elia	85,000
Veerab Zakarian	80,000	10,000
Matt Brunskole	75,000	5,000
Leo Kaplin	62,000	2,000
Adam Mouyal	55,000	-14,000
Blake Napierala	45,000	-45,000
Sammy Smith	45,000	-40,000

07-28-2017 17:47 UTC-4

Campanella Rings Wagner's Bell

[user127999]

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

One hand after it looked like Russ Campanella squeezed four callers off a hand, he three bet to 5,600 facing an 1,800-chip raise and two callers.

This time Dan Wagner jammed 35,000 with the and Campanella wasn't kidding. He held kings and the kings held, sending Wagner over to ring the reentry bell and pushing Campenella up to a spot among the leaders.

Player	Chips	Progress
Russ Campanella	145,000	70,000
Dan Wagner	30,000

Level: 10

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 100