$300 No Limit Hold’em Day 1c | 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

04-01-2017 17:39 UTC

Pace Crushing

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

Bruce Pace continues to crush the field here in this heat.

Moments ago he flopped two pair and managed to knock out two players in the hand, including the always tough Blake Napierala.

Two pair held against Napierala's straight draw and the third player's top pair to send Pace above 140,000. In fact, Pace is the first player to get there this fast in any of the previous flights.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bruce Pace	140,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Blake Napierala Bruce Pace

04-01-2017 17:23 UTC

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Allott	70,000 55,000	55,000

Pace For Sheriff!

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Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

Bruce Pace has moved back to the top of the counts after becoming the first player past the 100,000-chip post.

Pace hero called with top pair on a paired board with a myriad of straight possibilities, picking off a player with a missed draw to get there.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bruce Pace	100,000 48,000	48,000

Tags: Bruce Pace

Level: 7

Blinds: 250/500

Ante: 50

04-01-2017 17:07 UTC

A Shot Across The Bowen

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Level 6 : 200/400, 50 ante

2016 Seneca Fall Classic Main Event ninth-place finisher Brian Bowen has suddenly vaulted into the chip lead after a massive hand with Sharman Olshan.

After trading raises, the two went heads-up to a flop. Olshan led for 8,000 and Bowen jammed in close to 40,000. Olshan called it off with the , but needed held versus Bowen's flopped set of jacks.

The turn and river brought no diamonds or kings and Olshan was left with crumbs as Bowen took the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Brian Bowen	85,000 70,000	70,000
Sharman Olshan	8,000 7,000	7,000

Tags: Brian Bowen Sharman Olshan

04-01-2017 16:57 UTC

Batman and Roberts

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Level 6 : 200/400, 50 ante

Mark Roberts is among the contenders for the early lead here after a solid start.

He managed to win a 30,000-chip pot despite getting it in behind, and now has upwards of 45,000 in chips.

The big hand saw Roberts get it in with a pair and the nut flush draw on the turn against top pair kings. An ace on the river made Roberts the best hand and he's cruising now.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Roberts	45,000

Tags: Mark Roberts

Level: 6

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

04-01-2017 16:47 UTC

Bizarro Seneca

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Level 5 : 150/300, 25 ante

Things just seem a little off today. It's Bizarro Seneca.

On Friday, Veerab Zakarian led the league in re-entries. If there was a way to lose a hand for all his chips, he would find it on his way to the cage to buy in again.

Regular readers of this blog will recognize Scotty Gaddi as often the loudest and most entertaining player in the room. When he busts out of a tournament, it's almost always in a very emotionally charged and hilarious way.

Moments ago, Gaddi made it 1,000 to go, Zakarian fired in a three-bet to 2,650, and when it folded back to Gaddi, he jammed in.

Zakarian called with two queens, Gaddi had two jacks, and after a board of blanks, Gaddi very quietly picked up his things and walked to the cage to re-enter.

Zakarian has found a way to win again and Gaddi busts out without a word? Bizarro.

Player	Chips	Progress
Veerab Zakarian	26,500 26,500	26,500

Scotty Gaddi	15,000

Tags: Veerab Zakarian Scotty Gaddi

04-01-2017 16:36 UTC

A New Pace?

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Level 5 : 150/300, 25 ante

Notorious stack builder and blow-up artist Bruce Pace has emerged as the Level 5 chip leader on over 50,000 already.

As usual, Pace is playing a ton of hands and has already busted a couple of opponents along the way. However, Pace maintains he's playing a few less hands than usual in an effort to hold on to the chips this time.

Can Pace find another gear and put something big in the bag, or will he blow it all up again? Stay tuned to find out.