Main Event Day 1a | 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

04-07-2017 21:44 UTC

I Tweet Therefore I Am

Level 10 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

Cameron Bartolotta was having a bit of a rough day.

Apparently things got even worse when he shoved two tens over a raise and everyone folded. He picked up tens again a few hands later and got a call. That player hit an ace and Bartolotta is out.

I really suck at poker #WNYPC
— CamJBarto (@CAMJBARTO)

In the meantime, local hero Andy Spears found the aces, has a healthy stack, and wants others to get in on this Western New York Poker Challenge action, despite the weather.

Pretty good turnout for day 1a of @SNFPoker $1k tourney. So come play 1b tomorrow, especially if you love snow in April. #wnypc
— Andy Spears (@AndyJSpears)

Even of you can't get in as Spears suggests, you can join the conversation and keep it going on Twitter. Just use the hashtag #WNYPC and your comments will show up on Twitter and right here on the PokerNews Live Update pages.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andy Spears	90,000 90,000	90,000
Cameron Bartolotta	Busted

Level: 10

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 100

04-07-2017 21:23 UTC

Seneca Cinemascope

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Level 9 : 400/800, 100 ante

Whether it's on his phone or his tablet, top local rounder Alex Rivera is often found watching a movie while he plays.

It doesn't matter if it's a $1,000 WNYPC Main Event or the $160 First Wednesday of the Month, Rivera fills the downtime between hands catching a flick. Should he go deep, it's double feature time.

Some might find it distracting, but not Rivera. There's a method to his madness. The secret is in the selection of the films. It's B-grade action movies for the most part, as he very carefully chooses movies he won't get too caught up in.

It's essentially bad movies or bust.

Today's double feature has included Bad Boys II and some sort of Steven Seagal picture, neither of which could ever be described as even remotely distracting.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Rivera	65,000 65,000	65,000

04-07-2017 21:01 UTC

Fill It Up

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Level 9 : 400/800, 100 ante

Joe Ciffa got it in with the best of it in a massive three-way all-in pot prior to the break.

He had the on a board to the turn and was up against and . The river came the and Ciffa filled up to scoop.

The double knockout puts him among the leaders now into Level 9.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joe Ciffa	100,000

Tags: Joe Ciffa

Level: 9

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

04-07-2017 20:26 UTC

The Heater Continues

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Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

Steely-eyed lady killer and Seneca tournament regular Sal Guercio is on a hot streak.

He picked up aces first, then kings three times and got some serious value out of all of it. In fact, Guercio's peaking at 85,000 now and hoping the heater continues.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sal Guercio	85,000

Tags: Sal Guercio

04-07-2017 20:07 UTC

I'm Coming Out

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Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

Nathan Kross came out in the early levels today, but just found a rush here midway through the day to leap gracefully into the chip lead.

Kross' heater included picking up aces and getting paid off all in on the river against two jacks, and flopping a set of jacks and getting paid off all in on the river against turned top-top.

He also flopped a straight a minute ago to drag another one and is over 150,000 and gleefully counting.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nathan Kross	155,000

Tags: Nathan Kross

Level: 8

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 75

04-07-2017 19:50 UTC

Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride

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Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante

Kim Long Trieu made it 1,250 with two eights and after Peter Raimondi called, Budwey Salhab upped it to 5,000.

Both players called and Trieu smashed the flop. Salhab led for 7,000, Trieu made it 15,000, and after Raimondi stepped out of the way, Salhab pushed in.

Trieu called off his 10,000 behind and held on a brick-like river against Salhab's tens. Don't feel too bad for Bud though. He got back over the six-figure mark busting local legend Dan Wagner not too much later.

Wagner shoved a weak ace for 12,000 with a bunch of dead money in the pot and Salhab picked him off by calling with the and making a pair. Wagner rang the reentry bell immediately following the hand.