2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b23
Event Info
2017 Western New York Poker Challenge
Final Results
Winner
Prize
$47,016
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$235,681
Total Entries
267
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
4,000
Players Left 1 / 267
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The Collector, The Barber and The Suicide King

Level 9 : 400/800, 100 ante
Andy Spears
Andy Spears

Local hero Andy Spears is one of the most successful big-time tournament players in Western New York with over $1 million in career earnings.

Spears had what looked like a pretty big stack going into the break, just not coming out of it. Turned out it was all smoke and mirrors. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet at the table, Spears spent the last level collecting up all the 25-denomination chips in advance of a color up. As a result, he had stacks on stacks of green, but they weren't really worth all that much.

Spears wasn't trying to fool anybody, he just wanted to make sure the color up went fast and smooth. Those greens are gone now and Spears' big stack went with it.

Speaking of fast and smooth, the legend that is Dan Wagner is now on 90,000 and climbing. He's two seats over from chip leader Jim Goertz and eyeing his chips with envy. He was recently seen salivating at the prospect of an obviously imminent confrontation.

In the meantime, it was a close shave for Andy Ranaletti as he almost got scalped getting it in with queens against Allison Schultz' aces. Ranaletti's run at the title of 2017 WNYPC Luckbox of the Series continued when he binked a queen to jump into contention.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dan Wagner us
Dan Wagner
90,000
90,000
90,000
Profile photo of Andy Ranaletti us
Andy Ranaletti
78,000
78,000
78,000
Profile photo of Andy Spears us
Andy Spears
37,000
37,000
37,000

Tags: Andy RanalettiAndy SpearsDan Wagner

Level: 9

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

The Top Ten

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

Halfway through Level 8 this is officially the midpoint of play.

Here's a look at the top ten stacks in the room right now with Canadian Jim Goertz having edged into the lead:

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jim Goertz ca
Jim Goertz
175,000
86,000
86,000
Profile photo of Mark Bowersock us
Mark Bowersock
170,000
5,000
5,000
Profile photo of Al Bianco
Al Bianco
140,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of Alan Findlay gb
Alan Findlay
130,000
20,000
20,000
Profile photo of Matt Brunskole
Matt Brunskole
115,000
115,000
115,000
Profile photo of Mike Crystal us
Mike Crystal
101,000
101,000
101,000
Profile photo of David Conron us
David Conron
90,000
20,000
20,000
Profile photo of Mark Allott
Mark Allott
75,000
75,000
75,000
Profile photo of Blake Napierala us
Blake Napierala
74,000
74,000
74,000
Profile photo of Sahar Khajavi ca
Sahar Khajavi
73,500
73,500
73,500

Level: 8

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 75

Buckeye Bowersock Builds

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante
Mark Bowersock
Mark Bowersock

Salem, OH's Mark Bowersock leads closing in towards the midpoint of this flight, sitting on over 160,000 now.

Bowersock had the {4-Spades}{6-Spades} on a board with all the other fours and an ace. One opponent had the full boat and was forced to carry the payments.

Then he hit a set of eights against two kings to crack 'em. No matter how you slice it, Bowersack's running hot and on top right now.

In the meantime, 2016 World Series of Poker No Limit Hold'em Colossus II 10th place finisher Hayden Glassman got it in with the flush and double-gutter combo draw. He hit, dragging an 80,000 pot to leap in contention and leave his opponent wondering how he called.

Math was clearly to blame.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mark Bowersock us
Mark Bowersock
165,000
165,000
165,000
Profile photo of Hayden Glassman us
Hayden Glassman
80,000
80,000
80,000

Tags: Hayden GlassmanMark Bowersock

If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap

Level 7 : 250/500, 50 ante
Alan Findlay
Alan Findlay

Buffalo, NY resident Alan Findlay has risen to a spot among the leaders thanks to two big pots.

He flopped a pair and a flush draw on the first one. Then got it in against a worse flush when they both turned it.

A little later he flopped a club draw against two nines and all the money went in when the {9-Clubs} turned. Findlay's flush with six figures now and climbing.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Alan Findlay gb
Alan Findlay
110,000

Tags: Alan Findlay

Level: 7

Blinds: 250/500

Ante: 50

Money In The Bianco

Level 6 : 200/400, 50 ante
Al Bianco
Al Bianco

Buffalo, NY's own Al Bianco has suddenly vaulted into the Level 6 lead thanks to top two pair.

In fact, he's had top two over a worse two pair twice to dispatch two different players.

Everything is going as Bianco planned so far and he's now on the top of the counts.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Al Bianco
Al Bianco
115,000
115,000
115,000

Tags: Al Bianco

Level: 6

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

Positively Fifth Street

Level 5 : 150/300, 25 ante
Jim Goertz
Jim Goertz

Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada's Jim Goertz has found the river kind today.

In fact, he's made more than his fair share of straights on fifth street already and was the first player over six-figures.

However, running into quad queens and quad aces means he is now sitting a bit shy of there. This despite his opponent with four aces being forced to call instead of raise in position on the river thanks to the single-chip rule.

Having likely saved a few chips there, Goertz still sits among the leaders going into Level 6.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jim Goertz ca
Jim Goertz
89,000
89,000
89,000

Tags: Jim Goertz