2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$47,016
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$235,681
Entries
267
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
4,000

Four Remain at the Final Table of the 2017 WNYPC Main Event

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 4,000 ante
Guy Klass
Guy Klass

Four players will return to battle it out for a $57,738 first-place prize and the title of 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event Champion in Niagara Falls, NY on Monday.

Day 2 of the event began Sunday at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino with 55 players remaining and the 27-player money bubble in sight.

Niagara Falls, Canada's Matt Brunskole came in with the chip lead, and although he made the money, he did not get a sniff of the final table. Top local rounder DJ MacKinnon got a sniff, but that was all, finishing tenth to bubble the official final table of nine.

Erik Christensen and WSOP Bracelet winner Michael Malm were leading when the final table began, but Christensen pulled out in front, busting Scott Murawa ninth and Hayden Glassman eighth.

Malm doubled up Buffalonian Guy Klass and Canadian Anne Jones in short order and suddenly had the smallest stack. Damian Baird then ran into Christensen to bust seventh. However, things began to go south for Christensen at that point.

Eventually he dipped out of the lead and Peter Beshay took it, sending Christensen out sixth in a massive cooler. Beshay made a boat versus Christensen's trip nines in that massive pot, and after also busting Mark Bowersock fifth, he had more than a third of the chips in play.

Beshay could not hold the lead either, and the table swapped chips around four-handed before Klass, who finished third in this event in 2015, moved out front. They talked about a chop, but ultimately bagged up at the end of Level 25 and will come back Monday to finish up.

They will resume play at 12 p.m. local time Monday inside the Niagara Falls Poker Room. Each of the returning players will be guaranteed at least $19,326.

PokerNews will be on hand providing live coverage from start to finish Monday. Tune in to see who becomes the 2017 WNYPC Main Event Champion and who pockets the rest of the prize money.

The chip counts are listed below.

Player Chips Progress
Guy Klass us
Guy Klass
3,478,000 478,000
Anne Jones us
Anne Jones
1,731,000 -469,000
Michael Malm ca
Michael Malm
WSOP 1X Winner
1,641,000 -109,000
Peter Beshay ca
Peter Beshay
1,155,000 155,000

Tags: Anne JonesDamian BairdDJ MackinnonErik ChristensenGuy KlassHayden GlassmanMark BowersockMatt BrunskoleMichael MalmScott Murawa

Erik Christensen Eliminated in 6th Place ($10,841)

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Erik Christensen
Erik Christensen

In the hand before the break, Guy Klass made it 85,000 and both Peter Beshay and Erik Christensen called. It checked to Klass on the {6-Hearts}{3-Clubs}{9-Clubs} flop and he continued for 125,000.

Both players called and the turn came the {9-Diamonds}. All three players checked. The river brought the {4-Hearts} and Beshay led for 125,000. Christensen shoved 700,000 and after Klass folded, Beshay called with the {6-Clubs}{6-Spades} full boat.

Christensen had the {k-Spades}{9-Spades} trips and after he took his leave, Beshay grabbed the chip lead five-handed.

Player Chips Progress
Peter Beshay ca
Peter Beshay
2,600,000 1,170,000
Erik Christensen us
Erik Christensen
Busted

Tags: Erik ChristensenPeter Beshay

Damian Baird Eliminated in 7th Place ($8,485)

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Damian Baird
Damian Baird

Damian Baird shoved for 450,000 in the small blind over an Erik Christensen button raise. Anne Jones re-shoved the big blind with the {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}.

Christensen folded and Baird's tournament life was riding on the {j-Diamonds}{j-Spades}.

Jones nailed a king on the {6-Hearts}{4-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{k-Spades}{3-Spades} to win the classic race, bounce Baird and take the chip lead six-handed.

Player Chips Progress
Anne Jones us
Anne Jones
2,000,000 500,000
Damian Baird us
Damian Baird
Busted

Tags: Anne JonesDamian BairdErik Christensen

Hayden Glassman Eliminated in 8th Place ($6,599)

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Hayden Glassman
Hayden Glassman

Hayden Glassman shoved for 420,000 over an Erik Christensen 45,000-chip button raise.

Christensen made the big call with the {a-Clubs}{j-Diamonds}. Glassman had two tens and the {4-Spades}{j-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{9-Spades}{9-Hearts} runout did him in.

Down to seven now with Christensen on top.

Player Chips Progress
Erik Christensen us
Erik Christensen
1,850,000 350,000
Hayden Glassman us
Hayden Glassman
Busted

Tags: Hayden Glassman

Scott Murawa Eliminated in 9th Place ($5,303)

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Scott Murawa
Scott Murawa

Scott Murawa open-shoved 250,000 with big slick and Erik Christensen woke up calling with two queens.

Muwara hit a king, but Christensen turned a king-high straight.

There are now eight with plans to play this level and the next before making a decision on whether to bag it up and come back tomorrow.

Player Chips Progress
Erik Christensen us
Erik Christensen
1,500,000
Scott Murawa us
Scott Murawa
Busted

Tags: Erik ChristensenScott Murawa

Day 2 of the 2017 WNYPC Main Event Starts Now!

Budwey Salhab
Budwey Salhab

It's move up or move out of the way day at the 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event.

After two starting flights went off at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Friday and Saturday, drawing 267 entries and creating a $235,681 prizepool, just 55 players return Sunday to play down to a final table.

The money starts at 27th place, and they should get through the bubble quickly before the chase for the big cash continues.

Niagara Falls, Canada's Matt Brunskole grabbed the overall lead after the second starting flight, but growing local legend Budwey Salhab is hot on his heels. Plus, a long list of local heroes stand within striking distance and WSOP bracelet winner Malcolm Malm has a top four stack.

Play will resume at 11 a.m. local time with plans to play down to the final nine and perhaps even beyond. Today, the levels increase to 60 minutes in length giving the field a little more wiggle room.

It should make for some exciting poker action and PokerNews' coverage will follow it all, from the call to shuffle up and deal until the last few players decide it's quitting time.

Tags: Budwey SalhabMatt Brunskole