2018 Western New York Poker Challenge

$200 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1b
Event Info

2018 Western New York Poker Challenge

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$18,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$200
Prize Pool
$128,877
Entries
798
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000

$200 No-Limit Hold'em

Day 1b Completed

Another 25 Moving on to Day 2 After Day 1b Comes to an End

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante
Tim Campbell (from a previous event
Tim Campbell (from a previous event

The second qualifying flight of Event #1 of the 2018 Western New York Poker Challenge (WNYPC) at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is in the books with 25 hopefuls bagging a stack for Day 2.

Day 1b saw a total of 204 entries gathered with Tim Campbell leading the 25 survivors. Campbell bagged an impressive 304,300 to claim the top spot though still trailing Day 1a leader, Daniel Wagner with 325,000.

Propelled by a triple up with a straight flush, Mike Rellinger bagged second best, ending play with 284,800. Kevin Garry (283,200), Julie Billiterri (171,200), and Paul Humphrey (150,500) round out the top five.

An impressive story from Day 1b is that of Zeljko Mihelic. In level 10, blinds were 600/1200. Mihelic had just 400 chips. That was two antes. Fast forward to Level 13 and Mihelic now had 52 big blinds, about 125,000 chips. Mihelic finished the day just outside the top five with 149,200.

Any players unfortunate enough to not have a seat locked up for Sunday's Day 2 still has two more shots to qualify with qualifying flights scheduled at 10:00 A.M and 6:00 P.M local time on Saturday.

A total of 350 entries have accumulated thus far already smashing the $50,000 guarantee. The prize pool currently sits at $56,525 with $23,579 gathered on Day 1a and another $32,946 this evening.

The Saturday Day 1c and 1d flights are expected to be even larger. The prize pool should easily end up over $100,000 if that is the case. Pretty large value for a $200 buy-in.

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Tags: Julie BilliteriMike RellingerPaul HumphreyTimothy CampbellZeljko Mihelic

End of Day Chip Counts (full)

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante
Player Chips Progress
Tim Campbell us
Tim Campbell
304,300 69,300
Mike Rellinger us
Mike Rellinger
284,800 104,800
Kevin Garry us
Kevin Garry
283,200 93,200
Julie Billiteri us
Julie Billiteri
171,200 -33,800
Paul Humphrey us
Paul Humphrey
150,500
Zeljko Mihelic hr
Zeljko Mihelic
149,200 24,200
Kevin Siler
Kevin Siler
145,700
Bhan Fry
Bhan Fry
138,600
Marey Phillips
Marey Phillips
136,100
Joseph Dantiono
Joseph Dantiono
132,400
Mario Mansour us
Mario Mansour
118,900
Joe Catalano us
Joe Catalano
107,800
Jim Pifer us
Jim Pifer
99,400 -30,600
Anthony Soluri us
Anthony Soluri
92,200 2,200
Michelle Caldwell us
Michelle Caldwell
91,600
Nick Peperone us
Nick Peperone
87,600
Jason Nablo us
Jason Nablo
80,800
Darko Mihelic
Darko Mihelic
70,100
Josh Amora
Josh Amora
68,900
Craig Ross
Craig Ross
67,600
John Bitzler
John Bitzler
63,200
John Pihlak ca
John Pihlak
59,600
James Dipasquale
James Dipasquale
57,400
Budwey Salhab us
Budwey Salhab
53,600 -21,400
Joseph King
Joseph King
46,400

Read full

Play Halted as Field Reaches 25

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante

Just as the clock was paused and a six was drawn signaling six more hands at each table, another player was lost leaving the field at 25 which was 12% of the total size. With that, play has been halted on Day 1b. Full counts and a recap will follow shortly.

Final Level of the Night

Level 14 : 1,500/3,000, 400 ante

The 14th and final level of Day 1b is underway. With 10 minutes left to play, the clock will be paused and a draw for the final number of hands will be done. Once each table plays the set number of hands, the remaining player will bag up their chips for Day 2.

Level: 14

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 400

From Two Antes to Fifty Bigs

Level 13 : 1,200/2,400, 300 ante

It's still too early in the event to go crazy about this story but it should be noted that just three levels ago at 600/1200, Zeljko Mihelic had just 400 chips. That was two antes.

Fast forward to the 1200/2400 level and Mihelic now sits with 52 big blinds, about 125,000 chips.

It's only Day 1 but something to store in the bank of Mihelic makes a run here.

Player Chips Progress
Zeljko Mihelic hr
Zeljko Mihelic
125,000 124,600

Tags: Zeljko Mihelic

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,200/2,400

Ante: 300

Campbell Scoops Massive Pot to Take the Lead

Level 12 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

With a sizeable pot already brewing in the middle of a {j-Spades}{6-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}{9-Spades} board, Tim Campbell moved all-in for 105,000 and confused his opponent into making a huge call.

Tim Campbell: {a-Hearts}{9-Clubs}
Opponent: {a-Spades}{5-Diamonds}

Campbell had his opponent drawing to just a chop as the {8-Spades} completed the board giving Campbell the pot. Both stacks were cut down with Campbell just barely having his opponent covered giving him an almost double up and vaulting him into the chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Tim Campbell us
Tim Campbell
230,000 195,000

Tags: Timothy Campbell