Event 13: Right Table, Wrong Tournament

$200 + $30 DS Semi Turbo NL (2 Re-Entry)

Martha's First Senior Moment

As Martha Patella (Massapequa Park, NY) hurries into the tournament area of the Poker Room, we joke with her that the Seniors Event doesn't start until noon. After quickly recapping how she ran into aces during Wednesday's Big Stack she disappears only to return to Media Row a minute later.

"I can't believe I did it," she says. Patella is registered for the Seniors Event, but got mixed up with the Deep Stack Semi Turbo. Apparently she's still looking to regain her focus.

WSOP Bracelet holder Mike "Little Man" Sica (North Brunswick, NJ) is in the right tournament, but should consider playing the Seniors. Not only did he misread his table number, but once he went to the wrong table he then had trouble finding table 25. "Don't worry, they'll excommunicate me from this one real fast," he laughs while finally taking his seat.

Level 2 has come and gone and Level 3 (75/150) is underway as players have up until Level 6 to re-enter.

Event 13: Wandering In

$200 + $30 DS Semi Turbo NL (2 Re-Entry)

There's only a handful of recognizable faces to start this event. Dom Pelli (Stamford, CT), who finished 4th in the Seniors Event during the Borgata Winter Poker Open (BWO), is opting to start the day in this field. Angelo Modica (Astoria, NY), who had a final table earlier this series, and a runner-up finish in January's BWO is also here.

Larry Gold (Long Island, NY) is a late straggler and despite growing a scruffy beard and creeping up in age has no intention of playing the Seniors.

Button starts in the 6 seat and surprising there were no bust outs during the first level.

Event 13: Buckle Up

$200 + $30 DS Semi Turbo NL (2 Re-Entry)

The Deep Stack Semi Turbo is a relatively new format at Borgata and the players love it. Lots of chips (25k), fast structure (15 min levels to start) and lots of opportunity (2 re-entry, 3 total chances) to chip-up early.

As players take their seats, it'll be interesting to see how many of the more mature players will take their shot in this event know the Seniors tournament at noon is another option as they plan their day.

Table signs are coming down as they wait for the green light to shuffle up and deal!

Thursday, April 21

Today's Events in the Poker Room

11AM: Event 13 - $200 + $30 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo No Limit Hold'em
(2 Re-Entry)

• Players start with 25,000 in tournament chips
• Levels 1-10 last 15 minutes each | Levels 11+ last 30 minutes each
• Players that are eliminated within the first six Levels may Re-Enter two more times
• 1-Day event

12PM: Event 14 - $300 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

• Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• 1-Day event

3PM: Event 40 - $110 + $20 Championship Qualifier NLH (2 Re-Entry)

• Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips
• Players that are eliminated within the first six Levels may Re-Enter two more times
• Levels last 20 minutes each
• Approximately 1 in 25 wins Entry into Borgata Spring Poker Open Championship Event (April 24-27)
• 1-Day event

7PM: Event 41 - $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-Entry)

• Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips
• Players that are eliminated within the first four Levels may Re-Enter one more time
• Levels last 20 minutes each
• 1-Day event

Event 12 Recap

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

A long day for James Morgan (Buffalo, NY) who just beat out 990 other entries and will take home the $36,731 first place prize along with the Borgata 2011 Spring Poker Open trophy.

This was a (2 Re-Entry tournament) with 20,000 starting chips, that kicked off at 11am in The Signature Room and concluded at 6:30 am in Borgata Poker Room.

The affordable $170 + $30 had the line of deepstackers all the way down to the Amphora Lounge all hopeful to win part of the $168,300 prize pool.

Alas, only 90 would make it to the money and poor Michael Bernstein (Brooklyn, NY) found himself on the bubble after a rowdy 45 minute hand-for-hand battle.

Some familiar faces who entered and most likely re-entered once or twice included: Adel Shakerian, Mickey Woll, Howard Wolper, Rosa Lee Klaneski, Demetrios Georgous, Martha Patella,Vinny Pahuja, Mike 'Little Man' Sica, Gordon Eng, Frank Reina, Barbara Rogers, Jason Young, Steve Dannennman, Barry Leventhal, and Gil Sacks.

Matt Mazzeo made an appearance to defend his deepstack title from last year but did not cash.

A heartfelt story we covered included Joshua Cranfill and his father Allen who traveled all the way from Burlington, North Carolina, to play poker here at Borgata. Joshua told us at 14 months old... he was diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffman, which is a form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy and what the world knows as Muscular Dystrophy. ...doctors gave him until 18 months to live." Joshua is now 27 years old and graduated from college.

Your top five were impressive.

Julian Miranda had a bunch of friends celebrating his 25th birthday from the rail. He predicted a win early on, held the chiplead for several levels, then finished 5th for $8,979.

Grace Sun & May Siu each wanted to become “Last Woman Standing” but it was poker reality TV star May Siu won that title and went on to the final table where she finished 4th for $10,937.

Amine Chabane ran a key bluff to keep him in the game then dominated. He finished 3rd for $13,060.

Evan Sober, a CPA from Columbia, MD admitted this was his first live poker tournament ever. His wife Andrea watched him takedown second place and $21,630.

But the big winner again was James Morgan who planned a Borgata hit and run. James was only working on 2 hours of sleep when he entered Event12 then quickly busted out. He only re-bought because his wife Stephanie was still playing in the tournament.

Morgan played three 2010 WSOP events and cashed in two of them. This represents his first ever Borgata tournament. He's 1 for 1.

As luck would have it James was short stacked when 30 players remained. He then went on a sic run and never really looked back.

Congratulations to our Event 12 deepstack winner James Morgan who played for 19 hours straight on two hours of sleep.

Event 12: James Morgan - 1st Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

James Morgan - 1st Place - $36,731

James Morgan (Buffalo, NY) is your Event 12 Champion.

He went from 220,000 to 3 million chips in two key orbits culminating with his QQ cracking opponent's pocket Aces.

Morgan came incredibly close to not re-buying after, as he put it, "playing like a moron" early. Playing on only 2 hours of sleep, after busting out, he stood in the re-buy line and his Borgata card failed to register. He threw in the towel then found out his wife Stephanie was still playing in the tournament. With nothing else to do, he decided to go ahead with the re-buy and the rest is history.

This was his first ever Borgata tournament. Stephanie and James drove down just to play this tournament then will head home. "They don't have affordable buy-ins like this where I'm from" said James whose small investment paid dividends to the tune of $36,731.

Event 12: Evan Sober - 2nd Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Evan Sober - 2nd Place - $21,630

Way to go Evan Sober from Columbia, MD who just made $21,630 in his first ever live tournament.

"I'm a CPA, like Chris Moneymaker" Sober joked.

Evan said he never expected to do this well.

His supportive wife Andrea cheered him on from the rail.

Evan accumulated a massive amount of chips during the final table then held on to them while players dropped out.

The other two players at the table may or may not have used Sober's CPA skills to figure out some important math down at the end.

Event 12: Amine Chabane - 3rd Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Amine Chabane - 3rd Place - $13,060

Amine showed a key bluff to take down a huge pot when his tournament was on the line. From that hand on, Amine dominated.

He knocked out several players at the final table.

Congratulations to your 3rd place finish for $13,060.

Event 12: May Siu - 4th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

May Siu - 4th Place - $10,937

May was the last woman standing and came very close to winning the entire tournament.

She won a key double up with Q-9 but her A-10 big blind failed to hold up against Amine Chabane's samll blind K-6 shove.

Chabane hit his six on the turn.

Board ran: 7-7-Q-6-5

"I wish I won first but felt that overall I played well" said May.

Look for May in the Championship Event and on her upcoming reality poker series now shooting in Atlantic City.

Event 12: Julian Miranda - 5th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Julian Miranda - 5th Place - $8,979

Julian started the tournament on his 25th birthday and he let the room know it. He was the chipleader for a good percentage of the later levels and even was bold enough to predict a win.

Alas he was getting blinded out with 5 players left and had to shove with A-5. Amine Chabane quickly called him holding A-6.

Chabane hit a 6 on the flop and Julian picked up the nut flush draw on the turn. But in the end 5th place for $8,979 will make a great birthday present.

Julian told me he played his butt off today and will see everyone in the Championship Event.
This the third deep run the kid has made at Borgata.

Julian's parting words, "To the poker world...hide your bankrolls".

Event 12: J.D. Kim - 6th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

J.D. Kim - 6th Place - $7,265

Quickly after 7th place fell, J.D. Kim made his move holding 10-3.

Evan Sober's J-Q of hearts found a queen on the flop and another on the river.

Just like that, J.D. Kim is out in 6th place. He'll have $7,265 to add to his bankroll.

Event 12: Martin Belous - 7th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Martin Belous - 7th Place - $5,795

Martin took his shot trying to run down Julian but didn't win the race.

Martin shoved with K-8 off and Julian called with A-J of spades.

Belous outflopped his man by hitting the 8, but the birthday boy got a gift to the tune of runner, runner spades for the nut flush.

Kyle Nolan finished in the cash and railed his friend throughout the final table.

"It was a roller coaster all day. I was chip leader and short stacked."

At the end of the hand antics by Julian erupted as he shouted, "This is my tournament" and his friends sang the start of happy birthday.

Belous bows out in 7th place.

Event 12: Al VanWagner - 8th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Al VanWagner - 8th Place - $4,408

Short stacks were surviving at the table but Al VanWagner couldn't survive two-players up against him.

May Siu and James Morgan checked it down while Al was at risk.

Board ran out, 2♦6♣8♣J♦7♦
VanWagner showed A-5 and James flipped over 6♦3♦ hitting the flush.

Al will take home $4,408 for his 8th place finish.

Well done deepstacker!

Event 12: Chip Counts

Seat......Player...Chips (million)
1. Julian Miranda...1.8
2. J.D. Kim...1.4
3. Amine Chabane...6.3
4. May Siu...2.8
5. Al VanWagner...1.0
6. Evan Sober...3.1
7. Martin Belous...1.8
8. James Morgan...1.4

All eight players just returned from a break and we're back in business.

Big hand before break involved Julian going all in pre-flop with JJ and a call from Martin Belous holding A-Q. Turns out there was a straight on the board for a chop.

Event 12: Alon Shahar - 9th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Alon Shahar - 9th Place - $3,020

Alon Shahar told me he should have shoved it all in pre-flop with A-Q.
Instead he tried to trap Amine Chabane who was holding K-Q.

Of course a King hit the flop followed by a Q on the turn.

Alon is out in 9th place and looked very tired.

He'll take home $3,020 for his day at the office.

Event 12: Joe Yi - 10th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Joe Yi - 10th Place - $1,959

Joe had A 10 heats up against Martin Belous' A-J.

Board came 2-A-Q-8-9

All the action was in pre-flop.

Joe Yi was very disappointed as he wanted to go deeper and further up the money board.

A couple of his friends were sweatin him on the rail and showed their support.

Joe will add $1,959 to his 2011 Borgata Spring Poker Open bankroll.

Event 12: Final Table

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Seat......Player
1. Julian Miranda
2. J.D. Kim
3. Amine Chabane
4. May Siu
5. Alon Shahar
6. Al VanWagner
7. Joe Yi
8. Evan Sober
9. Martin Belous
10. James Morgan

Congratulations to our top ten players!

Event 12: David D. Bergenback - 11th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

David D. Bergenback - 11th Place - $1,959

David took up playing poker tournaments professionally three years ago after surviving three heart attacks. He also showed me his pace maker.

I asked if poker was bad for his heart and he said it's a lot calmer than his previous profession which was sales. David is a deep stack specialist and will be playing more Events next week.

The 43 year old coaches varsity girls basketball and has announced various sports for years.

The hand that finished David's tournament life was when his A-10 didn't improve against Evan Sober's pocket threes.

Event 12: Avigdor Avidan - 12th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Avigdor Avidan - 12th Place - $1,959

Avigdor was short stacked and made the right move at the wrong time.

He jammed it all in pre-flop with a less than stellar hand and got called.

I think the marathon hours got to Avidan who would rather play in a two day tournament.

Maybe tomorrow's Senior Tour.

Event 12: Andre Cantey - 13th Place

$170 + $30 Big Stack NL (2 Re-Entry)

Andre Cantey was all in pre-flop along with May Siu building a side-pot.

When the dust settled, May scooped yet another pot.

"You're running good" said Cantey who's 8-8 fell to May's A-10 when an Ace hit the turn.

Andre has earned $1,469 for his 13th Place finish.