Friday, May 9, 2014

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Final Break

Level 13 has just finished and players are going on their last (15) minute break of the night.  Players will be coming back to blinds of 2,000/4,000/500 (413 total entries).  Here are the four largest stacks going into the final level:

Kevin Grabel - 380,000
Allison Schultz - 370,000
Michael Borovetz - 365,000
Trevor Deeter - 365,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Here Comes Henry

Level 13 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Entries: 413

H. Michael Borovetz

Michael Borovetz has assumed the chip with over 425,000 after knocking out one of his table mates.  He's currently at what may be the strongest table remaining, with the likes of Jack Duong, Kevin Grabel, Rocco Luciano, and Dave Novack (Jonas Wexler also eliminated earlier).

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Down The Stretch

Level 14 is going to begin in minutes, and the blinds will be going up to 1,500/3,000/400 (413 total entries).  Allison Schultz continues to lead the way as the players have two levels left in the night.  She just knocked out a shortie with aces, and is now clear of 320,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Rivkin v. Marder

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Entries: 413

Michael Marder opened the pot for 6,000 and Jason Rivkin was the only player to come along.  The flop would run out Q 8 8, and Marder would continue with another 6,000 bet.  Rivkin would raise to 13,500, and Marder would shove for another 25,000.  Rivkin dumped some chips in for a call and the hands were tabled.  Rivkin's A 8 > A A of Marder, and Jason would chip up to 110,000 on his third bullet of the day.

Jason Rivkin - 110,000
Michael Marder - Eliminated


Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Still Alive

Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Entries: 413

About 50 active players remain in the tournament area at the moment, which means that there will surely be less people to bag than yesterday.  Here are some of the notables still alive with 2.5 levels left in the night:

Michael Borovetz
Kevin Grabel
Rocco Luciano
Frank Dire
Walter Taylor
Laurence Wolf
Joel Frank
Jimmy Lillis
TJ Shulman
Alan Kraut
Abraim Abraimovic
Jason Rivkin
Michael Marder
Jack Duong
Trevor Deeter
Alex Queen
Jennifer So
Philip Yan

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Big Stacks Going To Break

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 411

Schultz, Deeter, & Wolf

Players will be going on another (15) minute break at the end of this level (10 minutes remain).  When they players return to Level 13, the blinds will be going up to 1,200/2,400/300 (411 total entries).  Three of the largest stacks going to break belong to Allison Schultz (305,000), Trevor Deeter (300,000), and Laurence Wolf (270,000).

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Message From The Man

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 410

Posted from Parx Poker's own Twitter account (and remember these numbers are only up to now):


Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Going Up

Players are now in Level 12, with blinds going up to 1,000/2,000/300 (408 total entries).  This period in the event is definitely moving time, as players with below average stacks are sitting around 20-25 blinds.  The race for the chip lead bonus is too close to call at the moment, but the number to beat (791,000) is far from everyones grasp at this moment.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Getting Ex-Spence-sive

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Entries: 407

The action was picked up on the river at Table 49 in a hand between Jeffrey Spence and Staffan Lind.  The board was J 10 J 4 7, and after Spence checked, Lind would fire out a bet of 20,000.  Spence would check-rasie all-in, making it another 40,200 for Lind to call (50,000 in the pot).  Lind would think for a few moments before folding.  Spence is making the most of what he said was the last bullet, and is now over 100,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): What's The Count?

Level 11 is about to begin, with blinds going up to 800/1,600/300 (405 total entries).  Jeffrey Spence (King Of Prussia, PA) is another player in for multiple bullets, having played one yesterday and sitting down to his second (today) after dinner.  In the field for the first time in this series is Jack Duong (South Plainfield, NJ).  Jack was one of the eight players to chop the Big Stax 1000 last August during Big Stax III ($31,301).

Players beginning to amass stacks:

Michael Borovetz - 225,000
Kevin Grabel - 185,000
Ray Ross - 140,000
Allison Schultz - 130,000
Kirron Chan - 127,000
TJ Shulman - 110,000
Laurence Wolf - 105,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Third's A Charm?

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 404

Jason Rivkin (Eatowntown, NJ) is giving things another shot, taking his seat at Table 47 on his third bullet of the day.  He is going with the glass half full Twitter post:

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Back From Dinner...Leading Lady

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 397

Allison Schultz (New York, NY)

Players have returned from dinner and are ready to play the rest of the night out.  Allison Schultz (New York, NY) is currently one of the players leading the way, as she sits with 220,000.  Schultz is a loyal Parx player, both tournament and cash, and has some deep runs in these Big Stax events under her belt.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Borovetz Gets A Gift

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 390

At Table 55, Paul Spitzberg announced himself all-in and Michael Borovetz made the call.  Borovetz said, "I'm on a draw," as he tabled his hand.  The flop was already out (3 5 9 rainbow), and once Paul saw that his A 3 was ahead of Michael's 6 7, he said it was the best news he could hear.  Spitzberg's grip on the hand would get a little better when he turned a spade draw, taking away some of Borovetz's outs.  When a non-spade seven hit the river (Borovetz would make a pair to win), it would send Paul walking away from the table.

Michael Borovetz - 105,000
Paul Spitzberg - Eliminated

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Last Level Before Dinner

Level 9 will be the last before players go on dinner break, with blinds being posted of 500/1,000/100 (390 total entries).  There has already been one table to break, as the field begins to shrink slowly.  Jonas Wexler (Southampton, PA) has seen better traction at his new table and is now close to 100,000 on the day.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): That Didn't Last Long

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Entries: 388

In the last entry made, Jason Rivkin was updated as having just re-entered after being eliminated earlier in the day.  As Jason would phrase it on Twitter, it was insta-showers:


Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Dinner Break

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 391

Players will be on dinner break in just ten minutes, and they will return at approximately 7:35pm.  The cards will be back in the air and the live coverage will resume at that point.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Kirron's Got Company

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Entries: 387

Kirron Chan (Yonkers, NY) was the chip leader coming back from break with over 140,000, but he's been surpassed by TJ Shulman (Boyton Beach, FL).  Shulman has 185,000 in front of him at Table 48, and he has a new table mate as well.  Alan Kraut (Doylestown, PA) busted his first bullet and has been reseated with TJ, while Jason Rivkin has re-entered as well.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Level 8 Begins

The tournament floor has let the field know that they are now going to be posting blinds of 400/800/100 in Level 8.   There are currently 11 active tables, which means the field sits just under 100 players.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Chip Counts/Arrivals

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Entries: 379

Players are still showing up fashionably late, as Daniel Chan and Jonas Wexler take their respective seats.  Some other stacks updated from the room:

Kirron Chan - 140,000
Allison Schultz - 115,000
Joe Grodowski - 80,000
Michael Borovetz - 70,000
TJ Shulman - 65,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Twitter Counts

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/100)
Total Entries: 374

A couple of the players in the field are updating their chip counts during break:


Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Break Time

Players are now on their second (15) minute break of the day, and when they return the blinds will be going up to 300/600/100.  Players will play through the next three levels before going on dinner break.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Wolf Arrives Off Big Score

Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Entries: 366

Laurence Wolf (Annapolis, MD) is coming off his biggest lifetime scores, finishing second in the Borgata Spring Open $2,500 Championship Event ($148,083).  Also in the field today, and at that final table was Paul Spitzberg (Tenafly, NJ).  Paul finished in 6th place for just under $48,000, but added to his career earnings of $672,000.  Laurence is on his first bullet of the day and has the starting stack, while Paul is on his second and has just arrived at his new table.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): New Level, First Chip Counts

Level 6 will now have players posting blinds of 250/500/50 (360 total entries).  With the field settled in for about the third of the day, the first updated chip counts have been acquired:

Bobby Pelligreno - 160,000
James Kaplan - 135,000
Philip Yan - 75,000
Kevin Grabel - 70,000
Alan Kraut - 63,000
Alex Queen - 50,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Rivkin Eliminated

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Entries: 353

The Twitter-verse has provided one of the early eliminations from the day, and it's Big Stax I (Big Stax 300) winner Jason Rivkin:


Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Continuing The Climb

Level 5 started just moments ago, with the blinds moving up to 200/400/50 (351 total entries).  Unlikely yesterday's early stages, we have not seen any players separate themselves yet from the rest of the field.  Just a few scheduling reminders in regards to the rest of the day:

Dinner Break - The (75) minute dinner break falls between 6:20-7:35pm, which is after the conclusion of Level 9.

End Of Day - After Level 15 (12:30am)

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Filling Up

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Entries: 344

Players continue to enter and tables continue to open, with some old and new faces showing up.  Joe Palma (Bensalem, PA) sat down last yesterday and doubled on the first hand, but that was the high point of the day as he failed to bag chips.  Palma is now seated at Table 50 and has once again started off by picking up the pot in the first hand he played.  Also new to the field:

Jennifer So
Michael Borovetz
Kevin Grabel

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Back From Break...It's The Roc

Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Entries: 335

Players are seated once again, and Rocco Luciano (Philadelphia, PA) has arrived for the first time this series.  Rocco chopped the Big Stax 300 event during the most recent series in February, taking home over $74,000.  That was the largest score of Luciano's career, and almost doubled his lifetime earnings.  Luciano is currently seated at Table 55 with Abraim Abraimovic, and the cards are now in the air (they had to wait for an additional player to start).

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Break Time

Players are taking their first (15) minute break of the day, and when they return the blinds will have gone up to 150/300/50 (329 total entries).  Alex Bolotin (New York, NY) is one of the first players to be eliminated from the field, after unsuccessfully bagging chips yesterday.  Jesse Letchworth (Colonial Heights, VA) has also added himself to the Day 1B field, this after making a nice run in the Big Stax 300 (109th place - $649).

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): The Other Champ Is Here

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Entries: 328

Alex Queen (Bethlehem, PA)

Alex Queen has taken his seat at Table 53, coming off his chop of the Big Stax 300 with Justin Liberto.  More recognizable faces continue to add themselves to the group:

Ray Ross
Alan Kraut
Paul Sptizberg
Alex Bolotin

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): One Level...Then Break

Level 3 is about to begin, with blinds going up to 100/200/25 (319 total entries).  Late arrivals continue to take their seats, as Allison Schultz and Izzet Temel join the action at Table 53.  Both players attempted to bag chips on Day 1A, but were unsuccesful.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): New Tables Opening

Level 2 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Entries: 312

Kevin McColgan

As players continue to enter the Day 1B field, new tables are beginning to open in the tournament area.  Table 49 is the most recent to open, and it already houses some notables, including Frank DiRe, Jeffrey Spence, and Kevin McColgan.

McColgan is a tournament pro who travels the country throughout the year playing different events and tours.  Kevin's most recent cash brought him another WSOPC ring, as he took down the $1,125 NL Hold'em event at St. Louis.  McColgan (Douglassville, PA) has over $468,000 in career tournament earnings and multiple WSOPC rings.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): One Down

The first level of the day is now in the books, and players are posting blinds of 75/150 in Level 2.  All of the buzz surrounding yesterday's play may be about Liberto, but there were a handful of other notables to bag chips.  Former Big Stax 500 winner Mike Sandler bagged 322,000, while Michael Wang (final tabled Big Stax 300 this series) was right behind with 309,000.  Other notables to bag included Patti Haggerty (243,500), David Inselberg (214,000), Nancy Martin (211,000), and Gordon Eng (127,000).

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Today's Make Up

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Entries: 300

Today's field is once again in the main poker room (tournament area), and at the moment there are seven active tables in the room.  There are players taking their second chance at bagging chips, and those here for the first time for the Big Stax 500:

TJ Shulman
Joe Simmons
Michael Marder
Joe Grodowski
Frank Conti
Philip Yan
Joe Spillane
Dan Sewnig
Jay Rivkin
James Governa

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Weekend Warriors

Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Entries: 290

Players are getting their weekend started early as the cards are now in the air and Day 1B of this Big Stax 500 is now underway.  Two reminders for those playing today (or tomorrow), or for those who have bagged chips already.  Day 2 of this event is MONDAY (May 12th), with Sunday an off day for the players to observe Mother's Day.  For those still to play in today and tomorrow's field, there is still a $1,500 bonus for the player to bag the chip lead at the end of either starting day.

A close eye will be kept on the race for the chip lead bonus, and as the room begins to fill a list of notables in the field will be posted shortly.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1B): Liberto Love

Justin Liberto (Baltimore, MD) has been showered with Tweets and texts since chopping the Big Stax 300 earlier in the week.  The Tweets keep coming, but the subject matter has switched to him being the chip leader after Day 1A of the Big Stax 500.  Liberto bagged 791,000 to end the night, so the bar is now set pretty high for players in the following starting days.  Day 1B will begin just after 11:00am, and the live coverage of the event will commence at that time.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1A): End Of Day 1A Chip Counts


Total Players:  251 Players left:  45
Total Chips: 10,040,000 Average Chips: 223,111
Name Last Name Hometown  Chip Count
Justin Liberto Baltimore, MD 791,000
Sheldon Gross Hillsborough, FL 750,500
Tom Belmonte Staten Island, NY 496,000
Randy Pludo Plymouth Meeting, PA 420,500
Chris  Bloom Philadelphia, PA 410,000
Frank Loffreno Staten Island, NY 355,000
James Snyder Enola, PA 348,000
Mike  Sandler Maplewood, NJ 322,000
Federico Ottenio Brooklyn, NY 316,000
Michael  Wang Livingston, NJ 309,000
Michael  Goldberg Newtown, PA 291,000
Bobby Sembler Staten Island, NY 283,500
Frank Ferrigno Wayne, NJ 282,000
Vinny Longo East Hanover, NJ 276,000
Ido Ashkena New York, NY 262,000
Scott Fitz-Gerald Philadelphia, PA 251,000
Patricia Haggerty Scranton, PA 243,500
Louis Russo Brooklyn, NY 241,500
Mike Lavenburg Montville, NJ 232,500
David Inselberg Long Beach, NY 214,000
Nancy Martin Washington Crossing, PA 211,000
Dominic Colonna Wilmington, DE 205,000
Eric  Siegel Melville, NY 179,000
Rand Marsden Sewell, NJ 171,000
Moshe Dahan Brooklyn, NY 169,000
Jason Groelly Mechanicsberg, PA 165,500
Kent Wuethrich Sugar Run, PA 137,500
Valerie Novak Perry Hall, MD 136,500
Robert  Miller Nanuet, NY 132,000
Mike Vails Columbus, IN 131,000
Gordon Eng Cliffside, NJ 127,000
Joshua Hertz Philadelphia, PA 124,500
Richard  DeVivo Phoenixville, PA 117,000
Thai Ha Factoryville, PA 113,500
Ariel Albilia New York, NY 112,500
Brian Pagano Hawley, PA 109,500
Paul Shedaker Croydon, PA 97,000
Jacob Perry Branchville, NJ 93,500
Joseph Cappuccio Hammonton, NJ 93,000
Matt Glantz Lafayette Hill, PA 87,000
Georoh Netanelof Rego Park, NY 87,000
Mohammad Farah Bensalem, PA 48,000
Judy Bielan Bayonne, NJ 47,000
Young Oh Blue Bell, PA 40,000
Unknown     8,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 1A): Run Like Liberto

The chip counts have been verified, and the chip leader at the end of Day 1A is Justin Liberto.  He collects $1,500 to tack onto the $62,000 he won just days ago. His Twitter said it best... #heatersgonnaheat:

Big Stax 500 (Day 1A): Finishing Strong

The tournament floor has determined how many hands remain in the night, and once those hands are done, players will be bagging chips.  Once the chip counts are verified, the player to win the bonus will be posted, with full chip counts to follow.

Big Stax 500 (Day 1A): Going The Distance

Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 251

There is (15) minutes before the clock will be paused, and the field of 50 players still has a lot of notables remaining:

Joe Cappuccio
Nancy Martin
James Boyle
Gordon Eng
Mohammed Farah
Greg Himmelbrand
Patti Haggerty
Frank Ferrigno
Mike Sandler
Justin Liberto
Michael Wang
David Inselberg