Championship: 21st Place - Becker

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Alan Becker (Stamford, CT)

$6,370

Blinds 3k/6k/500 ante

There's a preflop raise to 13k with three callers ahead of Becker in the BB so it's five to the flop.

Flop: J♠ 7♣ 3♠

Becker moves all in for 60k and gets a call from Taha Maruf.

Becker: A♠ 9♠ (flush draw)

Maruf: Ax 7x (middle pair)

Becker misses the flush, while Maruf hits two pair on the river for the knockout.

Becker finishes in 21st place for $6,370.

"I was never above 150k," says Becker. "I had monsters two my left for two days," he laments about sitting next to Orson Young's big stack early in the tournament.

Championship: Hnatov Doubles Thru Hook

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Mark Hnatov was all-in holding pocket Kings.

Chalie Hook had him covered and smothered with pocket Aces.

A King was already in the muck.

Nevertheless, the case King appeared on the board.  Mark doubled up to ~400k.

Chalie dropped to ~800k.

Dan Wach is the chip leader with just over 1 million chips.

21 players remain.  Average stack is 423k.

Championship: 22nd Place - Erickson

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

James Erickson (Oakland, NJ)

$6,370

James Erickson got his chips in with T9 suited against Gregg Fishberg's AQ off.

The flop came 4 3 2 with two diamonds, giving James lots more outs, but the last two ran out offsuit Q 8.

James busted out in 22nd place, earning $6,370.

Championship: 23rd Place - Dibella

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

John Dibella (New Rochelle, NY)

$6,370

Blinds 3k/6k/500 ante

John Dibella 3-bets Chalie Hook preflop and they see a board of J K 2.

The chips are in the middle and Dibella (AQ) needs help against Hook's set of Jacks.

Dibella misses the gutshot straight draw and finishes in 23rd place for $6,370.

"And I just doubled-up," agonizes Dibella who got to 250k after the bubble broke.

"I'm going to home and relax for the next two weeks."

Championship: 24th Place - Parisi

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

John Parisi (Brooklyn, NY)

$6,370

Blinds 3k/6k/500 ante

John Parisi says he was short stack the entire tournament and is happy to make the money. "You always want to go for first, second or third, but can only hope for the best," he says.

Parisi's has 35k (6 bb) and moves all in with AK against the pocket Queens of Joe "The Jeweler" Gola. 

There's no help for Parisi who is knocked out in 24th place for $6,370.

"That's why I don't like that hand," he laughs, "I never win with it."

Event 17: 11 am Grinding Along

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

 Frank Martin

More than half the field is gone as 280 players remain of 641 entries.

Frank Martin (Staten Island, NY) is the chip leader with 200k (100 bb).

After busting in the Championship Event, Max Amjadi (Marmora, NJ) has double the average chip stack.

The average is 57k (29 bb) with blinds at 1k/2k/300 ante.

Championship: 25th Place - Dentale

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Mike Dentale (Brooklyn, NY)

$6,370

On a flop of J 9 3, Mike Dentale got his chips in good holding T9 suited for a pair of 9s.

Gregg Fishberg had shoved, putting Mike to the test with AQ for two overs.

The last two fell 5 Q and Gregg paired up on the river to take the pot.

Mike Dentale finished in 25th place, earning $6,370.

Championship: 26th Place - Happas

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Steve Happas (Braintree, MA)

$6,370

After surviving the brutally long bubble play, Steve 'Dakota' Happas was building his stack back up nicely.

Then he ran into another short-stack with pocket Aces, and shipped a double across the felt.

On his final hand, Steve shipped with A5, but ran into AT, which held up.

Steve finished in 26th place, earning $6,370.

Championship: Erickson Doubles Twice

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

James Erickson was a short-stack sweating that long bubble action, but now he's back in the game.

He's been all-in twice and more than doubled both times.

The latest hand had him all-in with pocket 5s against Mike Schoultz' AJ.  The flop was J 9 3 giving the advantage to Mike, but then the last two fell 7 5 and James caught a set on the river to survive.

Championship: 27th Place - Nelson

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

 Larry Nelson (Harleysville, PA) 

 $6,370

Blinds 3k/6k/500 ante

Just after the bubble breaks and the 27 player redraw, Larry Nelson moves all in for 55k and and Nick Salimbene makes the call.

Nelson: 10 10
Salimbene: AK

Flop: A A K (Salimbene full house, 99.9% favorite)

Turn: 10 (Nelson picks up a quad draw)

River: Q

There's no miracle perfect, perfect for Nelson who is the first to bust.

He finishes in 27th place for $6,370.

Championship: Finally!

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH    

TJ Shulman

 
TJ Shulman shipped his last 28,500 with A9 suited.

Noam Fliegelman looked him up with AT.

The board ran out 7 6 6 4 6 and Noam's kicker played.

TJ Shulman is this event's bubble-boy, finishing in 28th place for $0.

The hand-for-hand play lasted 116 minutes or just under two hours.  They're adding half that back to the clock, which has 44 minutes remaining in this level.

Our record for the longest bubble was set during the Winter Open in January.  That bubble lasted 134 minutes (two hours, 14 minutes).

Championship: Stuck On The Bubble

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH    

Steve Happas was all-in for 22,500 and called by both Orson Young and Chalie Hook, who checked down the board of K Q J 5 7.

Chalie had a Jack, but Steve had AQ to take the pot, tripling up to ~76k.

On the same hand at table two:

Mike Dentale raised to 14k. John Parisi was in the small blind and tossed his last chips in, making 13k straight.

TJ Shulman folded his big blind.

Mike was ahead with pocket Queens.  John was in bad shape with pocket 5s.  The the board fell J 4 4 5 8 and John boated up on the turn to take the pot, chipping up to ~35k.

Still 28 players.  Still hand-for-hand.

Championship: Still Stuck At 28

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH   

John Parisi got all-in and won, chipping up to 22k.

After Maruti Yarlapati opened for 17k, Steve Happas put his last 8,500 in.

Chalie Hook raised to 60k and Maruti folded.

Steve:  JJ
Chalie:  AK

Board: 8 5 3 9 9

John tripled up to ~29k.

Hand-for-hand play continues.

Championship: Still Stuck At 28

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH   

Level 19:  Blinds 3k/6k with 500 ante.

Play has resumed, still hand-for-hand.

Two players are so short they cannot survive one orbit unless they win a hand.

Championship: Break Time

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH  

They played for 70 minutes hand-for-hand and have not yet busted the bubble.

The final 28 are taking a ten minute break.  Average stack is 317k.

These are the shortest stacks and the only ones under 100k:

Steve 'Dakota' Happas - 10,000
John Parisi - 13,500
TJ Shulman - 52,500
Larry Nelson - 78,000

Championship: Still Hand-For-Hand

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH  

They're stuck at 28 players on the money bubble and still playing hand-for-hand.

After a raising war, Noam Fliegelman (Philadelphia, PA) in the big blind said "I'm pretty sure I'm not folding" and eventually called all-in for 157k straight with pocket Kings.

Taha Maruf (Hicksville, NY) had AK.

The board ran out T T T 6 Q and Noam doubled up to over 315k.

Have You Seen This Man?

 Who is this man?

Have you seen this man in the poker room taking pictures with the really big camera with the really long lens?

He's Eric Harkins, owner of Image Masters (IMPDI) professional photography.  He's scouring the tournament tables, taking action shots of as many players as he can.

If you're playing in a tournament, he'll take your picture (no obligation) and you can stop by his table here in the back of the poker room and browse through them on the computer.  If you like what you see, you can get digital emails, get them burned on a CD, or get various sizes of prints.  Custom framing is also available and done on site.

You may also view the online store by clicking on the banner that says PLAYER PHOTOS.  Whether on property or at home, you may view the galleries quickly and easily just by scrolling.

The winner of each 2013 Borgata Summer Poker Open trophy event will receive a 16x20 framed photo of himself, courtesy of Image Masters (IMPDI).  Even if you don't win one, you can have one just like the winners are getting.  Just stop by the table to check out the samples and prices.

So keep your eyes peeled for Eric and stop by the back of the poker room to check out his work.

Championship: Bubble Time

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH 

Two more players have busted out, leaving 28 in play, which means it is bubble time.

They're now playing hand-for-hand until one more is ejected.

 Leonardo Palermo & Ari Albilia

The last two to go were Leonardo Palermo (Toms River, NJ) and Ari Albilia (Syosset, NY).

Championship: No Repeat Champion

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH  

Fred Paradis

Fred Paradis (Jewett City, CT) hit the rail in 32nd place.

Tyng Low

Tyng Low (Flushing, NY) was next to go in 31st place.  Tyng was the 2011 Summer Open Champion and had a shot to repeat, but has come up short.

30 players remain.  Just three more to reach the money!

Championship: Tops In Chips

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH 

Level 18:  Blinds 2,500/5,000 with 500 ante.

Play has resumed after the break.

Chalie Hook (Philadelphia, PA) is the chip leader with 790k.  Turns out he's the one that busted Chris Horter.  They got the chips in on a flip, Chris flopped a set with his pair, but Chalie rivered a flush.

Orson Young (Oceanport, NJ) is second with ~740k.

Championship: Break Time

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH 

Two more players have reported to the rail, leaving 32 in action (average 278k).

Jeremy Stein & Chris Horter

The last two exists were Jeremy Stein (Washington, DC) and Chris Horter (Philadelphia, PA).

They've completed the level and are taking a ten minute break.

Championship: Latest Departures

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH 

Max Amjadi & Eric Panayiotou

Max Amjadi (Marmora, NJ) was the next to go.  He busted out in 36th place.

Following him to the exit was Eric Panayiotou (Toms River, NJ) in 35th place.

34 players remain.  Average stack is 261k.

Seven more to go to reach the money.

Championship: Fast Five

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Five more players are gone, which means 36 remain at four tables.

Average stack is 247k.

 
Here are the five latest casualties:

1 - Matthew Cohen (Philadelphia, PA)
2 - Joseph Miranda (Bethpage, NY)
3 - Shankar Pillai (New York, NY
4 - Peter Malkoun (Brookhaven, PA)
5 - Matt Iles (Atco, NJ)

Championship: Yarlapati Doubles

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Maruti Yarlapati (Pine Brook, NJ) was all-in with pocket Aces against the pocket 8s of Ari Alibilia (Syosset, NY).

The board changed nothing and Maruti doubled up.

Championship: Three More Out The Door

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Not sure what order they departed, but these three have reported to the rail in early action:

Andrew Glauberg (Tenafly, NJ),  LJ Sande (Wethersfield, CT) & John Andress (Doylestown, PA)