Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 6th Place - Rublee ($14,504)

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 7,400,000

Jon Rublee (Bradenton, FL)

When the action would fold to Jon Rublee on the button, he would open shove for 2,370,000.  Deding Xu would fold the small blind, and Jose Montes began to think in the big.  He took his time going over his decision, and eventually announced a call:

Rublee: K♦ 10♥
Montes: 4♥ 4♦

Flop: 6♥ 7♠ K♥
Turn: 7♦
River: 4♣

"Wow," was the only word said at the table (by Vinny Pahuja), and Rublee would get up from the table stunned.  Montes chips up to 6,800,000 with that pot, with play now five-handed.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): A Huge Sweat For Both

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

There was just a pot between Jose Montes and Eugene Zaslavsky just moments ago, all-in pre for close 6,500,000.  It was the A♣ K♣ of Zaslavsky against the A♠ K♠ of Montes, with Jose mentioning how he won one of these types of hands yesterday to begin building.  The flop would run out 2♣ 6♣ 7♦, and Eugene would have a serious free roll to double.  The turn and river would both be hearts though, and the pot would just be a chop in the end.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Mid Level Chip Counts

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

Here are the updated counts midway through Level 30:

1. Eugene Zaslavsky - 2,400,000
2. Vinny Pahuja - 9,300,000
3. Craig Bateman - 14,700,000
4. Jon Rublee - 3,100,000
5. Deding Xu - 4,800,000
6. Jose Montes - 3,300,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Bateman Builds Up

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

Craig Bateman would open the pot for a raise to 120,000, with Jose Montes three-betting out of the big blind to 450,000.  Bateman would make the call and the two would see the dealer put out a flop of 7♣ 3♠ 4♥.  Montes would lead the flop for 425,000, with Bateman making the call.  The action would go check-check when the board paired with the 7♥.  Montes would lead out once more for 400,000 after the A♠ on the river, and Bateman stared for a long while, almost looking as if he was contemplating calling.  Craig clearly had other ideas though as he put in a raise to 1,700,000, which made Montes start talking to himself.  He would cut out his chips and look to see what remained if he called, and eventually he would do just that.  Bateman would turn over 3♦ 3♥ for a flopped set and turned full house, leaving Montes to smile and shake his head.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Quick Break/Updated Chip Counts

Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/15,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

Players are about to go on an agreed upon (5) minute break, and they will stay that length for the rest of the tournament.  They will return to Level 30 and blinds of 60,000/120,000/15,000 (6,200,000 chip average).  About five minutes before break, Montes and Xu got involved in a sizable pot, where Jose check called a 1,300,000 turn bet on a board of 8♠ 10♠ 6♥ 3♣.  After the river J♠, the action went check-check, and Montes won with 9♠ 9♦.  Here are the updated counts from break:

1. Eugene Zaslavsky - 2,600,000
2. Vinny Pahuja - 6,900,000
3. Craig Bateman - 10,900,000
4. Jon Rublee - 3,900,000
5. Deding Xu - 4,600,000
6. Jose Montes - 7,900,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Return To Normalcy

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

Things have slowed down once again, as the quick flurry of action was just exactly that.  Jon Rublee has been all-in since James's departure, but was not called.  Deding Xu was able to three-bet his way to a small pot pre-flop, but the chip counts haven't varied too much since last updated.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Mid Level Chip Counts

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,100,000

Here are the updated counts at the midway point of Level 29:

1. Eugene Zaslavsky - 3,500,000
2. Vinny Pahuja - 7,800,000
3. Craig Bateman - 13,000,000
4. Jon Rublee - 2,900,000
5. Deding Xu - 6,600,000
6. Jose Montes - 3,900,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 7th Place - Ingram ($10,988)

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 6,200,000

James Ingram (Trenton, NJ)

No matter how deep the tournament plays, or how many blinds each player has, this scenario plays out the same at any final table.  There were multiple bets pre-flop before James Ingram was all-in and at risk against Craig Bateman:

Ingram: K♠ K♣
Bateman: A♠ A♥

Runout: 9♣ A♣ K♦ 5♦ Q♦

It was a pretty tough spot for Ingram, who stood up and collected his things without saying a word.  Players at the table commended him on his quality play throughout the day, and he thanked them before heading to the tournament podium.  The pot was worth well over 6,000,000, making Bateman the chip leader with 13,000,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Pahuja Takes A Big Pot From Ingram

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 5,300,000

James Ingram would open the pot for a raise to 225,000, with Vinny Pahuja coming along from the big blind.  The two saw a flop of 2♠ 7♣ 8♠, with Pahuja check-calling a bet of 275,000.  After the 3♠ on the turn, Vinny would lead out this time, for an amount of 475,000.  Ingram thought for a moment before casually tossing out the chips for a call.  After the dealer placed the A♥ on the river, Pahuja began moving around his chips, setting up a bet of 1,105,000.  James rolled his eyes as he tossed in a few blue chips signifying a call, with Pahuja looking at him and announcing a flush (J♠ 10♠).  Ingram looked back once before tossing in his holdings, dropping down to 3,200,000.

Vinny Pahuja - 7,600,000
James Ingram - 3,200,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Eugene Not Going Away Easy

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 5,300,000

It only took a few hands back from break for things to happen, as Eugene Zaslavsky doubles through James Ingram.  Ingram opened the pot to 300,000, with Eugene shoving his (10) big blind stack across the line.  Ingram called for the 700,000 more, and the hands were tabled:

Eugene: A♠ 5♥       James: A♣ Q♣

Flop: 9♣ 3♦ 4♣

Turn: 6♠

River: 7♥

James would grab an even bigger lead on that flop, but Eugene got running (non-club) straight cards to win the pot and double to 2,100,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Back To Business

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 5,300,000

Players are once again back in their seats, and the cards are in the air for Level 29.  It's all about the trophy from here on out, with no extended breaks other than the scheduled (10) minutes between each level.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Time For Dinner Break

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 5,300,000

Players are about to head on a (60) minute dinner break, and they will return at approximately 8:50pm.  They will return to Level 29 and blinds of 50,000/100,000/10,000, with no more extended breaks (except for scheduled ones) left in the night.  Here are the updated chip counts at break:

1. James Ingram - 6,800,000
2. Eugene Zaslavsky - 1,100,000
3. Vinny Pahuja - 6,200,000
4. Craig Bateman - 8,400,000
5. Jon Rublee - 2,350,000
6. Deding Xu - 7,600,000
7. Jose Montes - 4,400,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 8th Place - Blumstein ($7,911)

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 5,300,000

Scott Blumstein (Morristown, NJ)

Things are beginning to pick up a little as the dinner break approaches.  Scott Blumstein opened the pot in late position to 160,000, with Vinny Pahuja three-betting to 380,000.  Craig Bateman was next to act, and he would four-bet to 700,000.  The action would be Scott's once again, and he would five-bet shove for 2,900,000.  Vinny looked back at his cards before smiling and folding, with Bateman quickly making the call:

Bateman: A♠ A♣
Blumstein: A♥ K♥

Runout: 7♠ 8♣ 2♣ 5♠ 8♥

Blumstein ran into the only hand he didn't want to see, and the runout gave little hope.  Craig had been reasonably quite throughout the day, but he now has over 8,000,000 with his new found chips.  Scott earns $7,911 for his eight place finish, and leaves with the support from his friends on the rail.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Zaslavsky Doubles Through Blumstein

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 8
Chip Average: 4,600,000

After Scott Blumstein raised from the button to 175,000, short stacks Eugene Zaslavsky three-bet shoved his remaining 675,000.  Action would fold to Blumstein, who made the call after finding out the amount, and the hands were tabled:

Blumstein: A♠ 4♦     Zaslavsky: A♥ 10♦

Flop: 5♠ 8♣ 9♠

Turn: 7♥

River: 6♣

Although there was a straight on board after the river, Eugene held the ten for a higher straight then the board, and Eugene would double to 1,400,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 9th Place - Patel ($6,197)

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 8
Chip Average: 4,600,000

Sandeep Patel (Parsippany, NJ)

With the action and eliminations at the final table minimal, we just saw the largest pot at the final table so far.  With folds around to Sandeep Patel, he would limp in middle position.  The action folded around to Vinny Pahuja on the button, who raised to 250,000.  The blinds folded behind and Patel would come along, with both players watching as the dealer fanned out a flop of A♣ Q♦ 6♦.  Patel would open shove for close to 1,600,000, and Vinny made the call:

Patel: Q♥ 6♥
Pahuja: A♥ K♦

Patel had flopped bottom two, and when both hands were exposed, a surprised Pahuja saw he was behind.  The dealer would table the A♦ on the turn, changing the complexion of the hand, and sending home Patel in 9th place.  Sandeep thought for a second he won the hand when he made the full house, but realized a few seconds later that his hand was no good.  Vinny chips up to 6,000,000 with the pot, and now has a top three stack.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Slow And Steady

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 4,100,000

It looks as if this is going to be another long Day 3, as many of the pots have played out like the one we just saw.  Vinny Pahuja opened to 175,000 in early position, with action folding around to Jose Montes in the hijack.  Jose three-bet to 380,000, and action returned to Pahuja, who made the call.  The dealer fanned out a flop of 7♥ Q♣ J♦, with Pahuja checking to Jose.  Montes collected a few chips of each color and put out a bet of 280,000.  Vinny took another look back at his cards and pushed them towards the muck.  It really has been a whole lot of hands like that, with the Xu v. Blumstein pot the most memorable of the final table so far.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Break Time/Updated Chip Counts

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 4,100,000

Players are currently on break and will return to Level 28 and blinds of 40,000/80,000/10,000.  This will be the last level before players head on a (60) minute dinner break.  Here are the updated chip counts:

1. Sandeep Patel - 1,900,000
2. James Ingram - 7,900,000
3. Scott Blumstein - 3,850,000
4. Eugene Zaslavsky - 1,700,000
5. Vinny Pahuja - 2,500,000
6. Craig Bateman - 4,400,000
7. Jon Rublee - 2,300,000
8. Deding Xu - 7,000,000
9. Jose Montes - 4,600,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Xu Grabs The Final Table Chip Lead

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 4,100,000

There was already a sizable pot brewing between Scott Blumstein and Deding Xu, but things got pretty serious on the river.  The full board was laid out (A♦ 9♦ A♠ 8♠ 6♣), and Xu had a river bet in front of him of 1,675,000.  Scott was deep in the tank, doing a little talking to himself, and visibly just pained with his decision.  Blumstein eventually grabbed some chips in his hand and begrudgingly dumped them across the line.  Deding would turn over A♥ 9♥, having flopped a full house, and Scott was left to go over how he played the hand with his friends on the rail.

Dedign Xu - 7,500,000
Scott Blumstein - 4,500,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 10th Place - Dever ($5,010)

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 9
Chip Average: 4,100,000

Cathy Dever (Ephrata, PA)

Cathy was left short after doubling up Eugene Zaslavsky, so after an open and a call from Jon Rublee in the cutoff, Dever would shove her remaining 585,000 from the big blind.  Vinny Pahuja would ask for a count, but eventually fold, with Rublee verbalizing a call pretty quickly:

Rublee: 10♦ 10♠
Dever: A♦ 9♦

Flop: 3♣ A♣ 10♥
Turn: J♦
River: 3♠

Dever was one of only a handful of ladies to make a Big Stax final table, and will earn $5,010 for her finish.  Winning that pot brings Rublee up to 3,500,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Short Stacks Collide

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Cathy Dever would open shove UTG +1 for 1,100,000, with action folding around to Eugene Zaslavsky, the shortest stack at the table.  Zaslavsky would throw in a pile of chips while announcing himself all-in for less.  The button and blinds folded behind, and the cards were then tabled:

Dever: A♠ Q♥        Eugene: K♠ K♦

Flop: J♣ 7♠ 6♣

Turn: 4♥

River: 6♠

Players commented on how long it had been since Eugene played a pot, but the patience brought him to this spot, and he doubles to 1,300,000.  Dever would have to watch as the dealer cutout the chips to pay off Eugene, and she'd be left with 515,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Blind v. Blind

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

While things are still moving slowly, and mostly small ball being played, we saw the first sign of aggression at the final table (first four bet pot).  Action would fold around to Jose Montes and Sandeep Patel in the blinds.  Montes raised the pot to 160,000, with Patel answering the raise with one of his own to 460,000.  Jose took some time and was very deliberate when looking over at the dealer and announcing 1,100,000.  Patel took little time before pushing his cards towards the muck, and he is down to 2,000,000.  Montes now cracks the 4,000,000 mark with that pot, putting himself in the top five at the table.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Play Is Super Deep

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Play has once again slowed down substantially, but part of that has to do with the great structure of this tournament.  We are reaching a point where the pay jumps will begin to escalate in increasingly larger increments, possibly making the play at the final table a little tighter.  The average chip stack at the moment (3,700,000) is over 60 big blinds, which was also the case during the Big Stax 300...which lasted until 8:00am!!!

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Break Time/Updated Counts

Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Players have just headed on a (10) minute break, and they will return to Level 27 and blinds of 30,000/60,000/10,000.  Here are the up to the minute counts from the final table:

1. Sandeep Patel - 2,900,000
2. James Ingram - 7,000,000
3. Scott Blumstein - 6,200,000
4. Eugene Zaslavsky - 1,000,000
5. Vinny Pahuja - 2,500,000
6. Craig Bateman - 4,400,000
7. Jon Rublee - 3,400,000
8. Deding Xu - 4,400,000
9. Cathy Dever - 1,200,000
10. Jose Montes - 3,300,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Final Table (w/ Chip Counts)

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Here is the final table lineup, including up to the minute chip counts:

1. Sandeep Patel - 3,900,000
2. James Ingram - 6,400,000
3. Scott Blumstein - 6,300,000
4. Eugene Zaslavsky - 1,500,000
5. Vinny Pahuja - 2,200,000
6. Craig Bateman - 4,100,000
7. Jon Rublee - 2,900,000
8. Deding Xu - 5,000,000
9. Cathy Dever - 1,900,000
10. Jose Montes - 2,900,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Final Table Lineup

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Play have finally reached the final table for the Big Stax 500, and here is the lineup:

1. Sandeep Patel
2. James Ingram
3. Scott Blumstein
4. Eugene Zaslavsky
5. Vinny Pahuja
6. Craig Bateman
7. Jon Rublee
8. Deding Xu
9. Cathy Dever
10. Jose Montes

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 11th Place - Petrowci ($5,010)

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 10
Chip Average: 3,700,000

Mark Petrowci (Trenton, NJ)

James Ingram has been fairly active at Table 58, having won a large percentage of hands played, most without any showdown.  On a board reading 4♦ 4♠ 3♣ 10♣ 9♦, Mark Petrowci checked to Ingram (who was on the button).  James would announce himself all-in, putting Mark at a decision for his tournament life.

After thinking for a few moments, Petrowci verbalized a call, and James turned over A♠ 4♣.  Mark said something along the lines of Ingram just always having it, as he stood up and tossed his hand into the muck.

With that elimination, the players are now redrawing for the final table, which will be posted momentarily (with chip counts).

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Eugene Swinging Down

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 3,360,000

Eugene Zaslavsky (Marlboro, NJ)

While the eliminations have come from Table 57, there has been no short of action at Table 58.  Eugene Zaslavsky was recorded having 4,100,000 at break, but over the first (30) minutes of Level 26, he has trended down to 1,600,000.  Eugene came into the day second in chips, and had dropped down to no less than 4,000,000 throughout the first level of the day.

Regardless of the outcome for the rest of the day, Zaslavsky has already earned himself the largest score of his tournament career.  His biggest cash prior came in 2011 during the Parx Open Poker Classic ($340 NLH - 5th Place $3,614).

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 12th Place - Csik ($5,010)

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 11
Chip Average: 3,350,000

Chris Csik (Hoboken, NJ)

With the elimination of Aristedes Santana, Chris Csik (Hoboken, NJ) would be left the shortest stack remaining (570,000).  Action would fold all the way around to Csik in the small blind, and he shoved his remaining chips, only having to get through Deding Xu.  Xu would look over at the amount Csik had, and announced the call:

Xu: A♥ 7♦
Csik: Q♠ 6♠

Flop: 2♣ 9♦ A♦
Turn: 7♣
River: Q♥

Deding flopped super strong against Csik's hand, and Chris would be drawing dead on the turn.  The other players at the table complemented him on his play before he walked away, as he falls short of his second Big Stax final table.  Xu becomes the chip leader with that pot, stacking up 5,400,000.  Players are now one elimination away from the final table, which is ten-handed for these trophy events.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 13th Place - Santana ($4,527)

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 12
Chip Average: 3,100,000

Aristedes Santana (Yonkers, NY)

Aristedes Santana (Yonkers, NY) returned from break with just over ten bigs, and after fifteen minutes passed without finding a spot to get them in, he was sitting with seven blinds in front of him.  Vinny Pahuja would open the pot for a raise to 105,000, and when action folded around to Santana in the small blind, he would announce himself all-in.  Csik folded from the big blind, and Vinny gave it some thought before calling, seemingly knowing he wasn't going in with the best hand:

Pahuja: K♠ 10♦
Santana: A♦ 9♣

Runout: Q♥ 7♥ 10♠ 10♣ 9♠

Pahuja was correct in his thinking, but the numbers were there for him to call.  Vinny would outflop Santana, and have him drawing dead on the turn.  With that pot, Vinny is now up to 2,200,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Break Time/Updated Chip Counts

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 13
Chip Average: 2,850,000

Players are on their first (15) minute break of the day, and they will be returning to Level 26 and blinds of 25,000/50,000/5,000.  Here are the updated counts from break:

Table 57:

1. Craig Bateman - 3,800,000
2. Aristedes Santana - 625,000
3. Chris Csik - 900,000
4. Deding Xu - 4,700,000
5. Vinny Pahuja - 1,800,000
6. Scott Blumstein - 5,600,000
7. Jose Montes - 3,600,000

Table 58:

1. James Ingram - 2,800,000
2. Mark Petrowci - 1,500,000
3. Sandeep Patel - 2,300,000
4. Eugene Zaslavsky - 4,100,000
5. Jon Rublee - 2,800,000
6. Cathy Dever - 2,000,000

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 14th Place - Boxenhorn ($4,527)

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 13
Chip Average: 2,850,000

Scott Boxenhorn (Dix Hills, NY)

After action folded around to Jon Rublee on the button, he would open the pot for a min raise.  Short stacked Scott Boxenhorn would shove his remaining 370,000, and Rublee called the extra 290,000:

Rublee: K♠ J♦
Boxenhorn: 2♣ 2♠

Flop: 10♥ 5♦ 3♥
Turn: 10♦
River: 3♠

The flop was clean for Boxenhorn, but the board pairing on the turn would just give Rublee extra outs.  Scott originally thought he had won the hand and doubled, but he didn't see the board double pair on the river, counterfeiting his pocket deuces.  Rublee chips up to 2,900,000 with that pot.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Boxenhorn In The Danger Zone

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)

Players Remaining: 14

Chip Average: 2,650,000

Catching up on the action at Table 58, Scott Boxenhorn and Mark Petrowci would be heads up in a hand and on the flop.  The board read 8♥ 7♣ 8♦, and Scott was pushing across a bet of 100,000, leaving himself with 450,000 behind.  Petrowci looked over Scott's way before grabbing his towers of chips with two hands, and announcing himself all-in.  Boxenhorn quickly threw his hand in the muck, giving the pot for Petrowci.  Scott is now left with just over (10) big blinds, and is the shortest stack by far of those remaining.  With the new found chips from that pot, Petrowci pushes towards the average, sitting with 1,800,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Same Story...Different Outcomes

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 2,650,000

Things are beginning to pick up a little, as the first elimination of the day has seemed to open things up slightly.  The Twitter world is buzzing with good luck wishes for many of the players, while those players updates their fans following.  It's been a different start to two of the players at Table 57, and their Tweets say it all:

We underway and I have chipped up to 3.2mil! #finsh
— Jose Montes (@suganills) August 11, 2014

Horrible restart. Ch/called 3 after defending BB 7 handed w KQ and lost to AK on KT623. 1.4mm at 40k. 14 left @parxpokerroom 550 big Stax
— Vinny Pahuja (@vinpahuja) August 11, 2014

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): 15th Place - Rich ($4,527)

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 14
Chip Average: 2,650,000

Chris Rich (North Massapequa, NY)

When the action would fold around to Chris Rich (North Massapequa, NY) to Chris Rich in the big blind, he would open shove his remaining 750,000.  Scott Blumstein was in the big blind, and after taking a look over at Rich's stack, he verbalized a call:

Rich: Q♠ 10♠
Blumstein: A♠ 5♦

Flop: 4♠ 9♣ K♠
Turn: A♣
River: 4♦

Chris would get a big flop for his hand, adding straight and flush draws to his outs.  While the ace on the turn was black, it wasn't a spade, meaning he'd need a spade or jack on the river.  It wasn't to be for the Day 1A chip leader, and he would be the first eliminated from Day 3 play.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Feeling Out Period

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Players Remaining: 15
Chip Average: 2,500,000

Jose Montes (Bronx, NY)

Things have started off very slow in the early goings of Day 3, with not many hands even going to turns, let alone a showdown.  Jose Montes did just win a sizable pot from Vinny Pahuja, chipping up to 2,800,000 in the process.

It's a good time to take note of Montes, making back to back Day 3's in this series.  Even more impressive is the fact that after he was unsuccessful in bagging chips on Day 1C (his only starting day played), Montes has made it this far starting with eight bigs on Day 2.

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Action Underway

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)

Players Remaining: 15

Chip Average: 2,500,000

The tournament supervisor has just gone of all of the rules with the players seated (everyone has arrived on time), and the cards will be in the air in just a moment.  Levels are all (90) minutes in length today, and play will conclude once there is a winner.  

Big Stax 500 (Day 3): Day 3 Tables Draw/Chip Counts

Aristides	Santana	Yonkers NY	1,500,000	57	3
Chris	Csik	Hoboken NJ	780,000	57	4
Deding	Xu	Philadelphia PA	4,735,000	57	5
Vinny	Pahuja	NYC	2,510,000	57	6
Christopher	Rich	Massapequa NY	1,005,000	57	7
Scott	Blumstein	Morristown NJ	4,570,000	57	8
Jose	Montes	Bronx NY	2,275,000	57	9
Ozea	Ingram	Trenton NJ	1,890,000	58	1
Mike	Petrawski	Trenton NJ	2,110,000	58	2
Sandeep	Patel	Parsippany NJ	2,373,000	58	3
Craig	Bateman	Bryn Mawr PA	3,640,000	58	4
Eugene	p C	Marlboro NJ	4,605,000	58	5
Jon	Rildel	Bradenten FL	2,220,000	58	6
Scott	Boxenhorn	Dix Hills NY	1,095,000	58	7
Catherine	Dever	Ephrata	1,695,000	58	8

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 16th Place - Garofalo ($4,043)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 15

Anthony Garofalo (Philadelphia, PA)

Right before tournament supervisor Brian Henryk was about to make the announcement telling the field how many hands remained in the night, Anthony Garofalo would play his final hand of the night:

Busted didn't fold jj 29bb deep when I should have
— Anthony Garofalo (@thegoonch219) August 11, 2014

Players have five hands left in the night, and those remaining will then bag for Day 3 tomorrow at 1:00pm.  The updated chip counts and seating assignments for tomorrow will be posted about one hour after plays conclusion.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 17th Place - Raman ($4,043)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 16

Gene Raman (Mt. Laurel, NJ)

Gene Raman (Mt. Laurel) was another elimination that occurred while action at another table was being recorded, but he did breakdown his final moments via Twitter:

Lost 200k AIPF AK<JJ right after redraw, 2 hands later get my last 20bb in JJ<KK out 17th....till next time @parxpokerroom @MatthewAxelrod
— Geno Raman (@GRaman3210) August 11, 2014

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 18th Place - Palma ($4,043)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 16

Joe Palma (Bensalem, PA)

Joe "Worm" Palma was grinding a stack of ten blinds returning from the last break, and he was able to navigate it about as far as he could.  He would get his final 360,000 all-in pre against Vinny Pahuja:

Pahuja: A♦ Q♠
Palma: A♣ J♦

Flop: 8♦ 2♥ 5♣
Turn: 9♣
River: 4♠

Joe's "Worm Time" would end right there, as he couldn't find any of his three outs after the flop. This is Joe's first cash of this Big Stax VII series, pushing his lifetime earnings above $231,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 19th Place - Heck ($3,604)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 16

David Heck (Colts Neck, NJ)

David Heck would be one of the shortest stacks left in the field, and after calling a raise pre, he would open shove 340,000 on the flop of K♦ 10♣ 3♣.  Jon Rublee would make the call and the hands would be tabled:

Rublee: J♣ 9♣ (combo draw)
Heck: Q♠ 10♥

Turn: J♠
River: J♥

That would be the untraditional way for Rublee to win the hand, not hitting club or straight outs, but go running trips.  Heck would earn $3,604 for the finish, bringing his lifetime earnings to $188,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 20th Place - Gross ($3,604)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 16

Jeff Gross (Leucadia, CA)

Jeff Gross would three-bet an open from Craig Bateman (Gross in big blind), and Bateman would fire back with a four-bet shove.  Gross would make the call with his below average stack, and the cards would be tabled:

Gross: 9♦ 9♣
Bateman: A♠ A♣

Flop: Q♠ 2♠ J♦
Turn: 6♣
River: 4♣

Gross would cash for the second time this series, after finishing in 52nd place during the Big Stax 300 ($1,414).  Bateman moves up the ladder even more with that pot, chipping up to 3,800,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 21st Place - Agron ($3,604)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 17

Joseph Agron (Langhorne, PA)

Unfortunately for Jospeh Agron's fans following the live updates page, his elimination was missed by the media.  What is known is that this is Joe's third ever Big Stax cash, cashing in both the Big Stax 300 and Big Stax 500 in the Big Stax II series.

This $3,604 that Agron earned for the 21st place finish will now be added to his career earnings, pushing them across $30,000 lifetime.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 22nd Place - McKeehen ($3,208)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 17

Joe McKeehen (North Wales, PA)

Joe McKeehen's exit was quiet and swift, this after running an unsuccessful bluff against Deding Xu on the river.  The board would read 4♦ 2♦ 6♥ 7♠ J♦, and after check-calling the flop and turn, McKeehen would jam the river.  Xu would make the call instantly, turning over J J for a rivered set.  McKeehen would have Q 10, and follow up with his thoughts on Twitter:

Welp now I know what punting a mtt deep feels like. Not the best feeling
— Joe McKeehen (@dude904) August 11, 2014

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 23rd Place - Daly ($3,208)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 19

Zach Daly (Stoneham, MA)

While the flurry of eliminations was continuing, there was an all-in and call at Table 47.  Eugene Zaslavsky and Zach Daly were on the flop of a board reading J♥ 7♠ 4♣:

Zaslavsky: 4♥ 4♠ (bottom set)
Daly: A♣ A♦

Turn: K♥
River: J♠

There would be a big shift in power with that pot, as Eugene would assume the chip lead, stacking up 4,000,000 with the win.  Daly earns his fourth cash of the calendar year, and his first ever at Parx ($3,208).

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 24th Place - Buchman ($3,208)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 21

Ari Buchman (Valley Stream, NY)

A few hands into the redraw, Ari Buchman lost a big pot to Chris Rich, doubling up Chris after losing a race with 10♥ 10♦ against Rich's A♠ Q♣.  Ari would navigate his short stack for a short time, before getting his chips in pre-flop against Jeff Gross:

Gross: 10♥ 10♦
Buchman: 6♥ 6♠

Flop: 7♠ K♠ 7♦
Turn: 10♣
River: 8♣

Buchman would be drawing dead on the turn, leaving the field in 24th place ($3,208).  Jeff Gross would chip up to 1,400,000 with the pot, the highest point he's reached the entire Day 2.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 25th Place - Potis ($2,813)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 21

Tony Potis (Scranton, PA)

Right as Michael Esposito was getting eliminated, a huge pot was unfolding at Table 46.  There would be a three-way all-in pre-flop, with Craig Bateman having both Al Riccobono and Tony Potis at risk:

Riccobono: Q♥ Q♠
Potis: J♦ J♠
Bateman: A♠ K♣

Flop: 9♣ 2♠ 6♥
Turn: A♦
River: 9♠

Both players would be eliminated in the hand, sending Bateman to the top of the leaderboard, chipping up to 2,800,000.

Big Stax 500 (Day 2): 26th Place - Riccobono ($2,813)

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 22

Al Riccobono (West Harrison, NY)

Right as Michael Esposito was getting eliminated, a huge pot was unfolding at Table 46.  There would be a three-way all-in pre-flop, with Craig Bateman having both Al Riccobono and Tony Potis at risk:

Riccobono: Q♥ Q♠
Potis: J♦ J♠
Bateman: A♠ K♣

Flop: 9♣ 2♠ 6♥
Turn: A♦
River: 9♠

Both players would be eliminated in the hand, sending Bateman to the top of the leaderboard, chipping up to 2,800,000.  This was Riccobono's first cash at Parx during the Big Stax series, as he crosses $220,000 in career earnings with the cash.