Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Last Day 2 Break

Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 15

Players are on break for (10) minutes, and will return to the final level of the night, posting blinds of 15,000/30,000/5,000.  Here are the up to the minute chip counts:

Table 45:

1. Ulises Roman - 750,000
2. Chris Csik - 890,000
3. Mike Linster  - 1,100,000
4. Ken Silberstein - 600,000
5. Drew Small - 2,600,000
6. Adam Larkin - 610,000
7. Jameson Singer - 300,000

Table 46:

1. Joe Black - 1,100,000
2. Cathy Dever - 2,100,000
3. Keivn McColgan - 1,000,000
4. Joe Brand - 560,000
5. Joshua Beckley - 2,300,000
6. Ketan Pandya - 1,100,000
7. Matthew Maccaroni - 220,000
8. Jesse Cohen - 900,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 16th Place - Bryan ($5,005)

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 16

Tim Bryan (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Matthew Maccaroni took a really bad beat after losing Ax Jx < 2x 5x all-in pre against Joe Brand.  Brand shocked the table when he turned over his cards, but making a pair of deuces on the flop was all he needed.  Matthew was left with just 50,000, but has since doubled twice to stay alive.

Tim Bryan was another short stacked player, and he would get all-in on a flop of A♠ 8♣ 10♥ against Drew Small holding J♠ 9♠ (open-ended) against Drew's A♥ Q♣.  Bryan couldn't complete his draw, and he would be the first player to bust in over an hour.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Pandya Pushing Above Average

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 16

Ketan Pandya (Piscataway, NJ)

After taking down a sizable pot from Joe Black, Ketan Pandya is over 1,600,000, which is well above the 1,000,000 average at the current moment.  Pandya wanted to send some love to his wife following the live updates page at home (Sanju).

Pandya has already bested his largest cash of the year, which came earlier this summer during the Aria/Party Poker WPT 500 event.  Ketan finished in 285th place and earned himself $1,000.  Ketan's largest ever lifetime score came in 2010 when he finished third in the $10,000 WSOP Circuit Regional Championship in Atlantic City ($159,000).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Slowing Down

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 16

Action since returning from break has been a little slower, which is expected with a few short stacks trying to navigate deeper into the tournament.  There haven't been too many pots that have gone to showdown, with only one notable pot between Adam Larkin and Drew Small.  Larkin's aggression would win him the three-bet pot on the flop, and he creeps towards 1,000,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Break Time/Updated Chip Counts

Level 23 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 16

The remaining players are on a (10) minute break, and will be posting blinds of 12,000/24,000/4,000 when they return to Level 23.  Here are the updated counts from break:

Table 45:

1. Ulises Roman - 690,000
2. Tim Bryan - 375,000
3. Chris Csik - 900,000
4. Mike Linster - 1,400,000
5. Ken Silberstein - 350,000
6. Drew Small - 1,600,000
7. Adam Larkin - 830,000
8. Jameson Singer - 410,000

Table 46:

1. Joe Black - 1,200,000
2. Cathy Dever - 1,800,000
3. Kevin McColgan - 1,800,000
4. Joe Brand - 390,000
5. Joshua Beckley - 2,000,000
6. Ketan Pandya - 980,000
7. Matthew Maccaroni - 560,000
8. Jesse Cohen - 740,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 17th Place - Ha ($5,005)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 16

Tim Ha (Union, NJ)

Tim Ha (Union, NJ) was able to double twice since returning from dinner, and chip up close to 500,000.  He would lose two sizable pots after the redraw, and end up back where he was a 10-15 big blinds.  Ha got his short stack in pre-flop and was called by Kevin McColgan.  Tim couldn't win the race with A♠ Q♠ against Kevin's 7♠ 7♥, and he's be eliminated in 17th place ($5,005).

Tim had three career cashes prior to today, all final tables during Parx daily tournaments.  This was his largest score to date, and almost matched his earnings combined.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 18th Place - Bolte ($5,005)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 17

Robert Bolte (Richboro, PA)

Robert Bolte (Richboro, PA) would have just around (20) big blinds remaining, and with action folding to him, he would open shove from the cutoff.  Jameson Singer was next to act, and after a few moments of thinking, he would re-shove (players folding behind):

Singer: 9♣ 9♦
Bolte: A♣ 3♦

Flop: K♠ 8♠ 7♠
Turn: 6♠
River: K♥

Bolte would need some help going to the flop, and the runout didn't do much to change things for him.  Robert finishes in 18th place, and earns $5,005 for his efforts.  According to The Hendon Mob, this is Robert's first career cash.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 19th-21st Places ($4,413)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 17

The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 1500 for $4,413:

19. Joshua Hertz (Philadelphia, PA)
20. Jay Sharon (Fresh Meadows, NY)
21. Oliver Entine (New York, NY)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Final Two Tables

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 18

Here are the final two tables for the Big Stax 1500:

Table 45:

1. Ulises Roman
2. Tim Bryan
3. Chris Csik
4. Mike Linster
5. Ken Silberstein
6. Drew Small
7. Adam Larkin
8. Richard Bolte
9. Jameson Singer

Table 46:

1. Qi Ha
2. Joe Black
3. Cathy Dever
4. Kevin McColgan
5. Joe Brand
6. Joshua Beckley
7. Ketan Pandya
8. Matthew Maccaroni
9. Jesse Cohen

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Linster Beginning To Creep Up...Sends Field To Redraw

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 18

Mike Linster (Island Park, NY)

In a span of three hands, Mike Linster (Island Park, NY) send home two players, leaving the field with (18) players.  First it was Jay Sharon, who shoved over Linster's open and was behind with A♠ Q♣ against Mike's A♣ K♠.  The board would run out clean for Linster, and he'd chip up to 1,270,000.

After the elimination of Oliver Entine, Joshua Hertz was moved to Table 47, arriving with just over (10) bigs.  He would shove pre-flop and get called by Linster just two hands after Sharon's departure.  Linster would be ahead again with Q♦ Q♠ against Hertz's A♣ 10♠, and the runout would once be clean.

Linster begins to rack up his 1,600,000 in chips, and find himself a new seat for the re-draw.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Ha Doubles...Entine Doesn't

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 20

At Table 45, action would fold to Robert Bolte on the button, who opened to 60,000.  Cohen folded the small blind, and Qi Ha (with 7 big blinds) shoved.  Bolte said he couldn't fold and put in a stack of chips for the call:

Bolte: A♣ 6♣      Ha: J♠ 10♦

Flop: 4♦ 5♣ 7♠

Turn: J♣

River: 7♥

Bolte got a solid flop, even though he was already in the lead, and even though Ha paired up on the turn, Robert made club outs as well.  The river pairing the board would give the pot to Ha, who would double to 300,000.

While that was happening, Oliver Entine was at Table 47 open shipping his remaining (10) bigs.  Entine would run 9♥ 7♠ into the K♥ K♣ of chip leader Joshua Beckley, and be drawing dead on the turn.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Small Getting Bigger

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 21

Drew Small's Double

Big things were unfolding at Table 47, as Drew Small had gone all-in with a call from Ken Silberstein, building a pot worth over 1,200,000.  The bets would get in on the flop of J♥ 4♥ 6♥, with Small eventually going all-in and Silberstein making the call:

Small: J♦ 6♦ (top two)
Silberstein: K♦ J♠ (one pair)

Turn: 2♣
River: 2♠

Silberstein would celebrate for a moment, thinking he had counterfeited Small, but was informed by is table mates about the bad news.

Drew Small: 1,250,000
Ken Silberstein: 450,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 22nd-24th Places ($3,913)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 21

The following players haves cashed in the Big Stax 1500 for $3,913:

22. Renata Colache (Clayton, NJ)
23. Joseph Gossweiler (Roseland, NJ)
24. Vincent Longo (East Hanover, NJ)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Gossweiler First To Go

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 22

Only (10) minutes back from dinner the field would lose its first player.  Joseph Gossweiler would return with eight big blinds, and with the blinds creeping up, he would shove in early position.  Mike Linster called out of the small blind, and would be in the lead with Q J against the J 10 of Gossweilier.  After the runout of A K 3 10, Gossweilier could only hope for a chop on the river.  He wouldn't be so fortunate, and Joseph would be eliminated in 23rd place.  Linster is now over 800,000 after winning the pot.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Back To Business

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 23

Players are once again taking their seats, and the cards will be in the air shortly.  One thing to take notice of is that fact that nine players are returning with (20) big blinds or less.  The play is scheduled to conclude after Level 24 or the final table, whichever comes first.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Dinner Break (7:05-8:20pm)

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 23

As players are on their (75) minute break, here are the updated counts of everyone in the field:

Table 45:

1. Kevin McColgan - 1,100,000
2. Joe Black - 330,000
3. Robert Bolte - 680,000
4. Jesse Cohen - 800,000
5. Qi Ha - 400,000
6. Jameson Singer - 460,000
7. Adam Larkin - 700,000
8. Joe Brand - 400,000

Table 46:

1. Tim Bryan - 350,000
2. Chris Csik - 1,550,000
3. Matthew Maccaroni - 880,000
4. Ulises Roman - 1,400,000
5. Ketan Pandya - 660,000
6. Joshua Hertz - 245,000
7. Cathy Dever - 1,030,000

Table 47:

1. Jay Sharon - 360,000
2. Oliver Entine - 220,000
3. Joshua Beckley - 1,700,000
4. Mike Linster - 780,000
5. Renata Colache - 350,000
6. Ken Silberstein - 1,150,000
7. Drew Small - 720,000
8. Joseph Gossweiler - 160,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 25th-27th Places ($3,458)

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 24

The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 1500 for $3,458:

25. Joseph Bratolle (Parsippany, NJ)
26. Mike Azzaro (Yonkers, NY)
27. Matthew Meade (East Windsor, NJ)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Final Three Tables

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 27

The remaining players will finish out the next (25) minutes before heading on a (75) minute dinner break.  Here is the layout for the final three tables:

Table 45:

1. Kevin McColgan
2. Joe Black
3. Robert Bolte
4. Jesse Cohen
5. Qi Ha
6. Jameson Singer
7. Tim Bryan
8. Adam Larkin
9. Joe Brand

Table 46:

1. Joseph Bratolle
2. Chris Csik
3. Matthew Maccaroni
4. Ulises Roman
5. Ketan Pandya
6. Joshua Hertz
7. Cathy Dever
8. Matthew Meade
9. Vincent Longo

Table 47:

1. Jay Sharon
2. Mike Azzaro
3. Oliver Entine
4. Joshua Beckley
5. Mike Linster
6. Renata Colache
7. Ken Silberstein
8. Drew Small
9. Joseph Gossweiler

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): 28th-35th Places ($3,003)

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 27

The following players have cashed in the Big Stax 1500 for $3,003 (the field is now getting a full re-draw, with the seating assignments posted shortly):

28. Andrew Lukovsky (Brooklyn, NY)
29. Abe Faroni (Philadelphia, PA)
30. Kane Kalas (Philadelphia, PA)
31. Mickey Woll (Manahawkin, NJ)
32. Andrew Lydon (Royersford, PA)
33. Michael Jelaso (Manteca, CA)
34. Dan Couzens (West Hartford, CT)
35. Matt Robbins (Warrington, PA)

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Lydon Gets Unlucky

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 30

Kevin McColgan (Douglassville, PA)

Kevin McColgan (Douglassville, PA) came into the day with 252,000, and one of the more accomplished and travelled resumes in the field.  He hovered around his Day 2 starting stack to begin the afternoon, and began to trend upwards as the field reached the bubble.

Just moments ago McColgan and Andrew Lydon would get their chips in pre in a five-bet pot worth 740,000 (with McColgan at risk).  It would be the A♠ K♣ of Lydon in dominating position against Kevin's A♦ Q♦, but everything changed when McColgan flopped a queen and ended up winning the hand.

Lydon would be left with just over 100,000 after shipping the double over, and he would be eliminated just a few hands later.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Last Level Before Dinner

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 33

After the long bubble, play resumed as normal and the level has just transitioned.  Players will be posting blinds of 8,000/16,000/2,000 in Level 21, with a current chip average of 490,000.  This will be the last full level before players head on a (75) minute dinner break.  Here are some updated counts from the end of Level 21:

Ken Silberstein - 1,400,000
Chris Csik - 1,250,000
Joshua Beckley - 1,050,000
Ketan Pandya - 790,000
Jesse Cohen - 700,000
Adam Larkin - 690,000
Matthew Maccaroni - 615,000
Cathy Dever - 600,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): ITM Tweets

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 34

Here are some of the Tweets from players still active in the field:

In the $$$ @parxpokerroom Weeeee!
— Cathy Dever (@CathyDever) August 17, 2014

In the money, got 515k at 6/12k still...35 left and 1st is 116k #ParxMain
— Kevin McColgan (@Bukowski101) August 17, 2014

We're ITM!! 215k @ 12k bb!
— Mike Azzaro (@michael_azzaro) August 17, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Bubble Burst

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 35

At Table 48, Mike Jelaso opened the pot for a raise to 26,000.  Action folded to Eugene Fouksman (Manalapan, NJ) in late position, who would three-bet shove.  Play would fold back around to Jelaso, who would ask for a count, and before the dealer could finish cutting out the chips, he would make the call:

Jelaso: 8♥ 8♠       Fouksman: A♥ Q♥

Flop: 7♠ 9♠ 2♥

Turn: 4♦

River: J♠

Fouksman became the first player to fail to survive an all-in over the past (60) minutes, and he would be the Big Stax 1500 "bubble boy."  Everyone remaining in the field will earn their share of the prize pool respectively, with all of those results posted as the night unfolds.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Kalas And Ha Survive

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 36

The bubble continues, as seemingly every short stack that has got it in pre has survived and doubled.  Earlier it was Qi Ha doubling up with Q♣ Q♠ > J♦ J♠ of Joshua Hertz, chipping up to 250,000.  Kane Kalas followed by doubling with 10♣ 10♦  > Q♠ 9♠ of Andrew Lukovsky, chipping up to 225,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Bubble Could Of Burst..But Doesn't

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 36

Renata Colache shoved UTG for 112,000, with Joseph Gossweiler announcing a call.  Players assumed it would just be the two when it folded around, but Joshua Hertz's action was still pending.  He would ask to see if Gossweiler had him covered (which he did), and Hertz would fold pocket queens.  Colache's 9♥ 9♠ would hold against the A♦ K♠ of Gossweiler, and she would double to 235,000.  Colache would have been eliminated if Hertz made the call, but she survives and remains alive.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Entine And Azzaro Survive All-Ins

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 36

In a quick bubble update, Mike Azzaro holds with K♠ K♣ against the A♦ K♦ of Joseph Gossweiler, doubling up to 270,000.  At Table 46, Oliver Entine would get his nine big blind stack with A♦ K♦ against the Q♠ J♠ of Dan Couzens.  The board would runout Q♦ 5♦ 4♦ Q♥ 7♦, flopping Entine the nuts and then giving Couzens outs going into the river.  Oliver would hold and double to 240,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Full Field On The Bubble

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 36

Here is the layout of those remaining on the bubble:

Table 45:

1. Mickey Woll
2. Chris Csik
3. Drew Small
4. Ulises Roman
5. Matthew Robbins
6. Andrew Lydon
7. Jameson Singer
8. Jay Sharon
9. Kevin McColgan

Table 46:

1. Andrew Lukovsky
2. Jesse Cohen
3. Adam Larkin
4. Oliver Entine
5. Cathy Dever
6. Robert Bolte
7. Kane Kalas
8. Matthew Maccaroni
9. Dan Couzens

Table 47:

1. Joseph Brattole
2. Joseph Gossweiler
3. Tim Bryan
4. Ketan Pandya
5. Qi Ha
6. Mike Azzaro
7. Matthew Meade
8. Joshua Hertz
9. Renata Colache

Table 48:

1. Vincent Longo
2. Joe Brand
3. Eugene Fouksman
4. Joshua Beckley
5. Joe Black
6. Mike Linster
7. Abe Faroni
8. Ken Silberstein
9. Mike Jelaso

*** Level 20 just started with blinds going up to 6,000/12,000/2,000***

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): On The Stone Bubble

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 36

Table 49 is being broken at the moment, and players are getting situated in their new homes.  That means that we are now on the money bubble, with the next person eliminated earning nothing but the term "bubble boy."  There is 3:52 showing on the tournament clock, but players will be going on a (15) minute break now, and return to hand-for-hand play.  Instead of looking at the big stacks remaining, here are the shortest stacks on the bubble:

Mickey Woll - 100,000
Qi Ha - 125,000
Mike Azzaro - 135,000
Oliver Entine - 145,000
Matthew Meade - 152,000
Matthew Robbins - 155,000
Renata Colache - 172,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Maccaroni Gets A Bubble Double As Well

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 39

Matthew Maccaroni (Hamilton Sq., NJ)

Action at Table 49 would fold around to a short stacked Matthew Maccaroni (Hamilton Square, NJ), who would open to 20,000.  Jay Sharon made the call on the button, with Chris Csik shoving for over 600,000.  Maccaroni made the call and Sharon folded behind:

Maccaroni: K♥ K♣
Csik: A♣ Q♦

Flop: 8♦ 7♠ J♣
Turn: 8♠
River: K♠

Maccaroni would hold to get comfortable on the bubble (400,000), while Csik would absorb the loss and drop down to 630,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Meade Crushing Main Event Dreams

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 39

Players are now three eliminations from four full tables of nine and hand-for-hand play.  Mikhail Kazakevich was grinding a very short stack of less than 10 big blinds, and he decided it was his time as he pushed 70,000 over an initial raise from Matthew Meade.  Meade would be left with just 40,000 if he made the call, but did just that and the hands were tabled:

Meade: Q♠ 10♦         Mikhail: K♠ 10♥

Flop: 4♣ 8♦ Q♥

Turn: 8♠

Turn: 7♣

Kazakevich looked down with black stare and he began to get up from the table, with Meade explaining to him why he made the call.  Matthew gets a little healthier as we approach the money bubble, sitting with just over 210,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Entine Gets A Big Bubble Double

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 42

With action at Table 49 folding around to the blinds (Chris Csik and Oliver Entine), we would have a standard bubble scenario.  One of the biggest stacks in the room against one of the shortest, with Csik betting enough to put Oliver all-in.  Entine made a fairly quick call and would be pleased to see his J♠ J♣ up against the J♥ 9♠ of Csik.  Entine flopped a set to dash any real hopes for Csik, and doubled to 215,000.

Parx regular Sean Wallace (Horsham, PA) could not navigate his below average stack on the bubble, as he busted moments ago in 42nd place (seven off the money).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Level Up...Looking At Chip Counts

Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 43

The blinds continue to grow higher, as players now enter Level 19.  The blinds are going up to 5,000/10,000/1,000, with a 375,000 chip average at the moment.  Here is a look at the chip counts across the field, as we now have a few players poised to eclipse the 1,000,000 chip mark:

Chris Csik - 985,000
Joshua Beckley - 960,000
Cathy Dever - 840,000
Kane Kalas - 710,000
Jameson Singer - 605,000
Kevin McColgan - 590,000
Ken Silberstein - 560,000
Mike Linster - 530,000
Andrew Lydon - 510,000
Joshua Hertz - 510,000
Jay Sharon - 490,000
Joe Black - 480,000
Jesse Cohen - 400,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Pandya Sends Home Fischer

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 44

Ketan Pandya (Piscataway, NJ)

After Ketan Pandya (Piscataway, NJ) opened the pot for a raise form the hijack, action would fold to Daniel Fischer in the big blind.  Fischer pushed across his stack of just under 130,000, and after just a moment of thought, Pandya threw a chip across the betting line, signifying a call:

Pandya: 10♠ 10♣
Fischer: J♦ 10♦

Runout: 4♠ 2♣ 4♠ 2♠ 10♥

The runout would bring no help to Fischer, who would bust just nine spots from the money.  On the other side, Pandya is now up to 540,000 after collecting his newfound chips.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Himmelbrand To The Rail...Money Bubble Looming

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 46

The field is ten eliminations away from being sat at four full tables.  At that point the tournament clock will be paused and players will be hand-for-hand until (35) remain.  Those (35) players will all then be in the money, and play will continue until the first re-draw at (27).  Greg Himmelbrand (Oakland Gardens, NY) is one of the players to just fall short of the money, as he was eliminated moments ago (and posted about it on Twitter):

Busto 13 off $$$. Not too thrilled :/
— Greg Himmelbrand (@GregHPoker) August 17, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Beckley Busts Liberto

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 51

Joshua Beckley (Marlton, NJ)

The action at Table 50 would fold around to the two blinds, Joshua Beckley and Justin Liberto.  Beckley would open for a raise with Justin coming along out the big.  The dealer placed down a flop of 9♣ 7♠ 5♣, and Joshua would continue with a 12,000 bet.  Liberto pushed forward a raise to 37,000, answered by a three-bet to 112,000.   Liberto would four-bet shove and Joshua would quickly make the call:

Liberto: Q♣ Q♦
Beckley: A♣ A♦

Turn: J♣
River: K♥

In a situation that players at the table said should of happened pre-flop, the two ended up waiting one street to get the chips in.  Beckley becomes the chip leader after eliminating Justin, stacking up a mountain of chips over 860,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Marquette's Not Laughing

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 54

Qi Ha (Union, NJ)

At Table 47, J.R. Marquette would be all-in and at risk on a flop of K♦ 2♦ 2♣ against Qi Ha (130,000 pot):

Marquette: K♥ 5♥ (two pair)
Ha: 10♦ 9♦ (flush draw)

Turn: 9♥
River: 9♠

The turn would give Ha more outs to win the hand, but the nine-nine runout was a difficult one for Marquette to watch.  He sat back down for a second, before eventually getting up and walking away from the table.  Ha, who was the last person to arrive for Day 2, is now over 340,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Early Eliminations

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 55

Players returned from break only twenty spots from the money, but the play is starting to get deeper.  While there are many notables still alive in the field, there were also those that didn't make it to this point in the day:

Concetta Rinaldi
Geno Raman
Will Failla
Jonas Wexler
Alan Kraut
Craig Bateman
Ray Shackelford

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): First Break/Updated Chip Counts

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 57

Players are going on their first (10) minute break of the day, and they will return to Level 18 and blinds of 4,000/8,000/1,000 (294,000 chip average).  Here are some updated chip counts from the end of Level 17:

Cathy Dever - 740,000
Jameson Singer - 660,000
Kevin McColgan - 600,000
Kane Kalas - 550,000
Joshua Hertz - 530,000
Chris Csik - 530,000
Joshua Beckley - 500,000
Robert Bolte - 485,000
Jay Sharon - 430,000
Ken Silberstein - 430,000
Chris Whitall - 400,000
Tim Bryan - 350,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Queen Falls At The Hands Of Cathy

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 60

After Cathy Dever opened UTG, action would fold around to Alex Queen in late position.  Queen would three-bet shove his remaining 80,000, with Dever making the call after players folded back to her:

Queen: A♣ Q♠         Dever: A♠ K♣

Flop: J♠ 9♥ 2♣

Turn: 10♦

River: 9♦

Queen would wish his friends at the table luck, and collect his things before walking away.  With that pot, Cathy eclipses 830,000 and stretches her chip lead even more.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Dever Controlling Things At The Moment

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 323

Players Remaining: 62

Cathy Dever (Ephrata, PA)

Cathy Dever has already proven that she can play with anyone, making numerous Big Stax deep runs, and reaching one final table this series already.  Cathy is currently the chip leader in the field, sitting with 620,000 in front of her, at one of the more difficult tables in the room.  She is seated at Table 51 with the likes of Ryan Feldman, Adam Levitan, Alex Queen, Mickey Woll, Chris Csik, Justin Liberto, Robert Hwang, and Oliver Entine.

The field has lost some more notables since the second level of the day started, including Jared Jaffee and Aaron Overton.  Overton busted J♣ J♠ < 9♠ 9♥ for a pot worth 400,000, with Ken Silberstein the recipient of Aaron's chips.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Glantz Gets A Double

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 66

As the level was transitioning, Matt Glantz was at risk for his tournament life.  Glantz shoved 73,500 over an open from Matthew Robbins.  After Robbins began to take some time, Glantz looked over and said, "Well that's good news."  The news would get even better for Matt after Robbins made the call:

Glantz: A♠ K♥    Robbins: K♣ Q♥

Flop: 9♠ 7♦ 5♦

Turn: 8♠

River: 2♦

Robbins would be dominated going to the flop, but by the turn he would have added some chop outs. The deuce on the river was not quite the card Robbins was looking for, and Glantz would double to 160,000.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Level Up...Updated Chip Counts

Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 68

The first level of the day is in the books, with blinds now going up to 3,000/6,000/1,000 (68 players remaining).  Here are some updated counts from the end of Level 16:

Jameson Singer - 580,000
Jay Sharon - 530,000
Robert Bolte - 510,000
Cathy Dever - 505,000
Chris Csik - 420,000
Dan Couzens - 390,000
Tim Bryan - 380,000
Matthew Robbins - 380,000
Kane Kalas - 350,000
Mike Azzaro - 320,000
Ryan Feldman - 310,000

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): A Tough Pill To Swallow

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 73

Robert Bolte (Richboro, PA)

Looking over the way of Table 46, David Gordon would be standing up with just a look of shock on his face.  Gordon had just got it in pre with Robert Bolte for a pot worth 405,000, with both players holding the same hand:

Bolte: A♣ K♣
Gordon: A♥ K♦

Flop: 6♣ 6♦ 9♦
Turn: 5♣
River: 9♣

On the flop it seemed as if Gordon had the only chance of winning the hand, but when Bolte turned clubs, he'd be free rolling the hand.  The river club is what put the look we witnessed on Gordon's face, as he just lost 75% of his stack.  Bolte would chip up to 405,000 with the pot, while Gordon dropped down to 102,000.

It would be the next hand that would then end the day for Gordon, as he once again battled versus Robert Bolte, blind v. blind.  Bolte's A♠ K♣ > 5♠ 5♣ of Gordon, and David would go from 80 big blinds to out of the tournament.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Doing The Most With Ten Bigs

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 77

Mike Cologna and Matthew Macaroni

At Table 52, seats eight and nine, we have two players starting the day with ten big blinds.  Matthew Macaroni came back to Day 2 the conventional way, while Mike Cologna went the "morning of" route.  Cologna had already gotten his double to lift himself over 100,000, while Macaroni was all-in for 58,500 as we approached the table.  Daniel Couzens was in the small blind and would look Macaroni up, with the big blind folding:

Macaroni: A♥ 10♣
Couzens: A♠ 4♠

Runout: 9♦ Q♥ 6♠ K♣ 2♠

Matthew would double to over 120,000, with Couzens taking a small hit to his stack.  A few more notables were spotted leaving the tournament area, as Eric Rappaport and Jeffrey Gottesman have ended their days earlier than wanted.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Losing Players Quickly

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 83

There has already been a handful of players to bust in the first (18) minutes of the day, with the field only (43) elimination away from the money.  Michael Marder came into the day with just over ten big blinds (61,000), but he just updated his Twitter account with his elimination:

Welp busto 2nd hand of the day. Fold sb, then open shove 11.5bbs on btn with J9dd, lose to A9o of the bb. GG, GL all. #parxbigstax
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) August 17, 2014

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Payouts

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 80

Big Stax 1500 ($150,000 Guarantee)
August 14-18, 2014
$1,500 + 100 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Total Entries: 323
Total Prize Fund: $454,965

Payouts:

1. $116,738
2. $69,610
3. $43,040
4. $32,348
5. $23,840
6. $19,473
7. $16,060
8. $12,648
9. $9,554

10-12. $6,688

13-15. $5,733

16-18. $5,005

19-21. $4,413

22-24. $3,913

25-27. $3,458

28-35. $3,003

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Those To Join The Party...First Gone

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323
Players Remaining: 80

As mentioned just moments ago, five players did utilize the option to buy in this morning.  Those players were:

Kambiz Behbahani
Kevin Smith
Joseph Montervino
Mike Cologna
Dennis Thurman

Those players can say they outlasted at least one person, as Ari Albilia (Syosset, NY) busted on the first hand of the day (started with 32,500, less than 7 big blinds).

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Day 2 About To Begin

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 323

The rules announcement has just been made by tournament supervisor Dave Rolo, and the cards are about to be in the air.  The levels are now (60) minutes long, and will transition to (90) minutes later in the day.  There were five players to buy-in with ten bigs this morning, and after a moment we will find out who those players were.  Today's action with play down to the conclusion of Level 24 (or) the final table, whichever comes first.

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Day 2 Chip Counts (Alpha)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 318

DAY 2
Total Players:	318	78
Total Chips:	15,900,000	203,500
Ariel	Albilia	32,500	46	5
Anderson	Almonte	102,500	46	9
Michael	Azzaro	182,500	48	1
Craig	Bateman II	168,000	53	5
Joshua	Beckley	349,500	53	8
Robert	Bolte	186,500	46	6
Joe	Brand	192,000	48	2
Joseph	Brattole	194,500	53	2
Tim	Bryan	340,000	47	3
Jesse	Cohen	98,500	46	2
Renata	Colache	138,000	49	4
Nicholas	Condo	436,000	50	5
Daniel	Couzens	453,500	52	9
Chris	Csik	540,000	52	4
Catherine	Dever	410,500	53	3
Oliver	Entine	239,500	52	3
Will	Failla	176,500	49	9
Abraham	Faroni	213,000	53	9
Ryan	Feldman	298,500	51	1
Daniel	Fischer	144,000	47	8
Gregory	Fishberg	79,000	48	4
Eugene	Fouksman	353,000	48	3
Benjamin	Gillette	110,000	45	1
Matt	Glantz	149,500	45	6
David	Gordon	469,000	54	9
Joe	Gossweiler	225,500	50	8
Jeff	Gottesman	31,500	54	3
Qi	Ha	176,000	47	5
Joshua	Hertz	296,000	50	4
Greg	Himmelbrand	324,000	50	3
Robert	Hwang	113,500	51	8
Jared	Jaffee	153,500	45	4
Mike	Jelaso	365,000	48	9
Steve	Juricek	291,500	48	5
Kane	Kalas	130,500	54	2
Rich	Kates	210,500	49	6
Mikhail	Kazakevich	92,000	47	9
Alan	Kraut	207,500	52	5
Natale	Kuey	207,500	49	5
Adam	Larkin	208,500	46	3
Adam	Levitan	135,000	51	2
Justin	Liberto	527,000	53	1
Staffan	Lind	62,000	51	5
Robert	Link	127,500	47	6
Mike	Linster	369,000	48	6
Vincent	Longo	125,000	54	1
Andrew	Lukovsky	97,000	46	1
Andrew	Lydor	148,000	50	2
Matthew	Maccaroni	57,000	52	8
Michael	Marder	61,000	49	8
JR	Marwuette	165,500	47	1
Kevin	McColgan	252,500	51	4
Matthew	Meade	82,500	53	4
Mike	Moore Jr	130,000	48	8
Mike	Murphy	259,500	54	4
Michael	Naidrich	175,500	50	1
Aaron	Overton	80,000	49	1
Ketan	Pandya	305,500	47	4
Joeseph	Pochedly	45,500	51	6
Alexander	Queen	51,000	50	9
Geno	Raman	170,000	46	4
Eric	Rappaport	95,500	49	3
Joe	Reddick	213,500	50	6
Concetta	Rinaldi	49,000	45	9
Matt	Robbins	380,000	45	5
Ulises	Roman	93,000	52	6
Ray	Shalkelford	102,500	54	5
Jay	Sharon	417,500	45	8
Ken	Silberstein	191,000	49	2
Jameson	Singer	401,000	54	8
Drew	Small	227,000	45	3
Bill	Strong	208,000	52	1
Gaetano	Taormina	165,500	47	2
Frank	Toscano	133,000	51	9
Sean	Wallace	170,000	45	2
Jonas	Wexler	55,500	51	3
Chris	Whitall	385,500	46	8
Mike	Woll	121,000	52	2

Big Stax 1500 (Day 2): Day 2 Table Draw

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 318

Play will resume for Day 2 at 12:00pm (promptly), with any players buying in before the day starts automatically sitting down to the button (or) cutoff:

DAY 2	Table Order
Total Players:	318
Benjamin	Gillette	110,000	45	1
Sean	Wallace	170,000	45	2
Drew	Small	227,000	45	3
Jared	Jaffee	153,500	45	4
Matt	Robbins	380,000	45	5
Matt	Glantz	149,500	45	6
EMPTY			45	7
Jay	Sharon	417,500	45	8
Concetta	Rinaldi	49,000	45	9
Andrew	Lukovsky	97,000	46	1
Jesse	Cohen	98,500	46	2
Adam	Larkin	208,500	46	3
Geno	Raman	170,000	46	4
Ariel	Albilia	32,500	46	5
Robert	Bolte	186,500	46	6
EMPTY			46	7
Chris	Whitall	385,500	46	8
Anderson	Almonte	102,500	46	9
JR	Marwuette	165,500	47	1
Gaetano	Taormina	165,500	47	2
Tim	Bryan	340,000	47	3
Ketan	Pandya	305,500	47	4
Qi	Ha	176,000	47	5
Robert	Link	127,500	47	6
EMPTY			47	7
Daniel	Fischer	144,000	47	8
Mikhail	Kazakevich	92,000	47	9
Michael	Azzaro	182,500	48	1
Joe	Brand	192,000	48	2
Eugene	Fouksman	353,000	48	3
Gregory	Fishberg	79,000	48	4
Steve	Juricek	291,500	48	5
Mike	Linster	369,000	48	6
EMPTY			48	7
Mike	Moore Jr	130,000	48	8
Mike	Jelaso	365,000	48	9
Aaron	Overton	80,000	49	1
Ken	Silberstein	191,000	49	2
Eric	Rappaport	95,500	49	3
Renata	Colache	138,000	49	4
Natale	Kuey	207,500	49	5
Rich	Kates	210,500	49	6
EMPTY			49	7
Michael	Marder	61,000	49	8
Will	Failla	176,500	49	9
Michael	Naidrich	175,500	50	1
Andrew	Lydor	148,000	50	2
Greg	Himmelbrand	324,000	50	3
Joshua	Hertz	296,000	50	4
Nicholas	Condo	436,000	50	5
Joe	Reddick	213,500	50	6
EMPTY			50	7
Joe	Gossweiler	225,500	50	8
Alexander	Queen	51,000	50	9
Ryan	Feldman	298,500	51	1
Adam	Levitan	135,000	51	2
Jonas	Wexler	55,500	51	3
Kevin	McColgan	252,500	51	4
Staffan	Lind	62,000	51	5
Joeseph	Pochedly	45,500	51	6
EMPTY			51	7
Robert	Hwang	113,500	51	8
Frank	Toscano	133,000	51	9
Bill	Strong	208,000	52	1
Mike	Woll	121,000	52	2
Oliver	Entine	239,500	52	3
Chris	Csik	540,000	52	4
Alan	Kraut	207,500	52	5
Ulises	Roman	93,000	52	6
EMPTY			52	7
Matthew	Maccaroni	57,000	52	8
Daniel	Couzens	453,500	52	9
Justin	Liberto	527,000	53	1
Joseph	Brattole	194,500	53	2
Catherine	Dever	410,500	53	3
Matthew	Meade	82,500	53	4
Craig	Bateman II	168,000	53	5
EMPTY			53	6
EMPTY			53	7
Joshua	Beckley	349,500	53	8
Abraham	Faroni	213,000	53	9
Vincent	Longo	125,000	54	1
Kane	Kalas	130,500	54	2
Jeff	Gottesman	31,500	54	3
Mike	Murphy	259,500	54	4
Ray	Shalkelford	102,500	54	5
EMPTY			54	6
EMPTY			54	7
Jameson	Singer	401,000	54	8
David	Gordon	469,000	54	9