Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Sosa Dips Down, But Back Up Again

Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 8 (Average: 4,400,000)

Alfredo Sosa was at point the chip leader, but saw himself drop back to the middle of the pack.  

Ferrigno opened the pot for 400,000, and was called by both Cannon and Sosa (who was on the button).  The flop came out 2 4 K, and everybody checked.  After the board paired with another K on the turn, Ferrigno led out for 555,000, and was called in both spots.  The river brought a Q and the action once again checked around.

Ferrigno showed J J, but was disgusted to see Sosa's A Q tabled.  Sosa would win the sizable pot and get back up above 6,000,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Ferrigno Doubles

Level 28 - Blinds 50,000/100,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 8 (Average: 4,400,000)

Frank Ferrigno has been the first player in a while to take a significant chunk of Sosa's stack.  All the chips got in pre (4,500,000 pot), with Sosa's K K getting cracked by A 8.  

Frank is now up to 4,500,000, and now vaults himself to the top three.   Sosa loses just about 2,000,000 in the pot, and is now neck and neck with Lisovskiy.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Break Time

Players are going on a (10) minute break and will return to blinds of 50,000/100,000/10,000.  Here are the updated chip counts:

1. Ray Ross - 4,100,000
2. Frank Ferrigno - 2,100,000
3. Joseph McKeehen - 3,300,000
4. Mike Cannon - 2,600,000
5. Bryan Hayes - 2,500,000
6. Alfredo Sosa - 8,200,000
7. Steven Sarmiento - 2,200,000
8. Dennis Lisovskiy - 7,000,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 9th Place - Kalantarov ($3,844)

Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 8 (Average: 4,000,000)

Yurig Kalantarov (Rego Park,  NY)
9th Place - $3,844

Alfredo Sosa opened the pot for 160,000 and was called by Steven Sarmiento on his direct left.  The next to act was Yurig, who went all-in for 1,100,000.  Sosa thought for a second before declaring himself all-in as well (having both players well covered).  It would be a race between the two:

Sosa: 6 6           Yurig: A Q

Flop: 4 6 7

Turn: J

River: X

Sosa has been running well at the most important time, after being down to 1,500,000 just hours ago.  He's currently the chip leader with close to 9,000,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Same Trend

Level 27 - Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 9 (Average: 3,600,000)

The same trend we were seeing earlier has shown its face again, as only one in every 4-5 hands are going to showdown.  When they do reach a flop, we are not seeing much action afterwards.

There are no noted chip swings to report.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Break Time

Players will be going on a (10) minute break, and will return to Level 27 and blinds of 40,000/80,000/10,000 (~44 big blinds).  Here are the updated chip counts from break:

1. Ray Ross - 3,400,000
2. Frank Ferrigno - 3,900,000
3. Joseph McKeehen - 2,600,000
4. Mike Cannon - 2,400,000
5. Bryan Hayes - 2,800,000
6. Alfredo Sosa - 7,500,000
7. Steven Sarmiento - 1,400,000
8. Dennis Lisovskiy - 6,000,000
9. Yurig Karantalov - 2,600,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 10th Place - Haines ($3,383)

Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 9 (Average: 3,600,000)

Foster Haines (Lock Haven, CT)
10th Place - $3,383

Foster Haines has come a long way since his altercation yesterday with Mike Dentale on Day 2.  Haines was the shortest stack and got his remaining 600,000 in UTG + 1, and Frank Ferrigno also went all-in behind for over 1,500,000.  When the action was on Bryan Hayes, he made the call as well, and the hands were tabled:

Haines: A 10        Ferrigno: Q Q        Hayes: A K

Flop: J J 2

Turn: J

River: 7

Haines would be sent home in the hand, but the win for Ferrigno was huge as he would chip up to over 3,800,000.  Hayes would drop down below 2,500,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): A Lot Of Raise And Take It

Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 10 (Average: 3,200,000)

The title says it all, as all we have since returning from break is a lot of raise and steal the blinds and antes.  

The shortest stack at the moment is Foster Haines, who sits with about 600,000 (10 big blinds).

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): Final Table Lineup

Here is the lineup for the final table:

1. Ray Ross
2. Frank Ferrigno
3. Joseph McKeehen
4. Mike Cannon
5. Bryan Hayes
6. Foster Haines
7. Alfredo Sosa
8. Steven Sarmiento
9. Dennis Lisovskiy
10. Yurig Kalantarov

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 11th Place - Grzsenikowski ($3,383)

Level 26 - Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000
Players Remaining: 10 (Chip Average: 3,400,000)

Peter Grzsenikowski (Furlong, PA)
11th Place - $3,383

Peter got all his chips in on the turn of a 6 8 7 9 board (holding a five), but would only be drawing to a possible chop with Alfredo Sosa who had the ten high straight.  Peter was very gracious in defeat, shaking the hands of all the players remaining as they prepared to move to their new seats at the final table.

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): Back From Dinner

The remaining 11 players have started to take their seats, and will play this way until we reach the final table (at 10 players).  The blinds are 20,000/40,000/5,000, with a chip average of 2,900,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 12th Place - Dullavin ($3,383)

Shawn Dullavin (Ridgefield Park, NJ)
12th Place - $3,383

Shawn's all-in moment was in a tough spot, as his A Q would be in bad shape against the A K of Bryan Hayes.  As mentioned yesterday, this is once again a super deep run for Bryan Hayes.  He was within grasp of a trophy against Jason Rivkin in Big Stax I, and once again is almost a final table away.  With that pot Hayes becomes one of the chip leaders, with around 4,300,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Dinner Chip Counts

Here are the counts during dinner:


Table 57:

1. Yurig Kalantarov - 2,200,000
2. Alfredo Sosa - 4,900,000
3. Peter Grzesnikowski - 1,600,000
4. Frank Ferrigno - 1,800,000
5. Dennis Lisovskiy -3,300,000
6. Ray Ross - 3,000,000

Table 58:

1. Steven Sarmiento - 2,700,000
2. Forster Haines - 600,000
3. Bryan Hayes - 4,300,000
4. Mike Cannon - 2,400,000
5. Joseph McKeehen - 3,500,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Dinner Break

Players have (15) minutes remaining in Level 25, and have decided to then take a (75) dinner break.  They will return to Level 26 and blinds of 30,000/60,000/10,000, with the chip average being 45 big blinds (2,700,000).

We will also updates the chip counts once players leave for break.

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): 13th Place - Wallace ($3,044)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 12 (Average: 2,400,000)

Sean Wallace (Horsham, PA)
$3,044

After losing a sizable pot with tens against the jacks of Ray Ross, Sean would be grinding a 500,000 stack for pretty much the rest of his day.  He shoved the button with 500,000, and watched as McKeehen iso-shoves:

McKeehen: A Q            Wallace: Q 7

Flop: 6 4 8

Turn: Q

River: K

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Shorties Doubling

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 13 (Average: 2,100,000)

Both Karantalov and Dullivan were around the 30 big blind marks, and found doubles through their opponents.

Karantalov was all in for 1,100,000, and after tanking Dennis Lisovskiy made the call.  The A K of Karantalov was never behind Dennis's A Q, and Yurig would rake in close to 2,400,000.

Shawn Dullivan came from behind as he flopped top two with A 9 against McKeehen's A Q.  Dullivan was all in for 700,000, and would come out of the hand with 1,600,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts

Here are the updated chip counts from the remaining 13 players:

Table 57:

1. Yurig Kalantarov - 1,600,000
2. Mike Cannon - 2,200,000
3. Alfredo Sosa - 3,500,000
4. Peter Grzesnikowski - 2,500,000
5. Frank Ferrigno - 1,100,000
6. Dennis Lisovskiy - 5,100,000
7. Ray Ross - 3,300,000

Table 58:

1. Shawn Dullivan - 800,000
2. Steven Sarmiento - 1,000,000
3. Forster Haines - 600,000
4. Bryan Hayes - 3,100,000
5. Sean Wallace - 640,000
6. Joseph McKeehen - 4,600,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Level Up & Break Time

Players will finish the next nine minutes of this level and then go on a (10) minute break.  When they return to Level 25 the blinds will be going up to 20,000/40,000/5,000.  We will once again update the chip counts once players leave the table for break.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 14th Place - Matusow ($3,044)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 13 (Average: 2,300,000)

Don Matusow (Philadelphia, PA)
14th Place - $3,044

It's the same story with a different opponent, as Joseph McKeehen send Don Matusow home in a blind v. blind situation.  Matusow shoves from the small blind (with 8 9) and is called by McKeehen (holding A 9).  The flop comes ace high and McKeehen sends another player home, padding what was already a sizable chip lead.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Sosa Up And Down

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 15 (Average: 2,100,000)

Alfredo Sosa has close to 4,000,000, but was dropped down to below 1,500,000 after losing a massive pot to Dennis Lisovskiy.  It looked as if his downward trend would continue, until a well timed double up came for him (via Karantalov).

Sosa is once again above 3,000,000, and sits above what is now the chip average.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 15th Place - Gurfinkel ($3,044)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 14 (Average: 2,300,000)

Jeffrey Gurfinkel (Hallandale Beach, FL)
15th Place - $3,044

McKeehen once again sends another player home, but it was the hand prior that would put Jeffrey in a spot with less than 10 bigs.  Gurfinkel raised the button and called Steven Sarmiento's shove from the big blinds.  Gurfinkel's Q J would never lead the K 5 of Sarmiento, and he'd be eliminated the following hand.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 16th Place - Dubinchik ($2,706)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000

Players Remaining: 15 (Average: 2,100,000)

Alexander Dubinchik (Holland, PA)
16th Place - $2,706

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 17th Place - Heck ($2,706)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000
Players Remaining: 16 (Average: 2,200,000)

David Heck (Colts Neck, NJ)
17th Place - $2,706

Joseph McKeehen continues to steamroll the field, as he sends home David Heck in seventeenth place.  Heck announced himself all-in on the 4 6 8 flop, and McKeehen would quickly call and turn over A A.  Heck would table Q 8, and after another 4 on the turn, he'd need a two outer to win the hand (which he didn't hit).

McKeehen now has over 7,000,000 and continues to separate himself from the rest of the field.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 18th Place - Shasho ($2,706)

Level 24 - Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000
Players Remaining: 17 (Average: 2,000,000)

Mike Shasho (Ramsey, NJ)
18th Place - $2,706

We walked over to Table 58 as Mike Shasho and Joe McKeehen were going to the flop.  The board would run out Q 9 7, and Shasho would go all-in for his remaining 400,000.  Joe would make the call and the hands would be turned over:

Shasho: 2 2        McKeehen: 10 10 

Flop: Q 9 7

Turn: 6

River: 8

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Redraw & Take A Break

Players are taking their first break of the day (10 minutes), and when they return to Level 24 the blinds will be going up to 15,000/30,000/5,000.  Here are the new seating arrangements as well as the updated chip counts:

Table 57:

1. Yurig Kalantarov - 3,400,000
2. Mike Cannon - 4,200,000
3. Alfredo Sosa - 4,100,000
4. Peter Grzesnikowski - 1,100,000
5. Alexander Dubinchik - 1,400,000
6. Foster Haines - 450,000
7. Frank Ferrigno - 800,000
8. Dennis Lisovskiy - 3,200,000
9. Ray Ross - 1,700,000

Table 58:

1. Jeff Gurfinkel - 900,000
2. Shawn Dullivan - 300,000
3. Steve Sarmiento - 600,000
4. Mike Shasho - 700,000
5. Bryan Hayes - 1,900,000
6. Sean Wallace - 550,000
7. David Heck - 1,000,000
8. Don Matusow - 800,000
9. Joseph McKeehen - 5,100,000

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 19th Place - Weber ($2,429)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 18 (Average: 1,790,000)

Greg Weber (Linden, NJ)
19th Place - $2,429

Greg Weber and Yurig Kalantarov got involved in a pot worth over 130 bigs (all-in pre).  Weber would not be in good shape as his A K would be up against the A A of Kalantarov.  Weber was getting his jacket on and his backpack over his shoulder, but when the flop came out all hearts (and Greg held the ace of hearts), the sweat would be on.  The next two cards would be as black as can be, sending Weber home in nineteenth place ($2,429).

The tournament floor is now redrawing the remaining 18 players, and we will bring you updated chip counts during the break.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 20th Place - Hillard ($2,429)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 19 (Average: 1,700,000)

Andy Hillard (Tennessee)
20th Place - $2,429

On a board of 4♠ 5♠ 8♣ 9♣, all of the chips got in between Mike Cannon and Andy Hillard.  The hands were then turned over, and it would be the 6♠ 8♠ of Hillard (top pair with gut shot straight flush draw), against the 8 9 of Cannon (top two).  The river would bring a black jack, but it would be the wrong suit for Hillard, who would end up going home in twentieth place.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 21st Place - Bainbridge ($2,429)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 20 (Average: 1,600,000)

Steve Bainbridge (Camp Hill, PA)
21st Place - $2,429

Bainbridge picked a bad time to open it up, as he shoved his remaining 600,000 pre, and was called by Mike Cannon in the big blinds.  Bainbridge had the J 2 (off) and was up against the A A of Mike Cannon.  Steve would flop a jack on the K J 3 board, but another 3 on the turn would have things looking dicey.  A river ace would be overkill for Cannon, who now has 3,400,000 and has vaulted himself to top five in chips.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 22nd Place - Perry ($2,153)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 21 (Average: 1,550,000)

Jacob Perry (Branchville, NJ)
22nd Place - $2,153

Jacob was one of the shorter stacks of the remaining field, and got it in with pocket eights against the pocket tens of Alfredo Sosa.  Perry wasn't able to find one of his two outs, and would end up going home in 22nd place, collecting $2,153.

While Perry's bust out hand was going on, there was a large hand unfolding at Table 57 between Ray Ross and Sean Wallace.  They were all in pre, and it was the J J of Ross against the 10 10 of Wallace, with Ross getting a full double.

Ran 10s into jacks for 1m each, turned a flush draw and a gutter but couldn't get there :(. Have about 1.1m #Rebuild
— Sean Wallace (@Walllllly) October 7, 2013

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 23rd Place - Shedaker ($2,153)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 22 (Average: 1,470,000)

Paul Shedaker (Croydon, PA)
23rd Place - $2,153

In what would be the largest pot of the tournament so far, we walked over on a flop of 4♦ 6♦ 4♥.  Paul Shedaker had a 125,000 bet in front of him, which Joe McKeehen called from the button.  Alfredo Sosa then made it 250,000 from the small blind, and Shedaker proceeded to go all-in for over 800,000.  McKeehen quickly announced himself all-in as well (having both players well covered), and Sosa folded behind:

McKeehen: 6 6          Shedaker: A♦ J♦

Flop: 4 6 4

Turn: 10

River: 10

McKeehen literally and figuratively has "all" of the chips, sitting with the massive chip lead and 5,500,000.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 24th Place - Katsman ($2,153)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 23 (Average: 1,350,000)

Aleksandr Katsman (Brooklyn, NY)
24th Place - $2,153

Katsman came in as one of the shorter stacks this afternoon, and ran into the buzz saw which is Joe McKeehen.  Katsman's J J could not win the race against the A Q of McKeehen, as an ace was right in the window.  Katsman was our oldest player remaining in the field at 70, but was able to navigate the youngsters on his way to a top twenty five finish.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): 25th Place - Blumstein ($1,907)

Level 23 - Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000
Players Remaining: 24 (Average: 1,350,000)

Scott Blumstein (Morristown, NJ)
25th Place - $1,907

Yurig Kalantarov opened the pot for 105,000, and when the action was on Sean Wallace (from the SB), he three-bet to 250,000.  Scott Blumstein would then four bet all-in from the BB for over 450,000, and Yurig would re-ship for heaps.  Wallace would end up folding behind and it would be the A K of Blumstein against the A A of Kalantarov.

Blumstein wouldn't get the miracle run out, and would be eliminated in 25th place, taking home $1,907 for his efforts.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3): Playing Down To A Winner

Day 3 action will begin at 1:00pm this afternoon, with the 25 players remaining moving over to the main poker room.  The tables are going to be set and roped off, and the action will continue until someone has the Big Stax IV trophy.

There is a really solid crew of players remaining, which include some seasoned circuit players, Parx regulars, and amateurs really enjoying the ride.  Our detailed live coverage of Day 3 will begin once the cards are in the air.

Big Stax 300 (Day 3 Chip Counts)

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Chip Count	Table #	Seat #
Ray	Ross	PA	1,337,000	57	1
Alexander	Dubinchik	Holland PA	1,409,000	57	2
Dennis	Lisovskiy	Holland PA	2,678,000	57	3
Foster	Haines	Lock Haven, CT	405,000	57	4
EMPTY				57	5
Yurig	Kalantarov	Rego Park NY	2,241,000	57	6	BUTTON
Shawn	Dullavin	Ridgefield Park	834,000	57	7
Sean	Wallace	Horsham, PA	2,300,000	57	8
Scott	Blumstein	Morristown NJ	438,000	57	9
Bryan	Hayes	Moorestown NJ	1,739,000	58	1
Frank	Ferrigno	Wayne, PA	386,000	58	2
Peter	Grzesnikowski	Furlong, PA	1,460,000	58	3
Steve	Bainbridge	Camp Hill,PA	573,000	58	4	BUTTON
Don	Matusow	Philadelphia, PA	823,000	58	5
Michael	Shasho	Ramsey, NJ	612,000	58	6
Andashiki	Hillard	Tennesee	1,590,000	58	7
Jeffrey	Gurfinkel	Hallandale Beach, FL	900,000	58	8
Michael	Cannon	Harrisburg, PA	2,224,000	58	9
David	Heck	Colts Neck NJ	784,000	59	1	BUTTON
Joseph	Mckeehen	North Wales PA	3,712,000	59	2
Alfredo	Sosa	Paraguay	595,000	59	3
Jacob	Perry	Branchville NJ	550,000	59	4
Paul	Shedaker	Croydon PA	1,032,000	59	5
Aleksandr	Katsman	Brooklyn NY	583,000	59	6
EMPTY				59	7
Greg	Weber	Linden NJ	2,301,000	59	8
Steven	Sarmiento	Queens NY	771,000	59	9

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): Bag 'Em Up

Players will be finding out shortly how many hands remain in the night, and we will then bag and tag the chips for Day 3.  The seating assignments and chip counts will be posted by 2:30am.

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): Seating Assignments

Here are the seating assignments after the redraw (26 remaining):

Table 65:

1. Ray Ross
2. Alexander Dubinchik
3. Dennis Lisovsky
4. Foster Haynes
5. Dave Inselberg
6. Yuriy Kilantarov
7. Sean Dullavin
8. Sean Wallace
9. Scott Blumstein

Table 66:

1. Bryan Hayes
2. Frank Ferrigno
3. Peter Grzesnikowsky
4. Steve Bainbridge
5. Don Matusow
6. Mike Shasho
7. Jeff Gurfinkel
8. Mike Cannon

Table 67:

1. David Heck
2. Jospeh McKeehen
3. Alfredo Sosa
4. Jake Perry
5. Paul Shedaker
6. Alex Katsman
7. Greg Weber
8. Steve Sarmiento

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): 28th-36th Places ($1,661)

The following players have cashed for $1,661:

28. Adam Schlain (Newport News, VA)
29. Coury Mascagni (Washington D.C.)
30. Tim Ward (Bridgewater, NJ)
31. Michael Pasiuk (Staten Island, NY)
32. Gary Bowker (Landsdowne, PA)
33. Peter Sterns (Philadelphia, PA)
34. Chris Van Deursen (Philadelphia, PA)
35. Mike Dentale (Brooklyn, NY)
36. Kevin Campbell (New Jersey)
37. A.J. DeNicco (Pottstown, PA)

Big Stax 300 (Day 2): Redrawing

The remaining 27 players are currently finding out where their new seats are, and once they are seated we will bring you the names left.