Event 2
Time flies when you’re having fun and the first week of the Winter Poker Open has certainly been just that, as six WPO champions were crowned, along with multiple players making deep runs to notch some of the biggest results of their career. To start this ‘First Week Action’ recap with anything other than the opening $2,000,000 GTD event would be criminal. That event saw a massive 5,100 player field come together and in the end, it was Jason Loehrs claiming victory. He earned just over $380,000 for the win, which was his first here at Borgata.
Loehrs claimed victory yesterday and there were two other WPO trophies awarded before the weekend officially over, as Duane Hunton locked up a win right before 6 AM today. That Event 6 ‘Big Stack NLH’ victory was good for a nearly $30,000 score and Guy Cicconi overcame a sizable heads up chip disadvantage to claim an over $14,000 score for his Event 5 ‘Seniors NLH’ win. He’ll be back for the WPT WPO Championship next weekend and we could very well see Joe Cashen back for that main event as well, as he claimed just shy of $45,000 for his Event 3 ‘Saturday Series’ win on Saturday.
Alison Grippo was another Saturday winner this weekend, as she took home just shy of $5,000 for her Event 4 ‘Ladies NLH’ win. The biggest winner, save for Jason Loehrs, was Ryan Slanicka though, as he took home close to $52,000 for his Event 2 ‘$100 Black Chip Bounty’ victory, after a grueling 15 hour Day 2 session.
There are still over a dozen WPO titles still up for grabs, meaning that the final week and a half of the series is surely going to be just as exciting as the first week. The WPO blog will be here to bring you all of that action but if you want to go back and catch up on what’s happened over the last week, the links at the top of this post will bring you to each event’s individual coverage.
It should also be noted, that a complete list of results from each event are linked as well.
Level 29: Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 1
Ryan Slanicka (New Kensington, PA) and his supportive rail celebrate Ryan’s largest career score and his victory in Event 2.
When Day 2 commenced, Ryan Slanicka was among the chip leaders, but still a relative unknown in the field. Over the next few hours, Slanicka began to separate himself from his competitors before hitting a big rush of hands that helped propel him to the chip lead when the final table began play.
During the course of the final table, Slanicka picked his spots well and was able to chip up gradually without facing much adversity. While Pat Canizio made the big splash early on with his numerous bounties gained at the final table, it was Slanicka who had the last word as he dominated three-handed and heads up play.
The $52,168 first place prize marks the largest score of Slanicka’s career by far as he continues to add to his growing resume. Slanicka’s rail erupted as the final card hit and Slanicka’s even-keeled nature finally caved as he basked in the glow of his first career Borgata title.
Level 29: Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 1
Pat Canizio (Staten Island, NY)
It was a short lived heads up battle between Pat Canizio and Ryan Slanicka with Slanicka coming out victorious in a battle between two players looking for their first Borgata title.
In the final hand, Canizio and Slanicka saw a flop of {jd}{7d}{2h} with Canizio checking over to Slanicka who bet 320,000. Canizio responded with a check-raise to 900,000. Undeterred by Canizio’s aggression, Slanicka slid in a tower of chips equaling a raise to 3,000,000 total.
Canizio moved all in for his last six million and was called immediately by Slanicka who held {qh}{qd}. Canizio was alive with top pair {jc}{10d} but would need help. The {5s} hit the turn and {9c} fell on the river and Canizio will finish second with his best career score of $29,333.
Level 29: Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 8,000,000 (100 big blinds)
Adam Hendrix (Anchorage, AK)
Adam Hendrix was running hot at the end of the last level but his good fortune has come to an end at the hands of Ryan Slanicka. Hendrix limped in and Slanicka came in for a raise which prompted Hendrix to move all in for about 2,100,000.
Slanicka called with {ad}{kc} and was way in front of Hendrix’s {kd}{jh}. The {ac}{4d}{7c} flop kept Slanicka ahead but the standard sweat came on the {10s} turn. A queen did not come on the river and Hendrix will earn $18,469 for his largest career finish,
Entering heads up play, Pat Canizio holds a slight lead with 8,300,000 against the 7,700,000 of Slanicka.
Level 29: Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 5,333,000 (66 big blinds)
Stephanie Hubbard (Hazlet, NJ)
Following her loss at the hands of Adam Hendrix, Stephanie Hubbard was short-stacked coming back to the new level. After a limp from Adam Hendrix, Hubbard completed the small blind and Pat Canizio checked his option.
Hubbard check after the {ks}{10h}{7s} flop to Canizio who bet 100,000. Hendrix called and then Hubbard came over the top for 975,000 more. Canizio deliberated for a moment then called which prompted Hendrix to fold.
Hubbard’s {3s}{2s} flush draw was trailing Canizio’s {qs}{10d} and she did not improve on the {6h} turn or {7d} river. She will earn $14,992 for her run in this event.
Level 28: Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 4,000,000 (67 big blinds)
Adam Hendrix (Anchorage, AK)
Adam Hendrix has been short for the majority of the final table, but is now beginning to see daylight and is in a position to make a full run at this event title.
After Hendrix defended a Stephanie Hubbard button open from the big blind, the two players checked the {6d}{4s}{8h} flop. On the {ah} turn, Hendrix led for 200,000 and received a call from Hubbard.
Hendrix check the {4d} river to Hubbard who bet 330,000. Hendirx promptly check-raised to 900,000 and after some moments of indecision, Hubbard called only to see Hendrix turn over {6h}{6s}. Hubbard showed the {ad} and commented on how the turn helped Hendrix get value on the river.
This would be Hendrix’s best live cash to date if he is able to keep this run going as the final four continue to battle.
Hendrix is now up to 4,900,000 while Hubbard is nearing the danger zone with 1,200,000.
Level 28: Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 4,000,000 (67 big blinds)
Keith Morrow (Pittsburgh, PA)
The trend of bust outs continues as Keith Morrow after moving his final 485,000 into the middle from the small blind. Adam Hendrix looked up Morrow with {qh}{4c} and was ahead of Morrow’s {js}{3s}. A queen on the flop kept Hendrix ahead and sent Morrow to the rail with a $11,950 payday.
The remaining four players currently stand as follows:
Pat Canizio – 6,800,000
Ryan Slanicka – 4,700,000
Stephanie Hubbard – 2,400,000
Adam Hendrix – 2,100,000
Level 28: Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 3,200,000 (53 big blinds)
Hector Jimenez (Passaic, NJ)
Nate Parenti (Brooklyn, NY)
Hector Jimenez and Nate Parenti have seen their stacks gradually dwindle since the final table began and both saw their chances at Borgata glory come to an end.
Following a Pat Canizio raise, Jimenez moved all in for 950,000 and Canizio called with {4c}{4s} against Jimenez’s {as}{6s}. The {qh}{8s}{4h} flop put Canizio firmly in front and sent Jimenez to the rail earning $7,931.
The next hand, Nate Parenti moved all in from the small blind with {ah}{6s} and got called by Ryan Slanicka in the big blind with {as}{7h}. Slanicka paired his seven on the flop and Parenti fell in 6th place earning $9,886.
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000/45,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 7
Average Stack: 2,285,000 (47 big blinds)
Lou Procopio (Liverpool, NY)
Pat Canizio has gradually been building his stack at this final table and his now the chip leader following his elimination of Lou Procopio. Canizio raised to 150,000 from early position and Procopio put his last 700,000 with {as}{10c}. Canizio wasted little time calling with {kc}{kd}.
Procopio picked up great equity on the {js}{3s}{2s} flop but could not pull ahead of Canizio on the {9h} or {qd} river. Procopio earns $5,975 for his finish. Canizio now has 4,965,000 which puts him ahead of Ryan Slanicka (3,625,000) and Stephanie Hubbard (3,125,000).
Level 26: Blinds 25,000/50,000/45,000 ante
Total Entries: 640
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 2,000,000 (40 big blinds)
John Moe (Cincinnati, OH)
John Moe was facing an uphill battle for most of this final table and was up against it coming back to the new level. Following a raise to 100,000 from Stephanie Hubbard, Moe went all in for his final 450,000. Pat Canizio called on Moe’s direct left and after Hubbard folded, Moe saw his {9s}{9d} would be a massive underdog against Canizio’s {jc}{js}.
The {3h}{6h}{8c}{ah}{qc} board did not improve Moe and he hit the rail in 9th place earning $4,128. Canizio now sits with 3,960,000.