Update: WPT Borgata situs online Open, Final Table
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--We're underway. Some quick, random news and observations:
- Mike Gracz, Gavin Smith and Erick Lindgren are here. They're all friends with Chris Bell.
- Mark Newhouse has been wearing a hat the entire tournament, but he's sans cap tonight. That's bad for two reasons: 1.) You never change what's working for you. If you're winning with a hat, you wear a hat. 2.) He has a terribly dopey haircut. He looks like one of those Lego men.
- The Borgata Babes are back. One of them smiled at me. I'm sure of it.
- More prop bets: The over/under on Sklansky smiling this evening has just been set at "never." (I took the over.)
Tunica Next.....
I am not sure who of the situs online Big Three are attending the sessions in Mississippi, I assume that the UB Aruba tournament might be more of a lure... But fear not PokerBloggers both Amy and I will be heading to the great Northwest of the Old Muddy. Expect our reports as soon as this weekend and continuing until we can take no more of the wonderful southern hospitality of the Tunica hotels and casinos.
Queens and Tens Make Newhouse Borgata Champ
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ---So not a long night afterall. Mark Newhouse went all in on the button. Chris McCormack calls. Newhouse shows queens and McCormack turns over A-J. The board 5d-10s-4s-10c-Qs and Mark Newhouse wins the Borgata Open Championship earning him $1,519,020 and a seat at the WPT Championship at the Bellagio in April.
McCormack goes home a runner-up with $802,985 and Gonz has headed back to get a little shut-eye before heading off to Philly for his crack of dawn flight.
Down to Two
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--David Sklansky has left the building. Beginning the tournament with a little over 600,000 chips, Sklansky worked his way back to 3.2 million. He pushed it all in with fives against Chris McCormack who called with 10s. The board came 8-10-8-4-K giving McCormack a full house and an opportunity to face Mark Newhouse heads up at the Borgata Final Table. Sklansky leaves with third place and $419,040.
Chris McCormack (bottom right) has 9,715,000 chips and Mark Newhouse (bottom left) has 4,350,000.
Dropping Like Flies
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--It took over three hours to lose one player, but less than 15 minutes more to send the second guy home. Chris Bell is gone. His A-4 didn't hold up against Newhouse's A-9.
Bell finished 5th, and takes home $314,280. His what-you-talking-bout look, though, is worth so much more.
UPDATE: Things are really moving now. Anthony Argila (K-8) just busted thanks to Chris McCormack (K-5; he caught a five on the turn).
Argila is out in 4th place, good for $366,660.
Long Night Ahead
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—While Gonz and Spaceman are arguing about who is going to get the “Out in a Blaise of Glory” headline, until Blaise Ingoglia busted out to Mark Newhouse, things have been pretty…. Well, just plain stale! Everyone at the final table has moved all in at least twice but the victor was always the low-stacked underdog. Media is packed on a couple of platforms behind the crowds making it difficult to see or hear anything…. Well except for, and God love her…Linda Johnson’s bad jokes.
Ingoglia is our first move to the end of this final table. I have a feeling it could be a long night…and for Gonz who flies out of Philly at 6 a.m. Tomorrow…a long day ahead.
Man Down
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--Finally. After more than three hours, we’ve dropped a player. Blaise Ingoglia is gone. He went bust when his A-Q didn’t hold up against Mark Newhouse’s J-8 (he made a straight on the river).
Ingoglia finished in 6th place, earning $261,901. Only five more players and 37 hours to go.
Mr. Sklansky, ¿Did I See a Smile?
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--- So as Gonz has the over on the "David Sklansky Never Smiles" prop bet, I think I just saw at least evidence of a smirk when Sklansky went all in with 6-6. Blaise Ingoglia called with A-10. The turn showed a six giving Sklansky a set. Low stacked and doubling up through Ingoglia, ¿surely that's worth more than a little smirk?
Hiding Behind Anthony Argila's Chips
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--Behind Anthony Argila's 1,350,000 chips are photos of his three-year-old son Antony George. Before the final table was underway, Linda Johnson asked him if he was looking for sympathy. Argila laughed a little and said, "Yes, take it easy on me."
Update: Apparently little Antony is guarding Daddy's chips well. Argila just doubled up through David Sklansky.
