Parx Big Stax 1500 ($500,000 Guaranteed)

Day 3 And Final Table

12:50am: After a brief discussion, the two remaining players decided to chop up the remaining prize money evenly ($134,269). As Robert Boyko held the majority of the chips, they agreed to award him the title, along with the winner’s trophy!  Patrick Halter officially finishes in 2nd, but can certainly be happy with getting more than 2nd place money in the deal.  Thanks very much to everyone who participated in the inaugural Parx Big Stax series, expect an announcement on when our next major series takes place in the coming weeks!

12:43am: We’re down to heads-up after the elimination of Vinny Napolitano. Napolitano moved in with pocket nines as Robert Boyko called with Kc-Jc. The flop came down K-Q-J giving Boyko top pair and Napolitano a gutshot straight draw. The turn and river brought no help and we’re down to heads-up between Boyko and Patrick Halter for the title!

12:40am: Back to the action!

12:30am: Another level has come to an end, here’s how it stands:

Robert Boyko – 11,200,000

Patrick Halter – 11,000,000

Vinny Napolitano 3,300,000

Play expected to resume with level 30: 60,000/120,000 with an ante of 20,000.

12:12am: Three-handed play has consisted of several raise-and-take-it hands, and if there’s a flop, there’s rarely a turn. Less than 13 minutes remain in the level as Napolitano is back under 30 bbs, with Boyko and Halter controlling the rest.

11:54pm: Vinny Napolitano is at a severe chip disadvantage with less than 2,000,000 of the over 25,000,000 chips in play. But he lives to fight another day as he doubles through Richard Boyko. Boyko opened to 275,000 as Napolitano shoved and Boyko quickly called. The board didn’t help either player, giving Napolitano about 35 big blinds to work with.

11:40pm: We’re now three-handed after the elimination of Michael Dentale.  One hand after a confrontation with Robert Boyko, where Dentale folded to Boyko’s all-in shove, they were at it once again. This time the hands were shown as Dentale held two red queens as Boyko turned over A-Jo.  An ace hit the flop and the rail was rooting for Dentale to hit one of the two black queens. They weren’t coming, as Dentale exited the tournament area, cashing for $52,656 as Boyko retakes the chip lead. The next player out will see the cashier about their $71,086.

11:25pm: Halter retakes the lead from Boyko, on a board of 8-4-2-A-2 with over 2,000,000 chips in the pot, both players checked the river as Halter revealed 8-6o to take down the pot. Halter now at

11:20pm: So far this level, Boyko has regained the chip lead while Napolitano has returned to becoming the short stack, with about 2,500,000 chips.

10:57pm: Play resumes with blinds at 50,000/100,000 with an ante of 10,000. There was a brief discussion on chopping up the remaining prize money, but it was decided to play another level and look at the numbers again.

10:45pm Level 28 is now over, let’s take a look at the chip counts:

Patrick Halter – 10,500,000

Robert Boyko – 8,600,000

Vinny Napolitano – 3,700,000

Michael Dentale – 3,050,000

10:40pm: Melad Marji – the leader at the start of Day 3, is out in 5th place, earning $39,492, eliminated at the hands of Patrick Halter. Marji opened to 160,000 and Michael Dentale called. Patrick Halter raised to 430,000 from the button and only Marji called. The flop came down Qc-9c-7h as both players checked. The 7d on the flop brought a bet of 675,000 from Marji as Halter called. The Jc on the river had Marji bet over 1,300,000 leaving just over 1,000,000 behind.  Halter moved all in, leaving Marji to mutter “So f’ing sick”. Eventually, he called as Halter turned over pocket jacks for a rivered full house, moving him into the chip lead with over 10 million chips four-handed.

10:00pm: Action has certainly picked up since the dinner break. Vinny Napolitano has been the short stack for a while, but he just doubled through Melad Marji as his pocket kings held against the pocket nines of the former chip leader. Napolitano now has over 3,000,000 chips as Marji tumbles to just over 3,000,000 and is now the short stack.

9:55pm: Dentale gets involved in yet another pot, this time he comes out on the better end of the deal. On the river, Dentale bets 1,200,000 (about a pot-sized bet) on a board of 5-4-3-A-7. Boyko ponders the call, but eventually he folds, turning over A-A for top set.  Dentale doesn’t show his hand, but speculation abounds as to whether he was bluffing or if he held the best hand.

9:45pm: Another dent to the stack of Dentale after his A-K can’t beat Marji’s K-6 on a board of Q-T-5-5-6.  Chip counts:

Melad Marji – 4,500,000

Michael Dentale – 3,400,000

Patrick Halter – 6,100,000

Robert Boyko – 9,200,000

Vinny Napolitano – 1,900,000

50 minutes remain in level 28.

9:21pm: An early setback for Michael Dentale, flopping a set of jacks, but Patrick Halter held Ac-Jx with four more clubs on board. How the chips didn’t go in is a mystery, but Halter adds to his stack.

9:15pm: Play has resumed at the final table, with blinds at 40,000/80,000 as each player contributes an ante of 10,000.

7:51pm: We’re now taking a 75-minute dinner break, so let’s take a look at the chip counts:

Melad Marji – 6,500,000

Michael Dentale – 5,200,000

Patrick Halter -6,000,000

Robert Boyko – 8,300,000

Vinny Napolitano – 1,600,000

Play resumes around 9:10pm

7:48pm: Vinny Napolitano moved in for an additional 655,000 over the top of Robert Boyko’s raise of 135,000.  Boyko thought for a couple minutes, calling reluctantly with 10d-2d.  He at least knew he had live cards as Napolitano held A-K.  The flop brought a king, moving Napolitano over 1,500,000 but still the short stack at the table as we approach the dinner break.

7:15pm: Michael Dentale was poised to win a big pot against Robert Boyko with a board of A-8-x-9, holding A-8 to Boyko’s A-6.  When the river brought another 9, both players checked as Dentale frustratingly turned over his cards, knowing the pot was about to be chopped up.  30 minutes remain until dinner break as Dentale holds over 5,000,000 chips to Boyko’s chip-leading stack of nearly 8,000,000.

7:05pm: We’re halfway through level 27 and five still remain. Only Vinny Napolitano is in critical shape, down to about 1,000,000 chips, less than 20 big blinds.

6:39 pm:  Of the remaining 5 players, two are in the tournament for two bullets, while the other three are in for one.

6:30 pm:

The dealer announced an all-in and a call, and we turned around to see Robert Boyko standing up.  Now he wasn’t at risk, it was James Anderson whose tournament life was on the line:

Anderson: Q Q            Boyko: A J

Flop: 7 2 4

Turn: 5

River: 3

A pretty brutal beat for Anderson to take, as Boyko makes the wheel on the river.   Anderson leaves in 6th place, taking home $31,594, while Boyko chips up to 8,000,000.

6:10 pm:

James Anderson opened on the button for 115,000, and Melad Marji flatted from the small blind.  Action was then on Mike Dentale who three-bet to 450,000, and the decision was back on Anderson.  Anderson went all-in, which caused Marji to fold behind, and Dentale quickly called:

Dentale: A A            Anderson: 10 10

Flop: A 2 2

Turn: 3

River: 8

Dentale doubles to over 4,500,000, while Anderson drops down to 1,300,000.

6:00 pm:  Level 26 will end in about ten minutes, and the blinds will go up to 30,000/60,000/10,000.  The chip average for the final six players is 4,300,000.  After the conclusion of Level 27 the players will be going on dinner break, which has been shortened from the normal 75 minutes.

5:37 pm:

Barry Dehlin (Dresher, PA) was short throughout the final table, managing to double up on a few separate occasions.  Unfortunately his momentum would come to a crashing halt as he got his final chips all-in against Robert Boyko:

Dehlin: 9 9        Boyko: A K

Flop: K 8 K

Turn: 4

River: J

5:26 pm:

Vimy Ha (Brooklyn, NY) had just scooped a small pot, and as he was stacking his chips, Melad Marji made a raise to 115,000 UTG.  Ha was next to act and declared himself all-in.  The action folded around back to Marji, who made the call and flipped over his hand:

Marji: J J          Ha: 9 9

Flop: K K J

Turn: 3

River: 3

It was all written for Ha on the flop, and he needed to run absolutely perfect-perfect to win the hand.  The 3 on the turn would end it for Ha, and he walks home with $21,063 for 8th place.

5:16 pm:

Mark Wahba and Mike Dentale got tangled in a hand, and Dentale bet enough on the river to put Wahba all-in.  The board was:

J♣ 2♠ 4♣ 10♣ 3♠

Wahba was only sitting with about 225,000 if he folded, but he thought for a long while with the hand.  He asked Dentale numerous times if he would show his hand if he folded.  Dentale did not answer at any point, and Wahba finally decided to make the call.  Mike tabled K♣ Q♣, and Wahba would muck his hand, leaving us in 9th place.

5:00 pm:

After nearly two hours, we’ve finally lost a player at the final table. James Anderson raised, as Andrew Rosskamm shoved for just over 1,000,000 chips with AsJs. Anderson snaps with Ad-Ac, putting Rosskamm at risk. The flop of K-T-x gives Rosskamm some outs, picking up some more when a jack hit the turn. The river was a blank as Rosskamm hits the cashier, earning $11,509 for his placing.

4:39pm Here’s the approximate chip counts as they return from break in a few moments:

James Anderson – 3,800,000

Andrew Rosskamm – 1,325,000

Melad Marji – 4,800,000

Mark Wahba – 1,175,000

Vimy Ha – 1,000,000

Michael Dentale – 1,250,000

Patrick Halter – 3,750,000

Robert Boyko – 5,800,000

Barry Dehlin – 775,000

Vinny Napolitano – 2,000,000

4:29 pm:  Players are going on a 15 minute break, and when they return the blinds will be 25,000/50,000/5,000.  Chip average amongst the ten players is 2,585,000.

4:27pm On the last hand before the break, Patrick Halter doubled through Barry Dehlin to move to over 3,500,000 chips. Mark Wahba, Dehlin and Halter saw a flop of Q-3-3. Halter led out, Dehlin moved all in, Wahba folded and Halter quickly called with 5-3 against Dehlin’s A-Q.  Another queen on the flop gave Dehlin some outs, but a ten on the river gives Halter the checkmark.

4:11pm Barry Dehlin is on a roll during level 25. On a board of Jc-7c-4c, Vinny Napolitano put in a bet of just over 250k, only to see Dehlin put in a hefty raise, putting Vinny at risk, before eventually laying it down. Dehlin now moves well over 2,000,000 in chips with less than 15 minutes left in the level.

3:45 pm: Approximate chip counts with 45 minutes left in level 25:

James Anderson 3,300,000

Andrew Rosskamm – 1,400,000

Melad Marji 4,300,000

Mark Wahba – 1,400,000

Vimy Ha – 3,300,000

Michael Dentale – 1,200,000

Patrick Halter – 1,000,000

Robert Boyko – 3,250,000

Barry Dehlin – 1,800,000

Vinny Napolitano – 1,600,000

3:30pm Play has settled down a tad as the final table gets settled in for a long night here at the Parx Poker Room.  A reminder of the final table payouts:

1	$157,959
2	$110,579
3	$71,086
4	$52,656
5	$39,492
6	$31,594
7	$26,328
8	$21,063
9	$15,797
10	$11,509

3:13pm Dehlin moves all-in once again, this time it’s Vimy Ha who calls, and turns out to be ahead with AdKh against Dehlin’s As-Js. Dehlin moves in front when the Jd is flopped, and stays ahead when the board doesn’t improve. Dehlin moves close to 2,000,000 in chips, still below the average of just under 2,600,000.

3:07pm A severely short-stacked Barry Dehlin moved in from the button with Ah-Kh as Melad Marji called with Ac-Jc. A king on the flop was more than enough, taking Dehlin close to 1,000,000 in chips.

2:57pm We’ve resumed play at the final table with 10 players remaining!

2:52 pm:

2:45pm We’ve redrawn the final table of 10, here’s their seat assignments and approximate chip counts as we start level 25 (20,000/40,000/5,000) shortly after the orange 1,000-chips are removed:

Seat 1: James Anderson – 3,600,000

Seat 2: Andrew Rosskamm- 1,900,000

Seat 3: Melad Marji – 4,800,000

Seat 4: Mark Wahba- 2,000,000

Seat 5: Vimy Ha – 3,500,000

Seat 6: Michael Dentale – 1,400,000

Seat 7: Patrick Halter – 1,450,000

Seat 8: Robert Boyko – 3,725,000

Seat 9: Barry Dehlin – 490,000

Seat 10: Vinny Napolitano 2,200,000

2:32pm

We are now down to one table after a double elimination at table 44.  First, Abraham Faroni shoved, then Carl Restifo moved all-in for a little more. Next it was up to Vimy Ha, who called the all-ins.  Cards were on their backs with Faroni holding K-6, Restifo with 6-6 and Ha with A-J. An ace on the flop followed by a jack on the turn was followed by a blank on the river as Ha knocks out both players.  Faroni officially finishes in 12th place while Restifo winds up in 11th. Both players earn the same amount, $11,509 to set up out final table!

2:25pm Table 44 is featuring plenty of doubling-up as the short stacks continue to survive.  First Vinny Napolitano doubles through Abraham Faroni with AA vs 99 to cripple Faroni.  Then it was Carl Restifo’s turn to double once again. Holding less than 10 bbs, he shoved with K-Q against Vimy Ha’s Jh-Th.  The K-8-6 flop with two hearts gives Ha the flush draw, but no more hearts came, bringing Restifo to around 800,000 chips.

2:10pm Crippled when Vimy Ha makes a straight on the river, Carl Restifo finds KK on the very next hand to double up against Vinny Napolitano’s A-J, a Jack on the turn gave Vinny some hope, but nothing further came, keeping Restifo alive.  Less than 15 minutes remains in the level.

1:53pm

More carnage on table 43 as we lose another player.  Action folded to Kori Hunter in the big blind, raising to 150,000. Robert Boyko shoves from the big blind with 9-6o and Hunter snap-calls with A-K.  The flop came down 7-6-4 moving Boyko in front. The 3 turn and 6 river knocks Hunter out in 13th, collecting $9,403.  Michael Dentale has been moved over from table 44, now occupying the 3 seat with 40 minutes remaining in the level.

1:31pm 

We’ve lost our first player on the final day as David Novak departs in 14th place, earning $9,403.  After four players saw a flop of 9-3-2, with two hearts, it was down to chip leader Melad Marji and Novak.  The 3 on the turn saw Marji bet 205,000 as Novak moved all-in for about 1,000,000 chips. Marji snap-called with 2-2 flop a full house as Novak was drawing dead with Qh-Jh.  The 9c on the river changed nothing, leaving us with 13 players left with 62 minutes remaining in the level.

1:09pm Carl Restifo earns a quick double-up through Patrick Halter as A-T beats K-Q all-in pre-flop with the board running out A-Q-T-8-7, moving Restifo over 700,000 chips.

1:05pm Shuffle up and deal! Cards in the air. Starting today at level 24 (15,000/30,000/4,000).

12:47pm Players are filing into the Parx Poker Room for the final day of the Parx Big Stax $1,500 Main Event. 14 players remain in contention for the first place prize of $157,959 at the end of play today.  Melad Marji is the one to beat, starting today with 4,100,000 chips, followed close behind by Robert Boyko with 3,900,000.

9:16 am:  Today is the final day of our Parx Big Stax Series, and only 14 players remain in our Parx Big Stax 1500 (Main Event).  The play will resume today at 1:00 pm, and we will have guest coverage from poker media royally, KevMath (Kevin Mathers).  We are super excited to have him helping with our coverage.

Here is some information you’d like to know going into the day:

Players Remaining: 14

What They’re Playing For:

1	$157,959
2	$110,579
3	$71,086
4	$52,656
5	$39,492
6	$31,594
7	$26,328
8	$21,063
9	$15,797
10	$11,509
11	$11,509
12	$11,509
13	$9,403
14	$9,403

Level Coming Back: Level 24 (15,000/30,000/5,000)

Chip Counts:

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Chip Count
Melad	Marji	Canastota NY	4,100,000
Robert	Boyko	Yonkers NY	3,900,000
James	Anderson	Pittsburgh PA	2,996,000
Vimy	Ha	Brooklyn NY	2,779,000
Patrick	Halter	Nacberth PA	2,185,000
Andrew	Rosskamm	Gates Mill OH	2,034,000
Mark	Wahba	Cleavland OH	1,900,000
David	Novak	Philadelphi PA	1,323,000
Michael	Dentale	Brooklyn NY	1,200,000
Barry	Dehlin	Dresher, PA	1,023,000
Vinny	Napolitano	Williston Park NY	880,000
Abraham	Faroni	Philadelphia Pa	693,000
Kori	Hunter	Columbia MD	583,000
Carl	Restifo	Waretown NJ	350,000

Table Draw:

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Chip Count	Table #	Seat #
Melad	Marji	Canastota NY	4,100,000	43	1
Andrew	Rosskamm	Gates Mill OH	2,034,000	43	2
David	Novak	Philadelphi PA	1,323,000	43	3
EMPTY				43	4
EMPTY				43	5
James	Anderson	Pittsburgh PA	2,996,000	43	6
Barry	Dehlin	Dresher, PA	1,023,000	43	7
Kori	Hunter	Columbia MD	583,000	43	8
Robert	Boyko	Yonkers NY	3,900,000	43	9
Vinny	Napolitano	Williston Park NY	880,000	44	1
Patrick	Halter	Nacberth PA	2,185,000	44	2
EMPTY				44	3
EMPTY				44	4
Michael	Dentale	Brooklyn NY	1,200,000	44	5
Abraham	Faroni	Philadelphia Pa	693,000	44	6
Carl	Restifo	Waretown NJ	350,000	44	7
Viny	Ha	Brooklyn NY	2,779,000	44	8
Mark	Wahba	Cleavland OH	1,900,000	44	9