$125 No-Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guaranteed
Day 2 Completed
$125 No-Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guaranteed
Day 2 Completed
It took three days, six starting flights and hundreds of re-entries, but Event #2 of the Seneca Fall Poker Classic finally came to a close Wednesday night. A total of 560 entries put up the $125 buy-in, creating a prize pool $53,200 to surpass the $50,000 guaranteed prize pool.
In the end it was cash game player Darrin Bracken who came away with the title and the $12,502 top prize. Bracken came from behind to beat Michael Sweeney in a battle of contrasting styles of heads-up play. The final hand saw Bracken river a flush against Sweeney's turned set; it was one of several made-for-TV hands we witnessed at the final table.
The day began with 110 players who advanced from one of the six starting flights. Only 45 positions were being paid, meaning more than half of the remaining field would go home empty-handed. The eventual bubble player was Atif Choudhury, who shoved with into Tomasz Werstler's pocket aces.
The final table was reached this evening with several Seneca Poker regulars still in contention. After Mirko Medic exited in 10th place, Carol Leonardi busted in ninth when her came up short against the of Siavash Banai.
A double knockout occurred moments later when Peter Raimondi busted Werstler and Alex Rivera. Werstler shoved for 405,000 from under the gun and Raimondi flatted from middle position. Action folded over to Rivera, who counted his chips and pushed him into the pot. Raimondi called, creating a huge three-way all-in.
Raimondi:
Werstler:
Rivera:
A runout of gave Raimondi the entire pot, making him the new chip leader.
Brackin then eliminated Bania and Sonny Rattan to take the pole position. The hand against Rattan was a wild one as Bracken flopped a set, Rattan turned Broadway and Bracken rivered quads, sending Rattan to the rail in fifth place.
Chris Ventura and Raimondi followed, setting up a heads-up duel between Bracken and Sweeney. Bracken, with the cash game background, was looking to see a lot of flops, while Sweeney was applying pressure preflop by putting Bracken to a decision for his chips.
Sweeney opened with the sizable lead but Bracken fought back and claimed victory on an exciting final hand. Sweeney raised his button and Bracken called to see a flop. Bracken bet 500,000 and Sweeney called, bringing the on the turn. Bracken moved all in, and Sweeney snapped him off.
Bracken:
Sweeney:
Sweeney turned a set of queens and slammed them proudly onto the felt, but Bracken was drawing live to straight and flush draws. Sure enough, the landed on the river to deliver Bracken's flush.
That does it for our coverage of Event #2! Be sure to check in tomorrow morning as we continue our coverage of the Seneca Fall Poker Classic with Event #3 on the hotel balcony. See you then!
Michael Sweeney raised his button and Darrin Bracken called to see a flop. Bracken bet 500,000 and Sweeney called, bringing the on the turn. Bracken moved all in, and Sweeney snapped him off.
Bracken:
Sweeney:
Sweeney turned a set of queens and slammed them proudly onto the felt, but Bracken was drawing live to straight and flush draws. Sure enough, the landed on the river to deliver Bracken's flush. Sweeney will have to be content with a second-place finish for $7,710.
Bracken, meanwhile, collects $12,502 for his first place finish, along with the Event #2 trophy. Stay tuned for a full recap from the final day of action.
Michael Sweeney raised to 310,000 and Darren Bracken called to see a flop. Bracken checked, Sweenet bet 500,000 and Bracken check-shoved for 2,300,000. Sweeney called.
Bracken:
Sweeney:
Sweeney called for red cards and he got one on the turn. But the river completed Bracken's flush and he doubled up.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Darrin Bracken |
4,600,000
2,300,000
|
2,300,000 |
Michael Sweeney |
3,800,000
-2,300,000
|
-2,300,000 |
Stack update for the fans:
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Michael Sweeney |
6,100,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
Darrin Bracken |
2,300,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
Level: 30
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 20,000
Our final two players are taking a short break. We'll be back in 10.
Peter Raimondi spent much of the day atop the chip counts. The first time he was the short stack, he couldn't recover.
Raimondi and Michael Sweeney saw a flop of and Raimondi got all of his chips in with against Sweeney's . The turn and river secured the win for Sweeney. We're now heads-up for the title!
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Michael Sweeney |
5,000,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
Peter Raimondi | Busted |
On a flop of , Michael Sweeney bet 300,000 and Chris Ventura moved all in. Sweeney beat him into the pot.
Sweeney:
Ventura:
Sweeney was behind but had countless outs, and one of them arrived on the turn as the dealer flipped the . The river improved Ventura but it wasn't enough. He exited in fourth place for $3,511.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Michael Sweeney |
3,900,000
1,250,000
|
1,250,000 |
Chris Ventura | Busted |