Photos: $560 Mega Stack Day One

Luis Vazquez and Ronnie Bardah


left: Chris Moneymaker, right: Eric Siegel


left: Ryan Eriquezzo, right: Ronnie Bardah


left: Jameson Singer, right: Rich Lawrence


left: Luis Vazquez, right: Johanssy Joseph

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Break Time with 156 Players Remaining

The players are currently on a 10-minute break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 1,200-2,400 with a 300 ante.

There are 156 players remaining with top 70 spots finishing in the money.

The average chip stack is now 85,000.

We will complete two more levels and then play will end for the day.

Mega Stack Host Darvin Moon Over 200K

Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge Co-Host Darvin Moon was nursing the short stack just a level earlier. However, things have turned around for the 2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up as he has taken his stack from well below 40,000 to over 200,000 with two levels left in the day!

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The blinds have been increased to 1,000-2,000 with a 200 ante.

There are approximately 190 players remaining and the chip average is just under 70,000.

We will be playing three more levels this evening.

Evening Chip Counts at the Foxwoods Mega Stack

Here are some notable chip stacks from around the room:

Ronnie Bardah 110,000
Vinny Pahuja 110,000
Ryan Eriquezzo 95,000
Rich Lawrence 85,000
Paul Darden 80,000
Kyle Loman 70,000
Olga Varkonyi 60,000
Darvin Moon 55,000

Break Time in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are currently on a 10-minute break.

When play resumes, the blinds will be increased to 800-1,600 with a 200 ante.

The Thrill is Gone...

It has come that time in the tournament that we must say goodbye to Will "The Thrill" Failla. He was just knocked out of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

Blind Increase With Less Than 300 Players Remaining

Of the original 663 that started the $560 NLHE Mega Stack event, we are now below 300 remaining.

The blinds are now being increased to 600-1,200 with a 100 ante.

Color Up and Blind Increase

Tournament officials are coloring up the 25 chips and the blinds are about to be increased to 500-1,000 with 100 ante.

Dinner Break of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack

The players are now on a one hour and fifteen minute dinner break.

There are now less than 400 players remaining in the field.

Mega Stack Host Chris Moneymaker Eliminated

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion and August Foxwoods Mega Stack host Chris Moneymaker has been knocked out on Day One just before the dinner break.

Chris McCormack Eliminated from the Mega Stack

Just spotted Chris McCormack in tournament area. Unfortunately, it was as he was walking out as he just busted out of the $560 Mega Stack.

Robert Varkonyi Eliminated from the Mega Stack

2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi has been eliminated on Day One of the Mega Stack Challenge.

Bernard Lee Eliminated From the Mega Stack

Foxwoods Poker Room Spokesperson Bernard Lee has been eliminated on Day One of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

Break Time in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 300-600 with a 75 ante.

Kyle Loman Makes a Comeback

Kyle Loman, winner of the $1,000 NLHE event at the 2010 Foxwoods Poker Classic, was down to his last 5,000 in chips just a short while ago.

However, he has made a remarkable comeback and is now almost double the chip average with 55,000 chips.

$560 Mega Stack Final Numbers and Payouts

We had a total of 663 players in Event #2, the $560 NLHE, at the August Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge.

Final payouts are as follows:

1st - $72,286
2nd - $42,702
3rd - $26,304
4th - $20,676
5th - $16,367
6th - $13,151
7th - $10,129
8th - $8,039
9th - $6,298
10th-12th - $3,697
13th-15th - $2,894
16th-20th - $2,250
21st-30th - $1,736
31st-40th - $1,607
41st-50th - $1,479
51st-60th - $1,350
61st-70th - $1,286

Photos: Pros in the Mega Stack Challenge

Here are a few of the professionals spotted in the field of today's $560 NLHE Mega Stack event:


2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Darvin Moon


2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker


2010 WSOP Main Event 24th Place Finisher Ronnie Bardah


2010 WSOP Main Event 131st Place Finisher Ryan Eriquezzo


Foxwoods Poker Room Spokesperson Bernard Lee


2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi


Will "The Thrill" Failla


Paul Darden

Play Resumes at the Mega Stack Challenge

Play has resumed at the $560 Mega Stack Challenge event.

The blinds have been increased to 150-300 with a 25 ante.

Extended Break at the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are now on a 30-minute break.

During this break, the ten tables located in the poker room are being moved up to the Grand Pequot Ballroom.

2010 FPC Champion Luis Vazquez Eliminated

Luis Vazquez

Luis Vazquez, winner of the 2010 Foxwoods Poker Classic Main Event, has been eliminated early on Day One action.

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players just went on a quick break and blinds are now being increased to 100-200.

Big Call Early for Ronnie Bardah

2010 WSOP Main Event 24th Place Finisher Ronnie Bardah

On a board reading [5d][5s][2d][8s][Qs], Ronnie Bardah checked to his opponent, who tossed in two 5,000 chips.

With the board having both flush or better possibilities, Bardah talked the hand through for about four minutes before announcing call. His opponent tapped the table as Bardah flipped up his [9d][8d] for two pair.

After raking that pot, Bardah is up to nearly 47,000 chips early on Day One of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

YouTube video: Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off the Mega Stack at Foxwoods

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker just gave the "Shuffle Up and Deal" announcement and cards are in the air at the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge event.

Click here to view the video in HD

Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off the $560 Mega Stack

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker just gave the "Shuffle Up and Deal" announcement and cards are in the air.

Blinds are 50 minutes in length starting at 25-50 and players start with 20,000 in chips.

Event #2 - $560 NLHE Mega Stack Set to Begin

The second event in the August Mega Stack Challenge, the $560 NLHE, is set to begin in about half an hour.

Host Chris Moneymaker and Darvin Moon will be joining the field today.

Registration will remain open for at least the first two levels.

Billy Davis Wins the $340 Mega Stack Challenge ($72,769)

Billy Davis has been crowned champion of the $340 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge Event #1.

This is the first casino tournament Billy has ever played in. He takes home $72,769 for his victory!

John Weiss Finishes in Second Place ($45,787)

Billy Davis limped from small blind and John Weiss raised to 700K total. Davis made the call and the flop came down [Ad][Jd][Td].

Weiss fired one million and Davis moved all in. Weiss made the call and they turned over:

Weiss [As][Th]
Davis [3d][2d]

Weiss flopped two pair but Davis had the flush. The turn came the [3h] and the river was the [Qs]. Weiss did not improve and he was eliminated in 2nd place.