Sometimes, Poker Players Are Good People...

Corrine

One of the massage girls here in the tournament area was vigorously looking around on the floor for something. When Corrine was asked what she was looking for, she informed the table that she had lost a $100 bill somewhere.

After the bill was nowhere to be found, the players at the table decided to all pitch in to make sure the hard-working massage girl got her money.

Corrine clearly was very grateful to all the players who made sure she didn't go home short on her pay.

Score one for the good guys (poker players)...

Break Time with 134 Players Remaining

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

There are 134 players remaining and the average chip stack is just under 96,000.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 1,000-2,000 with a 200 ante.

Mega Stack Co-Host Darvin Moon Eliminated

Mega Stack Challenge Co-Host and 2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Darvin Moon has been eliminated from the Main Event. Darvin got all in with top pair against his opponent's flush draw on the flop but was unable to fade his opponent's outs.

With the elimination of Darvin Moon and the earlier knockout of Chris Moneymaker, Jonathan Duhamel is only host still alive in the Main Event.

Blind Increase in the $1,650 Mega Stack Challenge

The blinds are now 800-1,600 with a 200 ante.

There are approximately 150 players left and the average is just over 85,000 chips.

Blind Increase in the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The players just completed a short break and are now back at their tables.

The blinds have been increased to 600-1,200 with a 100 ante.

There are approximately 173 players remaining and the average chip stack is just under 74,000.

YouTube video: Chris Moneymaker talks to Jay "WhoJedi" Newnum at Foxwoods

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker talks to Jay "WhoJedi" Newnum about the Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge and his upcoming schedule.

Click here to view the video in HD

$1,650 Mega Stack Main Event Chip Counts

Here are some chip counts from around the room:

Ross Santos - 190,000
Vinny Pahuja - 150,000
Jonathan Duhamel - 110,000
Ralph Macri - 100,000
Chris McCormack - 95,000
Eric Siegel - 90,000
Mukul Pahuja - 84,100
Darvin Moon - 43,000
Ronnie Bardah - 19,100

Blind Increase in the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The blinds are now 500-1,000 with a 100 ante.

Play Resumes at the Mega Stack Challenge

Players are back from dinner break and the blinds have been increased to 400-800 with 100 ante.

Dinner Break at the Mega Stack Challenge

There approximately 221 players remaining in the $1,650 Mega Stack Main Event.

Players are now on a 70-minute dinner break.

Bernard Lee Eliminated From the Mega Stack Challenge

After four players limped to see a flop of [Tc][4s][3c], one player made it 1,500 and Bernard Lee moved all in for his last 7,875. Everyone folded back to the original raised, who immediately made the call. They turned over:

Lee [3c][3d]
Opponent [Kc][Jc]

Lee flopped a set and his opponent was four to the flush. The turn was the [Kd] but the river was the [9c], giving his opponent the flush and the pot.

Lee was eliminated from the Main Event of the Mega Stack Challenge.

Blind Increase in the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The blinds are now being increased to 300-600 with a 75 ante.

There are approximately 247 players remaining and the chip average is just below 52,000.

Ryan Eriquezzo Eliminated

After building up his stack early, 2010 WSOP Main Event 131st place finisher Ryan Eriquezzo got his opponent all in with A-10 against Eriquezzo's A-K on an ace high board. With only one card to go, Eriquezzo was in great shape to hold a monster stack early on. Instead, a ten peeled off on the river and left Eriquezzo on the wrong end of the pot.

He was eliminated shortly after.

$1,650 Mega Stack Updated Final Numbers and Payouts

We had a total of 320 players in the $1,650 NLHE Main Event at the August Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge.

Final payouts are as follows:

1st - $111,046
2nd - $64,253
3rd - $40,973
4th - $32,824
5th - $25,608
6th - $20,704
7th - $17,227
8th - $13,968
9th - $11,426
10th-12th - $7,915
13th-15th - $6,285
16th-20th - $4,888
21st-30th - $4,143
31st-35th - $3,817

Break Time at the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

When play resumes, the blinds will be increased to 250-500 with a 50 ante.

Blind Increase in the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The blinds have been increased to 200-400 with 50 ante.

2003 WSOP Champion Chris Moneymaker Eliminated

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker has been eliminated from the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event on Day One.

2010 FPC Champion Luis Vazquez Eliminated

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

Early Chip Counts at the Mega Stack Challenge

Here are some early chip counts on Day One of the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event:

Ryan Eriquezzo - 85,000
Jonathan Duhamel - 62,000
Chris McCormack - 62,000
Eric Siegel - 53,000
Darvin Moon - 42,000
Chris Moneymaker - 39,000
Will "The Thrill" Failla - 35,000
Bernard Lee - 30,000
Vinny Pahuja - 12,000

Break Time at the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

When play resumes, the blinds will be increased to 150-300 with a 25 ante.

YouTube video: Jonathan Duhamel Talks to Jay "WhoJedi" Newnum at Foxwoods

2010 WSOP Main Event November Nine chip leader Jonathan Duhamel talks to Jay "WhoJedi" Newnum about the Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge and what he is doing in preparation for the November Nine.

Click here to view the video in HD

Early Numbers at the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

Registration is still open here at the Foxwoods $1,650 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge Main Event and we are already over 300 players registered.

Break Time at the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 100-200.

Blind Increase in the Mega Stack Challenge Main Event

The blinds have been increased to 50-100.

There were no players eliminated in the first round of play.

Jonathan Duhamel Rakes a Nice Pot Early on Day One

Jonathan Duhamel

On the river, Jonathan Duhamel led out on a queen high board for 5,500. He got one caller who flipped up A-Q for top pair, top kicker. However, Duhamel turned up pocket kings to win the pot and boost his stack close to 50,000 very early on Day One action

Jonathan Duhamel Gets the Cards In the Air

Jonathan Duhamel, Chris Moneymaker and Darvin Moon

WSOP Main Event Final Table chip leader Jonathan Duhamel just gave the "Shuffle Up and Deal" announcement and cards are in the air at the $1,650 Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge Main Event.

The blinds are starting at 25-50 and each player starts with 40,000 in chips.

Late registration is available.

Mega Stack Challenge Main Event Kicks Off at 11

We are just over two hours from the start of the $1,650 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge Main Event. Play kicks off at 11am and late registration will be available.

Come join 2010 WSOP Main Event Final Table chip leader Jonathan Duhamel, 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker and 2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Darvin Moon in today's $250,000 Guaranteed event!

Brad Harper Wins the $560 Mega Stack Challenge ($35,615)

Brad Harper is officially the champion of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge event at the Foxwoods Resorts Casino.

After the five-way deal, he takes home $35,615 and the trophy.

Congratulations Brad and be sure to join us tomorrow at 11am for the start of the $1,650 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge Main Event!

Five-Way Deal Made - Play Concludes in the Mega Stack

The five remaining players have all agreed to a deal and the tournament has concluded.

The following players all officially tie for second place and all take home $31,500:


Khalid Riley


Jose Montes


David Felger


Mike MacIntosh

Allison Schultz Eliminated in 6th Place ($20,000)

Allison Schultz raised to 250,000 preflop and Brad Harper reraised to 500,000 total. Schultz made the call and the flop came down [Kh][9h][2s]. Schultz moved all in and Harper immediately made the call. They turned over:

Schultz [As][Kc]
Harper [Kd][Ks]

Schultz had flopped top pair but was in bad shape behind Harper's set of kings. The turn was the [8s][ and the river was the [Ts]. Harper took the pot and eliminated Shultz in 6th place.

Break Time in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The six remaining players are on a short break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 40,000-80,000 with a 10,000 ante.

Steven Brackesy Eliminated in 7th Place ($20,000)

Jose Montes raised preflop to 225,000 and Steven Brackesy moved all in for just a few chips more. Montes made the call and they turned over:

Montes [Ah][Tc]
Brackesy [8d][8s]

The board came [Ts][4s][2h][7d][2s] and Montes paired his ten to win the pot.

Brackesy was eliminated in 7th place.

A 7-Way Deal in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The seven remaining players have worked out a deal.

Seventh through fourth place will all earn $20,000.

Second and third place will take home $40,000.

First place will win $41,615 and the trophy.

Play has now resumed.

Nick Olivieri Eliminated in 8th Place ($8,039)

Nick Olivieri moved all in for his last 290,000 and was called by Jose Montes. They turned over:

Olivieri [Qh][9d]
Montes [Ad][Kc]

The board came out [As][Tc][9h][7s][Jc] and Montes took the pot with his pair of kinds.

Olivieri was eliminated in 8th place.

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The blinds have been increased to 30,000-60,000 with a 10,000 ante.

Kenneth Sellers Eliminated in 9th Place ($6,298)

Kenneth Sellers has just been eliminated from the tournament after two consecutive brutal hands.

First, Khalid Riley moved all in on a board of [8s][6s][2d] for 1,375,000. Sellers made the call and showed [Jd][Jh] to Riley's [7h][7s].

However, the turn came the [4s] and the river was the [As], giving Riley a flush and the pot.

On the very next hand, Allison Schultz raised to 170,000 and Sellers reraised from the big blind to 475,000. Schultz moved all in, having Sellers covered, and Sellers made the call. They turned up:

Schultz [Ad][Ks]
Sellers [Qd][Qs]

The board ran out [Kd][Td][3c][2h][5h] and Schultz paired her king to win the pot.

Sellers was eliminated in 9th place.

Tommy Leonard Eliminated in 10th Place ($3,697)

Tommy Leonard moved all in for his last 425,000 from the button and was called by Allison Schultz in the small blind. They turned over:

Leonard [8h][7s]
Schultz [Ah][9h]

The board ran out [Kc][Tc][5d][3s][Qh] and Schultz's ace high won the pot.

Leonard was eliminated in 10th place.

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The blinds have been increased for our final table to 25,000-50,000 with a 5,000 ante.

$560 NLHE Results: $2,894 for 11th-12th

11th - Vincent Tringle-Thibault
12th - Steve Smith