Champion - Ernst

John Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ)  

$19,988

After trading the chip lead back and forth heads-up for 30 minutes, Ernst wins the third annual Put a Bad Beat on Hunger poker tournament, presented by Cabot Creamery Cooperative.  Ernst beat Ivailo Dimov (Astoria, NY) to take home $19,988 and earned a $3,500 seat into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event.

"This is great," says Ernst, who's a regular player for Borgata's Wednesday tournaments.  "This is by far my biggest win, and I'm looking forward to coming back in September."

On the final hand, Ernst has 2♠ 2♦ vs A♥ J♦ and wins the coin flip when the flop of 2♥ J♠ 6♥ gives Ernst a set and he avoids runner-runner when the board bricks out.

Ernst is the last man standing in a tournament that featured 283 entries, including pro players Bernard Lee, Roy Winston and Eric Buchman as he grabbed his share of the $73,580 total buy-in.

Ernst and several of the players donated more than $7,500 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Full Tournament Results

Praet, Ernst, Lee & Schiers

Jon Praet and Bob Schiers of Cabot and pro Bernard Lee present John Ernst his ceremonial voucher for September's WPT seat, while Margie Barham accepts a $5,000 donation to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey from the cooperative.

Margie Barham, Executive Director of the Southern Branch 
of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey

2nd Place - Dimov

Ivailo Dimov (Astoria, NY)

$11,776

3rd Place - Soleimanlov

Ali Soleimanlov (Falls Church, VA)

$6,780

After knocking out pros Roy Winston and Bernard Lee earlier in the tournament, Soleimanlov rides his good fortunte to a top three finish.  John Ernst cripples Soleimanlov in a 4 million chip pot with A♣ 8♣ vs Soleimanlov K♦ 3♦. 

Ace high wins the hand and Soleimanlov is out a few hands later.  Ernst is playing Ivailo Dimov heads up for the title.

Final 3 Chip Counts

John Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ) 1.3 million
Ali Soleimanlov (Falls Church, VA) 3.1 million
Ivailo Dimov (Astoria, NY) 2.6 million

Blinds are 80k/160k/20k ante

4th Place - Wey

 Charles Wey (Hackensack, NY) 

$5,496

In the biggest hand of the tournament, Wey moves all in UTG for 1.6 million. It folds to Ali Soleimanlov who calls for slightly less.

Wey: 8♥ 3♥
Soleimanlov: A♠ 9♠

The board is clean and Soleimanov doubles to 3.1 million, while Wey is left with 60k and is out the next hand.

5th - Becker

 Tim Becker (N. Tonawanda, NY) 

$4,282

Becker's day ends when his last 300k goes to Charles Wey when Becker's 99 is run down by 8♠ 4♠ when the A♠ gives Wey a flush on the river.

6th - Peterwas

Leszek Peterwas (Philadelphia, PA) 

$3,569

Peterwas is out after his A3 falls short against the AK of John Ernst who scoops a 3-way pot that also involves Ivailo Dimov who takes a 550k hit holding JJ.

7th - Weber

Mark Weber (Sicklerville, NJ) 

$2,855

Weber's pocket 2s lose to Ivailo DiMov's A 10 who hits a 10 on the river.

8th Place - Natishvili

Irakli Natishvili (Hoboken, NJ)

$2,141

Natishvili is on the rail when his AK is run down by the J6 of Tim Becker who spikes a jack on the river.

9th - McGuinness

John McGuinness (Toms River, NJ)

$1,427

McGuinness is out with 55 against the JJ of Tim Becker

Final Table

Seat - Name - Chip Count

1 Charles Wey (Hackensack, NY) 736k
2 John McGuinness (Toms River, NJ) 298k
3 John Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ) 1.1 million
4 Mark Weber (Sicklerville, NJ) 60k
5 Tim Becker (N. Tonawanda, NY) 1.3 million
6 Ali Soleimanlov (Falls Church, VA) 900k
7 Irakli Natishvili (Hoboken, NJ) 405k
8 Leszek Peterwas (Philadelphia, PA) 600,000
9 Ivailo Dimov (Astoria, NY) 1.5 million

Blinds are 40k/80k/10k ante as the average stack is 708k.

10th Place - Soho

 Walter Soho (East Setauket, NJ)

Top 10

Jon Praet (left) and Bob Schiers (right) with the Final 10 Players

With two simultaneous knock outs, the final table begins with nine instead of ten players. Ivailo DiMov (Astoria, NY) uses AK to eliminate Walter Soho (East Setauket, NJ) who's holding K7.

Soho's out in 10th place earning him $928 as the remaining players are drawing for their final table seats.

Baker's Dozen

13 players remain with an average stack of 544k as we close in on the final table.  Blinds are 30k/60k/5k ante.

Raising Awareness

Margie's Food for Thought

While everyone in the tournament has their eye on the $20,000 first prize and the $3,500 WPT seat that goes with it, players aren't forgetting that raising awareness and donating to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the most important part of the day.  After collecting their winnings at the cage, several of the players are returning to the Poker Room to give back.

"It's great," says Margie Barham, Executive Director of the Southern Branch of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, "the generosity is always overwhelming."

It's not always clear on how the FoodBank works or what its needs are so Barham offers this summary.

"When I speak to groups I'm always asked what kinds of people come to a food pantry," says Barham, who's starting her third year as executive director.  "I tell them to look in the mirror, it's all kinds of people.

"They're not tattered and homeless or dirty, they're just people who have fallen on hard times. They prefer not to use the services, they prefer to have jobs.  They often say that when they get back on their feet, they're going to make a donation. They're apologetic because they'd rather be giving, not taking."

The Southern Branch covers Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and eastern Burlington counties where individuals and families must meet certain requirements to see who gets assistance.

"These are people who have been laid off, had their hours cutback considerably, or were formerly two income families that are now cut in half," says Barham, "We're glad we can help.

Barham sites national statistics that state 1 in 5 children in the country are living in poverty and it's no different in New Jersey.  A recent Feeding America  study showed that the meal gap in New Jersey is $445 million per year, which is the difference between what Jersey families have and what they need to feed them adequately.

"Every little bit helps," says Barham, who's proud to say that for every dollar in the FoodBank's operating budget can equal as much as $10 worth of food.

To learn more about the FoodBank please visit www.njfoodbank.org/.

Last Lady Standing

Colleen Cashes-in

She was on fumes, but Colleen Lewis (Brick, NJ) finds a way to make the money. "I'm estatic," says the Borgata regular. "I'm happy to cash, and happy to give something to the FoodBank."

Lewis says she was down to just a few chips when her flush was beaten by a full house, sending her home in 25th place. Lewis was the last woman left in the field and walks away with $642.

Bubble Breaks

It doesn't take long to reach the money after going down to thirty players on the final three tables.  After one elimination there's a three way all in where two players are knocked out sending the remaining 27 players into the money.

Audulah Deljanin (Dix Hills, NJ) does the honor with pocket kings by knocking out Lisa Pickell (Bricktown, NJ) and another player.  The remaining players are guaranteed $642 as they chase the top prize of nearly $20,000 and a $3,500 seat in the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship.

You Folded Kings!!?!?!?

Ling (right) is Thrilled McGinness Hits Quads

Players at table one are astonished that Kenny Ling (Brooklyn, NY) folded pocket kings preflop and while it's not the text book play, this time it turns out to be right.

One player open shoves for 56k and Mike McGuinness (Toms River, NJ) is all in for 55k, putting the pressure on Ling who's stack is 75k.  "The hair stood up on the back of my neck," says Ling, who open folds cowboys. "I just had a feeling," he says as multiple players are in shock and disbelief.

In hindsight it's a good fold as McGuinness hits a huge hand.

McGuinness: J♠ J♥
Anonymous: 6♠ 6♣

Flop: 9♦ 7♥ J♦ (table goes nuts for McGuinness' set of jacks)
Turn: 10♠
River J♣ (they roar for quads!)

McGuinness wins the hand and Ling is vindicated for folding kings.  The anonymous opponent is left with one orange (1k) chip and is out the next hand.

Currently 31 players remain, as we're four off the money.

Last Cabot Standing

Praet was Great

The last of the Cabot coalition is on the rail as writer Jon Praet milked his short stack all afternoon, but unfortunately couldn't turn it into gold, like the co-op's Hand-Rubbed Tuscan Cheddar.

Praet pushed his last 55k all in with A9 but ran into pocket kings to end his day.  This is Praet's deepest run in the three year tournament as he busted with 62 players left, 35 from the money.

Defending Champ Gone

Arman Says Adios

Arman Torosian (Edgewater, NJ) was a newbie last year who rode beginners luck to a first place finish good for $40,000 and a $3,500 seat into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship Event. Unfortunately lightening won't strike twice as he's out of this year's tournament.

Last year was entertaining to watch as Torosian had a rail of three buddies coaching him on breaks as the Put a Bad Beat on Hunger tournament was his first in a casino.

Falling Fast

 Praet Fall

Eric Buchman has joined Bernard Lee and Roy Winston on the rail as all three poker pros are out of this year's tournament.

From the Cabot contingent David Praet, representing the marketing team has hit the rail leaving only his brother Jon left to represent the co-op.

Currently 76 players remain with an average stack of 93k as Level 17 (4k/8k/500 ante) is underway.

Payouts!

Number of Entries: 283
Total Buy-In $71,373

Place-Amount

1 $19,988*
2 $11,776
3 $6,780
4 $5,496
5 $4,282
6 $3,569
7 $2,855
8 $2,141
9 $1,427
10-12 $928
13-15 $785
16-18 $714
19-27 $642

* Plus additional $3,500 entry into WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

Tough Way to Lee-ve

Bernard Bids Adieu

Bernard Lee has taken some tough beats in his professional career but this one ranks as one of the worst.

Blinds: 1.5k/3k

Bernard Lee 80k

Ali Soleimanlou 110k

Soleimanlou opens to 12k

Lee reraises all in to 80k

Soleimanlou snap calls

Lee: Q♠  Q♣ (leads with pair of queens)

Soleimanlou: A♥ Q♥

Flop: 7♣ 3♣ 3♥

Turn: 4♣
River: A♦

After a players says he folded the A♠, Soleimanlou was drawing to just one ace in the deck as the A♣ would have given Lee a winning flush.

The one-outer gives Soleimanlou a pair of aces to win the hand and knock out Lee. 

"It's a bad beat for me, but we're here to Put a Bad Beat on Hunger, says Lee, who finished 12th in this event last year, "and am glad to help raise a lot of money for the FoodBank," says Lee.

Soleimanlou now has close to 200k and has knocked out two of the three pros in Lee and Roy Winston.

More Goodies

Christian and Darcey Checking out the Spread

Head Count - Missing Winston

 

 Roy on the Rail with wife Ashley Winston

An impressive 283 entries are in the field as registration is officially closed. 

ESPN Poker Columnist and pro Bernard Lee reports that Roy Winston is on the rail after running 99 into JJ to begin his downfall.

The cage is verifying the numbers and the payouts will be available shortly.

Neary-ing the End

 It takes a lot of good people to make a quality co-op run smoothly and that includes the look and design.  Seth Neary (Burlington, VT) is the owner of DrivenStudio and is Cabot's go to man for graphics. 

Neary, who has dabbled in poker, took the plunge and made this his first "real" poker tournament.  "I'm not going to lie it was a little intimidating, but it was a fun experience, " says Neary who's now on the rail.

Neary loses in a classic race situation when his pocket 3s are run down by ace-king when a king hits the flop. He was briefly at Eric Buchman's table and says it was enjoyable to play against a pro even for a short time.

Under the Wire

Lisa No Longer in a Pickell

Borgata regular and budding tv reality star Lisa Pickell (Bricktown, NJ) was out of town and didn't expect to make it back to Jersey for today's tournament.  "Roy (Winston) sent me an invitation, but I wasn't sure I could play," says the first woman to win a WSOP Circuit championship. "But I drove all night and just made it."

And Pickell cut it close registering with just minutes to spare during the break after the conclusion of Level 8.

Now that registration is closed players no longer have the safety net of re-entering after a bad beat or poor play.

Moving Time

 Ali is Alright with Trip 9s

With just a few hands before the end of Level 8, and the re-entry period closing, Roy Winston and Ali Soleimanlou (Falls Church, VA) are willing to gamble and move all in without looking at their cards.  The theory is that they'd each rather double their ~22k stack or start with a fresh 25k stack. 

Winston: Q 10
Soleimanlou: Q 9

Flop: 10 9 X (Winston leads with pair of 10s)
Turn: 9 (Soleimanlou leads with trips 9s)
River: X

"Of course I'm ahead and lose," says Winston, who's now re-entering the tournament. "I got lucky," says Soleimanlou, who's happy to take his stack to 45k.

At the conclusion of Level 8, players may surrender their chips and re-enter the tournament.

Best Break Ever

Cheese Please

Players are enjoying the "World's Best Cheddar" as Cabot is putting on an eclectic spread that includes fan favorites Seriously Sharp Cheddar, Habenero, Horseradish, and Pepper Jack cheeses.

"I'm a fan and very happy," says Yelena Demidenko, who loves the Horseradish cheddar. "I'm in cheese heaven."

Blinds continue to move quickly and level 7 is winding down which means just 15 more minutes to sign-up or re-enter the tournament.

Yelena Enjoying the Cheddar

Pros Treading Water

 Eric the Great

All three pros are hovering around the starting stack of 25k.  Eric Buchman, the 4th place finisher at the 2009 WSOP Main Event, has been pretty quiet and while on break one player joked, "if he stays away he can last at least five more levels."

Bernard Lee, 13th in the 2005 Main Event, has been up and down and recently doubled to 20k with 9♠ 2♠. He flopped two pairs and slow played it until finally collecting on the river. "He's been running over the table," joked Winston, who's sitting with 27k.

Lee quickly snaps back, "I didn't hear you complaining when I sprinkled 13 thousand around the table,"

Players are on a 10 minute break after playing the first four levels. 

Eye On the Prize

Players Sitting so Close They Can Taste it

The added bonus for this event is that first place includes entry into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship Event.  Cabot Creamery Cooperative is putting up the $3,500 prize which gives this tournament extra value.

"Everybody's a winner," says Jason Warriner (Absecon, NJ), who's back after playing in this event the last two years. "It's awesome the seat isn't coming out of the prize pool. It's great for the tournament, great for the players, great for Borgata, great for the FoodBank."

Warriner is Borgata regular who's hoping a good run today will be a spring board into the September series.

Cheese Sandwich

 Josephs is the Man in the Middle, 
Surrounded by Winston (left) and Lee

Playing against recognizable pros makes this a more memorable event for the local Borgata grinders and for Glenn Josephs (Cherry Hill, NJ) he's getting twice the experience.  The unfortunate random draw has Roy Winston and Bernard Lee at the same table, but Josephs doesn't mind being caught in the middle.

"I'm very happy," says Josephs, who's had this tournament circled on his calendar. "I get to play with these great pros.  They're supporting a tremendous organization and this will really help the FoodBank."

As the levels increase every 15 minutes, re-entry is open for the first 8 levels. 

Shuffle Up & Deal!

 Cabot's Contingent of Players

A steady stream of players are taking their seats for the 2011 Put a Bad Beat on Hunger poker tournament.  Cabot ambassador Bernard Lee is handling the introductions o fellow pros Roy Winston, who won this tournament in 2009, and Eric Buchman, a former November Niner at the WSOP Main Event.

This is a turbo re-entry tournament so the action will be fast and furious with 25k in starting chips and 15 minute levels.

Lee has issued the magic words, "shuffle up and deal," as the cards are in the air and this year's tournament is underway!

Former Champ is Back!

Winston, the 2009 Big Cheese

We're just one day from the third annual Put a Bad Beat on Hunger poker tournament and once again recognizable pros will be in the field to help support the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

2009 Champion Roy Winston is back to try and win the event that not only features the normal Borgata pay structure, but first place includes a WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship Event seat worth $3,500.

In addition to Winston, professional players Eric Buchman and Bernard Lee will also be in the field.

"It's great value for a great cause," says Winston, who also won the 2007 Borgata Poker Open title.  "The FoodBank needs the support and I'm impressed with the Cabot co-op and how they make everything work both on the farms and with Borgata."

The tournament is presented by Cabot Creamery Cooperative which is based in Vermont and owned by 1,200 farm families in New England and upstate New York. Cabot has won prestigious awards for producing the best tasting cheese and is now known as the "World's Best Cheddar."

Not only will players be sampling top notch cheese, but they'll get some first rate competition as well.

Buchman was part of the 2009 November Nine in the WSOP Main Event.  He finished 4th ($2.5 million) the year Joe Cada won the title. 

Lee is an accomplished player and media personality with nearly $1.4 million in career earnings. His finished 13th in the 2005 Main Event when Joe Hachem won the championship.

All three pros are here to help the cause and like everyone else will try and win their way into Borgata's September WPT Championship Event.

2011 Tournament Details

The third annual Put a Bad Beat on Hunger poker tournament is set:

Sunday, August 21, 2011

11 am

Borgata Poker Room

 $260 Buy-In + $40 Entry
Deep Stack Semi- Turbo NLH (Re-Entry)

25,000 Starting Chip Stack
(1-day event) 

Winner also Receives Entry into

 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

$3,500 Value Courtesy of 
Cabot Creamery Cooperative

Click for Full Event Details

Check back for Live Event Updates while helping support the 
Community FoodBank of New Jersey