Donations & Celebrations

MacDonald & Wass

After the last hand is played and Bob Wass (Wayside, NJ) wins the 4th Put a Bad Beat on Hunger charity poker tournament, there are lots of hugs, handshakes and gratitude.

Roberta MacDonald, Cabot Senior Vice President of Marketing presents Wass his $3,500 voucher to play in the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event in September.

"This was another great tournament," says MacDonald, who is proud that she made it to the final three tables.  "We're glad to find a way to engage poker players with the Foodbank. And that we connect people who put a lot of money on the table with those who are very hungry."

The second presentation is a check for $5,760 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the beneficiary of the tournament.

"This tournament helps us feed the hungry, it truly does," says Margie Barham, Executive Director of the Southern Branch of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.  She adds that for every $1 donated can be worth up to $10 worth of food for those who need it.

"In addition to the money we raised, you get exposure and you never know where that can lead. More awareness, donations, volunteers, it all matters."

The FoodBank thanks Cabot, Borgata and all the players who participated in this year's tournament.

 MacDonald, Barham & Wass

Final Results
 

Place-Name-Amount

1 Bob Wass (Wayside, NJ) $6,518
2 Nuno Barradas (Faro, Portugal) $3,539
3 Adir Davidov (Queens, NY)$2,235
4 Payman Azizoghli (Summit, NJ) $1,676
5 Lyle Diamond (Brick, NJ) $1,304
6 Allen Mock (Manheim, PA) $1,117
7 Michael Zaccardi (West Long Branch, NJ) $931
8 Dan Rovner (Freehold, NJ) $745
9 Kevin Meals (Bridgeway, PA) $559

Champion - Wass

Bob Wass (Wayside, NJ) 

$6,518

Wass wins the tournament with Q♦ 7♣ when he flops two pairs against Nuno Barradas who hits bottom pair.

"It's unbelievable," says Wass, who has played in this event three of the first four years.  "I was just happy to make the final table, but to actually win it and get entry into the WPT event, I'm stunned beyond belief"

Wass says he'll need to postpone his vacation plans for September because he'll be playing in the televised WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event (Sept 16-20).

2nd Place - Barradas

Nuno Barradas (Faro, Portugal) 

$3,539

Barradas can't close the deal after starting heads up play with a 2.5 to 1 chip advantage over Bob Wass.  

Barradas is crippled when he hit trips on the river, but it gave Wass a full house.  He's out in second place a few hands later.

"I wish I could have won it," says Barradas who is originally from Portugal, but plays at Borgata whenever he visits friends in Newark, NJ.  "I mean this is a great event, I would've been so close to accomplishing one of my poker dreams.

"This was my first charity event. Everyone should do something like this for those people who need help. It was great and I'd do it again."

The tournament helped raise $5,760 for the FoodBank of New Jersey, South Branch.  In addition to that money many players donated additional monies from their winnings.

Full Boat Sinks Barradas

  Wass (second from left) & Barradas (right) 

Have Drawn a Crowd

A pivotal hand gives Bob Wass (Wayside, NJ) a commanding chip lead over Nuno Barradas (Faro, Portugal).

On a board of 4♥ 7♦ 5♣ Q♣ 4♠ Barradas checks the river.

Wass bets 200k
Barradas raises to 600k
Wass moves all in for 925k total
Barradas calls

Wass: 5♥ 5♦ (full house)
Barradas A♦ 4♣ (trip 4s)

The river 4♠ is a terrible card for Barradas whose trip 4s gives Wass a full house after flopping a set of 5s.

Wass now has 2.2 million of the 2.4 million chips in play.  He began heads up play as 2.5 to 1 underdog.

3rd Place - Davidov

Adir Davidov (Queens, NY)

$2,235

4th Place - Azizoghli

Payman Azizoghli (Summit, NJ) 

$1,676

5th Place - Diamond

Lyle Diamond (Brick, NJ) 

$1,304

6th Place - Mock

Allen Mock (Manheim, PA) 

$1,117

7th Place - Zaccardi

Michael Zaccardi (West Long Branch, NJ)

$931

8th Place - Rovner

 Dan Rovner (Freehold, NJ)

$745

9th Place - Meals

Kevin Meals (Bridgeway, PA)

$559

Bubble Boy - Castelli

Tony Castelli (Brooklyn, NY)

Unfortunately Tony Castelli is the first player out at the final table and just misses the money with his 10th place finish.  Castelli leaves with nothing more than a great experience and the taste of some Cabot cheese.

Players Take Center Stage in the Board Room

Donation Check

With each player donating $60 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, today's event raised $5,760.

The FoodBank thanks all the players for participating in the event.  There are also special thanks to Cabot for sponsoring the tournament and to Borgata for hosting it.

The final table is underway in the Board Room.

Final Table

Cabot's Top 10

The final 10 players have been moved to the Borgata Board Room in the back of the Poker Room.

We're now officially on the bubble as the top nine players cash, and 10th place is the bubble boy.

Payman Azizoghli is the big stack with 550k (46 BB), while Kevin Meals is the short stack with 25k (2 BB).

The average stack is 240k (20 BB), as blinds are 6k/12k with a 2k ante.

Seat-Name-Place

1 Kevin Meals (Bridgeway, PA)
2 Bob Wass (Wayside, NJ)
3 Lyle Diamond (Brick, NJ)
4 Allen Mock (Manheim, PA)
5 Adir Davidov (Queens, NY)
6 Tony Castelli (Brooklyn, NY)
7 Michael Zaccardi (West Long Branch, NJ)
8 Nuno Barradas (Faro, Portugal)
9 Dan Rovner (Freehold, NJ)
10 Payman Azizoghli (Summit, NJ)

Last Lady Standing

Anderson is Shone the Window

Terry Anderson (Laurence Harbor, NJ), the last woman standing, is out in 14th place.

13 players remain, three spots from the final table, two from the money.

500k = Chip Leader

Don't Mock Me

Allen Mock (Manheim, PA) extends his chip lead and is the first player with more than half-a-million chips.

Mock's pocket 10s holds against AQ and he eliminates a player in 16th place as we're now 7 spots from the money.

Final Two Tables

Table Two

Twenty players remain on the final two tables, but only nine players will cash.  

Top prize is $6,518 plus a $3,500 seat into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event in September.

Bye-Bye Borgata Regulars

Defending champion Joe Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ) won't be going back-to-back in this event as he's on the rail.

Other Borgata regulars who have also been eliminated include:

Paul Spitzberg (Tenafly, NJ)

Matt McElwee (Catonsville, MD)

David Heck (Colts Neck, NJ)

Frank Reina (Elizabeth, NJ) & Joe Grodowski (Staten Island, NY)

Even though Grodowski was only a railbird, we give him a shout out as a loyal Borgata player!

Fond Farewell

Unfortunately a few friends of Cabot and the FoodBank of New Jersey are no longer in the field.

A look at some recent departures as 25 players remain, with the top 9 making the money.

Roberta MacDonald, Cabot Senior Vice President of Marketing

Jon Praet, Cabot Writer

Bernard Lee, Cabot Spokesperson

Mark Barham, Friend of the FoodBank of New Jersey

Justin Byrd, Friend of the FoodBank of New Jersey

One Defending Champ

Ernst Earning Chips

Defending champion John Ernst (Oakhurst, NJ) is back looking for another payday after winning nearly $20,000 in this event last year.

In addition to the top prize, Ernst won entry into the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event. Despite not cashing in the televised tournament, Ernst would love another free roll entry into September's field.

Two with One Blow

No Rough Times for Diamond

The all-in bets have been fast and furious in this Deep Stack Semi Turbo tournament.

Lyle Diamond (Brick, NJ), just took out two players with pocket eights when he hit a set on the river.

Diamond is the chip leader and the first player to crack the 200k chip mark as we're quickly down to four tables.

Three Queens

MacDonald (left), Terry Anderson (2nd from right) & Rebecca Lake (right)

the Final Three Women

The final three woman are unfortunately at the same table with 50 players remaining.

"What are the odds," says Roberta MacDonald, Cabot Senior Vice President of Marketing, who played her first poker tournament in this event two years ago.

She's joined by Terry Anderson (Laurence Harbor, NJ) and Rebecca Lake (Clifton, NJ) who are glad to be at the same table with the "Big Cheese" when it comes to Cabot marketing.

Four Babes

Jessica, Tara, Sherri & Lori

Borgata Babes are keeping everyone's drinks filled as the players sample the Cabot Coop cheese.

Too Hot to Handle

Without question the most talked about cheese on display has been the Habenaro, which has a nice kick and should be enjoyed with a beverage of choice.
 
"There's a reason why Cabot's voted best cheddar," says Bob Schiers, Cabot's Public Relations Manager, as he shares samples of the Habenaro with the players.

Cabot Creamery Cooperative just won five first-place ribbons at the recent American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition in Raliegh, NC.

Here's a look at some images from today's Put a Bad Beat on Hunger tournament.

Say Cheese!

Margie Makes the Most of Cabot's Spread

Players are on their  first break of the day and taking advantage of the great spread put out by Cabot.

Margie Barnham, Executive Director of the Southern Branch of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. was the first person in line to sample the Chipolte, Seriously Sharp and Habenaro samples.

The tournament benefits the FoodBank of New Jersey, but the cheese benefits everyone!

Frank Reina, Brian Pizza, Jeremy Press & Rebecca Lake

Sampling Some Seriously Sharp Cheddar

Ace on the River (Oops!)

Tomasz, Lee, & Reina

The spirit of the event, helping others and having a good time, is clearly evident at poker pro Bernard Lee's table.

A player, who is a good sport, but wishes to be anonymous, is all in and who's only hope to stay in the tournament is in a split pot.

Tomasz Gliniecki (Jackson, NJ), who has the nut straight and can't lose, watches his opponent root for an ace.  One problem, the player actually needs a queen to tie Gliniecki's best hand.

The river card is an ace and the table erupts with disbelief because the player called for a meaningless card and got it.  Lee and Frank Reina (Elizabeth, NJ) lead the laughter because of the true irony.

"You want an ace, here you go," jokes Lee.

The rest of the table enjoys the moment as Gliniecki stacks his opponents chips. 

Fortunately for the player this is a re-entry tournament and he quickly heads back to the cage for a fresh starting stack.

Shuffle Up & Deal!

Bernard Lee Kicks Off Tournament

The Put a Bad Beat on Hunger charity poker tournament is underway to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Poker pro Bernard Lee kicks it off by thanking Cabot Creamery Cooperative who is sponsoring this event for the fourth year.

Players are not only excited about sampling the Cabot Horseradish Cheddar, but that the winner, in addition to the prize pool, will gain entry into WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event which is a $3,500 value.

Cards are in the air!

Game Time

Minutes From the Start of This Year's Tournament

Cabot's "Bad Beat On Hunger" Streak Continues, 4th Consecutive Year at Borgata

Standard Poker Prize Pool, Plus:

Winner Receives Entry into

 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

$3,500 Value Courtesy of 
Cabot Creamery Cooperative

When players hit the Borgata Poker Room they're either looking for a big tournament score or hoping for the ultimate bad beat at the cash tables, as in the Bad Beat Jackpot.

But on August 19th players can combine both passions by playing in the fourth annual "Put a Bad Beat on Hunger" charity poker tournament.

“This is a great event and will provide some wonderful support for the New Jersey Food Bank,” says poker pro and media personality Bernard Lee.

This year's tournament is a $300 tournament, where $60 goes directly to the Southern Branch of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Lee and Cabot have partnered together for many charitable efforts over the years and this mission is to combat hunger and break the cycle of poverty for families throughout the greater South Jersey region.

“I think for poker players, these events are a lot like charity golf tournaments,” Lee told the Borgata Poker Blog. 

“It gives you a chance to combine your passion with playing with also doing something for the community. It’s a way to give back and combine it with your passion. People play charity golf tournaments because they love golf.  I love poker and it’s just a great combination.”

You can get full details on the tournament here, but these are the basics:

Sunday, August 19th - 11 am
Deep Stack Semi-Turbo No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
25k in chips
15 minute levels (Level 13+ / 25 min. each)
Registration opens at 9 am and ends after Level 8

Past participants include: 

Steve Dannenmann, 2005 WSOP Main Event Runner-up
Bernard Lee, 2005 WSOP 13th Place Finisher
Roy Winston, 2007 WPT Borgata Poker Open Champion
Eric Buchman, 2009 November Niner (4th place WSOP Main Event)