World Poker Tour Parx Open Poker Classic Day 3: Tony Gregg on Top; 16 Remain
The World Poker Tour Parx Open Poker Classic continued Monday with Day 3. The action at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, was hot and heavy as 47 players began the day — all in the money and looking to make Day 4. At the end of play, 16 players remained spread across two tables. Leading the way was Tony Gregg with 2.786 million in chips.
Gregg most notably took second place in the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event for $1.7 million. He also final tabled the event at the beginning of this year, finishing in sixth place for $364,000. Gregg's best WPT result comes from a 76th-place finish in the 2009 Borgata Poker Open for just over $6,000, and he has nearly $2.4 million in career live-tournament earnings.
Gregg's chip lead put him over seven figures ahead of Joseph Wertz in second place with 1.753 million. Following Wertz, Robert Pyne, Joey Couden and Stephen Reynolds are all bunched in spots three through five with 1.4 million and change. Bringing up the rear with 142,000 in chips, Timothy Chang will have his work cut out for him on Tuesday as the blinds begin at 8,000/16,000/2,000.
Will Jaffe was the first player out the door in 47th place to break the ice, and from there, players began dropping steadily. Busting in the first level of the day were Justin Rosenal (44th – $7,202), Casey Yontz (43rd – $7,202), Steve Brecher (40th – $7,202), Victor Ramdin (39th – $7,202), Jeff Forrest (36th – $8,803) and Allen Kessler (35th – $8,803).
Jon Turner (32nd – $8,803) and Allen Bari (31st – $8,803) were eliminated in the next level. According to reports from the WPT Live Reporting Blog, Bari was all-in from the small blind for about 225,000 with the 9♥9♣. He was up against Chris Lee with the A♦A♠. After a board of J♦8♣3♠K♥K♣ fell, Bari's tournament life was over.
Following the eliminations of Nick Mitchell (27th – $10,403), David Paredes (25th – $10,403), Brock Parker (24th – $10,403), Paul Volpe (22nd – $10,403) and Shankar Pillai (20th – $10,403), it was time for Henry Lu to go. He was eliminated by Gregg, the eventual chip leader.
During Level 21 with the blinds at 6,000/12,000/2,000, Lu was all-in from the small blind for 630,000 holding A♦Q♥. Gregg held A♠Q♣ and there was a good chance of a chopped pot. After the flop came down Q♠7♠2♠, Gregg held a freeroll to a spade flush and the chance to bust Lu. The turn paired the board with the 2♣, and the river landed with the J♠. Gregg had made his flush on the end and busted Lu in 19th place. With this elimination, the field dropped to 18 players and Gregg vaulted to over two million in chips.
The final two eliminations of the day were Peter Ippolito in 18th place and Todd Rodenborn in 17th place, both earning $12,004. Shortly after their exits, play ceased.
Some of the notable players still in contention for the first American WPT title of Season XI are Chris Lee, Brent Roberts, Kevin Calenzo, Athanasios Polychronopoulos and Vinny Pahuja. All of the remaining 16 players are without a WPT title, clearing the way for a first-time champion to be crowned. Of those remaining, Calenzo has the most WPT earnings with $77,569 coming from a ninth-place finish in the 2011 Borgata Poker Open. Pahuja has the most WPT cashes with three for over $52,000 combined.
Play is scheduled to resume at 1200 EDT (1700 BST) on Tuesday and play down to the official televised WPT final table of six. When play ends, PokerNews will bring you the complete recap.
*Hands and Data courtesy of the WPT Live Reporting Blog.
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