Matt Mendez, Nick Gerrity Chop Parx Big Stax High Roller
It may not be of the nosebleed variety like something on the European Poker Tour, but Parx Big Stax XV in Pennsylvania did feature a High Roller Event at the price point of $2,500. The tournament attracted 193 entrants, and when the dust settled, Matt Mendez and Nick Gerrity had almost even stacks after outlasting all of their other opponents. They elected to chop the remaining prize money and end the tournament, with Mendez taking the trophy and $100,539, and Gerrity getting $97,782.
The two worked their way through a final table that included a number of more well-known players. Mendez is more notable for his online exploits under the name "MattEMenz," while Gerrity came had only four career live cashes totaling $158,237.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Mendez | $100,539 |
| 2 | Nick Gerrity | $97,782 |
| 3 | Nick Pupillo | $44,245 |
| 4 | Matt Glantz | $32,950 |
| 5 | Joe Palma | $25,569 |
| 6 | Mike Dentale | $19,477 |
| 7 | Chris McNally | $17,342 |
| 8 | Dan Santoro | $14,230 |
| 9 | Bobby Oboodi | $12,362 |
| 10 | Mike Linster | $9,027 |
According to the live updates, Nick Pupillo scored an elimination to burst the bubble with 24 players remaining. Among those cashing but not reaching the final table: Jared Jaffee (23rd), Big Stax XV Main Event winner Brent Roberts (21st), and Roman Valerstein (17th).
The final 10 returned for the last day of the tournament with Glantz holding the biggest stack with a hefty 3.48 million at blinds of 20,000/40,000/5,000. Mendez got things rolling early by sending Mike Linster packing when the latter raised then shoved the A♣Q♦ from late position when Mendez three-bet the A♥K♣ from the button. Mendez flopped a king to seal Linster's fate.
Former World Poker Tour champ Bobby Oboodi was next to go when his set couldn't hold against the flush draw of Joe Palma. Glantz then knocked the next two players, Dan Santoro and Chris McNally, out.
Pupillo doubled through Glantz twice in the meantime and eliminated Mike Dentale in a race. Stacks were pretty even at that point, and former leader Palma went bust in fifth when he couldn't get away from top pair against Gerrity's flopped flush.
A short-stacked Glantz jammed 17 big blinds from the button with the K♠J♦ but he didn't find any help against Mendez's sevens as 8♠5♦4♠3♦3♠ hit the felt. Glantz was gunning for his third title in the Parx Big Stax series.
That left things three-handed, and Mendez clashed with Pupillo in a huge pot when the latter made it 250,000 from the button at blinds of 50,000/100,000/15,000. Mendez defended his big blind and the flop brought 10♣5♥4♣. The two got in a raising war and Pupillo called Mendez's shove of 4.325 million with the Q♥Q♦. Mendez was behind but had considerable outs with the K♣J♣ and he turned Pupillo dead with a 3♣.
The Chicago native was left with 22 big blinds and busted shortly thereafter when he shoved the 9♦8♦ over a raise and a call and got looked up by Gerrity, who had the A♦J♠ and made a pair of jacks on the flop.
With that, Mendez and Gerrity agreed to the deal and the tournament was a wrap.
*Photo courtesy of parxpokerbigstax.blogspot.com.
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