Mega Stack Host Darvin Moon Eliminated 68th

After being crippled just before the bubble, 2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up and Mega Stack Challenge Host Darvin Moon got all of his chips in with A-J against his opponent's pocket kings.

He was unable to improve and was eliminated in 68th place, taking home $1,286.

He will join 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker and 2010 WSOP Main Event Final Table chip leader Jonathan Duhamel in tomorrow's Mega Stack Main Event.

The Money Bubble Burst at the $560 Mega Stack

We just lost our 71st place player and all the remaining players are in the money and guaranteed at least $1,286.

Play will continue today until we reach a winner.

Ronnie Bardah Eliminated

2010 WSOP Main Event 24th place finisher Ronnie Bardah has been eliminated in 73rd place at the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

Break Time and Color Up Near the Bubble

The players are currently on a 15-minute break. Tournament officials are coloring up the yellow 100 chips.

The are now only 73 players remaining with top 70 spots finishing in the money.

The average chip stack is now 182,000.

When play resumes, the blinds will be increased to 3,000-6,000 with a 500 ante.

Mark Sykes Takes the Chip Lead

Mark Sykes

Mark Sykes just got all-in preflop with pocket aces against two other opponents with pocket kings and pocket sevens. The aces held up and Sykes eliminated both players and took the chip lead with right at 600,000 chips.

Chip Movers Early on Day Two of the $560 Mega Stack

Ronnie Bardah moves all-in on the flop.

We have lost 26 players already on Day Two action and are approaching the money bubble.

Ronnie Bardah started the day with only 30,000 chips but has boosted his stack to almost 150,000.

2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Darvin Moon has also moved up the chip count ladder. He started the day with 166,000 and has moved up close to the 300,000 chip mark already.

Blind Increase With 86 Players Remaining

With 86 players now remaining, the blinds have been increased to 2,500-5,000 with a 400 ante.

The average chip stack is now 154,000.

Paul Darden Eliminated

Paul Darden has been eliminated early on Day Two when his pocket eights failed to improve against the pocket queens of Vinny Pahuja.

Cards Back In the Air on Day 2 at Foxwoods

Cards are back in the air for our final 107 players.

The blinds are now 2,000-4,000 with a 400 ante.

Day Two of the $560 Mega Stack Set to Begin

Day Two of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge event is set to start at noon today.

There are 107 players remaining with top 70 spots finishing in the money.

The top three chip stacks going into today are as follows:

1. Peter Campo 468,200
2. Jose Montes 439,100
3. Ryan Eriquezzo 349,500

Play Concludes for the Day with 107 Remaining

Play has ended on Day One of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge. We have 107 players moving on with top 70 spots finishing in the money. Play will resume tomorrow at noon.

Some notable chip counts at the end of the day include:

Ryan Eriquezzo 349,500
Mark Sykes 225,000
Rich Lawrence 175,400
Vinny Pahuja 170,300
Darvin Moon 166,000
Paul Darden 50,600
Ronnie Bardah 30,000

Blind Increase with 130 Players Remaining

The blinds have been increased to 1,500-3,000 with a 300 ante.

There are 130 players left and the chip average is now 102,000.

This will be the final level of Day One.

Photos: $560 Mega Stack Day One

Luis Vazquez and Ronnie Bardah


left: Chris Moneymaker, right: Eric Siegel


left: Ryan Eriquezzo, right: Ronnie Bardah


left: Jameson Singer, right: Rich Lawrence


left: Luis Vazquez, right: Johanssy Joseph

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Break Time with 156 Players Remaining

The players are currently on a 10-minute break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 1,200-2,400 with a 300 ante.

There are 156 players remaining with top 70 spots finishing in the money.

The average chip stack is now 85,000.

We will complete two more levels and then play will end for the day.

Mega Stack Host Darvin Moon Over 200K

Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge Co-Host Darvin Moon was nursing the short stack just a level earlier. However, things have turned around for the 2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up as he has taken his stack from well below 40,000 to over 200,000 with two levels left in the day!

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The blinds have been increased to 1,000-2,000 with a 200 ante.

There are approximately 190 players remaining and the chip average is just under 70,000.

We will be playing three more levels this evening.

Evening Chip Counts at the Foxwoods Mega Stack

Here are some notable chip stacks from around the room:

Ronnie Bardah 110,000
Vinny Pahuja 110,000
Ryan Eriquezzo 95,000
Rich Lawrence 85,000
Paul Darden 80,000
Kyle Loman 70,000
Olga Varkonyi 60,000
Darvin Moon 55,000

Break Time in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are currently on a 10-minute break.

When play resumes, the blinds will be increased to 800-1,600 with a 200 ante.

The Thrill is Gone...

It has come that time in the tournament that we must say goodbye to Will "The Thrill" Failla. He was just knocked out of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

Blind Increase With Less Than 300 Players Remaining

Of the original 663 that started the $560 NLHE Mega Stack event, we are now below 300 remaining.

The blinds are now being increased to 600-1,200 with a 100 ante.

Color Up and Blind Increase

Tournament officials are coloring up the 25 chips and the blinds are about to be increased to 500-1,000 with 100 ante.

Dinner Break of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack

The players are now on a one hour and fifteen minute dinner break.

There are now less than 400 players remaining in the field.

Mega Stack Host Chris Moneymaker Eliminated

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion and August Foxwoods Mega Stack host Chris Moneymaker has been knocked out on Day One just before the dinner break.

Chris McCormack Eliminated from the Mega Stack

Just spotted Chris McCormack in tournament area. Unfortunately, it was as he was walking out as he just busted out of the $560 Mega Stack.

Robert Varkonyi Eliminated from the Mega Stack

2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi has been eliminated on Day One of the Mega Stack Challenge.

Bernard Lee Eliminated From the Mega Stack

Foxwoods Poker Room Spokesperson Bernard Lee has been eliminated on Day One of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

Break Time in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are now on a 10-minute break.

When they return, the blinds will be increased to 300-600 with a 75 ante.

Kyle Loman Makes a Comeback

Kyle Loman, winner of the $1,000 NLHE event at the 2010 Foxwoods Poker Classic, was down to his last 5,000 in chips just a short while ago.

However, he has made a remarkable comeback and is now almost double the chip average with 55,000 chips.

$560 Mega Stack Final Numbers and Payouts

We had a total of 663 players in Event #2, the $560 NLHE, at the August Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge.

Final payouts are as follows:

1st - $72,286
2nd - $42,702
3rd - $26,304
4th - $20,676
5th - $16,367
6th - $13,151
7th - $10,129
8th - $8,039
9th - $6,298
10th-12th - $3,697
13th-15th - $2,894
16th-20th - $2,250
21st-30th - $1,736
31st-40th - $1,607
41st-50th - $1,479
51st-60th - $1,350
61st-70th - $1,286

Photos: Pros in the Mega Stack Challenge

Here are a few of the professionals spotted in the field of today's $560 NLHE Mega Stack event:


2009 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Darvin Moon


2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker


2010 WSOP Main Event 24th Place Finisher Ronnie Bardah


2010 WSOP Main Event 131st Place Finisher Ryan Eriquezzo


Foxwoods Poker Room Spokesperson Bernard Lee


2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi


Will "The Thrill" Failla


Paul Darden

Play Resumes at the Mega Stack Challenge

Play has resumed at the $560 Mega Stack Challenge event.

The blinds have been increased to 150-300 with a 25 ante.

Extended Break at the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players are now on a 30-minute break.

During this break, the ten tables located in the poker room are being moved up to the Grand Pequot Ballroom.

2010 FPC Champion Luis Vazquez Eliminated

Luis Vazquez

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

Blind Increase in the $560 Mega Stack Challenge

The players just went on a quick break and blinds are now being increased to 100-200.

Big Call Early for Ronnie Bardah

2010 WSOP Main Event 24th Place Finisher Ronnie Bardah

On a board reading [5d][5s][2d][8s][Qs], Ronnie Bardah checked to his opponent, who tossed in two 5,000 chips.

With the board having both flush or better possibilities, Bardah talked the hand through for about four minutes before announcing call. His opponent tapped the table as Bardah flipped up his [9d][8d] for two pair.

After raking that pot, Bardah is up to nearly 47,000 chips early on Day One of the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge.

YouTube video: Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off the Mega Stack at Foxwoods

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker just gave the "Shuffle Up and Deal" announcement and cards are in the air at the $560 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge event.

Click here to view the video in HD

Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off the $560 Mega Stack

2003 WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker just gave the "Shuffle Up and Deal" announcement and cards are in the air.

Blinds are 50 minutes in length starting at 25-50 and players start with 20,000 in chips.

Event #2 - $560 NLHE Mega Stack Set to Begin

The second event in the August Mega Stack Challenge, the $560 NLHE, is set to begin in about half an hour.

Host Chris Moneymaker and Darvin Moon will be joining the field today.

Registration will remain open for at least the first two levels.

Billy Davis Wins the $340 Mega Stack Challenge ($72,769)

Billy Davis has been crowned champion of the $340 NLHE Mega Stack Challenge Event #1.

This is the first casino tournament Billy has ever played in. He takes home $72,769 for his victory!

John Weiss Finishes in Second Place ($45,787)

Billy Davis limped from small blind and John Weiss raised to 700K total. Davis made the call and the flop came down [Ad][Jd][Td].

Weiss fired one million and Davis moved all in. Weiss made the call and they turned over:

Weiss [As][Th]
Davis [3d][2d]

Weiss flopped two pair but Davis had the flush. The turn came the [3h] and the river was the [Qs]. Weiss did not improve and he was eliminated in 2nd place.

Photos: Foxwoods $340 Mega Stack Heads-Up

John Weiss


Bill Davis Jr.

Quick Break Before Heads-Up Play Begins

John Weiss and Bill Davis Jr. are on a 10-minute break before heads-up play begins.

Edward Kiaer Eliminated in 3rd Place ($28,263)

John Weiss raised to 300K from the button and Edward Kiaer moved all in for an additional 695K from the small blind. Weiss made the call and they turned over:

Kiaer [Tc][Td]
Weiss [Ac][3c]

The board ran out [As][8h][5d][4h][4s] and Weiss paired his ace to win the pot. Kiaer has been eliminated from the tournament in 3rd place.

Linda Swears Eliminated in 4th Place ($21,669)

Linda Swears raised to 300K before the flop and Bill Davis Jr. moved all-in from the big blind. Swears made the call and they turned over:

Swears [Ac][Kc]
Davis [Ah][Qh]

Swears got it in with the best hand but the board ran out [Qs][Th][Ts][5c][Tc]. Davis made tens full of queens to win the pot and eliminate Swears in 4th place.

Edson Pap Eliminated in 5th Place ($17,146)

Edson Pap raised to 275K before the flop and Bill Davis Jr. reraised to 1 million, enough to put Pap all-in. Pap made the call and they turned over:

Pap [Ah][8d]
Davis [Td][Th]

The board ran out [Jd][9c][7h][7c][6c] and Davis's tens held to win the pot, eliminating Pap in 5th place.

Break Time in the $340 Mega Stack Challenge

The five remaining players are on a 10-minute break.

When play resumes, the blinds will be 50,000-100,000 with a 15,000 ante.

Michael Forman Eliminated in 6th Place ($13,378)

Michael Forman moved all in for his last 650K preflop and was called by chip leader John Weiss. They turned over:

Forman [5d][5s]
Weiss [4c][4d]

Forman was way ahead before the flop. However, the way Weiss had been running at the final table, everyone knew what was coming on the board...

[Kh][4s][2s][Qd][8c]

Weiss flopped the set to win yet another big pot and eliminated Forman in 6th place.

Michael Donegan Eliminated in 7th Place ($10,137)

Edson Pap raised to 225K before the flop and Michael Donegan moved all in for just over 700K. John Weiss then reraised to 2 million and Pap folded. They turned over:

Donegan [Qd][Qs]
Weiss [Ah][Qh]

The board came [As][Kd][8h][5d][5h], giving Weiss a pair of aces and the pot.

Donegan was eliminated from the tournament in 7th place.

Jaime Wagner Eliminated in 8th Place ($8,103)

After being crippled with pocket tens against ace-king just a few hands earlier, Jaime Wagner moved all in and was called by Bill Davis Jr.. They turned over:

Wagner [Td][Ts]
Davis [Jd][Js][

The board ran out [7s][3c][2s][Qh][4d] and Wagner's tens were unable to improve, eliminating her from the tournament in 8th place.