2015 Western New York Poker Challenge

Event 1: $200 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2015 Western New York Poker Challenge

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j10
Prize
$6,285
Event Info
Buy-in
$170
Entries
139
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
3,000

Event 1: $200 No-Limit Hold'em

Day 1 Completed

Jerry Calvaneso Wins Event #1 of the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge ($6,285)

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
Jerry Calvaneso
Jerry Calvaneso

After close to 13 hours of poker, Grand Island, New york, resident Jerry Calvaneso was crowned champion of the first event on the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge schedule.

Calvaneso bested a field of 139 to take down the title, trophy, and $6,285 in first-place prize money. While it would be easy to say it was never in doubt, even Calvaneso will admit there were points where it was.

Calvaneso vaulted into the chip lead at the final two tables, but things got a bit shaky when he lost a big race, doubling up eventual heads-up opponent Michael Milewski in a massive hand. It would take a few minutes, but Calvaneso steadied the ship and despite the fact Milewski looked to be running away with things as play went short handed, he managed to start heads-up play just about even.

Milewski chipped away at the venerable Calvaneso to take the lead, but eventually Calvaneso got back to even and quickly grabbed close to a 2-1 advantage by making two pair and getting paid off.

In the end, Calvaneso got in behind, but hit an open-ended straight draw to win the whole ball of wax.

PokerNews will be back for coverage of Event #2 of the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge, a $500 buy-in No Limit Hold'em event, beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Tags: Jerry Calvaneso

Michael Milewski Eliminated in 2nd Place ($3,884)

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 3,000 ante
Michael Milewski
Michael Milewski

Jerry Calvaneso made it 75,000 to go and Michael Milewski made the call.

Both players checked the {q-Spades}{3-Clubs}{9-Spades} flop, but when the {10-Spades} turned and Calvaneso bet 85,000, Milewski shipped it in. Calvaneso made the call with {j-Spades}{10-Diamonds} and was behind Milewski's {q-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} until the {8-Diamonds} river fell, making Calvaneso a queen-high straight.

Milewski was forced to settle for $3,884 in second-place money.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Milewski
Michael Milewski
Busted

Level: 24

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 3,000

Calvaneso Leads!

Level 23 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

Michael Milewski made it 50,000 and Jerry Calvaneso defended his big blind before checking in the dark.

The flop fell {7-Hearts}{5-Spades}{2-Hearts} and Milewski bet 75,000. Calvaneso called. The turn was the {q-Hearts} and both players checked, but when the {q-Spades} brought another check from Calvaneso, Milewski fired out a bet of 120,000.

Calvaneso called with {5-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} and it was good after Milewski mucked.

It's now Calvenso holding close to a 2:1 chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jerry Calvaneso us
Jerry Calvaneso
1,300,000
350,000
350,000
Profile photo of Michael Milewski
Michael Milewski
750,000
-350,000
-350,000

Back To The Start

Level 23 : 12,000/24,000, 3,000 ante

Michael Milewski had been slowly increasing his advantage over Jerry Calvaneso over the first dozen or so hands of heads-up play.

However, Calvaneso got it all back in one fell swoop, min-raising from the button and betting 50,000 on both the ace-high flop and {j-} turn card.

Both players checked the ace on the river with Calvaneso's turned pair of jacks winning the pot to bring both players right back where heads-up started.

Level: 23

Blinds: 12,000/24,000

Ante: 3,000

Carrie Marciniak Eliminated in 3rd ($2,806)

Level 22 : 10,000/20,000, 2,000 ante
Carrie Marciniak
Carrie Marciniak

Carrie Marciniak is out third after getting the last of her short stack in with {k-}{8-} and being outflopped by Michael Milewski's {9-}{10-}.

Milewski will take a slight chip lead into heads-up play with Jerry Calvaneso.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Milewski
Michael Milewski
1,100,000
50,000
50,000
Profile photo of Jerry Calvaneso us
Jerry Calvaneso
950,000
350,000
350,000
Profile photo of Carrie Marciniak us
Carrie Marciniak
Busted