“Mad” Mike Gainer wins Stacked Poker Championship NLH terminator ($5,500)
“Mad” Mike Gainer is champion of the Stacked Poker Championship $550 NLH Terminator event, overcoming a field of 71 entries to take home the $5,500 top prize.
With the Terminator adopting a bounty format, with half of each player’s $500 official entry fee going into the prize pool and the other half a reward for whoever eliminates each player, there was plenty of loose calling early on as stacks soared then fell as fast as they had grown.
But it was once the re-entry period finished that Gainer emerged from the pack, taking the overall chip lead midway through the day’s play and maintaining it almost all the way to the finishing post.
He also collected plenty of bounty chips along the way – at least 10 by our count – and after crippling his main rival at the final table, Frank Pezzaniti, in a huge pre-flop clash K♦K♣ versus J♣J♥ he never looked troubled once play was 3-way.
In the end his heads-up battle with WSOP bracelet winner Scott Calcogno didn’t last long. With Calcogno desperately short the chips went in Ganier capped then win in style as his J♥8♣ became quads on a Q♣8♦8♠J♦8♥ board.
Gainer’s win also his second final table appearance of this series, having finished third in the $550 NLH Monster Stack on Monday for $5,400.
Scott Calcogno eliminated in 2nd ($4,000)
With Scott Calcogno extremely short-stacked, Mike Gainer pushed all-in holding J♥8♣ and Calcogno called with K♦9♦.
The flop basically sealed the deal for Gainer as it fell Q♣8♠8♦, but to top it off Gainer turned a boat with the J♦ and rivered quads with the 8♥.
Mike Gainer is our Terminator champion!
Heads-up chip counts
| Mike Gainer | 1,442,000 |
| Scott Calcogno | 333,000 |
Troy Pellaschiar eliminated in 3rd ($3,000)
Troy Pellaschiar opened to 60,000 and Mike Gainer called.
On the A♥Q♦K♣ flop, Pellaschiar bet 100,000 and Gainer called. The turn was the J♦ and Gainer announced he was all-in. Pellaschiar snap-called but his K♦3♦ needed help to overcome the Q♥10♠ of Gainer.
The river bricked and we are now heads-up!
Level 19: 10,000/20,000 (20,000)
Pellaschiar next to double
Troy Pellaschiar has also doubled through Mike Gainer after shoving his short stack over the top of Gainer’s button open.
It was Pellaschiar with K♣7♣ trailing Gainer’s A♠9♦ but the board ran out 6♣6♦3♣2♦9♣to give Pellaschiarthe flush and move him back to 370,000.
Calcogno doubles through
Scott Calcogno has doubled through to bring himself back into contention.
It was an all-in pre-flop race with Calcogno holding 10♦10♣ to be racing against the A♣Q♠ of Mike Gainer. The board ran out J-high and Calcogno moves back to 410,000.
Chip counts
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 1,140,000 |
| Troy Pellaschiar | 350,000 |
| Scott Calcogno | 215,000 |
Level 18: 8,000/16,000 (16,000)
Frank Pezzaniti eliminated in 4th ($2,300)
On a 10♠6♣4♠ board, Frank Pezzaniti bet 40,000 then called when Mike Gainer announced he was all-in.
Gainer was well ahead with J♥10♥ to the A♣J♥ of Pezzaniti who hit the rail when the turn and river bricked.
We are down to our final 3.
Level 17: 6,000/12,000 (12,000)
Break it up
Players are now on a 5-minute break
Gainer steals back the chip lead
The very next hand after eliminating Adam Cusenza, Frank Pezzaniti clashed again with Mike Gainer with both getting it all in pre-flop.
It was Pezzaniti’s J♣J♥ trailing the K♦K♣ of Gainer although the J♠ in the window certainly caused a stir – at least until the dealer spraed the flop to also reveal the K♥.
There were no quads for Pezzaniti as he falls back to the field.
Mike Gainer – 850,000
Frank Pezzaniti – 270,000
Adam Cusenza eliminated in 5th ($1,750)
Adam Cusenza shoves from the cutoff and Frank Pezzaniti thought at length – looking at all the chip stacks on the table before making the call.
Cusenza showed A♦5♦ and faced a nervous wait against the K♠Q♣ of Pezzaniti, with good reason.
The Q♥ in the window was all she wrote for Cusenza as Pezzaniti sent another one to the rail while soaring into the chip lead.
Jacyn Che eliminated in 6th ($1,200)
It wasn’t quite two wins in as many nights for Jaycn Che as he shoved the button for 10bb holding A♦9♦ and was looked up by Frank Pezzaniti with K♠10♥.
The Q♥J♦6♦ flop hit both players hard but the 9♠ turn hit Pezzaniti harder, and the 5♠ sealed Che’s fate.
We are now down to 5 players remaining.
Cusenza survives
Adam Cusenza got his short stack in pre-flop with A♠8♠ and was called by Frank Pezzaniti with A♥K♥.
The 4♣J♠10♠ flop meant Cusenza had plenty of outs, one of them being the 8♦ that landed on the turn. The river bricked and Cusenza doubles through to 240,000.
Current stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 710,000 |
| Frank Pezzaniti | 320,000 |
| Scott Calcogno | 255,000 |
| Troy Pellaschiar | 120,000 |
| Jacyn Che | 120,000 |
| Adam Cusenza | 110,000 |
Level 16: 5,000/10,000 (10,000)
Zhifan Ye busts on bubble
On a board reading 5♦J♠10♦4♦9♥, Mike Gainer bet 30,000 before Zhifan Ye raised to 100,000. Gainer quickly declared himself all-in, sending Ye into the tank.
He eventually called, showing 7♠8♥ for the straight but Gainer had the bigger straight with K♣Q♥ to scoop the pot.
The remaining six players are now all in the money.
Huston, we have a problem
Declan Huston has fallen in eighth place, calling off his desperately short stack with J♥J♣ but finding no luck as Frank Pezzaniti’s A♣5♣ hit the A♦3♥6♥8♦8♠ flop.
We are now on the money bubble!
Tran trumped
Dung Tran lost all but a few thousand chips when his Queens were cracked by the 5s of Jacyn Che, and he is now our first to exit the final table – forced to call off his tiny stack with K♠3♣ against the K♣J♠ of Frank Pezzaniti. The board bricked to leave us with 8 players remaining.
The top 6 will be paid.
Level 15: 4,000/8,000 (8,000)
Gainer clipped by Calcogno
Mike Gainer limped in middle position for 6,000 and Scott Calcogno 3-bet to 20,000 from the blinds. Gainer called and they saw a A♠Q♣K♦ flop.
Calcogno led for 15,000 and Gainer called. The turn was the 6♥ and this time Calcogno checked for Gainer to bet 30,000. Calcogno then check-raised all-in and Gainer, after thinking for some time, made the call.
Gainer showed K♠9♠ but was drawing dead against the K♥K♣ of his opponents.
Mike Gainer – 525,000
Scott Calcogno – 230,000
Final table chip counts
| Seat | Player | Chips |
| 1 | Mike Gainer | 665,000 |
| 2 | Dung Tran | 71,000 |
| 3 | Zhifan Ye | 195,000 |
| 4 | Scott Calcogno | 135,000 |
| 5 | Adam Cusenza | 197,000 |
| 6 | Troy Pellaschiar | 123,000 |
| 7 | Declan Huston | 57,000 |
| 8 | Jacyn Che | 103,000 |
| 9 | Frank Pezzaniti | 196,000 |
Level 14: 3,000/6,000 (6,000)
Williams walloped as final table set
Short-stack Nick Williams shoved on the button and was called by Mike Gainer in the blinds.
Williams was live with K♣8♥ against the A♣9♠ of gainer but the 2♣9♥6♣4♠8♥ board wasn’t enough to keep his tournament flame flickering.
With that we are at our final table!
Esca-barred
Elliott Esca was all-in for his tournament life holding 4♦4♣ having been called by the big stack, Mike Gainer, with A♠8♦.
The J♠8♣3♠ flop left Esca drawing thin and he couldn’t catch the 4 he needed to stay alive.
We’re now down to 10 players remaining.
Boswell banished
Jacyn Che opened on the button and Ryan Boswell shoved for his last 40,000 from the big blind. Che called and they were off to the races with Che holding A♦Q♣ and Boswell 10♥10♣.
The board ran out 2♥7♣4♠A♣8♥ and we’re down to 11 players.
Che, who won last night’s PLO5 event, has 145,000 after that hand.
Level 13: 2,500/5,000 (5,000)
Break time
Players are now on a 10-minute break.
Crying call
On a board of A♥Q♣10♥, Declan Huston bet 6,000 and Andrew Michael called.
The turn was the Q♦ and this time Huston announced he was all-in, having Michael comfortably covered. Michael thought long and hard before eventually calling and showing A♦4♦ but he was in trouble against the K♠J♥ of Huston. The river provided no help as we are down to 12 players.
Huston moves to 165,000.
Chip counts
The counts of the 14 players remaining are as follows:
| Player | Chips |
| Mike Gainer | 395,000 |
| Frank Pezzaniti | 210,000 |
| Scott Calcogno | 205,000 |
| Zhifan ye | 185,000 |
| Adam Cusenza | 158,000 |
| Ryan Boswell | 115,000 |
| Dung Tran | 97,000 |
| Nick Williams | 95,000 |
| Troy Pellaschiar | 88,000 |
| Jacyn Che | 78,000 |
| Declan Huston | 65,000 |
| Andrew Michael | 50,000 |
| Daniel Chambers | 35,000 |
| Elliott Esca | 33,000 |
Level 12: 2,000/4,000 (4,000)
Ye crosses 200k
Zhifan Ye, more commonly known as “Mata” at Stacked, has crossed the 200,000 chip barrier after a huge clash with Tin Win.
The chips went in on a Q♣10♦2♥ flop with Tin showing A♥Q♠ but Zhifan showing 10♠10♥ for the set.
The turn and river brought no miracle for Tin as he was sent to the rail.
Level 11: 1,500/3,000 (3,000)
Dapollonio dumped
Troy Pellaschiar opened in early position and received two callers before Matt Dapollonio shoved for 25,000. Nick Williams reluctantly folded but Pellaschiar re-raised all-in, forcing the original callers to fold.
It was Pellaschiar’s A♥K♦ dominating the A♦Q♠ of Dapollonio and when the board bricked we it was Dapollonio’s turn to hit the rail.
Payouts
The 71 entries into today’s $550 NLH Terminator has created a prize pool of $17,750 once bounties have been removed. That means six players will make the money with the payouts as follows:
| Position | Prize |
| 1 | $5,500 |
| 2 | $4,000 |
| 3 | 3000 |
| 4 | 2300 |
| 5 | 1750 |
| 6 | 1200 |
Level 10: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Williams walks into the chip lead
After losing a chunk of chips on the previous hand, Michael Mariakis was all-in for his tournament life and found two callers in Matt Dapollonio and Nick Williams.
The flop fell 3♠6♠9♣ and Dapollonio bet into Williams who announced he was all-in. Dapollonio snap-called and rolled over 7♠8♠ for the monster draw – although he didn’t have as many outs as he thought with Williams showing J♠Q♠ for the higher flush draw.
The 10♦ was the perfect card for Dapollonio but incredibly the river fell K♣ to give Williams the higher straight.
He collects Mariakis’ bounty while soaring into the overall chip lead with 175,000.
Dapollonio still has 65,000 behind.
Flopped flush
On a 9♣3♣4♣ flop, Michael Mariakis bet 6,500 and received one caller.
The turn was the 7♥ and Mariakis announced he was all-in. His opponent thought for around a minute before calling with 7♣9♠ but was drawing dead to Mariakis’ A♣10♣.
Mariakis picks up a bounty and moves to 50,000 and change.
River regret
Van Vlassis shoved his short-stack into the middle holding 10♠10♣ and was called by Matt Dapollonio in search of the bounty with his A♠4♠.
Vlassis looked set for a double up as the flop and turn bricked, but the A♦ on the river landed a fatal blow as he exited stage right.
Splendour for Cusenza
In the first hand after the break on Table 2, Jin Lee and Adam Cusenza got it all-in pe-flop with Jin holding A♦K♣ and Cusenza holding Q♥Q♣.
The 10♣J♥A♥ flop was good for Jin but the K♣ river gave Cusenza Broadway as he sends Jin to the rail.
Cusenza now has 157,000.
Level 9: 800/1,600 (1,600)
Break it up
Players are on a 15-minute break.
Last re-entry hand
The floor staff have called for one more hand to be dealt before players go on a 15-minute break and the re-entry period is closed.
Seal still swimming
Emmanuel Seal announced he was all-in from late position before Jacyn Che declared himself all-in from the button.
“AC” then announced he was all-in over the top and the cards were tabled.
Seal, the short stack, was out in front with K♥K♣ while Che held A♣9♣ and “AC” the K♦Q♦.
The dealer showed the A♥ in the window to leave Seal with one foot out the door but the rest of the flop fell K♠2♣. A 3♠ on the turn and 10♠ on the river sent the hand Seal’s way as he tripled up.
Jacyn Che – 87,000
“AC” – 54,000
Emmanuel Seal – 23,000
Boating life
We caught the action on a board reading 10♣10♥5♥7♦7♠ and Gabby X having announced he was all-in. Chris Parker thought about it before making the call and showing 7♠3♦.
Gabby showed 4♠6♠ for air as Parker picked up his bounty and moved to 95,000.
Freezout approaching
With seven levels now done and dusted, we are into the final level before the registration and re-entry period is closed.
At the end of this 25-minute level, the staff will call “one more hand” which will provide the last opportunity for players to double up, to bust or to surrender their stack if under starting size to re-enter.
There are currently 61 entries.
Level 8: 600/1,200 (1,200)
The stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Neb Blasuna | 165,000 |
| Mike Gainer | 150,000 |
| Adam Cusenza | 110,000 |
| Tin Win | 105,000 |
| Matt Dapollonio | 90,000 |
Bounty hunting
All relatively short-stacked, Michael Mariakis, “AC” and Nick Williams got it in on a 7♣J♣Q♦ flop with “AC” in the lead holding J♥9♦ but with plenty to fade if he was to get there against the A♣5♥ of Mariakis and the 9♠10♠ of Williams.
The K♦ on the turn immediately have Williams the lead with the straight and he held to triple through to 60,000 while also collecting a bounty from “AC”.
Level 7: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Set mining
We caught the action on a board reading A♦2♥9♣10♣ with Michael Mariakis betting out for 15,000 before Mike Gainer shoved for a total of 62,000.
Mariakis stood and looked at the board before calling and tabling A♠10♦ but needing help against the 2♦2♠ of Gainer.
The river was the 3♠ to double gainer through to 153,000 while Mariakis slips to around 25,000.
Frankly speaking
Adam Cusenza opened in early position and received 3 callers to see a flop of J♠8♣2♣. He continued for the minimum and was called by Frank Pezzaniti before Huey Lam – this week’s Monster Stack champion – re-raised to 6,500. Both Cusenza and Pezzaniti called.
The turn was the 9♣ and it was checked around to Pezzaniti who bet 11,600. Lam then re-raised all-in, with Cusenza tank-folding and Pezzaniti snapping him off.
Pezzaniti showed A♣3♣ for the nuts with Lam mucking, although the dealer showed that he had held A♥J♣.
Pezzaniti collects the bounty chip while moving to 105,000.
Level 6: 400/800
Gabby, Chambers double through
Daniel Chambers opened to 1,700 UTG and it was folded around to Neb Blanusa in the blinds who 3-bet to 6,100. Chambers called and they took a flop of 6♠4♠4♣. Both players checked before Blanusa announced he was all-in when the 2♦ landed on the turn.
Chambers snap-called and turned over A♣A♥ to be well ahead of Blanusa’s J♥J♣. The river bricked as Chambers doubled to around 45,000.
Moments later, Gabby X got his last 11,100 in with K♥K♦ and was called by Michael Mariakis with 7♣8♣.
A 7♥ on the flop gave Gabby a sweat but he survived to move to 23,000.
The big stacks
| Player | Chips |
| Neb Blanusa | 130,000 |
| Casey Grout | 115,000 |
| Michael Mariakis | 110,000 |
| Michael Haddad | 85,000 |
| Sergio Cavaiuolo | 65,000 |
Level 5: 300/600
Break time
Players are now on a 15-minute break.
3 way all-in
On a K♥5♥10♦ flop, Michael Haddad announced he was all-in for 26,425 and both Tin Win and Casey Grout made the call.
All three players held a K in their hand with Haddad showing K♦2♦, Tin showing K♣9♣ and Grout having both dominated with K♠A♥.
The turn 9♦ elevated Tin into the lead and gave Haddad a flush draw, but the A♣ river clipped both as Grout scooped the pot.
He collects Haddad’s bounty and moves to 83,000 while Tin still has around 40,000 in front.
Level 4: 200/400
Blanusa busy
Neb Blanusa was stacked early but after re-entering he is now our chip leader with 120,000 and a couple of bounty chips to match.
Blanusa has been getting busy, playing most hands and clearly on a mission to get that bounty stack as tall as possible!
Jacyn racin’
Last night’s PLO5 champion Jacyn Che has continued his run good into today’s event. We caught him getting it all-in pre-flop holding A♠10♦ against an opponent’s Q♥Q♠.
The board ran out [invalid notations] with the river sending Che his first bounty of the day. He now sits with around 58,000.
Level 3: 150/300
Cowboys get it done for Pellaschiar
It’s not quite as hectic tonight as it was during the early levels of the PLO5 last night but there is still plenty of early action.
Troy Pellaschiar is one of the beneficiaries, getting it on holding K♦K♠ against the K♥J♣ of Michael Haddad on a 4♣J♦7♣ flop. The turn and river were running Aces as moves to around 55,000 while Haddad prepares to fire a second bullet.
Candid Camera
Gainer gets busy
Sergio Cavaiuolo opened to 600 and “Mad” Mike Gainer 3-bet to 1,600. Two players cold-called and Cavaiuolo also came long for the ride.
The flop fell 4♥A♣6♣ and Gainer continued for 6,000 with only Cavaiuolo making the call.
On the turn 2♥, Cavaiuolo checked to Gainer who announced he was all-in for his remaining 14,000. Cavaiuolo thought for a while before calling.
The cards were flipped and it was Gainer’s A♠Q♣ in great shape against the A♦9♦ of Cavaiuolo.
The river was a repeat deuce as the remainder of Cavaiuolo’s early double-up is depleted. He heads to the cage to re-enter while Gainer moves to around 48,000.
Level 2: 100/200
Cavaiuolo scores early double
Sergio Cavaiuolo has scored a big early double up after picking off Neb Blanusa’s bluff.
The hand began with Blanusa opening and Cavaiuolo making the call from the big blind. The dealer spread a flop of [invalid notations] and Cavaiuolo check called a bet of 1,500.
The turn was the4♦ and this time Cavaiuolo check-called a bet of 5,000. When the river was a repeat 3, Cavaiuolo checked again and Blanusa announced he was all-in.
Cavaiuolo thought briefly before making the call and tabling 4♠5♠ as Blanusa mucked his cards.
Cavaiuolo doubles through to 50,000.
Shuffle up and deal
Our tournament director Chris has announced “shuffle up and deal” and we’re underway in the terminator!
Level 1: 100/100
Welcome once again to PokerMedia Australia and our live coverage of the Stacked Poker Championship.
The Stacked Social poker room, located in the heart of North Adelaide’s restaurant and café district, has been getting progressively busier in the lead-up to the Main Event – culminating with last night’s PLO5 which attracted a massive 121 entries and created the largest prize pool of the series so far.
Tonight we are back for the $550 NLH Terminator, which will see $250 from each player entered into the overall prize pool and the other $250 put aside as a bounty. Eliminate a player and you collect their $250 bounty!
It promises to be a lot of fun and if you find yourself with a short stack expect a target to be hovering above your head.
Players will start with 25,000 in chips while late registration and re-entry is permitted through to the end of Level 8. All levels are 25 minutes in length.
PMA will again be here to bring you all the live reporting action from 6pm local time (6.30pm AEDT) as we look to crown our fourth and final champion before the Main Event kicks off on Friday.
Just a reminder too – Thursday will see a massive Main Event Mega Satellite running at Stacked where event ambassador and Australian Poker Hall of Famer Billy “The Croc” Argyros will be giving away free drinks, bounties and a few extra seats to the big dance!
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