Event 2 (Day 2)
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Michael Cisco – 1st Place – Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix
Michael Cisco came into Day 2 second in chips behind Jerry Yavner, but he has position, sitting to Jerry’s left, and played a masterful game on his way to winning the Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix event. He’ll take home $6,191 and his first Borgata trophy for the win.
He has also now been vindicated after his 7th place finish in this event during January’s Winter Poker Open, when he was bested by an empty chair, who finished 4th. This time around he had to battle a WSOP bracelet winner heads-up and Svetlana Gromenkova overcame a 2.5:1 chip deficit to take the lead at one point during their brief skirmish. Michael prevailed in the end and now has some hardware for his trophy case.
This is Michael’s first reported win in a major event for the poker pro, who recently gave up his job as a poker dealer to play full time. He’ll be back in action tomorrow in the Kickoff event in an attempt to parlay his winnings into a much bigger payday.
Omaha/Stud H/L Final Results
| PLACE | NAME | FROM | WINNINGS |
| 1 | MICHAEL CISCO | BEAVER, PA | $6,191 |
| 2 | SVETLANA GROMENKOVA | NEW YORK, NY | $3,585 |
| 3 | JERRY YAVNER | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | $1,956 |
| 4 | JUSTIN FINBERG | PITTSBURGH, PA | $1,304 |
| 5 | HARRY ARMSTRONG | OLYPHANT, PA | $1,141 |
| 6 | GREGORY STANCATI | NORTHFIELD, NJ | $978 |
| 7 | BRIAN ZEKUS | NEW YORK, NY | $652 |
| 8 | JOHN CREED | LORTON, VA | $489 |
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Svetlana Gromenkova
Playing Omaha/8:
Svetlana got her last 40,000 in and broke-even with a split pot. Then she got it in again and doubled-up when she scooped with a flush for high and better low than Michael Cisco.
That 80,000 went in with her holding 8632. Michael had Q853. The board ran out T 9 6 J 5. No low was possible and Michael made a straight to take the final pot of the tournament.
Svetlana Gromenkova, 2008 WSOP Ladies Champion, finished in 2nd place, earning $3,585. This is her second 2nd place finish here at Borgata — she has yet to take home a Borgata trophy.
Michael Cisco gets the win, $6,191, and his first Borgata Hotel replica trophy.
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 420,000
Michael Cisco and Svetlana Gromenkova battle heads-up
Playing Omaha/8:
Michael Cisco was the aggressor all the way to the river on a board of 
. When he bet 60,000 on the river, Svetlana only had 100,000 left. She called, only to see Michael’s JJ65 (pair of Jacks). She mucked her hand and was left with only 40,000.
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 420,000
Michael Cisco
Playing Stud/8:
Michael Cisco paired Tens on 5th street and bet. Svetlana, who had paired 6s on 4th, surrendered her hand.
Now the lead has swung back to Michael with ~550,000. Svetlana’s down to ~230,000.
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 420,000
Svetlana Gromenkova
Playing Omaha/8:
Svetlana Gromenkova completed the small blind and Michael Cisco checked his option. The flop came 
and Michael checked. Svetlana bet, Michael check-raised, and she called.
The 
on the turn prompted Michael to lead out and Svetlana called. River was the 
. Michael bet again (60,000) but Svetlana had only ~30,000 left, which she tossed in the pot.
“I’m sure you got it,” said Michael. Sure enough, her AQT4 (pair of Tens) beat his J952 (pair of 9s). She scooped the pot, doubling up to 430,000 and taking a slight chip lead. Michael was left with 410,000.
On another hand very soon after, they got to showdown and Michael said “set”. Svetlana had Broadway and scooped another pot, adding a more chips to her lead.
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 420,000
Jerry Yavner
Playing Stud/8:
Jerry Yavner got his chips in the middle on 3rd street against Michael Cisco. As the cards ran out, both players made two pair, but Michael’s Jacks-up beat Jerry’s 4s and 3s. Michael took the pot, chipping up to 600,000.
Jerry, who began Day 2 as the chip leader, finished in 3rd place, earning $3,585.
As they begin heads-up play, Svetlana Gromenkova has 240,000 to Michael’s 600,000 (2.5:1 chip lead).
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 23: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 280,000
The final three have returned from their break and play has resumed.
As of the break, Michael Cisco had a dominating chip lead over the other two, but the swings are huge and with the split pots, this is still anyone’s game.
Michael Cisco – 486,000 (8 big bets)
Svetlana Gromenkova – 242,000 (4 big bets)
Jerry Yavner – 112,000 (< 2 big bets)
Here are the remaining payouts:
1. $6,191
2. $3,585
3. $1,956
and what they’re really playing for:
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 22: Limits 20,000/40,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 280,000
Michael Cisco
Michael Cisco is keeping his foot on the gas. He’s up to ~500,000.
Jerry Yavner has about 200,000 and Svetlana Gromenkova is down to ~100,000.
The next player eliminated with earn $1,956.
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 22: Limits 20,000/40,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 280,000
Justin Finberg
Playing Stud/8:
Justin Finberg and Michael Cisco capped it on 3rd street and Justin put his last 16,000 in dark before 4th street was dealt. Michael had rolled-up 9s and was way ahead of Justin’s pair of 6s with low draw.
Justin whiffed the low and failed to improve his high hand. He exited the event in 4th place, earning $1,304. Michael chipped up to more than 300,000.
Last September, during the Borgata Poker Open, Justin booked his best live cash of $7,021 when he finished 2nd in this same event. (With 94 entries in that tournament, the prize pool was nearly double this one.)
$300+$40 Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix Re-Entry
Level 22: Limits 20,000/40,000
Total Entries: 56
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 210,000
Playing Stud/8:
Svetlana Gromenkova and Michael Cisco got to the river and Michael bet with a pair of 9s showing. Svetlana folded and Michael took the pot.
The stacks are swinging all over the place. Here’s a rough look at where they stood after that hand:
Michael Cisco – 290,000
Svetlana Gromenkova – 260,000
Jerry Yavner – 170,000
Justin Finberg – 100,000