Michael Gagliano has wasted no time getting involved on Day 2.
On a board of , Gagliano bet 13,000 from the cutoff when Asher Conniff checked to him out of the big blind. Conniff jammed for about 40,000 more, and Gagliano folded.
The very next hand, five players saw a flop for a raise. Action checked to Gagliano in the hijack, and he fired 9,500. Only the player on his right called. That played led for 11,000 on the turn and Gagliano called. Both quickly checked the , and the cutoff announced his hand but we couldn't hear it. Gagliano said it was no good, and his opponent nonetheless turned over . Gagliano showed to take it with aces.
The call to shuffle up and deal came with a few announcements from Tournament Director Mike Ward.
Apparently the plan today is to play down to just three tables remaining.
If they get close when the tournament reaches the 18th level, they'll stop play then. They've cancelled the dinner break as well, and without that, they should reach Level 18 around 8 p.m., giving players the chance to enter the 3rd Annual Chad Brown Charity Tournament, a $200 event with unlimited $100 reentries that starts at that time.
If there are still six tables in play at 8 p.m., Ward says they will play on.
PokerStars Festival New Jersey has seen two starting flights come and go, and it's time for everyone to get together under one roof to compete for the first time in the tournament, as Day 2 is set to begin at 11 a.m. local time with 70 runners.
Ruben Costa, who topped Day 1a with a stack of 222,500, is the man to catch for the moment. Others entering Day 2 with hefty stacks include John Gulino (196,700), Ryan Hohner (157,300), New Jersey regulated online market whiz Michael Gagliano (144,900), Dan Howe (138.900), and Survivor star Tyson Apostol (135,200).
Team PokerStars will also be represented, as Randy Lew, Victor Ramdin, and Barry Greenstein will all take to the felt when cards are in the air at 11 a.m. local time.
The schedule as of now calls for another 10 levels of play, each lasting one hour. There will be an 80-minute dinner break after the sixth level, so there's another grueling day of poker ahead. Blinds will begin at Level 11 (800/1,600/200). Keep an eye here throughout the day for all of the live updates.
, Gagliano bet 13,000 from the cutoff when Asher Conniff checked to him out of the big blind. Conniff jammed for about 40,000 more, and Gagliano folded.
flop for a raise. Action checked to Gagliano in the hijack, and he fired 9,500. Only the player on his right called. That played led for 11,000 on the 
turn and Gagliano called. Both quickly checked the 
, and the cutoff announced his hand but we couldn't hear it. Gagliano said it was no good, and his opponent nonetheless turned over 
. Gagliano showed 
to take it with aces.
