Event #5: $15K GTD PKO
Day 1 Completed
partypoker US Network Online Series (Nov. 29 - Dec.6)
Event #5: $15K GTD PKO
Day: 1
Event Info
Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja has claimed the most recent title of the partypoker US Network Online Series, topping a field of 118 entries in Event #5: $215 NLH PKO Bounty $15K GTD.
There were only seventeen registered players at the start of play though that number more than doubled in the first three levels of action.
The tournament met its guaranteed prize pool in Level 9 and generated a $37,000 prize pool ($18,500 regular prize pool & $18,500 bounty prize pool) after the 118 total entries became official meaning, the top 16 finishers would get a piece of the pie with 38 players remaining.
After registration closed, the virtual bodies dropped quickly and a few short levels later, "KevinDurant" eliminated "RiverMan" on the bubble, leaving the remaining players in the money.
From there, eliminations continued like rapid fire with Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez eliminating "KevinDurant" in ninth place, setting the stage for the official final table.
Event #5 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize | KO | Total Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja | $2,521.66 | $3,406.25 | $5,927.91 |
| 2 | Daniel “leinad” Buzgon | $2,519.30 | $737.50 | $3,256.80 |
| 3 | Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein | $1,652 | $600 | $2,252 |
| 4 | Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez | $1,168.20 | $1,243.75 | $2,411.95 |
| 5 | "Cholie" | $861.40 | $300 | $1,161.40 |
| 6 | "redraider" | $637.20 | $325 | $962.20 |
| 7 | "HellHound" | $483.80 | $50 | $533.50 |
| 8 | "MyCousinVinny5" | $365.80 | $487.50 | $853.30 |
Final Table Action
Mendez entered the final table with the chip lead and Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein was next in the counts, while Daniel “leinad” Buzgon and Pahuja sat towards the bottom.
One by one players were eliminated until only Mendez, Borenstein, Buzgon and Pahuja remained. From there, Puhuja went on an elimination spree sending Mendez out in fourth place, Borenstein out in third place and Buzgon in second place.
Remaining partypoker US Network Online Series Events
| Date | Time (EST) | Tournament | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 12/2 | 7:30 p.m. | Event #6: $15K GTD 8-Max NLH | $215 |
| Thursday, 12/3 | 7:30 p.m. | Event #7: $25K GTD 6-Max PKO | $535 |
| Friday, 12/4 | 7:30 p.m. | Event #8: $15K GTD 6-Max NLH | $215 |
| Saturday, 12/5 | 7:30 p.m. | Event #9: $20K GTD 8-Max NLH | $320 |
| Sunday, 12/6 | 5:00 p.m. | Event #10: Sunday $50K GTD Main Event | $215 |
| Sunday, 12/6 | 8:00 p.m. | Event #11: $10K GTD NLH Turbo | $109 |
*PokerNews will offer live updates from the bolded events.
In Level 29 with blinds of 25,000/50,000 and an ante of 6,250, Daniel “leinad” Buzgon got his remaining chips in the middle after a 
flop and Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja snap-called.
Daniel “leinad” Buzgon: 
Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja: 
Pahuja was ahead after flopping bottom set but still had a sweat as Buzgon held the wheel draw to go along with the spade draw.
The 
that appeared on the turn was a bad card for Buzgon as it left him praying for a spade to come on the river.
Unfortunately for Buzgon, the 
completed the board and ended his tournament in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,900,000
2,575,068
|
2,575,068 |
|
|
Busted |
In Level 28 with blinds of 20,000/40,000 and an ante of 5,000, Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein raised all in for 635,080 from the small blind and
Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein: 
Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja: 
Pahuja woke up with a hand in the big blind and Borenstein needed to get lucky to stay alive.
Unfortunately for Borenstein, the board ran out 
ending his tournament in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,324,932
64,080
|
64,080 |
|
|
2,575,068
867,134
|
867,134 |
|
|
Busted |
You might recall that In early 2019, Daniel "leinad" Buzgon signed on as a BorgataPoker.com Sponsored Pro – one of three alongside Michael “Gags” Gagliano and Katie Stone.
“It took a little bit of time to get all the paperwork and stuff like that,” Buzgon previously told PokerNews of becoming sponsored. “It was in December when it started but wasn’t official until just before the Borgata Winter series. Duties include mainly playing a lot online, promoting the site, and trying to get new players on the site.”
According to HendonMob, Buzgon has more than $2.3 million in lifetime live tournament earnings since 2007. He’s a four-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner has played for big money before. In 2001, he finished third in the WPT Borgata Poker Open for $335,433, and last year he finished fifth in the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event for $202,942. He also finished fourth in the 2012 WPT bestbet Jacksonville for $94,624.
Additionally, Buzgon is a beast online where he’s amassed more than $3.1 million in earnings, of which $435,457 has come on BorgataPoker.com where he plays under the screen name “leinad.”
In Level 26 with blinds of 16,000/32,000 and an ante of 4,000, a series of raises saw Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez call off his 1,084,536 stack from the button after Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja jammed for 2,144,316 from the big blind.
Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez: 
Vinny “brownmagic” Pahuja: 
Mendez was behind racing for his tournament life and things turned out badly after a nine appeared in the window on the 
flop.
The 
turn left Mendez drawing dead and he took his exit after the completed the board on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,260,852
2,840,272
|
2,840,272 |
|
|
1,707,934
297,195
|
297,195 |
|
|
931,214
-1,002,558
|
-1,002,558 |
|
|
Busted |
In Level 26 with blinds of 16,000/32,000 and an ante of 4,000, "Cholie" raised all in for 360,652 from under the gun and Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez called sitting next to act.
"Cholie": 
Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez: 
It was a classic race with "Cholie" behind looking to pair either of their over cards but didn't find it on the 
flop.
The 
turn gave Mendez a set and left "Cholie" drawing dead to the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,435,678
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
Busted |
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In Level 26 with blinds of 16,000/32,000 and an ante of 4,000, Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez opened with a raise from under the gun and then called "redraider's" 285,190 three-bet jam from the next seat over.
"redraider":
Matt “MattEMenz” Mendez:
The flop came [10djh7h, pairing Mendez but it also gave "redraider" more outs drawing to broadway.
The 
turn gave "redraider" the open-ender as any ace, king or nine would secure their double-up but the dropped on the river and ended their tournament in sixth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,345,678
634,679
|
634,679 |
|
|
Busted |
In Level 25 with blinds of 14,000/28,000 and an ante of 3,500, "HellHound" raised all in for 711,228 from the cutoff and Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein isolated from the small blind.
"HellHound": 
Jon “Jetsfan411” Borenstein: 
The 
flop gave Borenstein top two-pair but it also gave "HellHound" a broadway draw.
Luckily for Borenstein, the 
and 
completed the board, sending "HellHound" out in seventh place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,933,772
857,468
|
857,468 |
|
|
Busted |