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