Arthur Gates Wins the 2017 Seneca Summer Slam $125 Reentry

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Level 25 : 20,000/40,000, 4,000 ante

After the final four players chopped up the remaining prize money, the 2017 Seneca Niagara Falls Summer Slam $125 No-Limit Hold'em Reentry title and trophy went to 55-year-old retired Niagara Falls Medical Center employee Arthur Gates in his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY Thursday night.

The chip leader at the time the deal was made, consistent local rounder David Battaglia ($7,294) earned his second five-figure score of the series, and the most money. However, Gates still collected $4,679 for the win. Tom Babiarz ($6,756) and Steve Roberts ($4,703) were also part of the chop.

The event's six starting flights drew 456 entries this week and 58 survivors returned to play down to a champion Thursday. The top 45 finishers were paid and they reached the money rather quickly to start the day.

The lion's share of the massive $43,320 prizepool sat at the final table, and when they reached the final ten, Babiarz had built a big lead. Patience paid off for Battaglia, however, and as the first six players to bust from the final table took their leave, he built a slight lead over Babiarz.

Both Roberts and Gates led at one point or another, but by the time a decision to chop was made, they were the shorter stacks of the four.

In the end, they all chose not to gamble in the face of escalating blinds and these four players enjoyed a huge return on investment for their $125 buy in.

That ends the $125 Reentry event, however, PokerNews' coverage of the 2017 Seneca Niagara Falls Summer Slam continues with the first of two starting flights for the $600 Main Event beginning at 11 a.m. local time Friday. Tune in then.