The Collector, The Barber and The Suicide King

[user127999]

Level 9 : 400/800, 100 ante

Local hero Andy Spears is one of the most successful big-time tournament players in Western New York with over $1 million in career earnings.

Spears had what looked like a pretty big stack going into the break, just not coming out of it. Turned out it was all smoke and mirrors. One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet at the table, Spears spent the last level collecting up all the 25-denomination chips in advance of a color up. As a result, he had stacks on stacks of green, but they weren't really worth all that much.

Spears wasn't trying to fool anybody, he just wanted to make sure the color up went fast and smooth. Those greens are gone now and Spears' big stack went with it.

Speaking of fast and smooth, the legend that is Dan Wagner is now on 90,000 and climbing. He's two seats over from chip leader Jim Goertz and eyeing his chips with envy. He was recently seen salivating at the prospect of an obviously imminent confrontation.

In the meantime, it was a close shave for Andy Ranaletti as he almost got scalped getting it in with queens against Allison Schultz' aces. Ranaletti's run at the title of 2017 WNYPC Luckbox of the Series continued when he binked a queen to jump into contention.