partypoker US Network Players Choice Series (Dec.13-20)

Blinds: 400/800

A full level of back-and-forth play on both tables has seen "madroc" and "pay4medsch00l" take leads over their respective opponents with fast-paced play the norm across both remaining tables and aggression earning the lead for both players that have it.

Player	Chips	Progress
madroc	78,895 19,300	19,300
pay4medsch00l	65,272 20,532	20,532
MegaWinner	35,648 -19,612	-19,612
BigDickRick	21,105 -19,300	-19,300

Blinds: 300/600

A limped pot preflop between "BigDickRick" in the big blind and "madroc" on the button brought a flop of , where both players put 1,500 into the middle.

Both players checked the turn and the river came . "BigDickRick" bet 3,000 and "madroc" raised to 9,300, sending "BigDickRick" into the tank for a few moments before calling.

"madroc" showed for a rivered king-high straight, but it was no good to the of "BigDickRick", who rivered Broadway to earn the pot, and after dropping below 30,000 is now back up to 40,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
madroc	59,595 -6,415	-6,415
BigDickRick	40,405 6,415	6,415

Blinds: 300/600

Both matches have seen stacks fluctuate within 25% in either direction in the first level-and-a-half of the semifinal round.

Player	Chips	Progress
madroc	66,010 16,010	16,010
MegaWinner	55,260 5,260	5,260
pay4medsch00l	44,740 -5,260	-5,260
BigDickRick	33,990 -16,010	-16,010

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Blinds: 500/1,000

A full level has gone by with back-and-forth action between Dan "mj23style" Sewnig and "BigDickRick", with Sewnig climbing back and threatening to take the chip lead before "BigDickRick" reclaimed a pot that brought stacks close to where they were at the start of the level.

Player	Chips	Progress
BigDickRick	68,975 -6,510	-6,510
Dan "mj23style" Sewnig	31,025 6,510	6,510

BorgataPoker.com has a trio of sponsored pros �� Katie Stone, Daniel Buzgon, and Michael "Gags30" Gagliano �� all of whom have been active this year in the partypoker US Network Online events.

In regards to the man known as "Gags," he has been playing poker professionally for a decade and has amassed more than $2 million in live tournament cashes. That includes a career-best $448,463 for winning the 2016 World Series of Poker Event #25: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em, good for his first bracelet. He also finished third in the 2017 WSOP Event #27: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em - 6 Handed for $210,139.

He also has more than $4 million in online scores. Of that, $338,315 has come on BorgataPoker.com.

According to his website, "before poker he worked in an elementary school, which has given him a great background to become a premier poker instructor. Coaching for more than seven years he has helped more than 50 students from all over the world improve their game. These students have gone on to win multiple championships including the WSOP Main Event. Michael has also worked as a consultant for several major casinos and online poker sites to help them improve their product and better serve their customers."

It's been a good day for Gagliano so far, as he has already doubled his starting stack. Stay tuned to find out if he can keep this momentum going!

For more on Gagliano, be sure to follow him on Twitter at @Gags30poker.