Event 15: The Draw

$2000 +$150 Heads Up Double Elimination NL

Board Games

The weather is forcing Director of Poker Operations Stan Strickland and Tournament Director Tab Duchateau to make some adjustments. Because of snow in the I-95 corridor, the start of the event was pushed back two hours to 1 pm and a couple of players are now receiving "byes" because the field is less than 64 players.

The brackets are filled-in and we'll highlight some of the key matches throughout the day.

Event 17: HOSERS in the House

$500 + $60 HOSE

The mixed game specialists are hitting the felt in a game that features four of their favorite games. Hold'em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, Stud Eight or Better. All games are fixed limits as there's no pot limit or NL action.

Because there are four main events, the tables are packed in the Event Center and the HOSE field is in the Poker Room at the opposite end of the casino.

Cards are in the air!

Event 16: Hello Kitty

$260 + $40 Deep Stack NL

Beata, Borgata Newbie

Poker is always seeing a new influx of talent and some of it has to do with the calender. Beata Wielgoszewski (Plainville, CT) is less than a year removed from her 21st birthday and making her first trip to Borgata. She says she's "relieved" to be a "legal" poker player and while she doesn't have a lot of life experience she's played a lot of cards and is putting her college education to good use.

Wielgoszewski is a psych major at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut and as a senior has a few days off a week to try and take advantage of unsuspecting
players or future patients.

Level 2 (50/100) is underway

Event 16: Starting Fresh

$260 + $40 Deep Stack NL

Familiar faces looking to run well today include:

James Boyle
Keith Crowder
Mike Dentale
Al Riccobono
Mike "Little Man" Sica
Howard Wolper

We've seen a couple of players anxious to get back in the mix for the Day 2 of Event 12 which starts this afternoon. Jim Stenella makes a special trip to media row to confirm a 1 pm start.

"You're sure it's 1?" asks the Antiques Dealer from Perkasie, PA, Stenella starts with the 5th largest stack and the answer is a resounding "yes, 1 pm!"

Event 16: More Deep Stacks

$260 + $40 Deep Stack NL

Another Day at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, another Deep Stack tournament. Players love the format as this is the 5th version during the Winter Poker Open.

Stacks are 25k deep, levels are 30 minutes long, blinds start at 25/50 and the cards are in the air!

Wassup Gorrilla?

It's a busy day at the Event Center and in the middle of the chaos I here, "Wassup Gorilla?" Dwyte Pilgrim the 2010 Borgata Poker Open Champion is in the house and ready for some love.

He's been on a whirlwind since winning the WPT title in September and glad to be back at his home away from home. Pilgrim is playing in the Heads Up tournament and has some extra time as the start has been pushed to 1 pm.

The No Limit players are settling in for their tournament start, while the HOSE gets underway at noon. That's followed by the finale of Event 12 as the 199 remaining players chase the $47,000 first prize.

HEADS UP ANNOUNCEMENT

Event 15: $2000 + $150 Heads Up Double Elimination NLH ... TIME CHANGE

This event will begin at 1PM today.

Draw will take place at 12PM.

Event 12 Chip Counts

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 12: $170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
January 25-27, 2011

Entries: 12
Total Buy-In:

End of Day 1 Chip Count Leaders:
1. WILLIAM HART (MARTINSBURG, WV): 661,500
2. JULIO ESTEVEZ (HAKENSACK, NJ): 501,000
3. BARRY LEVENTHAL (BROOKLYN, NY): 440,000
4. NICOLE ROWE (SALISBURY MILLS, NY): 429,000
5. JAMES STENELLA (PIPERSVILLE, PA): 411,000
6. BRYAN TRISCHETTA (SCRANTONE, PA): 393,000
7. STEVEN CURTIN (INDIAN TRAIL, NC): 373,500
8. MARK SYKES (NEW HAVEN, CT): 368,000
9. MICHAEL BIEMESDERFER (MOUNT UNION, PA): 365,500
10. MICHAEL BESCRIPT (ROYERSFORD, PA): 365,000
11. SALVATORE PIPITONE (PARAMUS, NJ): 361,500
12. MIKAIL VAINSTEIN (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 359,000
13. HEUNG YOON (WOODBRIDGE, VA): 346,500
14. CHRISTOPHER CRAIN (NYACK, NY): 344,000
15. WILLIAM SANFORD (MT VERNON, NY): 338,000
16. BRYAN NEIRA (LODI, NJ): 324,000
17. PAUL RADFORD (NEW YORK, NY): 322,000
18. JAMES GOVERNA (RICHBORO, PA): 306,500
19. KELLY MCCARTHY (MARGATE CITY, NJ): 304,500
20. TERECE JONES (PISCATAWAY, NJ): 290,500
21. NIKOLA CURANOVIC (BRONX, NY): 285,000
22. ELIZABETH GREY-PARDO (YONKERS, NY): 256,500
23. NICOLAS MARKATOS (DIX HILLS, NY): 253,000
24. MYLES GLYNN (PHOENIX, AZ): 251,000
25. EDWARD ABENDSCHEIN (MTN LKS, NJ): 246,000
26. LOUIS IORIO (EAST MORICHES, NY): 244,000
27. NEAL GAY (BROOKLYN, NY): 243,500
28. DANIEL CHAN (NEW YORK, NY): 242,000
29. EDWIN LAU (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 242,000
30. JULIAN MIRANDA (UNION CITY, NJ): 239,500
31. KENNETH GOLDIN (CLEARWATER, FL): 238,500
32. CHRISTOPH GALVIN (MANVILLE, NJ): 238,000
33. TAMER ABDELHAKIEM (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 236,500
34. FRANK PARK (GAINESVILLE, VA): 236,000
35. MARCO JANSEN (MUNCHEN, GER): 235,500
36. BRADEN EDWARDS (CHALFONT, PA): 235,000
37. VINCENT PROFILI (COATESVILLE, PA): 235,000
38. JASON PERRONE (MT SINAI, NY): 235,000
39. ERIC MA (ANNADALE, VA): 228,000
40. CARL RESTIFO (WARETOWN, NJ): 228,000
41. MONTY DENNIS (TUCKER, GA): 223,000
42. DAVID ZEITLIN (BROOKLYN, NY): 221,500
43. JASON HENRICI (OLD TAPPAN, NJ): 221,000
44. JOSHUA PALMER (HAMPTONVILLE, NC): 219,500
45. CHRISTOPHER BRANSCOMB (MECHANICSVLLE, VA): 218,000
46. JERRY JONES (SEVERN, MD): 217,500
47. TAEMEE FEUER (HARTSDALE, NY): 214,000
48. FRANCESCO RANDO (ROSELLE PARK, NJ): 214,000
49. MICHAEL PURCHER (MT SINAI, NY): 212,000
50. JEFFREY RUTTER (GAITHERSBURG, MD): 211,500
51. ROBBY DEVRIES (PATERSON, NJ): 202,000
52. ALLAN MOORE (TABERNACLE, NJ): 201,000
53. JOSEPH LOPES (WEST CREEK, NJ): 199,500
54. RYAN ERIQUEZZO (DANBURY, CT): 199,000
55. MARK BOWERSOCK (YOUNGSTOWN, OH): 197,500
56. GEORGE MATOS (NEW YORK, NY): 195,500
57. THOMAS PSCHAR (RINGOES, NJ): 194,000
58. MARK FIOCCO (PENNSVILLE, NJ): 192,500
59. CHARLES MICALIZZI (JERSEY CITY, NJ): 192,500
60. RICHARD KAUKE (E ATLANTIC BEACH, NY): 192,000
61. MICHAEL BOEHME (WILLINGBORO, NJ): 191,500
62. STEVE RYAN (NEW YORK, NY): 190,800
63. NAZIR TYREWALA (SEVERN, MD): 190,500
64. KEVIN AUSTIN (MADISON, NC): 189,000
65. RICHARD GOMOLINSKI (FORT LEE, NJ): 187,000
66. DUONG VU (HARRISBURG, PA): 185,000
67. IRVING MCKENZIE (SALISBURY, MD): 184,000
68. MICHAEL MURPHY (WILKES BARRE, PA): 182,000
69. MICHAEL PETRAK (WAYNE, NJ): 181,500
70. JAMES COLE (CLEVELAND, OH): 180,500
71. DEEANGELO SENG (SICKLERVILLE, NJ): 180,500
72. GREGORY DISLER (KENNETT SQUARE, PA): 180,000
73. LAURENCE GOLDSTEIN (MEDFORD, NY): 179,500
74. ROBERT NGUYEN (W. NEW YORK, NJ): 178,000
75. JACOB NASSER (YONKERS, NY): 177,400
76. SHAWN SMITH (SILVER SPRING, MD): 177,000
77. JAMES CAPORUSCIO (OAKDALE, NY): 176,000
78. JOHN MASON JR. (JAMESTOWN, NC): 175,500
79. PATRICK CHAN (BROOKLYN, NY): 175,000
80. FRANK ERMEL (JACKSON, NJ): 174,500
81. VAIBHAV PATEL (THOROFARE, NJ): 167,500
82. ANTHONY FORLINO (RIDGEWOOD, NJ): 167,500
83. RICHARD MUSTO (ALEXANDRIA, VA): 167,000
84. SATESH JAGAT (RICHMOND HILL, NY): 167,000
85. JAMES ROMOSER (WASHINGTON, DC): 166,000
86. KATHLEEN SYNKOSKI (IJAMSVILLE, MD): 165,500
87. JOHN MCGUINNESS (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 162,000
88. MATTHEW SHOUP (LINCOLN, DE): 160,000
89. REGINALD MCCOLLUM (CHARLOTTE, NC): 159,500
90. JACK MARJI (YONKERS, NY): 158,500
91. FRED FIUMEFREDDO (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 156,500
92. JOSEPH ALTOMONTE (WEST PATERSON, NJ): 156,000
93. ROBERT JANNEY (LEVITTOWN, PA): 153,000
94. PETER LEUNG (BROOKLYN, NY): 148,000
95. KARDAN CHATMON (UPPER MARBORO, MD): 148,000
96. MARTHA PATELLA (MASSAPEQUA PARK, NY): 148,000
97. BERNARD DOMINIAK (LOWER BURRELL, PA): 147,500
98. THOMAS MCGARRY (HAZLET, NJ): 146,000
99. EWALD PRIES (UPR SADDLE RVR, NJ): 145,000
100. JAY JOHNSON (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 143,500
101. TONY LAM (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ): 142,500
102. ANGELO PISTONE (HICKSVILLE, NY): 141,500
103. JASON MIKSIEWICZ (FREEHOLD, NJ): 138,000
104. ROBERT WILLIAMS (UPPER MARLBORO, MD): 138,000
105. WILLIAM PATTERSON (NEW KENSINGTON, PA): 137,000
106. DAVID BRUNETTI (ESSEX, MD): 136,500
107. MICHAEL BROWNBRIDGE (UNION, NJ): 136,000
108. STEPHEN RINALDI (OLD FORGE, PA): 135,500
109. BRUCE HOMAN (MILLVILLE, NJ): 133,000
110. JORGE RIVERA CARRERO (BROOKLYN, NY): 133,000
111. THOMAS ARRIGONI (EDISON, NJ): 133,000
112. WILLIAM MAAG (BALTIMORE BA, MD): 132,500
113. ANDREW INTERDONATO (WASHINGTON, DC): 129,500
114. TAYLOR SHPUR (WITHERBEE, NY): 126,000
115. TIMOTHY CESA (KENNESAW, GA): 125,000
116. MICHAEL LATOUR (CLAY, NY): 124,500
117. DONALD MERCER (SNEADS FERRY, NC): 121,000
118. CHRISTOPHER TAMBERELLA (WEEHAWKEN, NJ): 119,000
119. LOUIS DELBROCCO (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 117,000
120. JOSE RODRIGUEZ (JERSEY CITY, NJ): 113,500
121. CALEB MEAD (TONAWANDA, NY): 113,000
122. CHRISTIAN VIZCAINO (SO PLAINFIELD, NJ): 112,500
123. FRANK MUSSO (RED LION, PA): 112,500
124. GREGG DEANGELO (ROSEDALE, NY): 110,500
125. MARK DIKKER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): 110,500
126. PHILIP DESIMONE (GLEN RIDGE, NJ): 110,000
127. MICHAEL KALFA (BAYVILLE, NJ): 110,000
128. ZAHER SALEH (ROCKY RIVER, OH): 109,500
129. ERIC RADOM (OWINGS MILLS, MD): 109,500
130. POFUK YING (HIGHLAND PARK, NJ): 109,500
131. MICHAEL MCGUINNESS (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 108,500
132. ROBERT SANTILLI (JACKSON, NJ): 108,000
133. EDWARD CUMMINS (BROOKLYN, NY): 105,500
134. ROBERT KARASIC (OCEAN, NJ): 105,500
135. MOHAMMAD FARAH (BENSALEM, PA): 105,000
136. ROBERT CRAIG THOMASMEYER (BUTLER, PA): 105,000
137. DENNIS SUMMERS JR (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA): 104,500
138. MICHAEL BETLEY (N. RIDGEVILLE, OH): 104,000
139. JEFFERY FINKELSTEIN (BALA-CYNWYD, PA): 103,000
140. GEORGE DAVIS (FORREST HILLS, MD): 102,500
141. DAVID ROTCHES (VENTNOR, NJ): 102,500
142. DAVID SIBILIA (CLIFTON, NJ): 102,500
143. WILLIAM DALOISI (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 102,000
144. ERIC BEHAR (CHARLOTTE, NC): 102,000
145. HARRY WITKO (TUNKHANNOCK, PA): 101,000
146. JENNIFER KNOPF (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ): 99,000
147. KERRY SMALL (VENTNOR CITY, NJ): 99,000
148. JOSHUA SMITH (NEWARK, DE): 96,000
149. VINCENT SPINELLI (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 95,000
150. RANSON NELSON (FREDERICKSBURG, VA): 95,000
151. LEO LANE (BERWYN, PA): 94,500
152. ILYA DYMENT (BROOKLYN, NY): 93,500
153. JANE GOLD (PARAMUS, NJ): 92,500
154. WILLIAM LAU (SEWELL, NJ): 92,500
155. JOHN BASSETT (KINGSTON, NY): 88,500
156. RICHARD LIPSON (FEASTERVILLE, PA): 88,000
157. DAVID BERGENBACK (WASHINGTON, NJ): 87,500
158. GARY KEEFER (HANCOCK, MD): 87,000
159. SCOTT BARLOW (PEQUANNOCK, NJ): 86,500
160. MARILYN MATTHEWS (MAYS LANDING, NJ): 83,000
161. MATTHEW KAPLAN (FRANKLIN PARK, NJ): 82,500
162. ALEXANDROS TAKOUNAKIS (ALEXANDRIA, VA): 81,500
163. JOANNE MONTEAVARO (BRONX, NY): 81,000
164. IDO ASHKENAZI (QUEENS, NY): 80,000
165. KEITH MOLINARO (GLASSBORO, NJ): 79,500
166. TIMOTHY GRIFFIN (UNIONVILLE, CT): 79,000
167. MICHAEL DESANTO (W CHESTER, PA): 78,000
168. NICHOLAS GALLO (ELIZABETH, NJ): 78,000
169. JAY MEYEROWITZ (CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ): 77,000
170. PETER PECORARO (BILLERICA, MA): 76,500
171. VICKI RENFROW (PINE KNOLL SHORES, NC): 76,500
172. TREVOR LALL (ELMONT, NY): 75,300
173. MARK SINISCALCHI JR (MONTCLAIR, NJ): 75,000
174. ROBERT F BUNNION (LAUREL SPRINGS, NJ): 74,500
175. ANTHONY MEEKER (ROCKSVILLE, NY): 73,500
176. MARK BUONADONNA (VINELAND, NJ): 73,000
177. NICHOLAS COOK (WOODBURY, NJ): 73,000
178. KATHRYN DOUGHERTY (ALLEN, TX): 72,500
179. ANTHONY MAIO (JAMISON, PA): 69,500
180. GEORGE CARTER (BALTIMORE, MD): 69,000
181. JOHN KOLASKI (HAMILTON SQ, NJ): 68,500
182. FRANK PAVIA (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 68,000
183. KEVIN EMERY (GLASSBORO, NJ): 62,500
184. KRISTAL VERGARA (NEW YORK, NY): 59,500
185. JAMES QUICK (STAATSBURGH, NY): 58,500
186. YVES GRENON (OTTAWA, CAN): 57,500
187. DANIEL DEUGENIO (PUNTA GORDA, FL): 48,500
188. RICHARD HILL (EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ): 48,000
189. GENNADIY GEYLER (FSTRVL TRVOSE, PA): 46,500
190. ANTHONY GARCIA (GLASSBORO, NJ): 46,000
191. MATTHEW VITALE (DIX HILLS, NY): 45,000
192. JAVIER FERNANDEZ (NEW YORK, NY): 42,000
193. DANIEL GOLDBERG (GREAT NECK, NY): 41,000
194. ALBERT KRUX (FAYETTEVILLE, NY): 40,000
195. BRADLEY KAVANAGH (BERLIN, NJ): 34,000
196. LEONARD COHEN (FOREST HILLS, NY): 32,500
197. ASA BERGER (CHALFONT, PA): 30,000
198. ZACKERY SPICER (GEORGETOWN, DE): 22,000
199. CHAD BROUGHTON (NORFOLK, VA): 17,000

Event 13 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 13: $350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em
January 26, 2011

Entries: 140
Total Buy-In: $49,000

FINAL RESULTS
1. MICHAEL KESSLER (SPOTSYLVANIA, VA): $14,259
2. GARY BRUDNER (UNIVERSITY PARK, FL): $7,842
3. RICHARD LUCKASAVAGE (YONKERS, NY): $4,515
4. DOMINICK PELLI (STAMFORD, CT): $3,802
5. EDWARD NEWMAN (BRICK, NJ): $2,851
6. EDWARD RAPPA (ARLINGTON, VA): $2,377
7. ABRAHAM MEVORAH (STATEN ISLAND, NY): $1,901
8. THOMAS STARNER (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $1,426
9. DONALD BROWN (WESTBURY, NY): $1,069
10. HENRY PORCARO (WARWICK, NY): $951
11. JAMES MCLAUGHLIN (BROOMALL, PA): $951
12. DEAN MARTIN (CHAMBERSBURG, PA): $951
13. JAMES BOYD (MARTINSBURG, WV): $832
14. MARK MARIANO (EAST HANOVER, NJ): $832
15. BRIAN KATZ (VOORHEES, NJ): $832
16. DANIEL MONAHAN (LYNBROOK, NY): $713
17. RONALD DURANTE (HAINESPORT, NJ): $713
18. LEONARD MOORE (VENTNOR CITY, NJ): $713

Event 14 Recap

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Forty-nine players turned out for the Borgata Winter Poker Open Seven Card Stud tournament.  The total of all buy-ins was $17,150.

This was originally slated to be a two-day event, but the players opted to play it all the way out in one.  They managed to wrap it up just before midnight after less than 12 hours of play.   Only the final five players earned a share of the prize pool.

The eventual winner was Lance Bacchia of Long Beach Island, NJ.  He earned $7,486 for his victory.  Runner-up was Frank Rasile of Staten Island, NY, who earned $4,159 for second place.

There were a couple of notable players in the starting field.  'Miami' John Cernuto (Las Vegas, NV) has three WSOP bracelets, one of which was won playing Stud Hi/Lo.  Chris Reslock (Atlantic City, NJ) has one WSOP bracelet -- which he earned winning the $5,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud event at the 2007 WSOP.  Neither of these accomplished Stud players made the money today.

William Seymour (Las Vegas, NV) who won the Pot Limit Omaha event yesterday, also played this event, but did not cash.

Event 12 Day 1B Recap

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

The second day of the this tournament brought out 830 entries, which combined with 462 (Day 1A), set the total at 1,292 entries and smashed the $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.

When play ended, William Hart (Martinsburg, WV) bagged the largest stack of either day with nearly 662k. He'll lead 199 players (161k avg.) into Thursday's Day 2 as the field competes for the $219,640 buy-in pool and the $46,870 top prize.*

Hart built a commanding chip lead when he flopped a set of 9s during the last level of the night to eliminate two players, include one player holding pocket aces. Hart's closest competitor will be Julio Estevez (Hackensack, NJ) who finished with 501k to lead all Day 1A players.

Play resumes 1pm Thursday as the play for the Event 12 title.

*Check after 9 am for full list of chip counts.

Event 12: End of Night Big Stacks

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Players have bagged and tagged for the night and William Hart (Martinsburg, WV) is unquestionably the chip leader with 661,500. 130 players remain from Day 1B, which combined with Day 1A (69) will put the Day 2 field at 199 (161k avg.).*

Here are a look at the big stacks from Day 1B

Name-Chip Count

William Hart 661,500
Jim Stenella 411k
Bryan Trischetta 393k
Mark Sykes 368k
Mike Biemesderfer 366k
Sal Pipitone 361k
Mikhail Vainstein 359k
Chris Crain 344k
Bryan Neira 324k
Paul Radford 322k
Kelly McCathy 305k

*Finalized chip counts heading into Day 2 will be posted after 9 am

Event 14: Champion - Lance Bacchia

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Lance Bacchia - 1st Place - $7,486

Event 14: 2nd Place - Frank Rasile

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

 Frank Rasile - 2nd Place - $4,159

Event 14: 3rd Place - Frank Gagliano

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Frank Gagliano - 3rd Place - $2,495

Event 12: Huge Hand

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

William Showing his Hart

There's a mountain of chips on one table near the rail and they belong to William Hart (Martinsburg, WV) thanks to one big hand.

The cutoff raises to 22k (2,500/5k blinds) and Hart with 99 calls from the SB and the BB follows.

The flop comes 9 5 2 and both blinds check. The cutoff ships his remaining 29k and after a Hollywood count from Hart, he makes the smooth call. "I didn't want to chase the big blind away," he says.

The big blind comes over the top for 130k more and Hart wastes no time turning over his hand as he has both players covered.

Cut off: AQ (ace high)
Hart: 99 (set of 9s)
BB: AA (pair of aces)

The turn brings a third club giving the big blind a flush draw, but when the river bricks Hart scoops the 350k pot taking his stack close to 600k.

Event 14: 4th Place - Stephen Rivers

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

 Stephen Rivers - 4th Place - $1,664

Event 14: 5th Place - Joseph Loguidice

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Joseph Loguidice - 5th Place - $832

Event 14: In the Money

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Roland Israelashvilli and Jeff Duvall

Roland Israelashvilli was next to bust out, finishing in 7th place, which doesn't pay.  After his elimination, it was bubble-time

Jeff Duvall was the next to get felted, so he's the official bubble-boy.  For his 6th place finish, he gets zip.

Event 14: 7 Studs Remain

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

They're down to 7 players remaining in this event.  Only the final five will get paid.  Here they are:

Seat - Player - Hometown
1 - Lance Bacchia - Long Beach Island, NJ
2 - Joseph Loguidice - Atlantic City, NJ
3 - Roland Israelashvilli - Forrest Hill, NY
4 - Stephen Rivers - Long Island, NY
5 - Jeff Duvall - London, England
6 - Frank Gagliano - Brooklyn, NY
7 - Frank Rasile - Staten Island, NY

Event 13 Recap

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

A friendly final table was capped by two players with experience in the spotlight and in the end it's Mike Kessler (Spotsylvania, VA) who wins the Seniors tournament and the $14,259 first prize. Kessler defeated Gary Brudner (University Park, FL) who was looking for his second Seniors title, but instead walked away with $7,842 as runner-up.

"This was really enjoyable," said Kessler, who finished 17th in the 2005 WSOP Main Event. "Whatever squabble takes place, like you have in any tournament, it's resolved quickly and doesn't escalate," he said while complimenting a "respectful group of experienced players."

Brudner (2010 Summer Open Senior Champ) wasn't the only former Senior champion in the field as James Boyd (Martinsburg, WV - 2010 Spring Open Champ) was in the running, but ultimately finished in 13th place ($813).

The 2nd place finish for Brudner was bitter-sweet. "I really wanted to win," he said, adding, "I had great hands all day, but in the end I didn't get them.

The 18 players who returned for Day 2 were all in the money and guaranteed at least $713 of the $49,000 total buy-in. Dom Pelli (Stamford, CT) who had the chip lead after Day 1 finished 4th ($3,802).

140 players started the tournament including WSOP Bracelet holders Mike "Little Man" Sica (New Brunswick, NJ) and Chris Reslock (Atlantic City, NJ), but neither player survived to make the money.

In the end it was Kessler who overcame a short stack with 5 players left. "I got back from dinner break and told the table I'd like to at least finish my sandwich."

Kessler did more than that as he downed an Italian sub and the rest of the field.

Event 12: Sykes Claims Chip Lead

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

On a flop of a A T 2, Mark Sykes got his opponent to commit all his chips to the pot holding AK (top pair, top kicker).  Mark held AT and had flopped two pair.

 Mark Sykes

No King appeared on the turn or river to save him and the player headed for the exit.   Mark collected the huge pot and is now up to 465K, good for the chip lead.

Mark is from New Haven, Connecticut and plays tournaments for a living,

Down to 16 tables now -- 160 players remain (plus the 69 that survived day 1a).

Event 12: Super Bowl Bound?

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry) 

Mike Biemesderfer (Mt. Union, PA) is here at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa playing this tournament on his 35th birthday.  He braved the lousy weather and took time away from his job as a quality control inspector to be here.

 Mike Biemesderfer

And of course he's wearing his Steelers jersey.  "If I win this, I'm going to the Super Bowl....so I'm going to the Super Bowl."  Those are some pretty strong words, but he's on the right track.  He's currently got over 200k sitting in front of him.  Now he just has to make it through today, then come back tomorrow and collect the remaining 32 million chips in play.

Event 12: Borrero Triples; Nguyen Takes One Out

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Play resumed after dinner and they are now down to 20 tables (200 players).

Playing with blinds of 1,500/3,000 and 400 antes.

Miguel Borrero tripled up, all-in pre-flop with pocket Kings against a player holding pocket Jacks and a short-stack holding KT suited.  The board changed nothing and Miguel busted one player.  He's now up to ~170k.

Robert Nguyen was all-in with pocket Tens on an A T x flop, getting action from a shorter-stack holding AQ.  Robert's set was good to take the pot, chipping up to ~190k.

Event 13: Champion - Mike Kessler

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

1st Place - Mike Kessler - $14,259

Heads-up play doesn't last very long and the final hand is anticlimactic as Mike Kessler (Spotsylvania, VA) defeats Gary Brudner (University Park, FL) to win the Seniors title.

Kessler had a slight chip lead when heads-up play began and was able to slowly build his advantage and eventually knock his opponent out. Brudner, the 2010 Summer Open
Champion, came up short in his bid for a second Seniors title.

The win marks Kessler's return to the poker spotlight after finishing 17th in the 2005 WSOP Main Event.

Brudner (right) Congratulates Kessler on the Win

Event 13: 2nd Place - Gary Brudner

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Gary Brudner - 2nd Place - $7,842

Event 13: 3rd Place - Richard Lucksavage

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Gary Brudner opened for 60k and Richard Lucksavage announced he was all-in for ~120k straight.  Gary called, showing KJ.  Richard was ahead with A4 suited.

 Richard Lucksavage - 3rd Place - $4,515

The flop came T 4 2 and Richard extended his lead to a pair of 4s, but then a King came on the turn, giving Gary the lead with a pair of Kings.  (Luck, when bad, can be savage.)

River was a useless 3 and Gary took the pot.  Despite getting a lot of cyberspace ridicule, "Lucky" Lucksavage says his "great pumpkin shirt" was the key to victory.

Richard was busted in 3rd place, earning $4,515.

Event 13: 4th Place - Dominick Pelli

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Dominick Pelli opened for 45k from the button and Gary Brudner called from the big blind.  On the flop of A 6 4, Dominick announced he was all-in and Gary quickly called.

 Dominick Pelli - 4th Place - $3,802

Dominick held A2 suited for top pair, but Gary held A8 for top pair with better kicker.  Gary's hand improved to two pair when an 8 hit the turn and the 2 on the river was too little, too late, for Dominick.  He was eliminated in 4th place, earning $3,802.

Event 14: Sweet Music

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Sin Soo the Music Man

The stud players are having good old time and wondering when they're going to get their moment of fame on the blog. This update is for Sin Soo (Huntingdon Valley, PA), who switched from music to poker.

The 10 year "professional stud player," got his music degree from Temple University and said he's
a former opera singer who loves to play the piano.

Right now Soo has 20k in chips and looking to make a move while the field is down to 18 on three tables.

Event 14: Back from Break

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Charlie Townsend

One big stack has emerged with 22 players remaining. Charlie Townsend (Dagsboro, DE) has 65k as players are back from dinner break.

Event 13: Final Four Back At It

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

The four remaining seniors resumed play after dinner with blinds of 8k/16k and 2k antes.

No one appears to be in any hurry to go anywhere. 

Richard Lucksavage has been all-in three times, but has gotten no takers so far.

Event 12: Head Count

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

The day began with 830 entries and the remaining 231 players have an average stack of 90k.

Tuesday's Day 1A field ended with 69 players (167k avg.) and the big stack coming back for Day 2 is 501k.

Players return from dinner break at 8:30 pm.

Event 12 Lau Looking Good

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

After a second place finish in the Deep Stack Semi-Turbo Ed Lau (Philadelphia) has a healthy 325k in this event. He says he was at 35k and three hands later was up to 150k. Two pairs doubled his stack and then quad jacks doubled him again.

With players having 6 chances to enter the event, Lau's looking for great value with just one entry into the tournament.

Event 13: Final Four Chip Counts

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

With our Seniors still at dinner we sized up their chips.

Still anybody's game.

Michael Kessler....477,000
Dominick Pelli....439,000
Gary Brudner....340,000
Richard Luckasavage....180,000

Michael Kessler was as short as 30,000 and climbed all the way up to our Seniors chip leader.

How did he do it? "Some big hands and key bluffs..you know how poker is" said Kessler.

Better wrap this up soon or some of our Seniors might have to stay up past their bed times.

Event 12: Getting Antsy

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Eriquezzo & Kaplan

Players are getting wrestles as the dinner break is 15 minutes away (7:30 sharp!).
One player won't get the voucher as he's all-in with 3♥ 3♣ vs the 9♥ 10♥ of Rob Janney (Burlington, NJ).

The board double pairs to counterfeit the the player's hand and Janney's 10 high wins the pot with the bigger kicker and knocks the shorter stack out before the break.

Ryan Eriquezzo (Danbury, CT) has 140k and says he's had pocket aces four times and they've held up every time. Recently joining this fun bunch is Matt Kaplan (Franklin Park, NJ) who's stuck between Eriquezzo and Janney.

"Yeah I believe him," Kaplan says about Eriquezzo, "but I just got here and he hasn't played too many hands."

Level 13 (1,200/2,400/300 ante) is underway.

Event 13: Dinner Break

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Down to 4 players.

The hand right before dinner break had two players announce all-in.

Richard Luckasavage could only surmise what Opponents Gary Brudner and Michael Kessler had. "AA? KK?"

Each player tabled A-K and the pot was chopped on a clean board.

Guys are taking a one hour dinner break.

Event 12: Straight Flush = Chip Leader

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Hong Kong - Pofuk Ying

Hand #1 against the only female player at the table, Pofuk Ying (Hong Kong) took half her stack when his A-A rolled-over her K-9.

Then, against the same player, Pofuk held 2♠4♠ and picked up a gut-shot straight flush draw on the flop.

Flop: A♠ 5♠ 9♥
Turn: 3♠
River: 3♦

She shoved all in for 70,000 and Ying called tabling the Steel Wheel.

First straight flush I've seen today in a sea of quads.

With those two big hands, Ying is up to 333,000 and unofficially is the chip leader in a room of hundreds.

Pofuk said he flew in from China just to stay at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and play in the 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open.

Ying is hoping East meets West meets Final Table.

Event 14: No Big Stacks

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

As players return from break the joke is, "there are no big stacks, just 22 little ones."

Here are the unofficial chip leaders:

Roland Israelashvili 46k
Jeff Duvall 40k
Wilton Franklin "Billy Bob" Brown 38k
Stephen Rivers 32k

I'm told to come back in a little bit as there will be a new chip leader "every 15 minutes."

Event 13: Edward Newman - 5th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Edward Newman - 5th Place - $2,851

Dealer button raised and Edward Newman saw the flop fall K-J-8.

He got his money in good holding Q-J as his Opponent called with only 10-10.

Sure enough a ten spiked the river and spanked Edward Newman's poker life to the rail.

"I felt good since I started the day so short stacked at around 34,000. This last hand I shoved with about 100,000" said Newman.

Everyone wants first but when you're short stacked all day, cashing in for $2,851 for fifth place isn't too shabby.

Event 13: Edward Rappa - 6th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Edward Rappa - 6th Place - $2,377

What are you gonna do with a short stack of 40,000 and you look down at A-9?

Edward Rappa shoved and his Opponent called with A-3.

Edward felt good until seeing the nightmare flop of 3-3-K.

Rappa taps out for $2,377 in the Senior tournament which he told me he absolutely loves.

Event 12: Payouts

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Entries: $1,292
Total Buy-In: $219,640

Place-Amount

1 $46,870
2 $28,165
3 $17,044
4 $14,274
5 $11,718
6 $9,480
7 $7,563
8 $5,752
9 $3,941
10-12 $2,556
13-15 $1,811
16-18 $1,172
19-27 $959
28-36 $831
37-45 $746
46-54 $660
55-63 $597
64-72 $533
73-81 $490
82-90 $447
91-100 $426

Event 13: Abraham Mevorah - 7th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Abraham Mevorah - 7th Place - $1,901

Abraham Mevorah's K-9 had Donald Brown's K-8 crushed pre-flop. "I should have raised to make him fold", said Mevorah. But he didn't.

Board ran out 8-Q-7-8-K giving Mevorah two pair and Brown a full-house.

Abraham shoved the river and Brown insta-called announcing, "I call. Boat." With those words, Mevorah's dream ended.

"What are you gonna do?" said Abraham.

Event 13: Rooting From The Felt

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Every time there's a big hand involving Edward Newman, Leonardo Palermo leaps off his chair, rushes over, and follows the action.

Funny part is, Leonardo is playing in Event 12 - 1B deep stack. Coincidentally, his table just happens to be a couple feet away from his home game poker pal.

Palermo has been tearing up the 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open.
He was 4th in event 1, 3rd in the Omaha hi/lo, and 14th in Event 10.

"And now my boy is doing great in the Senior" said Leonardo.

Funny to see someone rooting, not from the rail, but from the felt. I know it's a big hand when I see Palermo jump up and cheer.

Event 13: Break & Chip Counts

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Seat - Name - Chips

1. Dominick Pelli - 336,000
2. Edward Rappa - 130,000
3. Micahel Kessler - 80,000
4. Gary Brudner - 393,000
5. Richard Luckasavage - 290,000
6. Abraham Mevorah - 100,000
7. Edward Newman - 123,000

Richard Luckasavage's Kicker was one better to scoop a healthy pot before the break.

Richard kept saying "Holy Guacamole" and asked the dealer to quickly wash the cards.

Event 12: Quads x 2

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Sets are Nothing for Sanford

"Get this guy a horseshoe," says a player on table 31 after watching Bill Sanford (Bronxville, NY) add another 100k to his growing stack.

Sanford wins a three way all-in with a set of 9s to knock out two players who miss on a draw heavy board and is sitting with 280k.

Sets are mediocre hands compared to Sanford who had quads twice earlier in the day. Suffice it to say Table 31 Seat 5 is pretty lucky.

Event 12: Summers Avoiding Winter

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Summers Back at Borgata

Dennis Summers, Jr (Charlottesville, VA) wasn't planning on coming to the Borgata Winter Open (BWO) until Thursday, but snow in the forecast got him out of Virginia a day early. "Good excuse to travel," said Summers who has several Borgata big cashes over the last two years.

"I got here at Level 5 and-a-half," meaning he had 15 minutes to spare before registration closed in this event.

Summers was runner-up to Josh Brikis (Pittsburgh, PA) in the $1,500 event during the 2010 Poker Open good for $66,000. He also was sixth in the 2009 Summer Open Main Event earning him $62,000.

This $200 tournament is a good warm up for the weekend and the BWO Main Event which gets underway Sunday.

Event 13: Tennis Match Hand

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

The final seven are battling it out front and center in Borgata Event Center.

Here's a cool hand that just went down.

Short stack Edward Newman (Brick, NJ) jams all in pre with AA and Dominick Pelli (Stamford, CT) calls with J♥ 4♦.

With his two-day tournament on the line, Edward announces, "I got a feeling these are gonna get cracked.

Flop falls: 9♣ 2♥ J♣ .

Table groans.

Turn card: 4♠ - giving Pelli two Pair, Jacks over fours.

Table groans some more.

River card: 2♠ - the paired board gives Edward the win with Aces over twos.

Table explodes. Nobody could believe it.

What a back and forth hand with so much on the line.

Newman is still short but at least he's not out.

Event 13: Thomas Starner - 8th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Thomas Starner - 8th Place - $1,426

Rough way to end for Starner who finishes in 8th place.

Thomas had A-4 and pushes his remaining 26,000 chips in hoping nobody else calls.

"I'll call and double you up" said his Opponent holding Q-J.
Then another Opponent called also holding A-4.

Board ran 3-8-3-8 giving Starner some chop-it-up hope.

Then the river Jack felted our rising Starner as the guy who shouldn't have been in the hand was, and won.

Event 14: Chris Reslock Trying To Reign

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Chris Reslock

Many of the stud legends are seated at table 5 including WSOP bracelet winner Chris Reslock.
Reslock's favorite game is 8 or Better Stud but really loves creating new games during dealer's choice home games. "Fun to confuse your opponents making up a game they don't know how to play" said Chris.

This atmosphere kind of feels like a home game. These guys would love the money, but I think really want the title and bragging rights.

Miami John was knocked out earlier along with William Munley who they call "Bumper".

Larry "The Saint" St.Jean called table 5 "The Dinosaur Table".
Larry has many impressive showings as well including three final WSOP tables.

34 Players remain in the Seven Card Stud tournament.

Level 8: Ante 100, Low Card 150, Completion 600, Limits 600 / 1200.

Event 12: Double Play it is!

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Cowboy Harry Witko

Players who busted in Day 1A are taking advantage of the Double Play format and starting from scratch in Day 1B.

"I didn't realize you could do it, " said Harry Witko (Tunkhannock, PA) who wasn't sure what he was going to do today. Witko uses AK to knock out a player holding A9 who misses a flush draw.

Witko is a retired horse farmer who's now living the dream as he describes his small town west of Scranton, towards the New York State line on the way to Binghamton. "It's quaint, cold and picturesque. The air is clean, I love it."

Witko also loves that he's getting a second chance and has a stack of 80k.

Level 10 (600/1,200/200 ante) is underway.

Event 13: Hudson Valley Poker Club

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Trish Heller & Rich Ajemian Sweat Gary Brudner

Gary flew in from Florida for two reasons. 1) To defend his Summer Poker Open Senior title, and 2) To re-unite with 9 of his friends he used to play poker with long ago.

He's on his way to defend as we're down to eight Seniors left.

The 9 he's a part of is called the Hudson Valley Poker Club. They all play and are scattered throughout the full slate of events scheduled at the 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open.

Trish Heller said they all started playing together back in Woodstock, NY.

Rich Ajemian said everyone is good and they used to trade wins.

So look out for Gary Brudner and the Hudson Valley Poker 9.

Event 13: Donald Brown - 9th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Donald Brown - 9th Place - $1,069

Donald Brown's tournament life has been extinguished.
Everyone folded to the button who raised Donald Brown's blind.
"Is he stealing? Should I call?" said Donald.
Donald, holding suited A-J, called the all-in race against Gary Brudner's 6-6.
Flop: K-K-7
Brown picked up some outs when the turn card 10 fell.
But the river bricked and Brown busted 9th.
The firefighter plays every Senior Event offered at each Borgata Open and will be back.
He's had some impressive Borgata cashes and will add $1,069 to his bank.

Event 12: Color Up Break

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

With 800 entries in today's day 1B it means there are a lot of green chips (25) in play. The floor personnel is in the process of coloring-up the mountains of chips as players are on an extended break.

We found one stack with more than 200k as Rich Lipson (Feasterville, PA) is at 208k after a set of kings turns into a full house to knock out two players.

Play resumes with Level 9 (500/1000/100 ante).

Event 13: On Break

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Final Table Before Porcaro Bustout

Final nine players are on a break.

When they return...Level 18: 3000 / 6000 with 500 antes.

Event 13: Henry Porcaro - 10th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Henry Porcaro - 10th - $951

Henry Porcaro's 10-10 ran into Michael Kessler's K-K. Henry 3-bet 20,000, Kessler 4-bet and Henry shoved the remainder of his 39,000.

Board ran clean for Kessler as Porcaro did not improve.

As soon as he lost Henry ran over to the trash can and put one foot and leg inside, as if to say, he's now in the garbage.

Henry loves Borgata Open Senior events and tries to play in as many as he can. "The staff was great, the structure was great, the only thing that wasn't great was my last hand"

Henry will handle $951 for his cash.

Event 14: In the Field

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

A couple of heavy hitters are in the stud field:

Miami John Cuerto
Chris Reslock
Bill Seymour
Matt Stevens

Event 13: Final Table Seating & Chips

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Seat - Name - Chips

1. Dominck Pelli - 283,000
2. Edward Rappa - 191,000
3. Henry Porcaro - 26,000
4. Micahel Kessler - 144,000
5. Thomas Starner - 45,000
6. Gary Brudner - 175,000
7. Richard Luckasavage - 176,000
8. Donald Brown - 49,000
9. Abraham Mevorah - 215,000
10. Edward Newman - 89,000

Event 13: Jim McLaughlin - 11th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Jim McLaughin - 11th Place - $951

Slow playing aces catches up to Jim McLaughlin who's one the rail in 11th place. "I wanted to keep people in the pot, but it didn't work out," says McLaughlin, who only min raised preflop.

The play keeps Dom Pelli in the hand from the big blind with J3, who flops two pairs as all the chips are in the middle. Pelli's hand holds and he doubles his 140k, while McLaughlin is down to less than 20k.

A few hands later Gary Brudner and his pocket 8s eliminates McLaughlin as the final 10 players are drawing for new seats at the final table

Event 14: Payouts

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Entries: 49
Total Buy-In: $17,150

Place-Amount

1 $7,486
2 $4,159
3 $2,495
4 $1664
5 $832

Event 13: Dean Martin - 12th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Dean Martin - 12th Place - $951

Dean Martin told me at the start of today that he was ready to make a miracle comeback.

But it wasn't meant to be as his pocket tens saw a board with no paint or aces so he shoved.

Edward Rappa called as he rivered the nut flush. Martin will add $951 to his Borgata Bankroll.

Rappa now has the chip lead with 220,000 and ads another casualty to his tally.

Event 12: Big Numbers

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

The unofficial numbers have 830 entries in Day 1B, combined with 462 (Day 1A), sets the total
at 1,292 entries.

It means another Borgata guarantee is met as the total buy-in of $252,000+ is more twice times the guarantee of $100,000.

The projected top prize will be close to $47,000 as 100 players will be in the money.

Event 13: James Boyd - 13th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

James Boyd - 13th Place - $832

Abraham Mevorah has knocked out James Boyd.

Boyd was trying to steal the blinds holding 6-5 of spades and loved the heart heavy flop of 6-6-8.

Boyd pushed his tournament life into the middle on the turn card 9.

Mevorah snap called holding pocket eights for the full-house.

"I thought I hit bingo on the flop. Can't win em all" said the gracious James Boyd.

Event 14: 2 Phillies with the Studs

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Doris Bush

Seven card stud has a loyal following and right now seven tables are in play. It's mostly a man's game, but a couple of ladies are in the field.

Doris Bush (Langhorne, PA) sounds like a no limit player when she says, "I'm not getting any cards," but she only plays stud poker and loves being at Borgata.

One table over, Marianne Previti (Atlantic City, NJ) is a big fan of the game as well saying, "it's more intriguing than hold'em."

Both players are taking a "wait and see approach" on if the game is starting to make a comeback.

Marianne Previti

Event 13: Mark Mariano - 14th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Mark Mariano - 14th Place - $832

Mariano got great hole cards yesterday but after 80 minutes today...nothing. Finally he sees A-Q and gets his chips in the middle.

Up against 10-10 on a clean board causes Mariano to hit the rail. He'll take home $832 for his efforts.

"So much work to get to this point and to get no cards. What can you do?"

Event 12: Re-entry is OVER!

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Players looking to recoup their stack have one last chance to pay another $200 and start fresh with 25k in chips. Now that level 6 is over, players can surrender their stacks and re-enter, but after the break registration is closed.

The players are starting to get antsy to find out with the total number of entries will be and how much more than the $100,000 guarantee will be in the prize pool money.

Players are on an extended break to allow the re-entries to get to their new seats.

Event 13: Brian Katz - 15th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Brian Katz - 15th - $832

End of the road for Brian Katz who shoved 19,000 in the small blind with a suited Jack.

Ran into BB with a King which hit the flop.

Katz is out in 15th place for $832.

Second straight Senior Tournament Brian cashed in. "Guess I'm good being old" said Katz.

Event 13: 18th, 17th, 16th Place

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Three players have busted out of the tournament.

18th Place for $713 is Leonard Moore.
Moore was knocked out by Edward Rappa whose pocket sevens held up.

17th Place for $713 is Ronald Durante.
Dean Martin limped with pocket kings and busted Durante's 36,000 stack. KK vs. A-10 and Martin's king held up.

16th Place for $713 is Daniel Monahan losing his last 60,000 chips.
AK vs AA saw a flop of 2-5-9-8-J.
9th seat Monahan had the A-K and was drawing dead on the turn.

Event 12: Getting it Right

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

There's been a lot of action in the Event Center, so occasionally things get overlooked. Right in front of media row there's a three way all-in and some confusion as to who wins the side pot.

Craig Santoro (Annondale, NJ) has aces up and the short stack assumes he's been eliminated as the dealer turns his cards face down. Another player notices that the short stack actually hit a straight on the river and is still alive.

The short stack has to be called back to the table, but Santoro calmly asks for a ruling on who the 4k side pot should go to. After hearing the details the floor awards the side pot to the short stack as all hands were tabled before the river.

Santoro says, "I've been getting beat up since last January and I'm mad because I shouldn't have even been in the hand."

The short stack is knocked out a few hands later.

Event 12: Private Poker Goes AWOL

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

The key to being a good poker player is patience unless you're in a re-entry tournament, then you have other options.

After two and-a-half hours of grinding on Table 15, Joe Altomonte (West Patterson, NJ) can't take the slow play and shoves all-in "blind" and is called by Sean Ripp (Massapequa, NY), who had a couple of final tables last year.

Ripp wins the hand with K 10 vs Altomonte's 6 2.

"I can't take it anymore," says Altomonte, who the won the last event of the 2010 Summer Open, "We've played six hands in an hour."

Altomonte has been nicknamed Private Poker after becoming the protege of our own Colonel Poker while learning the ropes as a junior blogger. When the Colonel heard the news, without missing a beat says, "guess he went AWOL."

For $200 Altomonte re-enters the field, but the Private is back in boot camp and stuck on KP duty.

Event 13: Senior Seat Assignments & Chips

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Seat - Name - Chips

(Table 1)
1. Dean Martin 10,800
2. James Boyd 74,800
3. Abraham Mevorah 130,200
4. Richard Luckasavage 64,900
5. Ronald Durante 45,300
6. Donald Brown 182,300
7. Michael Kessler 94,300
8. Henry Porcaro 58,100
9. Mark Mariano 84,100

(Table 2)
1. Leonard Moore 11,900
2. Edward Newman 34,700
3. Deward Rappa 112,800
4. Dominick Pelli 197,600
5. Brian Katz 35,400
6. Thomas Starner 72,200
7. James McLaughlin 104,300
8. Gary Brudner 73,000
9. Daniel Monahan 48,600

Today's tournament continued from last night at Level 13: Blinds 1200 / 2400 with 300 antes.

Event 12: Women Eat Their Young

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Matt Selman (Brooklyn, NY)

Two young guns at the table, Matt Selman and Jacob Weiss (Baltimore, MD) are opening pots, and 4-betting. The ladies at the table do not like that and are being quite vocal about it.

Gina Cannone told Matt, "You're reckless. How he's still here we don't know." Matt can't defend too much since he is riding a short stack. Still, Matt smiles throughout saying, "It's calculated aggression. I just want her chips".

For Jacob, this is his first ever tournament. Other players joked to see his ID assuming his 21st birthday was yesterday. Turns out Weiss, the construction worker is 27.

The woman to his left told me, "He's sweet but aggressive. A bluffer. I'm gonna teach him a lesson."

Level 5: Blinds - 150 / 300 with 25 antes.

Event 13: Senior Tour

$350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

Bagged chips have been broken and our two tables of Seniors have returned.

We're set up in Event Center at Borgata Winter Poker Open right in front of Media Row.

The chip leader with 197,600 is Dominick Pelli (Stamford, CT) and the short stack with 10,800 is Dean Martin (Chambersburg, PA).

Our 18 players are vying for the $49,000 Prize Pool with first place in the amount of $14,259.

140 Seniors started yesterday and by the end of today we'll crown a Senior Champion.

Event 12: Take Ten

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Kelly Armentrout

Kelly nursing a short stack, looking to double up or re-buy.

Ten minute break. No smoking on this floor.

When we return, Level 4 Blinds: 100 / 200.

Event 14: Local Stud

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Charles Osborn - Venice Park, NJ

Charles Osborn has been playing Stud since 1965 when he was five years old at the knee of his Grandmother. "I love the game of Stud. It's my favorite because it's more interesting. You can see the cards that are live." Osborn told me he likes that you can bounce right back if you lose a Stud hand whereas in NL you might be gone.

Charles plays poker everyday as he lives just one red-light away from Borgata. He even pioneered the 20 /40 7 Card Stud Hi right here.

As for this tournament which has 7 tables so far, Charles only predicted that he will do his best.

Event 12: Field Fun

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Rich Lipson (Feasterville, PA) has 80,000 after busting two players (both went on to re-buy) with a nut flush and pocket kings.

Jake Ross (Long Island, NY) is just happy to be here since five inches of snow blasted his hometown last night.

Nick Panini (Bronx, NY) flagged me down to give me what he called a great story. "I'm taking this thing down!" said Nick. "That's your story." He did win a modest pot with A-K right after. "See, it starts now." A fellow tablemate joked, "the better story would have been if he busted right there in front of you after bragging so much."

Event 12: Lee Child's Dad Gets Quads

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Bill Childs Threemendous Hand

Like Bill Childs cap says he "busted" an Opponent who had, can you believe it, Aces Full.

Child's 3-3 vs. Opponent's A-A.

Board of A-3-5-3-9 gave Childs quads and the double up.

Bill Child's son Lee has made a name for himself playing poker at Borgata and across the country.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" said Bill who told us Lee is on his way up.

A couple years ago during the Summer Poker Open both Bill and Lee were seated at the same table and had to play against each other.

Bill admitted his son who lives and breathes poker is better than he is.
"Blackjack is my real game" said Childs who resides in Pinhurst, NC.

Event 14: Underway

$350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

Time to mix things up a bit and play the crowd favorite, Seven Card Stud tournament.

This event is underway in the Event Center.

Players start with 10,000 chips.

This is a two-day event where Day 2 starts at 1PM.

Levels 1-6 last for 30 minutes.

Level1: Ante-5, Low Card-10, Completion-25, Limits 25-50

Event 12: Words To Live By

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

According to: Nick C. from Staten Island

Good call from Nick whose pocket nines edged out pocket eights on a board of 4-7-5-5-3.

Level 2: Blinds 50 / 100

Event 12: The Orange Man

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Gabriel "The Butcher" Ohana

Gabriel, at table 48, is keeping warm with this awesome hat, which he got as a present.

Ohana is a butcher who took the bus from Baltimore, MD.

When asked what he'll do with the prize money if he takes this tournament down he told me, "just build my bankroll and continue playing cash games".

Event 12: Laughing in Line

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

Kori Hunter rolled out of his Borgata bed this morning then rolled into line, a little late.

Nice amount of players making their way through, ready to join the tables.

Kori, from Ellicott, MD has no worries about arriving late. As he told me, this game is not about luck. Kori - "If I win, I'll give you some better quotes" laughed Kori.

Day 2 of this tournament starts tomorrow at 2Pm where the survivors from Day 1A will join the survivors from today.

Event 12: Snow Bad Beaters

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

First Orbit

Gennadiy Geyler was relieved he drove to Borgata last night from Philadelphia. "I made the right decision and beat the snow" said Geyler.

How did Gennadiy prepare for this greuling grind of deep stack poker? "I already worked out this morning. Push-ups and crunches" said the ready-to-go Geyler.

Event 12: Dav 1B and Begun

$170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH (2 Re-entry)

DAY 1B $100,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool

Looks like 74 tables set up in the Event Center with a long line at the top of the escalators.

Button begins in the 6 seat.

Instructions were given how to re-enter which all players can do within the first six levels.

And you can re-enter two times.

A nice deep stack of 25,000 chips will give the players a chance to see some hands and play some poker.

Tab tells the large crowd, "thanks for showing up" since the weather outside is so miserable.

Forty minute blind levels starting at 25 /50.

Cards are in the air and we're off!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26

TODAY IN THE EVENT CENTER

11A - Event 12: $170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH
DAY 1B $100,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool

• 2 Re-Entry
• 25,000 in starting chips
• Players that are eliminated (bust) within the first six (6) Levels may Re-Enter up to two (2) additional times
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minute
  Final Table: each Level will last 50 minutes
• 2-day event with two Day 1's (Day 2 will start on Thursday at 1P)

12P - Event 14: $350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minutes
  Final Table: each Level will last 50 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

1P - Event 41: $500 + $50 Survivor NLH

• 12,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minutes
• Approximately 1 in 10 will win $5,000 Cash
• 1-day event

4P - Event 42: $200 + $30 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH

• 1 Re-Entry
• 25,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-10: each will last 15 minutes Levels 11+: each will last 30 minutes
• 1-day event

7P - Event 43: $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 20 minutes
• 1-day event

Event 12 - Day1A Chip Counts

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 12: $170 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
January 25-27, 2011

End of Day 1A Chip Count Leaders:
1. JULIO ESTEVEZ (HAKENSACK, NJ): 501,000
2. BARRY LEVENTHAL (BROOKLYN, NY): 440,000
3. NICOLE ROWE (SALISBURY MILLS, NY): 429,000
4. STEVEN CURTIN (INDIAN TRAIL, NC): 373,500
5. HEUNG YOON (WOODBRIDGE, VA): 346,500
6. TERECE JONES (PISCATAWAY, NJ): 290,500
7. NICOLAS MARKATOS (DIX HILLS, NY): 253,000
8. LOUIS IORIO (EAST MORICHES, NY): 244,000
9. NEAL GAY (BROOKLYN, NY): 243,500
10. DANIEL CHAN (NEW YORK, NY): 242,000
11. KENNETH GOLDIN (CLEARWATER, FL): 238,500
12. CHRISTOPH GALVIN (MANVILLE, NJ): 238,000
13. TAMER ABDELHAKIEM (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 236,500
14. FRANK PARK (GAINESVILLE, VA): 236,000
15. ERIC MA (ANNADALE, VA): 228,000
16. JERRY JONES (SEVERN, MD): 217,500
17. TAEMEE FEUER (HARTSDALE, NY): 214,000
18. FRANCESCO RANDO (ROSELLE PARK, NJ): 214,000
19. MICHAEL PURCHER (MT SINAI, NY): 212,000
20. ROBBY DEVRIES (PATERSON, NJ): 202,000
21. ALLAN MOORE (TABERNACLE, NJ): 201,000
22. MARK BOWERSOCK (YOUNGSTOWN, OH): 197,500
23. GEORGE MATOS (NEW YORK, NY): 195,500
24. RICHARD GOMOLINSKI (FORT LEE, NJ): 187,000
25. DUONG VU (HARRISBURG, PA): 185,000
26. MICHAEL PETRAK (WAYNE, NJ): 181,500
27. GREGORY DISLER (KENNETT SQUARE, PA): 180,000
28. SHAWN SMITH (SILVER SPRING, MD): 177,000
29. VAIBHAV PATEL (THOROFARE, NJ): 167,500
30. RICHARD MUSTO (ALEXANDRIA, VA): 167,000
31. JAMES ROMOSER (WASHINGTON, DC): 166,000
32. JOHN MCGUINNESS (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 162,000
33. REGINALD MCCOLLUM (CHARLOTTE, NC): 159,500
34. JACK MARJI (YONKERS, NY): 158,500
35. PETER LEUNG (BROOKLYN, NY): 148,000
36. BERNARD DOMINIAK (LOWER BURRELL, PA): 147,500
37. TONY LAM (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ): 142,500
38. ANGELO PISTONE (HICKSVILLE, NY): 141,500
39. JASON MIKSIEWICZ (FREEHOLD, NJ): 138,000
40. WILLIAM PATTERSON (NEW KENSINGTON, PA): 137,000
41. DAVID BRUNETTI (ESSEX, MD): 136,500
42. BRUCE HOMAN (MILLVILLE, NJ): 133,000
43. JORGE RIVERA CARRERO (BROOKLYN, NY): 133,000
44. CHRISTOPHER TAMBERELLA (WEEHAWKEN, NJ): 119,000
45. LOUIS DELBROCCO (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 117,000
46. CALEB MEAD (TONAWANDA, NY): 113,000
47. CHRISTIAN VIZCAINO (SO PLAINFIELD, NJ): 112,500
48. PHILIP DESIMONE (GLEN RIDGE, NJ): 110,000
49. MICHAEL KALFA (BAYVILLE, NJ): 110,000
50. ZAHER SALEH (ROCKY RIVER, OH): 109,500
51. MICHAEL MCGUINNESS (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 108,500
52. EDWARD CUMMINS (BROOKLYN, NY): 105,500
53. JEFFERY FINKELSTEIN (BALA-CYNWYD, PA): 103,000
54. WILLIAM DALOISI (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 102,000
55. JENNIFER KNOPF (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ): 99,000
56. JOSHUA SMITH (NEWARK, DE): 96,000
57. JANE GOLD (PARAMUS, NJ): 92,500
58. DAVID BERGENBACK (WASHINGTON, NJ): 87,500
59. MICHAEL DESANTO (W CHESTER, PA): 78,000
60. MARK SINISCALCHI JR (MONTCLAIR, NJ): 75,000
61. ANTHONY MEEKER (ROCKSVILLE, NY): 73,500
62. GEORGE CARTER (BALTIMORE, MD): 69,000
63. JOHN KOLASKI (HAMILTON SQ, NJ): 68,500
64. FRANK PAVIA (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 68,000
65. DANIEL DEUGENIO (PUNTA GORDA, FL): 48,500
66. RICHARD HILL (EGG HARBOR TWP, NJ): 48,000
67. ANTHONY GARCIA (GLASSBORO, NJ): 46,000
68. BRADLEY KAVANAGH (BERLIN, NJ): 34,000
69. ASA BERGER (CHALFONT, PA): 30,000