Event 1: Storms are Brewing

$500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)

Cheng Chalks up a Win

Tim Latouch (Hatboro, PA), who started the day 8th in chips (448k) and Yat Cheng (Charlotte, NC), who finished 2nd in Borgata's November Deep Stack Double Play, butt heads on Table 2.

Latouch opens from the high jack position to 14k (3k/6k blinds)
Cheng 3-bets to 4ok total from the big blind
Latouch re-popped to 93k total
Cheng 5-bets to 193k, leaving himself with 100k and making the pot nearly 4ook.

Latouch puts up the white flag and folds saying, "six, seven of hearts?"
Cheng's response, "a little better than that."

Cheng started the the hand with 300k and is now up to 50ok, while Latouch drops to 390k.

Level 17 continues.

Latouch Lays it Down

Event 2: Happily Dever After

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Knock Out in Seat 7 Helps Knock Out 7

Three players at Table 17 (seats 2, 7, & 8) have collectively sent seven players to the rail.

"I had a full house and a nut flush that held-up" said Cathy Dever (Ephrata, PA) who is happy to stay put in seat #7.

Cathy, sitting on 36,000 chips, is thinking positive thoughts as she's looking forward to playing this tournament for TWO days so we can blog her at the final table.

Event 3: Limited Field

$300 + $50 Limit Hold'em

Riccobono Ready for Redemption

A lot of regular No Limit players are taking a crack at the Limit tournament.

"This is great," says Al Riccobono (Ossining, NY), who finished 2nd in the 2009 Borgata Poker Open Limit Event. "I haven't had a chance to play this in awhile."

His nemesis, Norman Whitely (Newark, DE), who beat Riccobono heads up, is also in the tournament. Also in the field are Borgata regulars Jason Young (Suffern, NY) and Howard Wolper (Atlantic City, NJ).

Players start with 10,000 chips and Levels 1-4 each last 30 minutes (Levels 5+ are 40 min.).

Event 2: Re-Buy Odds?

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Rich Forte Enjoys Massage

Implied Odds...Pot Odds...how about Re-Buy Odds?

Rich Forte leads out, and two Opponents shove. The basketball coach of 10-12 year olds contemplates calling with A-J only because one opponent was short stacked and the other, for a half-hour, was just itching to re-buy. And Forte would still have 7,500 chips remaining.

Forte's A-J up against Paul Faynegersh's (Brooklyn, NY) A-Q and John Lee's (Westwood, NJ) K-Q.

Lee shouts out "King-Ball" again and again as the flop falls J-K-4.

The board bricks out.

Lee celebrates and scoops the pot as Faynegersh hurries off to re-buy.

Lee pulled out the "Blogger's Curse" claiming the last time we took his picture he busted out soon after. So we'll let him slide this time.

"No re-buy for me" said John who, as he neatly stacks the 15,000 pot, admitted he was very lucky.

We're now into Level 4 with 100-200 blinds.
Last chance to re-buy!

Event 1: Movers & Shakers

$500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)

Dominici on the Move

The top 5 big stacks are all sitting tight. "Slow right now," says Antoine White (Middle River, MD), who began the day 5th in chips with 501k.

But chip leader Jason Dominici (Bowie, MD) is on the move, literally. He began the day at Table 1 with 810k, but was moved to table 18.

"I busted him," joked one short stack who's still at what will eventually become the final table.

Level 17 (3k/6k/500 ante) is underway.

Event 3: Limit Underway

$300 + $50 Limit Hold-em

Event 3 underway in Event Center

We have a full house (pun intended) as every table is occupied with three tournaments running simultaneously.

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-4: 30 minutes Levels 5+: 40 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

PPI UPDATE

PPI (Poker Players International ) is honored to be part of another Borgata Winter Poker Open. Both our staff and players consider Borgata to be the premier destination of any poker event series. Across the board Borgata has every poker players best interest in mind. Everything from tournament structures, staff, dealers ,variety of events, dining, spa, and an energy filled event center room ..... Borgata has it covered!

PPI represents hundreds of World Class Poker Players that always include the Borgata Winter Poker Open on their tournament schedules - including, 2011 WSOP runner-up John Racener , WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kasella, WPT 2nd place finisher David Inselberg, Joseph Cheong , Mike Beasely, Josh Brikis, Jason Young , Lee Childs , David Fox, and Vinny Pahuja .

At this years BWO we are pleased to introduce the PPI "Play for the Main" which will award the PPI player with the most points accumulated through participation , cashes, and final table appearances a seat into the Borgata Winter Open Main Event. We will provide you with daily leaderboard updates here on the Live Updates Blog, along with PPI player news. You can check out our roster of players and bios, news, charity organizations we support, and see the trailer for the PPI produced documentary film On The Line: John Racener at PPIPOKER .

The 1st event at the 2011 BWO got off to an amazing start attracting 1,472 entrants (and setting a record first-day BWO prize pool of $736k). PPI players Carlos Delafuenta 165k, Robert Hwang 148k, James Boyle 141k, Mike Sica 125k , Joe Culter 120k and Dave Inselberg 109k all survived day 1 of the Deep Stack Event. They will return at 12pm today as they make a run for the title.

We will provide the PPI "Play for the Main " Leaderboard after Event 1 has ended.

Event 1: First Pay Day

$500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)

The chips are unpacked, the tables signs are down and Event 1 players are ready to hit the money for the first time at the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

209 players return, with 120 collecting the minimum cash of $1,071. Five players begin the day with more than 500k in chips, as Jason Dominici (Bowie, MD) leads the way with 810,300.

Button starts in the 4 seat and play resumes with 25 minutes left on Level 16 (2,500/5,000/400 ante).

Cards are in the air!

Event 2: Hand Made For TV

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Steve Topchev (Hillside, NJ) Doubles Up

Rich Hall (Wilkes Barre, PA) - Watching TV

With three players in and the chips flying onto the felt, Steve Topchev (Hillside, NJ) bets every street and catches his man on the river, hitting a full house.

Steve's pocket's 7-7 filled out in the nick of time.

On a board of 9s 9h Ac 8s 7h Rich Hall (Wilkes Barre, PA) turns a straight, looks away from his NCIS television episode he's watching at the table, and prays he's good.

Third opponent calls with top-top but neither is good enough as Topchev rakes a monster pot.

Blinds are up 75 - 150 as Level 3 begins.

Event 2: Notables

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Some truly great players signed up this morning to play in Event 2.

James Boyd
Josh Brikis
Michael Castaldo
Keith Crowder
Steve Dannenmann
Michael Dentale
Gordon Eng
David Inselberg
Barry Leventhal
James "Suits" Salters
Eric Siegel
James Stenella

Keep watching to see which notables make it to the end...

Event 2: Payman Looking For Payday

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Coffee and Big Hole Cards Wake Up Azizoghli

Johnny Promo, a Borgata regular, sized up his table (4) and immediately pegs Payman Azizoghli (Freehold, NJ) as an early threat, "He's good man, he's got it going on".

Promo playing for his kids EJ and Sabrina who follow the blog at home.

Payman is a small business owner (import/export) and has his eye on the Main Event - "Winning that is my major goal".

Borgata is Payman's favorite place to play. "This is the biggest game in town. I like how organized everything is."

Payman is looking to continue importing more chips than he exports.

Heard the floor shout out, "seat open" so there's already one early bust out.

Don't forget you can re-buy...

Event 2: Shuffle Up And Away We Go

$300 + $50 NL (1 Re-Entry)

Cool Borgata Logo Sees All

Are you ready for another exciting day of Borgata Winter Poker Open action?

I'm looking forward to meeting as many players on the floor (new and old) as I report on the most insane bad beats, suck-outs, and lay-downs I can find.

We have a full slate today starting with Event 2 $300 + $50 which is underway.

Players start with 10,000 chips, blinds are 25 - 50 with 1 re-entry (through first four levels).
Event 2 a two day tournament with Day 1 ending at 2am or 18 players, whichever comes first.

So if you can't make it down to Borgata, follow us on the blog.

And if you're here, introduce yourself and give me a great poker story to share with the world.

Thursday, January 20

TODAY'S EVENTS (EVENT CENTER)

11AM (Event 2): $300 + $50 No Limit Hold'em

• 1 Re-Entry
• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-4: 30 minutes Levels 5+: 40 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

12PM (Event 3): $300 + $50 Limit Hold'em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-4: 30 minutes Levels 5+: 40 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

3PM (Event 29): $200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 25 minutes
• 1-day event

7PM (Event 30): $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

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

Event 1 Chip Leaders

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
January 19-20, 2011

Entries: 1,472
Total Buy-In: $736,000

END OF DAY 1 CHIP LEADERS:
1. JASON DOMINICI (BOWLE, MD): 810,300
2. YEVGENY GANS (SYKESVILLE, MD): 607,700
3. VITTORIO FARICELLI (MASPETH, NY): 547,100
4. JEFFREY KROSCHE (WHITE PLAINS, NY): 511,000
5. ANTOINE WHITE (MIDDLE RIVER, MD): 501,200
6. SAKIP SHEHU (BROOKLYN, NY): 473,000
7. BRETT BRUCALERI (ST JAMES, NY): 458,400
8. TIMOTHY LATOUCH (HATBORO, PA): 447,600
9. RHODA ROSENKOWITZ (FLUSHING, NY): 423,900
10. MICHAEL BONNEY (MAYS LANDING, NJ): 402,500
11. CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL (MASSAPEQUA, NY): 401,500
12. GINA CANNONE (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 400,700
13. STEVEN MACCHIA (WOOD RIDGE, NJ): 396,300
14. SEAN WALLACE (HORSHAM, PA): 375,600
15. KEVIN JOHNSON (BRIDGEWATER, NJ): 372,300
16. ALEXANDER ROCHA (S SETAUKET, NY): 368,300
17. NEAL LIPTAK (YORK, PA): 359,100
18. RICKY SUN (JACKSON HGTS, NY): 358,000
19. ALFIE NATALE (PHILA, PA): 349,800
20. MICHAEL SHASHO (RAMSEY, NJ): 346,600
21. RANDY BARCINAS (CLIFTON, NJ): 334,300
22. MICHAEL SCIBETTA (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 330,200
23. KARL COOPER (TELFORD, PA): 314,800
24. ROBERT PAUL HANLEY (FOREST HILLS, NY): 314,700
25. MARK LLORENTE (LONG ISLAND CITY, NY): 314,000
26. PAUL SPITZBERG (TENAFLY, NJ): 309,400
27. SEUNGHWAN LEE (ALBERTSON, NY): 306,500
28. PHONG THAN NGUYEN (BRISTOW, VA): 304,000
29. GREGORY KOLO (ROCKY RIVER, OH): 300,200
30. RONALD DURANTE (HAINESPORT, NJ): 293,200
31. DOUGLAS BARAHONA (DERWOOD, MD): 291,900
32. DAVID SOLOMON (PLAINVIEW, NY): 284,700
33. JOHN RUSSO (COMMACK, NY): 278,900
34. WALTER HARRIS (ST PETERSBURG, FL): 274,100
35. LEONARD J 3RD SANDE (NEW HAVEN, CT): 264,600
36. JULIAN PARK (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 263,700
37. VITALY KOVYAZIN (BROOKLYN, NY): 260,200
38. ALLAN VROOMAN (GREENVILLE, NC): 259,200
39. BRYAN BINDERT (WENONAH, NJ): 259,000
40. STEVEN RUSSELL (COOLVILLE, OH): 258,500
41. BERNARD CASANOVA (FARMINGVILLE, NY): 257,900
42. ERIC DOERR (NEWARK, DE): 257,400
43. CARLO FRANCISCO (JERSEY CITY, NJ): 253,200
44. ALIDA VELIU (WYCKOFF, NJ): 251,500
45. ROBERT PAVENTI (BROOKLYN, NY): 250,000
46. MARCELLO DELMONACO (NEW HAVEN, CT): 249,200
47. JOSHUA SUPSAK (LINWOOD, NJ): 248,700
48. YAT CHENG (CHARLOTTE, NC): 247,200
49. MARK FALOW (TOTOWA, NJ): 238,100
50. ROBERT BOYKO (YONKERS, NY): 238,000
51. PHILIP PROCKER (BRONX, NY): 237,800
52. AARON STEURY (FT WAYNE, IN): 237,200
53. ARTYEM PERLOV (FORT LEE, NJ): 228,400
54. RYAN WOOD (CROWNSVILLE, MD): 225,200
55. TOBY KASSER (NANUET, NY): 224,600
56. DANIEL DIZENZO (SUSSEX, NJ): 222,300
57. DIMITRIOS BERGOS (BALTIMORE, MD): 221,300
58. WOOYANG LIN (MORRISTOWN, NJ): 218,600
59. DEMETRIOS GEORGOUS (LITTLE FALLS, NJ): 215,200
60. FRANK PUGLIESE (TENAFLY, NJ): 213,000
61. AYUB SAYED (INDIA): 212,500
62. ERIC HALL (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 211,900
63. MICKAEL MORGOUSKY (BROOKLYN, NY): 210,000
64. CHARLES INGRAM (SHARPSBURG WA, MD): 209,900
65. NENAD SIMIC (EDISON, NJ): 208,400
66. RONALD MNIECKOWSKI (REXFORD, NY): 206,600
67. THOMAS DIANTONIO (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 206,000
68. SATISH SURAPANENI (NEW YORK, NY): 196,700
69. MICHEAL MALANDRO (WAVERLY, VA): 195,400
70. ONOFRIO REINA (ELIZABETH, NJ): 194,900
71. KENNETH WALDROP (ASHLAND, VA): 194,200
72. ROBERT MELO (HOWARD BEACH, NY): 193,700
73. KERRY SMALL (VENTNOR CITY, NJ): 193,000
74. TOMMY POPE (RALEIGH, NC): 192,900
75. ERIC GREENWOOD (VIRGINIA BEACH, VA): 189,900
76. JOAKIM BROCHARD (WANTAGH, NY): 188,900
77. FRANK RASILE (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 184,800
78. TAYLOR SHPUR (WITHERBEE, NY): 183,400
79. ZACKERY SPICER (GEORGETOWN, DE): 182,300
80. MATTHEW GLANTZ (LAFAYETTE HILL, PA): 181,200
81. GINO GENARI (LINDEN, VA): 180,500
82. JOHN BUGLION (COMMACK, NY): 180,100
83. MARIO BAGO (ASTORIA, NY): 175,000
84. ALAN HADDY (OAKLAND, NJ): 174,000
85. SUNGWOO TAE (PALISADES PK, NJ): 173,300
86. LAN HOANG LE (GLEN MILLS DR, PA): 172,600
87. NICHOLAS HOJNOSKI (CORNING, NY): 170,000
88. STEVEN COSENZA (NEW YORK, NY): 169,000
89. ANTHONY COLOMBO (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 166,700
90. JIA LIU (BROOKLYN, NY): 165,400
91. CARLOS DELAFUENTE (SYOSSET, NY): 165,000
92. RICHARD SMITH (EDGE WATER, MD): 160,000
93. JOSEPH HANRAHAN (AMHERST, NH): 159,800
94. HENRY DOIBAN (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 157,400
95. WILLIAM GURBISZ (CRANFORD, NJ): 156,600
96. BRIAN CORBETT (MONROE TWP, NJ): 155,500
97. YONISANDER RAMIREZ (MIAMI, FL): 155,100
98. ALPHONSE TELYMONDE (BRIGANTINE, NJ): 153,300
99. ERIC RAPPAPORT (LANSDALE, PA): 152,900
100. DANIEL CARPENTER II (NEWPORT NEWS, VA): 151,600
101. CLAUDIUS FERRIS (HOLLIS, NY): 151,000
102. MATTHEW GALLUZZO (MARLBORO, NJ): 150,500
103. DAVID VUOLO (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 149,400
104. ROBERT HWANG (BARNEGAT, NJ): 148,800
105. ROHAN LONG (WINDSOR, CT): 148,000
106. JEFFREY GOTTESMAN (HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA): 145,850
107. DIMITRIOS MOUTAFIS (ASTORIA, NY): 145,700
108. STEVE CHA (BROOKLYN, NY): 144,200
109. HANOCH GUTTMAN (BROOKLYN, NY): 143,500
110. VINCENT BASILICATA (LITTLE NECK, NY): 143,400
111. DAVID POULTERER (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 141,500
112. MICHAEL GLICK (BALA CYNWYD, PA): 141,500
113. JAMES BOYLE (HAVRE DE GRACE, MD): 141,500
114. VINCENT PALMERI (STATEN ISLAND, NY): 141,000
115. WILLIAM WOOD (CROWNSVILLE, MD): 139,900
116. MICHAEL MALETTA (HICKSVILLE, NY): 137,700
117. JONATHAN SONDEJ (CHESAPEAKE, VA): 136,100
118. DAVID BIVINS (BROWN MILLS, NJ): 135,000
119. SHAWN JAMES (VIRGINIA BCH, VA): 133,900
120. ERIK WINIARSKI (POUGHKEEPSIE, NY): 133,800
121. THOMAS MCMACKIN (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 131,300
122. ZOHAIB BUTT (BABYLON, NY): 130,600
123. JOANNE MONTEAVARO (BRONX, NY): 130,100
124. LEONARDO PALERMO (ORTLEY BEACH, NJ): 128,600
125. KONSTANTINO DIMITROULAKOS (TINTON FALLS, NJ): 127,000
126. DAVID HICKMAN (HAYMARKET, VA): 125,700
127. MICHAEL SICA JR (N BRUNSWICK, NJ): 125,600
128. PAUL RELYEA (BRKLYN, NY): 122,500
129. THOMAS MCGARRY (HAZLET, NJ): 122,400
130. DAVE ELLIOTT (TINTON FALLS, NJ): 122,300
131. OLGA VARKONYI (GREAT NECK, NY): 121,800
132. AARON SMITH (NEW BEDFORD, MA): 121,000
133. JOSEPH CUTLER (BAY SHORE, NY): 120,900
134. KONSTANTI EHLERT (EDISON, NJ): 120,000
135. MICHAEL SHELDON (DRESHER, PA): 117,000
136. ETHAN DOLAN (HAZLETON, PA): 116,700
137. MATTHEW GAMBINO (WEST BABYLON, NY): 115,300
138. TANIOS ABI-YAGHI (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 114,700
139. RICHARD LEACH (WASHINGTON, DC): 113,900
140. ERIC ROCKWELL (PORT MOUTH, VA): 113,500
141. ALEKSEY GODUNOV (RICHBORO, PA): 112,500
142. BRIAN MOONEY (MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY): 111,000
143. TOM PETER ABBAS (ENOLA, PA): 110,800
144. RICHARD RICE (HAYMARKET, VA): 110,000
145. BRIAN ADRAGNA (E MEADOW, NY): 109,500
146. DAVID INSELBERG (NEW YORK, NY): 109,500
147. DAVID BLACK (ROBBINSVILLE, NJ): 109,000
148. DONALD BOIVIN (ANNAPOLIS, MD): 105,900
149. KEN SILBERSTEIN (EDISON, NJ): 105,500
150. ALLISON SCHULTZ (NEW YORK, NY): 105,000
151. WILLIAM SEYMOUR (GREENVILLE, NC): 104,400
152. PAUL PHILLIPS (ANGELICA, NY): 103,700
153. MIKE GOGLIORMELLA (YONKERS, NY): 103,100
154. JOSHUA LAWSON (QUARRYVILLE, PA): 98,400
155. URI NIR (SILVER SPRING, MD): 98,300
156. JOSEPH POCHEDLY (ROYAL OAK, MI): 96,900
157. PATRICK ALAN WHITMORE (MARTINSBURG, WV): 96,700
158. TARIEL AMINOV (JAMAICA ESTATE, NY): 94,900
159. ALEKSANDR BOLTON (BROOKLYN, NY): 94,400
160. BRIAN WAGNER (ASHLAND, PA): 93,100
161. VINCENT CAESAR (GLEN MILLS, PA): 91,500
162. JOHN RABEL (VIRGINIA BCH, VA): 89,700
163. KONSTANTINE BASIOS (MINEOLA, NY): 89,000
164. SPIROS MARKATOS (DIX HILLS, NY): 88,800
165. DANNY RISTICK (TURNERSVILLE, NJ): 88,500
166. ALEXANDRI CONKLIN (TOMS RIVER, NJ): 88,200
167. MARC GENDLEMAN (ANNAPOLIS AA, MD): 87,400
168. MATTHEW SILBERZWEIG (ELMONT, NY): 86,000
169. SEAN OHALLERAN (RONKONKOMA, NY): 81,100
170. PAUL GOMBERG (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 80,200
171. FRANK BELASIC (CEDAR GROVE, NJ): 80,100
172. CHRISTOPHER BRANSCOMB (MECHANICSVLLE, VA): 79,500
173. ANDREW DIFALCO (NESCONSET, NY): 77,500
174. EDMOND MCCARTHY (SOUDERTON, PA): 76,600
175. BARBARA ROGERS (LOCK HAVEN, PA): 75,700
176. BENJAMIN MODO (ROSEDALE, MD): 74,600
177. RICHARD SEMANDER (PEMBROKE, FL): 74,500
178. DANIEL LOBEL (KATONAH, NY): 73,500
179. NUA VUKEL (BRONX, NY): 69,500
180. IGOR FISHKOP (BROOKLYN, NY): 68,300
181. STEPHEN ESPOSITO (ORLANDO, FL): 65,100
182. DARRELL LADOW (LITITZ, PA): 65,100
183. ANTHONY RAIMONE (BARDONIA, NY): 65,000
184. HAROLD VASQUEZ (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 63,600
185. TERRELL CHEATHAM (KENT, OH): 63,200
186. GARY STEINBERG (ELLICOTT CITY, MD): 63,200
187. LYDIA WALTONBAUGH (NEW KENSINGTON, PA): 62,600
188. LENNY SPINA (ASTORIA, NY): 62,500
189. ANDREW ROSEN (NY, NY): 59,500
190. JOHN HANNA (NEW YORK, NY): 58,700
191. NEAL GAY (BROOKLYN, NY): 53,000
192. CHARLES BURKS (FAIROAKS, PA): 48,300
193. JOHN FITZPATRICK (HICKSVILLE, NY): 47,600
194. JOANNA LEBAN (NEW YORK, NY): 46,000
195. CHRISTOPHER DEQUATRO (WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY): 43,900
196. TIMOTHY ROSA (EASTON, PA): 43,700
197. RONNIE PLYLER (WAXHAW, NC): 38,800
198. WILLIAM REILLY (OAKDALE, PA): 35,900
199. DEAN SCHULTZ (STOW, OH): 34,100
200. MONTY DENNIS (TUCKER, GA): 33,200
201. KEITH FARLEY (RIDGEFIELD, NJ): 33,100
202. ERIC LISICA (GLEN BURNIE, MD): 31,500
203. MATTHEW FORREST (E WILLISTON, NY): 30,500
204. TODD GARDNER (WATERFORD WKSKS, NJ): 30,000
205. JAMES BUTLER JR (VIRGINIA BCH H, VA): 24,100
206. RICHARD NORMAN (BOHEMIA, NY): 24,000
207. ANTHONY REED (PHILADELPHIA, PA): 21,700
208. JOSEPH PITTI (E MEADOW, NY): 19,500
209. MINH TAM NGUYEN (LANCASTER, PA): 14,200

Event 28 Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 28: $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em
January 19, 2011

Entries: 159
Total Buy-In: $23,850

FINAL RESULTS
1. KIRKOR TEKNECI (WHITESTONE, NY): $6,940
2. HOWARD BROWN (BRIGANTINE, NJ): $3,817
3. MATTHEW PICCOLO (DUMONT, NJ): $2,197
4. ABUL MOBORROD (VENTNOR CITY, NJ): $1,851
5. BRIAN LUCY (KEYPORT, NJ): $1,388
6. DAVID BARNOW (TUCHAHOE, NJ): $1,157
7. SAMUEL ABRAMS (FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ): $925
8. KEVIN MECHALAS (NORTH WALES, PA): $694
9. LOUIS DEMARCO (BROOKLYN, NY): $521
10. ANDREW KLEIN (OCEAN, NJ): $463
11. FRED ALESI (ISLIP, NY): $463
12. JIM KAISER (ELWOOD, NJ): $463
13. MICHAEL FAVOR (TOMS RIVER, NJ): $405
14. THOMAS STALBA (WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ): $405
15. OSCAR ARANDA (STATEN ISLAND, NY): $405
16. REGINALDO TEIXEIRA (CARLE PLACE, NY): $347
17. HENRY PORCARO (WARWICK, NY): $347
18. MICHAEL MAGLIETTA (PARLIN, NJ): $347


*Total prize pool reduced by 3% for dealer tip pursuant to a new law enacted by the State of New Jersey

Event 1 Day 1 Recap

Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)    

The premiere event of the 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open was a record-setting one.  The 1,472 entries generated total buy-ins of $736,000, topping the previous record set in 2007 of $685,000.

The final 120 players will earn a piece of the prize pool and the winner will take home $150,850.

Four WSOP bracelet holders were in the field, the most notable of which was Robert Varkonyi, (Great Neck, NY) who won the main event in 2002.  Mike 'Little Man' Sica, (North Brunswick, NJ) Chris Reslock, (Atlantic City, NJ) and Jason Young (Suffern, NY) were the other three.  When the dust settled at 2am, only Little Man was still alive.  He will return for day two with 125,600.  (While Robert did not make it to day two, his wife, Olga Varkonyi, did.)

Other notables who did not make it through the grueling 15 hours of day one are:  Steve Dannenmann, (2005 WSOP main event runner-up) Josh Brikis, (Pittsburgh, PA) James Boyd, (Martinsburg, WV) Lisa Pickell,  (Brick, NJ) Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo, (E Williston, NY) Vinny Pahuja, (Hicksville, NY) Nick Frangos,  (NY) Mike Dentale, (Brooklyn, NY) Sirous Jamshidi, (Broomall, PA) and Torpekay Habashzada (Broomall, PA).

About 210 players will return for day two.  Notable players and regular locals who survived and will return, in no particular order:
Alex Bolotin - 94,400
Joanne Monteavarro  130,100
Matt Glantz - 181,200
Paul Spitzberg - 309,400
Eric Doerr - 257,400
'Action' Bob Hwang - 148,800
James Boyle - 109,500
Dean Schultz - 34,100

Day two begins at noon Thursday here in the event center!

End of Day 1 Chip Leaders

Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)   

Jason Dominici

Ryan Wood made the mistake of getting tangled up in a pot with his neighbor, Jason Dominici of Bowie, MD (they play in the same home-game).  On the river, Ryan bet 130k and Jason shoved.  Ryan let it go and no hands were shown, but Jason collected a huge pot, boosting his chip count to 690k and taking the chip lead.

As the clock struck 2am, the tournament clock was paused with 25 minutes remaining in level 16 and players began bagging and tagging their chips.  A complete list will be posted when available but I scanned the bags for any over half a million, and here they are:

Jason Dominici    810,300
Yevgeny Gans     607,700
Vittorio Faricelli  547,100
Jeff Krosche        511,000
Antoine White    501,200

A couple of other stacks of note:  Rhoda Rosenkowitz ended the day with 423,900.  Phong 'VIP' Nguyen finished up with 304,000.  Matt Glantz had 181,000.

Between 210 and 220 players survived and they will return at noon to continue play.

Last Level Has Begun

Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)   

At the end of level 15, players took a ten minute break, then got back to business with level 16, blinds of 2,500/5,000 with 400 antes.  They will play about half of this level until 2am, then stop the clock and call it a night. 

24 tables remain.  240 or fewer players.  Average is about 153k.

Rosenkowitz Rakes a Big One

Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)  

On the river, the board read Q 8 5 7 4 (no flush possible).  The player in the small blind checked it over to Rhoda Rosenkowitz (Queens, NY) who moved all in.  After a few minutes in the tank, the small blind called all-in, putting his tournament life on the line with AQ (top pair, top kicker).  Rhoda showed A6 suited for the straight to take the pot, busting her opponent.

Rhoda Rosenkowitz

It took Rhoda quite a while to stack all those chips, but it came up to about 420k, making her the first woman with over 400k in chips.

Ryan Wood is up to ~500k, becoming the second player to reach that milestone.

Down to 25 tables (250 players).  Average stack is 147,200.

Krosche Crosses Half-Million Mark

Event 1: $500 + $60 Deep Stack NL (2 Re-entry)  

The unidentified player at table 30, seat 5, has now been identified as Ryan Wood of Crownsville, MD.  He lost a small pot while I was watching when his pocket 7s were out-flopped by KQ.  He's still over 400k, however.

 Ryan Wood

Jeff Krosche has extended his chip lead to 519k and become the first player to cross the half-million chip mark. 

After action folded to him in the small blind, Mike Dentale looked to his left and said "Think you can fold one time?" as he tossed his last 27k into the pot.  The big blind did let it go and Mike picked up some desperately needed chips, showing JT offsuit.

29 tables remain with 20 players still in the hunt.  Average is ~137k.