Borgata Winter Poker Open 2011

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

PPI UPDATE

The $400 Deep Stack event had a huge turnout at the Borgata Winter Poker Open, leading to an action packed final table filled with PPI players. Matt Mazzeo, Katie Stone , Ian Palermo and Mike Castaldo found themselves battling at this tough final table. The rail was packed with railbirds cheering for their friends and family, and when the poker dust settled Castaldo was named Champion. All of them move up on the leaderboard and it will be exciting to see how the final weeks events determine who wins this exciting PPI race.

At this year's 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 Poker Open Championship Event. We will provide you with daily leaderboard updates here, 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 .

Here is your PPI "Play for the Main" Leader Board:

PTS: PLAYER
70: JAMES BOYLE
70: JASON YOUNG
60: MATTHEW MAZZEO
60: ALBERT RICCOBONO
50: JOSEPH CUTLER
50: RYAN ERIQUEZZO
45: JOSHUA BRIKIS
45: STEVEN DANNENMANN
45: MICHAEL DENTALE
45: LAURENCE GOLDSTEIN
45: ADAM LIPPERT
40: MICHAEL CASTALDO
40: MICHAEL SICA JR
35: VINEET PAHUJA
35: KATHRYN DOUGHERTY
30: BRENT KELLER
30: CARL RESTIFO
30: JAMES SALTERS
25: ANTHONY CASAGRANDE
25: DAVID INSELBERG
20: CARLOS DELAFUENTE
20: GORDON ENG
20: JONATHAN WERZ
15: MICHAEL BROWN
15: ALEXANDER CUKAR
10: KELLY ARMENTROUT
10: ROBERT HWANG
10: ROSLYN QUARTO
10: CHRIS RESLOCK
10: JAMES STENELLA
10: EUGENE TODD
10: JEFFREY VANCHIRO
10: DAVID ZEITLIN
5: ANTHONY CAMPAGNA
5: CARLOS COLON
5: EMANUEL FAILLA
5: ADAM GERBER
5: ELIZABETH GREY-PARDO
5: CHARLES MARCHESE
5: LISA PICKELL
5: JONATHAN SORSCHER

(Leaderboard updated through Main Events 1-10 & Secondary Events 27-38)

*Note to all PPI players - If you have participated or cashed in any events and do not see your name on the leader board, please contact me at eric@ppipoker.com

Event 12: Day 1A Underway

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

Cards are in the air for day 1A of the $170 + $30 No Limit Hold'em Double Play event. Players can re-enter up to two times if they bust out during the first six levels. Those levels are 30 minutes long. Late registrations is also allowed during the fist six levels.

A player can enter day 1A, bust-out and re-enter twice. If they bust out again before the end of day 1A, then can come back and enter again on day 1B, and possibly re-enter twice more! That means a player could get in as many as 6 times!

The 25,000 chip starting stack is also an attractive feature on this event. With blinds of 25/50, they're starting 500 big-blinds deep.

Starting with level 7, registration is closed and levels extend to 40 minutes.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25

TODAY IN THE EVENT CENTER

11A - Event 12: $170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH
Day 1A $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 13: $350 + $50 Seniors No Limit Hold'em

10,000 in starting chips
Levels last 40 minutes
2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

3P - Event 39: $100 + $20 Championship Qualifier NLH

10,000 in starting chips
Levels last 20 minutes
Approximately 1 in 35 players will win $3,500 Entry to play in the Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship Event (Jan 30 - Feb 4)
1-day event

7P - Event 40: $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

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

Event 10 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 10: $300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH
January 24, 2011

Entries: 340
Total Buy-In: $102,000

FINAL RESULTS
1. MARK SACCUCCI (OXFORD, PA): $26,713
2. EDWIN LAU (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $14,840
3. BART SEEMEN (SANTA MONICA, CA): $9,201
4. ROBERT CHUNG-SHUI (NEW YORK, NY): $7,421
5. MONTE HOOVER JR (STEUBENVILLE, OH): $5,739
6. JOSEPH NEIMAN (HACKENSACK, NJ): $4,848
7. JOHN MORALES (GETTYSBURG, PA): $3,908
8. BROOKS FLOYD (BOONE, NC): $2,919
9. MICHAEL COLLETTE (GALLOWAY, NJ): $1,979
10. JAMES BOYLE (HAVRE DE GRACE, MD): $1,286
11. ALIDA VELIU (WYCKOFF, NJ): $1,286
12. ANDREW CALDARELLI (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $1,286
13. ALYSON PARKER (PLAINSBORO, NJ): $989
14. LEONARDO PALERMO (ORTLEY BEACH, NJ): $989
15. JEFFREY COUGHLIN (FREEHOLD, NJ): $989
16. JOSEPH CRAMER (CARLISLE, PA): $841
17. JOHN PELLAK (MULLICA HILL, NJ): $841
18. ILYA VASSERMAN (HUNTINGDON VY, PA): $841
19. BERNARD DOMINIAK (LOWER BURRELL, PA): $742
20. JASON YOUNG (SUFFERN, NY): $742
21. ARMANDO THEN (NEW YORK, NY): $742
22. SHAWN ALMONTE (YONKERS, NY): $742
23. ELLIOT GRUEN (BROOKLYN, NY): $742
24. VERLON WILSON (ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC): $742
25. ALLISON SCHULTZ (NEW YORK, NY): $742
26. DAMON FERRANTE (PARSIPPANY, NJ): $742
27. ANTHONY DALPRA (STONEY CREEK, CAN): $742
28. CLARENCE SENTER (FALLS CHURCH, VA): $594
29. HECTOR JIMENEZ (PASSAIC, NJ): $594
30. PHILIP NEIMAN (FLUSHING, NY): $594
31. JOEL CARTUN (LIVINGSTON, NJ): $594
32. BRIAN ODONOGHUE (BAYSIDE, NY): $594
33. GREGORY KOLO (ROCKY RIVER, OH): $594
34. ALBERTO PESTANA (BARDONIA, NY): $594
35. PETER DELAMOS (LAS VEGAS, NV): $594

Event 8 Final Results

Borgata Winter Poker Open
Event 8: $400 + $50 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em
January 23-24, 2011

Entries: 619
Total Buy-In: $247,600

FINAL RESULTS
1. MICHAEL CASTALDO (PALISADES, NY): $57,665
2. HOWARD BROWN (BRIGANTINE, NJ): $32,423
3. CARLESS BOATWRIGHT (WOODBRIDGE, VA): $20,414
4. ANNA DIKKER (MORGANVILLE, NJ): $16,572
5. MATTHEW KALINOWSKI (WESTAMPTON, NJ): $13,209
6. MATTHEW MAZZEO (E WILLISTON, NY): $10,928
7. IAN PALOMO (NEW YORK, NY): $8,766
8. KATHRYN DOUGHERTY (ALLEN, TX): $6,605
9. JORGE RIVERA CARRERO (BROOKLYN, NY): $4,563
10. MATTHEW BUTCH (CLARKSBURG, NJ): $3,122
11. PRALHAD DESHPANDE (TALEIGRO GOA, IND): $3,122
12. DOMINIC TELYMONDE (PHILADELPHIA, PA): $3,122
13. JASON BRAUDA (MATTHEWS, NC): $2,282
14. NOEL DAMICO (OCEANSIDE, NY): $2,282
15. JOSEPH REDDICK (BRONX, NY): $2,282
16. JINHING CHIN (NEW YORK, NY): $1,681
17. ROBERT NGUYEN (W. NEW YORK, NJ): $1,681
18. CHRISTINE NELSON (NORRISTOWN, PA): $1,681
19. MARIA KALANTZI (LONG ISL CITY, NY): $1,320
20. RODNEY ORD (ELKRIDGE, MD): $1,320
21. TERECE JONES (PISCATAWAY, NJ): $1,320
22. RAYMOND BIMSON (FORTUNA, CA): $1,320
23. PAYMAN AZIZOGHLI (FREEHOLD, NJ): $1,320
24. CHRIS EDWARDS (LITTLE SILVER, NJ): $1,320
25. NIKOLAOS FRANGOS (MAYS LANDING, NJ): $1,320
26. MARK WAHBA (CLEVELAND, OH): $1,320
27. RICHARD MAURER (SOMERS POINT, NJ): $1,320
28. OSCAR CASTAGNA JR. (NEW Y0RK, NY): $1,177
29. MICHAEL BIFTU (FORT WASHINGTON, MD): $1,177
30. ANTHONY CAMPAGNA (EAST SETAUKET, NY): $1,177
31. RYAN ARNOLD (HAMPSTEAD, MD): $1,177
32. BASRI VELIU (WYCKOFF, NJ): $1,177
33. RAYMOND DIDONATO (LAUREL SPRINGS, NJ): $1,177
34. FURMAN PEARSALL (SELDEN, NY): $1,177
35. ALDO RUIZ- VALIENTE (ARLINGTON, VA): $1,177
36. CHRISTOPHER GROVE (PASADENA, MD): $1,177
37. GARY FRIEDMAN (BEACHWOOD, OH): $1,057
38. STEVEN TINDLE (HYATTSVILLE, MD): $1,057
39. MICHAEL BONITA (NEW CITY, NY): $1,057
40. HEUNG YOON (WOODBRIDGE, VA): $1,057
41. BRIAN GLEASON (NEWTOWN, PA): $1,057
42. BRETT MILSTEIN (NARBERTH, PA): $1,057
43. DUSTIN BRADLEY (BOCA RATON, FL): $1,057
44. ADRIAN STOCH (CHERRY HILL, NJ): $1,057
45. JOHN SILL (ABERDEEN, NC): $1,057
46. JOHN WESLEY COBB (INDIAN HEAD, MD): $937
47. ROBERT MELO (HOWARD BEACH, NY): $937
48. BRIAN MURRAY (SUNNYSIDE, NY): $937
49. GREGORY RUDOLPH (OCEANSIDE, NY): $937
50. MICHAEL SANTORO (EGG HARBOR, NJ): $937
51. JOHNATHAN PEACOCK (DURAMAM, GB): $937
52. KIN-YARN LEE (TORONTO, TRIN): $937
53. RYANONEIL AGUILA (VALLEY STREAM, NY): $937
54. WILLIAM PATTERSON (NEW KENSINGTON, PA): $937
55. MICHAEL LATOUR (CLAY, NY): $817
56. SHERWIN AGARD (RANDOLPH, MA): $817
57. ROBBY DEVRIES (PATERSON, NJ): $817
58. JAMES GOVERNA (RICHBORO, PA): $817
59. SHERRY RYAN (MASSILLON, OH): $817
60. MARGARET BRUTON (RAHWAY, NJ): $817
61. WOOYANG LIN (MORRISTOWN, NJ): $817
62. NORMAN FIELD (ELIZABETH, NJ): $817
63. JAMES OPDYKE (JACKSON, NJ): $817

Event 10 Recap

$300 + $50 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH

The one day Deep Stack Turbo had 340 participants playing in Borgata Event Center and battling for the $98,940 prize pool.

Some Borgata regulars that took a seat this morning at 11:00 am include:

Mike Sica
Sheree Bykofsky
James Boyle
Ted Geier
Alex Bolotin
Leo Gee
Al Riccobono
Adam Lippert
Alex Bolotin
Eric Siegel
Little Joe Wagner
Nicole Rowe
Mike Dentale

Alison Parker was happy to cash and told us, "I'm having more fun than I thought, and I just lost half my chips."

The consensus enjoyed how Borgata structured this tournament.

"It's a deep stack tournament without the tedium of the early levels," says Parker

Jason Young also played well and cashed with 100 players left but didn't make his goal of the
$26,713 first place prize.

That went to our winner Mark Succucci who is an amateur player who credits his win to a World Series of Poker Boot Camp he attended where he watched the November 9 final table live.

"I kept telling myself, don't get emotional, and I didn't." explained Succucci.

Mark came down saying how he's never won a big Borgata tournament and had a feeling today was the day. His winning hand was two black sevens. The mushroom buyer/seller from West Grove, PA thanked his wife Debbie who was following on the blog all day.

Second place prize of $14,840 went to Edwin Lau while third place money ($9,201) went to Bart Seemen.

Event 8 Recap

$400 + $50 Deep Stack NL

This event began at 11:00am on January 23, 2011 with 619 players taking their best shot at a total prize pool of $240,172 with 15,475,000 chips in play.

Some notable names in the field included, James Boyle, Steve Dannenmann, Mike Dentale, Cathy Dever, Rob Nguyen, Mike Sica, and Eric Siegel.

Also in the tournament was NBC 30 Rock TV star, Kevin Brown, who plays a character called Dot Com.

At the end of day one our chip leader was Matthew Butch (Clarksburg, NJ) with $749,000 and our short stack was James Opdyke (Jackson, NJ) with $40,000.

On Day 2, which started at 12pm, Butch held on to his stack and did make the final table of ten that took close to seven hours to complete.

Four PPI players made the final table including: Mike Castaldo, Ian Palomo, Matt "Muffins" Mazzeo, and Kathryn Dougherty.

A ton of people watched all the action surrounding the popular final table.

Matt Mazzeo had several dedicated fans cheering for him. Mazzeo knocked out three players at the final table which otherwise seemed pretty tight and was willing to show hole-cards when they didn't have to.

Top finishers were Matt Kalinowski (5th), Anna Dikker (4th), Carless "Joe" Boatwright (3rd), Howard Brown (2nd), and Michael Castaldo who finished in first place for the Borgata Deep Stack trophy and a $57,665 to fill his deep pockets.

Castaldo is co-creator and stars in Fatty's, a poker reality show that tapes in NY and wanted to thank all the Fatty's members that railed and followed him throughout the tournament.

One fan in particular watched the entire two days.

Michael adds to his PPI point totals as this is his second cash in three BWO tournaments.

So how did he win this thing? How about being dealt AA three times in seven hands which each hand scoring big.

Our Deep Stack Champion is gearing up for the Championship Event next week.