Brikis Busted

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

Another level done.  340 players remain.  Average stack is ~108k.

During the previous level, Josh Brikis made his desperation shove with A9, only to run into pocket Queens held by Zohaib Butt (Babylon, NY).  To add salt to his wound, Zohaib caught another Queen on the board for a set to take the pot, sending Josh to the rail.

Yevgeny Gans

I've spotted another couple of big stacks in the room.  Yevgeny Gans (Sykesville, MD) has ~460k.  The player at table 30, seat 5, has 457k.  I don't know who that is, because he left early for the break.  I guess you can do that when you're 3rd in chips and over 4 times the average stack.

Matt Glantz is up to 300k.  'Action' Bob Hwang has ~110k.

Erik Winiarski (Yonkers, NY) has about 205k.  Erik won this same event two years ago (January 2009).  There were 857 entries that year and 1st was good for $103,911.  Erik is hoping he can accomplish the same feat this year.

Play resumed after the break with level 14: blinds 1,500/3,000 and 400 antes.

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

Found a new big stack in the room -- and a new chip leader.  Jeff Krosche (White Plains, NY) is stacking about 490k.

 Jeff Krosche

Josh Brikis is struggling.  He's down to only 28k.  Blinds are currently 1,200/2,400 with 300 antes. 

Players continue to depart rapidly.  Down to 37 tables (fewer than 370 players).  Average stack is ~100k.

Only the final 120 players (12 tables) will get paid.  Still three more hours to play tonight, then the remaining players will return Thursday at noon.

Poker Room Relocations

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

Eleven tables moved up from the Poker Room and there were quite a few well known regulars in the bunch:

Matt Glantz, Keith Crowder, Joanne Monteavarro, Ian Palomo,  Mike Dentale, Mike Castaldo, and Miguel Borrero.

Vittorio Faricelli

As I suspected, there was also a big stack among the poker room crowd.  Vittorio Faricelli (Maspeth, NY) has about 400k and is now officially the chip leader.

These newly relocated tables are breaking first and fast.  As of this update, only 5 remain, making 43 tables still in action (430 or fewer players).

Average stack is about 85,500.

A-Paul-ing Situation

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

Spitzberg Straightens Out the Bully

Paul Spitzberg (Tenafly, NJ) is no stranger to success at Borgata, so he'll tell you that a little luck goes a long way. Spitzberg, who won $20,000 for a second place finish in the 2010 Borgata Poker Open (Event 13), is hoping a 225k pot is the springboard he needs to make another deep run.

Spitzberg limps in from early position with KQ, and the big blind continues a trend of opening posts to 30k (blinds 1k/2k). Spitzberg reraises to 80k, and his opponent shoves all-in for 25k more.

Spitzberg makes the call and is in a world of hurt as the big blind tables KK.

"You have to understand, he did this 15 hands in a row," says Spitzberg. "The one time I try and make a move he has the worst possible hand for me."

Spitzberg, who was hoping to be at worst against two under cards, gets help when the flop comes A J 3, and is really lucky when a 10 on the river completes his straight.

"I couldn't see the cards because everyone stood in my way. Then I heard 'Oh my God.' That's when I thought I might have won."

Spitzberg barely has his opponent covered and is now the big stack at the table.

Level 12 (1k/2k/300 ante) is winding down.

All Together, Finally

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

Level 11 has ended with 38 tables remaining in the event center.  They are taking a ten minute break while the remaining tables are moved up from the poker room.

VIP is still holding steady with about 300k.  Isok Aronov reports he's still got about 250k.  David Inselberg is up to ~210k.

 David Inselberg

Alex Bolotin (Brooklyn, NY) has about 120k.  Eric Siegel (Melville, NY) has about 75k. Dean Schultz (Stow, OH) has ~70k.

With all the players finally in the event center, play has resumed with level 12:  blinds 1k/2k with 300 antes.

VIP Disarms Torpedo

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

Play resumed after dinner and they completed level 10.  Now playing in level 11 with blinds of 800/1,600 and 200 antes.

45 tables remain in the event center.  At the end of level 11, they will take a break and move the last few tables up from the poker room.

A big hand was underway on table 32 as I walked up.  The flop was Q♣7♣4♣.  Mike Caruso (Flowertown, NJ) was short-stacked and all-in.  Torpekay 'Torpedo' Habashzada was also all-in, and the player known locally as 'VIP' was in the tank.  He had Torpekay well covered and eventually decided to call. 

Mike held A♣2♣ and the current nuts.  Torpekay held K♣9♠ for the second-nut flush-draw.  VIP held 74 offsuit for two pair.  Torpekay needed a club or runner-runner to survive.

 "VIP"

The last two cards came 8♠Q♥ and were no help to Torpekay, who was busted.  Mike took the main pot, tripling up.  VIP took the rest of Torpekay's chips.  He's now up to almost 300k and possibly the chip leader.

Payouts for Event 1

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

The official entry count is 1,472, generating total buy-ins of $736,000 - which is a first-day Borgata Winter Poker Open record (surpasing 2007's $685k prize pool).

The final 120 players will get paid as follows:

Place Payout
1 $150,850
2 $94,236
3 $57,113
4 $47,832
5 $39,265
6 $31,768
7 $25,343
8 $19,275
9 $13,207
10 - 12 $8,566
13 - 15 $6,067
16 - 18 $3,927
19 - 27 $3,213
28 - 36 $2,713
37 - 45 $2,285
46 - 54 $1,999
55 - 63 $1,785
64 - 72 $1,571
73 - 81 $1,428
82 - 90 $1,285
91 - 100 $1,142
101 - 120 $1,071

Dinner Time! and Chip Leader?

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

About 48 tables remain in the Event Center and about 13 tables remain in the poker room, meaning fewer than 610 players are still in the hunt.  Those players have been sent on a one hour dinner break.  Play will resume at 8:30pm.

 Isok Aronov

Before the break, I did an entirely un-scientific survey of the tournament floor and believe that Isok Aronov (Brooklyn, NY) is the chip leader.  He's sitting behind about 250k.  Matt 'muffins' Mazzeo (E Williston, NY) is close behind with ~240k.

No idea what the stacks look like down in the poker room, so no way to be certain about the chip lead.

Over 600 Players Remain

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

They're down to about 60 tables here in the Event Center and there are still a few tables down in the poker room.  That means somewhere between 600 and 700 players remain, which is about half the starting field.  Still way to many players to try to pick out a chip leader.

Mike 'Little Man' Sica

Still alive in the field is WSOP bracelet holder Mike "Little Man" Sica (North Brunswick, NJ).  He's holding his own in this field of much younger players.

To Nicki in southwest Philly:  Big Reed will NOT be coming home tonight.  He says "Goodnight!"

Eric "clown fish" Doerr (Newark, DE) is still alive.  He says his strategy is to "re-enter his way to the money".  We'll see if that strategy pays off for him.

Carless 'Joe' Boatright (Woodbridge, VA) is breathing a sigh of relief.  He just got all-in and tripled-up.

They're now playing in level 10 with blinds of 600/1,200 and 200 antes.

There will be a hard-stop at 7:30pm for dinner break.

Borgata Babes

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

Julie Works the Room....

...while Jenny Works the Dealers

Green Chips Gone

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

Vincent Palmeri (Staten Island, NY) Stays for the Color-up

With the completion of Level 8 the green (25) chips are being removed from play.

When play resumes the blinds are 500/1000/100 ante, making them irrelevant.

Players are on a 15 minute break and starting to get antsy with their eye on the 7:30 dinner break.

Bluff Gone Good

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

Siegel Runnin' Good

Eric Siegel (Melville, NY), one of the top lieutenants of PPI, is running good at Event 1 after his failed bluff turns into a big pot.

Siegel and his opponent get all the money in preflop and Siegel's 10 J is dominated by A J. A flop of Q Q 9 gives Siegel an open ended straight draw with two cards to go.

The turn is a brick, but Siegel's good fortune is capped with a 10 on the river for the winning hand.

"I knew the re-buy was over," says Siegel who goes from 38k to 80k with one card, "what can I say, it was bluff gone good."

Level 8 (400/800/75 ante) continues.

$150k Pay Day

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

The early numbers have a total of 1,472 entries in Event 1 of the Borgata Poker Winter Open. That puts the first place prize at more than $150,000 and the top 120 players will cash.

Level 7 (300/600/75 ante) continues.

Madness Settling Down

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

Steve Dannenmann

As Level 6 winds down the short stacks are running out of time to re-enter. Steve Dannenmann, the 2005 WSOP runner-up to Joe Hachem, is sitting on 10k and looking to re-enter if he doesn't double-up.

"I shoved in blind earlier in the tournament and I talked the guy into calling blind," said Dannenmann who won the hand with 8 5 vs Q 6.

Dannenmann did not double-up and was seen at the registration desk re-entering the tournament.

Level 6 complete, re-entry period is over.

Familiar Face

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

Reslock, 0 for 3

Three strikes and your out has a whole new meaning for Borgata regular and Atlantic City resident Chris Reslock, who busted from Event 1 of the Borgata Winter Open the maximum of three times. But here's the catch, he was eliminated from the same table each time.

"I was surprised, but happy," said Reslock, the 2007 WSOP bracelet winner about returning to Table 15. "Usually you want to go back to your table, but then again, they knocked me out three times."

Reslock began the day at in seat 4, but was knocked out when he tried to bluff the big stack of Sean Miller (Long Island, NY). Round two has Reslock and Miller butting heads again with Miller holding the nut straight vs Reslock's two pairs.

"He's a good guy," said Miller, "but I think he was here more for the entertainment. He was all over the place."

After being eliminated from seat 10, Reslock's last chance comes from seat 8. On his final trip to the table (second re-entry), Reslock flops a straight, but by the river is rundown by a fullhouse.

"I had fun," says Reslock. "It was a good table."

Miller is certainly enjoying it as he's up to 97k.

Level 6 (200/400/50 ante) is winding down.

Miller's Time

Big Stack Hunting

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

Mardakhayev Triples-Up

With 900 players in the Event Center and hundreds more in the Poker Room, it's tough to figure out who might be a chip leader. But you can bet anyone with 3 to 4 times the 25k starting stack is certainly near the top.

Emil Mardakhayev (Brooklyn, NY) tells us how he tripled up earlier in the day when he took out pocket aces and pocket kings with 5♥ 7♥.

Mardakhayev saw the flop relatively cheaply from the big blind and flopped a pair, a flush draw, a gut shot straight draw and a gut shot straight-flush draw.

Mardakhayev hit two pairs on the turn, shipped 23k all-in and both big pairs called.

"I figured take a shot," says Mardakhayev, "If you don't hit, you can always re-enter."

When the river bricked, Mardakhayev tripled his stack and is now sitting at 80k.

Level 5 is winding down.

1290 & Counting

The floor staff continues to juggle the throngs of poker players as the opening event of the Borgata Winter Open has 1290 entries and registration is open for two more levels.

Players assigned tables 128-134 are in the Poker Room, as nearly all 900 seats in the Event Center are filled.

The huge field has pushed the start of the 3 pm Survivor tournament back to 4 pm. The Survivor is $200 + $30 (~1 in 10 wins $2,000) and you can see a complete list of events here.

Level 5 (100/200/25 ante) is underway.

Making Moves

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

Santos Sucks Out

As chips stacks dwindle, players willing to re-enter aren't afraid to take shots with marginal hands.

On a board of J♠ 7♥ 3♦ K♠, Ross Santos (Plymouth, MA) moves all-in on a draw with A♠ Q♥. His opponent makes the call and tables J♣ 8♥ for top pair.

"I knew I had two overs and a straight draw," says the Northeast grinder, who figured he was against a pair of jacks.

When the 10♦ peels off on the river, Santos has the nut straight and doubles his stack to 33k, but he's far from done gambling. "I might have to fire it there again."

Santos' opponent shrugs, grabs a re-entry ticket and heads back to the registration desk.

Level 4 is winding down.

Killer Table

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

Eng & Boyd

Three accomplished players are all seated at table 17.

Gordon Eng (Cliffside Park, NJ) and James Boyd (Martinsburg, WV) are seated side-by-side, and are joined by Olga Varkonyi (Great Neck, NY).

One of Eng's biggest scores was his win in the 2010 Borgata Spring Open ($1,500 entry), good for more than $72,000. Eng has $700,000 in career earnings, while Boyd has tournament winnings of $235,000, including a win in the Borgata Spring Open Seniors Event.

Varkonyi has several career Borgata cashes and career earnings of $119,000.

This is certainly a table to keep an eye on, as Level 3 winds down

Olga Varkonyi

Hard to Believe

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

Park is all Business, While Young
Can't Help but Smile

We pick up the action between Julian Park (Staten Island, NY) and Jason Young (Suffern, NY) with the board showing: 10♠ 6♥ K♣ K♥ 6♠.

Park moves all in for 26k into a pot of 9k, "I know what's going on here," says Young, "this is hard to believe. What a cooler."

After a minute of self loathing on how he might be "the worst player in the room," Young folds and shows the K♠ for a full house, kings full of sixes.

Before the cards hit the muck, Young says to Park, "show me king-ten." After a little "persuasion," Park tables K♦ 10♥ for the higher full house.

"I'm not the worst player, I'm the best player!" laughs Young, who makes sure everyone knows he's having a good time after making a "great lay down."

Players are back from a 10 break, Level 3 (75/1150) is underway.

Overflow Crowd

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

As expected, the first of 59 total events (26 Main Events) is a smashing success. The 90 tables in the Event Center are packed and the staff has 25 more set up in the Poker Room.

The early number is more than 1,000 players are in the event, with more players still in line.

Level 2 is underway as blinds are 50/100.

Familiar Faces

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

There are a ton of Borgata regulars in the field and we'll highlight some of them throughout the day.

Those spotted in the crowd include:

2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi

Steve Dannenmann
Cathy Dever
Eric Doerr
Gordon Eng
Ted Geier
Manny Patel
Al Riccobono
Eric Siegel
Olga & Robert Varkonyi
Jason Young

There haven't been any obvious bad beats as play as been pretty quiet in the early going.

Cards are in the Air

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

Event Center

Table signs are down, players are in their seats, and Tournament Director Tab Duchateau has said the long awaited words, "shuffle-up and deal!"

Play begins 9-handed as the 10 seat is reserved for those who bust and take advantage of the option to re-enter the tournament. Players start with 25,000 chips and Levels 1-6 last 40 minutes (Levels 7+ are 50 min.). Blinds start at 25-50.

The Borgata Winter Open is the perfect way to shake off the the long, cold days of January. The BWO slogan: Snow in the Air, Ice in your Veins!

Sea of Players

Instant Buzz

Another Borgata Winter Open and it's another packed house at the Event Center. Players are filing in, the registration desk is working overtime and everyone is anxiously awaiting the magic words.

The first tournament of the series is a $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit (2 Re-entry) with players allowed to enter the field during the first six levels.

When play kicks off the button starts in the 4 seat.

Welcome back!

Wednesday, January 19

TODAY'S EVENTS (EVENT CENTER)

11AM (Event 1): $500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em

• $300,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool
• 2 Re-Entry
• 25,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: 40 minutes Levels 7+: 50 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 12P)

3PM (Event 27): $200 + $30 SURVIVOR No Limit Hold'em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 25 minutes
• Approximately 1 in 10 wins $2,000 Cash
• 1-day event

7PM (Event 28): $150 + $30 No Limit Hold'em

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