BORGATA WINTER POKER OPEN

Transcription

BORGATA
WINTER POKER
OPEN
Jan 15–Feb 1
$2 Million Guaranteed
Championship
Jan 27–feb 1
Welcome
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the East
Coast’s premier poker destination,
welcomes you to our eighth annual
Borgata Winter Poker Open tournament
series. Continuing the success of our
September Borgata Poker Open series,
we are happy to welcome back the
World Poker Tour® this January for our WPT
Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship
event (January 27 – February 1).
Since opening in 2003, Borgata has been
the undisputed leader in Atlantic City
hospitality and has helped transform
the market into a multi-dimensional
travel destination.
Borgata is a premium Las Vegas-style resort
that features:
• more than 160,000 square-feet of gaming
space, including an 80-table poker room,
table games, slots and racebook
• world-class entertainment in our Event
Center and Music Box
• alluring nightlife (MIXX, mur.mur, B-Bar,
Gypsy Bar, and Long Bar)
• acclaimed restaurants and
celebrated chefs
• two hotels, including The Water
Club, Atlantic City first
cosmopolitan-lifestyle hotel
• Spa Toccare and Immersion Spa, two of
the top spas on the East Coast
While the temperature may be dropping
outdoors, the action is heating up inside,
as the 2013 Borgata Winter Poker Open
tournament series jump starts the new year
with a $1 Million Guaranteed Deep Stack
No Limit Hold’em event and concludes
the year’s inaugural series with the
return of the WPT Borgata Winter Poker
Open Championship.
This deep stack championship event
features Borgata’s signature player-friendly
structure along with 30,000 in starting chips
and a $2 Million Guaranteed prize pool! The
double play re-entry format allows players
to register for Day 1A or Day 1B. Players may
Re-Enter the championship event on Day 1A
and/or Day 1B if they bust out prior to the
Table of contents
end of Level 6 of that starting day (unlimited
Re-Entries). If player entered into Day 1A and
has been eliminated from tournament or
forfeits his/her chips, player may register for
Day 1B.
In addition, the 18-day series includes our
popular bounty tournaments, Mix-Max,
Six-Max, the return of the Modified Shoot
Out, Omaha, PLO, Seven Card Stud, HORSE,
Ladies only, Seniors (50+) and many
qualifying events.
Registration Information
4
Exclusive Offers
5
Main Event Schedule
6
Qualifiers & Cash Tournament Schedule
7
Qualifier & Cash Tournament Descriptions
8
Sit-N-Go Tournament Information
10
Borgata Overview
12
Please use this yearbook as a guide for
your tournament experience at Borgata.
In addition to insightful information on the
World Poker Tour, you will find our Borgata
Winter Poker Open tournament schedule,
along with winner profiles of all five of our
major tournament series championship
events: Borgata Winter Poker Open, Borgata
Spring Poker Open, Borgata Summer Poker
Open, Borgata Poker Open and Borgata
Fall Poker Open.
Dining
13
Bars & Nightlife
16
Upcoming Nightlife Events
17
Entertainment
18
Spas
19
Retail
20
Poker Live Action
22
You will also become more familiar with
the first class amenities Borgata offers and
learn more about our restaurants, nightlife,
entertainment and more. Remember to
check out the last page, where you can
learn how to enter to win a seat at the
$2 million guaranteed WPT Borgata Winter
Poker Open Championship event!
Borgata Winter Poker Open
23
Borgata Spring Poker Open
31
Borgata Summer Poker Open
35
Borgata Poker Open
43
Borgata Fall Poker Open
54
Bad Beat Jackpot
57
Borgata Poker Blog
58
Meet the WPT Stars
59
Upcoming Tournament
61
Connect with Borgata
62
Win a Seat into the Championship Event
63
For those who are joining us for the first time,
as well as our returning friends, welcome
to Borgata! We wish you all success and
a good time We look forward with great
anticipation to see who joins Joshua
Mancuso (2012), Vadim Shlez (2011),
Jeffrey Madsen (2010), Steven Weinstein
(2009), Gavin Griffin (2008 – WPT),
John Hennigan (2007 – WPT), and
Michael Mizrachi (2006 – WPT) to win
this year’s championship trophy.
So take a seat inside one of our tournament
tables for your chance to become the next
WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Champion.
On behalf of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa,
we wish you best of luck!
Registration information
Exclusive offers
Borgata winter Poker Open
Registration Hours of Operation
exclusive OFFERS for
tournament participants
On-site registration for all Borgata Winter Poker Open events:
Present your Borgata Winter Poker Open tournament receipt and receive the
following offers:
Dates
TimeLocation
Monday, January 14
9AM – Midnight
Poker Room
Tuesday, January 15–Wednesday, January 30 8AM–Midnight
Event Center
Thursday, January 31–Friday, February 1
9AM–9PM
Poker Room
ALL TOURNAMENTS ARE NO REFUND TOURNAMENTS
PLEASE CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS BEFORE LEAVING THE WINDOW.
• 15% off Roma, The Metropolitan, Bread+Butter, Borgata Buffet, Tony Luke’s and Lettuce
Head (Sunday–Saturday)
• 15% off Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Fornelletto and Izakaya (Sunday–Friday)
• 15% off The Barbershop services (reservations required call x7556)
• $50 Fitness Pass Package for Spa Toccare (7-day access)
• $30 Day Pass to Spa Toccare Men’s or Women’s spa (includes use of spa lounge,
whirlpools, steam room, sauna, locker and use of Pump Room)
• $20 Ladies Manicure (valid 1/21–2/1/2013)**
REMINDERS
• Special hotel rates during tournament, based upon availability
Players must have a My Borgata Card to register for tournament events. Players need
a valid ID required to obtain a My Borgata Card. Seating may be limited for events.
Based upon availability, special hotel rates for tournament participants starting at*
Bounty events: You must purchase your Bounty Chip on the Casino Floor or from the
Chip Cart in the Event Center.
• $79 Sunday through Thursday
(You will not be able to purchase your Bounty Chip from Event Center Registration.)
• $189 Saturday
• $149 Friday
Borgata Massage Therapists available. Kindly wave to a Massage Therapist
for a session:
• $20 for 15 minute massage at your table
• $40 for 30 minute massage at your table
For hotel, dining, nightlife and spa reservations, call 609.317.1000.
For poker tournament information, call 609.317.7412 or visit borgtapokerblog.com.
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Exclusive Offers: Valid January 15–February 1, 2013 at Borgata. Must present tournament receipt along with valid
identification at time of purchase/service to receive offers. Exclusions apply. Management reserves the right to
change or cancel without notice. Offers not transferable. Tax and gratuity not included. Food and Beverage: Offers
not valid in conjunction with other promotions – must surrender blue tournament receipt at time of redemption.
*Hotel Room: Reservations must be made in advance to receive special rates. Must present tournament receipt at
checkout to receive tournament rate quoted at time of reservation. Subject to availability, change or cancellation.
**Spa: Ladies Manicure offer not valid 1/26/2013. Certain restrictions apply. Participants may not be part of any
exclusionary list. Acceptable forms of valid ID include: Us Drivers License, US Non-Drivers License, Domestic or
Foreign Passports.
qualifiers & cash tournament
schedule
Main Event SCHEDULE
TimeBuy-In
1A
Tue Jan 15 11am Day 1a $500
+ $60
1B
Wed Jan 16 11am Day 1b $500
+ $60
Thu Jan 17 12pm Day 2
2
Thu Jan 17 11am
$350
+ $50 + $100
3
Fri
Jan 18 11am Day 1
$500
+ $60
Sat Jan 19 1pm Day 2
4
Fri
Jan 18 12pm Day 1
$500
+ $60
5
Sat Jan 19 11am
$350
+ $50
6
$1,000 + $90
Sun Jan 20 1pm Day 2
7A
Sun Jan 20 11am
$350
+ $50
7B
Sun Jan 20 2pm
$350
+ $50
Sun Jan 20 5pm
8
Sun Jan 20 12pm
$260
+ $40
9
Sun Jan 20 1pm Day 1
$450
+ $50
Mon Jan 21 1pm Day 2
10
Mon Jan 21 11am Day 1
$350
+ $50 + $100
Tue Jan 22 1pm Day 2
11
Tue Jan 22 11am Day 1
$400
+ $50
Wed Jan 23 1pm Day 2
12
$500
+ $60
13
Wed Jan 23 11am
$260
+ $40
14
$1,500 + $150
15
Thu Jan 24 11am Day 1
$500
+ $60
Fri
Jan 25 1pm Day 2
16
Thu Jan 24 12pm
$350
+ $50
17
$350
+ $50
Fri
Jan 25 1pm Day 2
18
Fri
Jan 25 11am Day 1
$1,000 + $90
19
Fri
Jan 25 12pm
$350
+ $50
20
Sat Jan 26 11am
$500
+ $60
21A
Sun Jan 27 11am Day 1a $3,300 + $200
21B
Mon Jan 28 11am Day 1b $3,300 + $200
Fri
Feb 1
1pm Day 5
22
Tue Jan 29 11am
$400
+ $50
23
Wed Jan 30 11am
$200
+ $30
24
Thu Jan 31 11am
$200
+ $30 + $100
25
Fri
Feb 1
11am
$170
+ $30
Description
Event Day Date
Big Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
26
Tue
Jan 15 7pm
$150 + $30
27
Wed Jan 16 7pm
$150 + $30 + $50
28
Thu
Jan 17 4pm
$250 + $30
29
Thu
Jan 17 7pm
$100 + $20 + $100
30
Fri
Jan 18 4pm
$200 + $30
31
Fri
Jan 18 7pm
$150 + $30 + $20
32
Sat
Jan 19 4pm
$400 + $50
33
Sat
Jan 19 7pm
$150 + $30 + $50
34
Sun
Jan 20 4pm
$200 + $30
35
Sun
Jan 20 7pm
$100 + $20 + $25
36
Mon Jan 21 4pm
$250 + $30
37
Mon Jan 21 7pm
$100 + $20 + $20
38
Tue
Jan 22 4pm
$300 + $40 + $50
39
Tue
Jan 22 7pm
$125 + $25 + $50
40
Wed Jan 23 7pm
$150 + $30 + $50
41
Thu
Jan 24 3pm
$100 + $20 + $100
42
Thu
Jan 24 7pm
$150 + $30
43
Fri
Jan 25 4pm
$350 + $50
44
Fri
Jan 25 7pm
$250 + $30
45
Sat
Jan 26 12pm $350 + $50
46
Sat
Jan 26 3pm
$700 + $50
47
Sat
Jan 26 7pm
$350 + $50
48
Sun
Jan 27 12pm $700 + $50
49
Sun
Jan 27 3pm
$350 + $50
50
Sun
Jan 27 7pm
$500 + $50
51
Mon Jan 28 12pm $350 + $50
52
Mon Jan 28 6pm
$100 + $20 + $25
53
Tue
Jan 29 6pm
$100 + $20 + $25
54
Wed Jan 30 6pm
$100 + $20 + $25
55
Thu
Jan 31 6pm
$100 + $20 + $25
56
Fri
Feb 1
6pm
$100 + $20 + $100
Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Big Stack Pot Limit Omaha - High (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Modified Shoot Out No Limit Hold’em - Flight A
Modified Shoot Out No Limit Hold’em - Flight B
Modified Shoot Out - Final
Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Seven Card Stud
$100,000 Guaranteed
Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
H.O.R.S.E.
Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Mix-Max No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Seniors (50+) No Limit Hold’em
Omaha H/L 8B
TimeBuy-In
Description
Double Green Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Survivor No Limit Hold’em (~ 1 in 10 wins $2,500)
Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em
Ante Only No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Yellow Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Deep Stack Semi-Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Green Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Yellow Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Double Green Chip Bounty Survivor No Limit Hold’em
(~ 1 in 10 wins $3,000)
Championship Qualifier NLH (~ 1 in 14)
Championship Qualifier NLH Re-Entry (~ 1 in 10)
Super Turbo Survivor NLH (~ 1 in 10 wins $3,500)
Six-Max No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
$200,000 Guaranteed
$100,000 Guaranteed
Big Stack Semi-Turbo No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship
Deep Stack Double Play No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
®
$75,000 Guaranteed
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Event Day Date
qualifier DESCRIPTIONS
$250 + $30 Qualifier for WPT Borgata Winter Poker
Open Championship
cash TOURNAMENTS
Modified Shoot Out Tournament
Players will start with 12,000 in tournament chips. Levels 1-10: will last 20 minutes. Levels
11+: will last 25 minutes. Approximately one (1) in every fourteen (14) players will win a
$3,500 entry to play in event #21 – WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship
($3,300 + $200 NLH). Players may participate in either Day 1A – Sunday, January 27 at
11AM or Day 1B – Monday, January 28 at 11AM.
Tournament will be conducted in a three Round format. Qualifying Rounds (Flight A
and Flight B) are played in shootout format. Shootout format is a multi-table tournament
that consists of nine (9) or ten (10) players to each table. Players play only against other
players at their table. Final two (2) players from each table advance to Final Round. The
format for the Final Round is traditional multi-table tournament. ONLY players advancing
from Qualifying Rounds may participate in the Final Round. All players reaching Final
Round will be paid.
Open Championship
No Limit Hold’em Tournaments
Players will start with 12,000 in tournament chips. Levels will last 25 minutes. Approximately
one (1) in every ten (10) players will win a $3,500 entry to play in event #21 – WPT Borgata
Winter Poker Open Championship ($3,300 + $200 NLH). Players may participate in
either Day 1A – Sunday, January 27 at 11AM or Day 1B – Monday, January 28 at 11AM.
Open Championship
Players will start with 15,000 in tournament chips. Levels will last 30 minutes. Approximately
one (1) in every seven (7) players will win a $3,500 entry to play in event #21 – WPT
Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship ($3,300 + $200 NLH). Players may
participate in either Day 1A – Sunday, January 27 at 11AM or Day 1B – Monday,
January 28 at 11AM.
Open Championship
Players will start with 15,000 in tournament chips. Levels 1-10: will last 30 minutes. Levels
11+: will last 40 minutes. Approximately one (1) in every five (5) players will win a $3,500
entry to play in event #21 – WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship ($3,300 +
$200 NLH). Players may participate in either Day 1A – Sunday, January 27 at 11AM or Day
1B – Monday, January 28 at 11AM.
Secondary cash No Limit Hold’em events starting at 3pm or later each day during
tournament series.
Re-Entry Tournaments
Re-Entry tournaments are cash tournaments which allow players that “bust” during a
specified time period to Re-Enter through the end of the designated Level.
Bounty Tournaments
Bounty tournaments are No Limit Hold’em events. Players must have their Bounty Chip
clearly displayed on the table (not co-mingled in tournament chip stack) in order to
remain active in tournament. Players that cannot produce their Bounty Chip will be
disqualified from the tournament. Eliminated players must forfeit their Bounty Chip to the
player who eliminated them.
During Borgata Winter Poker Open events, players must purchase Bounty Chips on the
Casino Floor or from the Chip Cart in the Event Center.
Survivor Tournaments
Survivor tournaments are multi-table cash tournaments where approximately one in
every ten players wins ten (10) times the buy-in.
• Page 8 •
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Example: 105 players enter a $300 + $40 Survivor tournament. Ten players would receive
$3,000 cash package via a Winner’s Letter. The eleventh place finisher would receive the
remaining balance via a Winner’s Letter.
SIT-n-go tournament information
All Sit-N-Go tournaments will be held in the Event Center. All winners will be paid in cash.
DATES AND TIMES
Sit-N-Go Tournaments will be conducted on a 24-hour basis.*
REGISTRATION
Names will be placed on a list at the tournament podium in the Event Center. A game will
be called once there are ten (10) names on a list and a table is available. Players will be
required to pay and draw for their seats at the table, sign a Tournament Entry Form, and
have a My Borgata Card to play.
sit-n-go tournament information
$1,000 + $60 SIT-N-GO TOURNAMENT
1st Place – $6,000
2nd Place – $3,000
3rd Place – $1,000
Players receive 10,000 in tournament chips. Levels last 25 minutes.
$500 + $40 SIT-N-GO TOURNAMENT
1st Place – $3,000
PRIZE
2nd Place – $1,500
All Sit-N-Go Tournament winners will be paid in cash. Prizes are dependent on which
Sit-N-Go Tournament event a player enters.
3rd Place – $500
SIT-N-GO TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE
LevelAnteBlinds
1st Level
–
25–50
2nd Level
–
50–100
3rd Level
–
100–200
4th Level
50
200–400
5th Level
75
300–600
6th Level
75
400–800
7th Level
100
500–1,000
8th Level
200
600–1,200
9th Level
200
800–1,600
10th Level
300
1,000–2,000
11th Level
300
1,500–3,000
12th Level
400
2,000–4,000
13th Level
500
3,000–6,000
14th Level
500
4,000–8,000
15th Level
1,000
5,000–10,000
16th Level
2,000
6,000–12,000
17th Level
2,000
8,000–16,000
18th Level
By Director
1st Place – $3,500
1st Place – $1,500
2nd Place – $600
3rd Place – $400
1st Place – $700
2nd Place – $300
• Page 10 •
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All decisions by Tournament Director or Tournament Floor are final and without recourse.
Management reserves the right to alter, change or cancel this event without prior notice.
*During a specific time frame(s), Borgata management reserves the right to suspend Sit-N-Go tournaments at their
discretion and without prior notice.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City
offers an unparalleled travel experience on
the East Coast.
Since its ground-breaking opening in 2003, Borgata has been the clear leader in
Atlantic City and has furthered the market’s evolution toward becoming a multidimensional travel destination on the East Coast. Offering 2,800 hotel rooms at
Borgata and The Water Club, the casino-hotel presents a destination designed to
rival those once found only in cities such as New York and Las Vegas. Borgata’s
unique brand of hospitality exudes from every detail, all with the guest’s ultimate
travel experience in mind.
The resort offers world-class entertainment, alluring nightlife, acclaimed chefs
and restaurants, 160,000 square-feet of gaming space and the finest in hospitality,
including The Water Club, the city’s first cosmopolitan-lifestyle hotel. Borgata offers
guests the unique experience of being in the center of it all.
fine dining
Borgata invites you to take advantage of our
world-class amenities, including two styles of
dining – fine and casual.
Borgata offers a wide array of restaurants and world-renowned chefs under one roof. In
fact, some of the most famous names in the culinary world call Borgata home, including
Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck. It’s the only place you’ll find unique Italian dining at
Fornelletto by Chef Stephan Kalt. Or find the venerable Old Homestead – a classic New
York steakhouse from the Sherry brothers. And don’t miss Izakaya, Michael Schulson’s
modern Japanese pub.
Along with an extensive wine collection of over 40,000 vintages, Borgata offers guests a
one-of-a-kind culinary experience on the East Coast.
• Page 12 •
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borgata overview
fine dining
casual dining
Deliciousness without a dress code.
Specializing in the 4 food groups: beef, beef, beef, and beef. The
Atlantic City outpost of the legendary New York City landmark
presented by the Sherry brothers.
Cuisine Classic Steak House
Borgata offers a variety of casual, Yet upscale dining restaurants.
Offering contemporary and classic American foods, complete
with an oyster and gelato bar, with the charm of a French bistro.
Enticing Japanese cuisine in an alluring social scene. The modern
Japanese pub offers extraordinary sushi, sake and robatayaki served
in a sensual, yet contemporary atmosphere.
Cuisine Modern Japanese
BOR_3978_BandBRectangle.pdf
Classic, steakhouse fare, prepared with Bobby Flay’s unique grilling
techniques. His avant-garde touch is apparent on the variety of
regional steaks – each prepared with a distinctive rub.
Cuisine Steak
The East Coast debut of a culinary legend. Wolfgang Puck represents
the ultimate in the culinary arts and restaurant hospitality. Enjoy
contemporary American cuisine in two distinctive dining areas, The
Tavern and Main Dining Room.
Cuisine Classic American
Robust authentic Italian cuisine inspired by the Southern regions of
Italy. Delight in appetizers at the wine bar or enjoy a robust authentic
Italian meal with chef Stephen Kalt’s approachable menu.
Cuisine Modern Italian Cooking
For reservations, dial x3883 from any house phone.
A dazzling assortment of delicacies await, from hearty entrees to
tempting desserts.
1/20/06
11:39:17 AM
Savor a feast from the Far East – Thai, Japanese, Chinese,
Korean dishes.
A fast-casual café that serves thin-crust Neapolitan pizza,
handmade pasta, perfectly grilled Panini, fresh salads, aromatic
espresso and delicious Italian pastries. Open for breakfast
through late night.
Offers griddled sandwiches along side premiere coffees and
scrumptious desserts.
An upscale food court that offers seven quick-service options:
Lettuce Head, Tony Luke’s, Hibachi San, Ben + Jerry’s, Villa Pizza,
Panda Express and Fatburger.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso beverages and
complements like biscotti and muffins – along with other
coffee-related merchandise.
EXCLUSIVE OFFERs
Tournament participants enjoy:
• 15% off Roma, the Metropolitan, Bread+Butter, Borgata Buffet, Tony Luke’s and
Lettuce Head (Sunday–Saturday)
• 15% off Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Fornelletto and Izakaya (Sunday–Friday)
• Page 14 •
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See page 5 for more details.
bars & nightlife
upcoming nightlife events
B Bar is at the center of it all, and it goes all night. Located on the
casino floor, it is buzzing with energy and music. Enter a haven for
relaxation, rejuvenation and liquid refreshment. Send a drink to a
stranger. Ask someone new to dance. Repeat as necessary.
It starts with the East Coast's widest selection of tequila. Then it
goes to fabulous live entertainment, great music and ice cold
beer. And it usually ends up at tequila again.
Some spaces just feel “right.” When you need a place that’s as
comfortable as good conversation, Long Bar is it. Your evening
at Borgata may start here. And it might just end here. Like your
favorite city bar, a great place to catch the game or simply enjoy
a drink, it has the atmosphere to match any occasion.
MIXX is Borgata’s high energy, city-inspired party featuring all
of the world’s top DJs. When the lights go down and the music
comes up, your inhibitions disappear.
The buzz is all about mur.mur, our sexy and sensual club where
innuendo is the standard M.O. mur.mur features our signature
bottle service.
mur.mur
1/18 Fri
1/19 Sat
1/21 Mon
1/25 Fri
1/26 Sat
1/28Mon
1/1
Fri
MIXX
Eli Escobar
Eric Cubeechee
DJ Ruckus
Eli Escobar
Jesse Marco
D-Nice
Eli Escobar
1/19 Sat
1/20Sun
1/26 Sat
Sky Nellor
Diplo
Sky Blu
Gypsy Bar
1/16
1/17
1/18
1/18
1/19
1/19
1/20
1/23
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Fri
Sat
Sat
Sun
Wed
LauraLea Duo
9pm
Goodman Fiske
10pm
Trippin Carla
7pm
Steal The Sky
11pm
Dangerous New Highs7pm
The Rockets
11pm
Amish Outlaws
8:30pm
Eric & Coop
9pm
GET BORGATA NIGHTLIFE OFFERS
TEXT BCLUB TO 56242
1/24 Thurs
1/25Fri
1/25 Fri 1/26Sat
1/26 Sat
1/27 Sun
1/30 Wed
1/31 Thurs
Goodman Fiske 10pm
Karma
7pm
Lost In Paris
11pm
GenerationNext 7pm
The Rockets
11pm
Big Bang Baby
8:30pm
John McNutt Duo 9pm
Goodman Fiske 10pm
For table service at MIXX
or mur.mur call 609.317.1000.
• Page 16 •
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Lineup subject to change. Receive up to 8 msgs/month. Text HELP 4 help. Text STOP 2 stop msgs. Standard msg
& data rates apply. Privacy Policy: theborgata.com. Dress appropriately. Borgata reminds everyone to party
responsibly. Must be 21 or older.
entertainment
spas
Borgata is home to the biggest names in entertainment today from Neil Young,
Jerry Seinfeld, Russell Brand, Jay-Z, Rihanna, The Beach Boys and more. The greatest
acts in entertainment are waiting to perform for you.
At the Borgata Comedy Club, enjoy the most renowned comics on the circuit –
some famous, some soon-to-be. Stop by a show at The Music Box for a few laughs in
between games.
SPA TOCCARE
AFROJACK
AOKI
Spa Toccare is a 54,000 square-foot spa offering relaxing treatments guaranteed to
exhilarate. Dedicated to undoing the effects of one’s day, Spa Toccare truly introduced
the spa experience to Atlantic City with 31 treatment rooms, men’s and women’s lounges,
full-service salon, barbershop, and 4,000 square-foot fitness center – The Pump Room.
ARTIE
LANGE
DUKES OF
EARTH,
SEPTEMBER WIND & FIRE
GEORGE
LOPEZ
JOAN
RIVERS
JAMES
TAYLOR
JAY
LENO
KEVIN
JAMES
JOHN
OATES
MARGARET
CHO
JERRY
SEINFELD
PITBULL
ROGER
HODGSON
SANTANA
STEVE
WINWOOD
The BarberShop
This monument to masculinity offers everything from executive manicures, pedicures,
professional haircuts, and shaves with a real straight razor. And of course, billiards and
wide-screen sports.
The Pump Room
Want a little workout? No sweat. Hit the Pump Room, Borgata’s hi-tech fitness center.
Each cardio station is equipped with a personal viewing screen which offers a wide
array of entertainment options. It’s the perfect place to flex a little muscle.
Immersion Spa at The Water Club
Immersion Spa is a globally-inspired, 36,000 square-foot sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling
windows; 180 degree ocean views; a 25 yard infinity-edge lap pool; 16 experience rooms;
a 1,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center with TechnoGym equipment; and
gourmet spa menu by Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Experience a wide variety of spa
services, including ayurvedic therapies, conditioning body wraps, and scrubs.
EXCLUSIVE OFFERs
THE
JACKSONS
1.866.900.4TIX (4849)
tickets available at theborgata.com
TONY
ORLANDO
TRAIN
• $50 Fitness Pass Package for Spa Toccare (7-day access)
• $30 Day Pass to Spa Toccare Men’s or Women’s spa (includes use of spa lounge,
whirlpools, steam room, sauna, locker and use of Pump Room)
• $20 Ladies Manicure (valid 1/21–2/1/2013)
See page 5 for more details.
• Page 18 •
• Page 19 •
Lineup subject to change.
retail
retail
• Page 20 •
• Page 21 •
Shopping at Borgata and The Water Club offers a range of necessities and luxuries,
from stunning jewelry and handbags to all the latest fashion trends. Gift cards are also
available or visit shopBORGATA.com, where you can purchase signature Borgata items
from the comfort of your home.
POKER LIVE ACTION
Snow in the air.
Ice in your
veins.
After three highly successful years, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
kicked off its fourth year in 2006 with an expanded poker program
and by adding Borgata’s Winter Poker Open series to its offering.
Whatever your limit, you’ll find it in the Borgata Poker Room. All variations of Texas Hold’Em,
Seven-Card Stud and Omaha are offered. Whether you’re playing in one of our signature
tournament events or playing live action, you’ll find your game fast. Pull up one of our
comfortable chairs, order a beverage, and get into your game. Between hands, catch
some scores on the 70 plasma televisions throughout the room.
The success of the tournament series continued, and Borgata Winter Poker Open
Championships were awarded to Steven Weinstein (2009), Jeff Madsen (2010), Vadim
Shlez (2011) and Joshua Mancuso (2012).
This year – the eighth annual January tournament series, Borgata welcomes back the
World Poker Tour for the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship event.
• Page 22 •
• Page 23 •
“Best Poker Room on the East Coast”– Bluff Magazine
The January tournament series immediately beat back the winter odds and established
a special niche on the poker calendar. For the first three years of existence, Borgata
and the World Poker Tour ® (WPT) partnered on a televised championship event. The
inaugural WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open championship went to Michael “The Grinder”
Mizrachi, who took a better than $1.17 million, outlasting a 381-player field. Joining
Mizrachi as WPT Borgata Winter Open Champions are John Hennigan (2007) and Gavin
Griffin (2008).
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
JOSHUA MANCUSO • 2012
VADIM SHLEZ • 2011
Jan 29–Feb 3, 2012 | Entries: 734 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize Pool: $2,422,200
Jan 30–Feb 4, 2011 | Entries: 718 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize Pool: $2,369,400
Joshua Mancuso $542,771
Jeffrey Papola $315,837
Marc Goldman $193,012
Vadim Shlez $533,210
Leonard J Sande, III $310,273
Trevor Savage $189,611
For online poker veteran Josh Mancuso
(New Orleans), the 2012 Borgata Winter
Poker Open Championship will start off his
breakout year in live tournament play. Like
so many pros, Mancuso’s best big cash
in a live tournament came at a Borgata
Poker Open. In 2010, Mancuso busted in
17th place ($14,712) at the hands of Tom
Marchese (3rd place).
However, in 2012, Mancuso’s year
will be filled with tournament cashes,
including a better than $24,000 cash at
the WSOP along with his $542,771 cash
here, which propelled his live tournament
winnings close to his online winnings
(over $900,000).
Mancuso, who re-entered the Double Play
Championship, didn’t put his tournament
life on the line too often the second time
through, as he hit the cards when he
needed. The final table was tight, with
Mancuso becoming short-stacked after
starting the final day third in chips. But a
set of three’s enabled him to double up
against Marc Goldman (3rd), leaving
Mancuso in a showdown with WSOP
bracelet holder Jeff Papola (2nd). Again
a draw, in this case a king for a pair
on the final hand, gave Mancuso the
championship.
“It validates my on-line results,” says
Mancuso, who’s online moniker was Dah
Jinerat.“ It really is a different game. Many
players haven’t made the transition to live
play, so to win a live main event is great.”
In the end, Mancuso survived 734 entries
that compiled a better than $2.4 million
prize pool.
Robert Suer $156,286
Gilbert Sacks $126,407
Patrick Carney $103,425
There’s nothing like a Borgata Poker Open
Championship to introduce yourself to the
poker world at large in a big way. Vadim
Shlez of Manalapan NJ, was a six year pro
with only two major tournament cashes
on his record before he found fame at the
2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open.
Shlez survived a marathon final table – at
one point being down to just 11 big blinds
– to take home the championship trophy
and $533,210. The win kick-started his 2011,
which he finished nearing $800,000 in
total winnings. Shlez broke into the poker
world with a 71st place at the 2005 WSOP
Main event, but his first place finish at the
Borgata Winter Poker Open remains his
highest ever cash of his career.
During the event, the Ukrainian-born Shlez
garnered even more attention for his use of
a Siberian rock card protector, a gift from
his girlfriend, Lisichkina, that symbolized
much “more than a card protector.” At
the final table, the top four players traded
chips for four and half hours. The key hand
came when Trevor Savage (Thorofare, NJ)
moved all in with 5–3 off suit, but ran into
Shlez’s pocket kings. “I don’t know how I
came back,” Shlez told us at the time. “At
that point it seemed dim, but I never lost
confidence in my decisions and in myself.”
Shlez eventually found himself with a four
to one chip advantage heads-up with LJ
Sande of New Haven CT. A flopped pair of
aces on the final hand won him the crown.
The Championship even began with 718
players and the field included a dozen
WSOP Bracelet holders including Michael
Mizrachi, Gavin Smith and Vanessa
Selbst. But in the end , Vadim “The Rock”
Shlez had won his first major tournament
championship.
• Page 24 •
• Page 25 •
Nicholas Manfredo $159,088
Christian Iacobellis $128,674
Samuel Bernstein $105,279
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
JEFFREY MADSEN • 2010
STEVEN WEINSTEIN • 2009
Jan 31–Feb 5, 2010 | Entries: 766 | TOTAL BUY-IN: $2,527,800
jan 25–29, 2009 | Entries: 1,017 | total buy-in: $3,051.000
Jeffrey Madsen $625,006
Sirous Jamshidi $367,794
Thomas Marchese $190,027
Steven Weinstein $658,405
Todd Terry $434,767
Robert Merulla $236,452
Plenty of fresh-faced kids have made
a big splash in their first foray into live
tournaments.
Few have done so more impressively
than Jeff Madsen. One month after his
21st birthday, Madsen showed up – and
dominated – the 2006 World Series of Poker.
He reached four final tables, won two
bracelets, took home nearly $1.5 million
and the title of Player of the Year.
However, in poker you’re only as good
as your last win. Madsen arrived at
the 2010 Borgata Winter Poker Open’s
Championship event searching for that
next mountain of winnings.
With 766 participants, Madsen started
taking charge, and by the end of Day 2
he had 880,000 chips, nearly 300,000
more than the next-largest stack. A Day
2 leader almost never emerges as the last
man standing in a five-day tournament.
But not everyone had Madsen’s game.
Madsen made it to Day 4 with the sixthbest stack, and took 3.2 million chips to
the final table, well within sights of chip
leader Sirous Jamshidi (4.75 million), an
accomplished tournament expert from
the Philadelphia suburbs.
It wasn’t a surprise to see the playerfriendly stacks and level times play to the
advantage of the pros, and when Madsen
and Jamshidi hit the felt for a head-tohead showdown, it was clear that these
technicians were going to try to jab each
other into submission instead of going for
the knockout punch.
Madsen used a flurry of small-pot wins
to take an even match and turn it into
a lopsided domination. With Masden
holding a 10-to-1 chip advantage,
Jamshidi pushed with Q-2. Madsen
quickly called with K-10. When a King
hit on the turn, Madsen had the
tournament locked up.
Madsen, like many poker pros, doesn’t
mind the occasional prop bet. Among
Madsen’s prop bets: to wear a jester’s
outfit to a tournament and to have fellow
poker pro Gavin Smith’s face tattooed on
him after getting eliminated before Smith
in a tourney.
Robert McLaughlin $205,942
Michael Contessa $175,432
Franklin Caldwell $144,922
When the 2009 Borgata Winter Poker Open
moved to a $3,200 buy-in, keeping with its
signature starting chip stack and structure,
the main-event field more than doubled
and an already high level of action only
got better.
And that made Steve Weinstein’s
journey through 1,016 other players all
the more impressive.
Weinstein, a resident of a sleepy hamlet
amid the Catskills, was anything but
somnolent at the final table. In fact, his
awakening when the tournament became
a head-to-head battle between him and
Todd Terry gave Borgata’s Winter Poker
Open its best comeback tale.
After losing more than 6.5 million in chips
on one of the first hands of the heads-up
showdown, Weinstein’s stack was dwarfed
by Terry’s 7-to-1 advantage. But Weinstein
won a couple of modest hands, then
doubled up when his top pair held up
against Terry’s flush draw. After whittling
away more and taking a slight lead in
chips, Weinstein found A-10 in his lap when
Terry made an all-in move before the flop.
Weinstein, a highly successful online player
who bucks the trend of 20–somethings
dominating Internet action, called and
had a huge edge over Terry’s Q-10. An
Ace dropped on the flop and another on
the turn, and when the King Terry needed
for a survival straight didn’t come on the
river Weinstein had won nearly 10 times
as much as his previous top cash in a live
tournament – an 11th-place showing in the
2007 Borgata Poker Open main event that
had dropped $70,616 into his bankroll.
While Weinstein might be considered an
old man in the online poker realm, he was
a wunderkind in another game in the early
1980s: Bridge. In 1981 the then-18-year-old
Weinstein won the National Life Master Pair
title to become the youngest champ in the
card tournament’s long history. Weinstein
remains a highly respected Bridge master
and has thrived as that game has gained
online popluarity.
• Page 26 •
• Page 27 •
Jonathan Hamilton $165,508
Nicholas Kamen $140,988
Al Grimes $116,468
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
JOHN HENNIGAN • 2007
Jan 27–31, 2008 | Entries: 507 | total buy-in: $4,917,900
Gavin Griffin $1,401,109
David Tran $737,685
Thomas Hare $381,137
®
Noah Schwartz $331,958
Lee Watkinson $282,779
Ervin Prifti $233,600
There are two poker players on the planet
who can claim ownership to a World Poker
Tour, European Poker Tour and World Series
of Poker bracelet. Gavin Griffin was the first
to secure this holy trinity of poker jewelry.
Griffin started with the WSOP bracelet
when he took down a Pot-Limit Hold ‘Em
event in 2004. At the time the 22-year
pokold who groomed his skills online was
the youngest bracelet winner in the WSOP.
Less than three years later, Griffin earned
his EPT bling with a victory in that tour’s
Grand Final, his first seven figure cash. That
left Griffin seeking a WPT win for the trifecta,
and it took him just nine months to get it.
Griffin and five other players outlasted 501
others to reach the final six. Griffin and
experienced cash player David Tran had
nearly identical stacks entering the final
six, while the only other seasoned pro, Lee
Watkinson, was severely short-stacked. In
this rare instance, the two largest stacks
with six players remaining made it to a
head-to-head showdown, and Tran held
a modest chip lead. It didn’t take long for
an all-in, pre-flop showdown to occur, as
Griffin was dealt A-Q and Tran went for
the kill with a pair of 9s. However, a Queen
hit on the flop and Griffin’s hand held up,
giving him a massive, 7-1 chip advantage.
Although Tran narrowed the gap when his
10-6 outraced Griffin’s A-K, Griffin turned
the tables when he called an all-in with
his underdog Q-J hand against Tran’s K-8.
A river Queen showed up and with that
Griffin completed poker’s Triple Crown.
When Griffin won his EPT title, his hair
was dyed bright pink in order to raise
awareness to breast cancer after his
then-girlfriend Kristen fought and beat the
disease. Gavin and Kristen were married
last summer and continue to do charitable
work in the fight against breast cancer.
Jan 26–30, 2007 | entries: 571 | total buy-in: $5,538,700
John Hennigan $1,606,223
Charles Kelley $849,082
John Gale $443,096
®
Joseph Simmons $387,709
Michael Sukonik $332,322
Jon James $276,935
While there have been scores of poker
professionals who have become
household names and familiar faces
through television appearances and
partnerships with online poker sites, there
is another collection that tends to avoid
the spotlight and prefers to keep an air of
mystery around them. Philly native Johnny
“World” Hennigan enjoys staying in that
latter realm.
He got an early start to competitive
gaming as a masterful billiards shark
and gradually turned his focus toward
poker – building a reputation as one of
the best all-around players in the game.
Mostly a cash game player, Hennigan’s
biggest tournament success came when
he returned to his East Coast stomping
grounds to play in the 2007 Borgata Winter
Poker Open.
Hennigan reached the televised portion
of the tournament third in chips, but he
picked up a boost when he took down a
huge hand against his main rival, English
pro John Gale, by hitting the nut flush to
better Gale’s King-high flush.
From there Hennigan never relinquished
the chip lead. In a head-to-head battle
with Chuck Kelley, the tournament had
what easily was the strangest conclusion
to a major Borgata event. With the
board showing 7-3-3-A, a confused
Kelley exposed his Q-7 hand, believing
Hennigan’s call of his bet came on the
river and not the turn. With a card to come,
Hennigan was able to bet after a third 3
appeared on the river knowing Kelley’s
cards and shoved all-in. Kelley, forced
to decide whether Johnny World was
posturing or actually had an Ace, made
the call. Hennigan showed the Ace and
collected largest tournament purse of
his career.
While the 2007 movie “Lucky You” had
dozens of pro poker players making
appearances as themselves, Hennigan
was cast in the role of Ralph Kaczynski,
a Philadelphian at the final table of
the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Hennigan’s character finished fourth
(Hennigan’s top finish in the WSOP Main
Event was a 19th-place in 1999).
• Page 28 •
• Page 29 •
GAVIN GRIFFIN • 2008
CHAMPION PROFILES
BORGATA SPRING POKER OPEN
MICHAEL MIZRACHI • 2006
Jan 29 – Feb 3, 2006 | Entries: 381 | total buy-in: $3,695,700
Amnon Filippi $184,785
Josh Spiegelman $147,828
Stuart Paterson $110,871
Few players have had as decorated
a tournament record as Mizrachi,
and that was the case even before
his huge showing at the 2010 World
Series of Poker, where he took down the
$50,000 Poker Player’s Championship,
then survived a massive field of 7,319 to
reach the final table in the WSOP Main
Event (finishing 5th). Those seven-figure
cashes highlighted a WSOP during which
Mizrachi walked away with more than
$4 million in winnings.
To find the last time Mizrachi walked
away with a tournament win that netted
him a seven-figure payday, go back
to the inaugural Borgata Winter Poker
Open. Mizrachi capped a furious, yearlong run of success by conquering a
381-player field to take the $1,173,373 first
place check. Mizrachi was second in
chips when the final six players went to
the televised portion of the event, but was
against the ropes when he went headto-head with a pair of 4’s against chip
leader Erick Lindgren’s A-Q and a Queen
hit on the flop. However, destiny dropped
one of the remaining 4s on the river, a
card that saved Mizrachi from elimination
and started his final push to the title.
Going head-to-head against Atlantic
City native John D’Agostino, Mizrachi
used aggression to take a solid chip
lead, then hit the jackpot when his J-6 hit
a flop for two pair and D’Agostino went
for broke on the turn having only a gutshot straight draw. The four-outer didn’t
hit, giving Mizrachi the Borgata Winter
Poker Open title and establishing him as
one of the elite young professionals in the
poker world.
Michael and his older brother Robert
made a habit of thriving in tandem
during the two biggest WSOP events in
2010. While Michael won the revered
Poker Player’s Championship title, Robert
finished an impressive fifth. And while
Michael survived the massive WSOP
Main Event field to reach the final table,
Robert also had an impressive effort,
finishing 116th and taking home $57,102.
Deciding to leave no season untouched by a poker open, Borgata
Hotel Casino & Spa added Borgata’s Spring Poker Open series to
its calendar in April 2010. The three-week schedule of tournaments
matched its Borgata Poker Open predecessors and gave Atlantic
City truly year-round poker excitement of major poker events in the
premier poker destination on the east coast.
Alexander Queen was the first Borgata Spring Poker Open champion, taking home
$355,000 from a field of 383. He was followed in 2011 from local Russell Crane and in
2012 by Jia Liu.
Borgata’s Spring Poker Open, held in the Poker Room and The Signature Room, continues
to grow in popularity as more players mark it on their schedule.
• Page 30 •
• Page 31 •
Michael Mizrachi $1,173,373
John D’Agostino $591,312
Erick Lindgren $282,721
®
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
Jia Liu • 2012
Russell Crane • 2011
april 15–19, 2012 | Entries: 520 | $2,500 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,300,000
April 24–27, 2011 | Entries: 447 | $2,500 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,117,500
Jia Liu $312,483
Lawrence Abrams $175,700
Ruslan Dykshteyn $112,950
Russell Crane $276,949
Adam Cook $159,886
Aleksandr Bolotin $97,558
Robert Pardo $89,733
Cameron Cornell $70,280
Chad Batista $57,730
David Stefanski $78,588
Jason Deutsch $61,787
Adam Levitan $51,489
Jia Liu, 2012 Borgata Spring Poker Open
Throughout the tournament, Liu had
If you’ve ever debated where the best
In the 2011 Championship event, Crane
Champion, has a story that nearly all
faced a number of short-stack situations,
young poker players on the East Coast
outlasted a field of 447 entries in the
poker players can relate to in winning his
including after Day 1. But he kept his head
can be found, then Russell Crane, 2011
second ever Borgata Spring Poker Open,
first major poker championship. Yes, you
and patiently grinded it out to actually
Borgata Spring Poker Open Champion, is
and needed only two hands heads-up
have to win some critical pots to take the
have a healthy chip lead at the final table.
the perfect example of why most would
to win the championship. In a battle of
title. But sometime it’s a critical laydown
But that chip lead evaporated and it was
answer “Borgata.”
pocket pairs, Crane’s queens bested the
that wins you the championship. The then
plays like his aces laydown that eventually
25-year-old Liu, of Brooklyn, found himself
netted him the $312,000 first prize and
in a critical hand with Larry Abrams of
the championship trophy. After the win,
Mahwah NJ, the eventual runner-up.
Liu, who calls himself a part time player,
Though Liu had been short stacked when
managed a pretty impressive showing
the two began heads-up play, he had
for the rest of 2012 – including five cashes
pulled even in chips when he was dealt
at the 2012 WSOP and one at the 2012
pocket aces. Slow playing them, Liu
Borgata Poker Open.
decided to lay them down after Abrams
bet the river. Abrams would show a full
house. “That was a scary hand. I should
have been all in,” stated Liu. “But I didn’t
make the mistake. I don’t know. I was
Crane, in his early 20s, has amassed
$880,000 in 18 live tournament cashes
(matching nearly his $1 Million in online
cashes). Of his 18 live tournament cashes,
eight have come at Borgata. Two of his
first place finishes also came at Borgata,
including his $276,949 win at the 2011
Borgata Spring Poker Open, which
Like so many rising poker players, he points
preceded his $148,000 win at a Borgata
to a Borgata event, the 2012 Borgata
Deep Stack tournament in August 2011.
Spring Poker Open championship, as his
greatest accomplishment.
nines of second place finisher Adam Cook,
who faced a two-to-one disadvantage
in chips to Crane. The field for the event
featured the recognizable names of Kathy
Liebert, Maria Ho, Jason Young, Lee Childs
and “Hollywood” Dave Stann, to name a
few – but again, a Borgata Poker Open
championship went to a rising young
gun from New Jersey. Responding to the
excitement of the Borgata crowd, Crane
stated, “It felt great to have a lot of people
from my home state supporting me.”
• Page 32 •
• Page 33 •
just amazed.”
CHAMPION PROFILES
borgata Summer Poker open
alexander queen • 2010
April 25–30, 2010 | Entries: 383 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,263,900
Alexander Queen $355,535
Jason Min $205,965
Daniel Hindin $101,756
Mickael Morgousky $85,818
Michael Somma $73,558
Matthew Waxman $61,299
The inaugural Borgata Spring Poker Open
in chips, which left him last in chips with
tournament series added yet another
27 remaining players. “I just played my
major poker event to Borgata’s poker
game,” Queen said after the win. “I know
schedule and provided a solid foundation
how to play short stack poker. I kept
for growth of seasonal poker opens. But it
winning pots and then once I got to the
also added more juice to an established
final table I just chipped up and that’s all
trend. The East Coast’s rising poker pros
she wrote.”
continue to shine in the Borgata spotlight.
But it was hardly all she wrote for Queen,
Alex Queen of Bethlehem, PA, won
who has now amassed a record of better
the first Borgata Spring Poker Open
than $837,000 in live tournament wins
championship, first place prize money
added to more than $600,000 in online
of $355,535 and a championship bracelet
winnings. His most recent cash came
after outlasting a field of 383 for the
during the 2012 Borgata Fall Poker Open
$3,500 buy-in tournament.
series. His only other first place came at
Getting there wasn’t easy. Entering the
final days of the tournament, Queen found
himself short-stacked with about 100,000
the 2011 Borgata Fall Poker Open, when
he won $111,000 in the Heads Up No Limit
Hold’em tournament.
Ah summer.
Time to come to
the beach
and wear your
shades indoors.
With the major expansion of Borgata’s Poker Room completed
in June 2006, Borgata christened its new 85-table room with the
inaugural Borgata Summer Poker Open tournament series, the
second major poker event added that year. Right from the start,
the summer series became a proving ground for East Coast
players and a miracle maker for amateur players.
The first Borgata Summer Poker Open Champion was Atlantic City-based Carmine Tirone,
who received his highest recorded cash of $267,000. The other six champions include
Balint Barta (2007), Allen Bari (2008), Anthony D’Amato (2009), Billy O’Neil (2010), Tyng
Low (2011) and Melad Marji (2012).
• Page 34 •
• Page 35 •
Held during a crowded time on the poker calendar, Borgata’s Summer Poker Open series
has remained a haven for amateurs and burgeoning pros alike.
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
melad margi • 2012
tyng low • 2011
June 17–21, 2012 | Entries: 305 | $2,500 + $200 | Prize Pool: $762,500
Melad Marji $198,078
Michael Marder $110,044
Yat Cheng $68,227
Tyng Low $211,484
Farid Jattin $117,481
Austen Johnson $72,845
Anthony Maio $55,022
Vitaly Kovyazin $42,550
Michael Melkersen $35,948
Andrew Klein $58,746
Brian Altman $45,430
Nikolaos Frangos $38,380
Borgata Poker Opens attract a strong
championship prize pool. Margi’s run
Tyng Low may hail from Flushing, NY, but
The championship event attracted 323
contingent of regional and New Jersey-
at the final table capped a tournament
his tournament record proves he’s an
players and a total buy-in of $807,500. On
where he often saw good hands cracked.
Atlantic City guy and a Borgata regular.
the final day, thirty-six players were still at
validation for the local talent when
He missed out on the Day 1 chip leader
The 2011 Borgata Summer Poker Open
the tables and Farid Jatten of Miami held
Atlantic City’s own, Melad Marji took
bonus when his pocket aces went down
champion Low has seen seven of his 10
the chip lead, which he had most of the
the 2012 Borgata Summer Poker Open
to a flush in one of the last hands of the
recorded tournament cashes in Atlantic
day and was pushing most of the action.
championship trophy and cash prize of
day. In the end, a couple of “coin flips”
City – with six of those at Borgata. His
Low hung in as other players hit the rail.
$198,078. It was the seventh cash of Marji’s
which went his way would net him the
$211,484 win at the 2011 Borgata Summer
After a long day, Low finally faced Jatten
young career (he was 23 at the time) and
championship trophy. Marji’s pocket fives
Poker Open is his only first place finish and
heads-up. On the final hand, Low flopped
his only first place win to date. Most of his
sent Borgata regular Tony Cheng (holding
by far his biggest tournament cash thus
a straight. Despite hitting top pair and a
far. “It means a lot,” said Low after the
flush draw, Jatten couldn’t best Low’s hand
remaining cashes have come at Borgata
ace, queen) to the rail for third place
win. “I’ve been trying to hit one like this
and the championship was decided. “I
events, bringing his total winnings to
and on the final hand, Marji went in with
for five years.”
didn’t think I could get this far,” Low said.
approximately $233,000.
ace, queen against the pocket sevens of
“I didn’t think my luck was that good.”
Michael Marder of Sewell NJ. Marji flopped
Apparently, it was.
Margi outlasted a field of 305 entries and
staked his claim to part of the $762,500
a queen and took the championship.
• Page 36 •
• Page 37 •
based players. So there was a certain
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
William o’neil • 2010
anthony d’amato • 2009
June 28–30, 2009 | Entries: 415 | $3,000 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,245,000
William O’Neil $180,595
Mirza Nagji $104,620
Todd Geddis $51,687
Anthony D’Amato $356,319
Michael Walls $192,975
Charles Marchese $99,600
Michael Melkersen $43,592
Steven Curtin $37,364
John Borzio $31,137
Robert Pyne $87,150
Adam Gerber $74,700
Dennis Summers, Jr. $62,250
All poker players dream of that one big
O’Neil was one of many regulars in the
Philadelphian Anthony D’Amato outlasted
final three by nearly five to one. A timely
win in tournament play - that one time
field, “It’s nice when somebody who
one of the Borgata Summer Poker Open’s
king on the turn allowed him to double up
you break through and play with the big
plays here regularly wins any of these
largest fields of 415 players and took home
on Marchese and then an ace holds up
boys. For William O’Neil, of College Park
tournaments...because they’re local and
the championship trophy.
to send Marchese out. Heads-up against
MD, that dream came true when he won
they play in the games, maybe they’ll step
up a little, play higher (limits).” Luck wasn’t
Championship and a payday of $180,595.
apparent at the final table as O’Neil took
His next highest cash is a 36th place in
out six of his eight opponents. Playing
the 2011 Borgata Fall Poker Open at just
heads-up with Mirza Nagji of New York
under $8,000.
on a board of Q J 4 2 J, O’Neil bet 700k
continues the series’ trend of rewarding
burgeoning players and Borgata regulars
with their first big win. “I got real lucky, what
can I say?” asked O’Neil after the win, but
in truth it was smart play that gained him
first place and the trophy. The event drew
321 players and a prize pool of $642,000.
and Nagji called. O’Neil turned over 6-6
for the winner as Nagji mucked his hand
and lost the 2 million chip pot. “That hand
place. There is no other casino that offers
a structure like this on the East Coast,”
Walls, the first hand decided it. Again a
miracle draw decided it as a six on the
river gave D’Amato a full house.
said D’Amato. The $356,319 Borgata win
After a couple years without any official
remains D’Amato’s biggest cash to date.
tournament cashes, D’Amato re-emerged
D’Amato had to fend off players Charles
in 2012 on the tournament grind with a
Marchese and chip leader Mike Walls
couple of cashes.
despite being shortstacked going into the
gave me a lot of momentum,” said O’Neil.
On the final hand O’Neil’s straight was too
much for Nagji. After the win, O’Neil fielded
a steady stream of congratulations from
Borgata regulars. One of their own had just
taken a Borgata Poker Open title.
• Page 38 •
• Page 39 •
The 2010 Summer Poker Open continued
“Absolutely a blast of a time. I love this
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
allen bari • 2008
balint “andrew” barta • 2007
Allen Bari $500,250
Vineet Pahuja $289,800
Jeremy Schoenberger $143,175
Balint “Andrew” Barta $513,925
Paul McCaffrey $283,080
Hoa Minh Nguyen $137,327
Alex Nepomnyaschiy $120,750
Paul Kitsos $103,500
Alan Colon $86,250
Thomas Arrigoni $117,950
Kian Kiarash $101,100
Michael Naidrich $84,250
Allen “Flash” Bari’s current status as an
Summer Poker Open championship was
Borgata, the premier travel and
$513,925 cash and the winner’s Taj Heuer
accomplished poker star, a WSOP bracelet
by far his most impressive win in his then
entertainment destination on the East
watch. The $5,000 buy-in event drew
holder with more than $2.7 million in
young career. In 2008, the championship
Coast, kicked off the second annual
337 entrants. Barta would cash again at
tournament winnings, hardly puts him
carried a $5,000 buy-in and attracted 345
Borgata Summer Poker Open series with
Borgata opens in 2009, but this 2007 win
in the category of up and coming. He’s
entries. Bari went into the final table with
players from all over the world filling the
is by far the biggest in his nearly $1 Million
here already. But the description fit when
a solid chip lead and eventually took first
poker room and continuing to build
in tournament career winnings. Barta
Bari won the 2008 Borgata Summer
place and the bracelet. It wasn’t the last
the program’s reputation as a leader in
returned to the tournament tables in 2012
Poker Open championship and his first
big score he’d have at Borgata. His next
poker. And as the poker tradition grew,
after a couple of years off the tournament
major cash of $500,250. The half-million
would be a nearly $200,000 cash and
the tradition of young unknowns winning
listings with a 108th place finish in the
dollar first-place prize demonstrated the
a second place finish in a 2009 Borgata
the championship event began to
WSOP Main event. He remains another
“drawing” power of Borgata, as a number
Deep Stack event. With a foundation as a
emerge. Andrew Barta of Clifton NJ was
New Jersey player who broke onto the
of top-flight players put their dreams
Borgata regular, Bari’s career continues
scene at Borgata.
of taking down a World Series of Poker
to build as a top pro. Bari is seen as
champion, taking home first place of
bracelet on hold in Las Vegas to come
one of the most outspoken pros on the
east to play in Borgata’s Summer Poker
circuit. “I have a swagger, but I don’t
Open Championship event.
think it is undeserved,” Bari has said of his
going into the event, many in Atlantic
City and at Borgata, the West Orange
resident’s six-figure win in Borgata’s
reputation. “I’ve been playing poker a
long time and I’ve been working at it. I put
in the hours. I don’t lie, I’m just better than
most people.”
• Page 40 •
• Page 41 •
Though Bari had several previous cashes
CHAMPION PROFILES
Borgata Poker open
Carmine Tirone • 2006
July 17–19, 2006 | Entries: 162 | $5,000 + $200 | Prize Pool: $810,000
Carmine Tirone $267,300
Philip Saracino $141,750
Matt Vitale $81,000
Benedetto Bianco $60,750
Richard Hall $44,550
Steven McLaughlin $36,450
The inaugural Borgata Summer Poker
Tirone, and helped pave the way for
Open served a dual purpose, both
regional players claiming stake in Atlantic
introducing a new tournament series
City’s premier poker room. Tirone has
at Borgata, and christening the new
continued his tournament success at
85-table poker room as part of the
Borgata and other Atlantic City venues.
Borgata expansion. Carmine Tirone
of Manheim, PA, took the first Borgata
Summer Poker Open Championship
title and $267,300 in cash. This is the
highest finish and largest cash ever for
The Borgata Summer Poker Open has
quickly become a haven for Borgata
regulars, amateurs and burgeoning pros.
The $5,000 buy-in tournament drew 162
entrants and a prize pool of $810,000.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and its poker program have
been partners with World Poker Tour ® (WPT) since the casino’s
beginning in Atlantic City, with the inaugural Borgata Poker
Open tournament series commencing weeks after Borgata
opened its doors in 2003 – and has become a staple of WPT’s
television broadcasts.
The first WPT Borgata Poker Open championship was won fittingly by old-school pro
Noli Francisco, who took down a $470,000 cash as he outlasted the 235-player field.
Since then, the series’ signature championship event has honored many champions,
including Daniel Negreanu, Al Ardebili, Mark Newhouse, Roy Winston, Vivek Rajkumar,
Olivier Busquet, Dwyte Pilgrim, Bobby Oboodi, and Benjamin Hamnett.
• Page 42 •
• Page 43 •
Growing steadily through the years, this popular tournament series will be entering
its eleventh year in 2013, and will continue to introduce many burgeoning poker
professionals and recreational players to the premier poker destination on the east
coast. The 2012 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship marked the third consecutive
year of over 1,000 entries for this event (Borgata holds the WPT record with 1,313 entries
in 2011). A record 3,705 entries for the 2012 Borgata Poker Open kick-off event cemented
the series’ status as the premiere poker event on the East Coast.
CHAMPION PROFILES
Benjamin Hamnett • 2012
Bahbak “Bobby” Oboodi
Sept 16–21, 2012 | Entries: 1,181 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize Pool: $3,897,300
Sept 18–23, 2011 | Entries: 1,313 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize Pool: $4,332,900
Benjamin Hamnett $818,847
Matthew Burnitz $488,850
Tyler Patterson $298,950
Ofir Mor $250,065
Steve Brecher $206,821
David Diaz $167,337
The 2012 WPT Borgata Poker Open and
its champion, Ben Hamnett of Pittsburgh
leads to a basic question of whether
winning a Borgata and World Poker Tour
championship means a poker star is
born? Hamnett, described as a semi-pro
who had never cashed for more than
$38,000 (coming in the WSOP main event),
won against a talented field filled with
big-name professionals and former WPT
champions. He took home $818,847 and the
championship trophy.
Like so many pros, most recently Bobby
Oboodi and Dwyte Pilgrim, a Borgata WPT
win can signal a player’s arrival in the big
time. And in Hamnett’s case, the win also
showed the value of perseverance as he
took advantage of the Borgata Double Play
by re-entering the tournament after busting
®
out on Day 1A. In his second run, Hamnett
found himself fifth in chips among the last
six players at final table, but didn’t let that
slow him down. “A lot of people play with
blind aggression and you know if you get
in a hand with them, one of you is going
to go broke. I don’t play like that,” Hamnett
said after his win. “But I try to punish people,
winning a lot of small pots. I want people
to feel like if they get in a hand with me, it’s
not going to be a coin flip.” That strategy
allowed Hamnett to quickly double up on
then chip leader Matt Burnitz (both held
aces, but Hamnett had the better kicker).
He eventually took Burnitz after an hour of
heads-up play for the title with a pair of
queens. For a third consecutive year, the
2012 Borgata Poker Open Championship
drew a field of over one thousand entries.
And once again, it may have created a star.
Bahbak “Bobby” Oboodi $922,441
Jin Hwang $554,303
Daniel Buzgon $335,433
•
2011
Frederick Goldberg $280,925
Darren Elias $230,610
Ricky Hale $186,585
Like many young poker pros, Bahbak
(“Bobby”) Oboodi, 2011 WPT Borgata Poker
Open Champion, has been feeling the
effects of the downfall of online poker in
the U.S. With better than $600,000 in online
winnings, he entered the 2011 Borgata
Poker Open looking to prove himself in live
tournament action. With a World Poker Tour
(WPT) Championship and a $922,441 win,
he accomplished that in a big way.
“When Black Friday hit, I was absolutely
miserable,” he told us. “My live play really
wasn’t what I’d have liked it to be, but the
online play was just always there.” Oboodi
felt a little better about his live play after
outlasting a WPT record field of 1,313 entries.
“I mean that was the biggest field in WPT
history. Just being a part of that, and to win
is amazing.”
®
The 2011 championship final table was wide
open as it featured two satellite qualifiers,
a WSOP bracelet holder (Fred Goldberg)
and three Borgata regulars. Still, Oboodi
of Morris Plains NJ, seemed the hometown
hero despite two other New Jersey players
at the table. Oboodi’s cheering section
was, shall we say, boisterous. Oboodi built a
formidable chip lead sending players to the
rail before going heads-up with amateur Jin
Hwang of Gambrills, MD. Heads-up lasted
only 18 hands. On a critical play, Oboodi hit
a pair of jacks on the turn as his AJ bested
Hwang’s AQ to win a 10 million chip pot and
extend his chip lead. The final blow came
on the next hand when a jack hit the turn
giving Oboodi a flush and Hwang two pairs.
• Page 44 •
• Page 45 •
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
dwyte pilgrim • 2010
olivier busquet • 2009
Sept 18– 23, 2010 | Entrants: 1,042 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize pool: $3,438,600
Sept 19–24, 2009 | Entrants: 1,010 | $3,300 + $200 | Prize pool: $3,359,400
Dwyte Pilgrim $733,802
Kianoosh Mohajeri $440,945
Ofir Mor $266,835
Brandon Novena $223,475
Daniel Makowsky $183,449
Benjamin Klier $148,427
The reigning 2010 WPT Borgata Poker Open
Champion, Dwyte Pilgrim, maintained a
number of trends among Borgata Poker
Open Champions. His $733,802 is the largest
cash of his career; he’s a regular in Atlantic
City and at Borgata events; and his Borgata
Poker Open win put him on the track to
poker stardom.
Pilgrim was a fast-rising star in 2010 with a
growing reputation as a live felt player after
earning a number of WSOP circuit wins.
His total tournament earnings stand at
$1.75 million and he has eight tournament
wins. He’s also had a strong 2011 with over
$250,000 in winnings including cashes at the
Borgata Spring Poker Open and four cashes
at this year’s WSOP.
But just as many Borgata Poker Open
champions can say before him, it’s his WPT
Borgata Poker Open title that stands out as
his best day in poker.
Originally from Brooklyn, Pilgrim started his
career online, but eventually decided only
live play could really hone his skills. That’s
when he left his job and made Atlantic City
his second home, becoming a regular at
city casinos. Pilgrim nurtured his game in
Atlantic City, realizing that he definitely had a
long career ahead of him.
®
His first major tournament was the Borgata
Winter Poker Open in 2008, where he took
a modest $868 cash. From there, Pilgrim’s
name shows up at most major Atlantic City
tournaments until he scored a major win at
the Caesars Atlantic City WSOP Circuit events
in 2009, good for an $83,000 cash. Pilgrim
then embarked on a run of circuit events
that has some calling him the best player
to ever come out of the WSOP circuit. He
eventually amassed 20 circuit wins and more
than $425,000 in winnings.
Pilgrim was no stranger to WPT events during
that time either, scoring some major cashes
at the Southern Poker Championship in early
2010, including two first place finishes.
When Pilgrim entered the 2010 Borgata Poker
Open series, he was a man on a mission,
determined to prove himself on a bigger
stage. A win almost seemed like destiny for
Pilgrim as he outlasted a field of 1,042 for the
championship.
Coining the phrase “Dwyte Pilgrim Shocks
The World,” he found himself heads-up at the
final table with Kia Mohajeri. Boisterous at
the table, it was an entertaining showdown
until on the final hand, betting after the turn,
Pilgrim trapped Mohajeri’s two pair with a
king high straight and took home the eighth
WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship.
Olivier Busquet $925,514
Jeremy Brown $453,519
Ivan Mamuzic $251,955
Yanick Brodeur $216,681
Keith Crowder $188,126
Kenny Nguyen $156,212
The 2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open
Champion, Olivier Busquet, marked another
win for New York-based pros at Borgata and
kept up a trend of the Borgata Poker Open
title being the largest cash of its champion’s
career. The 2009 Borgata Poker Open was
the largest championship field to date and
netted Busquet a $925,000 first-place cash.
Though Busquet only burst onto the live
scene in 2008, he has amassed more
than $2.3 million in tournament winnings
including better than $200,000 in 2011.
Still, The Borgata Poker Open remains
Busquet’s only first place finish in a
recorded live tournament.
Busquet grew up in New York and was
a skilled chess player at an early age,
competing at six years old, and a star
basketball player and in track and field in
high school. A graduate of Cornell University,
Busquet went to work on Wall Street.
His poker career came soon after and
started with online play. Intrigued by the
game after playing (and losing) at a friend’s
house, he started an online career under
the monikers livb112 and Adonis 112.
His presence earned him a reputation
as a focused and relentless competitor,
especially in No Limit forums. Still Busquet
went through a period of building and
losing his bankroll a few times.
®
Busquet also found his poker niche in
heads up and sit and go tournaments,
eventually being considered the first player
to crack $1 million in sit and go games and
a heads-up specialist.
Busquet’s live record started strong with
cashes at the WSOP Main Event in 2008 and
2009, but it was the Borgata Poker Open
Championship that made him a rising star.
His 2009 win was against the then largest
field ever at a WPT event and marked
one of the most amazing comebacks in
WPT history.
While Busquet was the chip leader at
the final table with six players remaining,
strong play from Jeremy Brown, who sent
three of the other four players to the rail,
soon had him with a 20-1 chip advantage
over Busquet.
Avoiding straight and flush draws and
steadily doubling up, Busquet soon found
himself relatively even with Brown. The
two battled it out back and forth until,
on the final hand, Busquet flopped a set
of fours. Brown went all in with an open
ended straight draw, but no help came
and Busquet pulled off the comeback of
a lifetime and won the 2009 Borgata Poker
Open Championship.
• Page 46 •
• Page 47 •
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
Vivek Rajkumar • 2008
Roy Winston • 2007
Sept 14–18, 2008 | Entrants: 516 | $9,600 + $400 | Prize pool: $5,000,000
Vivek Rajkumar $1,424,500
Sang Kim $750,000
Daniel Heimiller $387,500
Jason Strochak $337,500
Mark Seif $287,500
Andrew Knee $237,500
Champion, Vivek Rajkumar, has been
tearing up poker tables around the world
since 2006 – amassing more than $4.35
million in live tournament winnings. But his
biggest tournament win remains his one
WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship.
The $1.425 million prize is still the biggest of
his career and his only cash to top $1 million.
Like many young players, Rajkumar, also
known as “Black Magic,” is known as both
an online force (under the moniker Psyduck)
and for his live play. Born in India and raised
in Singapore, his family moved to the U.S.
when he was 12. By the age of 15 he was
enrolled at The University of Washington,
having skipped middle school, and by 19
he had a degree in applied mathematical
sciences and computer engineering. After
less than a year working as a software
engineer for Microsoft, he decided to play
poker professionally.
He began playing poker at college with
friends ($1 buy-in, blinds five and 10 cents)
and has said he was greatly influenced
to pursue the game after watching Chris
Moneymaker’s historic 2003 WSOP Main
Event win. When he began playing live
®
tables at 21, he was already experienced
and successful online player.
He was a hit from the start in live
tournaments making a WSOP final table
in 2007 and gaining his first major win at
the LA Poker Classic the same year, good
for $113,000.
To date his live winnings of $4.3 million
include more than $1.5 million in 2011.
Rajkumar’s biggest win, however, is still
the 2008 Borgata Poker Open, where he
outlasted a field of 516 players. With an
overwhelming chip lead going into the
final table, Rajkumar needed only 48 hands
to wipe out the competition and take the
title. Players who went to the rail included
Mark Seif, Andrew Knee, Jason Strochak
and Dan Heimiller.
It was Rajkumar’s busting of Seif, where he
hit a full house to Seif’s pocket aces that was
seen to propel him to the victory. Heads-up,
Rajkumar handled Sang Kim in just seven
hands. Rajkumar was actually dominated
ace, queen to ace, and jack on the last
hand but hit a jack on the flop and won the
2008 Borgata Poker Open Championship.
Roy Winston $1,575,280
Heung Yoon $832,725
Haralabos Voulgaris $434,560
Mark Weitzman $380,240
Eugene Todd $325,920
Mike Matusow $271,280
As the 2007 and fifth champion of the WPT
Borgata Poker Open, professional poker
player Roy Winston cemented the Borgata
Poker Open’s status as one of the premiere
poker events in the country with an honor
roll of champions. But like many of the other
name players who won the Borgata Poker
Open before him, Winston’s $1.55 million
win at the Borgata Poker Open remains his
biggest cash to date.
Winston has six cashes in WPT events,
including another first in 2007 at in event at
the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker
Classic, good for $230,000.
Winston has medical degrees from The
University of Pennsylvania and the Mount
Sinai School of Medicine. Specializing in
anesthesiology, he’s been a Professor of
Anesthesiology at Emory University and The
University of California and was appointed
to the Georgia Board of Medical Examiners.
He also founded the company LaserAway
LLC in Los Angeles, California, that
specializes in the removal of tattoos and
other skin problems.
Despite that resume, Winston found time to
start playing tournament poker in 2006 and
was a regular player in Los Angeles before
recently relocating to New York.
®
Winston writes a poker blog for Cardplayer.
com, giving him opinion maker status and
even has faced off verbally against former
Borgata Poker Open champion Daniel
Negreanu over the issue of sunglasses at live
tables (Winston disputes Negreanu’s recent
charge that the glasses aid cheating).
Since 2006, Winston’s live winnings top
$2.6 million. He also has been an online
presence and was a Full Tilt pro.
Winston often calls Borgata home, and
has been seen at several events including
gaining small cashes at the 2010 Borgata
Poker Open and Borgata’s Winter Poker
Open in 2009 and 2008.
That’s all pretty impressive for a relatively
new tournament player, but like past
champions it is Winston’s Borgata Poker
Open championship that helped make
his reputation. Winston faced off with pros
such as Mike “The Mouth” Matusow and
Haralabos Voulgaris at the 2007 final table.
With a large chip lead at the start, Winston
managed to knock out Matusow, Voulgaris
and also Mark Weitzman before facing off
heads-up with Heung “Scotty” Yoon. But with
Winston holding a four to one chip lead, it
was just a matter of time before he trapped
Yoon with a set of fours (against ace, king)
and took the championship and the biggest
payday of his career.
• Page 48 •
• Page 49 •
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
mark newhouse • 2006
Al Ardebili • 2005
Mark Newhouse $1,519,020
Chris McCormack $802,985
David Sklansky $419,040
Anthony Argila $366,660
Chris Bell $314,280
Blaise Ingoglia $261,901
Championship went to Mark Newhouse,
known as much for online play as for live felt
action. Not only is his $1.5 million win at the
Borgata Poker Open his largest live cash, it’s
also his only live win. But Newhouse remains
a force at the tables taking a cash at this
year’s WSOP Main Event (182nd place).
His WPT standings revolve around a great
2006 where he won the Borgata Poker Open
and had a $62,000 cash at the WPT’s North
American Championship a month later. He
also had a more than $100,000 cash at the
Five-Star World Classic Poker Classic in 2008.
Currently he’s at just under $2 million in
live tournament winnings. Newhouse’s
online record is also impressive. Known
as “newhizzle,” one of biggest online wins
came in 2009 when he won about $250,000
with a first in the PokerStars Sunday Million.
Newhouse stands out as an online player
who has made a smooth transition to live
play. Newhouse, from North Carolina,
learned the game playing at home with his
family. Apparently, he showed a lot of skill as
his family pushed him towards a pro poker
career. After a lot of research and studying,
he became a regular online presence,
enough so that at 21, he was ready to make
his first appearance at a live table.
But it was the Borgata Poker Open, (which
he entered after winning a $1,000 satellite
and was only his second recorded
cash up to that point), that set the pace
for his career. His win made him the
second youngest player to take a WPT
championship at the time.
For his Borgata win, Newhouse beat out
a field of 540 finally finding himself heads-up
with Chris McCormack as the two players
seemed to be personally battling through
the final table. Both with large chip counts,
McCormack at first seemed a match for
Newhouse’s aggressive play, but eventually
a full house sent McCormack to the rail
and made Newhouse a Borgata Poker
Open Champion.
®
Al Ardebili $1,498,650
Ricardo Festejo $799,280
Kathy Liebert $427,115
John D’Agostino $349,685
“Action” Bob Hwang $299,730
David E. Singer $249,775
Champion, Al Ardebili, was the first winner
of the event to bring a real hometown
feel to the championship seat. Ardebili is
originally from New York and now calls New
Jersey home. Like most New Jersey players
that means much of his early play came
in Atlantic City casinos. In fact, his first two
tournament cashes came in Atlantic City.
Ardebili, a private investor in real estate
and equity markets, is a casual player
who made good as a poker pro, learning
the game at home and then refining his
skills playing with friends in college. When
Hold’em poker exploded in 2003, Ardebili’s
weekend trips to A.C. (he also plays craps
and blackjack) began to pay off. Trying his
luck at tournaments, he had notable wins at
the Sands in 2003 and at a Harrah’s WSOP
Circuit event in 2005. But by far and away
the biggest cash of his career was his $1.5
million win at the Borgata Poker Open.
®
That championship was followed by a more
than $40,000 cash in a No Limit event at
the Five-Star World Poker Classic in 2006.
Known by the name “T,” Ardebeli has had
13 cashes and $1.664 million in tournament
winnings up to 2006, the last year he
recorded a cash.
In his Borgata Poker Open win, he outlasted
515 players, eventually beating Ricardo Q.
Festejo heads up at a final table that also
included Kathy Liebert (Ardebili knocked
her out in third place with a pair of 10s. At
the time, it was the highest WPT finish by a
female player).
The heads-up play was fast and furious.
On only the fourth hand, Ardebeli went all
in with 3d, 2s against Festejo’s ace, deuce.
A three on the turn gave Ardebeli two pair,
a $1.5 million cash and the title of 2005
Borgata Open Champion.
• Page 50 •
• Page 51 •
CHAMPION PROFILES
CHAMPION PROFILES
Daniel Negreanu • 2004
Noli Francisco • 2003
Daniel Negreanu $1,117,400
David Williams $573,800
Josh Arieh $286,900
Chris Tsiprailidis $181,200
Brandon Moran $135,900
Phil Ivey $105,700
®
The winner of the second Borgata Poker
Open in 2004 brought a taste of star power
to the Borgata’s signature event as Daniel
Negreanu took home the title.
Since then, he has had unparalleled
success at the tournament level and his
$14,673,236 total winnings put him atop the
all-time money list, ahead of Phil Ivey.
Negreanu simply needs no introduction to
poker players as he was and remains one
of the superstars of the poker world. The
Canadian born player has more than $14.5
million in tournament winnings, 34 first-place
finishes, four WSOP bracelets, and 166
cashes in name tournaments.
But Negreanu’s career is so much more
than his playing stats. Negreanu is known for
his appearances on televised poker series,
writes a popular poker blog, is a poker book
author and is also known for his online play.
Negreanu even appeared in Katy Perry’s
“Waking Up In Vegas” music video (as a
poker player, of course).
Of course, his $1.117 million cash at the WPT
Borgata Poker Open Championship in 2004
fits nicely into his long record of success,
which dates back to 1997. But the Borgata
Poker Open win was the first time Negreanu
topped $1 million in prize money and
started a trend that saw him take another
$1.7 Million first-place cash at the WPT’s Five
Diamond World Poker Classic II later that
year. They remain his only two World Poker
Tour championships, as he was named the
WPT’s 2004-2005 player of the year.
Card Player and the WSOP also named him
player of the year in 2004.
So you could argue that Borgata is integrally
tied up in Negreanu’s stardom.
Born in Toronto, Negreanu began playing
poker at 15 and moved to Las Vegas to start
his professional career at 22 (though he got
off to a slow start and had to move back to
Toronto and rebuild his bankroll for a time).
But Negreanu is probably most known for
his outspoken views and is no stranger to
controversy in the poker world, starting more
than a few wars of words with fellow pros.
But then at Negreanu’s level, that’s how the
game is played.
“At the highest levels everyone has a
decent understanding of the math. Feel, or
psychological warfare is what it’s all about,”
says Negreanu. “I honestly don’t think that
a pure math guy has much of a chance
in those games because they aren’t
psychologically prepared for the game.”
In 2004, after a long heads-up battle with
David Williams, the two went all in on the
final hand while almost dead even in chips.
Negreanu’s pocket aces and a chip count
that showed he had a slight chip lead going
into the hand made Negreanu the Borgata
Open Champion.
Noli Francisco $470,000
Charles Shoten $235,000
David Oppenheim $117,500
Carlos Mortensen $70,500
Mickey Seagle $52,875
Randy Burger $41,125
For Noli Francisco, the winner of the
inaugural Borgata Poker Open, that
September day in 2003 remains his greatest
day ever in tournament poker. A veteran
player who had impressed at the tables
long before the Hold’em explosion in 2003,
Francisco saw his biggest cash ever in
casino tournaments, taking home $470,000
in the inaugural WPT Borgata Poker Open
Championship event.
Francisco, sometimes called the “smiling
assassin,” has $1.3 million in tournament
cashes, but the 2003 Borgata Poker Open
remains his only first place finish.
Born in Cebru, Philippines, Francisco, who
lives in West New York, N.J., has worked as
an architect, a real estate entrepreneur,
and an importer. With a poker career as a
recreational player dating back nearly 30
years, he started in New York poker clubs,
including the famed Mayfair Club, which
was considered the prime breeding ground
for players in the 1980s, and is known for his
Seven Card Stud play.
But even as a “Mayfair guy,” Francisco
has never been a spotlight player, despite
several high-place finishes at WSOP events
®
in the early 90s, and a record at the WSOP
that dates back to 1982.
As an old school player, Francisco busted
out on the World Poker Tour with his 2003
Borgata Poker Open win and a second
place finish in a Pot Limit Omaha event at
the WPT’s Five Star World Poker Classic in
April 2004 – good for an $80,000 cash.
Francisco’s appearance at the Borgata
Poker Open in 2003 was also the premiere
episode of the WPT’s second season
on television and pitted him against
Randy Burger, David Oppenheim, Carlos
Mortenson, Mickey Seagle and Charlie
Shoten at the final table after outlasting
a field of 235. Francisco was credited
with playing a tight style with smart chip
management that kept him in good position
throughout the final hands, never putting
the bulk of his chips at risk.
Still, his play knocked out Seagle and
Oppenheim before facing off with Shoten
heads up. On the final hand, Francisco held
king, five and caught another king on the
turn, beating Shoten’s sixes and making
Francisco the first Borgata Open Champion.
• Page 52 •
• Page 53 •
CHAMPION PROFILES
Borgata fall poker open
CHAMPION PROFILES
John “Brock” Parker • 2012
Nov 18–21, 2012 | Entries: 644 | $2,500 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,610,000
Vineet Pahuja $107,067
Jeffrey Papola $85,344
Michael Esposito $70,602
While Borgata Poker Opens are often won
cashes since 2006. Parker then filled out
by players on the rise in the poker world,
the year with seven cashes at the 2012
sometimes, they just add to the legend.
WSOP before his “big” Borgata win. Of
Take the case of John “Brock” Parker of
course, his two first place wins at the 2009
Silver Spring MD, the 2012 Borgata Fall
WSOP, along with his online play, originally
Poker Open Champion. With career
put Parker on the poker map and he has
tournament winnings at now over $2.1
been a consistent force since.
million, along with online winnings of
better than $1 million, the two-time WSOP
bracelet winner has added another
impressive East Coast win to his resume.
And it has allowed him to begin and end
a stellar 2012 with Borgata Poker Open
wins. Parker won $372,568 with his Borgata
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa introduced Borgata’s Fall Poker Open
series in November 2011. The series runs from mid-November until
the day before Thanksgiving and provides East Coast players a
popular and accessible tournament.
With five major tournament series throughout the year, Borgata has provided one of the
most innovative and player-friendly poker programs in the country.
In 2011, Andrew Badecker won Borgata’s Fall Poker Open Championship, followed in
2012 by John “Brock” Parker.
Fall Poker Open championship, outlasting
a field of 644 that posted a total buy-in of
$1,610,000.
At the 2012 Borgata Fall Open, Parker was
part of a talented final table. “I was lucky
considering where I started,” said Parker
who was 26th out of 27 returning players
on Day four of the tournament with only 14
big blinds left. “I didn’t expect to stay very
long, but I was lucky enough to get two
double-ups and then took it from there.”
The final 10 featured two Borgata trophy
winners Vinny Pahuja, who finished 4th,
Parker started 2012 with a first place win
and Jeff Papola (5th), as well as Michael
at the 2012 Borgata Winter Poker Open,
Esposito (6th) - the 7th place finisher in 2012
picking up $76,387 in a $2,000 buy-in
WSOP Main Event. Parker took the final
bounty tournament. A seventh place
pot of the championship against Scott
finish at Borgata’s Winter Poker Open
Baumstein when his pocket kings filled out
Championship netted him another
for a full house and gave Parker
$84,233. They were Parker’s first Borgata
a Borgata bookend of wins for 2012.
• Page 54 •
• Page 55 •
FORGET LEAVES,
RAKE CHIPS.
John “Brock” Parker $372,568
Scott Baumstein $209,480
Patrick Chan $131,895
CHAMPION PROFILES
bad beat jackpot
Andrew Badecker • 2011
Nov 20–23, 2011 | Entries: 670 | $2,500 + $200 | Prize Pool: $1,675,000
Andrew Badecker $388,657
Thang Van Nguyen $218,531
Ariel Albilia $137,594
Peter Park $111,694
Michael Devinsky $89,031
Cliff Josephy $73,653
There are four big cashes on Andrew
“nomadic” poker player, spending most
Badecker’s tournament record of better
of his time grinding it out on the road.
than $1.5 million, but his biggest (by a
hair) is his 2011 Borgata Fall Poker Open
Championship win of $388,657. That tops
a $369,000 cash at the 2011 WSOP and
gives you a hint of what a year 2011 was
for Badecker.
Along with Badecker, the first
championship final table of a Borgata
Fall Poker Open brought out three WSOP
bracelet holders. The chip lead was
held early by Ari Alibilia of Syoset, NY, but
Badecker managed to seize the chip lead.
Badecker’s win at the inaugural Fall
After Alibilia went to the rail, courtesy of
Poker Open added another category of
Tony Nguyen of MacLean, VA, Badecker
seasonal champion to Borgata’s slate of
and Nguyen squared off heads-up.
winners and showed off the strength of
Badecker eventually scored the winning
East Coast poker. Badecker of Vernon, CT,
hand with a king as the board offered no
beat out a field of 670 entries, claiming the
help to either player.
first Borgata Fall Poker Open championship
crown early Thanksgiving morning. “It
feels great,” Badecker said after the win.
“I’ve had a really successful year and I’m
pretty happy to win it.” Badecker’s 2012 is
pretty impressive as well with two six figure
cashes and a total tournament winnings
total of $1.5 million. He calls himself a
The inaugural Borgata Poker Open drew
poker pros such as WPT title holders Will
“the Thrill” Failla, Cornel Cimpan, and
Kevin Saul as well as WPT Season IX Player
OVER $15 MILLION
Paid Out
Hits Every 11 days
So GOOD It’s BAD
of the year Andy Frankenberger. Even with
Turkey Day calling, the East Coast’s best
rallied at Borgata.
• Page 56 •
• Page 57 •
Average hits based on December 2008 through December 2012
borgata poker blog
meet the wpt stars
mike sexton
For poker stories
BORGATAPOKERBLOG.com
Text BPOKER to 56242
WPT commentator
Mike Sexton is the sport’s consummate
promoter, well-known for his contributions and
commitment to raising poker’s profile around
the world. Mike attended Ohio State University
on a full scholarship for gymnastics. During
this time he developed a life-long passion for
poker. With multiple wins and millions in poker
prize money, Mike has become a key fixture in
the poker world and has earned a reputation
as a true “Ambassador of Poker”.
vince van patten
“I have
a tell.
I’ll tell you
Right
Now.
I’m taking
YOUR
cash.”
wpt commentator
Success has come in many forms for the actor,
producer, director, author, and former tennis
player, Vince Van Patten. Vince has appeared
in over fifty television shows and numerous
films. He is also a talented tennis player who
competed professionally through the mid1980s, ranking 25th in the world during his
peak. Alongside Mike Sexton, Vince thrives in
his role as part of the top commentating team
in poker.
• Page 58 •
• Page 59 •
Visit the Borgata Poker Room for details. Receive up to 8 msgs/month. Text HELP 4 help. Text STOP 2 stop msgs.
Standard msg & data rates apply. Privacy policy: theborgata.com. Bet With Your Head, Not Over It.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. ©2012 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. All rights reserved.
meet the wpt stars
upcoming
meet the
tournament
wpt stars
kimberly lansing
A familiar face on the WPT, Kimberly Lansing
anchored the action on Season IX of the
World Poker Tour. Fans and players alike can
now follow Kimberly as she unveils top stories
from poker’s finest competitors live, online
and on TV.
Kimberly received a BA in Broadcast
Journalism from the University of Southern
California before beginning her career as an
entertainment journalist for the Associated
Press and US Weekly Magazine. Since 2004,
Kimberly has been a reporter for People
Magazine while writing for both In Style
and Gala. In addition, Kimberly makes
appearances on WireImage, Cosmo
Celebrity TV, Hollywood.com, and the
TV Guide Channel.
Kimberly’s charming disposition and impressive background in poker
prompted WPT to first create a position for her as the Live Updates
correspondent, and now as the show’s Anchor.
tony dunst
wpt raw deal analyst
Known for being one of the most stylish
and sociable men in poker, Tony Dunst
brandishes his popular personality on the
new WPT segment, The Raw Deal. As an
accomplished professional and prolific poker
analyst, Tony brings unique insight into the
decisions and psychology of the game.
Critiquing hands comes naturally to Tony,
who pens a revered poker blog, in addition
to moderating for the forum 2+2. Tony, aka
Bond18, has enjoyed immense success
playing online and live poker, a grinder who
truly loves to compete.
ONE DAY. SIX FIGURES.
BORGATA POKER
$100,000
GUARANTEED SATURDAY SERIES
$350 + $50 NO LIMIT HOLD’EM
Saturday,
February 16
at 11am
twitter: @borgatapoker | text bpoker to 56242
borgatapokerblog.com
Receive up to 8 msgs/month. Text HELP 4 help. Text STOP 2 stop msgs. Standard msg & data rates apply.
Privacy Policy: theborgata.com. Seating may be limited. Must be 21 or older. Visit the Borgata Poker
Room for rules and regulations. Must have a My Borgata Card to play in tournament. Valid ID required.
Tournament registration fee is non - refundable. Schedule subject to change. Gambling Problem?
Call 1- 80 0 - GAMBLER. ©2013 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. All rights reser ved.
• Page 60 •
• Page 61 •
wpt anchor
connect with borgata
win a seat
stay connected with borgata.
Enter for a chance to
win a seat into Borgata’s
Winter Poker Open
Championship Event.
follow us on
BORGATA HOTEL
CASINO & SPA
BORGATA NIGHTLIFE
BORGATA @BorgataAC
NIGHTLIFE @BorgataEvents
POKER @BorgataPoker
for poker updates, visit
borgatapokerblog.com
Grand Prize:
$3,500 Entry into Borgata’s Winter Poker Open Championship Event
January 27–February 1.
How To Enter
Visit theborgata.com to enter for a chance to win. Fill out contest
form completely to enter. Entry period ends Thursday, January 24
at 11:59pm. One entry per person. Multiple entries will not increase
your chance of winning and will be disqualified.
• Page 62 •
Must be 21 or older and must possess valid ID. Any entry with forged or invalid information will be
disqualified. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR
CHANCE OF WINNING. One entry per person. Multiple entries will not increase your chance of winning
and will be disqualified. PRIZE: One prize winner will be selected. Prize is $3,500 entry into Borgata’s Winter
Poker Open Championship Event (valid on starting date 1/27/13 or 1/28/13). No cash value. Winner may
not be part of any exclusionary list. Associates of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa are ineligible to participate.
Non-transferable. Entries that are not used on day of tournament will be forfeited.
• Page 63 •
Winner will be announced Friday, January 25, 2013.
always in season
JANUARY
BORGATA SPRING POKER OPEN
APRIL
BORGATA SUMMER POKER OPEN
JUNE
BORGATA POKER OPEN
SEPTEMBER
BORGATA FALL POKER OPEN
NOVEMBER
Must be 21 or older. Bet With Your Head, Not Over it. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
©2013 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. All rights reserved.

BORGATA WINTER POKER OPEN

Transcription

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