Borgata Winter Poker Open has record-breaking first event

Season 5 of the World Poker Tour is definitely getting up to full speed in 2007. The World Poker Open at the Gold Strike Casino and Resort in Tunica, Miss., will begin Sunday, and already, the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City is reporting a record-breaking preliminary event for the WPT Borgata Poker Classic that will begin next week.

The second annual Borgata Winter Poker Open began yesterday with a $500+$60 No-Limit Hold'em event that drew 1,370 poker players. That number makes it the largest poker tournament in Atlantic City's history.

"Players were ready to burst the moment the cards hit the felt," said Vinny Ferraro, a player from Westchester, N.Y. "This is the best tournament on the East Coast, so everyone wants to play here."

The large field brought out all levels of players from locals and novices to Internet players and poker pros. One of the familiar pros present for the first event was Men "The Master" Nguyen.

The large playing field created a huge prize pool for a relatively small buy-in event, with the winner taking home more than $150,000. That winner turned out to be a local, Tae Baik, from Leonia, N.J.

There are eight more events leading up to the $10,000 buy-in main event next week with plenty more chances for poker players to get in on the cash. There are also several satellites and super satellites to win your way into the main event.

The $10,000 event will start Jan. 26. Even more poker pros are expected for the event including Daniel Negreanu and 2006 World Series of Poker Champions Jamie Gold.

PokerListings.com will also be there to bring you all the action from the main event with daily reports, photos, interviews and more. But first we'll be bringing you news from the WPT World Poker Open starting Sunday.

courtesy of Sarah Polson

News Added: 21 January, 2007

Number of views : 758