Borgata Winter Poker Open continues to draw big numbers

The Borgata Winter Poker Open started with a record number of players in its first event, and participation continues to be high for the tournament. With 455 entrants in one of the latest four events and more than 600 in the one playing out now, there have been some pretty good paydays for the players who made it to the end.

The $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event drew 455 players on Saturday, creating a $682,500 prize pool. It was Leonard Cortellino, from Lewiston, Maine, who rose to the top of the crowd to claim the $200,860 top prize.

Following behind him were James Van Alstyne, of Las Vegas, who won $105,788 for second, and Frank Lupo, of Old Bridge, N.J., who came in third for a $54,600 payday.

Sunday saw the ladies come out to play as 390 of them sat down at the felt to battle for a $101,400 prize pool. The winner, Emily Flax of Provincetown, Mass., turned her $260 buy-in into a $30,927.

Second place went to Nicole Rowe of Salisbury Mills, N.Y., who received $17,045. Krista Vanwart from Brooklyn, N.Y., took third place for $8,264.

The $500 Limit Hold'em event also kicked off on Sunday bringing in 265 entrants and a $132,500 prize pool. Daniel Occhipinti of Saddle Brook, N.J., won the event and the $41,075 top prize.


Shawn Berthiaume, from Brooklyn, N.Y., came in second for $23,187, with Justin Peckholdt of Babylon, N.Y., right behind him for third place and $12,588.

Event 7, $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em, got started on Monday. Nearly 250 poker players took part, but it was a Pittsburgh, Penn., player named Jack Schanbacher that took home the top prize of $192,975.

Second place also received more than $100,000 and was claimed by Richard Freire from Miami Lakes, Fla. Jon Turner, from Henderson, N.V., came in third for $59,138.

That leaves only two more events to go before the big World Poker Tour (WPT) main event that begins Friday. The $500 No-Limit Hold'em event got underway yesterday with 661 entrants, and the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em started today.

courtesy of Sarah Polson

News Added: 25 January, 2007

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