The World Poker Tour (WPT) Borgata Poker Open Day 1B has come to a close and it’s a familiar sight at the top of the leader board as Paul Volpe takes the lead with 231,850 chips.
The WPT main event in Borgata has been the scene for some of the most memorable televised final tables in the firm’s 11-year history, and I have a feeling that this year is going to be no different.
813 players entered the event to bring the total field size up to 1,189 players – the second-largest WPT Borgata Poker Open field in the tours history – and that meant the $3m guarantee was comfortably breached, as $3,805,989 will be distributed amongst the top 110 players.
$17,000 had been taken out of the prize pool to be awarded to the top two chip leaders of the two starting flights. And a $5,000 prize was doled out to one of the players of 2013, Paul Volpe, who finished with 231,850 chips. Anthony Castelli picked up $3,500 for finishing second with 210,100.
Volpe will be hungry for this title after finishing second and third in San Jose and Los Angeles last season for a combined haul of over $1m. Volpe went on to pocket further six figure scores at EPT London, EPT Monte Carlo and online in the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP).
The chance to play poker in the Borgata pulled the actor James Woods away from the stage for a few days, and he’s on form with a runner-up spot in a $400 side event for $17,214. Woods finished the day with 46,000 and joining him in the Day Two seat draw is the founder of the WPT, Steve Lipscomb, who despite firing two bullets finished the day with 32,025.
A few of the top players not so fortunate were World Series of Bracelet (WSOP) winner Ronnie Bardah, Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton and WPT Champions Club members Matt Waxman and Mike Vela; each of the players failing to make the cut.
Joining Volpe at the top of the counts with above average stacks are Scott Seiver (159,750), Ebony Kenney (93k), Kevin Saul (81k), Matt Salsberg (64,075), Amanda Musumeci (63k), Andy Frankenberger (62k) and Victor Ramdin (61k).
Day Two will commence at the slightly later time of noon (ET).
