Event 1: Klein Leads Day 1A

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Klein Claims Chip Lead

With a mad dash in the last few hands, Andrew Klein (Ocean, NJ) bagged the chip lead with 366k, earning him a $2,700 voucher into the Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship Event.

"I was around 270(k) and added 75 (k) at the end," said Klein who flopped a Queen-high flush with Q♠ 3♠.

When a fourth spade hit the turn, "I thought it was a bad card, but as it turned out to be a good one because it got him to put it in," said Klein whose opponent busted with a Jack-high flush. "You just never know what's good or what's bad."

Another Andrew is in second place as Andrew Lukovsky (Brooklyn, NY) bagged 322k and was mildly disappointed he missed the bonus.  "A successful first day, but my focus on the final table," said Lokovsky who is moving on to Friday's Day 2.

85 players, of the 479 Day 1A entries, bagged and tagged an average chip stack of 141k (28 bb); play resumes with Level 17 and blinds going to 2,500/5k/500 ante.

The $1,000,000 Guaranteed tournament has three more starting flights with action resuming 11 am Wednesday with Day 1B.

Klein, who is a Borgata regular, claimed last year that he was one the most athletic poker players in the world and issued this challenge.

"Bring it fellas," said Klein, who has yet to get any takers and is hoping he has the stamina to go the distance in this opening event.

Event 1: Day 1A Complete - Big Stacks

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 16: Blinds 2k/4k/400 ante (complete)

Andrew Klein 366,000
Andrew Lukovsky 322,000
Steve Miller 311,000
Eric Rivkin 307,500
Victor Kominarets 290,000
Dave Rouse 272,500
Robert Getchell 271,500

85 players remain with an average stack of 141k (28 bb).

Event 1: Not Surviving

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 16: Blinds 2k/4k/400 ante   

The clocks is paused with 10 minutes remaining and each table is playing four more hands before bagging and tagging.

The list of bustouts over the last few levels include:

Chris Edwards
Brian Lemke
Alyson Parker
Joe McKeehan
Chris Farley

Event 1: Miller's Time, New Chip Leader

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 16: Blinds 2k/4k/400 ante   

Miller Stacking 320k

With the last level of the night underway, Steve Miller (West Chester, PA) emerges as the chip leader with 320k.

Previous chip leader Eric Fields (Greensboro, NC) has taken a big hit, while Robert Getchell (Oceanside, NY) is still around the 250k mark, along with Haim Benaim (Fair Lawn, NJ) which is currently second overall.

Currently 100 players remain with an average stack of 120k.

Event 1: Runner-Runner Big Stack

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 15: Blinds 1,500/3,000/400 ante   

 Running Jacks Gets Getchell Chips

With less than the big blind, Tom Dobrilovic (West Nyack, NY) is all in when Robert Getchell (Oceanside, NY) moves all in for 127k.  Keith Donovan (New Milford, NJ) waits a few seconds and makes the call with 120k for a massive 240k side pot.

Dobrilovic: 2 3
Getchell: AJ
Donovan: AQ

Flop: Q-8-2 (Donovan pair of Queens)

Turn: J (Donovan still leads)

River: J

Getchell gets running Jacks to take down the 250k pot.  "I was just trying to isolate," says Getchell as he sheepishly rakes the pot.

"You might be the chip leader with that B-S," says Travell Thomas (Orchard Park, NY) with a hardy laugh.

"I want to take a break and come back in 48 hours," says Getchell who's eying the end of day bonus, a $2,700 Championship Event seat voucher, and a healthy stack for Friday's Day 2 (in 65 hours).

Event 1: Dearly Departed

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 14: Blinds 1,200/2,400/300 ante   

"What am I supposed to do with King-Queen, when he limp shoves from the small blind," laments Peter Ippolito (East Meadow, NY) on his way out the door.

Alex Rocha (S. Setauket, NY) makes the play from the SB with pocket Aces and takes the last of Ippolito's 30k to knockout his friend.

"It's a re-entry, that's what I'm supposed to do," says Ippolito on his way out of the Signature Room.

Rocha is now up to 90k.

Also on the rail is Ken Silberstein (Edison, NJ) who, "can't win a flip," when his A 9 doesn't connect against his opponent's pocket 5s.

Joe Wertz (Montoursville, PA) is also out, saying "post the picture and say, 'nothing happening today, he'll be back again tomorrow.'"

Here's Wertz's photo as all three players are on break until Wednesday, 11 am for Day 1B.

Wertz Gets a Walk

Event 1: Back in Action

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 13: Blinds 800/1,600/200 ante   

180 players remain (of 479 1A entries) with an average stack of 67k.

The field will play four more levels (2 hours) with bag and tag at ~ 8 pm.

Eric Fields continues to be the big stack with 260k as players are eying the end of day bonus.  The chip leader earns a $2,700 voucher into the Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship event.

5 pm Survivor Underway

(l-r) Laves & Diamond Getting their Poker Fix

Day 1A casualties are licking their wounds and jumping into the 5 pm Survivor.  Those paying the $150 + $30, for a shot at winning $1,500 (~ 1 in 10), includes Lyle Diamond and Ben Laves, both of who busted from Event 1.

In addition to the 15 Main Events during the the Borgata Fall Poker Open there are 29 "side events" that include qualifiers for the Championship Event (Nov. 24-27).

Tonight players get 12k chips and levels are 20 minutes to start (Levels 11+ / 25 min) with registration open until ~7:10 pm.

Event 1: Grinding Along

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
 
Level 12: Blinds 800/1,600/200 ante   

200 players remain with an average stack of 60k.

Big Stacks 

Eric Fields (Greensboro, NC) 254k
DJ Whorley (Washington, DC) 140k
Dmitro Tereshchuk (Springfield, NJ) 139k

Tereshchuk was up to nearly 200k, but lost three decent sized pots totaling 50k, one each to Bart Dowling & Mickey Woll.

The last break of the night will be after this level.

Event 1: Borgata Fields Forever

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 11: Blinds 600/1,200/200 ante  

Fields Out in Front

Eric Fields (Greensboro, NC) is back at Borgata and playing as well as he did when he made September's WPT final table.

Fields is the chip leader with 196k, "now 195,800," he says after posting his 200 ante, this fresh off his 6th place finish for $169,000.

It's been a banner year for Fields, the 22-year-old recent graduate of Alabama who recently turned pro. In addition to his Borgata success, Fields has earned two WSOP circuit rings and has four final tables for career earnings of $225,000.

Not a bad start to his career, and not a bad start to this opening event of the Borgata Fall Poker Open.

Event 1: Playing the Marder

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 10: Blinds 500/1,000/100 ante  

Now that re-entries are closed, players are down to their last bullet of the day.

Unofficially there are 479 entries for Day 1A.

Michael Marder is one of our loyal tweeters and files this exit report:

Out. Shove 99 for 13bbs over two limpers, called by A4hh, lose on the QJ5JQ runout. Try again tomorrow. #BFPO1
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) November 12, 2013

Was a cool needle too when dealer tried to push me the pot.
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) November 12, 2013

Event 1: Time To Check The Tweets

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Level 10: Blinds 500/1,000/100 ante  

Players are back in action following the break.  The green 25 chips have been colored up and removed from play.

Keep those Tweets coming!  #BFPO

Here are some tweets from the break:

Not a great last three levels. Re entry period over for today. 28k coming back to 500 1000 100. BFO event 1
— Trevor Deeter (@TDeeter24) November 12, 2013

14k going to 1k bb
— ian palomo (@pokerpalomo) November 12, 2013

End round 9: 45225. 345/507. Doubled up with Broadway before break. Crippled earlier with TT<AQs, Saved a rebuy!
— Jeff Gross (@jeff15qa) November 12, 2013

15,250 coming back to 1k/100, end of reentry for 1A. #BFPO1
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) November 12, 2013

Hanging tough. 3rd break: 18,300 #BFPO
— SammyTheDentist (@SammyTheDentist) November 12, 2013

Event 1: The Thrill Is Back

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Level 9: Blinds 400/800/75 ante   

Late registration and re-entry (for 1A) will close at the end of the break after this level.

Will 'the Thrill' Failla

Will 'the Thrill' Failla arrived a couple of levels back and was seated over in the Poker Room.  Will has the distinction of being the only player to have five Borgata Open titles to his credit.  His most recent win was during the Borgata Poker Open in September.  No player has four Open titles and only about a dozen have three Borgata Open titles.

Will is fresh from a win at Foxwoods in the World Poker Finals $2,500 NLH Main Event where he pocketed $128,306 just over a week ago.

Event 1: It's Not THAT Cold in Here

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Level 8: Blinds 300/600/75 ante  

Atlantic City Weather Forecast for today, courtesy of the Weather Channel (weather.com):

It may be cold outside, but it's not cold enough here in the Signature Room for this:

Alyson Parker, All Bundled Up

Event 1: Break Time Over

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Level 7: Blinds 250/500/50 ante 

Players returned from break for level 7.

Some Tweets from the break:

I have 20k on break #borgata
— ian palomo (@pokerpalomo) November 12, 2013

29k at bb 500
— Chris Leong (@ChrisLeongPoker) November 12, 2013

28,950/25kss coming back to 500/50. #BFPO1
— Michael Marder (@MMarder86) November 12, 2013

30.2k second break second bullet
— Mark Dube (@markdubepoker) November 12, 2013

45k on second break. Coming back to 250 500 50. BFO event 1.
— Trevor Deeter (@TDeeter24) November 12, 2013

Event 1: Luciano Chipping Up

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 

Level 6: Blinds 150/300/25 ante

Rocco Luciano

On the river with a board of K J 7 8 Q, Rocco Luciano bet 6,700.  His opponent in seat 10 gave it some thought, then called.

Rocco rolled over T9 for the straight (double-gutted on the flop, Jack-high on the turn, King-high on the river).  His opponent tossed pocket Jacks on the felt in disgust (set of Jacks).


End of level 6 and players are off on their second break of the day.

Event 1: Photo Slideshow

May not work on mobile devices.

Event 1: Break Time Tweets

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 5: Blinds 150/300/25 ante

Got a few Tweets during the first break.  Keep those Tweets coming!  #BFPO

Playing the borgata opening event. One million guaranteed prize pool. Have about 30k at 100/200. #fortheinvestors #forthefam
— Norman Michalek (@norm_michalek) November 12, 2013

46k from 25k ss on first break. Coming back to 100 200
— Trevor Deeter (@TDeeter24) November 12, 2013

First break of #BFPO 24,425
— SammyTheDentist (@SammyTheDentist) November 12, 2013

25,500 from 25K starting. Going back to 200 big
— ian palomo (@pokerpalomo) November 12, 2013

30k at first break coming back to 100/200
— Chris Leong (@ChrisLeongPoker) November 12, 2013

Event 1: Late Registration & Re-Entry

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 4: Blinds 100/200

Players are back from their break for level 4.

Registration for Day 1A is open through the break after level 9 (until about 4:10pm) so players who arrive late can still get in and players who bust out can still re-enter today.

The same will apply to flights 1B, 1C, and 1D.   Late registration and re-entry will be available until the start of level 10. 

Event 1: Whorley Chips Up To 80k

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 3: Blinds 75/150

DJ Whorley

Four players took a flop of Q J 5 -- all diamonds.  DJ Whorley (sb) led out for 11k, one player folded, another jammed, the third folded, and DJ called, having his opponent covered.

Seat 4:  KK (with the diamond draw)
DJ:  QJ suited (two pair)

The last two were a sweat for DJ as he had to fade a diamond, King, or 5.  Turn was a Ten, giving his opponent event more outs with an open-ended straight draw.  River was a harmless offsuit 7 and DJ took the pot, busting his opponent.  DJ chipped up to about 80k.

Level three ran out and players are taking their first break of the day.

Event 1: Reslock's Kings No Good

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Level 3: Blinds 75/150

Chris Reslock's All-In Moment

WSOP bracelet winner Chris Reslock ran his pocket Kings into pocket Aces.  All the chips went in pre-flop and his opponent had Chris covered by a couple-thousand chips.

The board ran out Q 7 3 Q Q.  "That's a lot of paint" his opponent said, as he was sweating the all-in.

Chris declined to take a re-entry ticket for today, saying he would re-enter tomorrow on Day 1B, and left the Signature Room.

He returned a few moments later, saying "I almost forgot to pay off my last-longer bet."

Chris Reslock

Event 1: Keep Those Tweets Coming!

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed 

Level 2: Blinds 50/100

Blinds up!

During the Borgata Fall Poker Open, I'll be maintaining a Twitter list of players participating in the tournaments and tweeting their progress.  If you want to be included on the list, use #BFPO in your Tweets so I can find you.

If you want to subscribe to the list, go to twitter.com/Kaelaine/lists/bfpo-2013.

One poor soul has already Tweeted his exit:

Bust first hand Borgata 1M. Utg 150 utg+1 350 I flat 68s btn flats, 6way flop. 79Tr. I bet 700 btn 3k me 8k he shove I call his KJ. Q Turn
— Mark Dube (@markdubepoker) November 12, 2013

Event 1: Shuffle Up & Deal

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed 

Level 1: Blinds 25/50

Players began with 25,000 chips.  Levels 1-16 are 30 minutes long and that's what they'll play today (no dinner break).  Play will wrap up for the night about 8pm.

Tables 1-26 are in the Signature Room, next to Bobby Flay's.

Tables 27 and higher are in the Poker Room.

Tournament Director Tab Duchateau has issued the order to "Shuffle Up & Deal!"

Event 1: $1 Million Guaranteed!

$500 + $60 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
$1,000,000 Guaranteed

The kickoff event for the Borgata Fall Poker Open gets underway at 11:00am and carries a $1 Million Guarantee on total buy-ins.  That means they must seat 2,000 entrants over four starting flights to meet the guarantee.

That's right -- FOUR starting flights.  Today is day 1A and the first of the four beginning at 11am.
1B - Wednesday, 11am
1C - Thursday, 11am
1D - Thursday, 5pm

All day 1 flights will consist of sixteen 30-minute levels, concluding at the end of level 16, when remaining players will bag their chips for the day two.

The Twist:  For the first time ever here at Borgata, players may play in multiple Day 1's and choose their "best" stack for the start of Day 2.  For example, a player who bags 9,500 at the end of day 1A may play again during 1B and start with a fresh 25k stack.  Say they bag 16,000 at the end of day 1B.  They play again during 1C, start with a fresh 25k stack, and bust out.  They can start day 2 with their 16,000 chips from day 1B.