Event 1: $560 $1 Million Guaranteed Deep-Stack NLHE Reentry Day 1a | 2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

04-08-2014 10:44 UTC-4

Welcome to the Borgata Spring Poker Open!

[user253757]

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City

In just under an hour one of the most anticipated series on the tournament circuit kicks off, as the Borgata Spring Poker Open begins in grand fashion. Event 1 of the series - which spans nearly three weeks of flops, folds and fun - is set to start at 11am local time, with a $1 million guaranteed prize pool awaiting the thousands of hopefuls who are sure to show up.

Sporting a $560 buy-in and offering unlimited re-entries over four starting flights, the size and scope of Event 1 demonstrates the Borgata's ongoing commitment to running the best tournaments on the East Coast. Thousands of individual players are expected to try their hand over the course of the four starting flights, and with unlimited re-entries during the first nine levels of each, those with big bankrolls will be firing multiple bullets as they attempt to bag and tag a big stack.

We expect a packed house here today despite the inclement weather outside, with accomplished local players like Amanda Musumeci, Will "The Thrill" Failla, Joe McKeehen, Joseph Stiers, Alyson Parker, and several others likely to be in attendance. As concurrent tournament series on the national schedule come to a close, the poker world's elite will eventually converge at the Borgata, with the World Poker Tour World Championship set to close out the Borgata Spring Poker Open.

The tournament staff is busily setting up for the stampede of players which will begin at any moment, and PokerNews is proud to provide continuous live coverage of the entire series, so keep it here throughout the day to follow the action.

Tags: Amanda Musumeci Joseph McKeehen Will Failla Alyson Parker Joseph Stiers

04-08-2014 11:27 UTC-4

Local Flavor

[user253757]

Level 1 : 50/100, 0 ante

We've spotted a few familiar faces in attendance already, with local grinders Megan Milburn, Natale Kuey and Michael Marder mixing it up in the first level of play.

Milburn is no stranger to success here the Borgata, after scoring a runner-up finish in the Ladies event at the recently concluded Spring Poker Open.

Kuey is another runner-up finisher from the Spring Poker Open, after taking home $13,012 in a side event.

Marder is an East Coast grinder who came up cutting his teeth against the region's best players, and helped in paying homage to the recently deceased local legend Mike "Little Man" Sica during the Spring Poker Open.

Player	Chips	Progress
Megan Milburn	25,000 25,000	25,000
Natale Kuey	25,000 25,000	25,000
Michael Marder	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Megan Milburn Michael Marder Natale Kuey

04-08-2014 12:05 UTC-4

Raskin Flush With Chips

[user101598]

Level 2 : 75/150, 0 ante

When we arrived at the table, a severely short-stacked player was already all in, and Micah Raskin and an opponent were playing for a much bigger side pot on a board of .

The player led out for 800, and Raskin bumped it up, raising to 2,500. Raskin's opponent grinned, to which Raskin shrugged innocently, and the player made the call. Raskin showed for a rivered flush, and raked in the entire pot.

Raskin is already over 30,000 chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Micah Raskin	33,000 8,000	8,000

Tags: Micah Raskin

04-08-2014 12:06 UTC-4

Playing Poker for All the Right Reasons

[user253757]

Level 2 : 75/150, 0 ante

Chris Tryba is an accomplished professional player who has earned nearly $1.5 million in live play during a storied career on the felt.

With a World Series of Poker bracelet to his credit, in addition to dozens of final table appearances in regional events around the country, Tryba is one of the more experienced players spotted in today's field. With a $1 million guarantee at stake today, everybody with a stack to work with has high hopes, but a recent tweet issued by Tryba indicates that today is more than just another tournament on the schedule:

christopher tryba @christryba

Its go time inda @BorgataPoker openin 1 Milly Gtd. 10% of my profits goin to my cousins @PeterTryba kidney fund!! http://t.co/Wi0N00QSPMApril 08, 2014

Reply Retweet Favorite

Follow @christryba

Tags: Chris Tryba

04-08-2014 12:26 UTC-4

It's a Small World After All

[user253757]

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

We've spotted a few more familiar faces among the masses, including a winner from the previous Borgata Winter Poker Open, and a member of that series' World Poker Tour Main Event.

Joe McKeehen is an accomplished local player with numerous big scores to his credit. One of those scores occurred right here at the Borgata in January, when McKeehen took down Event 3 for nearly $70,000.

Anthony Maio nearly captured the biggest prize of the Borgata Winter Poker Open, reaching the final table of the $3,500 WPT Main Event Championship before falling in 3rd place.

Jim Boyd is a boisterous gentleman with a penchant for table talk, and although some of his boasts have not been verified, his bona fides on the felt are not in dispute. Boyd recently made the final table of the HPO Charles Town Regional Championship, where he registered an impressive 5th place finish.

Finally, Aaron Mermelstein is an up-and-coming young tournament pro who has made multiple deep runs in World Series of Poker events over his brief but bright career.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aaron Mermelstein	25,000 25,000	25,000

Jim Boyd	25,000 25,000	25,000
Anthony Maio	25,000 25,000	25,000
Joe McKeehen	25,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Aaron Mermelstein Anthony Maio Jim Boyd Joe McKeehen

04-08-2014 13:07 UTC-4

Blue Light Warning

[user101598]

Level 4 : 150/300, 25 ante

In the wake of January's events, Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa has introduced new, state-of-the-art chips for the 2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open.

Tournament Director Tab Duchateau tweeted a picture of some of the new chips under a blue light this morning, and they have special markings on them to confirm they are legitimate. During the first break of the day, members of the tournament staff verified the chips at every table using a blue light.

A member of the Borgata staff also told the PokerNews Live Reporting Team that there are "other" ways to verify these new chips. For obvious reasons, this verification process was not explained further.

Tags: Tab Duchateau

04-08-2014 13:30 UTC-4

Climbing the Wall

[user253757]

Level 5 : 200/400, 50 ante

Players participating in the opening event of the Borgata Spring Poker Open can now enjoy their 15 seconds of fame by taking advantage of the recently installed Twitter Wall.

By taking to Twitter and using the hashtags #BorgataPoker or #SpringPokerOpen, players can instantly see their posts appear on the running crawl being displayed on television monitors throughout the room.

With Twitter fast becoming the preferred medium for poker players to express themselves during a tournament, this exciting addition to the Borgata Spring Poker Open is already generating buzz throughout the room.

So if you're in the house here today and would like to see your thoughts televised, use the hashtags #BorgataPoker or #SpringPokerOpen in your next tweet.

04-08-2014 15:32 UTC-4

Borgata Spring Poker Open: Things To Do at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

[user253757]

Level 8 : 400/800, 75 ante

The 2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open is underway here in Atlantic City, New Jersey, kicking off with a $560 no-limit hold’em reentry event today. Taking place at one of the finest gaming destinations Atlantic City has to offer, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a definite crowd pleaser featuring a luxurious spa, a variety of fine-dining restaurants, and a stylish nightlife to help get your mind off the bad beats taken at the poker tables.

There are a number of different dining options available inside the Borgata making it convenient to never require leaving the hotel. Whether you are looking for something quick and easy, or something a bit higher-end, the Borgata has a taste to satisfy and meet your needs.

Bread + Butter is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon bite serving up sandwiches and gourmet beverages. One perk is the breakfast menu left as an all-day selection, making it a great spot for those late-night craves. The classic grilled cheese is a patron favorite, or you can also try the Portobello and provolone griddled sandwich, both of which — along with most of the menu — are $10 or less and won’t break the bank.

As a man who has revolutionized the culinary industry, Wolfgang Puck has served up bold and innovative cooking for years and now offers contemporary American cuisine in an upscale setting at the Borgata, as part of his first East Coast venture. Enjoy truffled potato chips, spicy lamb chorizo pizza, or a prime burger from the tavern menu as a less-expensive dinner option. Or you can treat your taste buds and choose one of the many options from the main course on the fine dining menu.

Once you’ve had your fill of the action at the poker tables, take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite drink.

Gypsy Bar specializes in tequila but also offers an eclectic beer selection and compliments your drink with a roaring atmosphere of live music. The intimate space has seating at the bar, traditional pub tables, and comfortable armchairs for a lounge-type feel. Low lighting also helps to keep the mood mellow. Oh, and don’t be afraid to get a little crazy. Gypsy Bar comes complete with a dance floor allowing you to move your feet to the best sounds in town.

Never been to the Atlantic City or to the Borgata? Then MIXX is the first place to check out because it fully captivates what the Borgata is all about. As a performance-driven dance club, MIXX is home to some of the most renowned DJs and official concert after-parties. With its high ceilings, two levels, and plenty of VIP tables, MIXX has more of a mega club feel than its local counterparts. You will find trapeze artists swinging from the rafters, and celebrities passing through on any given night.

OK so maybe the club scene isn’t for you. Don't worry, because Borgata comes fully equipped with the most luxurious of spas on the east coast. Dedicated to undoing the effects of your day, Spa Toccare offers relaxing treatments guaranteed to exhilarate. It is definitely the place where tensions melt and knots disappear. Sounds like a typical effect from a 12-hour poker session. So emerge yourself into the comforts of their many services and elevate your well being, if even just for an hour or two.

Surely, whatever you choose to do while staying at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, you will be surprised to have a Las Vegas experience with an East Coast twist.

For a full schedule and more information about the venue, visit theborgata.com.

Article written by PokerNews' Pamela Maldonado

04-08-2014 15:51 UTC-4

Try, Try(ba) Again

[user253757]

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

The board read by the turn and Chris Tryba fired out a bet 2,625.

His opponent on the button had position on the dangerous pro, and after a brief tank he committed the calling chips to see the complete the board on the river.

Both players tapped the table on fifth street, and Tryba was the first to announce his holding with a quick shout of "sixes!" as he tabled the .

His opponent could only muster the for an inferior pocket pair, and the pot was pushed to the pro playing for a worthy cause here today:

christopher tryba @christryba

Its go time inda @BorgataPoker openin 1 Milly Gtd. 10% of my profits goin to my cousins @PeterTryba kidney fund!! http://t.co/Wi0N00QSPMApril 08, 2014

Reply Retweet Favorite

Follow @christryba

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Tryba	82,000 6,000	6,000

Tags: Chris Tryba

04-08-2014 17:18 UTC-4

Playing for Peter

[user253757]

Level 11 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Chris Tryba's cousin Peter is in need of a kidney transplant

Chris Tryba is an experienced poker pro who has played on the game's biggest and brightest stages, as the gold bracelet he won during the 2012 World Series of Poker proves.

Despite playing for - and winning - prizes well over the six-figure mark, Tryba is here today playing for what may be the most important reason in anybody's life: family.

His cousin Peter Tryba - a devoted husband and father - is in desperate need of a kidney transplant within the next 3-6 months. With organ donor lists notoriously long Peter is in a race against time, and who better to have on his side than a man who wins races for a living.

Chris has decided to donate 10 percent of his potential winnings from the Borgata Spring Poker Open to help fund his cousin's cause, a truly admirable move in a game where selfishness is often lauded as a virtue.

Peter's wife Rachel explained the situation further on a Facebook group page dedicated to finding a solution:

My husband Peter Tryba has suffered from chronic kidney disease (CKD) for the past 13 years. The condition is a result of an autoimmune disease called IgA nephropathy. His condition has been managed with medications to lower his blood pressure and keep his kidney function stable. Unfortunately he is now at the end stage of the kidney disease (ESRD) where his kidneys are only functioning at 13%. He will need a kidney transplant from a donor with a matching blood type (He is A+). We will be going to Tufts to meet with the transplant specialists and get put on a list of people waiting for donors. This can potentially take years to find someone. In the meantime, Peter will need to be put on dialysis, 3 days a week, for 3 hours a session in order to help boost his kidneys in eliminating toxins from his body. Peter is otherwise a young, healthy person who has done everything to manage his condition, but now he needs help. He needs a donor. I am willing to donate my kidney to my husband, but we have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and so I feel that I need to be there to care for both of them during this difficult time. The best option is for someone to volunteer. We wanted to let everyone know that this is what we will be going through in the next few months and would appreciate any information, support, guidance, or advice as we embark upon this journey. Thank you,

Sincerely,
Rachel & Peter Tryba

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Tryba	94,000 12,000	12,000

Tags: Chris Tryba