Event 7: Break
Seniors have gone on a 15-minute break.
2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open
Borgata Winter Poker Open Side Events
Day: 6
Event 9: Olga Varkonyi Still Hanging Tough in the Ladies Event
As the wife of a former World Series of Poker Main Event champion, Olga Varkonyi is accustomed to her husband Robert receiving the lion's share of the coverage when the happy pair decides to play a tournament series.
Today, however, it's Olga who has managed to outlast her bracelet sporting hubby, as she has survived to reach the final four tables of Event 9 ($300 Ladies Deep Stack No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry).
Although she is currently short-stacked at the moment with around 38,000 chips (less than half of the average at this point in the night), her spirits remain high. After all, she knows better than most that anything can happen when a Varkonyi has a chip and a chair.
Event 7: "You Been Drinking?"
Alan Sansone got all in before the flop with 
against an opponent holding 
. The board ran out 
.
"Ah, we got a chop," Sansone said.
"You been drinking?" another player playfully asked, pointing out that Sansone had eliminated his opponent with ace-high.
"Ah, it's late," Sansone said. Indeed, the players have been grinding for 12 hours now. Sansone now has 230,000 with the blinds at 4,000-8,000.
An Interesting Dichotomy Shaping Up in the Side Events
While we've already covered the phenomenon of men playing in the Ladies event, and there are obviously plenty of Seniors competing in that tournament as well, we haven't seen a single woman competing in today's Senior event.
Perhaps the words of Alyson Parker proved to be prophetic, as she explained that most women prefer to play in the company of the fairer sex, rather than endure the pressure of a patriarchal environment.
Nonetheless, the fact that few - if any - women sat down to try their hand against the boys club struck our eye, so we'd like to pass along that nugget of information to readers.
Event 9: Novak Wins a Flip
Two players called for 3,000 from early and middle position, respectively, and Valerie Novak bumped it to 10,000 on the button. The first limper jammed, the next player folded, and Novak called.
Novak: 
Early position: 
We had a race on our hands, but nothing higher than a nine hit the board, and Novak now sits with around 210,000.
Event 9: Gina Saladino is Miss Slick
After spiking an ace with her on the 
board, Gina Saladino got it all in against another woman holding 
.
Saladino was fading the spade flush draw, and despite her opponent's desperate please for a fifth spade to fall, the river came to keep the big slick out in front.
With the win, Saladino now sits with around 106,000, good for nearly double the average stack at the moment.
Updates from Event 7 (Seniors) and Event 9 (Ladies)
Event 7 is currently down to the final four tables, with just 37 players left in contention.
In Event 9 (Ladies), there are 49 ladies left and the average stack is 67,000.
Early Bird Special
Both Event 7 (Seniors) and Event 9 (Ladies) are now on dinner break.
Play will resume in approximately 45 minutes.
Pigskin, Passing and Poker
While most major poker tournaments like the Borgata Winter Poker Open are defined by intense concentration, as players stare silently ahead and say little more than "nice hand" or "so sick."
Today, however, the mood is different on the tournament floor, what with the National Football League's Conference Championship games being broadcast on massive projections screens in all corners of the room. The tournament staff has graciously allowed for the full sound to be turned up as well, drowning out the usual eclectic mix of radio-friendly tunes serenading us from above.
After the New England Patriots recent defeat at the hands of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, the mood in the room is a bit somber at the moment, what with the region's residents largely aligning itself with their neighbors to the north. The NFC Championship game is set to start at any minute now, and we expect to hear cheers, shouts and catcalls throughout the next few hours that have nothing to do with the action on the felt.
Event 7: Leventhal Fires Huge River Bet
Four players saw the turn with the board reading 
. The first two players checked, and Barry Leventhal bet 7,500. The two players after him folded, and the last player made the call. The river brought a , and a check from Leventhal's opponent. Leventhal brought out the big guns: 67,000. His opponent couldn't muster a call, and Leventhal is up to around 225,000.