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$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day 1a Completed
2026 Borgata Big, Big Series
$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day: 1a
Players Left 76 / 131
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Chip Counts
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The first of three gruelling Day 1 flights in the $5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship has just come to a close, with Matthew Zambanini on top of the 25 players who found a bag at the end of play. His 235 chips converts to 94 big blinds for the start of Day 2 at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, and comes in at almost six whole starting stacks.
Of the 80 entries across the day, Max Young managed to bag up the second largest stack, as he takes 211,000 forward to the second day of action and is hot on the heels of Zambanini. Justin Arnwine rounds out the podium, as he put up an impressive performance to finish the day with 201,000 in his stack. Chip leading for the large majority of the day, his slight fall off will certainly not hinder him in the second day of play.
End of Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Zambanini | United States | 235,000 | 94 |
| 2 | Max Young | United States | 211,000 | 84 |
| 3 | Justin Arnwine | United States | 201,000 | 80 |
| 4 | Blake Vogdes | United States | 197,000 | 79 |
| 5 | Joe McKeehen | United States | 187,000 | 75 |
| 6 | Anthony Piacquadio | United States | 177,000 | 71 |
| 7 | Ketan Pandya | United States | 169,000 | 68 |
| 8 | Michael Gagliano | United States | 158,500 | 63 |
| 9 | Daniel Monosson | United States | 146,000 | 58 |
| 10 | Carlos Vizoso | United States | 141,000 | 56 |
Also alive at the end of Day 1a are Drew O’Connell and Michael Wang, who were involved in a three-way chop at the end of Event 10: $10,200 Big, Big Baller, and will be returning with 84,000 and 107,500 chips respectively. They are joined by Brock Wilson (118,000), champion of Event 7: $2,200 Big, Big Pot-Limit Omaha, as they all navigated the day through to the end.
Also in the mix is BetMGM qualifier Austen Yueh. The only lady to make it out of the first starting flight, she will be back with 101,000 in her stack for the second day of play. BetMGM ambassadors Michael Gagliano (158,500) and Darren Elias (101,500) will be joining her on September 22.
Multiple players with silverware already to their name this series came and went, with Andrew Chang, Aaron Pinson, and David Stefanski all firing into the first flight, but unable to stay standing until the end of play. Also knocked out prematurely were Matthew Beinner, Justin Vaysman and Jeremy Becker.
The 80 entries in Day 1a are expected to be joined by many more, as Day 1b will be taking place at 12:15 p.m. local time tomorrow, September 20. Yet again, blind levels will be 60 minutes apiece, and ten full levels will be played out before bagging up.
Make sure to keep up with PokerNews’ live updates across the rest of the Borgata Big, Big Series, as well as the remainder of this event.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Play has come to a close, as the final 25 players are bagging up their chips.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With play on the verge of bagging up, John McDonald opened to 4,000 on the button. Small blind Jeremy Flieder moved all in for 49,500, and James Calderaro made the call. McDonald let his hand go.
Jeremy Flieder: A♣J♥ 
James Calderaro: J♣J♦
Calderaro was dominating, but his mood changed instantly as an ace in the window of the 4♣Q♥A♥ flop fired his opponent into the lead. The Q♣10♣ runout changed nothing, as Flieder managed to survive the day.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The tournament clock has been paused with 10 minutes remaining, and the floor has announced that six more hands will be dealt before the end of play.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Ketan Pandya opened to 4,000 from early position. John McDonald flatted on his left, before James Calderaro and Joe McKeehen defended the small and big blind respectively.
Action checked through on the 8♠A♦Q♦ flop, and did the same on the 8♦ turn. The river Q♠ checked all the way to McDonald, who bet out for 12,500. Only McKeehen called, and his A♥2♥ won against the 5♠5♦ of his opponent.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Hamza Azim limped in under the gun, and Matt Glantz did the same on his left. Tom Wheaton called from the small blind, before big blind Anthony Piacquadio bumped it up to 10,000. Only Glantz called.
On the 8♠A♠10♣ flop, Piacquadio threw out a continuation-bet of 11,000. Glantz called, bringing in the 10♥ turn. The pair checked down, and did the same on the J♥ river. Piacquadio won with A♣3♣
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The very hand after tripling up, Tom Wheaton opened to 4,000 under the gun. Hamza Azim was two to his left, and moved all in for just shy of 60,000. Jiandong Xu called all in for less on the button, and Wheaton got out of the way.
Jiandong Xu: 9♥9♦
Hamza Azim: A♠9♠
Xu had found himself all in in back-to-back hands, but this time he was the one doing the dominating. Be that as it may, the 6♠A♦5♠ flop was absolutely brutal, as not only had his opponent hit one of his three outs, but he'd picked up a flush draw to boot.
A spade wouldn't come, but neither would a nine as the 3♦Q♦ runout secured Xu's fate, as he went from hero to zero in a matter of seconds.
