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$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day 1c Completed
2026 Borgata Big, Big Series
$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day: 1c
Players Left 143 / 483
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The $3,000,000 guarantee Event #10: $5,300 Big, Big Borgata Championship enticed players from all around the country to head on up to the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa here in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 171 entrants had filled the poker room leading into the day and a total of 312 found their way into play today, bringing the total tally for the event up to 483. As the dust settled, just 96 players put chips in a bag.
Day 1c Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Min | United States | 390,000 | 195 |
| 2 | Myles Mullaly | United States | 365,500 | 183 |
| 3 | Tony Sinishtaj | United States | 343,500 | 172 |
| 4 | Thomas Cannuli | United States | 328,500 | 164 |
| 5 | Daniel Iachan | United States | 308,500 | 154 |
| 6 | Tyler Hirschfeld | United States | 296,500 | 148 |
| 7 | Matthew Iles | United States | 285,000 | 143 |
| 8 | Daniel Lim | United States | 282,000 | 141 |
| 9 | Mike Dentale | United States | 276,000 | 138 |
| 10 | Anthony Ibrahim | United States | 263,000 | 132 |
Leading the way of the final flight is Jason Min, who bagged up 390,000. With over $1 million in recorded live tournament earnings, Min’s tournament prowess at the Borgata dates back many years. 16 years ago he finished in second place in the Borgata Spring Poker Open Main Event for $205,965. A late night clash with Nicholas Verderamo (46,500) saw him soar up the counts to end with the second biggest stack in the whole tournament, looking to etch his name deeper into Borgata poker history.
Also hovering towards the top are Myles Mullaly (365,500), Tony Sinishtaj (343,500), and Thomas Cannuli (328,500). They each hold a wealth of experience in battling for big titles and they will be aiming to add another one to their decorated resumes. Others that bagged up included Mike Dentale (276,000), Frank Funaro (187,000), Paul Volpe (157,500), Frank Lagodich (105,500), and 2017 WSOP Main Event champion Scott Blumstein (99,500).
Fortune did not smile on all equally today. Players like Nicholas Funaro, 2024 WSOP Main Event Champion Jonathan Tamayo, Matthew Higgins, and BetMGM Ambassador Michael Lavin were unable to find a bag at day’s end. Their last chance will come at the start of the day tomorrow where they will have one final chance to buy back into this tournament.
All of the 143 survivors of the first three flights will return to the Borgata Poker Room at 12:15 pm tomorrow, Tuesday September 22nd. They will be joined by a flurry of late entrants at Level 11 with blinds at 1,500/2,500, with a 2,500 big blind ante. Levels will last one hour each with a 15-minute break at the conclusion of every two levels.
That will conclude today’s coverage of Event #10: $5,300 Big, Big Championship. Be sure to check back in to PokerNews tomorrow for all of the exciting updates on the ground out here in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Players have bagged up for the night and are set to return at 12:15 pm tomorrow.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for full chip counts and a recap of today's action.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Jeremy Becker opened to 4,000 from middle position. Small blind David Pelosi bumped it up to 12,000, and Becker thought it through before calling.
The 6♣J♥A♣ flop was dealt, and Pelosi chucked out two T-25,000 chips, enough to put his opponent all in. Becker snap-folded.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The tournament floor has announced that just four more hands will be dealt before players bag up.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With a raise in front of him, the button three-bet to 11,000. Action folded to Christian Mazzarelli who moved all in for 34,000 effective and only the button called.
Button: K♦J♣ 
Christian Mazzarelli: A♠K♥
The board ran out 9♣5♣3♥7♦9♥ and the ace-king held up for Mazzarelli to continue his late night surge.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Andrew Ostapchenko got his last 20,500 into the middle preflop from the small blind. Cutoff player Frank Simone made the call to put him at risk.
Andrew Ostapchenko: 9♥9♦
Frank Simone: A♣K♠
Ostapchenko was reduced to just two outs on the 6♠K♦3♣ flop, and neither came on the J♥A♠ runout, as Simone made top two.
Ostapchenko has since re-entered.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Over a 20-year career, Carlos Chadha has experienced every poker player's dream and also worst nightmare. He’s sat with the game’s best and beaten them for big scores. He’s also gone years without winning anything, wondering if all the work and studying he was doing was worth it. He’s won millions in live tournaments, and had long stretches where the money disappeared. It’s a dichotomy that a poker pro who stays around long enough is well familiar with.
Through it all, Chadha has never lost the one thing he started with: his love of the game. The passion that keeps him coming back, the determination to put in long hours of study in an attempt to get better, paid off in a big way at the final table of the 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open $2,700 Championship.
Chadha came into the final table as a massive chip leader and, after just over three hours, took care of the rest of the field on his way to emerging on top of the 565-player field and capturing the $242,385 first prize after making a big river call against Maxwell Young on the final hand.
Borgata Summer Poker Open $2,700 Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Chadha Villamarin | United States | $242,385 |
| 2 | Maxwell Young | United States | $167,985 |
| 3 | Nicholas Verderamo | United States | $116,525 |
| 4 | James Tedrow | United States | $77,345 |
| 5 | Michael Renna | United States | $54,100 |
| 6 | Russ Dunlevy | United States | $42,975 |
| 7 | Andrew Porter | United States | $34,620 |
| 8 | Ricky Guan | United States | $28,160 |
| 9 | Mike Dentale | United States | $22,945 |
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Action was picked up on the turn with the board reading 6♥Q♦4♠4♣. Big blind Robert Klein checked to Tyler Hirschfeld on his left, who through out a bet of 9,000 into 26,000.
John Lytle, two seats to the left of Hirschfeld, put in the call, which sent Klein into the tank. After quite some time, he let his hand go
Hirschfeld didn't slow down on the 5♦ river, as he sized up to 17,000. Lytle thought for some time, before calling, prompting Hirschfeld to table Q♠J♥. Lytle showed the Q♣ before returing his other hole card face down.
