2026 Borgata Big, Big Series
Chip Counts
The players have taken their seats and cards are in the open.
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200
The third and final flight of the headliner at the Borgata Big, Big Series is up and ready to take place. Today at 12:15 p.m. Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa plays host to the biggest event on the series calendar, as Day 1c of Event #10: $5,300 BetMGM Big, Big Championship gets underway.
Over the course of the past two days, a total of 171 entrants have traded $5,300 for a starting stack of 40,000 chips, and just 47 of those have already secured a place in Day 2. On top of them all is Ari Katz (393,000), who speedran his way through Day 1b, bagging almost ten starting stacks after just four levels of play.
Slightly behind is Alejandro Herrera (374,000), and Victor Ramdin completes the podium, although he has some catching up to do. Matthew Zambanini (235,000) earned the title of Day 1a chip leader after an extremely solid showing. Max Young (211,000) and Justin Arnwine (201,000) slightly trail.
Combined Day 1a and 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ari Katz | United States | 393,000 |
| 2 | Alejandro Herrera | Spain | 374,000 |
| 3 | Victor Ramdin | United States | 304,000 |
| 4 | Julian Altieri | Argentina | 288,000 |
| 5 | Uke Dauti | United States | 276,500 |
| 6 | Matthew Zambanini | United States | 235,000 |
| 7 | Max Young | United States | 211,000 |
| 8 | Justin Arnwine | United States | 201,000 |
| 9 | Blake Vogdes | United States | 197,000 |
| 10 | Anthony Ambroselli | United States | 194,000 |
With this the last Day 1 flight of the Big, Big Championship, all the names without chips in the bag are expected to join the field today. BetMGM Ambassadors Michael Lavin and Esther Taylor may well register into the flight, along with players such as Jonathan Tamayo, David Stefanski, Jeffrey Gibson, and Jeremy Becker.
Blinds begin at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante, and a total of ten 60-minute levels will be played out before the day’s end. 15-minute breaks are scheduled after every second level, and a 75-minute dinner break is set to take place following Level 6. Late registration remains open until Day 2.
Never Miss a Moment with MyPlayers on PokerNews
Stay closer than ever to the action with MyPlayers. This brand new, free feature on PokerNews puts your favorite poker players front and center. Whether you're keeping tabs on poker's biggest stars or following a friend grinding their way through a Day 2, MyPlayers delivers real-time updates tailored just for you.
No subscriptions, no paywalls, just the hands, chip counts, and bustouts that matter most. It’s simple: log in, search for any player in our live coverage, hit the star, and they’ll be added to your personalized MyPlayers list. You’ll see their progress across all live-reported events, with chip counts and updates pinned right where you need them at the top.
From railbirds to backers, MyPlayers is the smarter way to stay connected to the game.
Stay tuned as PokerNews beings you all of the exciting updates live from Atlantic City.
$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day 1c Started