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$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day 2 Completed
2026 Borgata Big, Big Series
$5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship
Day: 2
Players Left 9 / 519
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 20
: 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
All eyes are now on the final day of competition in Event 10: BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship, as Day 2 has come to a close with a total of 19 players bagging up at the end of play.
Those 19 are the only survivors from a field of 519 that was generated over the past four days at Borgata Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City. Not only will their minds be on the glory, but also the first-placed prize of $538,640 that stems from the massive $3,000,000 prize pool.
Frank Lagodich is the player who leads the way into Day 3, having bagged an impressive 2,250,000 as play closed, which is good for 90 big blinds at start of play tomorrow. Trailing by a little way, but still claiming the second placed spot is Julian Altieri (1,880,000). Thomas Cannuli rounds out the podium, and will be bringing a total of 1,745,000 when play resumes tomorrow.
End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank Lagodich | United States | 2,250,000 | 90 |
| 2 | Julian Altieri | Argentina | 1,880,000 | 75 |
| 3 | Thomas Cannuli | United States | 1,745,000 | 70 |
| 4 | Tyler Hirschfeld | United States | 1,610,000 | 64 |
| 5 | Matthew Iles | United States | 1,375,000 | 55 |
| 6 | Sanat Mehrotra | India | 1,300,000 | 52 |
| 7 | Lucas Bernui | United States | 1,165,000 | 47 |
| 8 | David Kinane | United States | 1,005,000 | 40 |
| 9 | Paul Volpe | United States | 980,000 | 39 |
| 10 | Brock Wilson | United States | 950,000 | 38 |
Incredibly, from the ten BetMGM Poker qualifiers that sat down at the beginning of Day 2, three still remain among the final 19, after each putting up incredibly strong showings across the 10 levels that were played today.
Sanat Mehrotra won the biggest pot of the tournament so far, and bagged up an incredible 1,300,000. Tyler Hirschfeld (1,610,000) was the chip leader of the three, and Lucas Bernui (1,165,000) will be joining them both for the final day of play.
Alongside the qualifiers, names such as David Kinane (1,005,000), Brock Wilson (950,000), and Myles Mullaly (805,000), will all be looking to secure a victory to round off their series.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $538,640 | 7 | $79,100 |
| 2 | $373,775 | 8 | $64,585 |
| 3 | $263,150 | 9 | $53,865 |
| 4 | $175,080 | 10-11 | $42,095 |
| 5 | $122,850 | 12-15 | $34,940 |
| 6 | $97,865 | 16-22 | $29,345 |
Many faces came and went before making the money, including BetMGM ambassadors Darren Elias, Esther Taylor, and Michael Lavin, who suffered an unfortunate three-outer at the hands of Justin Liberto to send him home.
Also unable to secure a min-cash of $14,250 was WSOP Main Event Champ Joe McKeehen. Nicholas Palma, Cherish Andrews, James Calderaro and Kharlin Sued were also among those unable to make it to the bubble.
It was Jason Ritchie who earned the unfortunate title of bubble boy, as his aces were cracked by the six-four offsuit of Ben Bianco to lock up an in-the-money finish for the rest of the room. Shortly after came an onslaught of eliminations, including Daniel Iachan (64th - $14,250), start of day chip leader Ari Katz (59th - $14,250), WPT Champ Tony Sinishtaj (50th - $17,025), as well as Event 6: $10,400 Big, Big Baller victor David Stefanski (38th - $20,450)
Action is set to resume at 12:15 p.m. local time on September 23, with Day 3 playing down until just a single player remains. Levels will remain at 60-minutes apiece, with a shiny piece of both MGM and Borgata silverware ready to be handed out.
Stay tuned as PokerNews continues to bring constant live coverage from the final day of the Borgata Big, Big Series, as all Day 3 updates will be available right here.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
On the very last hand of the night, Aubrey Williams opened to 40,000 from late position. Big blind Brock Wilson moved all in, and Williams double checked her cards before making the call.
Aubrey Williams: A♥Q♥ 
Brock Wilson: A♠K♦
It was a late night cooler, and the board ran out 9♣4♦3♣K♠J♠ to have Williams dead on the turn, and spell the end of her tournament.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Brock Wilson opened to 45,000 from early position. Boris Vaynberg moved all in for 300,000 from the small blind, and Matt Salsberg called all in for 100,000 from the big. Wilson folded.
Matt Salsberg: A♦9♦
Boris Vaynberg: A♣K♣
The A♠5♠7♣ flop was no help to Salsberg, and he lost an out on the 3♠ turn. The 10♥ river secured his fate, as he headed home shortly before bagging.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
The clock has been paused with ten minutes remaining, and four more hands will be played before bagging.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
David Kinane raised to 40,000 in the hijack to see Alan Sternberg jam 335,000 in the cutoff. Frank Lagodich called on the button and Kinane folded.
Alan Sternberg: J♠J♣
Frank Lagodich: Q♥Q♦
The board ran out A♥9♠3♥5♦3♠ and the queens held up for Lagodich to take down the pot while Sternberg took his leave from the tournament.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Daniel Lim moved all in from the cutoff for 125,000. Tyler Hirschfeld called from the small blind.
Daniel Lim: Q♦J♥
Tyler Hirschfeld: A♥2♣
Lim was behind, and the 8♦8♥6♦3♣5♦ runout offered him no help, as he made his way to the payouts desk.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Frank Lagodich opened the action from early position with a raise to 40,000 and picked up three callers.
On the K♠6♦8♣ flop, Anthony Piacquadio was first to act from the small blind and moved all in for 395,000. Lagodich got out of the way, bringing the action to Myles Mullaly, who thought it over before announcing an all-in of his own. Jason Min folded, and the two players went to showdown.
Anthony Piacquadio: 8♠6♠
Myles Mullaly: K♣Q♦
Piacquadio had flopped two pair, while Mullaly had top pair and a few outs to improve. The J♣ landed on the turn, followed by the 10♣ on the river.
Piacquadio's two pair held strong, securing him the double-up.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Dale Roesel opened to 40,000 in the hijack and Matthew Iles raised to 115,000. Roesel four-bet to 255,000 and Iles jammed for 690,000 to see Roesel call.
Matthew Iles: Q♠Q♣
Dale Roesel: J♠J♥
The board ran out J♣9♠8♥10♠4♥ and the set of jacks were second best against Iles' queen-high straight.
