Event #1: $600 Deepstack Kick-Off Day 1a | 2020 Borgata Winter Poker Open

01-14-2020 13:25 UTC-4

One Year Ago, Zaklama Took the Title

Kaelaine Minton

Level 3 : 100/200, 200 ante

Pascal Zaklama - 1st Place 2019 BWPO Kick-Off

Last year's Borgata Winter Poker Open Kick-Off event drew a massive field of 5,130 entries, shattering the $2 Million Guarantee and putting more than $2.6 million in the prize pool.

The event ended with a three-way deal which gave chip leader Pascal Zaklama first place, $328,695, and the BWPO trophy. Not only was that his best live cash, it was more than 100 times his previous best live cash!

Although he was mostly unknown before that massive win, he'll certainly be recognized if he turns up to defend his title in this event!

Tags: Pascal Zaklama

01-14-2020 13:08 UTC-4

Wang and Rodriguez Sharing the Felt

Kaelaine Minton

Level 3 : 100/200, 200 ante

Yan Wang is a Borgata regular who made some noise in a couple of Kick-Offs last year. During the Borgata Poker Open in September 2019, he finished 27th for $5,509. That was in follow-up to his final table appearance in the same event during the Spring Poker Open, when he finished third for $85,236 (his best live cash).

Seated on his left is Norman Rodriguez, another Borgata tournament regular who also cashed in two Open series Kick-Offs last year. He made the money in both the September Borgata Poker Open and November's Fall Poker Open.

Both of these player have shown they've got what it takes to navigate a field with thousands of entrants.

Tags: Yan Wang Norman Rodriguez

Level: 3

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 200

01-14-2020 12:55 UTC-4

Sky Falls on Pocket Kings

Kaelaine Minton

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

In a confrontation between the blinds, the player in Seat 7 (small blind) was all in on a flop of with a quick call from Nicholas"Sky" Skyllas in Seat 8 (big blind). The small blind's had been thoroughly cracked by Skyllas' , which had slotted perfectly into the flop to make a jack-high straight.

It would take runner-runner to change things and the on the turn gave some hope, but the on the river sealed the deal. Seat 7 was felted and Skyllas has nearly doubled his starting stack, now playing about 48,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Skyllas	48,000

01-14-2020 12:45 UTC-4

Update Your Own Chip Count Using the PokerNews MyStack App!

Kaelaine Minton

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

PokerNews has activated the MyStack App for this event, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting blog using your iPhone or Android phone.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you’re involved in.
Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/100

Ante: 100

01-14-2020 12:15 UTC-4

BWPO Kick-Off is Underway!

Kaelaine Minton

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

Borgata Tournament Director Tab Duchateau completed the opening announcements and rule reminders, then issued the order to “Shuffle Up and Deal!” just a few minutes ago. Cards are in the air here in the Borgata Event Center, officially kicking off the 2020 Winter Poker Open! Late registration and re-entry are available until the start of level 13 (about 5:45 pm for Flight A). Late arrivals and re-entering players will start with a full 25,000-chip stack.

Players who bust out of this flight can re-enter this or any subsequent flight until registration closes (Unlimited Re-Entries). Those who don’t bust out and bag chips in any flight can also re-enter any subsequent flight (Best Stack Forward) without automatically forfeiting their previously bagged chips. Anyone who manages to bag chips in more than one flight will only take their largest stack into Day 2.

Players continue to arrive and take their seats as early action is underway!

01-14-2020 12:13 UTC-4

Don't Miss Borgata's $10,000 Quarterback Challenge

Chad Holloway

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

Test your accuracy in this skill-based throwing challenge for a chance to win real cash!

$10,000 Guaranteed
$20 Buy-In + $5 Fee (Cash only)

Enter for your chance to win the $5,000 grand prize! Participants will have 1 minute to throw 10 Wilson NFL mini footballs at four different targets from ten yards. The top 16 scores will advance to the final round.

One re-entry is permitted for Round 1. Participants must have a M life® Rewards Card

Date: Saturday, February 1, 2020
Location: Signature Room
Buy-in Location: Borgata Poker Room from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Tournament Times: Round 1 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. / Final Round TBD

The top four from the final round will win a portion of the $10,000 GTD prize pool, which could grow based upon the number of entries.

Projected payouts are as follows:

Place	Percentage of Prize Pool	Minimum Payout
1	50%	$5,000
2	30%	$3,000
3	10%	$1,000
4th	10%	$1,000
5-16	$100 Bonus Slot Dollars or $100 Match Play

Click here for more information.

Level: 1

Blinds: 100/100

Ante: 0

01-14-2020 11:45 UTC-4

2020 Borgata Winter Poker Open Kick-Off Getting Underway Shortly

Kaelaine Minton

All is quiet here in the Event Center as the final adjustments are made in preparation for the $2 Million Guaranteed Kick-Off of the 2020 Winter Poker Open! Registration is open out in the Event Center lobby at the top of the escalators and the doors to the tournament room will open shortly.

There are five starting flights in this Kick-Off Event, spread out over three days. Today’s first flight will get underway shortly after 11 a.m. once the starting announcements are completed.

The next four flights launch as follows:

1b: Wednesday, 11a.m.
1c: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
1d: Thursday, 10 a.m.
1e: Thursday, 6 p.m.

All players begin with 25,000 chip Deep Stacks and the first 15 levels are 30 minutes long. The plan is to complete all 15 of those levels on Day 1 before the bag and tag. The survivors of all five starting flights will return on Friday at 11 a.m. for Day 2, followed by the final day on Saturday, which begins at noon local time.