East Coast Poker: Borgata Winter Poker Open, Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge and More
It sure is cold and snowy in the Northeast, but that only means there's plenty of fun to be had at the various tournament series that are coming up on the East Coast. Much like our Las Vegas Grinder article, PokerNews is here with your guide to the best series to grind. Coming up at the end of January and on into February are the Borgata Winter Open 2011 at the Borgata in Atlantic City, the Mega Stack Challenge XIX held at Foxwoods in Connecticut and the Presidents Day Holiday Special also held at Foxwoods. All of these series offer a range of events with extremely affordable buy-ins, so be sure to take advantage of it.
Borgata Winter Open 2011
The Borgata Winter Open 2011 runs from January 19 through February 4, 2011. Over 25 events are on the schedule and there's definitely a little bit of something for everyone. For the micro grinders, there are a few events within the $200 to $300 buy-in range. For those with a larger appetite, there are a few $500+ events including a $1,090 No-Limit Hold'em, a $2,150 No-Limit Hold'em Heads Up, a $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em and a $1,090 No-Limit Hold’em Six Max.
Then, January 30, the $3,500 Championship Event starts. Borgata always draws large crowds for these events, including the Championship Event, which has a massive $2,000,000 guarantee on it. Last year, Jeff Madsen took home $625,006 after besting a field of 766 runners to claim the title. Here's the schedule.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 19-20 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $500+60 |
| Jan. 20-21 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $300+50 |
| Jan. 20 | 12:00 p.m. | Limit Hold’em | $300+50 |
| Jan. 21-22 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $500+60 |
| Jan. 21 | 1:00 p.m. | Omaha Hi/Lo | $400+50 |
| Jan. 22-23 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $1,000+90 |
| Jan. 22 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $350+50 |
| Jan. 23-24 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $400+50 |
| Jan. 23-24 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Ladies Event | $260+40 |
| Jan. 24 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Turbo | $300+50 |
| Jan. 24-25 | 1:00 p.m. | Pot-Limit Omha | $300+50 |
| Jan. 25-27 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $170+30 |
| Jan. 25-26 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Seniors Event | $350+50 |
| Jan. 26-27 | 12:00 p.m. | Seven-Card Stud | $350+50 |
| Jan. 27-28 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Heads Up | $2,000+150 |
| Jan. 27 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $260+40 |
| Jan. 27-28 | 12:00 p.m. | H.O.S.E. | $500+60 |
| Jan. 28-29 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $1,850+150 |
| Jan. 28 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $300+50 |
| Jan. 29 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Six Max | $1,000+90 |
| Jan. 30-Feb. 4 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Championship | $3,300+200 |
| Jan. 31 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $500+60 |
| Feb. 1 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $300+50 |
| Feb. 2 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $170+30 |
| Feb. 3 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $260+40 |
| Feb. 4 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry | $200+30 |
Mega Stack Challenge XIX
On Feb. 4, 2011, another installment of the Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge comes around with six events. The buy-ins range from $120 all the way up to a $1,200 Main Event. Every time this series is hosted, great numbers turn out and the prize pools are very juicy. Every Mega Stack, Foxwoods brings in one or two big-name players to host the event and this time, there's a very special treat.
The entire 2010 WSOP November Nine will be hosting the Mega Stack Challenge XIX. That's right, Joseph Cheong, John Racener, Michael Mizrachi, Jason Senti, Soi Nguyen, John Dolan, Matthew Jarvis, Filippo Candio and champion Jonathan Duhamel will all be on hand. All nine will be playing a special November Nine Reunion Tournament on Tuesday, February 8. The tournament will be a $15,000 freeroll consisting of three tables. Playing alongside the November Niners will be 18 players to be chosen in a random drawing. To be entered into the drawing, all you have to do is finish in the money in a daily tournament or sit-n-go at Foxwoods. The more times you cash, the more entries you will receive.
The Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge XIX is your chance to meet and play with some of the best players in the world who were showcased on the greatest stage in poker last November. Here's a look at the schedule.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 4-5 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $530+70 |
| Feb. 6 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Deepstack | $175+25 |
| Feb. 7-9 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $260+40 |
| Feb. 9 | 6:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Special | $100+20 |
| Feb. 10-11 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $350+50 |
| Feb. 12-13 | 11:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Main Event | $1,090+110 |
Presidents’ Day Holiday Special
As if the Mega Stack Challenge XIX isn't enough to get your poker fix in New England, Foxwoods is also holding a Presidents Day Holiday Special. For three days, February 19 through 21, all regular daily tournaments are canceled in favor of the special events listed below. All the events have small buy-ins to accommodate many players, and more than one or two events are held each day.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 19 | 9:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | $80+20 |
| Feb. 19 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Bounty Deepstack | $125+25+50 |
| Feb. 19 | 6:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $100+20 |
| Feb. 19 | 8:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | $65+15 |
| Feb. 20 | 9:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em | $100+20 |
| Feb. 20 | 12:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $155+25 |
| Feb. 20 | 6:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Bounty | $105+20+25 |
| Feb. 20 | 8:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | $65+15 |
| Feb. 21 | 10:00 a.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Special | $350+50 |
| Feb. 21 | 6:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $155+25 |
| Feb. 21 | 8:00 p.m. | No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | $65+15 |
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