Day 2 Set to Start, Sprint to the Finish Line Begins
After four starting flights were held over three days and nights, a total of 2,482 entries and reentries were recorded in this $560 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed No-Limit Hold'em Tournament. Kicking off the Borgata Spring Poker Open in style, the event attracted more than enough players to meet the guarantee, and judging by the overall turnout here any concerns over last January's chip counterfeiting scandal have been alleviated. This feat is attributed widely to the strict new security measures put in place by respected Tournament Director Tab Duchateau and his dedicated staff, measures which are cutting edge in terms of protecting the integrity of the game.
Heading into today's crucial Day 2 - where the 529 remaining runners will play without the benefit of reentries - Tommy Martone holds the biggest stack in play with 366,500. He has several players nipping at his heels though, including Kevin Grabel (353,500), Kirkor Tekneci (333,000), Matt O'Flynn (315,500), and Tuan Vuong (311,000).
Among the notable names, local legends and touring pros to bag a stack after their starting flight were Darren Elias (199,000), Scott Baumstein (124,500), Anna Khait (105,500), Greg Ostrander (95,000), Ted Goldbergh (91,000) and Anthony Maio (80,500).
The names who tried and tried again, ultimately falling short of their goal, include Micah Raskin (who managed to fire at least a dozen bullets without hitting his mark), Cecilia Doyle, Daniel Buzgon, John D'Agostino, Steve Dannenmann, Russell Crane, Jamie Kerstetter, Timothy Little, Joseph Stiers and 88 year old Dr. Stanley Graham.
With Day 2 set to start at 12 noon local time, be sure to keep it here throughout the day as the remaining 529 runners attempt to build on their momentum and make a deep run in search of that elusive six-figure score.