By Sean Chaffin
After a busy month, the Borgata Winter Poker Open closes out the month for the WPT with a $3,500 buy-in and $3 million guarantee. The property is one of the most popular poker spots on the eastern seaboard and the event runs January 26-30.
The event is the second on the schedule with a final table set to be filmed for broadcast on FOX Sports Regional Networks. The final six players will compete for the title on April 1 at Luxor Las Vegas inside HyperX Esports Arena. Last year’s event featured 1,415 entries with 24-year-old Viny Lima adding his name to the Champions Cup and taking home $728,430.
Lima was mentored by 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Scott Blumstein, who cheered him on from the rail at Luxor in Las Vegas. The two met on the basketball court in Las Vegas and shared a love of poker.
“I was very fortunate to have good energy with me and ran good at good times, and when I was all in, I held up,” Lima said after the win. “I just battled and was very fortunate to have won this thing. It’s surreal and unbelievable.”
The event has regularly featured massive fields, some of the best on tour, since coming on the schedule in Season XII. That has topped 1,000 six of its seven years – with 1,244 in 2018 and 1,312 in 2017. Last season’s effort was the third-largest in WPT history and the biggest at Borgata.
Beyond the WPT championship event, the Borgata will once again be offering a packed schedule with events for players of every buy-in level. Those looking for bigger events will be pleased with a new event on the schedule. The $5,000 High Roller follows the championship on January 28 and offers players some nice post-WPT action.
Here’s a look at some of the other medium and bigger buy-in events:
- $600 Deepstack Kickoff (Jan. 14) – A nice way to start the series with a $2 million guarantee
- $500 Deepstack Black Chip Bounty (Jan. 17) – Het in the action for a mid-size buy in and $250,000 guarantee.
- $1,090 Six-Max (Jan. 24) – Some short-handed No Limit Hold’em with a $25,000 guarantee.
- $3,120 Heads-Up (Jan. 25) – A bracket-style championship with up to 64 players.
- $1,560 Purple Chip Bounty Semi-Turbo – Some fast-paced action with $500 bounties on the line.
The BWPO also features some nice action for those with lower bankrolls, with big guarantees for buy-ins in the $200-$400 range. Here is a look at a few of those:
- $400 Almighty Stack (Jan. 22) – Four starting flights and a $1 million guarantee.
- $340 Seniors Championship (Jan. 19) – A nice event for players 50 and over.
- $300 Deepest Stack (Jan. 20) – A big starting stack at a bargain price and a $200,000 guarantee.
- $400 Saturday Series Deepstack (Jan. 18 and 25) – Two big events, both with a $100,000 guarantee.
- $230 Deepest Stack (Jan. 31) – This even closes out the main schedule with yet another $100,000.
Those hoping for some mixed game action will also be in luck. Check out the $340 HOSE event on Jan. 18, $230 Pot Limit Omaha on Jan. 19, and the $340 Omaha Hi/Lo on Jan. 21.
All these events are only a few on the main 25-event schedule. Those with an even lower bankroll will also be in luck with the secondary schedule, offering 17 more events including satellites and other events starting as low as $150.
There’s something for every level of poker player and in New Jersey that includes legal U.S. online poker. While in the Garden State, players can play online at BorgataPoker.com for cash games, tournaments, and even BWPO qualifiers. Players can create an account and deposit from anywhere and then play after landing in Atlantic City. New Jersey also offers sports betting and a trip to the Money Line Sportsbook is the perfect way to make that Super Bowl wager.
It should be another big event in Atlantic City. The top-notch resort property offers great amenities, dining and cocktail options, poker, and service. Pencil in a few events on the calendar and be ready for action.
For more information on the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open, click here. For a complete look at the entire Borgata schedule, click here, and for the secondary schedule, click here.