Alex Queen topped the sector in the primary occasion on the Borgata Winter Open on Jan. 26 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Queen took residence the highest prize value $613,063 to take his profession earnings previous $2.4 million, and it gave him a seventh event victory. This was additionally the most important single rating of his poker profession, and the Borgata specialist from close by Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has booked all three of his largest cashes on the property.
Queen echoed the sentiment that the Borgata appears like a second residence when he was interviewed by Poker.org dwell reporters after the win. “It doesn’t really feel actual, it’s simply superior. I at all times love coming right here, staying right here – good meals, good poker site, good vibes,” stated Queen.
He continued, “There’s nothing higher than operating deep in a dwell event. The endorphin rush, pure pleasure, that is superior … I couldn’t actually sleep final evening. I used to be simply actually targeted on enjoying my greatest and making an attempt to leverage stacks as soon as I gained that huge hand. I’d give myself a seven out of 10.”
The $5,300 buy-in no-limit maintain’em occasion attracted a area of 689 entries over two beginning flights to create a prize pool value $3,341,650 because the Borgata ramps again up as a event poker vacation spot on the yearly calendar. The high 87 gamers all took residence prize cash value no less than $8,220 in prize cash. Big names that made a deep run included Frank Lagodich (seventh), Paul Volpe (eighth), James Gilbert (eleventh), Jeff Gross (twelfth), Aaron Massey (14th), Matthew Wantman (fifteenth), Keven Stammen (sixteenth), Mike Linster (18th), and Michael Rossitto (twentieth).
Queen took the chip lead in one of many largest fingers of the event close to the beginning of the six-handed remaining desk when his pocket aces topped the pocket kings of John Pannucci (it was later revealed on the dwell stream that World Poker Tour Champions Club member Anthony Zinno had folded pocket queens within the hand as properly). The aces held to win the pot for Queen, and he by no means seemed again from there.
Queen then took out Carlos Chadha-Villamarin in fifth place, Brian Yoon in third place, and finally fellow poker skilled and Borgata common Pannucci within the remaining heads-up match to snag the victory.
Queen ran his chip benefit as much as a ten:1 ratio earlier than the ultimate hand was dealt, and the event’s fare was sealed when Queen’s A-4 dominated the 8-4 of his opponent and held. Pannucci took residence $429,863 for the runner-up end, and it was the most important rating in his poker profession as properly.
Here is a have a look at the payouts and POY factors awarded on the remaining desk:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1 | Alex Queen | $613,063 | 1,680 |
| 2 | John Pannucci | $429,863 | 1,400 |
| 3 | Brian Yoon | $277,123 | 1,120 |
| 4 | Anthony Zinno | $203,473 | 840 |
| 5 | Carlos Chadha-Villamarin | $155,387 | 700 |
| 6 | Casey Hatmaker | $123,875 | 560 |
Photo Credit: Poker.org / Matthew Berglund
