Big Names Still Alive at Borgata Poker Open

Brandon Novena has amassed over 3.3 million chips, vaulting him into the pole position at the World Poker Tour’s Borgata Poker Open. With just 27 players left to play, Novena leads a field that features several big names still in contention for the $733,802 first prize.

There are several amazing storylines and top players still in contention, some of whom have big stacks. John D’Agostino, who led the field going into the third day of play, is still looking strong in 4^th place with over 1.9 million chips. Jeff Papola is also doing well, with a stack of over 1.2 million chips leaving him in 11^th place.

But there are two stories that stand out as the field nears the final table. First is the amazing run by Olivier Busquet, who last year won the Borgata Poker Open. Busquet has over 1.6 million chips, putting him into 5^th place and giving him a realistic shot at making a second straight WPT Borgata final table. Both events featured over 1,000 entries – 1,018 last year, and 1,042 this year – making the achievement all that more amazing.

Another great story is that of WPT commentator Mike Sexton, who is currently in 19^th place with 640,000 chips. Sexton, who has been featured in World Poker Tour broadcasts in every season of the tour, has never before made the money at a World Poker Tour event, and it’s unclear what would happen in the broadcast booth should he make the final table.

But leading them all is the relatively unknown Novena. A search of the Hendon Mob poker database finds that Novena is from Pickerington, Ohio, and has one previous live tournament cash to his credit – a 10^th place finish at a $300 event during this summer’s Indiana State Poker Championship, which earned him $17,563.

Chances are that Novena will far exceed those winnings this time around. All 27 remaining players are guaranteed to win at least $15,009, with the prizes increasing significantly as the final table comes closer.

The Borgata Poker Open will conclude on Thursday, September 23^rd. The next stop on the World Poker Tour is the Fest al Lago at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, taking place from October 15-20.