Borgata Winter Poker Open Plays to Final Table Today

The action is heating up at the Borgata Winter Poker Open (pun intended) as the field, already in the money, will play from 27 down to the final 6 today. The next 9 players out will all receive $27,694, while the one skilled and lucky player who finishes on top Tuesday will go home with a check for over $1.6 million.

David Matthew sits on top going into Monday’s competition with $1.455 million in chips. He is trailed closely by Joe Simmons with $1.38 million. Erik Cajelais, with just over $1 million, is in third, with Burt Boutin and Tony Salerno rounding out the top 5. Notables still alive are a trio of Johns, John Gale, John Phan, John Hennigan, as well as Chip Jett.

Boutin, in fourth place, got there in large part to perhaps the most dramatic hand of yesterday. Pre-flop, Bill Edler raised, and Boutin re-raised him with pocket Aces. Edler called and the two saw an all club flop of 7-6-4. Boutin immediately pushed, and after some thought, Edler called, showing pocket Jacks. Both had a club. A Jack on the turn put Edler in the lead with a set, but Boutin still had 10 outs – 8 clubs and 2 Aces. And one of those clubs did indeed hit on the river, giving Boutin the nut flush and a huge pot.

Play resumes Monday at 11:00am, as the field narrows to the final table of six.

Current Chip Counts

1. David Matthew -- 1,455,000
2. Joe Simmons -- 1,380,000
3. Erik Cajelais -- 1,046,000
4. Burt Boutin -- 982,000
5. Tony Salerno -- 968,000
6. Jon Turner -- 940,000
7. Arthur Azen -- 837,000
8. Curt Kohlberg -- 827,000
9. Alex Balandin -- 788,000
10. Jay Heimowitz -- 773,000
11. Ty Akbasli -- 686,000
12. John Gale -- 607,000
13. Chuck Kelley -- 599,000
14. John Phan -- 581,000
15. John Hennigan -- 555,000
16. Allan Lubin -- 536,000
17. Padraig Parkinson -- 531,000
18. Bill Edler -- 425,000
19. Kyle Burnside -- 391,000
20. Joseph Cappello -- 389,000
21. David Redlin -- 349,000
22. Chip Jett -- 341,000
23. John Racener -- 330,000
24. Will Failla -- 325,000
25. Michael Sukonik -- 237,000
26. John James -- 220,000
27. Mark Pnini -- 92,000

Originally published 2:54 PM Monday, January 29, 2007