If you’re wondering where the really big names in poker are as the Borgata Winter Open continues, they’re down under at the Aussie Millions in Melbourne.

Guys like Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson and Erick Lindgren were in the mix this year for what is billed as the second richest poker tournament in the world and a $2 million first prize.

Gorr, photo by Cardplayer.com

And the winner is … David Gorr, a 68-year-old Australian who finally scored his first major tournament win.

The final hand saw Gorr win the tournament with two pair after his kc-4c outstayed England’s David Keys’ 7c-3c and he became the third Australian winner in a row of the Aussie Millions Main Event, according to SBR Forum.

The computer analyst also tells the Sydney Morning Herald,  “I will be at work during the day as it would be silly for me not to pop in tomorrow,’” he said. “I haven’t missed a day of work since 1976.”

The moral here is even though pros like Vanessa Selbst and Steve Dannenmann have been spotted at The Borgata, it’s anyone’s game.

And some people just don’t know how to relax.

There was a tremendous amount of action over the weekend at the city’s poker tables as we had a hit on the Caesars Entertainment combined bad beat jackpot and The Borgata Winter Open crowned a couple of champions.

Holly and Dominique

On Sunday, The Borgata Winter Open Championship got underway with Day 1A attracting 273 players in the $3,300 + $200 event. Last year’s winter open drew 766 players, so it’ll take a solid turnout for today’s second opening day, Day 1B, to keep pace.

Dwyte Pilgrim, winner of the Borgata Open in September was an early bust Sunday, so there’ll be no back to back Borgata wins for him. Another pro who hit the rail early was Matt Glantz.

Others in the field included Matt Affleck, Gavin Smith, Gordon Eng and A.C’s own Sheree Bykofsky.

Event 18 of the Open, an $1,850 buy-in No Limit, was won by Daniel Cai of Brooklyn, who had about $40K in tournament cashes before pulling down a $113,556 cash.

The event drew 226 entrants and a total buy-in of $418,000.

Cai took down the win when a queen, eight filled out on a board with queens and nines paired. Second went to Edward Pham of Lansdale PA, who wins $66,917.

Zaucha

The Open’s heads-up championship went to Brandon Zaucha of Chicago, who wins $34,920. It looks to be Zaucha’s first live cash. Not a bad place to start.

“It feels good to finally cash in a live tournament,” the Arizona State student, told the Borgata.

Zaucha just managed to make the tournament as the start was delayed by bad weather. He was the last player to register and was at a table 15 minutes later.

Second went to Timothy Tuveson of Berwyn PA, who wins $21,825.

As for the Caesars bad beat, we’re still trying to get the info, but the jackpot had climbed to $335,000. As we said in the weekend update post, whenever we mention it, the jackpot tends to hit.

It’s not to hard to figure out where the action is this weekend as the Borgata Winter Open winds down to its championship event Sunday. The $2 million guaranteed, $3,300 + $200 event splits Day 1 over Sunday and Monday.

Our weekend update girl, Shana Hiatt

Today’s big $1,850 buy-in tournament has brought out some big guns such as Gavin Smith, Dwyte Pilgrim, Christian Harder, Matt Affleck, Matt Brady and a bunch more, so you can expect a pretty tough field for the championship event with these guys in town.

You can get the main schedule here and the championship event structure here.

Satellites for the championship also get underway today with a $350 + $40 event at 7pm. Four satellites are scheduled for Saturday and three Sunday. Get that schedule here.

By the way, the heads-up championship is still underway and not down to two players. We screwed that up in an earlier post. What can we say? Friday afternoon.

As far as the bad beats go, the last time we noted that the Caesars Entertainment bad beat was getting big, it hit. Well, it’s getting big again at $335,800. The minimum hand is at four eights.

The Taj Mahal, which still pays the most traditionally, is also getting up there at $292,000. The Borgata is at about $178,000 for the full bad beat and the Tropicana was at $197,000.

Looks pretty high stakes this weekend. Good Luck.

If you’re looking for that big payday at The Borgata this weekend, apparently there’s no reason to come up with the $3,500 for the Borgata Winter Open Championship this Sunday. Or even the couple of hundred bucks for a satellite.

The stuff dreams are made of

Nope, fortune is in that penny jar you keep on the dresser.

Thursday, a player at the Borgata hit a penny slot progressive jackpot for just shy of a $5 million payout.

We’ll let that sink in. … penny slots … $5 million.

The amazing thing is that less than two weeks ago, another player hit a progressive penny slot jackpot at the casino for about $3.5 million.

Which is, you know, ridiculous.

Anyway, here’s the latest penny millionaire’s story from the Borgata:

A customer from Ocean County, NJ was playing a penny The Wizard of Oz™ Ruby Slippers progressive slot machine when five “progressive” symbols appeared on the payout line signaling a jackpot of $4,963,819.15. Earlier in the month, on January 16, another customer from Staten Island, NY was playing a “Wheel of Fortune”® penny progressive slot machine and won $3,491,146.57. Combining both jackpots, that’s $8,454,965.62 or 845,496,572, or nearly a billion pennies! Both winners chose to remain anonymous.

“Lightning struck twice in less than two weeks on our penny slot machines, said Joe Lupo, Borgata’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “And we couldn’t be happier. We’ve always said that Borgata is a lucky place to play. I’m sure that these two customers would readily agree.”

Meanwhile, the Winter Open Championship prize pool is guaranteed for only $2 million, which is way less than a billion pennies.

Go figure.

Amateurs and newcomers continue to have a strong showing at the Borgta Winter Open as only a handful of big name pros have been spotted.

Governa

For example, event 12 at the open a $170 + $30 Deepstack event, went to James Governa of Richboro Pa., who outlasted a field of 1,292 an takes home $46,870. Governa has a handful of smaller cashes on his record, mostly at The Borgata, including a second in the seniors event at The 2010 Borgata Open, which is the big WPT event thrown by the casino in September.

Second place went to William Hart of Martinsburg WV, who appears to be a true amateur. He wins $28,165.

The open also saw a strong turnout for Event 16, a $260 + $40 Deepstack that brought out 473 players and a total buy-in of $122,980. These are pretty good numbers for mid-week action and bode well for this weekend, which includes today’s big $1,850 + $150 No Limit event and Sunday’s start of the Winter Open Championship.

Stradley

The winner of event 16 was William Stradley of Boothwyn Pa who takes home $30,479. Stradley is an up-and-comer who has to love the Borgata, the site of his biggest cash. In 2009 he scored a 3^rd in one of the casino’s Deepstack extravaganzas, a more than $100K cash.

Like we said, of the Borgata’s four seasonal opens, the winter open seems the most open for newbie pros and amateurs to make a mark.

Today, Jan. 28, things start to get really hot at the open.

Here’s the schedule:

11A – Event 18: $1850 + $150 No Limit Hold’em

• 20,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 60 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

12P – Event 19: $300 + $50 No Limit Hold’em

• 10,ooo in starting chips
• Levels 1-4: each will last 30 minutes Levels 5+: each will last 40 minutes
• 1-day event

3P – Event 46: $300 + $50 Survivor NLH

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• approximately 1 in 10 will win $3,000 Cash
• 1-day event

7P – Event 47: $350 + $40 Championship Qualifier NLH

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 30 minutes
• approximately 1 in 10 will win entry into Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship event (January 30-February 4)
• 1-day event

Sunday is the big day for the $2 million guaranteed prize pool championship event at The Borgata Winter Open, with day one split between Sunday and Monday, Jan. 30 to 31.

Here’s a look at the blinds structure from Borgata.

General Rules

• Players will start with 30,000 in tournament chips.
• On-Site Registration for all Borgata Winter Open events:
  • Monday, January 17 & Tuesday, January 18:  9AM until 9PM
  • Wednesday, January 19:  8AM until end of Level 5 of this event
• Alternates and late-sign ups will be allowed to enter during the first four Levels.  Late sign-ups that require a new stack of chips to be placed on a table will have the equivalent of the small blind extracted from the stack every twenty minutes the tournament has elapsed.
• Each Level will last 75 minutes.
• Ten (10) minute break after every two Levels.
• This is a five-day tournament with two starting dates.
• Day1A & Day 1B end after Level 6 | Day 2 ends after Level 14 | Day 3 ends after Level 22 or when 27 players remain | Day 4 ends when 10 players remain | Day 5 Final Table plays to conclusion.
• Tournament Director will have final say in all matters concerning the length of play in tournaments.
• Redraw at end of each day.  Redraw for seats at 27 and 10 or at discretion of Tournament Director.
• Tournament Director decisions are final and without recourse.
• Borgata reserves the right to alter, change, or cancel tournament.  Borgata will not be held responsible in the event of typographical errors or misinformation on the website or printed material pertaining to this event, and players will not have claim in these matters.
• Seating may be limited.
• Residents of foreign countries without a U.S. tax treaty will be subject to withholdings.
• Total prize pool reduced by 3% for dealer tip pursuant to a new law enacted by the State of New Jersey

The seniors event at The Borgata Winter Open went to Mike Kessler of Spotsylvania VA, who outlasted a filed of 140. He wins $14,259.

Kessler

That’s only his second recorded cash, and just a little off the standard he set with his first cash. That was a $350,000 cash when he finished 17^th in the 2005 WSOP main event.

Long time between drinks, but we have a feeling he’s managed OK in the interim.

Second place went to Gary Brudner (University Park, FL) who was looking for his second seniors title (he won the summer open seniors title last year), but instead walked away with $7,842.

Despite the crummy weather, the open saw a surge in entries for Event 12, a $170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play No Limit tournament with 1,292 entries, which began Tuesday with Day 1B Wednesday.

The total buy-in is at $219,640 and the winner will get $46,870. Final play starts today with 199 players still going. The chip leader is William Hart of Martinsburg WV at 661,500. Play resumes at 1pm today.

And finally, the open’s seven card stud tournament brought out 49 players and a prize pool of $17,150. The winner was Lance Bacchia of Long Beach Island, He earned $7,486.

Like Omaha, the stud events don’t bring out huge fields, but kudos to The Borgata to offer the option.

Today’s schedule has been slightly affected by the snow (which hit Philly and inland areas much harder than at the shore). The heads-up championship has been moved back to a 1pm start.

Here’s the main event schedule for today.

Event 15: HEADS UP No Limit Hold’Em (Double Elimination)  $2,000 + $150

Day 1, Jan. 27 1pm

Day 2, Jan. 28 11am

Event 16: Deep Stack No Limit Hold’Em  $260 + $40

Jan. 27, 11am

Event 17: H.O.S.E.  $500 + $60

Day 1, Jan. 27 Noon

Day 2, Jan. 28 1pm

The WSOP has announced its schedule for 2011 and already its causing a little controversy.

The WSOP will have 58 bracelet events, up one from last year, and the $10,000 main event will begin July 7. The WSOP’s first event will be May 31.

Added this year is a $25,000 Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em Championship.

You can get the new schedule here.

As for the controversy, it’s pretty minor.

According to Pokernewsdaily.com:

One matter that drew a lot of criticism from some players was the adjacent scheduling of the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event (#4), which begins on June 2nd at Noon, and the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship (Event #7), which kicks off the next day at 5pm. The concern is that the two events are among the favorites of the pros and some may be forced to miss the Pot Limit Omaha World Championship if they’re still playing in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event.

You can read about this earth-shaking problem here.

And why are we giving you info on this, shudder, Las Vegas based tournament?

Well, there should be some pretty good satellite action at both Caesars and Harrah’s Resort in A.C. for the WSOP main event in the next few months.

And lets face it, The WSOP is kind of big and attracts a lot of AC talent, along with players around the country.

There’s just no use fighting it.

Monday’s can strike anywhere, any time. And this Monday, The Borgata open saw its lowest field for a daily main event when 101 players turned out for Event 11, a $300 + $50 Pot Limit Omaha – High tournament.

That’s good for a $30,300 prize pool.

Of course Omaha isn’t as popular as Hold’em, especially when it’s pot limit, but it’s always nice to see the game as an option even if it draws a small field.

Seymour

The event was won by Bill Seymour of Greenville NC who wins $8,817. Second went to pro “Miami” John Cernuto, who takes home $4,850.

Seymour is a poker coach and can be found at pokercoaching.com. You can catch some of his blogs on the tournament at the site.

Event 10 of the open, a $300 +$50, drew 340 players and a prize pool of $102,000. The winner was amateur Mark Saccucci of Oxford Pa. who wins $26.713.

It’s a crummy day in South Jersey and snow is expected tonight, but the open keeps rolling along. Hey, midweek January room rates are super low and the rooms are heated, so why not kick-in?

Here’s today’s schedule:

11A – Event 12: $170 + $30 Deep Stack Double Play NLH
DAY 1B $100,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool

• 2 Re-Entry
• 25,000 in starting chips
• Players that are eliminated (bust) within the first six (6) Levels may Re-Enter up to two (2) additional times
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minute
  Final Table: each Level will last 50 minutes
• 2-day event with two Day 1’s (Day 2 will start on Thursday at 1P)

12P – Event 14: $350 + $50 Seven Card Stud

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minutes
  Final Table: each Level will last 50 minutes
• 2-day event (Day 2 starts at 1P)

1P – Event 41: $500 + $50 Survivor NLH

• 12,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-6: each will last 30 minutes Levels 7+: each will last 40 minutes
• Approximately 1 in 10 will win $5,000 Cash
• 1-day event

4P – Event 42: $200 + $30 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH

• 1 Re-Entry
• 25,000 in starting chips
• Levels 1-10: each will last 15 minutes Levels 11+: each will last 30 minutes
• 1-day event

7P – Event 43: $150 + $30 No Limit Hold’em

• 10,000 in starting chips
• Levels last 20 minutes
• 1-day event

Dannenmann

Steve Dannenmann has been a pretty constant regular at Borgata Open events and with more than $4.5 million in tournament winnings is one of the biggest name pros, if not the biggest, seen at The Borgata Winter Open so far (especially with the Aussie Millions underway).

And he just picked up an open win last Friday.

Somehow Event 2 slipped by our report yesterday (OK, we forgot), but Dannenmann picked up $37,679 in the $300 buy-in tournament after busting out of the opening event.

The event attracted 521 for a $156,000 prize pool.

“Better than the World Series,” Dannenmann told The Borgata. “It’s different because it’s only two days and you do a lot more maneuvering to get to the final table.”

Pretty different money too, but OK.

It’s the 9^th time Dannenmann has a major cash at The Borgata.

Brown

There’s been a celeb sighting at the open. Kevin Brown who plays Dot Com on NBC’s 30 Rock, was in the house. Brown is in town for an event and decided to check out the poker action. He played in Event 8, a $400 Deepstack tournament, but didn’t make the bubble.

The event was won by Michael Castaldo of Palisades NY who takes home $57,665. The event drew a field of 619 and a prize pool of $247,600.

Event 7 of the open, a $350 buy-in, drew 338 entries and Event 10, a $300 buy-in, drew 340. That may not be spectacular fields, but considering the time of year, they’re respectable.

Today’s main events are:

Event 12: $100,000 guaranteed, No Limit Hold’Em (2 Re-Entry)  $170 + $30

Day 1A, Jan. 25 11am

Day 1B, Jan. 26 11am

Day 2, Jan. 27 1pm

Event 13: Seniors No Limit Hold’Em  $350 + $50

Day 1, Jan. 25 Noon

Day 2, Jan. 26 1pm