$2 million guarantee Borgata Winter Open attracts 766 players

The Borgata is one of the only US casinos that is going on the offensive to counteract the falling attendance numbers that have plagued US poker tournaments over the last two years. In late 2009 the Borgata dropped the buy-in of their WPT championship event from $10k to $3,500 and offering a guaranteeing prize-pool.

The decision worked out so well that the Borgata decided on a $3,500 buy-in for their Borgata Poker Championship with a $2 million guaranteed prize-pool. The event didn’t draw quite as many players as the WPT event –likely because of the WPT’s television exposure—but still exceeded their $2 million guaranteed prize-pool with 766 entrants; creating a prize-pool of $2,681,000.

Two preliminary tournaments at the tournament series were able to attract huge fields as well:
* The $400 NLHE Deep-stacks tournament saw an astounding 1,563 players take to the tables.
* The $200 NLHE with re-buys also drew over 1,000 players, with a final tally of 1,100 players.

With 27 players left in the Championship Event there are a slew of top professionals sitting atop the leader-board, including chip-leader Matt Matros who is followed closely by Lee Childs and Jeff Madsen.