A total of 1,181 entries were recorded for the 2012 Worlds Poker Tour (WPT) Borgata Poker Open (some individuals registered more than once thanks to the reentry/rebuy format the tournament is using) swelling the total prize-pool to nearly $3.9 million and putting the first-place prize-money at a healthy $818k.

Despite some healthy competition from other poker tournaments going on around the globe, including another WPT event on the island of Malta, the Borgata Poker Open managed to better last year’s attendance mark by 50 entrants; a very good sign for poker.

The ability to rebuy during the first four levels was a new wrinkle added to this event, but unlike a traditional rebuy tournament, players who wanted to fire another bullet had to go up to the cage and basically re-register for the event, where they were assigned a new seat.

The poker pros were out in force for both starting days, with big names like Brian Lemke, Jonathan Little, recent WPT Grand Prix de Paris winner Matthew Salsberg, Darren Elias, Tony Dunst, Barry Greenstein, and Carlos Mortensen all landing near the top of the leader-board after their Day 1 flights.

Here is a look at the leaders from Day 1a of the WPT Borgata Poker Open:

1. Robert Boyko – 173,100

2. Kyle Frey – 168,250

3. Chad Power – 158,250

4. Michael Melkerson – 148,900

5. Lloyd Mandel – 147,575

6. Barry Greenstein – 144,250

7. Darren Elias – 137,525

8. Shawn Cunix – 133,000

9. Tony Dunst – 125,100

10. Carlos Mortensen – 123,825

Here are the leaders from Day 1b of the WPT Borgata Poker Open:

1. Brian Lemke – 272,575

2. Kyle Bowker – 201,000

3. James Poper – 185,100

4. Vadim Bulavchik – 160,000

5. Carl Pipitone – 150,000

6. Mike Holm – 135,225

7. David Pham – 130,225

8. Matthew Salsberg – 122,600

9. Jonathan Little – 117,775

10. Jean Gaspard – 108,850

Some other notable names that managed to make it through to Day 2 were Jeff Madsen, Cliff Josephy, Matt Glantz, Olivier Busquet, Allen Kessler, David Williams, Allen Cunningham, Eric Baldwin, Dwyte Pilgrim, Cherish Andrews, Andy Frankenberger, Joe Cada, Harrison Gimbel, Victor Ramdin, Will Failla, and Mike Sexton.

110 players will walk away from the Borgata Poker Open with cash in hand (but several are likely to still be down a few thousand dollars from their rebuys and reentries. Here is a look at the final table payouts for the tournament:

* 1st place: $818,847

* 2nd place: $488,850

* 3rd place: $298,950

* 4th place: $250,065

* 5th place: $206,821

* 6th place: $167,337

Day 2 of the tournament will get underway at Noon local time, with about 625 players having weaved their way through their Day 1 flight to reach Day 2.

 

Tags: Attendance Mark, Barry Greenstein, Boyko, Brian Lemke, Carlos Mortensen, Cliff Josephy, David Pham, Grand Prix De Paris, Island Of Malta, Jeff Madsen, kyle bowker, matt glantz, Mike Holm, New Wrinkle, Poker Pros, Poker Tournaments, Poper, Prize Pool, Salsberg, Worlds Poker

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