We said yesterday that there was a chance that the 2011 World Poker Tour (WPT) Borgata Poker Open could break last year’s mark for the largest WPT event in history. “Reasonable shot” was the phrase we used. It looks like we didn’t have to sweat it at all, as the 1,313 total entries handily beat the 1,042 from 2010. Even if one takes into account the 143 players who re-entered the tournament on Day 1B, 2011 still beat 2010 by over 100 registrants. 786 players remain as the fields from both starting days combine on Tuesday, with just two players sitting behind chip stacks of more than 200,000.
The chip leader going into Day 2 remains Day 1A’s leader, Abe Korotki, with 260,100 chips. Jeff Madsen ended Day 1B on top and his 216,925 is currently good for second. Both players are freerolling the rest of the way, as there was a $5,000 prize for finishing as the chip leaders of their Day 1 flights.
The funny thing about Madsen’s chip stack is that it might not have ended that high were it not for some goading from his friend and last year’s WPT Champion, David Williams. Late in Monday’s Day 1B, Madsen got into a pre-flop raising war with another player at his table. Eventually, Madsen six-bet, putting his opponent all-in. After thinking about his next move for five minutes, the opponent folded and Madsen showed a surprisingly weak hand for such a bet, A-T offsuit. According to the live reports on the WPT’s website, another player questioned him, asking, “You really want to risk it there for the chip lead?”
To that, Madsen explained, “There’s some information you guys don’t know. David Williams texted me and said he hays 230,000. I didn’t believe him, then he took a picture of his stack. I have to try and beat him.”
As it turned out, Williams only had about 100,000 at that point. Who knows if Madsen really made those moves just to beat Williams, but it’s a funny story nonetheless. Williams did well from that point, too, finishing the day with over 150,000 in chips.
Jeff Madsen has had great success on the live tournament circuit since breaking in with a bang five years ago. At the 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he won two bracelets and came in third twice. At the time, he was the youngest player ever to win a WSOP bracelet and is still the youngest to win two in a single WSOP. He has also done very well at the Borgata, winning the Championship Event of the 2010 Borgata Winter Open.
Play will resume at the Borgata on Tuesday at 11:00am EST.
2011 WPT Borgata Poker Open Chip Leaders
1. Abe Korotki – 260,100
2. Jeff Madsen – 216,925
3. Vanessa Selbst – 198,675
4. Edgar Lemus-Argueta – 191,925
5. Darren Elias – 191,200
6. Will Failla – 189,500
7. Eric Salinas – 184,225
8. Adam White – 180,625
9. Jesse Cohen – 177,825
10. Jason Min – 174,000
