2008 Borgata Poker gets off to a record-breaking start

The sixth annual Borgata Poker Open got off to an auspicious start last week when a record 1,192 players turned out for Event #1, a $300 No Limit Hold'em that drew a prize pool of $357,600 and a first-place prize of $77,170.

New Jersey native Daniel Apicella won the event, just a little more than a year after he won $107,360 with a win at the 2007 Borgata Summer Open in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event.

In fact, a number of Atlantic City regulars made their Borgata Poker Open debuts, including Mike Sica, Al Krux, Tom Coan, Tony Salerno, Davidson Matthew, Eugene Todd, Dale Pinchot and Lou Russo. According to northern New Jersey resident and Borgata Poker Open patron, Boris Kravets, players are glad to be back at Borgata and the excitement is high for a chance to play for Borgata's unprecedented $5 million guaranteed World Poker Tour Main Even, which will be contested Sept. 13-18.

"I'm happy to return and ready to take down my first Poker Open title," said Kravets, who recently played at the 2008 Borgata Summer Open. "I'm going to play in various events, so I'm hoping to do more than just make starter money, especially in the $5 million main event."

The tournament's second event – a $500 No Limit Hold'em event – was won by New York's Michael Dolan, whose previous best finish on the tournament circuit came in 2005 when he placed fifth in $500 No Limit Hold'em event at the Harrah's Atlantic City May Tournaments. Geffrey Klein of Houston took home the $150,712 first-place prize in Event #3, a $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event. Klein is a regular tournament player in Atlantic City and also has a World Series of Poker cash on his resume from 2005. Event #4 went to veteran Avdo Djokovic of New York, who took home $178,588 in the $1,500 No Limit event while Esther Fedorkevich of Tennessee prevailed in the $300 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Event #5.

Tournament officials are expecting the remaining events to draw similar big crowds and are urging players to register early. Tournaments begin at 11:00 a.m. For registration information, visit www.theborgata.com.