Borgata Sees $1.5 million Poker Tourney Champ

“On Monday (the final 27) I used my monster chip stack to push the players around and knock them out; I came to the final table with the same strategy. Chris played so well and matched my aggressive play, so I adjusted. I started to lose some confidence as he took the chip lead in head’s up action, but I played my game and won the championship,” said Newhouse, who won his seat to the final table by winning a $1,000 satellite.

“I have come close in past WPT tournaments, but this was the first televised final table and I expected to win. I re-built my chip stack during the early rounds at the final table and put myself in the position to win, but this was Mark’s night. It is still great to take home over $800,000 and I will definitely be back at Borgata and other WPT events,” said McCormack, voicing his frustration on not coming in first place.

Newhouse brought $7,025,000 in chips to the final table while McCormack had $3,000,000.

The 2006 Borgata Poker Open broke attendance records and rewarded more money than previous Borgata Poker Open events. The WPT main event, featuring a prize pool of over $5 million, was the biggest tournament in Atlantic City's history.

In the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Event Vanessa Rousso found victory and beat 317 other players to bring home the top prize of $285,450.  Her win is one of the largest cash prizes won by a female poker player. As the flop hit the table and Rousso captured the championship, the crowd erupted in cheer for the elated Rousso. She commented said, “I can’t believe I won this championship. I travel all over with the World Poker Tour and Borgata is my favorite place to play. It has some of the greatest poker action and the best restaurants of any casino in the country.”

Rousso, who dominated for most of the day, had to duel fierce competition at the final table. She knocked out Cliff “Johnny Bax” Josephy, a top Internet pro and former Wall Street broker from Syosset, NY. Josephy took home $86,500 for his third place finish and was all compliments after the event saying, “This is the best tournament structure in the country with the best competition.” Doran Malinasky finished second taking home $151,375 for his second place finish.


The World Poker Tour action will return to Borgata in January 2007. The second annual Borgata Winter Open kicks-off on Wednesday, January 17 and ends Tuesday, January 30 with the final table. ($9,700 + $300 WPT Event Friday, January 26 – Wednesday, January 30). In the meantime, Borgata’s brand new, 85-table poker room, the largest in Atlantic City, will host $50,000 guaranteed daily tournaments each Friday at noon this October ($250 + $30 No Limit Hold ‘Em).

In the $2,500 buy in event, 317 players vied for a top prize of $241,713 and a Champion’s Rolex watch. Local Joseph Brooks of Egg Harbor Township, NJ defeated poker great Lars Bonding for the title. The field included former World Poker Tour Player of the Year, Eric “E-Dog” Lingren and Barry Greenstein.

“Borgata is my ‘home turf.’ I was the underdog at a final table of poker greats and it is difficult to explain how great it feels to win my first major championship at the Borgata Poker Open. I really appreciate all the fans and staff at the Event Center,” said Brooks.


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