Photo Recap: Day 1a of the WPT Borgata Poker Open

By BJ Nemeth

The official chip counts have been released, and with 193 players remaining (from a Day 1a starting field of 311), there are 11 players with more than 100,000 in chips.

1. Jeff Papola – 156,200
2. Giuseppe Pantaleo – 148,300
3. Allen Bari – 127,300
4. Alexander Kim – 114,525
5. Francis Lamothe – 110,725
6. Justin Scott – 110,700
7. Evan Jarvis – 108,500
8. Nick Grippo – 105,600
9. Behzad Manshoory – 105,300
10. Thomas Manning – 100,125
11. Matt Lombardi – 100,000

When the survivors return on Monday for Day 2, the blinds will be 300-600 with a 75 ante. The complete list of official chip counts are in a post below this one. Click here to go directly to the chip counts.

Here’s a photographic look back at Day 1b of the WPT Borgata Poker Open.

The WPT Borgata Poker Open Began on Saturday with 311 players in the Day 1a field. Last year’s winner Olivier Busquet (foreground, right) returned to defend his title, though at the start of play, cameras were focused on Amazing Race contestant Tiffany Michelle (background, center). Both players would survive the day, though with below-average stacks — Busquet with 29,100 and Tiffany with 20,450.

The Royal Flush Girls carried round cards through the field to announce the start of each level. Royal Flush Girl Melanie Iglesias walks the aisles at the beginning of Level 5.

The luck of the random table draws had brothers Justin and Adam Levy seated side by side. But family loyalties get tested when you wake up with pocket kings or pocket aces — Adam got the kings, and Justin got the aces. Justin had the better of it, until the [Kd] hit the river to give the Elder Roothlus a set to win the pot and cripple his brother. Justin was eliminated about 90 minutes later, while Adam survived the day with 9,625.

In addition to the Levy brothers, Nick and Michael Binger played on Day 1a, though they were seated at different tables. Like the Levy’s, one brother survived (Nick) and the other didn’t (Michael). Nick Binger was a contender for the chip lead late in the day, but lost some chips late to finish with 96,975.

Thomas Manning was the first player to approach the 100,000-chip mark after busting Mike Leah in a huge pot in Level 4. Leah turned the nuts — an eight-high straight — but Manning caught a runner-runner flush on the river when they got it all in. Leah was sent to the rail while Manning took the tournament chip lead with 97,000.

Close on the heels of Thomas Manning was Giuseppe Pantaleo, who also rose to the top of the chip counts in the middle of the day. By the dinner break, Giuseppe Pantaleo had taken the tournament chip lead, and he finished Day 1a in second place with 148,300. While this is Pantaleo’s first WPT event, he is continuing his success at the Borgata Poker Open — this young German player reached two final tables (finishing 3rd and 7th) so far this tournament series.

WPT Anchor Kimberly Lansing (right) interviews Maria Ho during one of the breaks. Maria explains why she played Day 1a even though she felt Day 1b would be the better strategy, and talks about her deep run at the WPT Bellagio Cup in July. You can watch the full video by clicking here. Maria survived the day with 43,150 in chips.

WPT Host Mike Sexton played his first World Poker Tour event of the season. Sexton rarely gets the chance to play on the WPT, but he made the most of Day 1a, finishing with 70,400 — well above the average stack of 48,300.

Like her Amazing Race partner Maria Ho, Tiffany Michelle got a strong start and was well above average for most of the day. But the tide turned a bit after the dinner break, and Tiffany finished the day with a below-average stack of 20,450.

Former WPT winner Stan Weiss quickly left the tournament area after losing an all-in situation. There was only one problem — he wasn’t eliminated. Weiss left the room before the chip stacks were counted down, or he would have seen that he still had more than 10 big blinds. Oops. This happened late enough in the day that Weiss’s stack actually survived without him (a "Vinny Vinh"), finishing the day with 3,600 left. In theory, Weiss could return on Monday to start Day 2 with 6 big blinds. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

By the end of the day, Jeff Papola rose to the top of the leaderboard, finishing with 156,200. Papola is playing well recently, finishing seventh in the WSOP’s Player of the Year standings with a bracelet victory and a second-place finish. Papola was fifth in chips at the dinner break, and didn’t break through as tournament chipleader until late in the last level. Papola was also involved in a controversial hand after the dinner break; it’s a bit complicated to explain here, but you can read about the hand by clicking here.

Day 1b begins tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:00 am ET, when a fresh batch of players takes their seats for a shot at a WPT final table. We’re expecting a larger field, and notable players like Gavin Smith, Chris Bell, and Kathy Liebert. Return to WorldPokerTour.com for complete live coverage, including chip counts and video interviews with Kimberly Lansing.