James Gilbert Leads Final Six at WPT Borgata Open

The majority of major poker events are known for having long, often drawn out late stages as the remaining players tighten their game as they try to make it to a final table. However, the second last day of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Borgata Poker Open Championship did not fit that narrative as play lasted just 10 hours – a short time in poker tournament terms.

A total of 1,027 entries were registered when the Championship got underway earlier this week, but that was chopped down to just 25 by the time Day 4 came along. While all of the remaining field played hard in their quests for a final table spot, 19 players were quickly eliminatedand the official six player final table was set.

Andy Andrejevic was the final table bubble after he was eliminated by Gilbert. After a series of pre flop re-raises, Andrejevic eventually moved all-in with Pocket Jacks and was promptly called by the chip leader, who had Ace Queen off suit.

Andrejevic remained ahead on the flop and the turn, and it appeared that he may have been able to double up. It was not to be, though, as Gilbert hit a Queen on the river to put the event down to its last six players.

The elimination boosted Gilbert’s stack to 9,650,000, which put him head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the table. Maurice Hawkins will be within striking distance, however, as he will enter the final day of play with 7 million chips to his name.

David Paredes led the remaining field when Day 4 got underway, but with 5,265,000 chips, he will enter the final table with the third largest stack. Joe Kuether (3,770,000) and Jerry Payne (3,025,000) will enter the last day of play with the fourth and fifthlargest stacks, while Roman Valetstein rounds out the remaining six with 2,155,000 chips.

The first player to be eliminated in tomorrow’s final table will leave with US$146,291, while third place stands to get a US$262,994 boost to their bank accounts. The runner-up will earn a respectable $434,598, but even that is dwarfed by the first place cash prize, which is set to be US$723,557.

Stay tuned for more updates on the WPT Borgata Open Poker Tour as all of the action takes place.