November Niner Back at Borgata

Borgata Winter Poker Open

 Collins Performing at Borgata

 
Before Phil Collins the poker player became known as Phil Collins the November Niner, he spent plenty of days at Borgata.  Collins, who won $2.3 million dollars with a 5th place finish in the 2011 WSOP Main Event, is back here playing in the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

"I love poker and have fun playing where the best events are," says the 26 year old who's now a Las Vegas resident.  "Borgata gets big fields, big prize pools and has great structures. It's good value."

Collins, whose shared name with musician Phil Collins has been well documented, began playing poker in his freshman year at the University of South Carolina.  While learning the game, Collins made trips to Atlantic City and played his poker at Borgata

"I used to come up here and stay for a week or two," says Collins, who's played in two events in preparation for the $2 million guaranteed Championship event.  "It's a great hotel with good food and poker. There was no reason to leave."

While playing the six-max tournament Collins has been catching up with friends and Borgata regulars like Matt Brady and Christian Harder.  "He's always been a good player," says Brady, "he's made the transition from on-line to live and has done really well. He's one of the good guys with his head on straight."

On his run through the WSOP Main Event, Collins got a huge following from loyal supporters who belted out lyrics to the other Phil Collins' hit song, In the Air Tonight. The television broadcasts showed a raucous crowd supporting the likeable young pro. 

While the November Nine noise has died, Collins' success and exposure follows him where ever he plays.  "In the past I was a nobody. Now players have a different perspective of me," he says, "I have to adjust my game, just like everyone does. Sometimes it works, sometimes it backfires."

In addition to the tournaments Collins is playing the $10/$25 NL cash games, but his main reason for making the trip with fellow pro Brent Hanks is to play in the Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship.

"The structure is really deep and will attract another great field. It's just like a $10k event, I'm looking forward to it."