Goldman & Dannenmann
The final table of the Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship is filled with heavy hitters as the event is just ten players from awarding the title, the trophy and the $542,771 first prize. Marc Goldman (Easton, PA) is the chip leader with 4.2 million, while WSOP Main Event runner-up Steve Dannenmann continues to be a short stack ninja.
Goldman says that, "making this final table with these legends," is the greatest accomplishment in his poker career. The 23 year old is currently unemployed and is an amateur player.
He'll be up against Dannenmann, who finished second to Joe Hachem in 2005, and two players who hold WSOP bracelets in Brock Parker (2) and Jeff Papola (1). These three have combined to win $8 million in career tournament earnings.
While Parker and Papola are 4th and 5th respectfully in chips with ~2.5 million, Dannenmann has been at the bottom of the chip counts the entire tournament. He's 9th out of 10 players with 687k and only has 13 big blinds.
Dannenamann began Day 4 26th out of 27 players and after Day 2 was 111 out of 119 remaining players.
"I had to cancel all my appointments for tomorrow," said Dannenmann who's a full time CPA. He added that poker is only a hobby and that he only plays in 15-20 big tournaments a year.
While Dannenmann has been nursing a short stack, Goldman has enjoyed a big stack most of the tournament and holds a 1.2 million chip lead over Nick Manfredo, who's second. Goldman had the chip lead after Day 2, was second after Day 3 and heading to the final table once again has the lead.
He got Day 4 started when he knocked out Borgata regulars Dan Buzgon (3rd, 2011 Borgata Poker Open) and Amanda Musumeci (62nd, 2011 WSOP Main Event) as a lot of familiar faces hit the rail. They included, Dave "Cold Stone" Inselberg (27th), Buzgon (24th) Charlie Townsend (23rd), Musumeci (22nd) and Brent Hanks (19th).
Also at the final table is Josh Mancuso, John Zoldak, Sam Berstein, Christian Iacobellis and Cedric Adam. Iacobellis was 10th in the 2010 Borgata Poker Open, while Adam returns as the short stack.
Play resumes noon Friday with blinds at 25k/50k/4k ante.
Final Table
Name-Chip Count
Marc Goldman - 4.213 million
Nick Manfredo - 3.042 million
Josh Mancuso - 2.647 million
Brock Parker - 2.534 million
Jeff Papola - 2.459 million
John Zoldak - 2.34 million
Sam Bernstein - 1.877 million
Christian Iacobellis - 1.672 million
Steve Dannenmann - 687k
Cedric Adam - 598k
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