Frank Lagodich Leads Borgata Big, Big Championship’s Final 19
Lagodich brings 90 big blinds into the $3 million event, where $538,640 is reserved for the winner.
Frank Lagodich took the chip lead into the final day of the $5,300 BetMGM Poker Big, Big Championship at Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Day 2 reduced a 519-entry field to 19 players, with $538,640 awaiting the winner from a $3 million prize pool.
Lagodich bagged 2.25 million chips, or 90 big blinds when play resumed. Julian Altieri stood second with 1.88 million, followed by Thomas Cannuli on 1.745 million. Tyler Hirschfeld had 1.61 million, while Sanat Mehrotra, who won the largest pot of the tournament to that point, ended the night with 1.3 million.
Lucas Bernui returned with 1.165 million chips. David Kinane, Brock Wilson and Myles Mullaly rounded out a group of other million-chip or near-million-chip contenders, holding 1.005 million, 950,000 and 805,000, respectively.
The remaining players reached the money after Ben Bianco’s six-four offsuit beat Jason Ritchie’s aces, making Ritchie the bubble player. The minimum cash was $14,250. Daniel Iachan and Ari Katz each collected that amount, while Tony Sinishtaj earned $17,025 for 50th and David Stefanski, winner of the series’ Big, Big Baller, took $20,450 in 38th.
Three of the 10 BetMGM Poker qualifiers who began Day 2 remained in contention after 10 levels. BetMGM ambassadors Darren Elias, Esther Taylor and Michael Lavin all fell before the money, with Lavin eliminated by Justin Liberto in a three-out hand. Joe McKeehen also missed a cash.
As we reported when the championship opened, the event used three Day 1 flights, unlimited re-entry and 40,000-chip starting stacks. The $3 million guarantee was the largest in Borgata’s 11-event Big, Big Series, which carried more than $6 million in total guarantees.
Day 3 was scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. local time on Sept. 23 and play 60-minute levels until a champion was crowned.
