Alex Queen Takes Down 2024 Borgata Winter Poker Open Main Event

Alex Queen topped the field in the main event at the Borgata Winter Open on Jan. 26 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Queen took home the top prize worth $613,063 to take his career earnings past $2.4 million, and it gave him a seventh tournament victory. This was also the largest single score of his poker career, and the Borgata specialist from nearby Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has booked all three of his largest cashes at the property.

Queen echoed the sentiment that the Borgata feels like a second home when he was interviewed by Poker.org live reporters after the win. "It doesn’t feel real, it’s just awesome. I always love coming here, staying here – good food, good poker room, good vibes,” said Queen.

He continued, "There’s nothing better than running deep in a live tournament. The endorphin rush, pure excitement, this is awesome … I couldn’t really sleep last night. I was just really focused on playing my best and trying to leverage stacks once I won that big hand. I’d give myself a seven out of 10.”

The $5,300 buy-in no-limit hold’em event attracted a field of 689 entries over two starting flights to create a prize pool worth $3,341,650 as the Borgata ramps back up as a tournament poker destination on the yearly calendar. The top 87 players all took home prize money worth at least $8,220 in prize money. Big names that made a deep run included Frank Lagodich (7th), Paul Volpe (8th), James Gilbert (11th), Jeff Gross (12th), Aaron Massey (14th), Matthew Wantman (15th), Keven Stammen (16th), Mike Linster (18th), and Michael Rossitto (20th).

Queen took the chip lead in one of the largest hands of the tournament near the start of the six-handed final table when his pocket aces topped the pocket kings of John Pannucci (it was later revealed on the live stream that World Poker Tour Champions Club member Anthony Zinno had folded pocket queens in the hand as well). The aces held to win the pot for Queen, and he never looked back from there.

Queen then took out Carlos Chadha-Villamarin in fifth place, Brian Yoon in third place, and ultimately fellow poker professional and Borgata regular Pannucci in the final heads-up match to snag the victory.

Queen ran his chip advantage up to a 10:1 ratio before the final hand was dealt, and the tournament’s fare was sealed when Queen’s A-4 dominated the 8-4 of his opponent and held. Pannucci took home $429,863 for the runner-up finish, and it was the largest score in his poker career as well.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

Photo Credit: Poker.org / Matthew Berglund

Related Articles

Zakarian Wins 2020 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open

Altman Headlines WPT Borgata WPO Final Table

Lima Tops Record Field In WPT Borgata WPO

Most Viewed Articles