Vanessa Rousso Wins More Than $280,000 at 2006 Borgata Poker Open

[PokerGoddess]

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 15, 2006 -- The major competition has arrived for the World Poker Tour championship at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The biggest names in the game are on-site and ready to battle for a million dollar first place prize, a sleek Rolex watch and a $25,000 seat at the World Poker Tour championship.

Vanessa Rousso stole the spotlight on Thursday earning her place in poker history winning Event 9, the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Event. Rousso survived the field of 317 top poker players to win the largest prize to date at the 2006 Borgata Poker Open taking home $285,450. Rousso's victory marks one of the largest cash prizes won by a female poker player and validates her position as one of the great tournament poker players.

As the flop hit the table and Rousso captured the championship, the crowd erupted in cheer for the elated Rousso. She said, "I can't believe I won this championship. I travel all over with the World Poker Tour and Borgata is my favorite place to play. It has some of the greatest poker action and the best restaurants of any casino in the country. I really liked SEABLUE and Specchio."

Rousso, who dominated for most of the day, had to duel fierce competition at the final table. She knocked out Cliff "Johnny Bax" Josephy, a top Internet pro and former Wall Street broker from Syosset, NY. Josephy took home $86,500 for his third place finish and was all compliments after the event saying, "This is the best tournament structure in the country with the best competition." Doran Malinasky finished second taking home $151,375 for his second place finish.

Although style of play differed from player to player, there was consensus on how well Borgata takes care of its players. According to Shawn Chaconas, who has traveled the world to play his way to poker prominence, "Borgata is hands down the best place for poker on the East Coast."

Borgata welcomed the World Poker Tour last night with a kick-off celebration at MIXX nightclub, where poker stars Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly invited others to play poker with them.
The World Poker Tour main event, which began today, is certain to ignite the interests of attending fans and media who are following the long road to crowning the 2006 Borgata Poker Open main event champion.
Fans can come and watch the World Poker Tour action throughout the next several days, with the final table taking place on Tuesday, September 19th, at 5:00 p.m.