Crema Leads Final Nine at Borgata Poker Open

Sebastian Crema holds the chip lead as nine players remain in the $600 Kickoff at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Casino

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a green felt poker table with a tower of chips and a distant seated silhouette in a warm-lit casino room. — Sebastian Crema holds the chip lead with nine players remaining in the $600 Kickoff at the Borgata Fall Poker Open in Atlantic City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Sebastian Crema finished Day 2 of the Borgata Fall Poker Open $600 Kickoff with the chip lead, 15,525,000 chips, leading the final nine players. Jason Simone finished second in chips after a comeback from 2,000 chips.

Why it matters

The Kickoff drew 1,862 entries, and the final table's prize pool of $899,200 makes the remaining nine players' positions significant for the Atlantic City tournament scene. The event shows how a large field narrows to a final table in a regional casino poker room.

Day 2 began with 152 players returning from 1,862 entries, and the final table prize pool totals $899,200 with a first prize of $163,000. The final table's ultimate results remain unknown until play resumes.

The players

Sebastian Crema

Sebastian Crema is a poker player who held the chip lead entering the final nine at the Borgata Fall Poker Open $600 Kickoff.

Jason Simone

Jason Simone is a New York City poker player who finished Day 2 second in chips after a comeback from 2,000 chips.

The details

Simone hit quads to bust an opponent during his comeback and won a flip with ace-king against Pahuja's jacks for more than 6,000,000 chips. Crema made a straight on the river to bust Mukul Pahuja in 18th place, while Simone busted Willard Hunt in 15th.

Day 2 of the Borgata Fall Poker Open $600 Kickoff concluded on November 8, 2026.
The final nine players return at noon local time on November 9, 2026, to compete for the title.

Industry Dynamics

The Kickoff's 1,862 entries reflect the sustained use of accessible $600 buy-in tournaments by Atlantic City casinos to fill poker rooms. This event sits within that model of large-field, mid-stakes live poker that has continued at the Borgata.

Readers can follow the final table live as PokerNews returns to cover play on November 9, 2026. Those interested in attending or following live tournament action can check the Borgata's poker room schedule for future events.

The takeaway

Large-field, low-buy-in tournaments can produce final tables with substantial prize pools, so players tracking these events should watch chip counts closely as blind levels rise. Following Day-by-Day results helps readers understand how short stacks and comebacks shape a final table.