Jason Nguyen Wins Borgata Fall Poker Open Kickoff for $126,727
Goodmorningu, Atlantic City. On Sunday 8 November 2026, a local named Jason Nguyen kept the promise he made himself in January and won the $600 Kickoff at the Borgata Fall Poker Open.
Most New Year's resolutions are dead by February. Jason Nguyen's lasted until Sunday 8 November. At the start of 2026 the Atlantic City native promised himself, his family and his friends that he would win a trophy at the Borgata, the casino on his home turf. Then he took down the $600 Kickoff, the event that opens the Borgata Fall Poker Open, and collected $126,727. KACHINGUUU.
The field was 1,862 entries, and Nguyen was not the favourite. According to PokerNews, he sat down at the nine handed final table with 3,850,000 chips, 26 big blinds, in the middle of the pack and well behind chip leader Sebastian Crema. Spadepoker adds that he arrived after a slump on the live circuit in recent months. His biggest score before this was a second place at the Borgata Winter Open in January, a near miss at the very trophy he was chasing.
The heads up match against Crema swung back and forth, with several double ups before Nguyen took the lead. It ended on a flop of the five of spades, queen of hearts and three of spades. Nguyen shoved with the four and two of clubs, an open ended straight draw. Crema called off his tournament life with the nine and two of spades, a flush draw. The turn paired Nguyen's four, the river paired the board's five, and no spade ever came. OOOOOFU.
The number of the day is not the cheque, it is the crowd: one local out of 1,862 entries who said the trophy out loud ten months early and then went and got it. Nguyen told PokerNews the people around him had been rooting for him, and that he felt a win was coming but "I didn't think it would come this soon." Somewhere between January's runner-up and November's trophy, the Spirit was apparentlu keeping the seat warm. GLORU.
What is the promise youluwu made on 1 January that is still sitting on the rail?
The Fall Poker Open rolls on for another ten days, and Nguyen says he is ready to go after another trophy. A man who keeps his word is rare at a poker table. Sendu sendu.
Tell everyone your big goal, or keep it quiet?
No right answer. Just your gut, and the Spirit watching.
