NY native Dwyte Pilgrim wins Borgata Poker Open

BROOKLYN NATIVE WINS LARGEST EVER WPT® BORGATA POKER OPEN

Championship Event Attracts Record 1,042 Players; Generates $3.4 Million Prize Pool

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (September 24, 2010) – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa announced today the winner of its record-breaking 2010 WPT Borgata Poker Open which drew 1,042 poker players – the largest turn-out for a Borgata Poker Open championship event and the largest field in the history of the World Poker Tour while generating a prize pool of $3,438,600.

When the dust settled, 28 year-old Brooklyn, NY, native Dwyte Pilgrim emerged as champion, taking down $733,802 and the Borgata Poker Open title. Pilgrim got his start in Atlantic City. He played cash games at the Taj Mahal in 2007 and moved to Harrah's when he focused more on tournaments in 2008.

Pilgrim, who has 20 World Series of Poker (WSOP) cashes for over $450,000 and three gold rings faced a strong field that featured two former WSOP Main Event Champions in Jerry Yang (2007) and Robert Varkonyi (2002), a WSOP Runner-up in Steve Dannenmann (2005) and the third place finisher from 2006 in Michael Binger. Other participants included WSOP Bracelet winners Gavin Smith, Steve Zolotow and Jason Young, as well as actor James Woods.

“It feels surreal right now, a lifetime of hard work was set in stone today,” said the poker pro, who outlasted the record-breaking field, including runner-up, Kia Mohajeri for the win. “I felt I was in a good spot at all times. Even when I was behind, I felt this guy was going to have to get lucky to beat me.”

On the final hand, Pilgrim’s king-high straight trumped Mohajeri’s two pair to give the visibly emotional competitor the title.

“I feel like Babe Ruth,” said Pilgrim, who fell to the floor in tears after he clinched the title. “He struck out a lot, but he also hit a lot of home runs.”

The WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

To view a recap of the event and results visit www.theborgata.com and follow all of the action on Twitter @BorgataPoker.