Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 690
Players Remaining: 63
Chip Average: 220,000
Thomas Pollina (Long Beach, NY)
Thomas Pollina (Long Beach, NY) has been playing poker since the days of the United States Poker Championships, which used to be hosted at the Taj Mahal. In fact, his first recorded cash came during that series in 2003, when Pollina finished in 15th place during a $500 No Limit Hold’em event ($1,002). Since that cash, Thomas has amassed tournament earnings of $47,263, including a runner-up finish in a $1,000 No Limit Hold’em event during the 2009 Borgata Summer Poker Open ($29,580).
“We hear that you’re the king around these parts,” we said to Pollina during the break, as he looked up and smiled.
“Who told you that,” he asked.
In a direct message from Thomas’s daughter, she asked kindly that we approach him and say those words. Kris Pollina is clearly Thomas’s number one fan, and we’d have to guess that she’s his favorite daughter.
Kris went on to tell us about some medical issues that Thomas has been dealing with, but couldn’t contain her excitement when hearing how well her father was doing in the tournament. During the break after the bubble burst, Thomas had over 350,000 in front of him…one of the top ten stacks in the room.
Not only are we happy as bloggers to keep family updated on their interests from afar, but we’re even happier to see Thomas where he belongs…playing poker here at Borgata, and in the money!!! We wish the best to Thomas as he continues to fight the good battle, and look forward to seeing him again and again.