WPT Borgata Winter Open Final Table Preview

Jared Jaffee goes for his second WPT title in 10 weeks later today in Atlantic City…

JAFFEE TRIES TO DOUBLE UP

Three years ago, Jared Jaffee (GPI#78) wasn’t even able to buy a win on the World Poker Tour … now, he’s gunning for a second victory in a little over two months. Prior to the 2013 season, Jaffee’s best season on the circuit was in 2010 where results included a pair of WPT Final Tables – at the Southern Poker Championship and at the Legends of Poker – but Jaffee would not able to seal the deal.

Fast-forward to 2013, where Jaffee started the season ranked outside the Top 1000, but a late season victory at the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Fall Poker Scramble would allow the New York pro to finally get that monkey off his back and earn his first major title on the live tournament circuit.

Jaffee will attempt to become the sixth player in WPT history to win twice in the same Season. A win for Jaffee would enter him in a exclusive club that includes Gus Hansen, Erick Lindgren, Daniel Negreanu, Howard Lederer and Tuan Le.

PAREDES LEADS, JATTIN ON A HEATER

Jaffee will have a tough time trying to reach the top of the podium for a second time in Season XII. The chip leader coming into final table play is well-respected veteran David Paredes (GPI#84), who is one of two players with chip stacks north of 9M. Like Jaffee prior to his November WPT win, Paredes is looking for that elusive first major title. Paredes has had a few close calls at the WSOP – he finished 90th in this past year’s Main Event.

Paredes is also coming off strong performances at WPT Montreal in November and the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in December.

The hottest coming player coming into today’s final table has to be Farid Jattin (GPI#3684) who won the Isle Poker Classic just a few short weeks ago in Pompano Park, Florida. Jattin would collect the biggest cash of his career in Florida … however, that is about to change as today’s windfall will eclipse that total, no matter where he finishes.

Here is a closer look at the final table participants: 

[table id=802 /]

›› SEAT 1  |  VLADISLAV MEZHERITSKY

• Finished 38th in 2010 EPT Grand Final for biggest score to date (€ 35,000)
• Finished 26th at WPT Borgata Poker Open in 2006 ($16,631)
• Seven of 11 career cashes have come at Borgata in Atlantic City
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $16,631 USD in earnings

›› SEAT 2  |  JARED JAFFEE

• Won WPT Jacksonville bestbet Fall Scramble in November ($252,749)
• Finished 3rd in 2013 WSOP 4 Handed event ($129,447)
• Making his fourth career WPT Final Table appearance
• WPT Career: 1 win, 4 final tables, 6 cashes, $515,594 USD in earnings

›› SEAT 3  |  ANTHONY MAIO

• Finished 4th in 2012 Borgata Summer Open ($55,022)
• Earned a 33rd place finish in 2013 WSOP Millionaire Maker event ($32,882)
• Collecting his first WPT cash in this event
• WPT Career: 0 cashes, $0 USD in earnings

›› SEAT 4  |  ROBERT MURELLA

• Collecting first cash of his career
• WPT Career: 0 cashes, $0 USD in earnings

›› SEAT 5  |  DAVID PAREDES

• Recently finished 28th at WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond ($26,039)
• Finished 5th in 5K event at 2010 Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza ($184,816)
• Made the QF of the 25K Heads-Up Championship at the 2011 WSOP ($138,852)
• Earned 90th place finish in 2013 WSOP Main Event ($71,053)
• WPT Career: 7 cashes, $164,290 USD in earnings

›› SEAT 6  |  FARID JATTIN

• Recently won the Isle Poker Classic in Pompano Beach, Florida ($147,160)
• Finished 2nd at 2011 Borgata Summer Open ($117,481)
• Only WPT cash was at WPT Jacksonville in 2012
• WPT Career: 1 cash, $16,263 USD in earnings 

Catch the live stream of the WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open, featuring Tony Dunst, starting at 4:30pm ET (30 minute delay) over at WPT.com. If you prefer immediate info, the live events team will be blogging hand-by-hand coverage.