Event 16: Benisty Leads $1K

$1000 + $90 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

 Benisty Comfortable at the Top

Michael Benisty (New York, NY) says this is only the third poker tournament he's ever played, so it's no surprise that the $1,000 tournament of the Borgata Summer Poker Open is the highest buy-in he's ever played.

So far, so good.

The derivatives trader who hails from Paris, France is on top of the chip counts with 308k as the final 18 players are all in the money and have bagged and tagged for the night.

"I'm playing well," says the Frenchman, who says he's only gotten serious about poker in the last year after he won a Friday tournament at Borgata, the first he every played.

The hand that vaulted Benisty into the chip lead was a 130k pot against Dan Walsh when he check-called every street.

"I felt I had a good read," says Walsh, who was confident that his opponent wasn't holding an ace with a better kicker.  "It seemed like he wanted to give up the last barrel, but he fired anyway and I called."

Benisty is confident heading into Day 2 as all remaining players are guaranteed a minimum cash of $1,761 as they chase the top prize of $35,210.

"I'm going to play my game," he says, as play resumes noon Sunday. "I'm not going to run the table or be the sheriff. When I have a hand I won't be afraid to push."