Alida Veliu had a great series at the WPT Borgata Winter Open! She started out by cashing 314th in Event #1. She went on to take down the Ladies Event. Then she finished 105th in the Main Event. (Phil Helmuth went out 101st). Her sister and roomie, Kujdes Gagliardi, won the Charity Series of Poker Event hosted by Matt Stout, while Alida was winning the Ladies Event. Two beautiful Borgata trophies went back to their hotel room on the same day!
Living in Wyckoff, New Jersey, the Borgata is 2 hours away from Alida’s home. She is married with two adult children who are her poker support system. As a Bookkeeper for the same company for 8 years, she’s good with numbers! She’s been playing poker seriously for twelve years with a six year hiatus for personal reasons.
She credits her girlfriend from Rhode Island for getting her into the game. Favorite poker book: Jonathon Little’s Excelling at No-Limit Hold’em.
Congratulations Alida!
“I play poker because it’s a game I’m passionate about. I love everything from the thoughtful deliberation behind each action to the ability to make a read on players in front of me. I will play the game with pure happiness anywhere, but there’s something about the Borgata poker room that makes me proud to call it my home turf. The usual players keep you in check and consistently challenge you and it’s all done in good spirit and a collective love for the game. The Borgata is where I played my first poker tournament and will always be the domain where I learned who I am as a player.”
Alida Veliu 1st Place $3,325.
154 entries
Prize Pool $15,400.
WPT Borgata Winter Open at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City
Director: Tab Duchateau
$120 No Limit Hold’em – Ladies Event #15
WPA POY Spotlight
By Ruth Hall