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The World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open, currently being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is using an unusual format in which players eliminated on Day 1a are allowed to re-enter on Day 1b, so long as they’re willing to pay a second buy-in. Jeff Madsen, one of the early eliminations from Day 1a, took advantage of that rule to great effect on Day 1b. He’ll head into Day 2 with just under 217,000 chips, along with $5,000 cash just for leading the second starting flight.

Madsen was accompanied on Day 1b by 852 other entrants, 143 of whom were also eliminated on Day 1b before deciding to buy in an additional time. This brought the total contestant field to 1,313 with an incredible $922,441 set aside for the winner.

Several players weren’t as fortunate as Madsen. Dwyte Pilgrim, who won the Borgata Poker Open last year, bought in a second time, but was eliminated once again. Pilgrim was drawing dead to an open-ended straight, but received no help on the turn or river and fell to the pocket 10s of his opponent. Chris Klodnicki, Dan O’Brien and Allen Bari met a similar fate.

Some of the players that bought in for the first time on Day 1b and failed to make the Day 2 cut included Michael Mizrachi, Josh Brikis, Olivier Busquet, Nick Frangos, Steve Zolotow, Tony Dunst, Scott Selver, Brett Richey and Ryan D’Angelo.

Maria Ho, Matt Affleck, Robert Mizrachi, Mark Gregorich and David Williams all performed impressively and will return on Day 2 with dangerous stacks. Jennifer Leigh made the cut as well, though she’ll bring less than 6,000 chips to the third official day of action.

The 245 remaining players from Day 1a will join with 545 from Day 1b to form a total field of 786 on Day 2. Only the top 100 finishers will receive a money prize, with $8,386 reserved for 100th place.