Event 1
Event 11 ‘Almighty Stack’ (Day 1D)
End of Level 17: Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000 ante
Total Event 11 Entries: 1,162
Total 1D Entries: 347
1D Players Remaining: 76
1D Average Stack: 457,000
Adi Lip – Flight D and Overall Chip Leader
Adi Lip annihilated this event’s leaderboard, bagging 2,168,000. That’s 700,000 more than any player bagged through the first three flights.
There were 76 players lucky enough to earn the coveted plastic bag. Here are the other big stacks bagging up this flight:
Kyle Harrigan – 1,270,000
Matt Wantman – 1,102,000
Julio Estevez – 1,004,000
Chad Rosow – 974,000
Brian Dougherty – 871,000
Ryan van Sanford – 870,000
Satish Surapaneni – 813,000
Joe Liberta – 770,000
The survivors of this flight will join the survivors of the other four flights for Day 2 on Thursday at 12 noon.
As mentioned earlier, the first week of the Fall Poker Open series is in the books and in total, ten FPO champions were crowned. Before we get into our Event 11 Almighty Stack coverage, we wanted to highlight and recap those events, starting with the opening $500,000 GTD event that played to completion on Friday.
Stephanie Hubbard returned for Day 3 of Event 1 with just a ten big blind stack and the old adage that it’s ‘not how you start, it’s how you finish’ certainly applied, as she caught heat at the final table en route to her first ever major tournament victory. Hubbard’s Event 1 win was also the first ever victory for a female player in any opening BPO event, coming after a few close calls during the last few September $2,000,000 GTD events.
While Hubbard was the opening event champion, the first trophy of this FPO series was technically won by Hermenegildo Trillo, who took down Event 2 Junkies Poker Open on Thursday. That win was good for Trillo’s best career tournament score, as he took home just over $14,500 for the victory.
A majority of the FPO schedule from the first week of the series was filled with No Limit Hold’em tournaments but the first mixed game event of the series was claimed by Giuseppe Pizzolato. Pizzolato won Event 3 ‘PLO High’ for just over $13,000 and his first career BPO title.
Event 4 ‘Black Chip Bounty’ is always one of the more well attended events throughout the series and is always a long, long grind. That grind was worth it for Kenneth Roberts, who took home the title and a nearly $23,000 score. Roberts claimed the first weekend trophy and the next few were claimed by some of the bigger names we’ve seen in the winner’s circle throughout this FPO series.
Mark ‘dipthrong’ Herm proved that nothing’s changed en route to his Event 6 $100,000 GTD ‘Saturday Series’ win, good for $50,000, and Barry Leventhal put Brooklyn on his back during his run to a second BPO title in the Event 7 ’40 Big Blinds Black Chip Bounty’. Leventhal’s win was good for a $13,000 score and adds to his trophy case, which includes a BPO ‘Seniors Event’ title.
That Event 8 ‘Seniors NLH’ trophy now belongs with David Hollenberg, who outlasted a tough field to take home his first major tournament title and now joins his son, Michael, as a Borgata Poker champion. While we’d have to consult with the BPO Historians, we imagine that has to be one of, if not the only, case of a father/son pairing each owning BPO trophies.
After Hollenberg took down Event 8, two more trophy winners were crowned before the weekend came to an end. First, Daniel Conway won Event 9 ‘Deep Stack’ for $13,000 and then, Juliette Maestre booked a win with her first career live cash, taking down Event 10 ‘Ladies NLH’.
We imagine that the rest of the Fall Poker Open series will provide even more great storylines and champions to follow and the FPO blog will be here to follow all the action, starting with today’s Day 1A Almighty Stack flight. For a complete list of results from the respective events, click the links above and for a complete recap of the action from each event, click the categorical tabs under the post’s title.
Level 36 (200,000/400,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 1
Average Stack: 44,000,000
Stephanie Hubbard – Fall Poker Open $500,000 GTD Event 1 Champion
Over the last few opening Borgata Poker Open events, there have been a handful of close calls when it comes to female players making deep final table runs. The last three September Borgata Poker Open $2,000,000 GTD events have seen their female players nearly claim titles, as Alida Veliu finished 3rd in 2013, Patti Haggerty finished 4th in 2014 and Jessica Dawley notched a 5th place finish in that same event this year. Stephanie Hubbard isn’t foreign to deep Event 1 runs either, as she notched a 10th place finish in this event during the 2014 Spring Poker Open.
Coming into today’s Day 3 session with just ten big blinds, Hubbard likely would have been happy just making the final table. After picking up an early double and winning another few sizable pots before the ten-handed redraw, there was no doubt that she was going to best that finish here today. A few hours into after that redraw, it looked like Hubbard’s title to lose, as she played nearly perfect poker, building her stack and then using that stack to notch the final five eliminations en route to her first ever major tournament title.
Opening BPO events aren’t the only tournaments that Hubbard has had close calls in before, as her career resume shows that she’s fallen just short of that elusive trophy more than a few times. In total, she has over a dozen final table appearances and we imagine that those close calls and this breakthrough was why Hubbard was so emotional about this massive win.
As soon as the final river card hit the felt, Hubbard was a wide range of emotions, celebrating with a mixture of excitement and relief. The excitement of a $160,000 score and the relief that all those near misses weren’t for naught. We’ve seen some supportive rails over the last few BPO series and Hubbard’s growing cheering section was there to share in the victory, making the win even sweeter for the part-time poker player.
That part-time status might change after this Event 1 win but it won’t change Hubbard’s schedule this week, as she’ll be back at the pharmacy that she runs bright and early tomorrow morning. She’ll return to her full-time job as the first ever female winner of a Borgata Poker Open opening event and while she said that she “always felt people questioned her abilities” prior to this event, after the win the only one question that really needs answering came from Hubbard’s roommate Christine Brewer.
“Where are we going to put the trophy?”
That concludes the FPO blog’s coverage of the $500,000 GDT opening Fall Poker Open event. The FPO blog will continue to bring you updates from Event 4 which is currently playing towards the money bubble and a complete Event 1 recap will be posted tomorrow morning.
Level 36 (200,000/400,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 1
Average Stack: 44,000,000
Matt Stout (Las Vegas, NV)
After starting this heads up battle with some heat, Matt Stout lost a few smaller pots to give Stephanie Hubbard another 5 to 1 chip advantage. While the ideas and rumblings of a comeback might have started to gain traction through the first few minutes of Level 36, once Hubbard regained her massive chip lead, there was no giving it up.
The final hand of Event 1 played out with Hubbard opening the button to 1,000,000 and Stout, in the big blind, calling to see a {Kh}{Qs}{4s} flop. He checked and Hubbard continued for 800,000. After some thought, and a quick inventory of his stack, Stout announced “all-in” and Hubbard snap called, standing from her chair in near tears before tabling {Ks}{Qh}.
“Nice hand.” Stout said before turning over his {Kd}{7c}, a huge underdog that needed running cards to save his tournament life. Those runners didn’t come, as the {9h} and {3h} completed the board and confirmed Hubbard’s Event 1 victory.
Stout was gracious in defeat and while he likely wanted to get his hands on an elusive Event 1 trophy, after finishing 2nd in April’s opening Spring Poker Open event, he won’t be complaining with another massive six-figure score. He’ll take home just over $100,000 and add to a lengthy tournament resume that includes well over $3,000,000 in tournament scores.
Level 36 (200,000/400,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 22,000,000
Matt Stout returned from the dinner break as an almost 5:1 dog but has battled back and is now playing just under 10,000,000.
Play over the first twenty minutes of Level 36 has been slow, as Stephanie Hubbard and Matt Stout have been more or less feeling each other out and playing smaller pots. The one real meaningful pot that did play out was contested on a board of {As}{Qs}{7d}, with Hubbard leading out for 600,000. Stout quickly called and then both players checked the {Qd} turn card.
The {Ac} double paired and completed the board and after Hubbard bet 1,200,000, Stout took a look at his stack before looking at the dealer to announce himself “all-in”. Hubbard quickly folded and showed {7s}{5s} for a flopped pair and flush draw that was eventually counterfeited.
A few more small increases to his stack has moved Stout up near the 10,000,000 chip mark and while he’s still second on the Event 1 leaderboard, he’s making ground and could be just one double up away from evening out this heads up tie.
Level 36 (200,000/400,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 22,000,000
Matt Stout and Stephanie Hubbard have returned from their dinner breaks and with Hubbard holding a sizable chip lead, these two will resume play with Level 36. With the big blind costing 400,000, Matt Stout returns with just under 20 big blinds, meaning that we could see some action right after the restart.
The Fall Poker Open blog will track these two until an Event 1 champion is crowned, with just shy of $160,000 and the FPO trophy awaiting the eventual winner.
Level 35: Blinds 150,000/300,000/40,000 ante
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 22,000,000
James Lillis road and up and down stack at the final table and after swapping double ups with Matt Stout, he was eventually short and then eliminated in 3rd place.
Stephanie Hubbard opened for 800,000 on the button, then James Lillis 3-bet to 2 million from the small blind. Matt Stout surrendered his big blind. Stephanie eyed James’ remaining chips, then called.
The flop fell {9d}{9h}{6h} and James said “1 million”. Stephanie called. The turn was the {2c} and James said “2 million”. Stephanie said “all-in” and James called all-in, showing {Ah}{ac} for Aces-up.
Stephanie rolled over {6s}{6d} for the flopped full house. Only an Ace on the river would save James, but a brick on the river brought his tournament to an end.
James Lillis finished in 3rd place, earning $65,189. He already holds three Borgata titles and has more than $220,000 in career tournament earnings. He was hoping to add another trophy to his case today, but he’ll have to settle for the nice payday he earned for his 3rd place finish.
That was the last hand of the level and the final two are off on a dinner break.
Heads-up play will begin with Stephanie holding 36,775,000 (92 big blinds) to Matt Stout’s 7,120,000 (18 big blinds). That’s a 5:1 chip lead.
Play will resume at 8:00 PM with blinds of 200,000/400,000 with 40,000 ante.
Level 35 (150,000/300,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 14,600,000
Matt Stout (Las Veagas, NV)
Yong Feng was eliminated with close to 40 minutes remaining in Level 35 and through that time, more or less nothing of note occurred at this three-handed final table until the last few minutes. Right before the dinner break, Matt Stout and James Lillis exchanged double ups while Stephanie Hubbard watched and increased her stack with aggressive pre flop play.
The first double was picked up with Hubbard, staying true to form, opening her button to 800,000. Lillis, who was in the small blind, then announced himself “all-in” and Stout, in the big blind repeated Lillis’ declaration. Hubbard quickly folded and it was a classic flip for Lillis’ tournament life, as he held {Qh}{Qd} to Stout’s {Ac}{Kd}.
The board ran out {Jh}{8d}{2h}{Qs}{5h}, giving Lillis the full double and moving himself up near the 10,500,000 chip mark. Stout was down to just under 3,500,000 and his ten big blinds quickly got in the middle in one of the very next hands, after he three-bet shoved and Lillis snap called.
“That was quick, you didn’t even ask for a count.” Stout joked before turning over {Ah}{2h}. Lillis had Stout dominated with {Ac}{Qs} but after the {Jd}{5s}{4h}{Kd}{3h} runout, he was doubling up through Lillis with a rivered straight.
That leaves Lillis and Stout more or less evenly stacked heading into the dinner break, which is set to begin in just a few minutes.
Level 35 (150,000/300,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 14,600,000
Yong Feng (Shanghai)
Final table swings can be brutal, as was seen earlier when Carlos Alvarado went from big stack to bust in a matter of a few hands, and another similar swing just occurred to send Yong Feng to the rail in 4th place.
The action leading up to the river bet was missed but on a board of {Kc}{Js}{2d}{5h}{5d} Feng bet 2,600,000 into an in position Matt Stout. Stout, who, at the time, had just over 7,000,000 in his stack, took his time before he eventually called. Feng could do nothing more than turn over {6s}{3s} for a ill-timed bluff attempt, as Stout called with {Kd}{Qd}, with top pair good to take potentially the biggest pot of the tournament.
When that dust settled, Feng was left with just over a 15 big blind stack and after getting a few shoves through, he finally got looked up, by the recent final table executioner, Stephanie Hubbard. After Hubbard opened the action, Feng moved all-in for just over 3,600,000 and after she got a count, she called to put Feng at risk.
It was a flip, as Hubbard held {2s}{2d} to Feng’s {Kh}{Qd}. The big stack faded the {7h}{4d}{3h} flop but after the {8h} fell on the turn, Feng picked up additional outs to a flush. Those additional outs didn’t help though, as the {6s} bricked on the river, locking up a third straight knockout for Hubbard.
Feng will make just under $55,000 for his Event 1 final table run and Stephanie Hubbard increases her lead on this final table, as she’s currently playing close to 22,500,000. Matt Stout is playing 15,000,000, leaving James Lillis on the bottom of the totem pole, with just under 8,500,000.
Play will resume three-handed with just 40 minutes remaining until the dinner break.
Level 34 (120,000/240,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 1,757
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 10,090,000
Matt Stout bottomed out over the last level and a half, getting as low as a ten big blind stack at one point. He’s now back up near the chip average and looks like he’s recovered from a tough hour of play.
After a more or less terrible Level 33, in which Matt Stout lost just shy of half his stack, it looks like he’s finally starting to recover after doubling and picking up a few smaller pots to get back up near the chip average. Stout’s double came in a blind versus blind encounter with Stephanie Hubbard, as the table folded to him in the small blind and he moved all-in for just under 3,000,000. Hubbard snap called and it was a flip for Stout’s tournament life, as he held {Ad}{Qc} to the big stack’s {5h}{5s}.
That flip more or less ended on the flop, as the {Qd}{Jc}{8s} flop shot Stout into the lead. His top pair held through the turn and river and Hubbard was sending a small percentage of her stack to the left, before admitting that she “didn’t want to double him up”. She did and that double seems to have giving Stout his mojo back, as he picked up a few smaller pots after that double using his awkward stack well pre flop.
We say awkward because prior to Stout’s double, he was clearly in a fit or fold position. After the double, he was in tough position, with a decent stack but one that wasn’t big enough to play a lot of pots and was too big to just open or three-bet shove. The experienced Stout quickly solved that problem by chipping up to just under 9,000,000. Aside from Stephanie Hubbard’s still leading 17,000,000 chip stack, the remaining three players are all extremely close.