Event 14 (Day 4)
Event 14 The $2500+$200 Championship Event drew a total of 489 entries creating a massive prize pool of over $1,185,000. Travis Hartshorn who came into Day 4 with the chip lead only relinquished it for a brief period of time as he went wire to wire for the win.
Hartshorn’s Day 4 got off to a lightning fast start as he flopped a set of fives against the aces of David Vamplew who was sent to the rail in 11th place. This hand left Hartshorn with a mountain of chips early and he never looked back.
Harthshorn sent home player after playe and eventually found himself heads up with New Jersey pro David Johnston. rTo say his heads up match with David Johnston was a battle would probably be an understatement.
The two players played heads up for six hours and at one point Johnston who came into play a 2-1 under had a slight chip lead. It didn’t last long as Hartshorn kept his composure and quickly regained the chip lead thanks to his big slick. Johnston was then chipped away at and Hartshorn was able to win the final flip holding pocket eights against the king jack of clubs of Johnston.
His previous largest career tournament cash was just under six figures when he won the Parx Big Stax 300 in October for just over $98,000. The $302,978 is Hartshorn’s largest career tournament cash and his first six figure live score. Hartshorn also takes home The Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship trophy in what was surely a heads up match for the ages.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 32: (80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
David Johnston (Absecon, NJ)
Travis Hartshorn chipped away at David Johnston and he was left with just 800,000. On the final hand of play Travis Hartshorn moved all in and Johnston made the call.
Hartshorn turned over {8d}{8s} and Johnston would need to improve holding the {kc}{jc}. They saw a flop of {qd}{7s}{5h} and it was no help to Johnston. The turn brought the {7c} and Johnston was now just one card away from elimination.
The {6d} hit the river to seal the deal for Hartshorn and the two players shook hands. After a marathon session of heads up play Johnston is our runner up taking home his largest career score of $174,909 here in The Fall Poker Open Championship.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 32: (80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
Travis Hartshorn (Sarver, PA)
Just as we were putting up the last post a big pot took place and it was Travis Hartshorn who came out on top. Hartshorn took nearly 4,000,000 from David Johnston when his {ad}{kc} bested Johnson’s {ac}{qh} on an ace high board.
Hartshorn is now back in front with a comfortable chip lead of around 11,000,000 to the 3,700,000 of Johnston.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 32: (80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
The players continue to trade chips here in The Championship Event. After five and a half hours of play David Johnston (right) has closed the gap and the stacks are nearly even. Both players are just over the 7,000,000 chip mark so it’s still anybody’s game as Travis Hartshorn and David Johnston continue their memorable heads up war.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
End Of Level 31: (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
David Johnston (Absecon, NJ)
David Johnston raises to 250,000 and Travis Harshtorn reraises to 575,000. For the first time in this heads up match we see a four bet from Johnston and he makes it 1,200,000. Harshtorn makes the call and both players check when the dealer spreads the 
flop.
The turn brings the 
and Harshtorn checks to Johnston who bets 800,000. Harshtorn calls and both players check when the 
hits the river. Johnston turns over 
for a pair of aces and Harshtorn mucks his hand. The stacks have evened out a bit as we near the fifth hour of play in this heads up battle.
David Johnston- 6,600,000
Travis Harshtorn- 8,070,000
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 31: (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
The heads up battle between Travis Hartshorn and David Johnston is now passed the four hour mark. The two have continued to exchange chips but it’s Hartshorn who’s held on to the chip lead. Below is a look at the updated chip counts from our final two players here in the Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship.
Travis Hartshorn- 10,470,000
David Johnston- 4,200,000
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 31: (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
David Johnston (Absecon, NJ)
The players see a flop of {5c}{6s}{8c} and Travis Hartshorn checks. David Johnston tosses out a rather small bet of 125,000 and Hartshorn check raises to 425,000. With the action back on Johnston he moves all in for his last 2,275,000.
Hartshorn quickly calls turning over {7c}{2c} for an open ended straight draw and flush draw but will need to improve against the {Ks}{kh} of Johnston. T
he turn {10d} and river {jh} are no help to Hartshorn and Johnston earns the pot and the double up. The heads up battle continues as the players are giving it their all as they fight for the $302,978 first prize and the BPO trophy.
David Johnston- 5,100,000
Travis Hartshorn- 9,570,000
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
End Of Level 30: (50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
Travis Hartshorn (Sarver, PA)
The players see a flop of {4s}{4d}{2c} and Travis Hartshorn checks to David Johnston who bets 175,000. Hartshorn check raises to 450,000 and Johnston makes the call.
The turn is the {8d} and Hartshorn checks to Johnston who bets 500,000. Hartshorn tanks for over a minute and eventually makes the call. The {2s} hits the river and Hartshorn checks.
Johnston checks back and Hartshorn turns over {4c}{3c} for trip fours which is good to earn him the pot. The players are now on a 15 minute break as this epic heads up match continues here in The Championship Event.
Travis Hartshorn- 12,370,000
David Johnston- 2,300,000
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 30: (50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
David Johnston (Absecon, NJ)
Travis Hartshorn raises to 225,000 and David Johnston reraises to 500,000. Hartshorn makes the call and they see a flop of {8d}{js}{jc}. Both players check and the turn brings the {7d}.
Johnston leads out with a bet of 350,000 and Hartshorn thinks it over for about 30 seconds before calling. The river is the {2s} and Johnston slides out a stack of 675,000.
Hartshorn leans back in his chair and after nearly one minute he tosses in the calling chips. Johnston quickly turns over his {ad}{as} and Hartshorn fires his hand face down into the muck.
David Johnston- 4,570,000
Travis Hartshorn- 10,100,000
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
Level 30: (50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 489
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,335,000
David Johnston (Absecon, NJ)
On a board of {qs}{5c}{kd}{5s} Travis Hartshorn moves all in with about 1,700,000 already in the main pot. David Johnston can’t get his chips in fast enough.
He instantly calls for his last 1,320,000 turning over {ks}{kh} for a full house and Hartshorn sees he’s drawing dead with his {kc}{7s}. The meaningless {9d} hits the river and Johnston double up hear in the heads up match of The Championship Event.
David Johnston- 4,400,000
Travis Hartshorn- 10,270,000