BorgataPoker.com
It was about 4am on Thanksgiving morning when the final trophy event of the 2018 Borgata Fall Poker Open came to an end and with it, the exciting November series was a wrap.
Wenhao Ying – 1st Place – 2018 BFPO Championship
Earlier on Wednesday, a relatively unknown 24-year-old grad student named Wenhao Ying went wire-to-wire on the live streamed final table to claim 1st place in the $1 Million Guaranteed Championship event, along with $200,000* and his first Borgata title. In fact, this is his first title on record, more than doubling his lifetime earnings, which have all come in the previous 27 months.
Ying faced down a final table that included three very experienced pros: Paul Volpe, Brian Altman, and Matt Wantman. Altman ran into a cooler early that sent him out in 6th place, but the other two were there at the end with Ying. They agreed on adjusted payouts based on their chip standings which brought the four-day Championship to a close.
Frank Lagodich – 1st Place – 2018 Fall Poker Open Kick-Off
The sixteen-day-long series was kicked off with the $500,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em event. The prize pool came close to $800,000 and another young player claimed that title as well. First place and $128,359* went to 22-year-old Ohioan Frank Lagodich on his first-ever trip to Borgata. After getting heads-up with Borgata regular and poker pro Joe Cappuccio, Lagodich took the chip lead and the final two negotiated an adjusted payout with an even split of the remaining prize pool.
It was a good series for some of the “old school” Borgata tournament grinders as well. After several near misses, Bob Camano finally claimed his first Borgata title in Omaha/Stud High/Low Mix event. Andrew Klein booked his sixth Borgata win in the Old School NLH event, moving him into fifth place on the Most Wins at Borgata list. Howard Wolper waited until the final night of the series to make the money in Event 20, notching his 117th lifetime cash at Borgata, extending a record that’s going to be hard to beat.
The Ladies were once again in the spotlight, with two regulars claiming titles and setting records. BorgataPoker.com sponsored pro Katie Stone made the final six of the Deepest Stack NLH event and negotiated an adjusted payout giving her 1st place and $19,337*. This was her third Borgata title, putting her in a tie for first on the ‘Most Wins at Borgata by a Woman’ list. Until this series, Patricia Barsanti-Chou held this record. Just four days later, Anna Antimony won the Almighty Stack, coming out on top of a field of 1,073 runners to take the top prize of $91,586. This was also her third Borgata title, putting her in a three-way tie with Stone and Barsanti-Chou.
If there was a ‘Grind Until You Get There’ award, it would go to Carlos Matos for this BFPO series. He finished 5th in Event 9, the Deepest Stack, for $19,337*, then followed that up with a 3rd place finish in Event 15, the Saturday Series Deep Stack, for $14,432*. He finally got there and capped the series with a win in Event 19, the Deeper Stack, for $14,000* and his first Borgata Open trophy.
In total, more than $3.4 million was paid out in prize money in these 20 main events alone, not including satellites and secondary events, and 18 Borgata Fall Poker Open trophies found new homes. A complete list of main event winners is below.
*Indicates Adjusted Payout
The daily tournament schedule has resumed in the Poker Room, with brief interruptions for Holiday Tournaments on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. There is also a DeepStacks Challenge Series running December 26th – December 30th.
It’s never too early to make plans for the 2019 Winter Poker Open, which runs January 15th – February 1st, and returns to Borgata’s spacious Event Center venue. The series will be capped by the World Poker Tour Winter Poker Open Championship, January 27-31.
On behalf of Borgata Poker Staff and bloggers Tim Kelliher, Chris Murray, and myself, thank you to all the players who participated and make Borgata tournament poker great. And thank you to the staff for the best-run events on the East Coast.
Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the coming Holiday season!
@Kaelaine
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 22: Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 17
Average Stack: 771,000
Dan Buzgon
Andrew Ostapchenko shoved from the cutoff and Dan Buzgon got his chips in from the small blind, holding pocket Jacks. He was ahead of Andrew’s AT, until the Ace on the River. Andrew took the pot, chipping up to ~740,000.
Dan Buzgon busted out in 18th place, earning $8,372. He was the last of the BorgataPoker.com online qualifiers remaining in this event.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 21: Blinds 10,000/15,000/15,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 20
Average Stack: 655,000
Asher Conniff at the Almighty Stack final table
On a flop of 
Asher Conniff (bb) checked, Wenhao Ying bet 45,000, then Asher moved in for 195,000 straight. Ying gave it a bit of thought, then called.
Asher had JT for middle pair and was actually ahead of Ying’s AQ. The turn was a blank and changed nothing, but the Queen on the river sent the last of Asher’s chips over to Ying. He’s up to ~1.9 million.
Asher busted out in 21st place, earning $6,570, a nice return on his satellite entry from BorgataPoker.com. He finished 3rd just a few days ago in the Almighty Stack, cashing for more than $33,000.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 26
Average Stack: 504,000
Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix got his last chips in holding 55 against the AJ of Asher Conniff. An Ace on the river sent the pot to Asher and sent Adam to the rail. He’ll collect $6,570 for his 27th place finish.
Asher is up to more than 600,000. The BorgatPoker.com sponsored pro earned his seat in this event playing a satellite online, so with a payout of at least $6,570 guaranteed, he’s free-rolling.
Asher Conniff
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 35
Average Stack: 375,000
Peter Vitantonio
Peter Vitantonio got all-in with pocket Tens, only to run into the pocket Kings of Andrey Malinin. The Kings held and Peter was sent packing in 37th place. He’ll collect $5,299. Andrey chipped up to about 250,000.
With 36 players remaining, table 5 was broken.
Ryan Hagerty
Over on table 3, Ryan Hagerty tangled with Zach Donovan and got to the river with a board of J J 3 7 9. All the chip went in and Zach tabled 
for trips. Ryan mucked his hand and exited in 36th place, earning a pay-bump up to $5,828. He earned his seat in a BorgataPoker.com online qualifier rather than paying full price, so that’s another money bump!
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 17: Blinds 3,000/6,000/6,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 41
Average Stack: 320,000
Andrew Fegan was the first player to go, hitting the rail early in 45th place, earning $5,299.
Alex Jim
Then on table 4, two players limped, then Alex Jim raised to 26,000. Winhao Ying (button) 3-bet to 73,000, forcing the limpers out. Alex moved all-in for 207,000 total and Ying called. Alex was ahead with 
, but racing against Ying’s 
.
The board was not kind to Alex as it fell 
, giving Ying the boat and the pot. He’s up to 595,000. Alex Jim busted out in 44th place, earning $5,299.
Ricky Guan
Ricky Guan and Sumeet Wayachal (bb) got all-in and Ricky was ahead with JJ against Sumeet’s 66, but Sumeet caught a 6 on the flop to double up. Ricky was left very short and busted out soon after. For 43rd place, he earned $5,299. Ricky earned his seat online at BorgataPoker.com, so there’s more profit in there than for those who paid full fare for their seats in this event.
Charles Furey
Charles Furey opened from the cutoff and got action from Lexy Gavin on the button. They checked the 8 4 4 flop, then Charles bet 15,000 on the 7 turn, which Lexy called. On a river brick, they got all-in and Charles’ AQ was beat by Lexy’s 88. She’s up to ~360,000. Charles finished 42nd for $5,299.
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 437
Players Remaining: 69
Average Stack: 190,000
Dan Buzgon
Dan Buzgon got all-in against the player on his right, whom he had covered. The shorter-stack had and was in bad shape against Dan’s 
.
The dealer wasted no time running out the 9 6 3 7 8 board, which missed everyone. Dan’s Kings were good and his opponent was felted. Dan chipped up to ~250,000 as they approach the dinner break at the end of this level.
Dan earned his seat in this event playing online at BorgataPoker.com
$2,500+$200 Championship NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 2: Blinds 100/200
Entries: 127
The Ladies are making a strong showing during this series.
Katie Stone
Katie Stone took 1st place and $19,337* in the Deepest Stack a few days ago, bringing her lifetime earnings to nearly $147,000. That was the third win here in about 16 months for the BorgataPoker.com sponsored pro.
Of course we expect to see Anna Antimony at some point today. She won the Almighty Stack last night, claiming more than $91,000 and her third Borgata title.
*Indicates Adjusted Payout
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH
$300,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 250,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,073
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 17.8 million
Nhan Cao
Asher Conniff opened pre-flop and got action from Nhan Cao on the button. When the dealer spread the flop of 
, Asher launchd a bet of 1.4 million. Cao made it 3.1 million and Asher released his hand.
That pot took Cao’s stack up to more than 16 million and knocked Asher’s down a few million
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH
$300,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 250,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,073
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 17.8 million
Asher Conniff
Joe Yam and Asher Conniff (sb) got to the river with a board reading 
and Asher put out a bet that more than covered Yam’s remaining stack.
He gave it some thought, then surrendered, leaving himself with ~ 6 million. With that pot, Asher chipped up to more than 23 million.