Event 1
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
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 150,000/250,000/250,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Frank Lagodich – 1st Place – 2018 Fall Poker Open Kick-Off
Frank Lagodich was the chip leader on and off throughout this tournament, but at the end, he had the chips when it counted. A brief heads-up battle against Joe Cappuccio, who had been dominating play at the final table, turned the tide Frank’s way.
The final two agreed to split the money and call it a night, with Frank taking the odd dollar. The 22-year-old only plays poker as a hobby and just got started a few years ago after watching poker on Twitch. He works retail and as a golf caddy, but with this score may start playing more poker tournaments.
Until today, his best live cash of a bit over $33,000 was just last month at the MSPT Michigan Main Event, where he finished 7th. Today’s cash is nearly quadruple that, as he walks away with more than $128,000. The Canton, OH, resident is taking the money and running, on his way to Florida to visit his brother, so won’t be parlaying it in any other events during this series.
Joe Cappuccio with wife and BorgataPoker.com sponsored pro Katie Stone and their son Luca.
Runner-up Joe Cappuccio’s got lots more tournament experience and that showed at this final table. He just missed out on taking home his first Borgata Open trophy, but the $128,000 will come in handy for Joe’s young family. Today’s score is more than three times his previous best live cash, which was just under $41,000 for a win at a Pennsylvania casino back in 2013.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Frank Lagodich | $128,359* |
| 2 | Joe Cappuccio | $128,358* |
| 3 | Claude “Murphy” Murrell | $59,605 |
| 4 | Kevin McGahern | $50,185 |
| 5 | Eric Hayes | $41,692 |
| 6 | Sam Taylor | $33,817 |
| 7 | Michael Niceta | $26,042 |
| 8 | Ryan McKnight | $18,993 |
| 9 | MD | $13,666 |
| 10 | Ryan Bambrick | $9,033 |
*Indicates Adjusted Payout
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 150,000/250,000/250,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 18.4 million
-
- Frank Lagodich
-
- Joe Cappuccio
Frank Lagodich has battled his way back into contention. He’s now up to ~20.6 million, leading Joe’s 16.2 million.
They discussed an adjusted payout agreement and decided to split the money up and call it a night.
As the chip leader with more than 20 million, Frank will take 1st place and $128,359. Joe, who had ~16 million, gets 2nd place and $128,358.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 33: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 18.4 million
Joe Cappuccio opened for 500,000 on the button, then Frank Lagodich 3-bet to 2 million total. Joe 4-bet to 4.5 million straight and Frank called.
On the flop of 
, Frank checked, Joe bet 3 million, and Frank called. Turn was the 
and Frank checked. Joe announced all-in and Frank folded. He was left with 10.6 million.
Joe dragged the massive pot of ‘ghosts’, the 100,000-denomination white chips, chipping up to more than 26 million.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 33: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 18.4 million
Heads-up play began with six minutes remaining in this level.
Heads-up chip counts:
Joe Cappuccio – 19,025,000
Frank Lagodich – 17,875,000
Play has resumed.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 33: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 18.4 million
Claude ‘Murphy’ Murrell
Murphy Murrell opened for 500,000 on the button and Frank Lagodich made it 1,500,000 from the small blind. Joe Cappuccio folded his big blind and Murphy gave it some thought, then moved in. Frank called.
Murphy: 
Frank: 
Board: 
Frank paired his Ace to take the pot, chipping up to nearly 18 million.
Claude ‘Murphy’ Murrell busted out, finally, in 3rd place, earning $59,605. Quite a comeback for a player with < 2 big blinds with 14 players remaining!
The final two are taking a break.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 33: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 12.3 million
Kevin McGaheran
Kevin McGaheran moved in up front and got called by the monster stack of Joe Cappuccio. Kevin’s 
needed help to survive Joe’s 
.
The runout of 
missed Kevin completely and the start of Day 3 chip leader was felted in 4th place ($50,195).
Joe is now playing ~20 million. Frank Lagodich is second with ~10.5 million, and Murphy Murrell’s got about 6.3 million.
Remaining payouts:
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $160,593 |
| 2 | $96,124 |
| 3 | $59,605 |
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 33: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 7.4 million
Eric Hayes
Eric Hayes jammed UTG and got looked up by Murphy Murrell in the big blind. Eric’s pocket Jacks were ahead of Murphy’s , but the board came 
and Murphy pulled yet another pot. He’s playing ~7.3 million.
Eric finished in 5th place, earning $41,692.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 32: Blinds 80,000/150,000/150,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 7.4 million
Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor got all-in with 
against Joe Cappuccio’s . The board of 
danced around both, but in the end, Joe’s kicker played. He’s up to ~15.3 million.
Sam busted out in 6th place, earning $33,817.
$540+60 Deep Stack NLH
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 32: Blinds 80,000/150,000/150,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,474
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 6.1 million
Michael Niceta
Murphy Murrell (button) and Michael Niceta (bb) got to the turn with a board of T 8 2 2 and all the chips went in. Michael had 
for a pair of 8s, but Murphy had him smothered with pocket deuces for quad ducks. He also had Michael covered, so Michael was drawing dead. He finished in 7th place, earning $26,042.
Murphy’s now up to about 4.3 million!