Event 3
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
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 2
Sam Lopes (right) Soukha Kachittavong (right)
With the elimination of Barry Leventhal in third the final two players stopped the clock and began to discuss a deal. Sam Lopes was holding more than a 2-1 chip lead with just over 7,000,000 to the 3,000,000 of Soukha Kachittavong.
They quickly agreed to a deal in which Lopes would take first for $31,912 and Kachittavong took second for $25,000. They then agreed to run one hand for the trophy and Kachittavong’s ace high was enough to earn him the hardware.
Below is a look at the full Event 3 final table results.
1. Sam Lopes- $31,912
2. Soukha Kachittavong- $25,000+BFPO trophy
3. Barry Leventhal- $12,711
4. Vladimir Alexandrov- $10,239
5. Ragavan Thiagarajah- $8,050
6. Ryan Hagerty- $6,709
7. Anonymous- $5,367
8. Jeff Colpitts- $40,96
9. Chris Kostoulas- $2,825
10. George Cain- $1,836
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 2
Barry Leventhal
There was a lengthy discussion between the players and they nearly came to an adjusted payout agreement. The players offered to make an ICM deal and even give Leventhal the trophy at one point.
“I will not pay for my titles if I don’t have the chip lead” Leventhal said and play continued.
A few hands later he got his last 600,000 all in holding 
against the 
of Soukha Kachittavong. Leventhal failed to improve on the 
runout and shook hands with the final two players as he made his way to the payout line to collect $12,711.
Soukha Kachittavong- 3,050,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 3
Soukha Kachittavong
Soukha Kachittavong moved all in for his last 1,120,000 and Barry Leventhal called from the small blind. Kachittavong showed 
and would need to improve against the 
of Leventhal.
The dealer fanned the 
and it was no help to Kachittavong. The 
hit the turn and Kachittavong paired his five to pull ahead.
The river 
was no help to Leventhal and Kachittavong doubled up.
Soukha Kachittavong- 2,440,000
Barry Leventhal- 1,050,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 3
Vladimir Alexandrov
Vladimir Alexandrov got his stack of 2,625,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the 
of Sam Lopes in the biggest flip of the tournament. “Ace king has been no good today” said Soukha Kachittavong just as the dealer fanned the 
flop.
The turn and river 
were no help to Alexandrov and he was eliminated in 4th place earning $10,239. Lopes dragged in the massive pot and moves into the chip lead with 5,500,000 and just three players remaining.
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 4
Ragavan Thiagarajah
Ragavan Thiagarajah got the last of his chips all in holding 
against the 
of Vladimir Alexandrov. He failed to improve and was eliminated in 5th place earning $8,050 for his efforts.
Vladimir Alexandrov- 2,850,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 5
Vladimir Alexandrov
Sam Lopes raised to 235,000 and Vladimir Alexandrov moved all in for 1,975,000 from the small blind. Lopes called turning over 
but Alexandrov was holding 
.
The dealer fanned the flop and Alexandrov’s aces maintained the lead. The turn brought the and Alexandrov was just one card away from the massive double up.
The hit the river and both players made a straight holding an ace to chop the pot. Alexandrov could only shake his head and smile and five handed play continues.
Sam Lopes- 3,600,000
Vladimir Alexandrov- 1,975,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 29: 40,000/80,000/80,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 5
Ragavan Thiagarajah
The short stacked Ragavan “Rags” Thiagarajah moved all in for 260,000 and Soukha Kachittavong re-raised to 585,000. The rest of the table quickly folded and they turned over the hands.
Ragavan Thiagarajah: 
Soukha Kachittavong: 
The board ran out 
and Thiagarajah improved to a flush to earn the double up.
Ragavan Thiagarajah- 720,000
Soukha Kachittavong- 2,700,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 28: 30,000/60,000/60,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 5
Barry Leventhal
In a battle of the blinds Barry Leventhal got his stack of 1,060,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the of Soukha Kachittavong. “Keep it clean dealer” Leventhal said and he got his wish as the board ran out 
.
Leventhal secured the double up and the Event 3 players continue to battle it out for the $36,080 and the trophy here in the late night hours.
Barry Leventhal- 2,180,000
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 28: 30,000/60,000/60,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 416
Players Remaining: 5
Ryan Hagerty
The action folded around to Soukha Kachittavong on the button and he raised to 135,000. Ryan Hagerty moved all in from the big blind for 865,000 and Kachittavong called.
Soukha Kachittavong: 
Ryan Hagerty: 
The board ran out 
and Kachittavong improved to aces and fives to score the knockout. Hagerty is our 6th place Event 3 finisher and will earn $6,709 for his efforts.
Soukha Kachittavong- 2,900,000