Event 4
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
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 26: Limits 30000/60000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 2
Average Chips: 470,000
A vital pot developed with Leonard August holding a 3:2 chip advantage in level 26 during Omaha Hi-Lo.
In position, Armstrong decided to barrel into 
, holding a weak flush draw, backdoors and a perhaps a key bluff card with 
.
Armstrong turned equity on the the 
, but clearly would want a fold from better lows or a ten. Of course a three was never folding but it would be realistic for Harry to have one himself.
However, everything changed on the 
, as now he held the effective nut high and very strong low.
Leonard paid off the third barrel, meaning a 300,000 chip pot gave Armstrong the lead. He said he had improved on 5th as well, and was clearly not happy that Armstrong thought he could bluff in this spot.
In any case, Armstrong would not relinquish the lead this time. Moreover, August appeared tired at this point, while Harry was clearly rejuvenated. Within twenty five mintues, the final hand came down to Stud8, where Harry made a pat high. Leonard looked to seventh for a way out, his stack short and committed to his own equity, but it was done.
A long and well-played HORSE BFPO Championship was over. Leonard himself had given a lot of action, mixing it up well where others would not. He earns $4,559 for a great run to second.
Runner-up Leonard August, North Bergen, NJ – $4,559
1st Place HORSE – Harry Armstrong, Taylor, PA – $8,206
Congrats to Harry, for his first Borgata tournament championship!
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Start of Level 26: Limits 30000/60000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 2
Average Chips: 470,000
Heads up has proven quite wild despite very serious attitudes from both players.
With the lead, Armstrong was overfolding pre, not giving Leonard a chance to gamble his way back or take advantage of a mistake.
However, when LHE started, Leonard was able to do exactly the former – drilling a gutter against a flopped set for a double.
Heads up, opposite ends of the table.
With the tournament in his grasp, Harry instead is slightly behind, about 400,000 to Leonard’s 560,000. Far less talking now – especially with Fishman gone.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Start of Level 26: Limits 30000/60000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 2
Average Chips: 313,000
Three handed play has ultimately been kinder to Leonard so far. He’s got the vast majority of the chips here in 25.
However, what matters now is that Eddie is on fumes.
- x
- Harry Armstrong – 300,000
- x
- x
- Eddie Fishman – 50,000
- x
- x
- x
- Leonard August– 590,00
Down to one big bet, Eddie got in slightly ahead of Harry, holding 
against an over, two flush draws and the same low in O8.
The board came monotone the wrong suits for Harry, and Eddie catches a small break. He needs another scoop to get back in it.
Moving to Razz, Harry made the perfect wheel, and tried to check his way into some value, but Leonard saw through the unusual check with 245 showing, and surrendered.
Eddie, still in trouble, picked up 435 in Razz… but no action. He has 2 bets now.
Back to Stud. Leonard gets in two big bets with queens up against Harry. Leonard has the chips and the momentum, but has issued a few yawns.
It appeared Leonard had then finished Eddie off, but fours over threes bail him out over queens on the board for Leonard. Now up to three big bets.
However, he’d need more bets than that to survive. Still in Stud, Eddie gets it in on 4th with a pair of threes, then improves to trips! Looks like he is back – well, no. Harry improves to trip queens on 6th.
Fishman asks Harry if he’s drawing dead, meaning if when he peeks at seventh will a full house be good. Harry tells him yes, but the river is a banana.
Eddie Fishman, West Palm Beach, FL – $2,735
Heads up play doesn’t wait, and Armstrong quickly turns the chip lead around.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 24: Limits 20000/40000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 3
Average Chips: 313,000
During break, the players agreed to play on for the trophy.
A big Razz hand just went down, with a voluable Eddie dodging Harry’s seventh street draw. With bets going in on every street, it changes the lead, and Armstrong’s confident demeanor shifts a shade dark.
- x
- Harry Armstrong – 270,000
- x
- x
- Eddie Fishman – 400,000
- x
- x
- x
- Leonard August– 270,000
The final three, here in the Poker Room. The high limit area looks busy!
However, so it goes: Fishman can’t hang on to the chips, and the stacks have evened out, here in the final third of the level.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Limits 15000/30000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 3
Average Chips: 313,000
In Stud, Gary Kosakowski reaches the terminus of his run, with Armstrong picking up the chips. Gary takes $912 to ensure a return and rescue a victory.
We’re four-handed, with Lonnie Heimowitz short.
Gold tries to bust him in Stud8 with wired tens, but Lonnie escapes with a low. Armstrong smacks the table, looking for the knock out.
Play has turned tighter now, with most hands being folded.
Chips by seat:
- x
- Harry Armstrong – 460,000
- x
- x
- Eddie Fishman – 85,000
- x
- Lonnie Heimowitz – 55,000
- x
- Leonard August – 300,000
Lonnie leans back, unsure if this is the spot.
Then, possibly decisive action. Complete, raise call, reraise, and somehow Lonnie gets away. Larry somehow nearly scoops Leonard with just a pair of sevens, but misses his low on the end. Chop.
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t, but now Heimowitz is done. Gold goes with 
against a suited ace for Lonnie in LHE, and pairs up on the end.
Heimowitz wins $1,824 for fourth.
Three handed, and the agreement bartering begins.
Break time, in any case!
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Limits 15000/30000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 5
Average Chips: 188,000
We move to LHE and Gary immediately wounds Leonard, three betting his open and getting a fold on the flop. Three big bets for Leonard, leaving him short with Hoffman and Zekus.
Gary gathers up the results of a light three bet, cbet win.
LHE is over quickly, of course.
Moving to Omaha Hi-Lo, Heimovitz raises into Leonard on the button, who responds with a raise. Armstrong folds from the big, and Lonnie makes the calls. The money easily goes in on the turn, with Leonard getting what he wanted – aces full is good. Back to 135,000 and out of immediate danger.
Lonnie pays off Leonard’s monster.
Armstrong then takes some of it back from Leonard. Harry has played very patiently and not been overly involved. He has risen to nearly 300,000. Gold has also been cautious and is holding on well. Leonard, Brian, and Ross Hoffman are the shortest right now, half way through 22.
Ross now makes his move, opening from the HJ with two bets back. Leonard defends, and check raises 
with 
and some broadway back up.
August immediately turns the wheel and Hoffman is looking for a quarter to save his tournament. Blank 
on the river and he is out.
Hoffman takes his leave for the pure bubble to begin.
Leonard continues to swing back and forth, and we are on the pure bubble.
It ends as soon as we move to Razz. Zekus gets in his last bets against Leonard, who starts off well showing A54 but pairs up. It looks like Brian is going to get the double and leave Leonard crippled, but instead August draws pure on the river to hit an 87 and beat a nine.
Brian looks up in frustration, after dodging so much trouble and negotiating his bets so well.
Nevertheless, someone has to lose. In the money!
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
End of Level 21: Limits 1000/20000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 7
Average Chips: 134,000
Heimowitz pensive after Leonard hits a pair of tens, worried about what is underneath and wanting action.
We move to Stud8, a high/low game. Immediately, it’s Lonnie Heimowitz’ turn on the chopping block. With aces in the whole, he falls behind to Leonard August but then resucks out with aces over eights on 5th. All in, he has to sweat all Leonard’s outs and manages the double.
Zekus, foreground, takes a few bets from Leonard who is having a tough level.
Zekus then does the same thing to Leonard, with aces over deuces. However, while August has enough to fade the losses, he is no longer thriving. Going into 22 he’ll have four big bets.
As 22 begins, Leonard gets just what he needed, taking 2 bets from Zekus.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 21: Limits 1000/20000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 7
Average Chips: 134,000
Leonard, foreground, takes on Zekus in Razz.
Leo makes the call unhappily, and Zekus drils a six low on sixth, getting the needed double through the leader.
Meanwhile, Gary’s hopes took a turn for the best, as he has won three small pots since break, the first two in Razz, then an early Stud hand, to add three bets to his stack, keeping him out of short stack trouble.
Leonard had taken a hit this level so far, then gets folds on 5th street versus Hoffman and Heimowitz in Stud.
Zekus adds again, when Gary has the 
up in stud and can’t continue versus the completion, seeing all the other low clubs folded. Brian’s gone from crippled to three bets.
Then it’s finally Eddie Fishman’s turn, pressuring Lonnie on 4th. Eddie shows him the wired kings after getting an easy fold against up.
It’s Hoffman who is the target now, who has to bring in with only three bets left. He draws miserably after getting involved four way and it’s Gary who wins with showing. Continued uptick for Gary this level.
However, just like that, Hoffman picks up split jacks and get to three bets. Hard to shake these limit players.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
Structure Sheet
Level 21: Limits 10000/20000
Entrants: 47
Remaining: 7
Average Chips: 134,000
Two off the bubble, the stacks by seat:
- Gary Kosakowski – 70,000
- Harry Armstrong – 162,000
- Brian Zekus – 63,000
- x
- Ross Hoffman – 79,000
- Eddie Fishman – 160,000
- x
- Lonnie Heimowitz – 58,000
- Leonard August – 330,000
Gary fuels up while the players return from a short pause. He’s one of the stacks fighting to get into the money with 3.5 big bets to make something happen with.
Back from a break, here we go, starting with Razz.