Event 7
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
Level 23: Blinds 12000/24000/24000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 540,000
With the departure of Leonard Kriss, the remaining players discussed and then came to an adjusted payout based on straight ICM numbers.
That left the big stack Paul “Della” Dellauniversita with the prize money and the hardware to prove it.
Fourth and fifth went to Mark Weinstein ($4672) and Scott Byron ($4359).
Judith Bielan, Bayonne, NJ 3rd – $5193
Mitchell “Howard” Schuman, Brightwater, NY, 2nd – $5855
Paul Della salvaged his stack in a three way all in on table 3 in the mid-levels, then never looked back. $7422 for first!
Congrats to Paul, and to a determined field who gave a lot of action in the early stages, then went deeper into the night than recent Seniors events.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 12000/24000/24000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 450,000
Judith Bielan opened to 65,000 and Leonard Kriss jammed 290,000. Judith made the call, and faded Lenny’s 
blocker shove with 
.
The pot is a significant boost for Bielan who now has nearly 700,000 and is in contention for a high cash.
Kriss shoves.
Great run for Lenny, who takes 6th for $1,964.
By Seat:
- x
- Lenny Kriss – bust
- x
- Paul Dellauniversita – 900,000
- Mitchell “Howard” Schuman – 600,000
- Mark Weinstein – 200,000
- x
- Judith Bielan – 650,000
- Scott Byron – 275,000
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 22: Blinds 10000/20000/20000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 450,000
David Filarski is the next out, losing to Paul Della’s on a king high board. David takes home $884.
Next, Scott Byron ends John Andrews’ run, 
vs 
on a clean board. “Should’ve taken the chop,” he quipped. $1,179 for 8th.
Andrews is done, but has the last word.
Byron has the chance to take out Weinstein, but his top pair on the flop doesn’t fade the all in, with Mark drilling a set of nines on the turn.
By Seat:
- x
- David Apostolico – bust
- Lenny Kriss – 400,000
- x
- Paul Dellauniversita – 900,000
- Howard Schuman – 400,000
- Mark Weinstein – 300,000
- x
- Judith Bielan – 250,000
- Scott Byron – 400,000
Apolostolico and Kriss are hanging on, below stack average.
Then, sudden action between the two – and it’s Kriss who emerges with the short stacks consolidating. Lenny tank calls off a shove from David Apostolico, and finds himself in great shape, over .
David takes 7th for $1571.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 20: Blinds 6000/12000/12000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 300,000
Lenny Kriss and Marianne Previti are the first to get all in on the FT.
One more down – it’s Peter Sennon, in a bit of luck for the table – and our final table starts ten handed. Sennon was never able to get a stack going today.
By Seat:
- John Andrews
- David Apostolico
- Lenny Kriss
- Marianne Previti
- Paul Dellauniversita
- Howard Schuman
- Mark Weinstein
- David Filarski
- Judith Bielan
- Scott Byron
In the first action, Schuman takes from the now big stacked Paul Della.
Paul D. has the lead, with nearly 600,000, having come back from being a short stack just a few levels ago.
However, it’s Kriss and Previti who share a meaningful pot, with Lenny’s turning a set against . Marianne is left with only an ante chip.
She wins her first all in, but Lenny wakes up with AK and takes her last few thousand the next hand. Marianne takes 10th for $786.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 20: Blinds 6000/12000/12000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 11
Average Stack: 245,000
Lenny K. gets it in good versus Carl E., AQ versus 109, but his opponent flops tens full!
Meanwhile, John Greenwood is out in 15th.
Then, with his tournament life on the line, Lenny has to go with against Sennon, who has the opportunity to rise and eliminate a player with .
However, the flop brings Lenny the open-ender, and the pair on the turn gives him a double… narrow escape.
Gordon Haab and Herbert Cannon are out, all the latest busts jumping to $687.
Sennon is now short, and ends up shoving over Carl’s open. Short, Carl decides to go with it, unfortunately in terrible shape with a worse jack. No help, and they’ve let Peter reach the average stack.
Carl Emigholz takes $786 for a good run to 12th.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 16: Blinds 2000/4000/4000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 18
Average Stack: 150,000
After the curious rush to the bubble, play has now turned glacial, with most hands not seeing action unless they are coolers or very short stack getting it in.
For the moment, there is no clear chip leader. However, the redoubtable Howard Schuman has slipped to 250,000, leaving Scott Byron, Judith Bielan, and Lenny K. all about even for the lead at around 300,000.
Scott Byron on table 1.
John Andrews looks happy to have busted James Paros with the Birds.
Lenny K., right, decides to fold this flop after flatting from UTG1 against David Apostolico.
Peter Sennon, one of the threats to go deep, bets into a dry sidepot for protection. If they let him have chips, he’ll be dangerous.
Table 2 then gets the cooler it’s been looking for, with Judith picking up aces and getting action from and 
. The flop bring a combo draw for Paul Dellauniversita, and he binks the turn. However, Judith is not really wounded – she takes a near equivalent side pot.
Robert Lowry, James Paros and Lewis Epstein all take a min-cash of $589 for their deep run.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 16: Blinds 2000/4000/4000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 18
Average Stack: 150,000
Post-dinner brings a rapid draw down of the of the field, with the final three players effectively busting simultaneously across the tables. The busy floor double checks the count and we are in the money, just like that.
Very different from the last few BFPO events this year!
Judith Bielan busts one to reach 275,000, QQ vs A10.
Three way all in with sidepot sends no one home, but takes Herbert Cannon, standing, out of the red and well past average.
The final 18 on two tables, here in the TTA.
Here we go. Looks like Howard still has the lead with a little over 400,000.
End of Level 15: Blinds 2000/4000/4000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 26
Average Stack: 103,000
Two big stacks collided for a near 400,000 pot to give Schuman the lead at the break.
Vexxed, Frank doesn’t even want to have any left after losing his stack to Howard, pushing out his stack for the count, which will be close. Scott Byron looks a little baffled at the pot.
Frank R’s big stack got in the middle against the Howard Schuman Senior’s Event Steamroller, never a good idea. Top pair no good against the overpair.
Howard ends the level at 398,000.
Lots of action, little pot control, and a fast structure are making this an exciting tournament to be in. However, it’s time for a good long dinner break.
We return at 7:20 pm.
$300+$40 Seniors (50+) NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 15: Blinds 2000/4000/4000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 135
Players Remaining: 27
Average Stack: 100,000
The Seniors are absolutely flying toward the money here at the top of 15.
In the last level, just as soon as Frank R. climbs near the lead, he is moved on to table two, as the “seat open” cry is heard.
Back on Frank’s last table, Scott Byron has helped moved things along. He and and a now departed opponent both flop sets on a monotone board. Despite the danger, seat 10 decides to go for the kill, getting it all in and drawing to an out, 333 under 666.
Scott Byron on 4.
The pot goes to Byron, pushing him north of 130,00. However, his table collapses, and he’s now joined Frank on two.
Howard Schuman, it appears, has also been a beneficiary of the recent busts. He reached 200,000, then joined Scott and Frank on 2.
How did all this room open on 2? In part, big news: Barry Leventhal has busted, big draw on draw. The tournament just got a little softer.
Meanwhile on 3, Malinconico, in need of something good, gets it in ahead, blind versus button, against 
, but can’t fade the 8 ball on the river.
“Unbelievable,” Mike lamented, now in brutal shape at less than 25,000.
Nevertheless, the deck is no fatalist and is never surprised. In Mike’s next hand, he wins a flip,and has 50,000 again.