Event 8
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
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 7
Sal Anastasio
With the elimination of the anonymous player is 8th the final 7 players began to discuss an adjusted payout deal. The stacks were counted down and they quickly reached an ICM agreement. Sal Anastasio who held the chip lead will take first place for $3,244 along with the Borgata Fall Poker Open trophy.
(L to R) Mark Buzzetto Jr., Chris Pater, Tommy Bates, John Harvilla, Chris Brescia, Dionisio Obordo, Sal Anastasio (Seated)
Below is a full look at all of the chip counts at the time of the deal and the adjusted payouts.
1. Sal Anastasio- 686,000 ($3,244+BFPO Trophy)
2. Chris Brescia- 642,000 ($3,141)
3. Chris Pater- 638,000 ($3,131)
4. Mark Buzzetto Jr.- 505,000 ($2,794)
5. Dioniso Obordo- 480,000 ($2,725)
6. Tommy Bates- 301,000 ($2,181)
7. John Harvilla- 244,000 ($1,981)
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 7
The anonymous player limped in from the small blind and Sal Anastasio checked his big blind. They went heads up to the 
flop and the anonymous player moved all in for about 150,000.
Anastasio snap called turning over 
for a flopped flush with a straight flush re-draw and his opponent showed 
for middle pair.
The dealer burned and turned the 
and Anastasio spiked his steel wheel leaving his opponent drawing dead. The meaningless 
completed the board and the player was sent to the rail in 8th earning $729 for his efforts.
Sal Anastasio- 686,000
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 21: 8,000/16,000/16,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 7
Mark Buzzetto Jr.
The action folded around to Mark Buzzetto Jr. in the cutoff and he raised to 32,000. Dionisio Obordo called from the button and Tommy Bates defended his big blind. They went three handed to the 
flop and the action checked around.
The turn was the 
and it checked to Obordo who bet 32,000. Buzzetto Jr. called and they went heads up to the 
river. Both players knuckled the felt and Buzzetto Jr. turned over 
for a pair of jacks. Obordo flashed his 
and Buzzetto Jr. took the pot.
Mark Buzzetto Jr.- 475,000
Dionisio Obordo- 465,000
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 21: 8,000/16,000/16,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 8
Gary Kosakowski
Dionisio Obordo raised to 35,000 from under the gun and Gary Kosakowski defended his big blind. They went heads up to the 
flop and Kosakowski check-called a bet of 50,000 from Obordo.
The turn was the 
and Kosakowski checked to Obordo who bet 75,000. Kosakowski called and the 
completed the board. Kosakowski checked and Obordo moved all in covering Kosakowski who had 124,000 behind.
Kosakowski called turning over 
but Obordo showed 
for the nut flush. Kosakowski is our 9th place Event 8 finisher earining $547 for his efforts.
Dionisio Obordo- 625,000
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
End of Level 20: 6,000/12,000/12,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 9
The Event 8 final table players are on a 15 minute break and we are down to the final nine. They are now all guaranteed at least $547 and one lucky winner will take home $7,169 and the Borgata Fall Poker Open trophy. We will pick right back up on all of the live tournament action when play resumes.
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 20: 6,000/12,000/12,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 9
Scott Raifer
Scott Raifer who started the final table with the short stack was the first player to fall from the Event 8 final table at the hands of Tommy Bates. Raifer will take home $486 for his efforts for his 10th place finish.
Tommy Bates- 340,000
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/10,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 10
Chris Brescia
The Event 8 final table is now set and it’s Chris Brescia leading the way with 593,000. Chris Pater is right on his heels with 575,000 and Mark Buzzetto Jr. rounds out the top three chip stacks with 425,000.
Chris Pater
The players will battle it out here in the tournament area for the $7,169 first prize and the Borgata Fall Poker Open trophy. Below is a look at all of the updated chip counts and final table seating assignments.
Seat 1. Sal Anastasio- 325,000
Seat 2. Crhis Pater- 575,000
Seat 3. John Harvilla- 355,000
Seat 4. Mark Buzzetto Jr.- 425,000
Seat 5. Gary Kosakowski- 195,000
Seat 6. Dionisio Obordo- 380,000
Seat 7. Chris Brescia- 593,000
Seat 8. Tommy Bates- 180,000
Seat 9. Anonymous- 420,000
Seat 10. Scott Raifer- 150,000
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $7,169 |
| 2 | $4,009 |
| 3 | $2,430 |
| 4 | $1,944 |
| 5 | $1,458 |
| 6 | $1,215 |
| 7 | $972 |
| 8 | $729 |
| 9 | $547 |
| 10 | $486 |
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 13
Tommy Bates
Tommy Bates returned from the dinner break with just over 100,000. He managed to find a double up holding 
against the 
of his opponent. Just a few hands later Bates got a three-bet through pre-flop to add another pot to his stack.
He is now sitting behind a very healthy chip stack of 250,000 and there are just 13 players left in the hunt.
$200+$30+$10 Donation Veterans Deeper Stack NLH
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 117
Players Remaining: 16
Chris Brescia
The big stacks of Chris Brescia and Travis Merrifield just clashed on the 
board. Brescia tabled his 
on the river to crack the of Merrifield.
Merrifield was left with 80,000 and the massive pot was shipped Brescia’s way. Brescia has moved into the chip lead with just over 500,000 and 16 players remaining and John Harvilla is right on his heels with 450,000.