Event 9
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
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 34: 150,000/300,000/300,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 6
(L to R) Frank Buscarello, Carlos Matos, Dano Noor, Menachem Landwirt, Katie Stone (Seated), Colbert Silva
Just as the final six players were headed out on break they began to discuss an adjusted payout deal.
After plenty of negotiations they agreed that Katie Stone would take first place and they’d split the remaining prize pool evenly taking home $19,337 each.
They then agreed to run one hand out for the trophy and Menachem Landwirt came out on top when his 
improved to a full house on the 
runout.
Below is a look at the chip counts at the time the agreement was made.
Dano Noor- 6,465,000 ($19,337)
Frank Buscarello- 5,295,000 ($19,337)
Kate Stone- 5,100,000 ($19,337)
Carlos Matos- 5,040,000 ($19,337)
Menachem Landwirt- 4,575,000 ($19,337+BFPO Trophy)
Colbert Silva- 3,350,000 ($19,337)
1st Place- Katie Stone $19,337
Chip leader Dano Noor (left) sits with Menachem Landwirt (right) who takes home his first Borgata Poker Open trophy.
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 33: 120,000/240,000/240,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 6
Matt Cerbone
Matt Cerbone moved all in from the cutoff for 2,300,000 and it folded to Dano Noor in the big blind. Noor snap called turning over 
and Cerbone would need to improve holding 
.
The board ran out 
and Noor’s pocket queens held up to earn him the knockout. Cerbone is our 7th place Event 9 finisher earning $6,746.
Dano Noor- 6,000,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 7
Frank Buscarello
Colbert Silva raised to 700,000 from middle position and Frank Buscarello defended his big blind. They went heads up to the 
flop and Buscarello checked to Silva who bet 1,000,000.
Buscarello called and both players checked the 
turn card. The completed the board and Buscarello checked to Silva who bet 1,400,000.
After giving it some thought Buscarello called and Silva fired his hand face down into the muck. Buscarello showed 
and his pair of eights was enough to earn him the massive pot.
Frank Buscarello- 8,400,000
Colbert Silva- 3,200,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 7
Anna Dunn
Menachem Landwirt raised to 600,000 from early position and Anna Dunn moved all in for 1,900,000. It folded back to Landwirt who snap called turning over 
and Dunn showed .
The 
runout was no help to Dunn and she was sent to the rail in 8th place earning $5,167 for her efforts.
Menachem Landwirt- 7,200,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 8
Joe Fragale
Joe Fragale got his last 600,000 all in holding against the of Frank Buscarello. The board ran out 
and Buscarello paired his eight on the flop to earn the knockout.
Fragale is our 9th place Event 9 finisher and will take home $3,570 for his efforts.
Frank Buscarello- 6,800,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 31: 80,000/160,000/160,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 9
Matt Maccaroni
Matt Maccaroni got his stack of just under 2,600,000 all in pre-flop holding 
. Unfortunately for Maccaroni he ran into the 
of Menachem Landwirt.
Maccaroni is our 10th place Event 9 finisher and will take home $2,349 for his efforts.
Menachem Landwirt- 6,000,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 31: 80,000/160,000/160,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 10
Katie Stone
Colbert Silva raised to 350,000 from under the gun and it folded to Katie Stone in the big blind. Stone moved all in for 1,135,000 and Silva called putting Stone at risk.
Katie Stone: 
Colbert Silva: 
The dealer the fanned the 
flop and it was a monster flop for Silva who picked up both flush and straight draws. The turn brought the and Stone improved to top set.
The river improved Stone to a full house to earn her the double up.
Katie Stone- 2,510,000
Colbert Silva- 7,775,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 10
Colbert Silva
We have yet to lose a player here at the Event 9 final table but chip leader Colbert Silva continues to climb. Silva has been picking his spots and taking down pots without showdown.
He is now starting to pull away with 8,500,000 and ten players remaining.
$260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 30: 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 745
Players Remaining: 10
Colbert Silva
The Event 9 final table is now set and it’s Colbert Silva leading the way with 6,910,000. Frank Buscarello is right on his heels with 6,795,000 and Matt Maccaroni rounds out the top three chip stacks with 4,100,000.
Frank Buscarello
Matt Maccaroni
The players will battle it out here in the tournament area for the $43,590 and the Borgata Fall Poker Open trophy.
Below is a look at the updated final table chip counts and seating assignments as well as what’s at stake.
1. Matt Maccaroni- 4,100,000
2. Matt Cerbone- 1,425,000
3. Katie Stone- 1,655,000
4. Colbert Silva- 6,910,000
5. Dano Noor- 1,000,000
6. Joe Fragale- 530,000
7 Menachem Landwirt- 3,180,000
8. Anna Dunn- 1,415,000
9 .Carlos Matos- 2,815,000
10. Frank Buscarello- 6,795,000
Payouts
1. $43,590+BFPO Trophy
2. $25,365
3. $15,501
4. $12,776
5. $10,334
6. $8,455
7. $6,764
8. $5,167
9. $3,570
10. $2,349