Event 1
Day 2 of Event 1 gave us a lot of things, including drama throughout, and a marathon finish that saw Jim Gilbert (Bensalem, PA) crowned champion just after 5:00am. Gilbert didn’t have a household name in the poker community, but people started to recognize him after he sent the tournament into the money, busting two players while holding pocket aces in that critical spot. At points while the tournament was playing down towards the final table, it looked as if we had an opportunity to see form Event 1 champions repeat their success, but both Greg Himmelbrand (Oakland Gardens, NY) and Ben Bianco (Franklin, NY) fell short of their ultimate goal. The crop of notables began to give way to some new names, up and coming players on the tournament scene, but Henry Lu (Marlton, NJ) was still lurking when they reached the final table. The 2012 WSOP Bracelet winner seemed as if he was on cruise control during the later stages of the event, but he would have to take a back seat this time around to Jim Gilbert. It’s not often that a player’s first recorded cash is for $184,902, but Gilbert starts to pen his resume with one of the most prestigious wins of the Borgata calendar year. Congratulations to Jim, the final table finishers, and all of the players who successfully cashed in the opening event of the series. For detailed coverage and a recap of all of the action from Event 1, you can CLICK HERE to scroll through the updates.
While the final table was taking place for Event 1, the “Junkies” from Event 2 were battling it out for what would technically be the first trophy given out for the day. It would be another breakout win for a relatively unknown player, as Robert Stephens (Chestertown, NY) managed to make his way through 397 entries and grab the Event 2 trophy (along with over $27,000). The tournament attracted an incredible number of players from the Baltimore area, loyally supporting their favorite sports-talk station, as well as what’s become their favorite poker tournament. This was the thirteenth installation of the “Junkies Poker Open,” and it gave an opportunity for some new names to make themselves known. The archived action from Event 2 could be found by CLICKING HERE.
Day 4 of the 2014 Borgata Fall Poker Open offers up one “main event,” but it’s one of the most popular amongst players…the $350 + 50 + 100 Black Chip Bounty No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry. The tournament begins at 11:00am, with live coverage of the event beginning the moments are in the air. Congratulations are once again in order to both Event 1 (Jim Gilbert) and Event 2 (Robert Stephens) winners, and all of the players able to cash in the opening events!
Event 1: $560 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Total Entries: 2,191
Total Prize Fund: $1,062,635
Jeff Gilbert (Bensalem, PA), Event 1 Champion
It was a long way to go to find a winner in the first event of the 2014 Borgata Fall Poker Open but Jeff Gilbert was the last player standing. And he had a shorter road than most. He finished up his work shortly after 5am on the final day of play to earn the title and the $184,902 that went along with it.
The tournament featured two starting days with two flights each giving players four shots, plus nine levels of re-entry, to get their piece of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. The event drew 2,191 entrants to easily surpass the guarantee and create a prize pool worth $1,062,635 with the final 200 in the field would earn a part.
Each starting flight grew progressively bigger and it was Ram Pyloore (Wayne, NJ) who was the front runner when all Day 1’s were complete. His 613,000 returning stack for Day 2 was the biggest in the field but Borgata regular Emad Alabasi (Solon, OH) was not far behind with 611,000.
Both players were able to make the money with a top 200 finish but neither played a part as the big money spots approached. It even took a tough one-outer to get Alabasi out of the game.
Action near the end of the tournament outpaced even the most generous predictions but it still took nearly 13 hours of play to form the final table. Henry Lu (Marlton, NJ) had a huge chip lead at several points during the day but was unable to lock up the win. He battled back from a final table short stack but had to settle for a 3rd place result.
Jeff Gilbert (Bensalem, PA) outlasted the other 2,190 entrants in the field to earn not only his first title, but his first tournament cash of note. He is one of the few players to make it deep in the event without multiple entries into the tournament.
Gilbert bought into Day 1A and made it through the day on just one entry to bag 240,000 for Day 2. He was happy to get it done that way.
“I was able to go home to Philly and sleep,” Gilbert said about his enjoyable day off.
It was a great run and a fantastic way to record his first title.
Final table results:
1st – Jeff Gilbert (Bensalem, PA) $184,902
2nd – Henry Lu (Marlton, NJ) $120,078
3rd – Greg Weber (Linden, NJ) $78,635
4th – Greg Joslyn (Milford, PA) $66,946
5th – Chad Reynolds (Inwood, WV) $55,788
6th – Ido Ashkenazi (New York, NY) $45,162
7th – Mohamad Amjadi (Marmora, NJ) $35,067
8th – John Ruddy (Bronx, NY) $25,503
9th – Paul Garrett (Barberton, OH) $18,596
Level 35 (Blinds 150,000/300,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 4
Chip Average: 13,693,750
Greg Josley (Milford, PA)
Greg Joslyn (Milford, PA) was riding the short stack like a pro and was in position for a big double. He shipped his stack in a few times with no callers.
It finally happened in a raising battle after Jeff Gilbert opened to 600 and Joslyn raised to an even 2,000,000. After checking out Joslyn’s remaining stack, Gilbert put him all-in and got a quick call.
Joslyn: {Jh}{Jc}
Gilbert: {Th}{Ts}
Joslyn was looking good for the double and he didn’t have a sweat on the {Qd}{8c}{5c} flop or {Kh} turn. If this final table was being played in front of a large rail, there would have been moans and cheers when Gilbert spiked the {Tc} river.
Instead it was a quick inhale from the other players and they took turns shaking Joslyn’s hand as he went the payout cage. He picked up $66,946 for his 4th place finish.
Level 35 (Blinds 150,000/300,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 4
Chip Average: 13,693,750
Quick counts of the last four players as the get underway.
Seat 1: Jeff Gilbert – 16,600,000
Seat 4: Greg Weber – 11,300,000
Seat 8: Henry Lu – 18,400,000
Seat 9: Greg Joslyn – 8,000,000
Level 35 (Blinds 150,000/300,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 10,955,000
Chad Reynolds (Flushing, NY)
Chad Reynolds (Inwood, WV) came back from break and needed to make something happen. He moved all-in on the first hand for just 1,800,000 and picked up the blinds/antes. I nice pick up in relation to his stack.
Reynolds folded the next hand but moved all-in from the big blind after Henry Lu min-raise from under the gun. Lu quickly called with {Ad}{6c} and Reynolds needed a lot of help with {7c}{6d}.
The {Jc}{8d}{4s} gave him some gutshot outs but the {2s} was not one of them. His rail used their “one time” effort to help him out but the river came {6s} and Reynolds was outkicked to leave the tournament in 5th place for $55,788.
Level 34 (Blinds 125,000/250,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 10,955,000
Don’t write Henry Lu off quite yet. While the other players were off on a 10-minute break, he was getting mixed up with Chad Reynolds on the last hand.
Reynolds opened to 600,000 from the button and Lu made it 1,700,000 from the small blind. Reynolds called to the {Td}{5d}{4d} flop and called when Lu bet 600,000. It was another 1,600,000 from Lu after the {3s} turn and Reynolds opted to call once more.
With just 3,335,000 behind, Lu moved all-in when the dealer put out the {Kd} on the river. Reynolds looked unhappy but there were a lot of chips in the pot, he called and Lu quickly flipped over {Ad}{Ah} for the monster pot after Reynolds mucked.
Lu is back in the game with over 14,000,000 and Reynolds is the super short stack with under 2,000,000.
Level 34 (Blinds 125,000/250,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 10,955,000
It was another big hand which seemed tamed right up until the moment someone suddenly was at risk. It was a peaceful hand between Chad Reynolds and Greg Weber when Reynolds called a 1,500,000 bet with the board reading {Kh}{6d}{5c}{Ac}.
Weber put Reynolds all-in after the {Ad} river and he got a call are a little deliberation. Reynolds tabled {6h}{6s} for the set and Weber told him one of the Sixes was good as he mucked his hand. The big pot put Reynolds over 14,000,000 while Weber was near 8,000,000.
Soon after that hand, Henry Lu took a shot which missed the mark. He kept firing at the pot until the board read {Qd}{9c}{5h}{6h}{Kd} and put out another 1,500,000. He was mixing it up with Jeff Gilbert and he called the river bet with {Qs}{7c} which was good after seeing Lu’s move with {As}{Ts}.
The hand dropped Lu, the former massive chip leader, down to just 10 big blinds. He managed a small double through Reynolds a few hands later but still needs help to regain his status.
Player are now off on a quick 10-minute break before getting back in the action.
Level 34 (Blinds 125,000/250,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 9,129,167
Ido Ashkenazi (New York, NY)
Ido Ashkenazi (New York, NY) was having a very nice but had no luck since coming back from the latest break. He lost most of his stack to Greg Weber when he fired every street with unimproved {Ax}{Qx} and Weber called the entire way with top pair {Kx}{Qx}.
Ashkenazi waited for the right time and it was after Greg Joslyn opened for 600,000. He moved all-in for just over 3,000,000 and Joslyn went deep in the tank.
Joslyn eventually called and got a small expletive from Ashkenazi when he saw {5c}{5d} against his {3h}{3d}.
Unlike the last few all-ins, the board ran a dry {8c}{7d}{4h}{Td}{2d} to send Ashkenazi out in 6th place for $45,162.
Level 33 (Blinds 100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,825,000
Mohamad Amjadi (Marmora, NJ)
Mohamad Amjadi (Marmora, NJ) played a great short stack game, even his opponents made mention of it.
He finally found another hand in his range and moved all-in for 3,000,000 after Jeff Gilbert opened to 425,000. Gilbert decided the math would make him do it and called with {Ks}{Qd}. Amjadi was in line for another double with {Ac}{Kc} but Gilbert found a great flop for his hand when it dropped {Jh}{Tc}{9h}.
The {Td} turn left Amjadi with just three outs to the river and he missed them all when the dealer put out the {3s} to send him out in 7th place for a very nice $35,067.
Level 33 (Blinds 100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 2,191
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 7,825,000
One of the biggest pots of the tournament began with a limp from Henry Lu in late position. Jeff Gilbert raised it to 500,000 from the button and Lu asked how much he was playing when it folded back around.
Gilbert gave him an estimate and Lu called the raise to see the {Th}{Ts}{8c} flop. Lu check-called another 500,000 and the turn came {Jh} before they both checked.
Lu checked a final table after the {Ah} flop then raised to 2,800,000 after Gilbert bet out 1,100,000. It didn’t talk long for Gilbert to consider his options and called to see Lu table {9s}{9c}. Gilbert quickly flipped over the flush {7h}{6h} to drag the huge pot.