Event 1
Level 42 (Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000/300,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 83,160,000
Final Table Hand: 175
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans (Event 1 Champion)
David versus Goliath? Beginner’s luck? Who knows and who cares, Jonathan “Nolte” Evans is the Event 1 – $2,000,000 Guaranteed Champion.
Coming into the day second in chips, only to Aaron Massey, this virtual unknown navigated an extremely difficult Final Table to claim the biggest trophy awarded thus far at the Borgata Poker Open and the $337,801 that goes along with it.
“Nolte” as he was called throughout the first ever live streamed Final Table at The Borgata, had never played a tournament in a casino before Event 1, and played some online poker and home games with his friends when he was in high school and college.
So, how did he come to be here? The 28 year old “Nolte” said he hadn’t been on a vacation in close to six years and when he heard his friends were going to Atlantic City, that “sounded like a good time”.
Well, that vacation has turned into a dream come true as Jonathan “Nolte” Evans could hardly describe how amazing this moment truly was.
In an championship interview with Ebony Kenney, “Nolte” said he would be “sleeping with this for the next few weeks” in reference to his Event 1 trophy.
He also explained how he was nervous in front of the cameras at the beginning of the live stream, but then, after a few “sodas” loosened up and started to have a good time; which was clearly evident throughout the entirety of the Final Table.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans came to The Borgata and the Borgata Poker Open looking to have some fun with his friends and play a little poker, and now, for the time being, he is suddenly the biggest thing in poker, as he is the Event 1 – $2,000,000 Guaranteed Champion.
Level 42 (Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000/300,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 83,160,000
Final Table Hand: 175
Aaron Massey (Elmwood Park, IL)
On one of the first hands after break, Jonathan “Nolte” Evans raised the action pre-flop to 6,000,000.
Aaron Massey would then announced all-in, putting his tournament life in danger.
“Nolte” would take a few moments contemplating a call, knowing how huge of a moment this was. “Nolte” would then call and Aaron would slam his {10d}{10h} on the felt, “Nolte” would table {Ks}{Qs}, the tournament announcer was right in stating, “This is a classic.”
Flop: {5h}{qd}{8s}
Turn: {5c}
River: {As}
“Nolte” paired up on the flop and the celebration began, Aaron Massey’s camp though, was holding on hope, not wanting to write off the Event 1 title prematurely.
The turn and river would brick and the emotions on either side of the table could not have been different, as “nolte” and his two man rail were ecstatic, Massey’s was rightfully disappointed.
But, Aaron Massey still walks away from Event 1, outlasting over 4,000 players and making $219,208 for his runner-up finish.
This is a great start for Massey as he plans to take on more Borgata Poker Open events throughout the next few weeks, and it would be hard to say anyone in the country is running better than him, with over $700,000 in live earnings from his last three tournaments.
Level 42 (Blinds 1,000,000/2,000,000/300,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 168
Heads Up For Event 1 Title
Players are now back from break and they both look poised to take down Event 1 down and the $337,801 that comes with it.
The blinds are a mind boggling 1,000,000/2,000,000 with a 300,000 ante.
That means each player has under 25 big blinds, with Aaron Massey only holding 12.5 bigs.
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 167
“Nolte” Celebrates The Double
In one of the final hands of Level 41, Jonathan “Nolte” Evans raised to 4,600,000 pre-flop and Aaron Massey moved all-in from the big blind.
The intensity of the moment could be felt by everyone in the Final Table area, as “Nolte” wrestled with a decision for his tournament life.
“Nolte” eventually found a call and Aaron confidently flipped over {2s}{2h} and was crushed to see “Nolte” turn over {6s}{6h}, putting him in great shape for the double.
The board ran out {8c}{10s}{8h}{Ah}{Js} as there were cheers from “Nolte”‘s supporters and groans and condolences from Aaron’s.
Players are now on a 15 minute break, with the stacks the closest they’ve been in a half hour.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans – 47,200,000
Aaron Massey – 35,850,000
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 160
With just under 10 minutes left in the level, Aaron Massey has accumulated his first, and biggest chip lead of this heads up battle.
The odd thing is, there haven’t been big hands, just Aaron slowly chipping away at Jonathan “Nolte” Evans’ stack.
Aaron is reverting back to his beginning of the Final Table strategy over raise, raise, raise and it seems to be working as “Nolte” has continuously called pre-flop raises, only to fold right on the flop, or call a continuation bet and fold on the turn.
With the blinds being so large, those calls are costing “Nolte” as he currently is currently sitting with just over 30% of the chips in play, his lowest total since the table was four handed.
Aaron has yet to be played back at, something that “Nolte” was doing well through the early portion of heads up play.
With a break coming up, you’d wonder if the strategy of either player would change due to the dynamic of the last level.
Aaron Massey – 49,800,000
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans – 33,000,000
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 150
Aaron Massey (Elmwood Park, IL)
After a pre-flop raise, the action went check/check on both the flop and turn on a board of {9h}{4c}{Ks}{Kh}.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans would check to Aaron on a river of {10c}, who would bet out 4,000,000 into a pot of just over 6,000,000.
“Nolte” gave him a confused look and would make the call.
Aaron would turn over {Qx}{Jx} for a rivered straight and with that hand, would move more or less even in chips with “Nolte”.
Aaron would then ask for a chair to prop his legs up on, now that Aaron Massey’s comfortable, and even in chips, this heads up match may be headed towards an end in favor of Aaron.
Aaron Massey – 40,500,000
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans – 42,600,000
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 146
A few hands after “Nolte” made what appeared to be a bluff on the river and told Aaron to look “that one” up on the live stream, Aaron made a play of his own.
On a board of {9d}{3h}{2h}{10d} “Nolte” bet out for 1,200,000, only to be raised by Aaron to 4,200,000.
“Nolte” would as for a count, cut out the chips and call. The pot had 15,000,000 in it, with Aaron having 18,000,000 left behind.
The river would be the {9h} and “Nolte” would bet out 3,000,000.
Aaron would immediately announce “All-In” and “Nolte” would quickly get out of the pot.
Aaron didn’t waste any time showing his rail the bluff, flashing them the cards before throwing them onto the table.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans didn’t have to wait to check the live stream to see Aaron’s {6d}{7d}.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans – 49,000,000
Aaron Massey – 34,500,000
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 144
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans
After some more back and forth between Aaron Massey and Jonathan “Nolte” Evans, a hand developed in which Aaron made it 2,500,000 to go pre-flop.
“Nolte” would call and the two would see a flop of {Kc}{8h}{3h} and “Nolte” would check to the pre-flop aggressor.
Aaron would fire out a continuation bet of 2,100,000 and “Nolte” would call.
The turn would bring the {10h} and checks from both players.
The {5s} would come on the river, and after a few moments of thought and counting, “Nolte” would bet 5,000,000.
Aaron would insta-fold and “Nolte” would scoop the pot to increase his chip lead.
Immediately after the hand, both players exchanged a glace and “Nolte” would say, “Wait till you see that one.”
Aaron was in no mood for the needle.
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 135
Aaron Massey
Aaron Massey continues to be perplexed by the play of Jonathan “Nolte” Evans.
Every time Massey seems to make a hand, he can’t get a call from “Nolte” and “Nolte”, on the other hand, seems to be wanting to play a small ball approach, betting less than 25% of the pot in certain spots.
Aaron has been seen talking to his rail on numerous occasions, while “Nolte” has not budged since play resumed, content just sipping on his beer.
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans – 50,000,000
Aaron Massey – 33,160,000
Level 41 (Blinds 600,000/1,200,000/100,000)
Total Entries: 4,158
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 41,580,000
Final Table Hand: 130
Jonathan “Nolte” Evans
With so much on the line at this Event 1 Final Table, it’s amazing that these two players are still laughing, smiling and joking with one another. But, it has been a pretty lax encounter thus far…
In between a hand, Aaron and “Nolte” were caught talking about how “Nolte” ended up “here”. Not “how did he make the Final Table?”, Aaron saw that yesterday, but what brought him out to play in Event 1?
That’s a completely reasonable question as Jonathan “Nolte” Evans has no previous live cashes to his name. “Nolte” simply stated, “I got dragged down here.”
By whom? His friends on the rail who convinced him to take the trip to The Borgata with them and also convinced him to play in Event 1.
Aaron would laugh at the response and wish them all good luck, and then say the only thing that could be said about two players splitting close to $550,000 in a poker game, “I guess we’re all eatin’ good tonight.”
You got that right Aaron.