Event 4
The 2016 Borgata Poker Open is a wrap and after 18 days of play, 19 trophies were awarded and more than $8 million in prize money paid to the participants, not including the secondary events and satellites!
The culmination of the series was the World Poker Tour BPO Championship event, which was live-streamed and filmed for later broadcast by the WPT. Poker Pro Jesse Sylvia came from behind, starting the final table as the short-stack, and prevailed, claiming the $821,811 in first-place prize money. His first win in a major event will result in his name being carved on the WPT Champions Cup and push his career earnings beyond $6 million.This year’s Open series also saw some other firsts. The Inaugural BPO PokerNews Cup $2,000 NLH event was the first post-championship event and Ryan van Sanford claimed the first PokerNews Cup title awarded on American soil. The first-ever hybrid Live/Online Heads Up tournament was held in the Event Center and online at BorgataPoker.com, “Battleship-style”. Matt Emmel came up just short of repeating at Heads Up Champion, finishing second to New Jersey online player Eric Schwartz.
Another first was the live-streaming of the $1,000 Six Max NLH final table, which ended in a heads-up battle between well-known pro and BorgataPoker.com Ambassador Vinny Pahuja and relatively unknown amateur player George Alberto. Alberto prevailed, claiming his first BPO title and $53,366.
A complete list of Main Events and trophy winners is below. On behalf of Borgata, we would like to thank all the participants for making the 2016 Borgata Poker Open a great success and congratulate all the winners. From the BPO bloggers, @mattclark345, @TKbluffs, @Kaelaine, and @WOCPoker and players, thanks to Borgata tournament staff and the World Poker Tour for another excellent tournament series!
The tournament decks were cleared (pun intended) Saturday night (or rather in the wee hours of Sunday morning) with the conclusion of the first five events. Phil Rousseax (Miami Beach, FL) was the first to claim glory when he captured the Pot Limit Omaha title (Event 3) earning $9,507 and his first Borgata title.
After six starting flights over three days, Event 1, the $2 Million Guaranteed Deep Stack Kickoff event, drew a total of 3,869 entrants. The finale was Live Streamed from the Event Center Saturday night. After 12 long hours, it was Californian Noel Martinez who took home the top prize of $325,292.
It took a 14-hour Day 2, but eventually the final three players in Event 2, the Black Chip Bounty, $100,000 GTD NLH event, agreed to an Adjusted Payout. The 665 entrants built a prize pool more than double the guarantee and over $225,000. Johanssy Joseph (Mansfield, CT) claimed the trophy and $40,295. This is actually his second Borgata Open title — he won the first back in 2011 during the Fall Poker Open.
The Saturday Series Deep Stack, (Event 4) carried a $100,000 guarantee and as usual, that guarantee was met with ease. The prize pool came to more than $160,000, thanks to 481 entrants. Mike LaTour (Clay, NJ) was the eventual winner at about 6am, taking home $41,724.
Event 5, the $500 Super Survivor, drew 200 entrants and 19 players survived to earn $5,000 each! That cleared the board for a fresh start on Sunday with three new events!
Starting off the second week of the Borgata Poker Open, the Mike ‘Little Man’ Sica Memorial Seniors event begins at 10am Sunday. All entrants will contribute $20 to the American Cancer Society for cancer research in Mike’s memory. The Ladies event starts an hour later and the Omaha/Stud Hi/Lo Mix event begins at noon, kicking off what will be a busy second week at the Borgata Poker Open!
Event 4 drew a total of 481 entries creating a prize pook of over $163,000 smashing the $100,000 guarantee. When the dust settled it was Mike LaTour who was the last man standing. LaTour put on quite the performance at the final table and really opened up his game when short handed play began.
Heads up play lasted for about 30 minutes before LaTour eliminated Mike Woods holding big slick. This is LaTour’s largest career tournament score bringing his career earnings close to $100,000 mark. He takes home $35,811 and also his first BPO trophy for his victory here in the early morning hours.
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 32: (100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 1
The two players agreed to a deal which would guarantee them both at least $30,000. The decided to play it out for the extra $5,811 and the BPO trophy. On the last hand of the tournament Mike LaTour raised to 450,000 and Mike Woods moved all in for 5,300,000.
LaTour nearly beat him into the pot with the call turning over {ad}{ks}. Woods would need to improve holding {as}{10s} but the {9c}{4c}{kd} flop nearly sealed the deal for LaTour. The {10d} turn paired Woods but the {3c} hit the river earning LaTour the pot and the win. Woods is our 2nd place finisher taking home $30,000.
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 31: (80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 2
Mike Woods moves all in from the button for his last 2,350,000. Mike LaTour folds his small blind and Feng Li calls for his last 1,800,000 from the big blind.
Woods: {as}{4h}
Li: {ah}{3c}
The dealer fans the {4s}{2h}{8d} flop and Woods pairs his four to take control of the hand. The {10c} and {7c} complete the board to earn Woods the pot and the elimination. Li is our 3rd place finisher and will take home $14,697 for his efforts.
Mike Woods- 4,400,000
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 3
The action folds to Wesley Ismay in the small blind and he moves all in for 1,800,000. Mike Woods insta calls from the big blind turning over {ad}{as}. Ismay sees the bad news as he rolls over his {jd}{8h} and he will need some major help. The board runs out clean for Woods and Ismay is sent to the rail in 4th place earning $11,893.
Mike Woods- 4,400,000
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 4
The action folds to Mike LaTour in the small blind who moves all in covering William Egan who has 1,955,000. Egan snap calls from the big blind turning over his {qd}{qc}. LaTour will need some help as he shows {as}{5h} and he gets just the help he needs on the {ac}{ah}{js} flop.
LaTour smashes the flop to take control of the hand with trip aces. The turn {10h} and river {9c} seal the deal for LaTour sending Egan to the rail. Egan is our 5th place finisher collecting $9,308 for his efforts.
Mike LaTour- 4,500,000
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 29: (50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 5

A short stacked Marc Podell moved all in holding Ace Eight of clubs. He was called by William Egan who held Ace Ten of hearts. The board ran out clean for Egan and Podell was eliminated in 6th place earning $7,757.
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 28: (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 6
The action folds to Mike Woods on the button and he slides out a stack of chips covering both players in the blinds. Anthony Chin calls for his last 385,000 from the small blind. Win Nyugen makes the call from the big blind for his last 185,000 and Woods has a chance to eliminate two players.
Woods: {ad}{ks}
Chin: {ah}{10d}
Win Nguyen: {5h}{7c}
Woods is holding the best of it and improves to trip kings when the board runs out {kc}{5c}{9c}{10h}{kh}. He scores the double knockout adding to his chip leading stack of 3,500,000.
Event 4: $350+$50 Saturday Series Deep Stack NLH
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 27: (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 481
Players Remaining: 8
Event 2 is now in the books so we will be packing up all of the Event 4 action. Mike Woods is leading the final 8 players as they battle for the $41,724 first prize and the BPO trophy. Below is a list of the final table seating assignments and updated chip counts.
Seat 1: Mike Woods- 3,100,000
Seat 2: Anthony Chin- 425,000
Seat 3: Win Nguyen- 800,000
Seat 4: Mike LaTour- 995,000
Seat 5: William Egan- 1,650,000
Seat 6: Marc Podell- 1,460,000
Seat 7: Feng Li- 1,450,000
Seat 9: Wesley Ismay- 1,500,000