Event 17
The 2018 Borgata Poker Open came to a close in the early morning hours of Saturday morning when the 21st BPO trophy found a new home.
Erkut ‘Eric’ Yilmaz
About eight hours earlier, Erkut Yilmaz took 1st place in the Championship event, along with $575,112 and both BPO and WPT Champions Cup trophies. Yilmaz took a huge lead into the final day of the Championship and held that lead until heads-up with poker pro Timothy ‘TK’ Miles. They proceeded to battle for more than two hours, with the lead changing several times, before Yilmaz finally collected all the chips and the title. Miles added another $383,399 to his career earnings, pushing the total past $3.2 million.
This series saw a lot of firsts. For the first time, the BPO was not held in the Event Center, but in a temporary Tournament Area between the Poker Room and Signature Room. This was a one-time occurence and this area will now he turned into the new Borgata Sports Book. The Winter Poker Open in January will be back in the Event Center as usual.
Another first was buy-in guarantees on the non-No Limit Hold’em events. The Omaha/Stud High/Low, HORSE, and PLO tournaments all had guarantees for the first time ever. There was also an “Old School” Freeze-out NLH tournament with no re-entries, and a Double Black Chip Bounty tournament added to this year’s schedule.
Justin Leeds (seated) took 1st in Event 1 in a 4-way adjusted payout.
Justin Leeds claimed the top spot in the $1 Million GTD Kick-Off event, which saw 3,106 entrants. The final four players all took home more than $170,000 for their efforts in the three-day event.
Altogether, the series had $7.6 million in guarantees and paid out more than $8.3 million in prize money in Main Events alone, not including secondary and satellite events. A complete list of Main Event winners and their winnings is below.
*Indicates Adjusted Payout
The next major tournament series is the Fall Poker Open, which runs November 6th through the 21st, so start making plans now. The tournament schedule has not yet been released. Follow @BorgataPoker on Twitter to catch the announcement when it is. Until then, Borgata’s regular schedule of Daily Tournaments will resume. For those of you in New Jersey, there’s alway another tournament coming up on BorgataPoker.com. October 14th – 21st, the Garden State Super Series (GSSS) will be running with more than $450,000 in guarantees.
For now, it’s farewell from the Borgata Blogging team of Tim Kelliher, Chris Murray, Al Rash, Brittany Paige, and myself. Hope to see you in November during the Fall Poker Open!
@Kaelaine
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 26: Blinds 20000/40000/40000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 2
Average chips: 1,725,000
Shang Dai, at the start of 26, has knocked out Conrad, gathering needed ammo for the heads-up battle, which turned out be well worth it.
Conrad Drayzk went with 
for his last few blinds, and Dai found an easy call with 
, which improved to a pair pf aces on the flop to all but finish Conrad.
Konrad Drayzk, $13,386, Clifton, NJ
Heads up began, and soon a key pot developed. Harvell led with middle pair on the turn for value and protection, but Dai raised him. Harvell studied the board but it not hesitate for long to jam over the raise.
Dai snap called, however. He had turned two pair with 
and now Harvell needed a miracle river.
Dai had crippled the long-time chip leader, now holding over two thirds of the chips. A few small pots exchanged chips, then Dai went for the throat, jamming 
into Justin.
Dai takes down the heads up, as Justin, right, mucks his losing hand.
Harvell was a bit coolered, holding 
, and although he flopped a gutter, he did not get there – the Bounty goes to Shang Dai!
Justin Harvell, $22,087 (Nashville, TN)
Shang Dai, $39,487 (Mt. Kisco, NY)
Congratulations!
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 25: Blinds 15000/30000/30000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 3
Average chips: 682,000
Harvell is now playing the role of the big stack well, opening and shoving very frequently.
The biggest development so far is short stack action. Konrad jams 
from the button, and gets snap shove on by Dai, who has 
. Justin folds.
The flop bring spades and a king on the river does it the hard way for Shang Dai.
A little later, a curious pot. Harvell mins the button, Konrad folds, and Dai calls from the big.
Shang Dai rips it in on the turn, confounding Harvel briefly.
The flop comes low and paired, check – check. On a 
, Shang just jams his remaining 500,000 into the pot. Justin folds after a minute.
Apparently this is a thing. A few hands later, Dai overbet lead jams a drawing flop, getting a quick fold from Harvell.
Meanwhile, Harvell continues to pick up lost chips with jams over Dai’s opens, which he is loathe to defend.
Estimated chips by seat:
1.
2. Konrad Drazyk – 250,000
3.
5. Shang Dai – 750,000
7. Justin Harvell – 1,600,000
8.
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 25: Blinds 15000/30000/30000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 3
Average chips: 682,000
Harvel’s top two finish off Ajay.
During 24, Ajay Gnanasambanthan got his last chips in against the chip leader, and has paid the price. Great run for $6,693.
Action. All but Wang, here in the small, call, then Dai lead-folds into the chip leader and preflop aggressor. Costly misstep.
Konrad then severely wounded Wang, leaving him with a few blinds. Michael declined to use them in a multiway opportunity, then out ran Dai, 
versus 
. However, looking for another double, Konrad beats him again, flopping two pair with a weak hand and gambling Wang out in 5th for $8,032.
Immediately after, Ronnie busts in 4th or $10,709, and we take a break.
Ron Elliot was up and down, but laddered over Wang.
Three remain.
1. Elliot – bust
2. Konrad Drazyk – 750,000
3. Michael Wang – bust
5. Shang Dai – 350,000
7. Justin Harvel – 1,700,000
8.
9. Ajay – bust
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 23: Blinds 10000/20000/20000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 6
Average chips: 575,000
Slow action for most of 23, then Drazyk doubles through Ajay, 
against . A queen on the flop all but seals it.
Konrad Drazyk collects his pot.
Estimated chips by seat:
1. Ronnie Elliot – 250,000
2. Konrad Drazyk – 500,000
3. Michael Wang – 275,000
5. Shang Dai – 530,000
7. Justin Harvell – 1,000,000
8.
9. Ajay 200,000
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 10000/20000/20000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 6
Average chips: 575,000
As 22 ends, Justin Harvell, BB, and Nick Pupillo, UTG, engaged in preflop action, with Harvell’s 
outflopping the tens of Harvel. No turn or river relief and Nick is done, taking home 7th for $5,354.
Pupillo continues to cash in the BPO2108.
Estimated chips by seat:
1. Ronnie Elliot – 450,000
2. Konrad Drazyk – 350,000
3. Michael Wang – 200,000
5. Shang Dai – 500,000
7. Justin Harvell – 1,000,000
8. Nick Pupillo bust
9. Ajay 300,000
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 21: Blinds 6000/12000/12000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 7
Average chips: 492,000
Ben Diebold takes 8th for $4,016.
Ben Diebold, another deep run this series.
As Level 21 winds down, Dai jams over Elliot’s 
but does not get a call.
Konrad doubles through Pupillo, over , EP versus BU.
We’ll be moving to the TTA, out of the Signature Room in a few minutes.
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 20: Blinds 5000/10000/10000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 8
Average chips: 441,000
Players take a break.
Estimated chips by seat:
- Todd Ivens (bust)
- Ben Diebold – 150,000
- Ronnie Elliot – 120,000
- Konrad Drazyk – 300,000
- Michael Wang – 460,000
- Shang Dai 240,000
- Justin Harvel – 580,000
- Nick Pupillo – 630,000
- Ajay 350,000
The first one out was Todd Ivens, who was crippled and all in on the BB. Elliot raised but let Dai shove him off his 
, which would have setted. Nines takes Ivens for 9th and $3012.
Ivens prepares to see the flop, forced all in.
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 20: Blinds 5000/10000/10000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 9
Average chips: 383,000
- $39,487
- 22,087
- 13,386
- 10,709
- 8,032
- 6,693
- 5,354
- 4,016
- 3,012
- – 12. 2,677 13. – 15. 2,343 16. – 18. 2,008
By seat:
- Todd Ivens
- Ben Diebold
- Ronnie Elliot
- Konrad Drazyk
- Michael Wang
- Shang Dai
- Justin Harvell
- Nick Pupillo
- Ajay
$1,000+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty
Semi-Turbo 8-Handed NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 19: Blinds 4000/8000/16000
Entries: 138
Remaining: 14
Average chips: 246,429
Down to a blind and a half on the stone bubble, it seemed that Dominic D’amico was destined to bring the other players into the money. He’s folded in spots no one would so far, and even passes on – saving himself from Konrad Drazyk’s which somehow get no action.
“You deserve to make it, ” Joseph Capella told him. Capella himself was playing carefully, limp folding a claimed 
to Ajay’s shove. “The nittiest fold I’ve ever made…I’m embarrassed by what I just folded.”
Capella gets a count but convinces himself to fold AQ, which Ajay seems to like afterwards.
Unfortunately, that comment to D’amico would come at least in part at Joseph’s expense. With the blinds coming round, Dominic finally found a hand to go with, dropping his 6,000 in the pot. He got a call from Pupillo, and then Capella happily jammed 
.
D’amico struggles then folds the pocket pair, unbelievably. Konrad, left, is a little amused.
However, his face fell when D’amico turned over 
. No one thought Dominic could be so fortunate. He quadrupled.
Fake smile on Joe but the table and even the dealer is amused: Capella can’t believe D’amico woke up with aces.
From there, he doubled again with vs Pupillo and woke up with vs Ajay, getting himself out of the cellar, improbably.
Meanwhile, plenty of action.
Tony Ruberto struck out at Wang on 1, making him fold after a several minute tank.
Ruberto downs a Greyhound while Wang struggles.
However he then made a loose jam with 
over Michael Wang, doubling Wang to 300,000, whose took it down.
“I owe you one,” Ruberto announced demonstrably, meaning he wanted a beat for Michael here in exchange for some earlier unhappiness.
Diebold took two medium pots to chip up significantly on table 2.
Will Failla, not in danger, got caught in a costly bluff, check raising flop and shoving turn dead into Todd Ivens turned flush.
“I caught my card,” Will quipped.
D’amico, on the other hand, was growing confident and said he hadn’t had queens yet. Capella listed a bunch of hands he wasn’t folding, including Ace-queen, but Dominic needled him by saying “again?”
Orville Arthur, meanwhile faded two all-ins – he bought in for 10 bigs at the reg deadline and is keeping to his plan of cashing.
Shang Dai made a great decision not to go with top pair versus a shover’s jacks. Relief.
Will’s good luck charm, Mike Dentale, shows up just in time to provide some moral support and to see him bust.
In the end, it came back to the unlucky Will, who got it all in with 
. Diebold the big blind called blind and improved, sending us into the money – finally.