Event 4
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
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 29: Limits 60,000/120,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
We moved to LHE and the match seemed essentially over. With one big bet of 120,000, Glenn decided 
was good enough.
Barry knew he had to go with any two, but sportingly did not look before putting the money in.
Nevertheless, he turned over 
, leaving Glenn in brutal shape.
However, before the river was dealt and sealed the tournament for Barry Levy, Glenn’s wife cried out “C’MON SIX!”.
Engelbert’s six keeps him and his hopes of yet another trophy alive…
And it appeared.
The table and spectator came unglued. Barry hollered about the six and asked the room if anyone “needed a six?”
It turns out, he would.
…but Levy’s seals the trophy for the mixed game expert.
A few hands later, still in LHE, Glenn got his last two bets in with 
, while Barry again went with a random hand to complete the knockout, this time a poorly timed .
However, the six hit for Barry, too, and our championship, hard fought until the end, is over!
For an amazing run, with only the briefest of leads, Glenn Engelbert takes a hard earned $7256.
Barry points out his “Chief Sweater,” Anthony Bellino, along with friend Doug Klevitz.
Hail to the champ, Barry Levy ($12,532)
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
End of Level 28: Limits 50,000/100,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
Moving to Razz, Glenn Engelbert takes one down after calling a completion from Barry’s 
. Good result for Glenn and back to 7 big bets.
In stud high, Barry applies pressure showing a pair of deuces and a flush draw, betting right into Glenn’s high cards on fifth. Glenn finds it curious but ultimately releases.
However, the next pot goes Glenn’s way, and he is holding at seven bigs.
Glenn Engelbert in action, back from the aces hand.
Perhaps emboldened, he turns a pair of fours into a bluff on seventh, but Barry beats him into the pot, showing hidden aces. Big change of momentum, and Glenn complains about his choice.
Back to three bets, Glenn calls a completion, then squeaks through a small win with ace high.
However, the blinds are rising again, and the pressure mounts on Engelbert to come up with another double.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 28: Limits 50,000/100,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
In Stud8, still with just a few bets, Glenn fires every street. Despite a high straightening board and a nice low underneath, Barry bricks everything, and can’t call the bet.
This gives Glenn his first bit of breathing room in several rounds. However, the big bets are huge now, and he remains in peril.
Levy studying a limit hold’em hand, facing a river bet from Glenn…
Glenn takes a hit, but in LHE, picks up and gets paid on the river. Back to 700,000.
…but Glenn’s got it: aces at the final table, always a good feeling.
It’s hard to keep momentum with these games, though: as soon as Glenn is in striking distance of the lead, Barry turns a straight and low in O8, claiming precious big bets from Glenn, who is back down to 500,000, with Barrry at 1,200,000.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
End of Level 27: Limits 40,000/80,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
O8 is kinder to Glenn Engelbert. A 400,000 pot goes to him with two pair. However, when Glenn flops kings full on an board, Levy outdraws him for a higher aces full.
Back to 1,000,000 to 700,000, and Levy wastes now time taking 200,000 again from Glenn with a set of queens.
With now a three to one lead for Barry, we move to Razz.
Big spot for Glenn. He’s been very short since this tough fold.
Glenn faces a key decision right away, facing a big bet with less than 4 left, his board clearly looking worse. He lets it go, and now has about 400,000 to Barry’s 1,300,000.
In the next hand, Barry draws perfect and Glenn can only laugh and muck on fifth.
He needs help soon, with 3 big bets left.
Facing a good board for Glenn but holding great hole cards, Barry puts Glenn in on the next hand. He’s ahead with a better ten but Glenn peels a nine to nip him and double back to life.
He’s still short and has to pitch the next hand on sixth. Three bets remain for Glenn.
On to Stud.
In one spot, Glenn is rolled up but Barry gets away. He claims 
, so it’s not exactly a miracle but he still celebrates a good lay down.
Glenn is holding at 300,000 but now the blinds are heading up.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 27: Limits 40,000/80,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
While an adjusted payout was discussed, it’s clear both players want to fight for the trophy, and the talks were abandoned after a short visit from the floor explained their options here at Borgata.
The first trades of chips leave Glenn with a slightly bigger lead than we began heads-up with, about 1 million to 700,000.
In Razz and Stud, however, Barry recloses the gap and we’re back to where we started.
Stud8 is seeing a low level of action so far, with completions and folds.
Barry takes one down showing a 
on 4th street during this lull in action, before moving to LHE.
Heads up. Glenn moves one seat over to speed the action.
Glenn takes the first, with Barry giving up on the flop with only king high.
Barry takes one down in position with kings up, not getting the action he wanted. Then gets a turn bet through – this LHE period belongs to Levy, getting him to 950,000 and the lead for the first time during HU.
Next is O8.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 26: Limits 30,000/60,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 850,000
Approximate chips by seat.
2. Barry Levy – 800,000
3. Jake Dynes – 3rd
4.
5.
6. Glenn Engelbert – 900,000
7.
8.
On the 
, a hefty three bets go in. Glenn leaves himself a big bet and puts it in blind on the river. Barry wonders, but has to call, holding the 
in position.
Glenn turns the nuts.
Unfortunately, Glenn coolered Barry completely, holding the 
for the nuts. Glenn goes from third to over 700,000, while Barry misses a chance to finally finish off the pesky Engelbert, who was so short all tournament.
Dynes’ fortune has fallen, however and is now short. In O8, he survives a split pot, with Glenn making another nut flush. Jake will need a true double however, and soon.
Jake Dynes, 3rd for $3958.
However, it’s not to be. Still in O8, Jake gets in his last few bets in pre with a dominating ace but no low draw, and Barry ultimately scoops.
Hope. Jake and Barry let the board run out in O8.
Great run with several highlights for Jake.
We have a scheduled break next, but the players have been negotiating and we’ll see how heads up plays out or if an adjusted payout is agreed to.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 25: Limits 25,000/50,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 566,000
The hands are becoming more interesting as Dynes is continuing to up his aggression level versus Levy. However, in O8, Levy countered by taking an interesting out of flow lead line against Jake on 
which definitely caused him pause.
Dynes wants to bet his set when Barry relents on the river, but goes into the tank and checks it back.
Barry checks the river. After a struggle, Dynes declined to value bet his set of deuces. Wise choice – Barry was baiting him with top set.
Then, big risk from Dynes against Engelbert. Glenn led river for value on a paired board with a strong flush, only to face a raise from Jake. Glenn couldn’t find any bluffs in Jake’s range and let it go, only to be shown a worse flush turned into a bluff.
Dynes celebrates the bluff , slapping his hands. Key win for Jake, and Glenn is now short.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 25: Limits 25,000/50,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 566,000
Approximate chips by seat.
2. Barry Levy – 675,000
3. Jake Dynes – 525,000
4.
5.
6. Glenn Engelbert – 500,000
7.
8.
Moving to Stud8, Barry just barrelled aggressively into Glenn’s open fours, taking it down on fifth. He showed a nice low and straight draw.
Glenn has to pitch it in facing pressue and a promising board for Barry.
Then, back to LHE, it’s Jake Dynes’ turn with the deck, raising to no response, then flopping trips for a small win against Levy.
Dynes briefly even catches Levy by a big bet or so, but Engelbert pulls him back down, cracking another pairs of queens with weak trips.
$400+$50 H.O.R.S.E.
$25,000 Guaranteed
Structure
Level 24: Limits 20,000/40,000
Total Entries: 85
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 566,000
Amaral, now having let Stavrakis bust, took his stand in Razz versus Engelbert.
A reasonable start double paired, ruining Amaral’s chances. Glenn finished with an 86, busting the dangerous Amaral.
Amaral looks for a miracle in the down cards, but pitches them quietly and shakes Glenn’s hand.
Chris takes 4th for a nice $2638
In the next hand Jake Dynes, took an “aggressive” raise on third showing a four against Barry’s deuce. Barry tried to steal it on 4th when Jake paired, but ultimately had to muck on the river, as Dynes wasn’t bluffing. Key pot for Jake, who moves over 500,000.
It’s Levy in the lead, Glenn Engelbert handing on in third.