Event 8
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
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Jamie Giunta – 1st Place – BPO Ladies Event
It was a roller-coaster ride for Jamie Giunta, (Barnegat, NJ) who had the chip lead early in the day, then fell to the short stack, then battled her way back a couple of times. The relatively small (17 entries) Ladies tournament only paid the final two places and no deal was made.
When Jamie got heads-up with runner-up Jeanelle Bickel, they were almost even in chips, but Jamie’s relentless pressure brought the chips her way. She’s been here before, after all, when she won the 2018 Winter Poker Open Ladies Event.
For today’s win, Jamie, who works as a nanny, will take home $2,573 and her second Borgata Open Ladies trophy.
Final Results
1st – Jamie Giunta – $2,573
2nd – Jeanelle Bickel – $1,715
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 127,500
Jeanelle Bickel
On the final hand, all the chips went in pre-flop. Jamie Giunta was ahead with 
. Jeanelle had 
. The board came 
and Jamie’s pocket pair held up.
Jeanelle finished in 2nd place, earning $1,715 and her first reported tournament cash.
Jamie takes 1st place, $2,573, and her second Borgata Open Ladies event trophy.
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 14: Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 127,500
The final two ladies are battling hard for this title, but Jamie Giunta has once again pulled into the chip lead.
She opened for 9,500 and got called by Jeanelle Bickel. On the flop of 
both Ladies checked. The 
turn was checked by Jeanelle, then Jamie bet 7,000. Jeanelle called.
When the 
came on the river, it again was checked by Jeanelle. Jaime bet 15,000 and Jeanelle called. Jamie showed 
for Aes-up and Jeanelle mucked. She’s down to about 80,000 while Jamie’s up to ~175,000.
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,500/2,500 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 127,500
Jeanelle Bickel and Jamie Giunta with the Ladies Event trophy
Anonymous moved in from the button and Jamie Giunta called from the big blind. Anonymous had 
and Jamie was ahead with 
.
The board ran out 
and Jamie took the pot with a pair of Aces. Anonymous was eliminated on the bubble.
Heads-up play began with the final two Ladies almost dead even. Jamie had 126,000 to Jeanelle Bickel’s 129,000.
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 13: Blinds 1,200/2,500/2,500 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 85,000
The trio of Ladies have returned to the table to resume play on the bubble. Here’s how they stack up:
Jeanelle Bickel – 131,000
Jamie Giunta – 86,000
Anonymous – 38,000
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
End of Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 85,000
Jeanelle Bickel
In a battle of the blinds, Anonymous opened for 4,000 from the small and Jeanelle Bickel called from the big. The flop fell 
and Anonymous continued for 4,000 and got another call.
Turn was the and this time it was a 5,000 bet and call. River was the 
and another 5,000 bet and called. Anonymous showed 
for Ace-high. Jeanelle showed for a pair of 7s to take the pot.
End of level and time for a break!
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 85,000
Anonymous fired 5,000 from the small blind and Jeanelle Bickel jammed from the big, having her covered. Anonymous called all-in for 28,500 total and tabled 
. She was ahead of Jeanelle’s 
.
The board ran out 
putting a straight on the board and for a moment Jeanelle thought they were chopping, but then Anonymous pointed out her flush. She doubled up to 59,000.
Jeanelle was left with ~95,000.
Jamie’s down to ~100,000.
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 12: Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 85,000
The final three Ladies continue to push chips around the table.
Jamie Giunta
Jamie Giunta has benefitted the most, going from short-stack to chip leader.
A couple of profitable hands for Jamie:
She opened (sb) for 5,500 from the small blind and got called by Anonymous in the big. On the flop, Jamie led for 5,500 and Anonymous raised to 11,000. Jaime called. The both checked the turn and on the 
river, Jamie checked, Anonymous bet 10,000, and Jamie called. Her pocket 8s were good against the 
(pair of 4s) of her opponent.
A short while later, Anonymous opened for 4,000 on the button and both blinds called. On the flop of 
it was checked to the opener, who fired another 4,000. Jeanelle Bickel folded (sb) but Jaime called (bb). Turn was the and again it was check, 4,000, call.
River was the and Jamie led out for 10,000. Anonymous called and Jamie tabled for the nut flush. That was good to take her stack up to about 140,000. Anonymous was left with about 40,000.
Jeanelle Bickel has about 75,000.
Three-handed play continues.
$260+$40 Ladies NLH
Structure
Level 11: Blinds 800/1,500/1,500 BB Ante
Total Entries: 17
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 85,000
Ying Wang
Ying Wang got her stack in holding AT against the QJ of chip leader Jeanelle Bickel. A Jack hit the board and that’s all Jeanelle needed to claim the pot and felt Ying in the process. Ying finished 4th and the final three Ladies are now on the bubble.
Rough chip counts:
Jeanelle Bickel – 120,000
A Nonymous – 110,000
Jamie Giunta – 35,000