Thursday, June 27, 2013

Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard - Final Results

Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard Winners
By participating in any Borgata Summer Poker Open event (June 4-21, 2013), players earned points based upon the Borgata Summer Poker Tournament Leaderboard Formula.

Below are the top scores for the 2013 Borgata Summer Poker Open Leaderboard*

$3,500 entry into WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship event 
            (September 15 - 20, 2013)
  • 557:  MICHAEL HAHN

$1,500 for entry into Borgata Poker Open tournament series 
            (September 2013)
  • 441:  LEE KIRSCH

$560 entry into Borgata Poker Open kick-off event
             (September 3 - 5, 2013)
  • 429:  JOHN WHITING
  • 392:  ILYA VASSERMAN
  • 375:  ADRIAN SILVESCU

$400 entry into Borgata $100,000 Guaranteed Saturday Series
 
            (July 13, 2013 or August 3, 2013)
  • 358:  RICHARD DEVIVO
  • 351:  MOHD EID
  • 347:  SHE LOK WONG
  • 344:  JAMES MCKEON
  • 339:  DAVID HECK

* All prizes must be used towards tournament entry. All prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value. Prizes must be redeemed for tournament entry by tournament start date.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Championship: 1st Place - Hook

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

Chalie Hook (Philadelphia, PA) 
 $198,186 

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante

On a flop of Q♣ 2♠ 10♠, Chalie Hook bets 200k, Mike Lydon moves all in for 700k total and Hook calls.

Hook: A 10(middle pair)
Lydon: J♠ 5♠ (flush draw)

Turn: 7 (no change)

River: K

Hook dodges a spade on the river and wins the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship Event.

"It feels good to get a live title," says Hook who earns $198,186, "this is my largest score, so I'm really happy."

This is Hook's second career Borgata trophy, joining his heads up title in June 2009.  Before Black Friday he specialized in short-handed online games, but is no slouch in live play.

He now has more than $500,000 career live earnings, more than half of it ($336,000) here at Borgata, including a runner-up and third place finish to along with two wins.

Championship Recap

$2500 + $200 Championship Deep Stack Double Play NLH

The final table of the Borgata Summer Poker Open was a microcosm of the entire tournament. Some of the best players in the field used big stacks and a deep structure until Chalie Hook (Philadelphia, PA) was left holding the trophy.

"You can't say it very often," said Hook who earned $198,186 for his largest career win, "but the best three or four players in the tournament were at the final table."

Hook defeated Mike Lydon (Woodside, NY) heads up while holding A 10 on the final hand for middle pair against Lydon's flush draw that bricked the turn and river.  Lydon also earned his largest career cash, $116,787, as runner-up.

Hook and Lydon played a marathon three-handed session with third place finisher Dan Wach (Boonton, MA) who nearly went wire to wire after leading the chip counts after each of the first three days.

"It only matters if you win," said Wach, who took home $67,241 for third place. "It's alright, I won't complain, but I'm still not happy with the finish."

Hook also had a big stack most of the tournament. He bagged a top 10 stack after Day 1 and was right behind Wach after Days 2 and 3 on their way to the final table.

"I was really focused and had a positive attitude coming in," said Hook who also praised the 30k starting stacks and 90 minute levels on Days 3 and 4. "I knew if you made any mistakes the great structure would make up for it."

"You can do a lot of maneuvering when you get chips," added Wach.  "You can afford to make some mistakes." 

Lydon was the exception to the big stack rule as he had an average stack most of the way until he got hot at the final table. Lydon climbed the chip counts by knocking out Ken Silberstein in 10th place, crippling Travis Greenawalt, who finished 9th, and eliminating Orson Young in 8th place.

Hook singled out Young and Wach as two of the field's top players, and Young, who began Day 2 second in chips behind Wach, was another early big stack that went deep.

Next to go at the final table was "Grandpa" Jay Zimmet in 7th place, who was one of the two players at the final table with two Borgata trophies.  The other was Gregg Fishberg who finished 5th.

In between those eliminations was another Borgata regular Taha Maruf (6th) who was Hook's first final table victim.

The pivotal hand at the final table, and most brutal, came between tournament newcomer Joe "The Jeweler" Gola and Wach. Gola's pocket Aces were cracked by Wach's pocket Kings and Gola, who also had a top 10 stack after Day 1, was eliminated in 4th place.

That set the stage for Wach, Lydon and Hook, who are all Borgata trophy winners looking for their second title. Hook knocked out Wach in third place before he finished off Lydon.

"It feels good to get a live title," said Hook, who now has more than $500,000 in career tournament earnings. "This is my largest score, so I'm really happy."

In addition to Hook, Wach, Gola and Young, three other players who bagged an early big stack made the money.  They included Mike Schoultz (11th), Shaheim Sheridan (13th) and John Dibella (23rd) to make it an astounding 7 out of the top 10 stacks from Day 1 that cashed.

The four day tournament, that featured two Day 1s, had 296 entries for a total buy-in of $740,000.

27 players made the money and included Borgata regulars Frank Reina (12th), Nick Salimbene (14th), Chris Farley (16th), Maruti Yarlapati (17th), DJ Whorley (20th) and Mike Dentale (25th).

Final Table Results

Entries: 296
Total Buy-In: $740,000

Place - Amount

1st Chalie Hook (Philadelphia, PA) $198,186
2nd Mike Lydon (Woodside, NY) $116,787
3rd Dan Wach (Boonton, NJ) $67,241
4th Joe "The Jeweler" Gola (Philadelphia, PA) $54,501
5th Gregg Fishberg (Huntingdon Valley, PA) $42,468
6th Taha Maruf (Hicksville, NY) $35,390
7th "Grandpa" Jay Zimmet (Manalapan, NJ) $28,312
8th Orson Young (Oceanport, NJ) $21,234
9th Travis Greenawalt (Landisville, PA) $14,156
10th Ken Silberstein (Edison, NJ) $9,201

FINAL RESULTS

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Event 19: Photo Slide Show

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 


May not display on mobile devices.

Event 19 Recap

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

The final event of the Borgata Summer Poker Open was a lively, raucous tournament that ended with two of the more friendly players going heads up.  In the end Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) beat Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) and had a lot of fun along the way.

"We said, 'how cool would it be to play heads up,' said Giannell who won the first prize of $11,787. "And the longer it went the more it looked like it was going to happen."

On the final hand, Giannell held K♣ 10♣ and hit trip Kings to beat Aiello's pocket 10s.

"I knew he had the King," said Aiello, who earned $6,946 as runner-up, "but I was tired. It's been a long day."

The two became fast friends when they were first seated together with about 40 players remaining.  Aiello entertained everyone throughout the tournament with his trademark shouts of, "I'm alive," after winning a big hand.

"We had a lot of fun," said Giannell who earned the 18th trophy of the series along with a framed winner's photo. "How can you not like the guy?"

Aiello's brash, but playful personality rubbed some people the wrong way, but most took it in stride.

Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) was victimized by Aiello who hit a full house on the river to severely damage O'Neill's chances of winning before he finished third.

Another disappointed player was fourth place finisher, Borgata regular Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ).

"I love Borgata, this is my home," said Borrero. "I have to get me a trophy. I keep going deep, but haven't gotten their yet. I keep getting closer and closer,"

The day began with 217 entries that produced $43,400 in total buy-ins. 27 players cashed with several Borgata regulars getting their piece of the prize pool including Max Digilov (22nd) and Gil Sacks (25th).

Also making a deep run was Championship Event 13th place finisher Shaheim Sheridan who was 12th place in this event.

But the final winner of the series was an accountant who was visiting family while making friends and making memories at Borgata.

"This is probably my best live achievement," said Giannell, "It's defintiely one of my happiest days in poker."

Final Table Results

Total Entries: 217
Total Buy-In: $43,400

Place-Name-Amount

1st Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) $11,787
2nd Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) $6,946
3rd Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) $3,999
4th Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) $3,242
5th Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) $2,526
6th Paul Hirschorn (Edgewater, NJ) $2,105
7th Steve Grayber (Franklin Lakes, NJ) $1,684
8th Giovanni Vozzoto (Bellmore, NY) $1,263
9th Eric Goldfeier (Cluster, NJ) $842
10th Bruce Kanner (Bronx, NY) $547

FINAL RESULTS

Event 19 Winner - Giannell

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante 


Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ)
  $11,787 

After taking a 3 million to 2 million chip lead, Chris Giannell and Dennis Aiello see a flop of
K 2 5.

Aiello checks, Giannell bets 215k and Aiello calls.

Turn: K

Aiello checks, Giannell bets 250k and Aiello calls.

River: A

Aiello stares at his cards and says, "I'm all in," Giannell quickly calls.

Aiello: K 10 (trip Kings)
Giannell: 10 10 (two pairs, Kings & 10s)

"I knew you had the King," laughs Aiello who knows his tournament is over.

And with that Giannell wins the first place prize of $11,787, the trophy and a framed winner's photo.

"This is probably my best live achievement," says Gianell, an accountant, who is visiting family while on vacation, "It's defintiely one of my happiest days in poker."

 Giannell Receiving his Winner's Photo 
from Eric Harkins of Image Masters

Event 19: 2nd Place - Aiello

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 50k/100k/10k ante 

Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ)
 $6,946 

On the final hand, Dennis Aiello moves all in against Chris Giannell and see's his pocket 10s are beat by trip Kings.

"I knew he had the King," says Aiello, "but I was tired. It's been a long day."

Aiello is an auto broker who is at Borgata visiting with friends. He entertained everyone throughout the tournament with his trademark shouts of, "I'm alive," after winning a big hand.

Aiello Celebrates Winning a Hand, 
Saying, "I'm Alive!"

Event 19: Another Key Hand

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 40k/80k/10k ante 

Before Mick O'Neill was knocked out in third place, another key hand kept Chris Giannell in the game.

Dennis Aiello limped from the SB, Giannell moved all in from the BB and paused. Aiello offered up a high five saying, "whatever happens, it's been fun."

Aiello agreed, slapped hands, called and turned over cowboys.

Aiello: KK
Giannell: AJ

Giannell had one foot out the door, but an Ace on the turn saved his tournament and he got a 1 million chip double-up.

A few hands later, Giannell knocked out O'Neill.

Event 19: 3rd Place - O'Neill

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 40k/80k/10k ante  

 Mick O'Neill (New York, NY)
$3,999

Mick O'Neill's roller coaster ride comes to an end in third place.

After losing a 2 million chip pot to Dennis Aiello, O'Neill sends the last of his chips to Chris Giannell.

The pivotal hand against Aiello happens during the 30k/60k/5k level when they see a flop of A K 7.  O'Neill bets 325k and Aiello calls.

Turn: K

O'Neill checks, Aiello bets 325k and O'Neill calls.

River: 8

O'Neill checks, Aiello bets 325k and O'Neill drops a huge stack of uncounted 25k chips on top (~700k).

Aiello calls and sees O'Neill turn over KQ for trip Kings.

"Can I go all in now," asks Aiello as he slowly turns over 88 for a full house, 8s full of Kings.

"I let him get there," says O'Neill, who wasn't thrilled with Aiello's slow roll.

"I thought I had him, but thought he might have Ace-King."

The hand changes the whole table dynamic and O'Neill is content with a third place finish for $3,999.

Giannell and Aiello are now heads up for the title.

Event 19: 4th Place - Borrero

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) 
  
Blinds 30k/60k/5k ante 

 Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) 
 $3,242 

After shipping a double-up to Chris Giannell, Borrero gives him the last 350k.

Borrero: J 10
Giannell: K K

Flop: Q 9 Q (Borrero OE straight draw)

Turn: (Giannell full house)

Borrero is drawing dead on the turn and finishes in 4th place for $3,242.

Giannell, Mick O'Neill and Dennis Aiello are all even in chips at ~1.8 million

Event 19: Round & Round

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 25k/50k/5k ante  


We've seen a couple of double-ups since the start of the new level.

Miguel Borrero (77) sends 700k to Dennis Aiello (AK) when a King hits the turn leaving Borrero with less than 300k.

A few hands later, Borrero is at risk for 300k against Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ).

Giannell: QQ
Borrero: AK

Flop: J 10 (Borrero gutshot straight draw)

Turn: Q (Borrero straight, Giannell full house draw)

"Pair the board," says Giannell who sees a 3 on the river giving Borrero the double-up.

And they play on.

Event 19: 5th Place - Altman

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 20k/40k/4k ante 

 Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) 
$2,526

Chris Giannell moves all in, Dennis Altman calls and is at risk for 700k.

Giannell: KQ
Altman: 88

Giannell hits a Queen on the turn and gets the knockout.

Altman is out in 5th place, earning $2,526.

Giannell is now the chip leader with 2 million after getting a 646k double-up through Mick O'Neill a few hands earlier.

Event 19: Getting Pricey

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 20k/40k/4k ante 

As blinds go up, Dennis Altman chirps, "that's 80,000 a round, that's expensive."

After doing the math everyone agrees that anteing 5 times, plus both blinds equals 80k.

5-handed play has now lasted nearly 90 minutes.

Event 19: Mick Still Running Hot

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 15k/30k/4k ante 

Mick O'Neill has been on a heater since winning the 2 million chip pot.

In a hand against Miguel Borrero, O'Neill raises from the cutoff to 75k preflop and Borrero calls from the BB.

Flop: A K 8

Borrero checks, O'Neill bets 100k and Borrero calls

Turn: 3

Borrero checks, O'Neill bets 200k and Borrero calls

River: 6

Both players check and O'Neill shows A 9. Borrero flashes an Ace and folds in frustration.

O'Neill is up to 2.3 million and still has the chip lead.

A few hands later O'Neill bets the turn, getting Dennis Aiello to fold. O'Neill shows Q 7 for a flopped two pairs.

"He always has it," says Dennis Altman.




Event 19: 2 Million Chips to Mick

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12k/24k/3k ante 

After winning a nice pot off Dennis Aiello, Mick O'Neill is all in and at risk against Chris Giannell.

O'Neill: 10 10
Giannell: A K

O'Neill wins the race and doubles 1 million, 16k to take the chip lead at more than 2 million.

Giannell is cut to 800k on this, the last hand of the level.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Event 19: Blinds Up / Chip Counts

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 12k/24k/3k ante 

Chip Counts

Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) 1.6 million
Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) 1. 4 million
Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) 970k
Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) 900k
Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) 583k

Event 19: 6th Place - Hirschorn

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 10k/20k/3k ante  

Paul Hirschorn (Edgewater, NJ) 
$2,105

On the last hand of the level, Paul Hirschorn moves all in for 250k and Dennis Aiello makes the call.

Hirschorn: K8
Aiello: 44

Hirschorn picks up a gutshot straight draw after the J 10 7 flop, but misses on the turn and river.

Hirschorn earns $2,105 for his 6th place finish.

Event 19: 7th Place - Grayber

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 10k/20k/3k ante 

 Steve Grayber (Franklin Lakes, NJ) 
$1,684

Miguel Borrero (UTG) raises to 43k, Steve Grayber makes it 100k and Borrero calls.
Flop: J♠ 7♠ 3♠

Both players check.

Turn: 5♣

Borrero bets 340k, Grayber moves all in for 600k, Borrero snap calls.

Borrero: 6♣ 4♠ (straight)
Grayber: A♠ A (flush draw)

The river is a blank and Borrero cracks Aces to take his stack to 1.5 millioin.

Grayber finishes in 7th place for $1,684.

Event 19: 8th Place - Vozzoto

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 10k/20k/3k ante

Giovanni Vozzoto (Bellmore, NY)
$1,263

Giovanni Vozzoto is practically doing back flips for his 8th place finish.

"I had 100k with 18 players left," he says, "I had nothing."

Vozzoto watched exit after exit move himself from $421 (18th place) to $1,263 for finishing 8th.

On his final hand, Giovanni is all in for 100k with KJ against the A8 of Miguel Borrero

Giovanni doesn't get any help and is happy to be heading to the pay window.

Event 19: 9th Place - Goldfeier

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 10k/20k/3k ante 

Eric Goldfeier (Cluster, NJ) 
$842

Eric Goldfeier raises half his 225k stack preflop and gets a call from Chris Giannell.

Flop: A 9 6

Goldfeier moves all in for ~115k and Giannell snap calls.

Goldfeier: JJ
Giannell: 99 (set of 9s)

There's no help on the turn or river and Goldfeier finishes in 9th place for $842.

Event 19: 10th Place - Kanner

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 8k/16k/2k ante 

Bruce Kanner (Bronx, NY)
$547

After shipping a double-up that drops him to less than 200k, Bruce Kanner's elimination comes in a theatrical hand.

Kanner, Dennis Aiello and Miguel Borrero see a flop of A 4 7.

Aiello moves all in for 433k and is at risk against Borrero, but has Kanner covered.

Borrero goes into the tank and mutters, "why so much," before eventually folding.

Kanner makes the call and both players turn over an Ace in a cat and mouse game.  Aiello shows his 5 kicker, while Kanner flips over a 10.  With that Borrero explodes from the table upset, saying he folded Ace-Jack.

Just seconds later a 5 comes on the turn and everyone explodes as Aiello hits two pairs. A brick on the river gives Aiello the pot to knockout Kanner.

"I'm alive," shouts Aiello, who has been enjoying his time at the table in a frat house atmosphere.

The hand stuns Kanner who finishes in 10th place for $547.

Meanwhile at the other end of the table, Borrero is literally patting himself on the back saying, "good fold," while Giovanni Vozzoto is thrilled to still be in the tournament with 100k (6 bb).

"I just picked up $300 bucks with nothing," he says referring to the pay jump from 10th to 9th place.

Event 19: Final Table

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 8k/16k/2k ante

Seat-Name-Chip Count

1 Paul Hirschorn (Edgewater, NJ) 430k
2 Eric Goldfeier (Cluster, NJ) 398k
3 Bruce Kanner (Bronx, NY) 585k
4 Steve Grayber (Franklin Lakes, NJ) 390k
5 Mick O'Neill (New York, NY) 700k
6 Dennis Aiello (Kinnelon, NJ) 510k
7 Chris Giannell (Red Bank, NJ) 460k
8 Miguel Borrero (Jersey City, NJ) 1.1 million
9 Dennis Altman (Polk City, FL) 900k
10 Giovanni Vozzoto (Bellmore, NY) 116k

Event 19: 11th Place - Lapinta

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 8k/16k/2k ante

 Joe Lapinta (Toms River, NJ)
$547

Joe Lapinta and Dennis Aiello see a flop of 3 3 4.   Lapinta moves all in for 130k and Aiello makes the tough call.

Lapinta: Q2 (over card)
Aiello: 4 6 (two pairs, 4s and 3s)

Turn: A

River:9

Lapinta misses his three-outer on the turn and river and finishes in 11th place for $547.

Event 19: 12th Place - Sheridan

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 6k/12k/2k ante

 Shaheim "Sha" Sheridan (Fayetteville, NC)
$547

Sha Sheridan is all in for 200k with J 10 against the KQ of Bruce Kanner.

Kanner hits two Queens on the flop and wins the hand with trip queens.

Sheridan finishes in 12th place for $547. That's one spot higher than his finish in the Championship which earned him nearly $8,000.

Event 19: 13th Place - Davis

$200 + $30 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)

Blinds 6k/12k/2k ante 

Jack Davis (Washington, DC)
$463

Jack Davis is all in for 135k with KQ against the AK of Miguel Borrero.

There's no help on the board and Davis is on the rail.

Davis earns $463 for his 13th place finish and sends a shout out to "Sarah."