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