Event 4
Time flies when you’re having fun and the first week of the Winter Poker Open has certainly been just that, as six WPO champions were crowned, along with multiple players making deep runs to notch some of the biggest results of their career. To start this ‘First Week Action’ recap with anything other than the opening $2,000,000 GTD event would be criminal. That event saw a massive 5,100 player field come together and in the end, it was Jason Loehrs claiming victory. He earned just over $380,000 for the win, which was his first here at Borgata.
Loehrs claimed victory yesterday and there were two other WPO trophies awarded before the weekend officially over, as Duane Hunton locked up a win right before 6 AM today. That Event 6 ‘Big Stack NLH’ victory was good for a nearly $30,000 score and Guy Cicconi overcame a sizable heads up chip disadvantage to claim an over $14,000 score for his Event 5 ‘Seniors NLH’ win. He’ll be back for the WPT WPO Championship next weekend and we could very well see Joe Cashen back for that main event as well, as he claimed just shy of $45,000 for his Event 3 ‘Saturday Series’ win on Saturday.
Alison Grippo was another Saturday winner this weekend, as she took home just shy of $5,000 for her Event 4 ‘Ladies NLH’ win. The biggest winner, save for Jason Loehrs, was Ryan Slanicka though, as he took home close to $52,000 for his Event 2 ‘$100 Black Chip Bounty’ victory, after a grueling 15 hour Day 2 session.
There are still over a dozen WPO titles still up for grabs, meaning that the final week and a half of the series is surely going to be just as exciting as the first week. The WPO blog will be here to bring you all of that action but if you want to go back and catch up on what’s happened over the last week, the links at the top of this post will bring you to each event’s individual coverage.
It should also be noted, that a complete list of results from each event are linked as well.
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Alison Grippo (New York, NY)
After a grueling two-hour heads-up battle, Alison Grippo came out on top of the field of 55 Ladies to claim her first title and largest cash on her poker resume. After nearly 14 hours of play, Alison earned $4,668 and the very first trophy to be awarded during the 2016 Borgata Winter Poker Open.
Her journey to the winner’s circle was a slow one. She was in the middle of the pack at the final table, until she caught a break with pocket Queens. Her ‘Ladies’ held up against Vivian Leslie’s AQ for a big double through the former chip leader.
Another pair of Queens helped her bust Joanna Hurdato in 7th place. Then Alison collected the last of Vivian Leslie’s chips, catching a four-out gutshot on the river, sending Vivian home in 3rd place and setting up the epic heads-up battle with Gina Saladino. At the start of heads-up play, they were essentially even in chips and the lead went back and forth over the next two hours.
Alison Grippo’s Winning Hand with her Ladies Event Trophy
Due to the fact that the first three events are still in progress, the Event 4 trophy was the first one to be awarded during this series.
Alison owns her own digital advertising business, about which she explains, “we build the internet”.
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Gina Saladino (Mont Clare, PA)
It was a war of attrition rather than one big hand that spelled the end of Gina Saladino. Her chips slowly shifted over to Alison Grippo until Alison had a commanding lead.
On the final hand, Gina shoved for barely more than a min-raise holding {Jd}{9d} and Alison looked her up with {ac}{3h}.
The runout of {Qh}{qd}{5c}{3d}{6h} gave the final pot to Alison, along with the trophy and 1st place prize money of $4,668.
Gina Saladino finished in 2nd place, earning $2,534. She had numerous cashes in Ladies events, both here and at other venues, with many of them being final table appearances. Before tonight, her best finish was a 3rd place in the 2008 Summer Poker Open Ladies event. That score was good for more than $5,000. This cash will push her lifetime earnings past the $30,000 mark.
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 21: Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
Alison Grippo opened to 68,000 on the button, Gina Saladino made it 120,000 straight, and Alison called. The flop came {Kd}{8h}{4h} and Gina jammed. Alison snapped.
“If you have a King, I’ll….” said Gina, showing her {qc}{qd}. Sure enough Alison had {ks}{jd} for top pair. When the last two cards fell {6d}{jh} Alison doubled up, taking a huge chip lead.
Alison Grippo – 930,000
Gina Saladino – 170,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 20: Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
Gina Saladino is now the one chipping away at Alison Grippo’s stack. Without any big showdowns, Gina has pulled into the chip lead.
The final two ladies continue their battle on the felt.
Gina Saladino – 755,000
Alison Grippo – 345,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
Alison Grippo limped on the button and Gina Saladino raised to 25,000. Alison flatted.
The flop fell {Ah}{kd}{6c} and Gina bet 15,000. Alison announced “sixty”, then Gina announced “all-in” (243,000). Alison snap-called, showing {as}{td} for top pair.
Gina had {ad}{4d} for top pair with inferior kicker. She was two cards away from a second-place finish.
The {jh} on the turn changed nothing, but then the {4s} arrived on the river, delivering one of the three outs that Gina needed to double up. They’re back to near even again.
Gina Saladino – 530,000
Alison Grippo – 570,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
On the river with the board showing 7 5 3 A K, Gina Saladino checked, Alison Grippo fired 50,000 and Gina called, showing AJ for top pair.
Alison displayed her pocket 5s for the set to take the pot. She continues to chip away at Gina’s stack.
Alison Grippo – 780,000
Gina Saladino – 320,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 19: Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
Picking up the action on the flop of {4s}{3s}{2h}, Alison Grippo bet 20,000, Gina Saladino raised to 40,000, Alison made it 100,000, and Gina called.
On the turn with the {6s} added to the board, Alison announced a bet of 100,000 and Gina pushed her cards toward the muck.
With that hand, Alison has taken the chip lead.
Alison Grippo – 660,000
Gina Saladino – 440,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
The final two ladies took a break before beginning heads-up play. Now they’re back on the felt and ready for action.
Their stacks are so close, they are virtually even.
Vivian Leslie – 559,000
Alison Grippo – 541,000
Event 4 — $250 + $30 Ladies Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em
Level 18: Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000 ante
Total Entries: 55
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 550,000
Vivian Leslie (Washington, DC)
Vivian Leslie shoved on a flop of {ah}{qd}{3s} and Alison Grippo looked her up.
Vivian was ahead with {as}{js} for top pair. Alison had {kh}{jh} for a gutshot and not much else.
The last two fell {5d}{td} and the river was the gutter-ball that Alison needed to make Broadway.
Vivian finished in 3rd place, earning $1,601. This cash will put her lifetime earnings over $11,000. She has one prior cash here at Borgata from the 2015 Borgata Poker Open Almighty Million event.
Alison Grippo – 541,000
Vivian Leslie – eliminated