Event 10
2018 WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Champion Eric Afriat
Last night after nearly four hours of heads-up play, Erif Afriat defeated Justin Zaki to win the $3 Million Guaranteed World Poker Tour Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship to claim his second WPT title, earning more than $651,000. ($15,000 is withheld for entry in the Season-Ending WPT Tournament of Champions in May.)
Afriat overcame a 2:1 chip deficit to take the lead, then the chips swung the other way and at one point he was down 4:1 in chips. He continued to battle back until he had all the chips and the win. Zaki earned more than $434,000 for his 2nd place finish.
This final table also included 2015 WSOP Main Event Winner Joe McKeehen, for the second year in a row. And for the second year in a row, he finished 4th.
James Roberts – BWPO Kickoff Event Winner
The WPO series began with a $2 Million Guaranteed Deep Stack Kickoff event which drew more than 4,500 entrants. At the end, it was James Roberts who hoisted the Borgata trophy. The recent retiree earned $378,391 after battling his way through a star-studded final table.
More than $10 million was paid out in prize money in these 23 main events alone, not including satellites and secondary events. A complete list of main event winners is below.
*AP Indicates Adjusted Payout
Thank you to all the participants and congratulations to all the winners! A special thanks goes out to all Borgata tournament staff and dealers for a terrific series.
On behalf of Borgata Poker Bloggers Tim Kelliher, Chris Murray, Brittany Paige, Matt Clark, and myself, thank you for reading! Mark your calendars now for the Borgata Spring Poker Open, which takes place April 10th – 27th. Hope to see you then!
@Kaelaine
Michael Rossitto put on a dominating performance here in Event 10 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open. This event was a brand new addition to the series and drew a massive field of 683 entries creating a prize pool of over $231,000.
Rossitto bagged the chip lead in the Day 1B flight and returned on Day 2 near the top of the chip counts. He held on to his chip lead for much of the day and started the final table second in chips.
It didn’t take long for Rossitto to chip away at his opponents and take the lead. With just four players remaining they counted the stacks and an adjusted payout deal was made.
Rossitto who was holding nearly 10,000,000 of the 27,000,000 chips in play will take home $38,316 along with his first Borgata Poker title.
The young 24 year old pro has already earned quite the reputation playing primarily online under the moniker WSOPBoy93. He has shown that he can transition seamlessly into the live tournament circuit and is making his presence known this series with a perfect record of four cashes in four events.
“I’ll be back tomorrow to play the Almighty Stack and I’m bagging a million” he tells us and if tonight’s final table performance is an indication of what’s to come he may very well do just that.
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/30,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 4
(L to R) Petr Khozin, Chris Benchik, Chris Damick, Michael Rossitto (Seated)
With the elimination of Mitchell Friedberg in 5th place the final four players began to discuss an adjusted payout deal. The stacks were counted down and it didn’t take long before a deal was struck.
Michael Rossitto who held the chip lead at the time of the agreement will take home $38,316 along with his first Borgata Winter Poker Open title.
Below is a look at the chip stacks at the time of the deal and what each player will be taking home.
Michael Rossitto- 9,6550,000 ($38,316)
Chris Benchik- 7,430,000 ($30,893)
Chris Danick- 5,950,000 ($28,278)
Petr Khozin- 4,400,000 ($25,203)
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/30,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 4
Mitchell Friedberg
A short stacked Mitchell Friedberg got his last 1,300,000 holding 
against the 
of Michael Rissotti.
He fails to improve on the 
runout and Friedberg is our 5th place finisher earning $12,753.
Michael Rissotti- 9,500,000
Mitchell Friedberg- Eliminated in 5th Place ($12,753)
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 31: 80,000/160,000/20,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 6
Michael Rossitto completes the small blind and Chris Damick checks his option in the big blind. Both players check the [As]
.
The turn brings the , Rossitto bets 200,000 and Damick calls. The 
hits the river, Rossitto bets 600,000. Damick asks “Did you really limp with an ace?” as he puts in the calling chips.
Rossitto shows the 
as an answer. Damick shows the 
and Rossitto scoops the pot.
Michael Rossitto – 9,400,000
Chris Damick – 2,245,000
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 32: 100,000/200,000/30,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 5
Mitchell Mantin
Mitchell Friedberg raises to 550,00o from under the gun and Mitchell Mantin moves all in for about 2,200,000. It folds to Chris Benchik in the small blind and he re-shoves all in for 2,380,000.
It folds back to Friedberg who snap calls putting both players at risk and they turn over the cards.
Benchik: 
Friedberg:
Mantin: 
All three players turn over monster hands and Friedberg is in great to score the double knockout. The dealer spreads the 
and it’s Benchik who takes the lead leaving Friedberg’s pocket kings drawing dead.
The turn is the 
and the 
hits the river and Mantin is sent to the rail in 6th place earning $10,550.
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 31: 80,000/160,000/20,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 6
Nick Blackburn
It folds to Nick Blackburn in the small blind and he raises to 2,360,000. Mike Rossitto calls from the big blind and they go heads up to the 
flop.
Blackburn moves all in for 2,360,000 and Rossitto makes the call.
Rossitto: 
Blackburn: 
Blackburn shows king ten for an open ended straight draw and will need to improve against the top pair of Rossitto. The turn 
pairs Blackburn but the 
river card is no help.
Rossitto’s top pair holds up and he extends his chip lead and Blackburn is eliminated in 7th place earning $8,464.
Mike Rossitto- 8,860,000
Nick Blackburn- Eliminated in 7th place ($,8464)
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
End of Level 30: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 7
Michael Rossitto
There are just 7 players remaining in the Monster Stack and Michael Rossitto is leading the way with 6,400,000. They are now all guaranteed at least $8,464 and one lucky winner will be taking home the $55,676 first prize and the BWPO trophy.
The players are now on a 15 minute break and we will pick back up on the action when play resumes. Below is a look at the updated chip counts and what’s at stake.
Seat 1. Mike Rossitto- 6,400,000
Seat 2. Chris Damick- 2,200,000
Seat 3. Chris Benchik- 2,460,000
Seat 4. Empty
Seat 5. Empty
Seat 6. Peter Khozin- 5,285,000
Seat 7. Mitchell Friedberg- 4,300,000
Seat 8. Mitchell Mantin- 3,325,000
Seat 9. Nick Blackburn- 3,875,000
Payouts
- $55,676+BWPO trophy
- $31,304
- $19,710
- $16,000
- $12,753
- $10,500
- $8,464
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 7
Michael Rossitto
Mitchell Friedberg makes it 300,000 and Michael Rossitto calls. The flop comes 
, Friedberg bets 350,000 and Rossitto calls.
Both players check the 
on the turn. The river brings the , Friedberg checks, and Rossitto bets 820,000.
Friedberg calls, Rossitto turns up for the winning trip kings, and Friedberg mucks.
Michael Rossitto – 6,400,000
Mitchell Friedberg – 4,100,0000
$350+$50 Monster Stack 40/40 NLH Re-Entry
$150,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Total Entries: 683
Players Remaining: 7
Thomas Larson
Chris Damick raises to 300,000 from under the gun. Thomas Larson moves all in for 1,460,000 and Mitchell Friedbeg calls from the cutoff. It folds back to Damick who lays it down and the hands are shown.
Friedberg:
Larson: 
“I think I’m going home” says Larson when he’s sees Friedberg’s reveal his pocket kings. There’s a king in the window on the 
improving Friedberg to top set.
The turn leaves Larson drawing dead and the meaningless 
completes the board. Larson is sent to the rail in 8th place earning $6,377 and Friedberg moves into the chip lead.
Mitchell Friedberg- 7,050,000
Thomas Larson- Eliminated in 8th Place ($6,377)