Event 16
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
Event 16 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open was the $500+$60+$1,000 Super Knockout NLH event. There were a total of 197 entries creating a prize pool of over $95,000.
When the dust settled Ricky Guan was the last man standing. Guan got off to a red hot start collecting four bounties early and never looked back. He came into the final table in the middle of the pack but was able to pick his spots and always got his chips in good.
It was a marathon final table lasting nearly six hours and wrapping up just before the clock struck 8 A.M.
Guan took a brutal beat during three handed play when his 
were cracked on the river by Kevin Saul’s 
. He took the bad beat in stride and quickly battled back to eliminated Saul in third.
When heads up play was set to begin the final two players agreed to a deal and Guan takes home his first Borgata Winter Poker Open along with $22,000. He also added $9,000 in orange bounty chips to his bankroll.
He is off to get some rest but will be right back at it in WPT BWPO Main Event on Monday.
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 28: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 2
Ricky Guan (left) Mike Wang (right)
With the elimination of Kevin Saul in third heads up play was set to begin. The stacks were nearly even with Ricky Guan is holding a slight lead.
Guan was sitting with 2,070,000 and Michael Wang was just 200,000 chips behind with 1,870,000. Before the first hand of heads up play was the dealt they began to discuss an adjusted payout deal.
An agreement was quickly made and the players shook hands to finalize the deal. Ricky Guan will take home $22,000 and his first Borgata Poker Open title and Wang takes second for $21,950.
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 28: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 2
Kevin Saul
Kevin Saul moves all in for 845,000 and Ricky Guan makes the call. Saul shows and will need to improve against the 
of Guan.
The 
runout is no help to Saul and after more than two hours we have our first elimination. Saul is our third place finisher taking home $9,555 and the stacks are nearly even as heads up play is set to begin.
Ricky Guan- 2,070,000
Kevin Saul- Eliminated in 3rd Place ($9,555)
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 27: 30,000/60,000/5,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 3
The action has picked up quite a bit and Kevin Saul just moved all in for 680,000. Ricky Guan re-shoved all in from the small blind for just over 1,000,000 and Michael Wang folded.
Saul turned over but was dominated by the 
of Guan. The dealer fanned the 
flop and it was no threat to the queens of Guan.
The turn was the 
and we were just one card away from heads up play. Saul began to get up and prepare to make his exit but the 
hit the river. Saul spiked his two outer to stay alive doubling through Guan.
Guan was able to double just two hands later holding ace king and the marathon three handed play continues.
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 27: 30,000/60,000/5,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 3
Michael Wang
Mike Wang raises to 150,000 from the small blind and Kevin Saul calls from the big. They go heads up to the 
flop and Wang continues with a bet of 200,000.
Saul moves all in for about 1,600,000 and Wang makes the call for his last 930,000. Saul shows 
for middle pair but Wang’s 
is best. The turn and river 
seal the deal for Wang and he doubles up.
Mike Wang- 2,175,000
Kevin Saul- 750,000
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 27: 30,000/60,000/5,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 3
The Event 16 action has come to a crawl here in the early morning hours. The hands have been few and far between and three handed play continues.
The stacks are evening out with Michael Wang holding a slight chip lead with 1,500,000. Kevin Saul is right on his heels with 1,400,000 and Ricky Guan is playing just over 1,000,000.
The battle for the $28,185 and the BWPO trophy moves on and one of these players will be our Super Knockout Bounty champion soon enough.
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 26: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 3
Gerard Petrocelli
Gerard Petrocelli got his last 310,000 all in holding 
against the 
of Kevin Saul. There was an eight in the window on the 
pairing Saul.
The turn 
and river was no help to Petrocelli and he was sent to the rail in 4th place taking home $7,644.
Saul earns the knockout and moves into the chip lead with just three players remaining.
Kevin Saul- 1,700,000
Gerard Petrocelli- Eliminated in 4th Place ($7,644)
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 26: 20,000/40,000/5,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 4
Michael Tureniec
A short stacked Michael Tureniec moved all in for his last 241,000 holding . Unfortunately for him he ran right into the pocket aces of Kevin Saul.
He failed to improve on the 
runout and was sent to the rail in 5th taking home $5,733 for his efforts.
Kevin Saul- 1,050,000
Michael Tureniec- Eliminated in 5th Place ($5,733)
$500+$60+$1,000
Super Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 25: 15,000/30,000/4,000
Total Entries: 197
Players Remaining: 5
Wenhao Ying
Wenhao Ying limps in from the small blind and Michael Wang raises to 105,000 from the big. Ying calls and they go heads up to the 
flop.
Ying checks and Wang tosses out a bet of 125,000. Ying makes the call and the dealer burns and turns the . Ying checks again and Wang bets 225,000. Ying check raises all in for about 550,000 and Wang snap calls.
Ying shows but he is outkicked by the 
of Wang. The 
hits the river and Ying is eliminated in 6th place taking home $4,777. Wang extends his chip lead and we are down to the final five.
Michael Wang- 1,500,000
Wenhao Ying- Eliminated in 6th Place ($4,777)