Event 17
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
Charity Series of Poker
Level 18 (4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 860,000
CSOP Champion – Mark Kaganovsky
Mark Kaganovsky was the last player to enter the Charity Series of Poker and ends the night holding the Mini-Borgata trophy. Kaganovsky finished second in the 2017 Fall Poker Open Main Event and gains a little bit of redemption here tonight in the Event Center.
The Charity Series of Poker raised $8,600 for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey thanks to 86 entries. The event brought out stars of poker and life alike to support a great cause. Fun was had by all and we expect to see the CSOP back at the Borgata for years to come.
Kaganovsky wins the trophy, wine package, and bragging rights for tonight. He moves on to tomorrow’s World Poker Tour Main Event looking to improve on his FPO finish.
Thanks to Matt Stout, the Borgata, and the Charity Series of Poker for another great event.
Charity Series of Poker
Level 18 (4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 860,000
Tommy Bates (pictured) put on a great show during the Charity Series of Poker but comes up short of the title. Bates ran into a tough spot in heads up play and earns second place for his run.
Bates and Mark Kaganovsky saw a flop of 
and Kaganovsky bet 20,000. Bates moved all-in for 220,000 and Kaganovsky called with 
. The 
of Bates was behind and he failed to catch up on the 
turn or 
river.
Bates collects $1,586 along with the $1,000 he won for being the-post registration chip leader. Kaganovsky earns the title of CSOP Champion. A winner’s recap will be posted shortly.
Charity Series of Poker
Level 18 (4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 430,000
James McKinnon (pictured) started three-handed play second in chips but departs in third place in the CSOP. McKinnon lost an all-in to Tommy Bates and it was all downhill from there.
Mark Kaganovsky opened the button to 18,000 and McKinnon moved all-in out of the small blind for 130,000 total. Kaganovsky called with 
and had the 
of McKinnon dominated.
The 
board belonged to Kaganovsky and McKinnon exits on the podium. Kaganovsky opens heads up play against Tommy Bates with a 3-1 chip lead.
Charity Series of Poker
Level 16 (2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 287,000
Michael Bonita (pictured) and Tony Fung are the first two out in post-money bubble play. Fung busted Bonita and then met his own demise against James McKinnon.
Bonita moved all-in on the button for 42,000 with and Fung called in the big blind 
. An ace hit the flop and Bonita went to collect $571.
A few hands later, Fung raised the small blind to 12,000 and McKinnon shoved out of the big blind. Fung called for 120,000 with 
and McKinnon trailed with his 
. The 
board gave McKinnon the hand and the bustout. Fung earns $698.
Chip counts for the final three are below.
- James McKinnon – 350,000
- Tommy Bates – 120,000
- Mark Kaganovsky – 390,000
Charity Series of Poker
Level 15 (2,000/4,000/400)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 177,000
The Charity Series of Poker field is in the money thanks to pockets aces working both ways. James McKinnon cracked the blades of Lexy Gavin and Mark Kaganovsky used them to bust Jo Kim (pictured).
Gavin and McKinnon got all the money in on a flop of 
with McKinnon holding 
and Gavin rolling over . McKinnon’s flush draw came home on the 
and Gavin went to the rail.
Then, Kim shoved for 75,000 with 
over a Kaganovsky open and he called with . The board gave her zero help and she departed on the bubble. The remaining five players are guaranteed $571. The updated chip counts are below.
- James McKinnon – 300,000
- Tommy Bates – 100,000
- Michael Bonita – 260,000
- Mark Kaganovsky – 180,000
- Tony Fung – 45,000
Charity Series of Poker
Level 14 (1,500/3,000/400)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 7
Chip Average: 107,500
Barstool Nate
Reginald Leonardo hit the rail in the first orbit of the final table and action dried up for a few orbits. Then, a three-way all-in took place to eliminate Eric ‘BarstoolNate’ Nathan and triple up Lexy Gavin.
Mark Kaganovsky opened to 7,000 under the gun and Nathan shoved for 44,000 in the cutoff. Gavin called all-in for 17,000 out of the small blind and Kaganovsky put them both at risk with . Gavin was live with 
and Nathan led with .
Lexy Gavin
The 
board gave Gavin and Kaganovsky their own full house. Gavin stayed alive with the better one and Nathan departed to the barstool.
Gavin knocked out Jennifer Shahade the next hand with 
against Shahade’s . Gavin is now up to 65,000.
The table is now two eliminations from the money bubble.
Charity Series of Poker
Level 13 (1,200/2,400/300)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 10
The final table is here for the Charity Series of Poker. James McKinnon (pictured) leads with 230,000. The closest player to him is Michael Bonita with 140,000. With $2,536 going to first place, there is money and bragging rights on the line along with the Mini-Borgata trophy.
- James McKinnon – 230,000
- Reginald Leonardo – 40,000
- Eric “@BarstoolNate” Nathan – 55,000
- Tommy Bates – 80,000
- Michael Bonita – 140,000
- Lexy Gavin – 20,000
- Mark Kaganovsky – 93,000
- Jo Kim – 65,000
- Jennifer Shahade – 40,000
- Tony Fung – 70,000
Charity Series of Poker
Level 11 (800/1,600/100)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 18
A total of 46 unique entrants registered for the Charity Series of Poker tonight at the Borgata. Five of those players will make the money with $2,536 awarded to first place. More importantly, $8,600 was raised for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.
Only two tables are left in the CSOP with notables including Eric “@BarstoolNate” Nathan (pictured) among them. The WPO blog will pick up full coverage of the event once we hit the final table.
- $2,536
- $1,586
- $951
- $698
- $571
Charity Series of Poker
Level 9 (500/1,000/100)
Total Entrants: 86
Players Remaining: 27
James Smart
Tommy Bates and James Smart are the two $1,000 prize winners in tonight’s Charity Series of Poker. Bates finished the early levels strong to claim the prize for chip leader.
Tommy Bates
Smart entered the CSOP 10 times, creating a $1,000 donation to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Thank you to Smart (and his pal Sophie) for their generosity.
A total of 86 entrants combined to donate $8,600 to CFBNJ. The prize pool will be available shortly.
Sophie