Event 2
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
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 33: 100,000/200,000/30,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 4
(L to R) Vincent Caravello, Soheb Porbandarwala, Peter Hong, Peter Giordano (Seated)
When the final four players returned from break they began to discuss a deal. The stacks were counted down and at just past 5 A.M. an agreement was made.
Peter Giordano who held the chip lead at the time of the deal will take home $57,531 and his first Borgata Poker Open title.
This is Giordano’s largest live career tournament score and he tells us we’ll be seeing plenty more of him this series.
Below is a look at the chip stacks at the time of the deal and what each player will be earning.
1. Peter Giordano- $57,531
2. Soheb Porbandarwala- $48,669
3. Vincent Caravello- $40,030
4. Peter Hong- $39,173
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 32: 80,000/160,000/20,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 4
Ricardo Eyzaguirre
Soheb Porbandarwala raises to 350,000 and Ricardp Eyzaguirre calls from the big blind. They go heads up to the 
and Eyzaguirre check calls a bet of 200,000 from Soheb.
The turn is the 
and Eyzaguirre again checks to Soheb who bets 400,000. Eyzaguirre calls and the river is the 
.
Eyzaguirre leads out with a bet of 550,000 and Soheb tosses out his $100 bounty chip moving all in.
Eyzaguiree makes the call for his last 1,100,000 and Soheb turns over 
for a rivered straight. Eyzaguirre is eliminated in 5th place earning $20,652 and Soheb chips up to 7,500,000 with four players left.
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 5
Kerem Ozer
Kerem Ozer got his last 1,120,000 all in preflop holding 
against the 
of Peter Giordano.
Ozer failed to improve on the 
runout and is our 6th place Event 2 finisher earning $16,709.
Giordano’s heater continues here at the final table and he is now holding nearly half the chip in play.
Peter Giordano- 11,000,000
Kerem Ozer- Eliminated in 6th Place ($16,709)
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 31: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 6
Sung Kim
Sung Kim raises to 250,000 and Peter Giordano calls from the button. Keren Uzer calls from the big blind and they go three handed to the 
flop.
Uzer checks and Kim fires out a bet of 325,000. Giordano makes the call and Uzer gets out of the way.
Both players check the 
turn card and the completes the board. Kim leads out with a bet of 475,000 and Giordano moves all in covering Kim who has about 1,300,000 back.
Kim makes the call after giving it some thought and Giordano shows for trip fours. Kim flashes his before mucking his hand and is eliminated in 7th place taking home $13,142.
Peter Giordano- 8,100,000
Sung Kim- Eliminated in 7th Place ($13,142)
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/10,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 7
Edguardo Figueroa
Edguardo Figueroa was the next to fall when his ace three was outflopped by the king seven of chip leader Peter Giordano. Figueroa is our 8th place Event 2 finisher and will take home $9,763.
We are now down to the final seven players and they are all guaranteed at least $12,142.
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/10,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 8
Peter Hong
It didn’t take long for a massive pot to develop at the final table. John Andrews moved all in from under the gun for 450,000 and it folded to Peter Hong in the small blind.
Hong re-shoved all in covering Jimmy Poper in the big blind who had about 700,000. Poper made the call and two players tournament lives would be at risk.
Hong:
Andrews: 
Poper: 
The board ran out clean for Hong 
and his pocket rockets held up to earn him the double knockout.
Hong chips up to 4,500,000 and is now second in chips with just 8 players left. He would also like to give a special shout out to his wife Jennifer who is following all of the action at home here in the early morning hours.
9th Place: Jimmy Poper ($6,890)
10th Place: John Andrews ($4,487)
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 30: 50,000/100,000/10,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 10
Average Chips: 6,765,125
Peter Giordano
John Caputo was eliminated in 11th place and the Event 2 final table is now set. Peter Giordano is holding strong at the top with over 7,000,000.
Ricardo Eyzaguirre sits in second with 4,315,000 and Soheb Porbandarwala rounds out the top three with 2,900,000.
Below is an updated list of the chip counts and final table seating assignments.
Seat 1. Vincent Caravello- 730,000
Seat 2. Peter Hong- 1,700,000
Seat 3. Jimmy Poper- 950,000
Seat 4. John Andrews- 2,135,000
Seat 5. Sung Kim- 2,400,000
Seat 6. Ricardo Eyzaguirre- 4,315,000
Seat 7. Eduardo Figueroa- 950,000
Seat 8. Peter Giordan0 -7,300,000
Seat 9. Soheb Porbandarwala- 3,900,000
Seat 10. Keren Uzer- 1,200,000
Payouts
1. $81,760+BWPO trophy
2. $48,813
3. $29,851
4. $24,970
5. $20,652
6. $16,709
7. $13,142
8. $9,763
9. $6,890
10. $4,487
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 28: 30,000/60,000/5,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 13
Average Chips: 2,125,000
Andrew Forsythe (left) Peter Giordano (right)
Andrew Forshythe and Peter Giordano are heads up on a 
board. There is about 1,000,000 in the main pot and Forshythe moves all in for 1,690,000.
Giordano goes into the tank for nearly three minutes scratching his head and talking through the hand. He eventually calls and Forshythe says “good call” turning over 
for just middle pair.
Giordano shows 
for top pair and the completes the board. Giordano rockets out of his and lets out a fist pump as the massive pot is shipped his way.
He is now up to over 8,000,000 and is alone at the top with just 13 players remaining.
Peter Giordano- 8,100,000
Andrew Forsythe- Eliminated in 15th Place ($3,004)
$350+$50 Black Chip Bounty NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Level 28: 30,000/60,000/5,000
Entries: 1,106
Players Remaining: 16
Average Chips: 1,725,125
Peter Giordano
Just as we were wrapping up the latest blog we see chip leader Peter Giordano scooping a massive pot and he filled us in on the action.
It folded to Giordano in the small blind and he tossed out a raise. Joe Ulm called from the big and they went heads up to the 
flop.
Giordano continued with a bet of 130,000 and Joe Ulm raised to 260,000. Giordano made it 660,000 and Ulm moved all in for about 2,000,000.
Giordano made the call turning over and Ulm showed 
for just queen high with a gutshot straight draw.
The turn and river were no help to Ulm who was eliminated and Giordano has extended his chip lead to over 5,000,000 with 16 players remaining.