Event 20
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 20 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open was the $2,100 Second Chance Semi Turbo NLH event. There was a total of 53 entries creating a prize pool of over $102,000.
When the dust settled it was the poker legend Cliff “Johnny Bax” Josephy who was the last man standing. He started the final table third in chips and watched the players fall one by one until he found himself heads up with Elio Fox.
Josephy started heads up play with a slight chip advantage but it didn’t take long for him to chip away at Fox and earn the victory.
Josephy’s poker resume reads more like a novel boasting 2 WSOP bracelets and 2 WPT titles. He has now earned more than $7,000,000 in live poker earnings and adds his first Borgata Poker title along with the $35,987 first prize to his long list of poker accomplishments.
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 25: 15,000/30,000/4,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 1
Elio Fox
Cliff Josephy raises to 60,000 and Elio Fox calls. They see a flop of 
and Fox checks to Josephy who bets 65,000. Fox check raises all in for 270,000 and Josephy quickly calls.
Fox shows 
but is in bad shape against the 
of Josephy. The turn 
and river 
are no help to Fox and he is our Event 20 runner up earning $19,536.
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 23: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 2
Cliff Josephy (left) Elio Fox (right)
With the elimination of Jeff Fielder in third we are now heads up here in Event 20. Elio Fox is holding the chip lead with 825,000 and Cliff Josephy is playing 500,000.
The two will battle it out here in the back of the Event Center for the $35,987 first prize along with the BWPO trophy.
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 23: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 2
Jeff Fielder
Elio Fox moves all in from the small blind covering Jeff Fielder in the big blind. Fielder thinks it over for a bit before calling for his last 168,000.
Fox: 
Fielder: 
Fox pairs his eight in the window when the dealer spreads the 
flop. The turn 
and river 
are no help to Fielder and he is eliminated in 3rd place earning $12,338.
Elio Fox- 825,000
Jeff Fielder- Eliminated in 3rd Place ($12,338)
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 22: 8,000/16,000/2,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 3
Matas Cikinas
Matas Cikanis moves all in from the small blind for 12,000 and Jeff Fielder calls from the big. Cikanis shows 
and will need to improve against the 
of Fielder.
There is an ace in the window on the 
flop and Fielder takes control of the hand. Cikanis pairs his eight but the 
and 
river seal the deal for Fielder.
Cikanis is eliminated in 4th place earning $9,254 and we are down to the final three Event 20 players.
Jeff Fielder- 580,000
Matas Cikinas- Eliminated in 4th Place ($9,254)
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 21: 6,000/12,000/2,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 5
Ilya Fisher
It folds to Ilya Fisher in the small blind and he moves all in for 120,000. Jeff Fielder snap calls from the big blind turning over 
. Fisher sees the bad new as he turns over
“I guess I should have waited for a better spot” jokes Fisher. The board runs out 
and Fielder’s pockets kings hold up.
Fisher is our 5th place Event 20 finisher taking home $7,197 and Fielder extends his chip lead to over half a million.
Jeff Fielder- 550,000
Ilya Fisher- Eliminated in 5th Place ($7,197)
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 21: 6,000/12,000/2,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 5
Taylor Wilson
Taylor Wilson moves all in for his last 134,000 from under the gun. Jeff Fielder is next to act and he makes the call. The other players quickly fold and the hands are shown.
Fielder: 
Wilson:
The board runs out 
and Fielder pairs his ace to earn the pot and the knockout. Taylor is 6th place Event 20 finisher and will earn $6,169.
Jeff Fielder- 365,000
Taylor Wilson- Eliminated in 6th Place ($6,169)
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 20: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 6
Mike Michnik
A short stacked Mike Michnik got the last of chips in holding 
. He was outflopped by the of Taylor Wilson on the 
runout.
Michnik is our 7th place Event 20 finisher and will take home $5,141 for his efforts.
Taylor Wilson- 175,000
Mike Michnik- Eliminated in 7th Place ($5,141)
$2,000+$100 Second Chance Semi-Turbo NLH
Level 19: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Total Entries: 53
Players Remaining: 8
Brandon Caputo
Brandon Caputo moves all in fro 16,500 and Cliff Josephy calls. Matas Cikinas calls from the button and they go three handed to the 
flop and Josephy checks.
Cikinas bets 15,000 and Josephy comes along. The turn is the and Josephy checks to Cikinas who bets 40,000. Josephy folds and the hands are shown.
“I thought that was a good flop for me” says Caputo turning over 
but Cikinas shows . The river is no help to Caputo and he is our 8th place finisher taking home $4,113.
Matas Cikinas- 285,000
Brandon Caputo- Eliminated in 8th ($4,113)