Event 22
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
(L to R) Bill LaPointe, John Malczan, Freddy Peralta, Cheryl Garrett
With the elimination of She Lok Wong in 5th place the final four players agreed to a deal. Cheryl Garrett who held the chip lead will take 1st place for $13,234 along with his first Borgata Poker Open trophy.
We featured Garrett early on in the Borgata Poker blog when she let us know that her brother who was also playing the tournament had paid for her buy in. He hit the rail after firing two bullets but his small investment certainly paid off.
The final table played till nearly 6 A.M. but Garrett stuck to her game plan and came out on top.
Below is a look at the final four players chip counts at the time of the adjusted payout deal and what they’ll be earning.
Cheryl Garrett- 5,850,000 ($13,234)
Freddy Peralta- 3,910,000 ($11,412)
John Malczan- 1,250,000 ($7,574)
Bill LaPointe- 1,205,000 ($7,489)
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 31: 80,000/160,000/20,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 4
She Lok “Gary” Wong
She Lok Wong moved all in for about 1,900,000 and Freddy Peralta made the call. Wong showed 
but was dominated by the 
of Peralta.
There was a queen and a ten in the window but a king followed on the 
flop. The turn 
left Wong calling for a jack on the river. He did not get his wish when the 
completed the board and is our 5th place finisher earning $3,983.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 30: 60,000/120,000/20,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 5
Cheryl Garrett
Cheryl Garrett and Freddy Peralta go heads up to the 
flop. After a series of raises and reraises Garrett moves all in for 2,475,000 and Peralta calls.
“Do you have a queen” he asks turning over 
but he is drawing very slim as Garrett shows 
for a flopped set.
The turn 
and river 
seal the deal for Garrett who scores a massive double up to nearly 6,000,000 and takes the chip lead.
There are still five players remaining and they battle continues here in the very early morning hours.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 29: 50,000/100,000/10,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 5
Matthew Weiss
A short stacked Matthew Weiss moved all in holding 
. It folded to She Lok Wong in the big blind who quickly called turning over a monster hand 
.
Weiss failed to improve and is our 6th place Event 22 finisher taking home $3,274 for his efforts.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 29: 50,000/100,000/10,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 6
Shadrach Tercy
Shadrach Tercy and chip leader Freddy Peralta were heads up on a board of 
. All of Tercy’s 755,000 chips went all in and Peralta called.
Tercy showed but Tercy turned over 
for a flopped two pair. The river was no help to Tercy and he is our 7th place finisher taking home $2,633.
Peralta is now holding more than half the chips in play with 6,500,000 and just 6 players remaining.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 28: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 7
Eric Shadruff
Eric Shadruff was the next player to hit the rail when his 
could not improve against the 
of Freddy Peralta. Shadruff is our 8th place finisher taking home $1,992 and Peralta extends his lead to close to 5,000,000.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 28: 40,000/80,000/10,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 8
Mike Dermer
Mike Dermer got the last of chips all in preflop holding 
against the 
of John Malczan. There was a ten in the window pairing Malczan and Dermer could not come from behind.
Dermer is our 9th place finisher earning $1,350 and Malczan chips up to about 1,500,000.
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 26: 25,000/50,000/5,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 9
Larry Abrams
The action folds to Freddy Peralta on the button and he limps in. Larry Abrams moves all in from the small blind for about 600,000 and the big blind folds.
Peralta snap calls turning over his 
and Abrams sees the bad news as he shows 
. The board runs out clean for Peralta 
and Abrams is the first final table player to fall.
Freddy Peralta- 3,100,000
Larry Abrams- Eliminated in 10th Place ($878)
$200 + $30 Deeper Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$50,000 GTD
Level 26: 25,000/50,000/5,000
Total Entries: 348
Players Remaining: 10
The Event 22 final table is now set and it’s Freddy Peralta leading the way with 2,700,000. She Lok Wong is still sitting behind a big stack and he is the only other player over two million with 2,100,000.
Freddy Peralta
We will be crowning our newest Borgata Winter Poker Open Champion here in the early morning hours.
The players are now all guaranteed at least $878 and one lucky winner will earn $18,220 and the BWPO trophy.
Below is a look at what’s stake.
1. $18,220+BWPO Trophy
2. $10,127
3. $6,299
4. $5,063
5. $3,983
6. $3,274
7. $2,633
8. $1,992
9. $1,350
10. $878