Event 23
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
In the early morning hours of our final BWPO the final 13 began to discuss a deal. Cory Waaland held a massive chip lead and after some back and forth negotiations a deal was struck.
Waaland who was coincidentally wearing a Michael Jordan hoodie is our Event 23 winner. He will take home his first Borgata Poker Open title along with $14,000.
Yousaf “YT” Tranam notches his fifth cash of the series and is the runner up earning $8,231 for his efforts. 
Below is a full look at the adjusted payout deal and what each player will be taking home.
1. Cory Waaland- $14,000+BWPO Trophy
2. Yousaf Tranam- $8,231
3. Ting Zhou- $8,000
4. Cathy Dever- $8,000
5. Jason Pardy- $8,000
6. Timur Gatanov- $8,000
7. Ragavan Thiagarajah- $8,000
8. Jeremy Iocozzia- $7,500
9. Mark Leviton- $7,000
10. Alexey Penyevskiy- $7,000
11. Steve Kortaski-$7,000
12. Bill Miller- $7,000
13. Nick Schuman-Werb- $7,000
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 23: 12,000/24,000/3,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 36
Jason Gardner
Jason Gardner moves all in for 303,000 from early position. John Wilson is next to act and he makes the call.
The rest of table folds and Gardner turns over 
and is flipping with the 
of Wilson. The dealer fans the 
flop and Gardner pairs his ace in the window to take control of the hand.
Wilson picks up both straight and flush draws when the 
hits the turn but the 
river is no help. Gardner secures the double up to over 600,000 and Wilson is left with 90,000.
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
End of Level 22: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 38
The players are now on a 15 minute color up break and there are just 38 remaining. They are now all guaranteed at least $599.
They are being relocated from the Event Center to the Poker Room. We will pick up on the action when play resumes.
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 71
Cory Mestieri
Cory Mestieri moves all in from under the gun for his last 157,000. It folds around to the player in the small blind who calls and the big blind quickly folds.
Mestieri: 
Opponent: 
The dealer fans the 
and Mestieri flops top set to put a hammerlock on the hand. “Nice hand” his opponent says as the 
hits the turn. The river improves Mestieri to a full house and he doubles up.
Cory Mestieri- 333,000
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 22: 10,000/20,000/3,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 54
Cory Waaland
We are down to the final 54 players here in the Deepest Stack NLH event and the money bubble has just burst. They are now all in the money and guaranteed at least $533.
Last time we checked in on Cory Waaland he was playing just over half a million but a lot can change in just one level. He is now sitting behind a mountain of chips and has distanced himself from the rest of the field.
“I don’t even know how much I have I just keep winning” he jokes but is kind enough to break down his massive stack. He is now up to about 1,800,000 and is the only player in the field over a million.
Cathy Dever
Bill Miller
Cathy Dever and Bill Miller are sharing the felt at one of the outer tables and look to be second and third on the chip counts. Dever is playing 960,000 and Miller is just over 900,000.
It should be another long night of poker and we will be crowning our last Borgata Winter Open champion of the series in the early morning hours.
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 19: 5,000/10,000/1,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 86
Cory Waaland
The Event 23 players are back from their break and the field is slowly thinning down. Cory Waaland is still in the hunt and he is starting to chip up.
Waaland’s poker resume is a lengthy one that boasts 7 WSOP Circuit rings and over $725,000 in live earnings. He is now over the half million chip mark and is nearing the top of the chip counts.
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 18: 4,000/8,000/1,000
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 100
Ting Zhou
There are now just 100 Deepest Stack NLH players left and we are closing in on the money bubble. Ting Zhou has been in cruise control for much of the night and is still holding strong at the top with about 825,000.
Michael Dobbs is heating up and continues to climb. He is now sitting with a massive stack of 775,000 and is right on the heels of our chip leader Zhou.
$260 + $40 Entry Deepest Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 17: 3,000/6,000/500
Total Entries: 528
Players Remaining: 110
Michael Dobbs
The action folds to the player in the small blind and he moves all in for 18,000. Michael Dobbs calls from the big blind and they turn over the cards.
Dobbs: 
Opponent: 
The dealer fans the 
flop pairing Dobbs put his opponent picks up a royal flush draw. The turn is the and the 
completes the board.
Dobbs’ top pair holds up and is enough to earn him the pot and the knockout. After winning his first BPO title for $28,000 just two nights ago Dobbs is right back and it and chipping up once again here in Event 23.
Michael Dobbs- 420,000
Event 23 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open is the $260+$40 Deepest Stack NLH with a $100,000. There are a total of 528 entries creating a prize pool of $133,162.
The final 54 players will all make the money and be guaranteed at least $533. One lucky winner will be taking home $33,157 along with the final BWPO of the series.
Below is a full look at the final Event 23 payouts.
1. $33,157
2. $18,643
3. $11,985
4. $9,521
5. $7,457
6. $6,125
7. $4,860
8. $3,795
9. $2,663
10-12. $1,731
13-15. $1,332
16-18. $999
19-27. $732
28-36. $666
37-45. $599
46-54. $533