Event 9
Update: The final table of the World Poker Tour Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship was held as scheduled March 13th at the Luxor HyperX Esports Arena.
1st Place – Vinicius ‘Viny’ Lima
Vinicius ‘Viny’ Lima had the biggest climb of the final six players, starting play at the bottom of the chip counts. At the end, it was the youngest player, Viny, at only 24 years old, against the oldest, David Farah, who was twice his age at 48 years young.
Viny emerged victorious, winning $728,430, which includes $15,000 for a seat in the WPT season-ending Baccarat Crystal Tournament of Champions, along with a Hublot Big Bang Steel Watch, and the WPT Champions Cup trophy.
The $2 Million Guaranteed Kick-Off Deep Stack drew a massive 5,130 entrants, which is the second-largest WPO Kick-Off field on record, behind 2017’s 5,512 entrants. The total buy-ins of more than $2.77 million did set a new record, due to the increased buy-in of $540.
Pascal Zaklama – 1st Place – 2019 BWPO Kick-Off
The final 500 players shared in the massive prize pool and thanks to a three-way adjusted payout agreement at the final table, the final two earned better than second-place prize money. Pascal Zaklama was the chip leader and claimed 1st place and the BWPO trophy, along with $328,695.
Vladimir Alexandrov
Also notable was the 3rd place finisher, Vladimir Alexandrov. He won his entry through a BorgataPoker.com online satellite. Alexandrov managed to parlay his $45 satellite entry into his largest career tournament score, earning a $216,000 payday.
Barry Leventhal wins 4th Seniors Event
Barry Leventhal won his record fourth Borgata Seniors Event, which was also his eighth Borgata title, putting him in a tie for second-most wins at this venue, trailing only Abraham Korotki with nine Borgata titles.
Raj Desai – 1st Place – Almighty Million
The $1 Million Guaranteed Almighty Stack generated total buy-ins in excess of $1.4 million with a BWPO Almighty record of 3,508 entrants. Raj Desai held the chip lead wire-to-wire on Day 3, from 37 players down to the final three, who agreed on adjusted payouts based on chip counts. As the leader, Raj took the lion’s share of $175,429 and his first-ever Borgata trophy!
The first-ever “Ladies Brunch and Learn” was hosted by the Borgata and the World Poker Tour, with guest lecturers WSOP Ladies Champion Jessica Dawley and Loni Harwood, a professional poker player with nearly $3 million in tournament earnings. The sold out seminar was held the morning of the Ladies event, to give the Ladies some beginner instruction on tournament basics and tips to improve their play. In addition to brunch and mimosas, there were gifts and prizes for the attendees. (Due to the event’s popularity, it may appear again on a future tournament schedule!)
Kujdes Galiardi takes down the CSOP event and poses with her sister Alida Veliu, who won the Ladies Event.
The Ladies NLH tournament followed the seminar and drew a field of 154 entries. The eventual winner was Alida Veliu, who took home her second Borgata Ladies Event trophy and claimed her fifth lifetime Ladies Event win. Just a couple of hours earlier on the other end of the Event Center, Alida’s sister, Kujdes Gagliardi, won the CSOP NLH event, accomplishing something we believe has never happened before in the history of poker — two sisters winning trophy events on the same day!
Phil Hellmuth claims BWPO Heads-Up title
For the first time in probably a decade, Phil Hellmuth made an appearance at Borgata, arriving in time to play the Heads-Up Championship. The WSOP bracelet record-holder (15) and new World Poker Tour Raw Deal host blazed a path through the 64-player bracket to take the title and $37,245. He followed that up with a cash in the WPT BWPO Championship for another $7,176.
Speaking of the WPT BWPO Championship, it was another record-breaking turnout. The final tally of entrants was 1,415, beating both the 2017 WPT BWPO Championship record (1,312 entries) and the largest of all WPT Borgata Open Championships, which was in 2011 (1,313 entrants). The prize pool of nearly $4.7 million crushed the $3 million guarantee.
BorgataPoker.com Ambassador Dan Buzgon
The field played down to the final six, who bagged up their chips and paused the clock until March 13th, when they will reconvene at the new HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas to play it out under the lights and cameras of the World Poker Tour. BorgataPoker.com Ambassador and tournament grinder Dan Buzgon will make his third WPT final table appearance. He will start in the middle of the pack with an average stack when play resumes.
With more than $728,000 waiting for the eventual winner, the “HyperX Six” finalists must be chomping at the bit to get started, but they still have four weeks to wait. Make sure to check back here in the Winter Poker Open Blog for updates on that final table which begins the evening of Wednesday March 13th.
A list of main event winners is below, along with their earnings.
* 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, and myself, thank you for reading! Mark your calendars now for the Borgata Spring Poker Open, which takes place April 2nd-19th. Hope to see you then!
@Kaelaine
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 1
Ralph Macri
With the elimination of the anonymous player in third the final two players began to discuss an adjusted payout deal. The chip stacks were nearly even with Ralph Macri holding a slight chip lead.
It only took a few moments for them to come to an agreement and they agreed to run one hand out for the trophy.
Macri came out on top and he will take home his first Borgata Winter Poker Open along with $50,000 bringing his live career tournament earnings to over $800,000 and he would like to dedicate his win to his Mom.
Everton Taylor who held a big stack for much of the night earns his largest career tournament score of $49,000 for his runner-up finish.
Everton Taylor (Left) earns $49,025 for his runner-up finish and Ralph Macri (Right) takes the BWPO trophy and $50,000
Below is a full look at the Event 9 final table results.
1. Ralph Macri- $50,000+BWPO Trophy
2. Everton Taylor- $49,025
3. Anonymous- $22,636
4. Daesun Yu- $18,935
5. Evan Simon- $15,660
6. Mike Dobbs- $12,671
7. Dan Lobel- $9,966
8. Tim Little- $7,403
9. Chris Castle- $5,225
10. Grant Simmons- $3,403
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 22,500,000
The anonymous player moved all in for about 4,000,000 and both players called from the blinds. They checked down the 
runout and the Ralph Macri turned over 
for a pair of aces.
The anonymous player flashed his 
before tossing it into the muck and he was eliminated in 3rd place earning $22,636.
Ralph Macri- 23,000,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 15,000,000
Daesun Yu
Ralph Macri moved all in from the small blind and Daesun Yu went deep into the tank from the big. He eventually called for his last 4,000,000 and the cards were shown.
Ralph Macri: 
Daesun Yu: 
The board ran out 
and although Yu paired his three on the turn he was counterfeited on the river.
Yu is our 4th place finisher earning $18,935 and Macri is now playing more than half the chips in play with just three remaining.
Ralph Macri- 25,000,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 250,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 11,300,000
Evan Simon
Evan Simon got his last 7,800,000 all in pre-flop holding 
but ran into the 
of Ralph Macri. The board ran out 
and Macri’s pocket kings held up to earn him the knockout.
Simon is our 5th place Event 9 finisher earning $15,660 and Macri is back in control of the chip lead with four players remaining.
Ralph Macri- 19,000,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 250,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 9,000,000
Mike Dobbs
The action folded to Mike Dobbs on the button and he moved all in for 3,600,000. Everton Taylor re-shoved all in from the small blind for about 8,000,000.
Ralph Macri folded his big blind and the hands were revealed.
Everton Taylor:
Mike Dobbs: 
The 
runout was no help to Dobbs and he was eliminated in 6th place taking home $12,671 for his efforts.
Everton Taylor- 12,500,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 35: Blinds 200,000/400,000/400,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 7,525,000
Tim Little
The action folded to Tim Little in the cutoff and he moved all in for 1,l400,000. The anonymous player called from the big blind turning over 
and Little showed 
.
The board ran out 
and Little was eliminated in 8th place earning $7,403 for his efforts.
Dan Lobel quickly followed in 7th after laddering up with his short stack. Lobel will earn $9,966 for his 7th place Event 9 finish.
Anonymous- 4,500,000
Dan Lobel
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 35: Blinds 200,000/400,000/400,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 5,645,000
Chris Castle
Everton Taylor raised to 900,000 from the button and Chris Castle moved all in from the big blind for 2,575,000. Taylor called turning over 
and Castle was in great shape to double up holding 
.
The dealer fanned the flop giving Taylor top pair and Castle the nut flush draw. The turn and river were no help to Castle and he was eliminated in 9th place earning $5,225 for his efforts.
Everton Taylor- 10,500,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 150,000/300,000/300,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 5,000,000
Grant Simmons
Grant Simmons got his last 2,000,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the 
of Daesun Yu. He failed to improve on the 
runout and was the first player eliminated from the final table.
Simmons will take home $3,403 for his 10th place Event 9 finish.
Daesun Yu- 6,500,000
$260+$40 Deepest Stack Double Header NLH
$200,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 34: Blinds 150,000/300,000/300,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 1,129
Players Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 4,500,000
Ralph Macri
The anonymous player raised to 600,000 from the cutoff and Ralph Macri defended his big blind. They went heads up to the 
flop and both players checked.
The turn was the and again both players knuckled the felt.
The hit the river and Macri checked to the player who moved all in. Macri snap called for his last 5,500,000 nearly beating his opponent into the pot.
The player showed 
for just ace high and Macri turned over to earn the massive double up and take the chip lead.
“What a call, they better put some respect on your name” Everton Taylor said to Macri who scooped the pot with a smile.
Ralph Macri- 12,650,000
Anonymous- 2,900,000