Event 4 (Day 2)
The first weekend of the Winter Poker Open is in the books, with over half a dozen tournaments running simultaneously over both Saturday and Sunday.
In total, seven tournaments crowned champions, in nearly every “structure” of tournament imaginable.
First, we saw the two-day Event 4 Big Stack end after a long two Day 2 grind. It was worth the time for Matthew Wantman (Stoneham, MA) though, as he got took control of the chip lead before the Final Table and never gave it up, claiming his first ever “live” tournament victory and $50,000.
Next up, was another “never gave it up” run to a title, as Jean Gaspard (Las Vegas, NV) came back to Day 2 of the Event 5 HORSE Final Table with the chip lead and notched all but one knockout on the way to his first ever Borgata title. He’d make just over $12,000 and completed his steamroll of the Final Table in time to make his mid-afternoon flight home to Vegas to celebrate his birthday.
Saturday ended, as it usually does during Borgata Poker Opens, early Sunday morning as the $100,000 GTD Event 6 “Saturday Series” event spanned nearly twenty hours. It was a “weekend warrior” and “circuit warrior” left at the end, with Philip Mundy besting professional Ralph Massey for the title and $58,000, the biggest score of his career.
For a complete list of results from the respective events, click the links above and for a complete recap of the action from each event, click the categorical tabs under the title.
Level 24 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining: 1
Event 4 Champion – Matthew Wantman
When the dust settled on the main stage in the Event Center, it was Stoneham, MA’s Matthew Wantman standing. Throughout the day Wantman seemed to always be trending upwards in the chip counts, and after he woke up with aces, he never looked back.
Wantman carried the chip lead throughout the day, and when it came down to the final hand, it was another flip that fell in Wantman’s favor.
Wantman had $155,000 in career earnings, but this marks his first career title and his biggest score here at Borgata. He came close to a final table run in Event 2 but would end up finishing in 18th place, just shy of some serious money.
When we spoke to Wantman earlier today he told us he had his eyes on the trophy and his focus never seemed to dissipate. This could be a big start to the year for Wantman as we expect to see him continue to grind out the rest of this series, but it will be hard for him to top this performance.
When we asked him about taking a run at the Main Event title he simply smiled and said “Well I have to now!”
Level 24 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining: 1
2nd Place – Tyler Patterson
Tyler Patterson came into the Event 4 final table right in the middle of the pack, but ended up laddering all the way to second place. Patterson played nearly flawless the entire final table, always knowing where he was in hands and continued to build his stack throughout the entire final table. At the end of the day however, he came up 1 spot short of the trophy as he will be headed out the door in 2nd place, good for $27,791.
In the final hand Patterson opened the action with a raise to 160,000 on the button only to be three-bet by Wantman to 400,000. After counting down his stack twice Patterson announced he was all in and Wantman snap called.
Patterson: {As}{9h}
Wantman: {7c}{7d}
The board would run out {Kc}{Qd}{6c}{Jc}{2h} and Wantman would yet again win a flip, sending Patterson to the rail in 2nd.
This cash will move Patterson up past the $1,500,000 mark in lifetime earnings, making it his 73rd cash.
Level 24 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:2
3rd Place – Mike Wang
We say goodbye to Mike Wang in 3rd place here in Event 4. Tyler Patterson folded his option on the button and Mike Wang moved all in for his 700,000 chips and Matthew Wantman snap called.
Wang: {Ks}{3d}
Wantman: {Ah}{Jd}
The board ran out {Jh}{2h}{3s}{Qs}{Ac} and Wantman would scoop the pot, sending Wang home in 2nd place. Wang will not leave empty handed though, as he takes home a very respectable $17,286.
The heads up chip counts are as follows:
Matthew Wantman – 5,000,000
Tyler Patterson – 2,950,000
Level 24 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:3
Mike Wang (left), Matthew Wantman (middle), & Tyler Patterson (right)
As the clock winds down on level 24, the play continues to get shallower. The blinds are now 40,000/80,000 with a 10,000 ante. Here is a look at how the players stack up:
Matthew Wantman – 3,150,000
Tyler Patterson – 2,900,000
Mike Wang – 1,050,000
Here is a look at what they are battling for:
1. $50,016
2. $27,791
3. $17,286
Level 24 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:3
4th Place – Steve Foutty
Right after doubling up Mike Wang, Steve Foutty pushed all in from the button for his last 600,000. Matthew Wantman would make the call but be in shock when Foutty tabled {9d}{9s}.
“Wow, nines?! How do you have nines there?!” Wantman said as he tabled {Ah}{5d}.
Foutty looked to be in good shape to double until the dealer spread the {Ad}{4s}{Qd} flop.
“I need diamonds I guess, good luck guys” Foutty said as he started to gather his things.
He would slow down when the dealer burned and turned the {Jd} as he picked up several more outs to a flush, but the {6c} hit the river and Foutty would be sent to the rail in 4th place, taking home $13,895.
Level 24 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:4
Fresh off the break Tyler Patterson has continued to gain ground, this time by doubling through Mike Wang. Patterson opened the action with a raise to 125,000 on the button. Foutty quickly folded the small blind and action was on Mike Wang in the big blind, who after a few moments announced he was all in.
Patterson would go into the tank before eventually finding the call.
Patterson: {Ad}{9h}
Wang: {As}{2c}
Patterson had Wang dominated and the flop only improved his hand when the dealer spread the {4h}{Kh}{7h} flop. The board ran out clean and Patterson would double up to 1,950,000 while Wang would dip below 1,000,000 for the first time all final table.
Just two hands later Wang found his last 900,000 in the middle holding {Ax}{9x} against the {Qx}{Jx} of Steve Foutty. The board ran out clean and Wang would double back to nearly 2,000,000 while Foutty was left with just 600,000.
Level 23 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:4
Play has slowed down dramatically since 4 handed play began. Majority of the pots are won with pre-flop raises as chips start to even themselves out around the table. Tyler Patterson has started to up his aggression and it’s paying off as he has essentially doubled up without seeing a flop. Here is a look at where the players currently stand:
Mike Wang – 1,520,000
Matthew Wantman – 3,020,000
Tyler Patterson – 1,500,000
Steve Foutty – 1,300,000
Players will be on a 15 minute color-up break at the completion of this level. Here is a look at what they are playing for:
1. $50,016
2. $27,791
3. $17,286
4. $13,895
Level 23 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining:4
5th Place – David Gutfreund
We say goodbye to David Gutfreund who got in the last of his chips holding {Ah}{5c} against the {As}{Qc} of the unstoppable Matthew Wantman.
The board ran out {10c}{Jh}{4d}{Kc}{3s} and Wantman would score another knockout as Gutfreund hits the rail in 5th. He will take home $10,931 for his deep run in Event 4 while Wantman climbs over the 3,600,000 chip mark.
Level 22 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 382
Players Remaining: 5
6th Place – Hal Weidenfeld
We lose Hal Weidenfeld in 6th place when he shoved his last 144,000 all in. Matthew Wantman who had opened for 62,000 made the call and the hands were tabled.
Wantman: {6d}{7d}
Weidenfeld: {Kh}{10d}
Weidenfeld was ahead until the dealer spread the {3d}{9d}{Jd} flop and Wantman improved to a flush, while Weidenfeld would need to catch a diamond in order to survive.
The dealer ran the board out with the {Qc}{Jh} and Weidenfeld would be sent to the rail in 6th place, good for $8,986. Wantman is now way out in front with 2,650,000.