2016
Paul Volpe – Spring Poker Open Champion
Over the last 18 days, the Borgata Spring Poker Open saw thousands of entrants participate in tournaments, both big and small. Nineteen Borgata Open titles were awarded and most of those went to players winning their first title here, including Paul Volpe, winner of the Championship Event. He added more than $356,255 to his more than $4 million in career earnings and added his first Borgata title to his list of WSOP, EPT, PCA, and LAPC titles.
Four players picked up their second Borgata titles: Todd Rebello, Ryan McKnight, Kal Alwan, and Vincent Masino. Three Borgata regulars booked their third career titles here during this series: Barry Leventhal, Stosh Gepp, and Andrew Klein.
The series boasted more than $3.1 million in guarantees and paid out more than $4.6 million in prize money. Thanks to all the players who participated and congratulations to all those who finished in the money. You can view the full results of all main events here.
Here’s a rundown of the Spring Open Trophy events and their winners:
| Event | Buy-In / Event | Guarantee | Entries | Total Buy-Ins | Winner | Hometown | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $500+60 Deep Stack NLH | $1,000,000 | 2,530 | $1,265,000 | Matt Mendez | Wellington, FL | $213,192 |
| 2 | $350+50+100 Deep Stack Bounty NLH | 417 | $145,950 | Eli Kalimi | Cherry Hill, NJ | $36,166 | |
| 3 | $350+50 HORSE | 67 | $23,450 | Christian Ortiz | Morristown, NJ | $8,644 | |
| 4 | $350+50 Sat Series Deep Stack NLH | $100,000 | 575 | $201,250 | Lydia Waltonbaugh | New Kensington, PA | $48,608 |
| 5 | $500+60 Super Stack Elevator NLH | 115 | $57,500 | Sameer Batra | Deer Park, NY | $16,450 | |
| 6 | $300+40 Seniors NLH | 198 | $59,400 | Todd Rebello | Oak Bluffs, MA | $17,000 | |
| 7 | $200+30 Ladies NLH | 56 | $11,200 | Miriam BuBois | Teaneck, NJ | $3,802 | |
| 8 | $200+30 Deep Stack NLH RE | $25,000 | 248 | $49,600 | Bart Golik | Brooklyn, NY | $13,474 |
| 9 | $250+30 Deeper Stack NLH | $150,000 | 868 | $217,000 | Steve Nooralian | Ocean View, DE | $48,423 |
| 10 | $260+40 Pot Limit Omaha High | 93 | $24,180 | Ryan McKnight | Harrisburg, PA | $8,209 | |
| 11 | $400+50 Almighty Stack NLH | $500,000 | 1,380 | $552,000 | Peter Vitantonio | Wickliffe, OH | $113,791 |
| 12 | $1,000+90 SixMax NLH RE | $150,000 | 142 | $150,000 | John Lytle | Highlands, NJ | $40,810 |
| 13 | $400+50+100 Bounty 40BB NLH | 133 | $53,200 | Kal Alwan | Wayne, NJ | $15,225 | |
| 14 | $350+50 Sat Series Deep Stack NLH | $100,000 | 493 | $172,550 | Vincent Masino | Deer Park, NY | $42,756 |
| 15 | $2,500+200 Championship NLH | $1,000,000 | 590 | $1,475,000 | Paul Volpe | West Chester, PA | $356,255 |
| 16 | $1000+60 Semi-Turbo NLH | 79 | $79,000 | Barry Leventhal | Brooklyn, NY | $26,819 | |
| 17 | $200+30 Deep Stack NLH | $50,000 | 486 | $97,200 | Steve Fuhrman | Naples, FL | $24,086 |
| 18 | $200+30 Deeper Stack NLH | $25,000 | 217 | $43,400 | Stosh Gepp | Neptune, NJ | $11,787 |
| 19 | $260+40 Deepest Stack NLH | $50,000 | 291 | $73,391 | Andrew Klein | Tinton Falls, NJ | $20,546 |
Final tables of Events 1, 11, and the Championship were live-streamed on TwitchTV with hole-cards and commentary and were viewed online by thousands of fans. Many thanks to the staff at Borgata and all the people who worked behind the scenes to make this possible and make this series such a huge success.
Mark your calendars now for the next big series, the Borgata Summer Poker Open, scheduled for July 12-29. On behalf of the Borgata Poker Blog team, Will OC, TKbluffs, Matt Clark and myself, thanks for following us on the blog and hope you’ll join us again in the summer. Until then, to quote Mike Sexton, “May all your cards be live and all your pots be monsters!”
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 32 (100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 11,640,000
Andrew Klein – Spring Poker Open Event 19 Champion
If you split the last half of Event 19 into two different parts, the first played out with Andrew Klein, and everyone around him, thinking he was going to end up in the winner’s circle. Klein held the chip lead from the money bubble to the final table and kept that lead until short-handed play but then one big hand against Svetlana Gormenkova dropped Klein near the bottom of the leaderboard and below the chip average for the first time in memory.
That was the part where it looked like Klein was going to fall before the podium places even came into play but a quick turnaround and recovery restored order and brought Klein back up to the top of the leaderboard. From that point on, the uber competitive Klein left no doubts, tactically navigating his way to another Borgata Poker winner’s circle and finally getting his hands on a tiny glass Borgata trophy.
Speaking of that competitive attitude, Klein has been shopping his ‘Pro Athlete Challenge’ with new parameters for the better part of the last year. There are still no takers but now, with a third Borgata Poker title to his name and another $20,000 score, we imagine that those stakes could be upped again. Whether that challenge gets met or not, there is no doubting one thing, that Klein’s run towards the Event 19 title was one of the more dominating performances we saw throughout this Spring Poker Open series.
That performance rounds out the SPO series and a full recap of the series will be posted tomorrow.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 32 (100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 11,640,000
Svetlana Gromenkova
Heads up play was a relatively one-sided affair, as Andrew Klein took his chip lead and never let it go, winning three consecutive pots to send Svetlana Gromenkova to the rail in 2nd place.
The first was picked up with Gromenkova opening the button to 500,000 and after Klein called to see the {Qc}{10c}{10d} flop, both players checked. The {2d} fell on the turn and Klein check-called another 500,000 chip bet.
The {6h} fell on the river and both players quickly checked, with Klein tabling {Ah}{7d}. Ace-high was good enough to win the pot. On the next hand, Klein called 500,000 on a {10h}{9c}{4s} flop and then both players checked through the {9h} turn card.
The {10c} fell on the river and Gromenkova bet 800,000, leaving herself close to 1,500,000 behind. Klein thought for a few moments and then shoved, bringing a quick fold from the short stack.
While Klein was stacking his newly won chips, Gromenkova’s short stack got in the middle, as she held {Kc}{9s}. Klein tabled {Ad}{Jc} and he needed to hold to score the win. He did, as the board ran out {Qs}{10d}{5c}{Qc}{5s} and his ace-high played.
Gromenkova will make just over $12,000 for her runner-up finish.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 32 (100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 5,820,000
Daniel Conway
Through Level 31, only one meaningful hand played out and that shot Andrew Klein back to the top of the Event 19 leaderboard. He doubled through Svetlana Gromenkova and the rest of the level saw the final three players trade chips back and forth until the start of the next 30 minute period brought on the biggest pot and cooler of this tournament.
Gromenkova moved all-in from the small blind and Daniel Conway snap called in the big blind, quickly tabling {Ad}{Ah}. Gromenkova couldn’t believe her luck, or lack thereof, as she tabled {Kd}{Kh}. It was a cooler for the former big stack but after the {Kc}{Jc}{5h} flop, it was Conway who was feeling cooled.
He needed to find an ace on the turn or river but couldn’t, as the {5c} and {9c} completed the board. When the stacks were cut down, Gromenkova’s all-in was just under 2,200,000 and Conway only had 2,100,000 in front of him, meaning he was eliminated in 3rd place.
Conway will make just shy of $7,000 for his podium finish and we are now heads up for the Event 19 title, with Andrew Klein holding 7,100,000 to Svetlana Gromenkova’s 4,500,000.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 30 (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 3,880,000
The last orbit of Level 30 brought on even more action at this Event 19 final table, as Svetlana Gromenkova shipped a double to each of her opponents. The first was picked up with Andrew Klein moving all-in from the small blind for just under 2,100,000 and quickly, Gromenkova called in the big blind to put Klein at risk.
He held {4h}{4c} to her {As}{8d} and after the {9s}{5s}{2h}{5c}{5d} runout, Klein was back up to a workable 4,000,000 chip stack. On one of the very next hands, Daniel Conway moved all-in from the button and after Klein folded his small, Gromenkova called in the big blind attempting to score another knockout.
The big stack held {Ad}{Js} but she was drawing thin against Conway’s {AH}{Qh}. Conway cut down Gromenkova’s outs after the {7c}{4h}{2h} flop and after the {2c} fell on the turn, there was a possibility of a chop. Instead, the {Jh} fell and Conway completed his flush, meaning Gromenkova was shipping 1,400,000 across the table.
When the dust settled, the remaining three players went on a quick break and now, heading into Level 31 the stacks are all relatively close. Gromenkova still holds a slight chip lead, with 4,300,000, while Klein and Conway are each playing the better part of 3,000,000.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 30 (60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 3,880,000
Tim O’Hara
The swings at tournament final tables are drastic and prior to the elimination of another short stack, Andrew Klein found that out the hard way against Svetlana Gromenkova. Klein open shoved and Gromenkova, next to act on the button, called.
The blinds folded and Klein, who held {8h}{8c} was drawing to just two immediate outs, as Gromenkova turned over {Jc}{Js}. The board ran out clean for the bigger pair, even improving Gromenkova to an unneeded set by the river and when the dust settled and her 3,460,000 chip stack was cut down, she was playing a sizable chip lead.
Klein was down to his lowest total since this final table came together, as he got back 1,700,000 and a few hands later, the shortest stack at the final table was sent to the rail in 4th place. Tim O’Hara moved all-in from the small blind and Daniel Conway snap called in the big blind.
Conway turned over {Ac}{Jd} and after the {Ac}{10s}{3s} flop, O’Hara’s {Jh}{2s} was drawing thin. He was officially drawing dead by the time the turn fell, as the {Kc} confirmed his elimination. He’ll make just over $5,600 for his deep final table run and now, three-handed, it will be interesting to see how Klein and Conway handle themselves, as Svetlana Gromenkova holds a sizable chip lead with some decent pay jumps still left to be had.
She is playing the better part of 7,000,000 while both Klein and Conway are working close to 1,500,000.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 29 (50,000/100,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 4
Chip Average: 2,910,000
Rob “Pops” Matos
After doubling up Svetlana Gromenkova, it looked like Rob “Pops” Matos was more or less left for dead. He was left with just under 700,000 but even with a handful of big blinds, he didn’t go quietly. He quickly double through Gromenkova, {Jh}{9d} besting {6h}{6s} on a board of {Kh}{Js}{7d}{3h}{7h}.
That got Matos back up and over the 1,000,000 chip mark and he then scored another double, when his {9h}{9s} flopped a set against Tim O’Hara’s {10h}{10c}. That board fell {9c}{8h}{4s}{Qs}{6s} and after the chips got in pre flop, Matos was suddenly behind 2,200,000.
The comeback look like it was on but a few hands later, in a battle of the two shortest stacks, Matos was crippled again by Daniel Conway. Conway shoved for 940,000 from under the gun and Matos re-shoved from the button. The rest of the table folded and Conway was drawing to just three immediate outs with {Js}{9h}.
Matos held {9d}{9s} and this time, nines didn’t work, as the {Ad}{Jc}{3c}{2s}{8s} doubled Conway. Matos was left with 300,000 and on the very next hand, he moved all-in from the cutoff after Andrew Klein opened the hijack to 300,000. Svetlana Gromenkova called on the button and the players went three ways to the flop, with Klein leading for 550,000 after the {7s}{3h}{3d} board fell.
Gromenkova folded and Klein turned over {6h}{6s}, needing to hold to score the knockout, as Matos held {Ks}{10s}. He did, as the {4d} and {4s} completed the board and confirmed Matos’ 5th place elimination. He’ll make just over $4,400 for his deep final table run and Andrew Klein is now playing close to 5,000,000.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 28 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 2,328,000
Svetlana Gromenkova scored a double early in Level 28 and then on the very next hand, shipped one to Tim O’Hara. Both players are now above the chip average with five players still remaining at this Event 19 final table.
The start of Level 28 has been all about Svetlana Gromenkova, as she scored a huge double up and then shipped a double of her own through the first few hands at this new blind level. The first hand was picked up with Rob “Pops” Matos opening the small blind to 200,000 and after some thought, Gromenkova three-bet shoved from the big blind for 2,155,000.
Matos snap called and he’d need his {8c}{8h} to hold against Gromenkova’s {Kd}{2s}. He didn’t, as the short stack paired up on the flop and turned two pair on the {Ks}{Qd}{9s}{2h}{7d} runout to score the double. When the dust settled in front of Matos, he was left with just under 700,000 and Gromenkova wasn’t even done stacking her chips before playing another massive pot.
That hand was picked up with Gromenkova limping the small blind and Tim O’Hara checking his option in the big blind to see a {Qd}{Jh}{10h} flop. Gromenkova led for 100,000 and after a few moments, O’Hara announced himself “all-in”.
O’Hara had just over 1,500,000 in front of him and after running the numbers, Gromenkova called to attempt to score the knockout. She’d have to hit to do so though, as she held {Ah}{3h} to O’Hara’s {Qh}{4h}. Top pair turned into two pair after the {4c} fell on the turn and even though Gromenkova paired up on the river when the {Ad} completed the board, it was too little, too late.
O’Hara is now playing just over 3,200,000 while Gromenkova is down near the chip average.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 27 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 5
Chip Average: 2,328,000
Carlos Otalora
In the final hand of Level 27, as the remaining players prepared for a break, Carlos Otalora was eliminated in 6th place. Otalora came into the final table above the chip average but after some tough hands and losses over the last few orbits, he was left short.
This final table hasn’t seen many short stacks record double ups and Otalora was the most recent to be unable to stay alive. He’ll make just over $3,600 for his deep Event 19 run and we are now back from break, with five players still alive for the final Spring Poker Open title of this series.
When play resumes, we’ll see the big blind cost players 80,000 and with the current chip average playing 2,300,000, that means that everyone at this final table is still well stacked.
Thus, we should see some slow, tactical play over the next few levels, an opposite pace than we saw when this final table first came together when there were a handful of short stacks that quickly hit the rail.
Event 19 – Deepest Stack NLH
Level 27 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 291
Players Remaining: 6
Chip Average: 1,940,000
Arthur Lim
In the land hand of Level 26, another short stack hit the rail and Andrew Klein was finally not involved. Arthur Lim moved all-in from middle position for 690,000 and after the table folded around to the blinds, Tim O’Hara called from the small.
The big blind got out of the way and Lim was drawing to just two immediate outs, holding {8c}{8h} to O’Hara’s {10h}{10s}. The {Jh}{JD}{7s} flop kept O’Hara’s pair in the lead and the short stack was officially drawing dead after the {10d} fell on the turn.
Just to add insult to injury, Lim hit a full house of his own on the river, after the {8s} completed the board but it was too little, too late and he was officially eliminated in 7th place.
Lim will make just shy of $3,000 for his final table run and Tim O’Hara is now playing the better part of 2,500,000.