Event 1
The 2019 Borgata Spring Poker Open came to a close in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 20th and it was a terrific series all around. Between Main and Secondary events, millions in prize money was won and 19 Borgata Open trophies awarded. A complete list of Main Event winners is below.
David Jackson – 1st Place – 2019 BSPO Championship
David Jackson took home his second Borgata trophy while booking his largest career score when he won the BSPO Championship event, coming out on top of a field of 505 runners after four days of play. The $304,929 he earned for the win pushed his career earnings past $1.8 million. His wife Gloria was able to watch the final table play out live at Borgata, but many others watched via live stream on Twitch and Facebook Live.
Alex Rocha – Two-Time Open Series Kick-Off Winner, 2011 and 2019
The series started off with a bang a couple of weeks earlier as Alex Rocha became the first player to ever win two Open Series Kick-Off events! His first was way back in 2011 when he won the Winter Poker Open Kick-Off event, earning $150,850 for 1st place in a field of 1,472 entrants. Now he’s got his second Borgata trophy for the Spring Poker Open Kick-Off, besting a field of 2,199 runners to earn $180,591*.
As if that wasn ‘t enough, Alex went on to make the final table of the Almighty Stack $500,000 GTD event about a week later, coming very close to taking another title. His run ended in 5th place ($34,438). Then to cap off the series, he cashed in the Championship event as well. If there was a Player of the Series award, I think it would go to Alex for his stellar performance during this Spring Poker Open.
Lorinda Lisitza – 1st Place – PLO
Lorinda Lisitza was the only woman to win an open event during this series, taking the Pot Limit Omaha title and $4,795*. Alida Veliu went back-to-back in Borgata Open Ladies events, winning the Ladies event in this series ($2,953) after winning the same event during January’s Winter Poker Open ($3,325*). This was her third Ladies event win at Borgata — her first was back in 2009.
Alida Veliu – 1st Place – 2019 BSPO Ladies event
That wraps up the 2019 Spring Poker Open! Mark your calendars now and make plans to join us for the Summer Poker Open, to be held July 9-26. Follow @BorgataPoker on Twitter for updates on the tournament schedule when it is released.
* Indicates Adjusted Payout
Event 1 of the Borgata Spring Poker Open was the $600 NLH with a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. There was a massive field of 2,199 entries creating a prize pool of over $1,100,000.
After three long days of tournament poker Alex Rocha was the last man standing. Rocha entered Day 3 second in chips but it was anything but an easy road to victory.
He found himself short stacked at many points during the day but the seasoned pro kept his composure and battled back time after time. In the final hand of heads-up play Rocha’s 
held up against the 
of George Grabe to earn him the victory.
Rocha earns $180,610 and the Borgata Spring Poker Open and he also makes Borgata Poker history in the process. He is now the first multiple time Event 1 winner as he previously won this Event in the 2011 Borgata Winter Poker Open.
Below is a look at the Event 1 final table results and the full results will be posted as soon as they’re available.
1. Alex Rocha- $180,610*+BSPO Trophy
2. George Grabe- $150,000*
3. Yan Wang- $85,236
4. Anonymous- $72,566
5. Paul Vacchio- $60,471
6. Dominick Sannino- $48,953
7. Mikhaile Richards- $38,011
8. Mike Miller- $27,644
9. Gary Gelman- $20,157
10. Ryan Barnhard- $13,246
*Adjusted Tournament Payout
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 1
George Grabe
Alex Rocha limped in and George Grabe moved all in for 13,000,000. Rocha snap called turning over and Grabe would need to improve holding .
The dealer fanned the 
flop and Rocha maintained the lead with his pocket nines. The turn was the 
and Grabe picked up the nut flush draw.
Grabe shouted for a diamond but the 
river card sealed the deal for Rocha. The two players shook hands and Grabe is our Event 1 runner up taking home his largest career tournament score of $150,000*.
*Adjusted Tournament Payout
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
Alex Rocha
George Grabe raised to 2,100,000 and Alex Rocha called. The dealer fanned the 
flop and Rocha check-called a bet of 3,200,000 from Grabe.
The turn brought the 
and both players knuckled the felt. The 
hit the river and Rocha fired out a bet of 5,900,000. Grabe quickly folded and Rocha scooped the pot without showdown.
Alex Rocha- 25,000,000
George Grabe- 30,000,000
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 38: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
George Grabe raised to 1,800,000 and Alex Rocha called. The saw a flop of 
and Rocha checked to Grabe who bet 2,200,000.
Rocha called and both players checked the 
turn card. The 
completed the board and again both players checked. Grabe turned over 
for top pair and that was enough to take the pot.
George Grabe- 41,975,000
Alex Rocha- 13,000,000
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 36: Blinds 300,000/600,000/600,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
George Grabe
George Grabe raised to 1,400,000 and Alex Rocha called. They saw a flop of 
and Rocha checked to Grabe who bet 2,100,000.
Rocha called and both players checked the turn card. The completed the board and Rocha checked for a third time. Grabe bet 2,500,000 and after giving it some thought Rocha fired his hand into the muck.
Grabe is back in control of the chip lead with 41,475,000 to the 13,500,000 of Rocha as heads-up play continues.
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 36: Blinds 300,000/600,000/600,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
Alex Rocha
George Grabe raised to 1,800,000 and Alex Rocha called. They saw a flop of 
and Rocha checked. Grabe tossed out a bet of 2,000,000 and Rocha called.
The turn was the 
and both players knuckled the felt. The hit the river and Rocha slid out a bet of 3,700,000. Grabe quickly called and Rocha turned over 
for a rivered straight to take the pot.
Alex Rocha- 28,475,000
George Grabe- 26,500,000
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
End of Level 36: Blinds 300,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 27 million
They only got in one hand of heads-up play before the end of the level.
-
- Alex Rocha
-
- George Grabe
Alex Rocha completed the small and George Grabe checked his option. On the flop of 
8h], George led out for 800,000 and Alex called.
Turn was the and this time George fired 1.5 million. Alex called. River was the . Both players checked.
George had 84 for a pair of 8s, but Alex had him beat with 92 for a pair of 9s. He took the pot and was up to 22.3 million. George had 32.7 million.
End of level and time for a break. They’re taking 15, then play will resume (players opted for no dinner break).
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 36: Blinds 300,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 27 million
Yan Wang
George Grabe opened for 1.5 million from the button and Yan Wang (bb) called. On the flop of 
both players checked. Turn was the and George bet 2 million. Wang shoved and George called.
Wang rolled over for a pair of 9s and open-ender. George was ahead with 
for the same pair with better kicker. The completed the board and George took the pot.
Yan Wang finished in 3rd place, earning $85,236.
Heads-up play began with George holding 36 million and Alex Rocha holding 19 million.
$540+$60 Deep Stack NLH
$1,000,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 36: Blinds 300,000/500,000/500,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 2,199
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 18.3 million
A. Nonymous got his last chips in with A5 against the QT of Alex Rocha. A Queen on the flop was all Alex needed to take the last of his chips. He’s now up to 20 million. #rungoodday
A. Nonymous finished in 4th place, earning $72,566.