Event 13
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
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 2
Average: 725,000
Alida, with the experience and the gamble, brings down Rampaging Karen and takes the Ladies’ Trophy.
She immediately took the chip lead away from Karen, then made a loose call that turned out to be exactly the right call.
Veliu limped on the button with 
, probably expecting to get a free flop, and she did.
was the board, which improved her to a naked middle flush draw. However, Rampaging Karen now ripped 305,000 into the 90,000 pot.
Alida didn’t like it but is not one to pass up a chance to break her opponent. She calls with the nine high flush draw, only to discover she’s calling with the best hand – Karen has jammed 
, and is drawing thin.
The board runs out blanks (Alida actually pairs on the end) and Alida Veliu is the champ!
Karen takes $1,603 for an excellent run to 2nd.
Alida takes 1st for $2,953 and dedicates the trophy to her friend Maria Vicari, who also turned in a strong performance today.
Congrats to Alida for another Borgata win!
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 2
Average: 725,000
Alida Veliu took out Valerie Huang with the best hand pre, making a straight for emphasis with 
.
$760 for Valerie in fourth – a nice run for the former chip leader.
The final three are all on the south side of the table, and action is heavy.
Barbara had chipped up of late to about 400,000, but then took a serious hit in draw versus draw action against Alida. From big stacked to short stacked and in trouble.
Nevertheless, it’s Rampaging Karen who has 750,000 and the commanding lead.
Veliu, who was shortstacking and jamming, is now at 500,000, a good 20 blinds to play with.
Alida celebrates getting away from one of Barbara’s giant bets – she was pipped.
The three are showing one card after many hands, playing the information game. Despite all the fun,Karen is determined to squash them.
The Three.
However, Karen doesn’t get to take out Barbara. That honor goes to Alida, who gets it in with top pair versus Barbara’s naked flush draw. No help for Barbara, and it’s adios. 3rd for $1013.
Barbara Rogers gets tricky with KK pre. Nice run!
It’s Rampaging Karen Donnelly versus Alida Veliu, 750,000 to 650,000 in chips.
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
End of Level 21: Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 3
Average: 483,000
Karen Donnelly has taken out two here in level 21. First, one of the favorites, Nan Min, goes with 
after losing with the tens to Veliu, but Karen is waiting with 
.
Sixth for Nan – $506 for her troubles.
Then, Gloria Jackson, wounded badly by the flip with Valerie, gets in her last five blinds with 
. Karen makes the call, in bad shape with . However, she turns the nut straight to knock out Gloria in 5th. $591 for the unlucky Mrs. Jackson.
Tough – maybe too tough – Karen Donnelly is looking for first only.
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 21: Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 6
Average: 241,000
We’re into the money at the Ladies NLH. Maria Vicari and Margerite Spagnuolo have busted and we are down to six:
Estimated Chips by seat
Valerie Huang – 225,000
Gloria Jackson – 110,000
Nan Min – 125,000
Barbara Rogers – 450,000
Alida Veliu – 175,000
Karen Donnelly – 300,000
Valerie Huang just doubled through Gloria Jackson, with a hand that’s been good to her this tournament, 
.
Nan Min looks down at pocket tens and splashes in that open on the button, but the board is not going to cooperate.
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 18: Blinds 5,000/10,000/10,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 9
Barbara Rogers
Babara Rogers raised to 35,000 from early position and it folded to the big blind who moved all in for 101,000. Rogers quickly called turning over 
and the big blind showed 
.
The dealer fanned the 
flop pairing both players and Rogers picked up the nut flush draw. The turn 
was no help to Rogers and the 
hit the river.
The table erupted as Rogers improved to the nut flush to score the knockout and burst the bubble. The nine remaining ladies are now all in the money and guarantee at least $253 for their efforts. 
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $2,953 |
| 2 | $1,603 |
| 3 | $1,013 |
| 4 | $760 |
| 5 | $591 |
| 6 | $506 |
| 7 | $422 |
| 8 | $338 |
| 9 | $253 |
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 14: Blinds 2,000/4,000/4,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 19
Valerie Huang
Gloria Jackson
The Borgata Spring Poker Open Ladies NLH event is inching closer to the money with just 20 ladies remaining. It’s a neck and neck battle at the top between Valerie Huang and Gloria Jackson.
Both players are sitting behind a nearly identical big stacks of over 200,000. There’s plenty of tough competition still in the hunt including WSOP Circuit ring winners Marguerite Spanuolo and Alida Veliu.
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $2,953 |
| 2 | $1,603 |
| 3 | $1,013 |
| 4 | $760 |
| 5 | $591 |
| 6 | $506 |
| 7 | $422 |
| 8 | $338 |
| 9 | $253 |
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Total Entries: 58
Total Buy-In: $8,700
Total Prize Pool: $8,439
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $2,953 |
| 2 | $1,603 |
| 3 | $1,013 |
| 4 | $760 |
| 5 | $591 |
| 6 | $506 |
| 7 | $422 |
| 8 | $338 |
| 9 | $253 |
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 10: Blinds 800/1,500/1,500 BB Ante
Total Entries: 58
Players Remaining: 38
Average Stack: 38,200
Registration has closed for the Ladies event with 58 entrants. They’re down to four tables already. It will be a while before they reach the money, as only the final 9 will get paid.
$150+$30 Ladies NLH
Structure Sheet
Level 2: Blinds 100/100/100 BB Ante
2018 BSPO Ladies Final Five: (L to R) Angie Gambone, Nancy Martin, Alida Veliu, Joanne Telaj, Dawn Wilensky (Seated)
Last year, 45 Ladies participated in this event. Five Ladies got paid and the final five agreed on adjusted payouts. Dawn Wilensky was the chip leader and took 1st place, the trophy, and $2,130.