Event 14
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
(L to R) Chris Cellucci, Patrick Canizio, Michael Jouaneh, Joe Gola (Seated)
Event 14 of the Borgata Summer Poker Open was the $500+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty NLH. There were 100 entries creating a prize pool of $48,500.
In the early morning hours in the Signature Room the final four players agreed to an adjusted payout deal.
They agreed to split the remaining prize pool evenly and run one hand out for the trophy. Joe Gola came out on top and will take home his first Borgata Poker Open tropy and $7,759. Below is a full look at the final Event 14 tournament results.
1. Chris Cellucci- $7,760
2. Michael Jouaneh- $7,760
3. Patrick Canizio- $7,759
4. Joe Gola- $7,759+BSPO Trophy
5. Lauren Monosson- $2,910
6. Shirish Jajodia- $2,425
7. Christian Jordanich- $1,940
8. Howard Feingold- $1,455
9. Kevin Izzo- $1,091
10. Ron Sims- $970
11. Sean Munjal- $970
12. Mordechai Friedman- $970
13. Robert Nadolny- $849
14. Eugene Zaslavsky- $849
15. Francis Johnson- $840
16. Edgar Lemus- $728
17. Simon Verkhovsky- $728
18. Gennaro Cammarota- $728
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 17: Blinds 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 9
Joe Gola
The Event 14 BSPO Knockout Bounty NLH final table is now set and it’s Joe Gola leading the way with 1,500,000. The players will battle it out into the late night hours for the $14,305 first prize and the Borgata Spring Poker Open trophy.
Below is a full look at the updated chip counts and final table seating assignments.
Seat 1. Christian Jordanich- 380,000
Seat 2. Joe Gola- 1,500,000
Seat 3. Pat Canizio- 650,000
Seat 4. Chris Cellucci- 235,000
Seat 5. Michael Jouaneh- 130,000
Seat 6. Lauren Monosson- 185,000
Seat 7. Howard F.- 150,000
Seat 8. Shirish Jajodia- 260,000
Seat 9. Kevin Izzo- 110,000
Payouts
1. $14,305+BSPO Trophy
2. $8,003
3. $4,850
4. $3,880
5. $2,910
6. $2,425
7. $1,940
8. $1,455
9. $1,091
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 17: Blinds 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 13
Michael “MJ” Jouaneh
A short stacked player was all in for his last 3,000 from early position. Michael “MJ” Jouaneh raised to 15,000 and the rest of the table quickly folded.
Jouaneh showed 
and the short stacked player turned over 
. The board ran out 
and Jouaneh paired his queen on the turn to score the knockout and collect his opponent’s $500 purple chip bounty.
Michael “MJ” Jouaneh- 140,000
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 16: Blinds 3,000/6,000/6,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 14
Lauren Monosson
Lauren Monosson has played two previous Borgata Poker Open purple chip bounty events. She snuck into the money both times with two 17th place finishes but surprisingly did not collect any $500 bounties.
“I’m making progress” Monosson joked and she certainly is as she has already scored two knockout and added two $500 purple chips to her snack.
There are just 14 players remaining and Monosson is still in the hunt with a healthy stack of over 200,000 hoping that the third time is indeed the charm.
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 15: Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 15
Joe Gola
We caught up to the four handed action on the 
flop. The player in the small blind bet 35,000 into a main pot of 30,000 and Simon Verkhousky moved all in for 57,000.
Edgar Lemus re-shoved all in for about 200,000 and with the action on Joe Gola he slid out a stack of 500,000. The small blind folded and the hands were shown.
Joe Gola: 
Edgar Lemus: 
Simon Verkhousky: 
“I misread my hand I thought I had a nine” said Verkhousky as he rolled over just ten high. The dealer burned and turned the 
and Gola improved to the nut flush leaving both players drawing dead.
The meaningless 
completed the board and Gola scored the double knockout to collect two $500 bounties and extend his chip lead. The Event 14 players are now on a 15 minute break and we will pick back up on all of the action when play resumes.
Joe Gola- 1,000,000
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 15: Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 17
Joe Gola
The players are falling fast here in the BSPO Super Knockout NLH event. We are down to the final two tables and a new chip leader has emerged.
Joe Gola is out in front with 550,000 and he is the first player to cross the half a million chip mark. Gola has been mixing it up in plenty of pots and just 16 players stand between him and his first Borgata Poker Open title.
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 14: Blinds 2,000/4,000/4,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 18
Ron Sims (right) is all smiles after spiking two pair on the river to burst the bubble and collect the $500 bounty
Edgar Lemus raised to 12,500 and Ron Sims called. The player in the cutoff moved all in for his last 10,500 and Joe Gola called from the big blind.
They saw a flop of 
and it checked to Sims who tossed out a bet of 32,500. The players quickly folded and the hands were shown.
Sims turned over 
but he was outkicked by the short stacks 
. The turn was no help to Sims but the 
hit the river and Sims jumped out of his seat in celebration.
Sims improved to two pair to score the knockout and collect the $500 bounty and the final 18 players are now all in the money and guaranteed at least $728 for their efforts.
Ron Sims- 350,000
Payouts
1. $14,305+BSPO Trophy
2. $8,003
3. $4,850
4. $3,880
5. $2,910
6. $2,425
7. $1,940
8. $1,455
9. $1,091
10-12. $970
13-15. $849
16-18. $728
$500+$60+$500 Knockout Bounty NLH
Level 13: Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 100
Players Remaining: 20
Edgar Lemus
We are now just two eliminations away from the money here in Event 14 and Edgar Lemus has been a one man wrecking crew. Lemus just collected his 8th $500 bounty and he is sitting behind one of the biggest stacks with just over 400,000.
Lemus is no stranger to bounty hunting as he holds a Borgata Poker title after winning the $1,060 Purple Chip Bounty NLH event in the 2016 Borgata Fall Poker Open.
He took home his largest career score of over $30,000 and looks to add another miniature Borgata to his trophy case here in Event 14.
Event 14 of the Borgata Spring Poker Open is the $500+$60+$500 Super Knockout Bounty NLH. There were 100 total entries creating a prize pool of $48,500.
The final 18 players will all make the money and be guaranteed a minimum of $728 for their efforts.
The Event 14 winner will take home $14,305 along with the Borgata Spring Poker Open trophy. Below is a look at the full Event 14 tournament payouts.
1. $14,305+BSPO Trophy
2. $8,003
3. $4,850
4. $3,880
5. $2,910
6. $2,425
7. $1,940
8. $1,455
9. $1,091
10-12. $970
13-15. $849
16-18. $728