Event 15
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
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 6
(L to R) Alex Huot, Stephanie Hubbard, Yahcob Swinton, Jacob Barkol, Harry Tavitian, Bob Flacco (Seated)
With the elimination of Mitchell Ames in 7th the final six players began to discuss an adjusted payout deal. The stacks were counted down and it didn’t take long for them to come to an agreement.
Bob Flacco who was holding the chip lead with 1,077,000 will take first earning $6,109. The players agreed since Bob Flacco was the chip leader he would take the trophy but Flacco had other things in mind.
Jacob Barkol recently lost his father who was an avid poker player and the last time they spoke he told Barkol “The next time you play poker bring me back a trophy.”
After posing with the BSPO trophy for the winners photo the players began to make their way to the payout line. Flacco turned to Barkol with the trophy in hand and handed it to him “Here, this one is for your father” he said.
The players shared an embrace and Barkol did just what he set out to do taking home his first Borgata Poker Open trophy in memorable fashion.
Below is a look at the Event 15 final table results and the full results will be posted as soon as they’re available.
1. Bob Flacco- $6,109+BSPO Trophy*
2. Jacob Barkol- $5,300*
3. Harry Tavitian- $4,759*
4. Yachob Swinton- $4,617*
5. Stephanie Hubbard- $4,250*
6. Alex Huot- $4,182*
7. Mitchell Ames- $1,558
8. Emilia Francisco- $1,169
9. Robert Goodwin Jr.- $877
10. Danny Focarelli- $779
Bob Flacco
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 23: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 6
Mitchell Ames
Mitchell Ames moved all in from under the gun for about 250,000 and Bob Flacco called. The rest of the table quickly folded and the hands were shown.
Bob Flacco: 
Mitchell Ames: 
The board ran out 
improving Flacco to a queen high flush. Ames was eliminated in 7th place and will take home $1,558 for his efforts.
Bob Flacco- 1,770,000
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 22: Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 7
Emilia Francisco
Stephanie Hubbard raised to 50,000 from the button and Yahcob Swinton called from the small blind. Emilia Francisco put her last 35,000 all in from the big blind and they saw a flop of 
.
Both players checked and the dealer burned and turned the 
. Swinton check-called a bet of 50,000 from Hubbard and the river was the .
Swinton checked to Hubbard who bet 150,000 and Swinton quickly folded. Hubbard turned over 
for aces up and Francisco flashed her 
before tossing her hand into the muck.
Francisco is our 8th place Event 15 finisher and will take home $1,169 for her efforts.
Stephanie Hubbard- 665,000
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 21: Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 8
Robert Goodwin Jr.
Bob Flacco raised to 45,000 and Robert Goodwin Jr. moved all in for his last 18,000. Three players called and they saw a flop of 
.
Alex Huot led out with a bet of 75,000 and Flacco called. The dealer burned and turned the 
and Huot fired out a bet of 150,000. Flacco quickly folded and Huot turned over 
for top set.
Goodwin Jr. was drawing dead holding and the meaningless completed the board. Goodwin Jr. was eliminated in 9th place and will take home $877 for his efforts.
Alex Huot- 900,000
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 20: Blinds 8,000/15,000/15,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 10
Bob Flacco
The Event 15 final table is now set and it’s Bob Flacco leading the way with 1,025,000.
Jacob Barkol scooped a monster pot holding after turning a flush to crack the pocket aces of Danny Focarelli. He is up to nearly 800,000 which is good for second on the final table chip counts.
Jacob Barkol
The players will battle it out here in the Signature Room into the late night hours. One of these players will be crowned our Event 15 Borgata Spring Poker Open champion and take home $11,492 and the trophy.
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $11,492 |
| 2 | $6,428 |
| 3 | $3,896 |
| 4 | $3,116 |
| 5 | $2,337 |
| 6 | $1,948 |
| 7 | $1,558 |
| 8 | $1,169 |
| 9 | $877 |
| 10 | $779 |
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 20: Blinds 8,000/15,000/15,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 12
Yahcob Swinton
A player in early position raised to 50,000 and Yahcob Swinton slid out a stack of 350,000 from the button. It folded back to the player who put his last 150,000 in the pot and the hands were shown.
Yachob Swinton: 
Opponent:
The dealer fanned the 
flop and Swinton paired his king in the window to take control of the hand. The turn 
and river 
sealed the deal for Swinton to earn him the knockout.
We are now just two eliminations away from the final table and Swinton is sitting behind the big stack with about 650,000.
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 19: Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 14
Jason Acosta
Jason Acosta was the shortest stack in the Signature Room on the money bubble in the previous level. Acosta was down to just 23,000 at one point.
Acosta got a few shoves through chipping up to 41,000 and then doubled through Stephanie Hubbard. He was off and running and is now sitting behind 350,000 with just 14 players left in the hunt.
The players are now on a quick unscheduled bathroom break and we will pick back up on the action when play resumes.
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 18: Blinds 5,000/10,000/10,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 15
Yahcob Swinton
We are down to the final 15 Event 15 players and Yahcob Swinton is still in the hunt. Swinton is fresh off a victory here at The Borgata last month.
He took down the 217 entry $150 Monster Stack NLH earning over $4,000 for his efforts.
Swinton was hovering around 150,000 but he just found a double up and he’s back to a healthy stack of over 300,000.
$300+$40 Deeper Stack NLH
$40,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 17: Blinds 4,000/8,000/8,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 116
Players Remaining: 16
Danny Focarelli
The lengthy Event 15 money bubble has finally burst and we are now just six eliminations away from the final table. A clear chip leader is yet to emerged and there are a handful of players all sitting behind over 400,000.
Danny Focarelli is one of them and he is near the top of the chip counts with about 425,000. A full list of updated chip counts and seating assigments will be posted as soon as the Event 15 final table is set.
| Place | Payout |
| 1 | $11,492 |
| 2 | $6,428 |
| 3 | $3,896 |
| 4 | $3,116 |
| 5 | $2,337 |
| 6 | $1,948 |
| 7 | $1,558 |
| 8 | $1,169 |
| 9 | $877 |
| 10 – 12 | $779 |
| 13 – 15 | $682 |
| 16 – 18 | $584 |