Event 18
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
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 29: Blinds 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 1
Carmen Serignese
Event 18 of the Borgata Spring Poker Open was the $300 Deep Stack NLH $75,000 Guaranteed. There were 363 total entries creating a prize pool of over $91,000.
When the dust settled in the early morning hours in the Signature Carmen Serignese was the last man standing. Serignese entered heads up play with a severe chip deficit.
He kept his cool picking his spots before scoring a massive double up to take the lead. Serignese will take home his largest career tournament score of $24,714 and his first Borgata Poker Open trophy.
The full Event 18 tournament results will be posted as soon as they’re available.
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 29: Blinds 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 1
Adeel Khawaja
Carmen Serignese scored a big double up holding 
against the 
of Adeel Khawaja after turning a flush. Khawaja was left extremely short and eliminated in the very next hand.
Khawaja put on a performance to remember holding the chip lead for much of the night and he is our Event 18 runner up taking home $13,732.
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 28: Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 2
Adam Aboulkhair
Adam Aboulkhair got his last 1,200,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the 
of Adeel Khawaja. The dealer fanned the 
pairing both players but Aboulkhair’s ace was best.
The 
turn was no help to Khawaja but the 
hit the river. Khawaja improved to two pair and Aboulkhair was eliminated in 3rd taking home his largest career tournament score of $8,542 for his efforts.
Adeel Khawaja- 7,500,000
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 28: Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 3
Michael Koenig
Michael Koenig was the next final table player to hit the rail when he got his last 1,430,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against 
.
He failed to improve on the 
and is our 4th place Event 18 finisher earning $6,866 for his efforts.
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 27: Blinds 40,000/80,000/80,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 4
Stephen Moy
Paul Hessler Jr.
Paul Hessler Jr. was the next player to fall at the hands of chip leader Adeel Khawaja. Hessler Jr. got the last of his chips all in holding 
against the 
of Khawaja. Hessler Jr. was eliminated in 6th place and will take home $4,440.
Stephen Moy immediately followed running his into pocket kings. Moy is our 5th place Event 19 finisher and will earn $5,401 for his efforts.
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 26: Blinds 30,000/60,000/60,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 6
David Sedlak
David Sedlak got his last 715,000 all in on the 
holding 
against the 
of Stephen Moy. The turn brought the and the 
completed the board.
Moy improved to a full house and Sedlak was sent to the rail in 7th place earning $3,570 for his efforts.
Stephen Moy- 2,500,000
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 26: Blinds 30,000/60,000/60,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 7
Bryan Kunkel
Bryan Kunkel got the last of his chips in holding 
on the flop. Chip leader Adeel Khawaja called turning over his 
.
Kunkel failed to improve on the turn and river and he was eliminated in 8th place earning $2,701 for his efforts.
Adeel Khawaja- 3,300,000
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 25: Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 8
Sam Samnang
Sam Samnang raised to 250,000 from under the gun and the player in the cutoff called. They went heads up to the 
flop and Samnang moved all in for about 450,000.
His opponent quickly called turning over 
and Samnang showed . The turn 
and river 
were no help to Samnang and he was sent to the rail in 9th place finisher earning $1,831 for his efforts.
$260+$40 DeepStack NLH
$75,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Level 24: Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 363
Players Remaining: 9
Daryl Stoll
Daryl Stoll was the first player to fall from the Event 19 final table following the break. Stoll is our 10th place Event 19 finisher and will take home $1,190 for his efforts.