Event 2
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
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 32: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,200,000
Heads up began with Markman fighting for pots as usual, and in fact gaining some traction. However, his momentum ended when he made at delayed double barrel into a paired board, costing himself over 1 million chips as the more patient Nguyen simply bluff caught him down with a weak top pair without fanfare.
Then, a few hands later, big action and a bold line by Markman couldn’t salvage his chances. He check called a with a gutter versus top pair, then lead out, bet shoving the turn, only to be once again met with a solid bluff catch from Nguyen. No improvement, and a weak top pair is good for the title.
Robert wins. A great run by Markman worthy of notice. He put in a number of big plays and was never waiting for the cards to save him.
Brian Markman, Virginia Beach, VA, 2nd, @27,377.
Robert Nguyen was rewarded for his patience, letting several players go broke then playing very solid in the final six. He was well matched to beat Markman, who couldn’t resist trying to steal.
Robert Nguyen, Brooklyn, NY, 1st, $48,686.
Congratulations to Robert on a well-earned Borgata trophy!
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 32: Blinds 100,000/200,000/200,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 7,200,000
Resigned and all in at last, the former chip leader Markman is in trouble… for now. No call.
Then, down to less than 13 bigs, Markmanshoved the button, Robert Nguyen reshoved the small, and Hal went with it in the big, looking to knock out Markman and get heads up with Nguyen.
However, that plan came apart when the desperate appearing Markham really had it – the 
. However, it’s never easy, as they love to say, and Hal flopped open ended for plenty of hope.
However, he missed his draw, leaving him with six high and no chips. The sidepot when to Robert’s sixes.
Hal takes third for $17,600 – nice run.
The action leaves Markman with 4.4 million and Robert with 10 m. Without a pause, they plow into heads up.
The chip leader, Robert Nguyen.
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 31: Blinds 80,000/150,000/150,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 4,800,000
With a significant lead developing here in level 31, Brian Markman had the opportunity to finally end the tricky Rotholz’ run. In the blinds they got in 
against 
.
Slightly behind, Hal celebrated when he outflopped Brian on the 
[
. Markham pumped his fist when the fell on the turn, leaving Hal a 9-1 dog. However, he got there – 
on the river.
Hal Goes from a third of the average to playable at about 3.5 million.
Still, it gets worse for Brian, who loses another hand soon after and loses the lead for the first time in several levels.
Disaster for Brian, while Hal clasps his hands in relief at the river resuck.
- Robert Nguyen – 7 m
- Hal Rotholz– 3.5 m
- Brian Markman – 3.8 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 3
Average Stack: 4,800,000
Hal Rotholz continues to show up at the right place and the right time.
After several pots without showdown after Soukha departed, Hal opened to 325,000, and was called by Brian on the button. The blinds folded.
On 
, the action went check check.
The 
on the turn drew a 400,000 bet into from Hal, which Brian min raised. Call.
The action then froze on the 
. Hal declared “nine” and revealed for a middle flush. Brian groaned, showed an ace, and mucked.
Huge pot for Hal, who is now back to average.
Then, more key action. Brian opens 
and is called by Lawrence from the small, who has been careful since doubling to 20 bigs.
Bingo, his 
fit nicely into the 
board. The action goes check bet call, and on the 
, Brian rips it in after Lawrence checks.
Trapped, as Lawrence gets it in far ahead. However, just as a big stack is dangled in front of him, Brian finds one of his outs, the 
, and we lose Lawrence.
Lawrence finishes strong.
By Seat
- Robert Nguyen – 4.6 m
- Lawrence Harper – 4th for $13,982
- Hal Rotholz– 3.6 m
- Brian Markman – 6.5 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 30: Blinds 60,000/120,000/120,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 3,600,000
With a couple minutes to break. Hal Rotholz stated he wasn’t sure he wanted to bust before the fifteen minute break. He took his time, then dropped in the black chip from under the gun for 13 bigs.
It folded back to Soukha in the big blind, covering, who snap called with 
. However, the ruse worked, and 
got paid in full.
Hal then attacked from the button, but folded when Nguyen put him in.
Soukha sends the cheddar to Hal before the rest goes to Brian. Nice run for $10,951.
By Seat
- Robert Nguyen – 4.5 m
- Lawrence Harper – 2 m
- Soukha – bust
- Hal Rotholz– 2.3 m
- Brian Markman – 6 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 2,880,000
Nguyen lets Soukha off the hook, top set over turned set, when the boards runs out disfavorable.
Still, Soukha is wounded and shoves this remaining ten blinds the next hand, getting through Boyuan and his five blinds. Stacks are very short at this point.
Nguyen has been on a tear. He’s now past 4.5 m after being short all final table.
Robert Nguyen: Back in it in a big way, despite the opportunity lost to knock out the Foxwoods steamroller.
Soukha takes another hit, but with four blinds and change left, continues his freeroll, calling off Boyuan’s four blind shove with 
. “It’s suited,” he consoles himself to the table’s amusement.
He’s live against Boyuan’s and in fact hits top pair on the 
flop. No more lives for Boyuan Han, and he is out in sixth for $8,995.
Soukha goes back to 9 bigs, cat-like.
Then, another shot at a knockout: Markman goes with , but Lawrence escapes when 
dodges the overs.
“Twenty bigs!” he declares.
By Seat
- Boyuan – bust
- Nguyen – 4.5 m
- Lawrence Harper – 2.1 m
- Soukha – 900,000 m
- Hal Rotholz– 1.1 m
- Brian Markman – 5.5 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 29: Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 2,400,000
SB versus BB, Boyuan and Robert Nguyen get it in, 
vs Nguyen’s 
, which hits two aces by the river.
Robert doubles to 1.5 m.
Boyuan Han survives and keeps the deal makers at bay.
Soon after, Robert wounds Boyuan again, with against .
Now that Boyuan is crippled,play slows as the numbers are discussed.
Meanwhile, Soukha puts Boyuan at risk with 
, but 
comes through with two pair to double up the weak link.
By Seat
- Boyuan – 500,000 m
- Nguyen – 2.7 m
- Lawrence Harper – 1.1 m
- Soukha – 1.8 m
- Hal – 1.1 m
- Brian Markman – 6.2 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
End of Level 27: Blinds 30,000/60,000/60,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 2,400,000
Craig Berger, gifted twice after the brutal beat from from Boyuan, still found a way to be run down.
Boyuan shoved into the blinds, Craig got his short stack in, and the dealer ran out the board.
Boyuan picked up a draw on the flop and smashed the gutter on the river as the table groaned in sympathy.
Berger takes 7th for $7,138.
By Seat
- Boyuan – 2.5 m
- Nguyen – 700,000
- Lawrence Harper – 1.6 m
- Soukha – 2.7 m
- Hal – 1.9 m
- Brian Markman – 5.1 m
$350+$50+$100 Black Chip Bounty Deep Stack NLH
$150,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet
Payouts
Level 26: Blinds 30,000/50,000/50,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 576
Players Remaining: 9
Average Stack: 1,600,000
With everyone getting short, all-ins are coming.
The first was avoided by a surprised Boyuan, who 3 bet Markman, only to be greeted by a hefty fourbet from which there would be no going back. He frowned and gave up.
No such luck for Svetlana, however. She goes with against Markman, who has it this time with . King on the flop, and Shuster takes 10th, bringing us to a pay jump.
No regrets – Svetlana Shuster for $2,542.
By Seat
- Boyuan 1.4 m
- Matrone 700,000
- Mercado 1.2 m
- Chris Berger 900,000
- Nguyen – 700,000
- Lawrence Harper – 1.8 m
- Soukha 3.1 m
- Hal 1 m
- Brian Markman 3.7 m
We now take a break and move the final table to the Signature Room.