Event 9
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
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 37: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Greg Joslyn – 1st Place – $500,000 GTD Almighty Stack NLH
Greg Joslyn started Day 3 in the middle of the pack and mostly stayed under the radar until they reached the final table. He just built a stack on the slow grind all day and had the big stack at the right time, winning a crucial flip with Queens against Big Slick.
When Derek Sudell scored the double elimination to get heads-up, they decided to call it a day. Greg earned $104,386 for his efforts, which becomes his new best live cash and first six-figure score. He’ll take home the Borgata Spring Poker Open trophy, which is also a first for him.
There were a lot of story lines in this event. Barry Leventhal was trying for his 9th win at Borgata which would tie the record, but came up short, finishing 4th.
Alex Rocha put on an impressive performance, starting Day 3 dead last out of 18 returning players, and eventually finishing 5th. After his win in the BSPO Kick-Off event, he came very close to another major title.
Day 3 Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Greg Joslyn | $104,386 |
| 2 | Derek Sudell | $100,000 |
| 3 | Douglas Shirk | $49,275 |
| 4 | Barry Leventhal | $41,531 |
| 5 | Alex Rocha | $34,438 |
| 6 | Niko Platis | $27,679 |
| 7 | Michael Cohen | $21,564 |
| 8 | Matt Gambino | $15,770 |
| 9 | Justin Adams | $11,265 |
| 10 | Michael Ahlas | $7,402 |
| 11 | Tony Mavreles | $7,402 |
| 12 | Jeffrey Yanchek | $7,402 |
| 13 | Louis Torchia | $4,828 |
| 14 | Johnathon Gilliam | $4,828 |
| 15 | Oliver Entine | $4,828 |
| 16 | A. Nonymous | $3,347 |
| 17 | Qingsong Kong | $3,347 |
| 18 | Jamie Shughart | $3,347 |
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 37: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 83 million
Derek Sudell
There was no heads-up play as the final two players agreed on adjusted payouts before a hand was dealt. Derek Sudell takes 2nd place and $100,000. 1st place and $104,386, plus the BSPO trophy go to Greg Joslyn.
This $100,000 score becomes Derek’s best live cash and is more that his total reported live earnings to date.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 37: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 2
Average Stack: 83 million
-
- Barry Leventhal
-
- Douglas Shirk
Barry Leventhal (button) got all-in for 12 million. Douglas Shirk (sb) was all-in for 21.6 million, and Derek Sudell (bb) called both, having 22.7 million and covering both.
Barry: 
Douglas: 
Derek: 
Board: 
The board missed everyone and Derek scooped it all with his pocket Tens.
Barry Leventhal finished 4th, earning $41,531.
Douglas Shirk finished 3rd earning $49,275.
Heads-up play begins with Greg holding 109.7 million to Derek’s 57.3 million.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 37: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 4
Average Stack: 41.5 million
Alex Rocha
Derek Sudell opened for 2 million utg, then Alex Rocha (sb) moved in for 14.9 from the small blind. Douglas Shirk shoved from the big blind for 13.8 million and Derek got out of the pot.
Alex’s 
was dominated by Douglas’ 
. The runout of 
changed nothing. Douglas took the pot, chipping up to ~30 million.
Alex was left with only 1.1 million, which he held onto until he was under-the-gun, then he moved in. Everyone called except Douglas.
On the flop of 
it was checked around. When the 
came on the turn, Greg Joslyn (bb) bet 2.5 million, Barry Leventhal (bb) folded, and Derek Sudell (button) called.
The river brought the 
and they checked it down. Greg]s 
had flopped two pair and was good against Derek’s 
and Alex’s 
. He’s up to ~90 million.
Alex Rocha finished 5th, earning $34,438, in what was an amazing accomplishment, following his win in Event 1 of more than $180,000.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 37: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000/1,000,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 33.2 million
Barry Leventhal
Greg Joslyn (button) opened for 2.5 million and Barry Leventhal (sb) called. On the 
flop, Barry checked, Greg jammed, and Barry snap-called all-in for 8.7 million.
Greg’s was out-kicked by Barry’s . The board finished with 
and Barry doubled up to 23.6 million. Greg was still in fine shape with ~74 million.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 5
Average Stack: 33.2 million
Niko Platis
In the biggest pot of the tournament so far, Barry Leventhal opened for 2.4 million (utg) and it folded to Nick Platis in the small blind, who 3-bet to 8.8 million. Greg Joslyn (bb) 4-bet-shoved for more than 42 million, having everyone covered.
Barry tanked, then folded leaving himself with about 15 million. After the hand he said he folded pocket Jacks.
Niko called all-in for ~37 million, tabling . Greg was ahead with 
. The board came safely 
and Greg is now playing close to 80 million (about half the chips in play).
Niko Platis finished in 6th place, earning $27,679.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 6
Average Stack: 27.6 million
Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen jammed his short stack holding AT and ran into Derek Sudell’s pocket Aces. He got no help from the board and was felted. Derek is up to 24.7 million.
Michael finished in 7th place, earning $21,564.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 7
Average Stack: 23.7 million
Matt Gambino
In an unusual hand, Barry Leventhal was under-the-gun and took a while to take action, eventually betting 2.3 million, leaving only ~5 million behind. Alex Rocha surveyed his stack, then raised to 6 million. Everyone folded back to Barry, who thought about it again, then said “wish I had just jammed”. He folded and Alex took the pot.
On the next hand, action folded to Matt Gambino on the button who moved in for 3.6 million. Barry, in the big blind with 4.9 million, called.
Barry: 
Matt: 
Board: 
The board was all Barry and he took the pot, chipping up to 9.7 million.
Matt busted out in 8th place, earning $15,770.
$400+$50 Almighty Stack NLH Re-Entry
$500,000 Guaranteed
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 36: Blinds 400,000/800,000/800,000 BB ante
Total Entries: 1,659
Players Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 20.7 million
Blinds going up again! Here are the chip counts:
| Seat | Player | Chips | Bbs |
| 1 | Matt Gambino | 7,600,000 | 10 |
| 2 | |||
| 3 | Greg Joslyn | 36,100,000 | 45 |
| 4 | Barry Leventhal | 19,200,000 | 24 |
| 5 | Michael Cohen | 6,000,000 | 8 |
| 6 | Alex Rocha | 32,400,000 | 41 |
| 7 | Douglas Shirk | 10,300,000 | 13 |
| 8 | Derek Sudell | 14,000,000 | 18 |
| 9 | Niko Platis | 42,400,000 | 53 |