Event 14
The 2018 Summer Poker Open wrapped up in the early hours of Saturday morning when Carlos Alvarado won the final event at about 6:30am, taking home more than $21,000. That’s after earning an even $100,000* for his runner-up finish in the $500,000 Guaranteed Almighty Stack. Alvarado was not the only player having a good summer.
2018 Summer Poker Open Championship winner Greg Nerenberg
Greg Nerenberg won the record-setting $1 Million Guaranteed Summer Poker Open Championship event and $365,062. The 627 entries in the Championship topped the numbers from last July and the final 63 players earned a piece of the $1,520,475 prize pool. The tournament drew some top poker pros including Brian Altman, Andy Frankenberg, David Paredes, Joe McKeehen, and four-time WPT champ Darren Elias.
Nerenberg was facing more than a two-to-one chip disadvantage at the start of heads-up play against Kane Kalas, who had been on a heater since the start of the final table. One double-up, however, reversed their positions and the match was over soon after. Kalas earned $205,264 for his second place finish. In an impressive performance, 2017 Borgata Poker Open Championship winner Guo Liang Chen made a repeat appearance at the Championship final table, finishing 6th for $69,182.
Gary Tavella – 1st Place – 2018 Borgata Summer Poker Open $1M GTD Kick-Off
The $1 Million Guaranteed Kick-Off event saw 2,201 runners build a prize pool in excess of $1.1 million and the final three players made a deal that resulted in chip leader Gary Tavella taking 1st place and $143,730*. This was the first Borgata title for the high-stakes cash game player.
The first Saturday Series event was also the Cabot Creamery “Put a Bad Beat On Hunger” charity tournament. They drew 349 total entries and raised $3,490 for the New Jersey Food Bank – Southern Branch. Larry Connor got 1st place, $18,468* and the Borgata Open trophy. Cabot Creamery provided two $3,500 2018 BPO Championship seats for the 1st and 2nd place finishers, so Connor and runner-up Carlos Figueroa will both be free-rolling the Championship in September.
1st Place, 15th Birthday Tournament of Championship – Chalie Hook
To celebrate their 15th Birthday, Borgata hosted a Tournament of Champions which was an invitation-only event open to winners of all 15 years of Championship events. The winner-take-all $25,000 championship was won by 2013 Summer Poker Open Champion Chalie Hook, who agreed to split the prize with the final three players. The final six also got seats in the Summer Open Championship event.
Two other accomplishments of note occurred during this series. Barry Leventhal won the Seniors event for the third time and claimed his seventh Borgata title. Michael Kemeter took 1st in the SixMax for the third time in four years. He’s made the final table of this event five of the last seven years.
All guarantees were covered and millions in prize money was paid out to hundreds of participants! A complete list of Main Event winners and their winnings is below.
* Indicates Adjusted Payout
This concludes our coverage of the 2017 Borgata Summer Poker Open! On behalf of the Borgata Poker family and our blog team, @Kaelaine, @AlCantHang, and @TKBluffs, Thank You! Make plans now to join us for the WPT/Borgata Poker Open, September 4th – 21st.
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 24: Blinds 12,000/24,000/3,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 3
With the elimination of James Nilsen in 4th the final three Event 14 players began to discuss a deal. The stacks were counted down and an adjusted payout agreement was quickly made.
Matthew Wantman who held the chip lead at the time of the deal will take first place for $12,000 and the trophy. Wantman adds a second Borgata Poker title and another five figure score to his nearly $1,100,000 in live career tournament earnings.
Below is a look at the final three chip counts at the time of the agreement and their adjusted payouts.
1. Matthew Wantman- 812,000 ($12,000)
2. Joe Greene- 632,000 ($10,078)
3. Tony Najjar- 476,000 ($8,756)
(L to R) Tony Najjar, Joe Greene, Matthew Wantman (Seated)
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 23: Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 3
James Nilsen
James Nilsen got his stack of 300,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the 
of Matt Wantman. The board ran out 
and Wantman paired his ace on the flop to earn the knockout. Nilsen is our 4th place Event 14 finisher and he earns $4,190 for his efforts.
Matt Wantman- 750,000
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 22: Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 4
Ron Sims
Ron Sims got his last 200,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the 
of Tony Najjar. The board ran out 
and Najjar improved to bottom set to earn the knockout.
Sims is our 5th place Event 14 finisher earning $3,259 for his efforts.
Tony Najjar- 685,000
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 21: Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 5
Paul Hessler
A short stacked Paul Hessler moved all in for about 60,000 from the small blind. Ron Sims called from the big blind turning over 
but he was dominated by Hessler’s 
.
“Put a five out there” said Sims and he got his wish when the dealer fanned the 
flop. The turn was the 
and the 
hit the river. Sims improved to the nut flush holding the ace of diamonds and Hessler was eliminated in 6th place earning $3,259.
Ron Sims- 270,000
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 21: Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 5
Damian Alonso
Damian Alonso came into the final table as the shortest stacked and he managed to grind it our to 7th place. Alonso will take home $2,328 for his Event 14 efforts.
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 20: Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 9
9th Place- Brian Hewitt ($1,397)
We lost back to back players here in Event 14 in rapid succession. Brian Hewitt was the first player to fall from the final table at the hands of Joe Greene earning $1,397 for his 9th place finish.
8th Place- Alberto Sabogali ($1,862)
Alberto Sabogali quickly followed and he was also sent to the rail by Greene. Sabogali is our 8th place Event 14 finisher taking home $1,862.
Joe Greene has moved into the chip lead with 525,000 and the final 7 players are now on a 15-minute break.
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 19: Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 9
With the elimination of Michael Pellegrin in 10th place the Event 14 final table is now set and it’s Brian Hewitt leading the way with 325,000. The players will battle it out here in the Signature and our newest BSPO will be crowned.
One of these players will take home the $16,297 first prize along with Borgata Summer Poker trophy. Below is a full list of the updated final table chip counts and seating assignments as well as what’s at stake.
Seat 1. Paul Hessler- 110,000
Seat 2. Brian Hewitt- 325,000
Seat 3. Ron Sims- 185,000
Seat 4. Damian Alonso- 80,000
Seat 5. Tony Najjar- 250,000
Seat 6. Matt Wantman- 320,000
Seat 7. Alberto Sabogali- 200,000
Seat 8. James Nilsen- 205,000
Seat 9. Joe Greene- 290,000
Payouts
1st: $16,297
2nd: $8,846
3rd: $5,587
4th: $4,190
5th: $3,259
6th: $2,794
7th: $2,328
8th: $1,862
9th: $1,397
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 19: Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 9
Brian Hewitt
Michael Pellegrino got his last 52,000 all in pre-flop holding 
against the of Brian Hewitt. The board ran out 
and Hewitt paired his ace to send Pellegrino to the rail.
The final nine players are now all in the money and guaranteed at least $1,397 for their efforts.
$500+$60+$500 Purple Chip Knockout Bounty NLH
Structure Sheet | Payouts
Level 19: Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000 ante
Entries: 96
Players Remaining: 10
Damian Alonso
The action folded to Ron Sims on the button and he raised to 38,000. Damian Alonso moved all in from the small blind for 26,000 and the big blind folded.
Sims turned over 
but was dominated by the 
of Alonso. The board ran out 
and Alonso improved to top set to double up.
Damian Alonso- 70,000
Ron Sims- 270,000