2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 14: $15,400 $5 Million Guaranteed WPT World Championship
Day: 1a
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$1,350,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$15,000
Prize Pool
$4,852,400
Entries
328
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
25

Matt Waxed by Wong

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Matt Waxman ran into Jerry Wong's aces for a 100,000 pot
Matt Waxman ran into Jerry Wong's aces for a 100,000 pot

We heard Jerry Wong announce himself all in and headed over to take a look, with a scan of the scene showing he had shoved for 29,100 after Matt Waxman checked the river.

The board read {3-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{j-Hearts}{2-Spades}{9-Diamonds} and the pot contained right around 47,000 at the time. Waxman held about 100,000 behind and could afford to make the call, but the experienced pro took his time to assess the situation from all angles. He shot Wong a couple of looks while tanking, before slowly cutting out a calling stack and moving it into the middle.

Wong quickly tabled his {a-Hearts}{a-Spades} secure in the fact that Waxman's tank was a one-pair affair, and sure enough the latter's hand went promptly into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Jerry Wong us
Jerry Wong
116,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Matt Waxman us
Matt Waxman
67,000
3,000
3,000
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Matt WaxmanJerry Wong

Tanks For Nothing

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
John Racener
John Racener

It took over three minutes for John Racener to make his decision and in hindsight it's probably one he wished he could take back as it resulted in his elimination from todays flight and he'll have to come back tomorrow if he wants to make a deep run in this event.

It all started for Racener when he opened pre-flop to 2,000 and Jordan Cristos three-bet to 4,500 from the hijack. Racener made the call and the two players saw a flop of {A-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}{3-Spades}. Racener check-called a 3,000 bet from Kristos and the dealer put out the {10-Diamonds} on the turn.

Racener check-called again, this time for 11,500. The river was the {7-Spades} and Racener checked a third time and Cristos bet again... all in... which was enough to bust Racener if he lost the hand. After the aforementioned tank, Cristos would show {K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds} for the nuts, a Broadway straight, and Racener quietly pushed his cards into the center of the table and left the room.

Others joining Racener on the rail include Noah Schwartz, Jared Jaffee, and Mohsin Charania.

Player Chips Progress
Jordan Cristos us
Jordan Cristos
100,000
73,000
73,000
WPT 1X Winner
John Racener us
John Racener
Busted
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner
Mohsin Charania us
Mohsin Charania
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
EPT 1X Winner
WPT 2X Winner
Jared Jaffee us
Jared Jaffee
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 2X Winner
Noah Schwartz us
Noah Schwartz
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Young Trumps Israelashvili

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Justin Young
Justin Young

Roland Israelashvili was under the gun and he led out for 4,600 on the {k-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} flop, with Justin Young the lone caller.

On the {a-Clubs} turn Israelashvili slowed down by checking to Young, who obliged with a 7,500 wager. Israelashvili quickly flicked out a pair of the baby blue T5000 chips to signify a call, and the river came down {9-Clubs} to four-flush the board.

Both pros knuckled the felt and Israelashvili rolled over his {a-Hearts}{q-Hearts} first, only to offer knock the table in acknowledgment when Young tabled {a-Spades}{k-Hearts} for the winner.

Player Chips Progress
Justin Young us
Justin Young
84,000
18,000
18,000
WPT 1X Winner
Roland Israelashvili us
Roland Israelashvili
61,500
-7,500
-7,500

Tags: Justin YoungRoland Israelashvili

Two Hands from Table 5

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

The action folded to Faraz Jaka, who raised to 2,100 out of the small blind. Kevin Song raised to 5,900 from the big blind, Jaka called, and the flop fell {3-Spades}{7-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}. Both players checked.

The turn was the {10-Diamonds}, Jaka led out for 7,800, and Song raised to 17,500. Jaka tanked for a bit, then folded.

A few hands later, David Peters raised to 1,700 from under the gun, Brandon Steven re-raised to 4,100 in middle position, and the action folded back to Peters, who called. The flop was {7-Spades}{7-Clubs}{10-Clubs}, Peters checked, and Steven tossed out a single grey T5,000 chip. Peters check-raised to 12,200, and Steven folded.

Player Chips Progress
Kevin Song us
Kevin Song
160,000
38,000
38,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Brandon Steven us
Brandon Steven
121,000
-15,000
-15,000
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
66,000
-41,000
-41,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Jaka Coaching
David Peters us
David Peters
45,000
-5,000
-5,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Brandon StevenDavid PetersFaraz JakaKevin Song

Welcome Back Kottler

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante

As Jeremy Kottler was opening to 1,700 from middle position, the table talk had turned to Paul Volpe's as yet unwritten autobiography, and after the action folder to him on the button he flatted the bet.

The flop came down {a-Spades}{3-Spades}{j-Clubs} and Kottler led out for 1,800, with Volpe inadvertently tossing out a collection of chips equal to 2,800. An extra orange T1000 chip had been added to the mix, and after a brief consultation with the deale, he completed the accidental min-raise to 3,600.

After a few beats, Kottler simply flicked a raise to 20,000 into the middle, forcing a quick retreat from Volpe.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Volpe us
Paul Volpe
133,000
-3,000
-3,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 3X Winner
Jeremy Kottler us
Jeremy Kottler
48,000

Tags: Paul VolpeJeremy Kottler

Moorman Gets Bossed Around

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Chris Moorman
Chris Moorman

Todd Terry opened the action to 2,000 and Chris Moorman made it 4,800 to go from the button. Tony Gregg out of the small blind raised it to 11,800 and after Terry folded Moorman decided to go with his hand and moved all in for slightly less than 50,000.

Gregg picked his cards up off of the felt, holding them up somewhat high showing that he had pocket Queens, and grabbed a stack of 5,000 chips and placed them in the middle.

Moorman had a look on his face as if someone had just passed gas and he had taken a good whiff of it. He knew he'd been caught and he turned over the good old {7-Hearts}{5-Hearts}. Gregg had a legitimate hand with {Q-}{Q-}.

Of course there was a sweat as the flop came {6-Spades}{6-Clubs}{4-Spades}. The turn of {J-Clubs} and river of {K-Hearts} were safe for Gregg, however, and Moorman was eliminated from this first day of play.

"Well at least if I flat, same thing," Moorman said, trying to console himself somewhat, as he grabbed his things. He'll surely be back tomorrow for the Day 1B.

Player Chips Progress
Tony Gregg us
Tony Gregg
170,000
37,000
37,000
Chris Moorman gb
Chris Moorman
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Chris MoormanTony Gregg

B.K. Value Menu

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Byron Kaverman
Byron Kaverman

After generating a pot of 27,000 in unknown action, Byron Kaverman and Shannon Shorr squared off on the board reading {7-Spades}{a-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{k-Hearts}{3-Spades}.

Acting first from the small blind, Kaverman studied the situation for a long minute or so before slowly moving a bet of 28,000 forward.

Shorr's action occurred more quickly, and his cards went promptly toward the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Shannon Shorr us
Shannon Shorr
107,000
-22,975
-22,975
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner
Byron Kaverman us
Byron Kaverman
89,000
29,000
29,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Byron KavermanShannon Shorr

Geez, Paul

Level 7 : 400/800, 100 ante
Micah Raskin - Eliminated
Micah Raskin - Eliminated

After a series of bets and raises on a flop of {8-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}, Micah Raskin was all in and at risk for a little over 100,000 holding {2-Spades}{2-Diamonds} for bottom set. Unfortunately for him, he was dominated by Paul Volpe's {8-Spades}{8-Hearts}.

"Deuce!" Raskin called out.

The turn was not one of the remaining twos in the deck, rather the {6-Spades} fell onto the felt.

"Deuce!" Raskin repeated.

The river was a brick as well - the {5-Diamonds} - and Raskin sat in his chair silently for a bit before finally exiting the tournament area. He shook some of his opponent's hands and wished them luck as he exited.

Volpe now appears to be our chip leader with around 260,000.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Volpe us
Paul Volpe
260,000
127,000
127,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 3X Winner
Micah Raskin us
Micah Raskin
Busted

Tags: Micah RaskinPaul Volpe

Level: 8

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 100

Riverrun

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 100 ante

On a board reading {8-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}{q-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} by the river, Shannon Shorr tried a smallish bet of 4,000 into a pot containing around 15,000.

Tony Dunst raised to 15,500 though, and Shorr tanked for over a minute before abruptly pushing his cards to the dealer one at a time.

Player Chips Progress
Shannon Shorr us
Shannon Shorr
102,000
-5,000
-5,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner
Tony Dunst us
Tony Dunst
85,000
21,000
21,000
WSOP 2X Winner
WPT 1X Winner