2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Borgata Winter Poker Open Side Events
Day: 13

Event 22: Johnny Escobalez Eliminated in Sixth Place ($2,638)

Johnny Escobalez at the Final Table of the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Event #22
Johnny Escobalez at the Final Table of the 2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open Event #22

Johnny Escobalez got all in on the turn with the board reading {a-Spades}{4-Hearts}{j-Hearts}{k-Spades} against Andres Sierra.

Sierra: {a-Hearts}{10-Spades}
Escobalez: {j-Clubs}{j-Diamonds}

Sierra's only hope against Escobalez's set was to spike a straight on the river. That's exactly what happened when a queen hit the board, and Escobalez put his head down in disbelief as Sierra celebrated.

Tags: Johnny EscobalezAndres Sierra

Event 22: Addison Alston Eliminated in Third Place ($5,013)

Addison Alston - Third Place
Addison Alston - Third Place

William Givens raised to 100,000, and George St. Lawrence three-bet to 250,000 from the small blind. Addison Alston jammed for 400,000 in the big blind, and Givens folded. St. Lawrence made the call, saying he needed to catch up.

Alston: {a-Spades}{q-Spades}
St. Lawrence: {a-Hearts}{10-Clubs}

St. Lawrence was exactly right, but he caught up right when the dealer turned over the flop to spread it.

"What a window," William Givens said as the {8-Clubs}{5-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} hit the board. The {6-Clubs} closed out an out for Alston, and the {4-Hearts} officially ended his tournament.

Tags: Addison AlstonGeorge St. Lawrence

Event 22: Heartbreaker for Givens

George St. Lawrence spiked the out he needed.
George St. Lawrence spiked the out he needed.

William Givens and George St. Lawrence got it all in before the flop on one of the first hands of heads-up play.

Givens: {j-Spades}{j-Diamonds}
St. Lawrence: {a-Spades}{10-Hearts}

St. Lawrence needed to catch up with ace-ten for the second straight big hand, and after the first four cards came {q-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}, it seemed he was going to have to settle for the second-place prize.

"Let's hold one time," one of Givens' friends said.

Cruelly, the {a-Diamonds} landed on the river. St. Lawrence let out three loud claps as Givens walked away from the table in dismay.

Tags: George St. LawrenceWilliam Givens

Event 22: St. Lawrence Crippled

George St. Lawrence bet 500,000 after William Givens checked to him on a board of {9-Diamonds}{k-Spades}{q-Spades}{5-Clubs}. Givens thought for a bit before pushing all in, and St. Lawrence called.

St. Lawrence: {q-Clubs}{4-Hearts}
Givens: {k-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}

Givens had a big lead, but he was at risk. The river was a safe {8-Hearts}, and he doubled through to take a massive chip lead.

"Whoo, that's a big turnaround bro."

Tags: George St. LawrenceWilliam Givens

Event 22: St. Lawrence Posts the Double-Double

George St. Lawrence doubled up with {q-}{j-} against the {a-}{5-} of William Givens when he flopped a queen and held.

A few hands later, he got all in preflop again with {8-Hearts}{8-Spades}, and he once against doubled when Givens couldn't improve his {2-}{2-} despite flopping a gutshot straight draw on {a-}{4-}{5-}.

It's now almost even, though Givens still has a slight lead with about 2.3 million to 1.7 million.

Tags: George St. LawrenceWilliam Givens