2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Borgata Winter Poker Open Side Events

Event 9: Ekaterina Eliminates a Lady

With the flop reading {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}{7-Hearts}, a young lady who only gave her name as Ekaterina Rodkina called a bet of 20,000, taking the {2-Clubs} on the turn.

Her opponent then moved all-in for about 55,000, and Rodkina shrugged a bit before announcing the call.

Showdown:

Rodkina: {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}
Opponent: {A-Spades}{J-Spades}

Both ladies had landed an ace on the flop, but Rodkina's king kicker gave her the best hand. A {k-Spades} fell in on the river to complete the board, and with that, Rodkina's stack swelled to over 100,000.

Event 7: Seborowski Out 11th

Ed Seborowski pushed all in for about 80,000 after action folded to his small blind on the 8,000-16,000 level. Steve Saklad made the call.

Saklad: {a-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}
Seborowski: {a-Clubs}{3-Spades}

The dealer rolled out the {8-Hearts}{q-Hearts}{3-Clubs} for the flop.

"That should do it," another player at the table said.

Indeed, the {2-Spades} and {8-Clubs} finished the board, and players are condensing to one table.

Tags: Steve SakladEd Seborowski

Event 7: Saklad Busts Another

Richard Ball - 10th Place
Richard Ball - 10th Place

Steve Saklad limped from under the gun, and Richard Ball shoved all in from his immediate left for about 80,000. Everyone folded back to Saklad, who made the call.

Saklad: {9-Spades}{9-Hearts}
Ball: {10-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}

"It's not over 'til it's over," Ball said.

Sure enough, the flop came {a-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}, and Ball's pessimism appeared justified. A {4-Spades} and {3-Spades} completed the board, and Saklad has us down to the official final table.

Tags: Steve SakladRichard Ball

John Tavss Eliminated in 8th Place ($2,366)

John Tavss  - 8th Place
John Tavss - 8th Place

JR Reiss raised to 54,000 from the hijack, and John Tavss pushed all in from the small blind. Reiss made the call.

Reiss: {a-Diamonds}{q-Spades}
Tavss: {a-Hearts}{k-Hearts}

The flop came {q-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{10-Spades}, giving Reiss top pair but Tavss a gutshot and a flush draw. The turn was an {8-Diamonds}, and Reiss needed to dodge the river. It was a {7-Diamonds}, giving the Omaha native the pot.

Tags: John TavssJR Reiss

Event 9: The Bubble Has Burst, Final Two Tables Await

We're in the Money Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open's Ladies Event
We're in the Money Here at the Borgata Winter Poker Open's Ladies Event

With a collective cheer at the elimination of the 19th place player, the 18 ladies remaining in Event 9 are now in the money.

While most bubble bursting hands are a miserable experience for the unfortunate player to bow out, here at the Ladies event things are different.

Nearly all of the players left decided to pony up $20 or so to create a prize for the 19th elimination, showing why Ladies events are such a departure from the typically cutthroat world of tournament poker.