2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 13: $300 Deeper-Stack NLHE
Day: 1
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a10
Prize
$17,092
Event Info
Buy-in
$260
Prize Pool
$61,033
Entries
242
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000

Resurrection Redux

Level 20 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Elia Ahmadian
Elia Ahmadian

Just before the recent break we watched Elia Ahmadian double up to push his stack up above the 230,000 mark - but according to Ahmadian and his tablemate John Hall, he had recently risen from the dead.

Ahmadian had previously owned a big stack of about 360,000, but he was nailed to the cross when his {A-}{k-} was run down by {A-}{10-} when a ten hit the board.

That loss had sent Ahmadian to the brink with just 23,000 left to his name, but he then got the last of it in with {A-}{8-} and found no less than four callers. Facing {A-}{10-} yet again - in addition to a motley crew of competing hands - Ahmadian made two pair on the river after flopping an ace, with fifth street falling {8-}.

On the very next deal, sitting in the big blind, Ahmadian watched the action fold around to the small blind, and that player shove all in for 115,000 effective. With {A-Hearts}{q-Hearts} in the hole Ahmadian's decision was easy enough, and the final board rolled out {7-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{a-Spades}{9-Hearts}{5-Hearts} to bring him all the way back from the dead on a day dedicated to the original master of that very same feat.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Elia Ahmadian us
Elia Ahmadian
234,000
24,000
24,000

Tags: Elia Ahmadian

Level: 20

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 2,000

I'ma Prison Cell Six By Nine

Level 19 : 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Philip Neiman
Philip Neiman

A pot of 28,000 was up for grabs when the action folded around to an unidentified player in the small blind.

Holding just 27,000 to his name, that player made his stand and shoved all in, putting a bit of pressure on Philip Neiman in the big blind.

"I shouldn't even look..." said the native of New York's Queensbridge borough. "Should I even look?"

Finally, after asking his opponent if he wanted a call or a fold, Neiman slid the requisite calling chips forward, his hole cards still a mystery.

"You're good," said the other player with impatience in his voice. "Trust me."

"I'm good?" asked Neiman in response, no doubt happy to hear any cards he turned over would likely have a decent shot of winning. "Let's see."

The small blind showed his {3-Hearts}{4-Clubs} with a sullen expression, knowing his admission was indeed true.

Neiman then turned over the {9-Hearts}, before slowly squeezing his {6-Hearts} and saying "alright, you're live."

The flop came down {6-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{5-Spades} with the six in the window and the straight draw adding a little more drama to an already extended display of friction on the felt. The {j-Clubs} bricked off on the turn though, and the river fell {q-Clubs} to send a small but meaningful pot to Neiman, who busted the player he had been acting as a verbal assassin to all tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Philip Neiman us
Philip Neiman
225,000
93,000
93,000

Tags: Philip Neiman

Level: 19

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 1,000

What Zhu Talkin Bout?

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
Emad Alabsi
Emad Alabsi

Andrew Zhu limped in from early position, with the player next to act also committing just the minimum bet. The cutoff came along for the ride, and after action folded to him in the big blind, Emad Alabsi raised to 35,000.

Zhu quickly moved all in for 210,000 and the other two players in the hand folded without much hesitation.

Alabsi - who just won Event 8 ($450 Big Stack Pot-Limit Omaha) in his first crack at the variant - then went into the tank for about a minute.

"I'll show you this one..." said Alabsi, flipping his {A-Hearts}{j-Diamonds} face up on the felt.

Zhu didn't say a word in response, but when he tossed his {8-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} over for the table to see, the cards said it all.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Andrew Zhu us
Andrew Zhu
245,000
Profile photo of Emad Alabsi
Emad Alabsi
232,000
62,000
62,000

Tags: Andrew ZhuEmad Alabsi

Level: 18

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 1,000

Papas Fritas

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante
Papa Levy
Papa Levy

Papa Levy has made his presence known throughout the Borgata Spring Poker Open, with his signature cry of "Send it to Papa!" ringing throughout the room during a runner-up finish in the Seniors event.

After clashing with Miguel Borrero in a recent hand, Papa was sent to the rail. The two had previously engaged in bit of verbal jousting at the table directly in front of the PokerNews Live Reporting desk, with the brash Borrero giving it right back to the notoriously loud Levy.

Borrero opened to 13,500 from early position and the action folded around to Levy. With just 55,000 so to work with, Levy three-bet shoved and stood up to sweat the result.

Borerro quickly called with {a-Clubs}{k-Spades} to find himself in a dominant position over Levy's {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}. Levy was not worried though, and he told Borrero "It's OK, a queen is coming."

"Your last hand is coming," retorted Borrero. "King!"

The final board came down {a-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{k-Clubs} and Borrero celebrated in boisterous fashion, while Levy headed out with a parting shot to show he could care less about the result of one hand of Hold'em.

"It's OK buddy!," he told Borrero before walking away from the table. "I don't need it as much as you."

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" replied Borrero, adding Levy's chips to his stack as he got in the final word. "See ya!"

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Miguel Borrero
Miguel Borrero
132,000
67,000
67,000
Profile photo of Papa Levy
Papa Levy
Busted

Tags: Miguel BorreroPapa Levy

"Muck the Hand"

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 500 ante

James Boyle raised to what looked like 18,000 in early position, a player called on the button, and both players in the blinds folded. The dealer fanned a flop of {4-Spades}{5-Clubs}{2-Spades}, Boyle led out for 18,000, and the player called.

The turn was the {k-Clubs}, Boyle checked, and the player took the opportunity to fire out 25,000. Boyle called.

The river was a repeat king - the {k-Spades} - and Boyle moved all in for 47,500. The player tanked for a considerable amount of time, then pushed out a call.

Boyle turned over {j-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} for kings and fives, and his opponent tossed his cards forward facedown. The dealer didn't push the pot right away, nor did she pull the cards into the muck. There was a moment or two where it looked like she was going to turn the cards over.

"Muck the hand," Boyle said, fearing some kind of error that would lead to his elimination.

The dealer eventually discarded the two cards, and pushed the pot to Boyle.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of James Boyle us
James Boyle
220,000
130,000
130,000

Tags: James Boyle