Saturday, February 5, 2011

Championship Recap (Event 21)

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Vadim Shlez (Manalapan, NJ)
$533,210

Solid as a rock, that's how Vadim Shlez (Manalapan, NJ) played in the Championship Event of the Borgata Winter Open to win the title. Shlez defeated LJ Sande (New Haven, CT) heads up to take home the $533,210 first prize.

"I don't know how I'm talking right now, I'm kind of speechless," said the 6 year poker pro, "It means a lot, but I don't know what it means yet because it hasn't sunk in yet."

Shlez, with his Siberian rock card protector, was able to overcome a final table short stack of just 11 big blinds, that saw the final four players trade chips for 4 1/2 hours. The key hand came when Trevor Savage (Thorofare, NJ) moved all in with 5 3 off suit, but ran into Shlez's pocket kings.

"I don't know how I came back," said the Ukraine born player, "at that point it seemed dim, but I never lost confidence in my decisions and in myself."

The hand propelled Shlez to an average stack and after Bobby Suer (Dana Point, CA) was knocked out by Savage in fourth place ($156,286), Shlez continued to apply pressure on the remaining short stacks. Shlez finished off Savage in third place ($189,611) to set up a 4 to 1 chip advantage over Sande.

"He's an amazing player" said Sande, who earned $310,273 for second place, "He made excellent reads and all the right plays. The chip deficit was just too hard to overcome."

The Championship Event began with 718 players and the field included a dozen WSOP Bracelet holders including Michael Mizrachi, Gavin Smith and Vanessa Selbst. Smith made the deepest run (21st/$12,181), while Selbst helped the women take center stage early in the tournament.

Selbst and Roslyn Quarto (Edison, NJ) were not only the last two woman remaining in the field, but were both in the top 10 in chips after Day 2 with Quarto leading the way. Selbst was eliminated Day 3 when she flopped a straight and was eliminated by quads.

Quarto stayed near the top of the chip counts heading into Day 4, but was coolered by several big hands and finished 23rd ($12,181). Other Borgata regulars who made deep runs included Tony Campagna (Manorville, NY - 13th/$20,685), Steve Ryan (New York , NY - 7th/$82,740) and Gil Sacks (Bala Cynwyd, PA - 5th/$126,407).

But in the end it was Shlez who took home the biggest piece of the $2,369,400 total buy-in and who had a strong rooting section including his girlfriend Julie Lisichkina who gave him the sentimental rock.

"When we first met I told her about poker and how I needed some valuable thing to serve as a card protector. This rock was important to her right before that and it symbolizes our relationship and is more than a card protector."

Shlez already had plans move to Las Vegas before playing in the Borgata Championship Event, and now the extra half million dollars will make it a lot easier to head west.

Shlez (left) with Girlfriend Lisichkina (bottom - center)
and friends Zviad Izoria & Kathryn Dougherty

Sentimental Rock

Champion - Vadim Shlez (Final Hand)

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

With a commanding chip lead it only takes Vadim Shlez 15 minutes to beat LJ Sande in heads up play to take down the Borgata Winter Open Championship and the more than $500,000 first prize.

The final hand:

Shlez: A♠ 8
Sande: K♠ 7♠

Flop: A♣ 5 4♠ (Shlez pair of aces)
Turn: 10
River: 2

Once Shlez flops an ace, Sande is drawing slim and the tournament is over. Shlez takes down the title, while Sande finishes second for $310,273.

2nd Place - LJ Sande

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

LJ Sande (New Haven, CT)
$310,273

LJ Sande's run is over when on the final hand his K♠ 7♠ loses to the A♠ 8of Vadim Shlez.

"I definitely wanted first, obviously, but I also didn't want to fall short of second for sure," says Shlez, who at 25 years old was the youngest player at the final table. "I played the best I could, but the chip deficit was too much to overcome."

Sande, who was out chipped 4 to 1 in heads, has been playing professionally for five years and $310,273 is his largest career cash. Twice during the short heads up play, Sande had big hands, pocket kings and pocket aces, but couldn't get a call when he moved all-in.

Prior to the Championship Event, Sande's biggest score was a $38,000 win in 2009. Earlier in the Borgata Winter Poker Open, Sande finished 19th in Event 1 ($3,213).

Event 26 Recap

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

He, arguably, played in the most events during the Borgata Winter Poker Open, and in his last attempt to earn a trophy, James Boyle (Havre de Grace, MD) won the final event of the series.

"People were joking with me that I thought I'm still playing for points," said the two year pro, who during the series earned enough PPI Play for the Main points to earn a free entry into the Championship Event. "Since I was here playing, I might as well win it," he added after securing the $12,873 first prize.

Boyle negotiated his way through 237 entries as the field chased the $47,400 total buy-in. In the end it was his favorite hand, K♠ 8♠, that secured the victory.

"I played my heart out and to walk away with the final trophy means a lot," said Boyle, who picked up his 4th cash of the series. "In the end this was a great way to finish another great Borgata series."

Boyle was joined at the final table by Hamilton Dimaya (Saddle Brooke, NJ) who won Event 22 earlier this week ($19,993) and Jesse Dara (New York, NY) who the 2009 Borgata Summer Open $1k event for $73,000. Other Borgata regulars who cashed included Howard Wolper (Atlantic City, NJ) and Joanne Leban (New York, NY).

For Leban it was another frustrating finish as it was the second straight tournament that she finished 11th ($598), and just missed playing at the final table.

But in the end it was Boyle who was the last man standing after playing in what he estimates was a total of 20 events during the 17 day Borgata Poker Open.

Event 26 Champion: James Boyle

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

James Boyle (Havre de Grace, MD)
$12,873

After the first final table elimination James Boyle does something wild and crazy with K♠ 8♠. The players all stay out of his way and he takes down the title. The rest of the remaining players fall in line.

Event 26: 2nd Place - Jesse Dara

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

2nd Place - Jesse Dara (New York, NY)
$7,586

Event 26: 3rd Place - Frank DiRe

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Frank DiRe (Columbus, NJ)
$4,367

Event 26: 4th Place - Hamilton Dimaya

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Hamilton Dimaya (Saddle Brooke, NJ)
$3,540

Event 26: 5th Place - Cosimo Farinola

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Cosimo Farinola (Las Vegas, NV)
$2,758

Event 26: 6th Place - Pasquale Calabria

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

6th Place - Pasquale Calabria (Hillsdale, NJ)
$2,298

Event 26: 7th Place - Richard Sarkisian

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Richard Sarkisian (Sicklerville, NJ)
$1,839

Event 26: 8th Place - Chris George

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Chris George (New York, NY)
$1,379

Event 26: 9th Place - David Eisenstein

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

David Eisenstein (Freehold, NJ)
$920

Event 26: 10th Place - Andrew DeFrancesco

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Andrew DeFrancesco
$598

Andrew DeFrancesco moves all in with AQ vs the KJ of Jesse Dara. De Franceso's in great shape to double up with a flop of Q 9 10 to hit a pair of queens. But running cards gives Dara a straight when an 8 hits the turn, followed by a 7 on the river.

Dara wins the hand with a jack high straight and DeFrancesco is out in 10th place for $598.

Event 26: Final Table

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Seat-Name-Chip Count

1 Frank DiRe (Columbus, NJ) 270k
2 Chris George (New York, NY) 90k
3 Hamilton Dimaya (Saddle Brooke, NJ) 189k
4 Jesse Dara (New York, NY) 405k
5 Cosimo Farinola (Las Vegas, NV) 150k
6 Andrew DeFrancesco (Brooklyn, NY) 170k
7 Pasquale Calabria (Hillsdale, NJ) 180k
8 David Eisenstein (Freehold, NJ) 170k
9 James Boyle (Havre de Grace, MD) 400k
10 Richard Sarkisian (Sicklerville, NJ) 270k

Event 26: Unlucky 11

$200 + $30 No Limit Hold'em (1 Re-entry)

Jacks Jolt Joanne Again

For the second straight night, Joanne Leban (New York, NY) is not only the last woman standing, but she's also the final table bubble with back-to-back 11th place finishes.

"This is unbelievable, what do I have to do (to catch a break)," says Leban. "At least I gave my chips to James, " referring to James Boyle, who's one of the chip leaders heading to the final table with 400k.

Adding insult to injury, Leban's undoing in both tournaments is pocket jacks. Thursday night she lost with pocket jacks, while in this event she has A♣ Q♣ but loses her last 90k when Boyle wins the hand with JJ.

Leban earns $598 for her 11th place finish.

Champion - Vadim Shlez

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Vadim Shlez (Manalapan, NJ)
$533,210

With a commanding chip lead it only takes Vadim Shlez 15 minutes to beat LJ Sande in heads up play to take down the Borgata Winter Open Championship and the more than $500,000 first prize.

The final hand:

Shlez: A♠ 8
Sande: K♠ 7♠

Flop: A♣ 5 4♠ (Shlez pair of aces)
Turn: 10
River: 2

Once Shlez flops an ace, Sande is drawing slim and the tournament is over. Shlez takes down the title, while Sande finishes second for $310,273.

2nd Place - LJ Sande

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

LJ Sande (New Haven, CT)
$310,273

LJ Sande's run is over when on the final hand his K♠ 7♠ loses to the A♠ 8of Vadim Shlez.

"I definitely wanted first, obviously, but I also didn't want to fall short of second for sure," says Shlez, who at 25 years old was the youngest player at the final table. "I played the best I could, but the chip deficit was too much to overcome."

Sande, who was out chipped 4 to 1 in heads, has been playing professionally for five years and $310,273 is his largest career cash. Twice during the short heads up play, Sande had big hands, pocket kings and pocket aces, but couldn't get a call when he moved all-in.

Prior to the Championship Event, Sande's biggest score was a $38,000 win in 2009. Earlier in the Borgata Winter Poker Open, Sande finished 19th in Event 1 ($3,213).

Trophy Time

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Vadim Shlez (17 million chips) vs LJ Sande (4.5 million) for the Borgata Winter Open Title and the the $533,210 first prize. The trophy is on the table and the cards are in the air!

Shlez (left) vs Sande

3rd Place - Trevor Savage

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Trevor Savage (Thorofare, NJ)
$189,611

Trevor Savage moves all-in with pocket 8s against the pocket jacks of Vadim Shlez.

Savage: 8♠ 8♣
Shlez: J♠ J

Board: K2♠ 10♠ 7♠ 3♠

Shlez wins the hand with a jack high flush and Savage is out in 3rd place. Shlez adds to his commanding chip against LJ Sande as heads up play is imminent.

Savage has been a poker pro for 6 years and the third place, $189,611 finish is his best career cash. Before this tournament his best pay day was also a third place finish, coming in the 2009 Borgata Poker Open $500 event, good for $36,000.

4th Place - Bobby Suer

Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship

Bobby Suer (Dana Point, CA)
$156,286

After four and-a-half hours with out an elimination, the blinds are forcing the action.

Bobby Suer is down to 1.6 million chips and is all-in with Q♣ 8 vs the Q♠ 10 of Trevor Savage. There's no help on the board and Suer is out in 4th place.

"I played very good poker," says the 5 year poker pro, "unfortunately the blinds got so high it came down to who got lucky and won the coin flips."

Suer's 4th place, $156,000 finish adds to his more than $1 million in career earnings. His success includes two top 10 finishes in WPT events, featuring a second place in 2009. Suer also made a deep run during the 2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open with a 25th place finish ($12,765).

The married father of four children is a former radiologist, who lists his kids as he greatest accomplishment outside of poker.