2013 Borgata Poker Open: Kevin Saul, Matt Salsberg & Brian O'Donoghue Claim Titles
Last week, PokerNews told you about Will "The Thrill" Failla winning his fifth career Borgata Open title (the record for the most trophies in a Borgata Open series), taking down the $1,090 buy-in no-limit hold'em re-entry event. Now that the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open Main Event is underway, let's catch you up with some other prelim winners.
Saul Claims Heads-Up Bounty Title
After winning an event during the 2012 Borgata Winter Open, Kevin Saul added another Borgata title to his résumé by winning the 2013 Borgata Poker Open $2,000 NLHE Heads-Up Bounty for $37,248. Saul did so by defeating a 64-player field including matches against Orson Young (quarterfinals), Jeffrey Coon (semifinals), and David Paredes (finals).
According to , Saul and Paredes battles for nearly four hours in their best-of-three match. On the final hand, Saul won a race with the K♦Q♦ against Paredes’ 9x9x to earn the title.
Parades actually won the first match, while Saul took the second thanks to a well-timed bluff. In the hand, the board read 10♠5♠3♠K♥9♥ and Saul shoved. Eventually Parades folded and Saul showed jack high.
"It was a tough spot, I was very close to calling," said Paredes, "but I didn't want to call off the second match." He went on to add: "It was a close call between jamming, check-calling, and check-folding. I'll replay that one, and I'm still not sure what the right option was."
2013 Borgata Poker Open $2,000 NLHE Heads-Up Bounty
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000+150 | 64 | $96,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kevin Saul | $37,248 |
| 2nd | David Paredes | $18,624 |
| 3rd | Jeffrey Coon | $9,312 |
| 4th | Jeff Gross | $9,312 |
| 5th | Michael Linster | $4,656 |
| 6th | Matthew Rock | $4,656 |
| 7th | Aaron Massey | $4,656 |
| 8th | Orson Young | $4,656 |
O’Donoghue Wins the Max in Event #17 $1,000 NLHE Six Max
Last year, Brian O’Donoghue made a name for himself by winning consecutive tournaments at the Borgata Poker Open. Wouldn’t you know it, O’Donoghue was back to his winning ways in this year’s contest by winning Event #17 $1,000 NLHE Six Max for $60,663.
O’Donoghue did so by defeating a tough final table that included World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Daniel Gilmer (7th - $9,729); Abe Faroni, who was notching his 11th career Borgata cash (6th - $12,591); 2012 WSOP Circuit Caesars Palace champion Kevin Calenzo (5th - $17,169); 2011 Borgata Spring Poker Open winner Russell Crane (4th - $21,747); and WSOP bracelet winner Ronnie Bardah (3rd - $27,470).
However, it was O’Donoghue and another Borgata trophy winner, Alexander Rocha, who would face off in heads-up play. According to , O’Donoghue began with a 7-to-1-chip lead and clinched victory when his 6♥5♥ overcame Rocha’s 4x4x when a six hit the flop.
"This is prestigious," O'Donoghue said. "Everyone in the poker world was saying this was a crazy tough final table, so to win it means something."
2013 Borgata Poker Open Event #17 $1,000 NLHE Six Max
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000+90 | 236 | $236,000 |
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brian O’Donoghue | $60,663 |
| 2nd | Alexander Rocha | $36,055 |
| 3rd | Ronnie Bardah | $27,470 |
| 4th | Russell Crane | $21,747 |
| 5th | Kevin Calenzo | $17,169 |
| 6th | Abraham Faroni | $12,591 |
| 7th | Daniel Gilmer | $9,729 |
WPT Player of the Year Claims First Borgata Title
Thanks to a three-handed chop, WPT Season XI Player of the Year Matt Salsberg captured his first Borgata title in Event #19 $1,500 No Limit Hold’em. Salsberg went on to win the title by defeating two-time Borgata champ (titles in 2009 and 2011) Jesse Yaginuma.
"It's always great to go deep in a tournament," said Yaginuma after the tournament. "I haven't been back to Borgata for a few years, so it's great to be back and do well."
"It's great," Salsberg said of his win. "I won a couple of flips and really had to grind a short stack."
Salsberg immediately jumped into Day 1a of the WPT Borgata Main Event, though he wasn’t able to get anything going and eventually busted. Salsberg then opted to re-enter on Day 1b, .
2013 Borgata Poker Open Event #19 $1,500 NLHE
| Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500+150 | 93 | $139,500 |
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Matt Salsberg | $47,360 |
| 2nd | Jesse Yaginuma | $25,710 |
| 3rd | Jayakrishnan Nair | $16,238 |
| 4th | Michael Melkersen | $12,178 |
| 5th | Michael Gagliano | $9,472 |
| 6th | Roger Lussier | $8,119 |
| 7th | John Iraj | $6,766 |
| 8th | Thomas Hoglund | $5,413 |
| 9th | Ken Aldridge | $4,059 |
The $3,500 World Poker Tour Main Event, which boasts a $3 million guaranteed prize pool, is happening now. PokerNews will provide daily updates for the duration of the five-day event, so be sure to keep an eye out for those.
*Data courtesy of .
Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. on Twitter and find us on both and !
