Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Borgata Winter Open: WPT Final table


Today is the day that everyone had been waiting for... it's the conclusion of the championship main event of the Borgata Winter Poker Open. The final table of the $10K main event starts tonight at 5pm at the Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Winter Poker Open was a series of ten tournaments and we're finally reached the last final table.

WPT Borgata Winter Poker Open Quick Stats
Chipleader: Erick Lindgren $2.635M
Entrants: 381
Buy-in: $9,700 + $300
First Place: $1,173,373 + Seat in WPT Championships

Final 6 Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $2.635M
2. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi $2.04M
3. Josh Spiegelman $1.635M
4. John D'Agostino $ 1.34M
5. Stuart "Donator" Paterson $1.06M
6. Amnon Filippi $820K

TV Table Payouts:
1. $1,173,373
2. $591,312
3. $282,721
4. $184,785
5. $147,828
6. $110,871

Day 3 Eliminations:
33. Erik Seidel (Henderson, NV) $14,783
32. Marc Nantais (Alfred, Ontario, Canada) $14,783
31. Chris Reslock (Atlantic City, NJ) $14,783
30. Leonard Green (Huntingdon Valley, PA) $16,631
29. Greg Cash (Mount Ida, AR) $16,631
28. Jorge Arias (Boca Raton, FL) $16,631
27. Mike Sica (N. Brunswick, NJ) $16,631
26. Vlad Mezheritsky (Brooklyn, NY) $16,631
25. Ronnie Cauthen (Pawley's Island, SC) $16,631
24. Bill Edler (Las Vegas, NV) $16,631
23. Denis Ethier (Durham, NC) $16,631
22. Jim Lester (Cincinnati, OH) $16,631
21. John Duthie (London, England) $18,479
20. Richard Kirsch (Pampass Beach, FL) $18,479
19. Dennis January (Vancouver, WA) $18,479
18. Pete Skyllas (Astoria, NY) $18,479
17. Dane Jorgensen (Chesterfield, VA) $18,479
16. Will Tong (Astoria, NY) $22,174
15. Eugene Todd $22,174
14. Michael Goodman (New York, NY) $22,174
13. Richard Dabal (Rochelle Park, NJ) $27,718
12. Louise Francoeur (Palm Beach, FL) $27,718
11. Cliff Josephy (Muttontown, NY) $27,718
10. Kenny Schuyler (Long Branch, NJ) $27,718
9. Don Mullis (Willmington, NC) $46,196
8. Joe Miceli (New York, NY) $55,436
7. Peter Feldman (Harper Woods, MI) $73,914
See you at 5pm for live blogging updates of the final table!

***** Live Blogging Updates *****

4:20pm... Final Table update: We're forty minutes away from the scheduled start time. The crew are testing the cameras and everyone is set up in media row.

4:30pm... Final Table update: The audience has been let inside. 30 minutes from show time.


2005 Borgata Open Champion - Al Ardebili

5:00pm... Final Table update: Still a few minutes away from action. Stay tuned. Here are some photos.




WPT Borgata Winter Open Final table


Erick Lindgren & The Grinder


Stuart "The Donator" Paterson

5:15pm... Final Table update: Tournament Director Tab just announced the final table players. The Grinder has the most railbirds minus Mrs. Grinder, who is expecting their first child any day now!

5:20pm... Final Table update: Blinds are $15K/$30K with $3K antes. Cards are in the air!
Final 6 Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $2.635M
2. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi $2.04M
3. Josh Spiegelman $1.635M
4. John D'Agostino $ 1.34M
5. Stuart "Donator" Paterson $1.06M
6. Amnon Filippi $820K
5:24pm... Final Table update: The Grinder takes down the first pot. He battled Stuart "Donator" Paterson who had A-10 and lost to Grinder's 7-8s and two pair.

5:30pm... Final Table update: Paul Darden is one of the members of this packed audience. After John D'Agostino raised a pot to $90K, Erick Lindgren came over the top for $420K. Everyone folded.

5:35pm... Final Table update: Erick Lindgren took upon the role as the early aggressor. After The Grinder raised preflop, Erick Lindgren came over the top from the big blind with a big raise. The Grinder folded and Lindgren picked up another pot.

5:43pm... Final Table update: Amnon Filippi took down a big pot against the Grinder. Filippi rivered two pair with K-Q and the Grinder folded half of his hand showing just an ace for top pair.

5:46pm... Final Table update: The Donator moved all in preflop. One of his railbords shouted, "Don't mess with the Donator!" Stuart Paterson took down the pot after everyone folded.

5:50pm... Final Table update: Josh Spiegelman and Lindgren went heads up in a pot and Lindgren took it down on the flop. Lindgren adds even more chips to his stack.

5:57pm... Final Table update: Josh Spiegelman took down a pot against Erick Lindgren with Ace high. His A-9 was better than Lindgren's A-8.

6:00pm... Final Table update: Josh Spiegelman and Erick Lindgren were in another big pot together, well over $1M. On a board of 8-6-5-Q-A and two diamonds, Lindgren showed a pair of Queens with Q-9 and Josh Spiegelman flipped over a pair of aces with A-9s. He missed his diamond draw but turned top pair. Josh Spiegelman seems to have Lindgren's number over the past orbit as the two have butted heads several times within the first hour of play. Spiegelman looks strong after scooping the biggest pot of the night.

6:11pm... Final Table update: On a board of 7h-As-Qh, John D'Agostino bet out for 200K and the Grinder moved all in over the top. John D'Ags called with K-K and The Grinder showed 2h-4h and a baby flush draw. The Grinder's railbirds were pleading for a heart. The turn was a 3s and The Grinder picked up a gutshot Wheel draw. The river was a 7s, which didn't help The Grinder. John D'Ags pocket kings held up. He doubled up and The Grinder's stack took a big hit.



6:30pm... Final Table update: Players are on a break. Lindgren is still on top.
Updated Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $2.825M
2. Josh Spiegelman $2.040M
3. John D'Agostino $1.75M
4. "The Grinder" $1.34M
5. Amnon Filippi $1.03M
6. Stuart "The Donator" Paterson $540K
6:40pm... Final Table update: We're back with a new level. Blinds are $25K/50K with a $5K ante. These levels are the original structures that the WPT and the Borgata agreed upon.

6:42pm... Final Table update: The Donator moved all in for $540K with A-10 and The Grinder called with Big Slick. The flop was all spades with K-6-7. The turn and river didn't help Stuart Paterson. The Donator was eliminated in 6th place and won $110,871. The crowd gave him a loud and warm ovation.


Stuart "The Donator" Paterson - 6th Place

6:50pm... Final Table update: Erick Lindgren took down a pot from Josh Spiegelman. He added to his chiplead.
Updated Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $2.9M
2. Josh Spiegelman $2.2M
3. John D'Agostino $1.75M
4. "The Grinder" $1.74M
5. Amnon Filippi $970K


7:05pm... Final Table update: John D'Agostino won a 700K pot when his Queen high flush was better than The Grinder's baby flush. The Grinder just won a hand with 10-5. It was suited, of course.

7:15pm... Final Table update: Gavin Smith is in the audience.
Updated Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $2.7M
1. John D'Agostino $2.7M
3. The Grinder $1.725M
4. Amnon Filippi $1.25M
5. Josh Spiegelman $1.24M
7:29pm... Final Table update: Nothing of significance has happened the last half hour or so.

7:35pm... Final Table update: Erick Lindgren picked up a pot against John D'Agostino and became the first player to reach $3M in chips.
Updated Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $3.2M
2. Amnon Filippi $1.62M
3. The Grinder $1.62M
4. John D'Agostino $1.125M
5. Josh Spiegelman $973K
7:40pm... Final Table update: We're on a new level. Blinds are $40K/80K with a $10K ante.

7:50pm... Final Table update: The Grinder beat John D'Agostino out of a pot with 7-7. He caught a four flush and won a $1M pot.

7:52pm... Final Table update: Erick Lindgren bullied Josh Spiegelman off a pot when he moved all in on the turn. Spiegelman folded. Lindgren has almost $4M now.

8:05pm... Final Table update: Players returned from a short break.
Updated Chipcount:
1. Erick Lindgren $3.93M
2. The Grinder $2.455M
3. John D'Agostino $1.42M
4. Amnon Filippi $900K
5. Josh Spiegelman $825K
8:11pm... Final Table update: Josh Spiegelman and his short stack were all in preflop qith A-6. Erick Lindgren called with A-3. The flop was 9-2-2 with two hearts. 10 and a 4 completed the board and The two players chopped the pot.

8:17pm... Final Table update: It's been a push fest this orbit. Whoever moved all in preflop took down the pot. Amnon Filippi was the last player to take down the blinds and antes after pushing all in.

8:19pm... Final Table update: Josh Spiegelman moved all in with K-Qd and John D'Agostino called with J-8s. The flop was Q-J-8 and D'Ags took the lead with two pair. The turn and river didn't help Spiegelman and he was eliminated in fifth place.
Spiegelman won $147,828. Down to four players.


Josh Spiegelman - 5th Place

8:23pm... Final Table update: On the very next hand, two players were all in preflop. John D'Agostino flipped over Q-Q and The Grinder showed 9-9. The flop was 10-Q-K and The Grinder picked up a straight draw despite D'Agostino flopping a set. The turn was the case Queen and The Grinder was drawing dead. The Grinder was crippled.

8:28pm... Final Table update: The Grinder and Erick Lindgren were all in preflop. It was a classic race. The Grinder had 4-4 and Lindgren had A-Q. Lindgren flopped a Queen and took the lead. The turn was no help. A four spiked on the river and the crowd erupted. The Grinder rivered a set and caught one of his two outs to double up against against the chipleader.

8:32pm... Final table update: The action is fast and furious and it's hard to keep up. John D'Agostino was all in preflop with A-K against Amnon Filippi's A-10. D'Agostino flopped a King and his Big Slick held up. Amnon Filippi from New York City took fourth place and won $184,785.
Updated Chipcount:
1. John D'Agostino $4.16M
2. The Grinder $3.35M
3. Erick Lindgren $2.1M

Amnon Filippi - 4th Place
Photo courtesy of Frank Bellocchio

8:45pm... Final Table update: John D'Agostino is on a rush. He scooped another big pot, this time off the Grinder.
Updated Chipcount:
1. John D'Agostino $4.35M
2. The Grinder $2.8M
3. Erick Lindgren $2.4M
8:53pm... Final Table update: The Grinder and Erick Lindgren were heads up in a big pot. Both players were all in on the turn on a board of J-Q-4-5 and three spades. The Grinder had a flush with Ks-3s and Lindgren had a nut flush draw with the ace of spades. The river didn't help Lindgren and he doubled up the Grinder. Lindgren has less than 400K. The Grinder and John D'Agostino have over $4M each.

8:59pm... Final Table update: Erick Lindgren was all in preflop with J-8s due to his shortstack. John D'Agostino and K-6 busted him in 3rd place. Lindgren won $282,721. We're heads up. This is John D'Ags fourth WPT final table and The Grinder's second of back-to-back final tables.
Updated Chipcount:
1. The Grinder $5.05M
2. John D'Agostino $4.08M

Erick Lindgren - 3rd Place
Courtesy of Frank Bellocchio

9:10pm... Final Table update: We are awaiting the Babes of Borgata to bring out the cashola for the money presentation. The winner of this event wins $1.1M and a brand new fully loaded 2006 Escalade in addition to a $25K seat in the WPT Championships in April.


The Babes of the Borgata unveil the 2006 Escalade.

9:30pm... Final Table update: The Grinder took down a huge pot in one of the first few hands of heads up play. The pot was over $1.6M. As of now, The Grinder has a $6.5M to a $3M chiplead over D'Agostino.

9:39pm... Final Table update: The two players have been trading pots back and forth. No hands of note so far.

9:40pm... Final Table update: Players are on a break. When play resumes, we'll be on a new level. Blinds are $60K/120K with $20K antes.
Updated Chipcount:
1. The Grinder $6.33M
2. John D'Agostino $3.22M
10:00pm... Final Table update: Both players have been staying out of each other's way as action has slowed down. The first person to raise has been the guy who takes down the pot either preflop or on the flop.

10:02pm... Final Table update: The Grinder is heating up. He has $7.5M after he moved all in on a flop with all spades. D'Agostino quickly folded. The Grinder increased his lead to 3x D'Agostino's stack.

10:11pm... Final Table update: Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi has eliminated John D'Agostino. On a board of J-9-6-2, The Grinder had J-6 for two pair and John D'Agostino had K-10 for a gutshot draw. The river didn't help him and he took second place. John D'Agostino won $591,312. This is the second WPT victory for The Grinder. He won $1,173,373 for first place, the 2006 Escalade, and a seat in the WPT Championships. Congrats to The Grinder.


John D'Agostino - 2nd Place
Photo courtesy of Frank Bellocchio


Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi
WPT Borgata Winner Open Champion

Congrats to The Grinder. Thanks to everyone at the Borgata for an amazing experience. I'll be back live blogging the LA Poker Classic in two plus weeks!

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