While BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker launching in Pennsylvania dominated the headlines recently, the partypoker US Online Network wrapped up its three-event April series of big buy-in events in New Jersey. All told, the trio of tournaments catered to 652 runners and awarded $325,000 in prize money.
The Online Borgata Poker Open kicked off on April 11 with the $535 buy-in Event #1: $100K GTD 8-Max, which attracted 195 runners. Orson “Borgatcha” Young was victorious in that event for $20,000.
The following week on April 18, the $215 buy-in Event #2: $75K GTD 8-Max saw 314 entrants compete at BorgataPoker.com Ambassador Michael “Gags30” Gagliano best “Core4” in heads-up play to win the title and accompanying $12,105.93 first-place prize.
“It was another great series from Borgata Poker/partypokerUS,” Gagliano told PokerNews. “Good structured tournaments with great guarantees and lots of available satellites, what more could you want.”
"Always feels extra nice to do well in Borgata Poker tournaments, kind of feels like winning on my home field.”
As for the win, he added: “It feels great. Always feels extra nice to do well in Borgata Poker tournaments, kind of feels like winning on my home field.”
Little did Gagliano know, he’d be battling again a week later for an even bigger payday.
The series concluded with the $1,060 buy-in Event #3: $150K GTD 8-Max Championship, which was a two-day event. On Sunday, April 25, a field of 143 entrants played down to the final table of eight, who then battled to a winner on Monday.
Gagliano began that final table with a big chip lead and was primed to go back-to-back. He held 4.29 million while his next closest competitor, “Stylebender”, had just 2.3 million. The other half dozen players in the finale had less than two million.
Gagliano made it all the way to heads-up play but eventually fell to Jaime “mooseman1710” Reyes, who claimed the title for $34,497. While a second title escaped him, Gagliano had $24,000 to help soothe the pain.
“Second place always has somewhat of a bittersweet feel to it, but I had tough competition at the final table,” he explained. “I lost a lot of my chips early on and kind of battle near the middle of the pack for a bit, so second is always a good result when you don’t have the best start of a final table.”
Event #3: 8-Max Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaime "mooseman1710" Reyes | $34,497 |
| 2 | Michael "Gags30" Gagliano | $24,000 |
| 3 | Dan "DGZack" Zack | $17,250 |
| 4 | "Dkornblau920" | $13,200 |
| 5 | "Pokeher" | $10,200 |
| 6 | Mike "MistaMenza" Menzer | $7,575 |
| 7 | "Stylebender" | $6,000 |
| 8 | "wheels4920" | $4,500 |
Others to cash the championship event were final table bubble boy Jason “RiverMan” Lawhun (9th - $3,150), Ross “thehebrewhammer” Gottlieb (15th - $1,875), and Ryan “Whosyourdoddy” Dodd (20th - $1,800).
“Players can continue to expect the usual from Borgata Poker – a solid network of satellites, and some attractive events with great structures,” Gagliano concluded. “With the success of the recent series I'm sure there will be something for every type of player to look forward to in the next few months.”
Indeed, the next partypoker US Online Network Series in New Jersey is being planned for May 16 – 23. A concurrent series will be offered to Michigan players, while the network will offer its first-ever online series in Pennsylvania from May 23-30.
Online Borgata Poker Open Winners
| Tournament | Buy-in | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $100K GTD 8-Max | $535 | 195 | $100,000 | Orson “Borgatcha” Young | $20,000 |
| Event #2: $75K GTD 8-Max | $215 | 314 | $75,000 | Michael “Gags30” Gagliano | $12,105.93 |
| Event #3: $150K GTD 8-Max Championship | $1,060 | 143 | $150,000 | Jaime “mooseman1719” Reyes | $34,497 |
