2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Event 17: $100,000 Guarantee Big Stack NLHE Re-Entry
Day: 1
Event Info

2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aa
Prize
$57,486
Event Info
Buy-in
$350
Prize Pool
$247,835
Entries
730
Next Payout
Place 2
$33,456
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000

Event 17: $100,000 Guarantee Big Stack NLHE Re-Entry

Day 1 Completed

Joseph Galazzo Wins Event 17: $100,000 Guarantee Big Stack No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry ($57,486)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Joseph Galazzo - First Place
Joseph Galazzo - First Place

After 19 hours of play, we've crown a champion here at Event 17 at the Borgata Winter Poker Open: Joseph Galazzo, who topped a field of 730 entrants to grab a $57,486 first-place prize. Galazzo mowed down an incredibly speedy final table, finishing the heads-up match in style when he picked up aces and got it all in preflop for the win. The final four bustouts occurred in a span of just 28 minutes.

Seven of Galazzo's nine career tournament cashes (live total of $112,320 coming into tonight) have come at Borgata Poker Open events, including a first-place finish in a $560 Borgata 10th Anniversary Poker Tournament event last summer for $79,635.

Tags: Joseph Galazzo

Stephen Press Eliminated in Second Place ($33,456)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Stephen Press - Second Place
Stephen Press - Second Place

Joseph Galazzo limped the button, and Stephen Press raised to 350,000. Galazzo shipped all in, and Press called.

Galazzo: {a-Hearts}{a-Spades}
Press: {a-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}

Galazzo had woken up with rockets heads up, and Press was massively behind. A flop of {9-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} gave Press some hope, and the sweat became serious when a {j-Diamonds} turned to give him a flush draw. A {k-Hearts} fell on the river though, giving Galazzo the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Press us
Stephen Press
Busted

Tags: Joseph GalazzoStephen Press

First Two Major Heads-Up Pot

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Joseph Galazzo grabbed a hefty chip lead with AQ.
Joseph Galazzo grabbed a hefty chip lead with AQ.

Stephen Press opened on the button, and Joseph Galazzo three-bet to 1.3 million in the big blind. Press made the call.

After a flop of {k-Spades}{9-Clubs}{j-Clubs}, Galazzo pushed all in and was instantly called.

Galazzo: {a-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}
Press: {k-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}

Press had seen the flop he wanted, and Galazzo didn't improve on the {8-Hearts}. The {q-Spades} wasn't enough either, and Galazzo shipped his opponent a hefty double that actually made Press the chip leader.

The next hand, Galazzo moved all in from the button and Press called.

Press: {a-Clubs}{j-Hearts}
Galazzo: {a-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}

Galazzo flopped a queen, and Press never threatened to catch up, putting Galazzo back in a massive lead.

Tags: Stephen PressJoseph Galazzo

Don Rawlins Eliminated in Third Place ($20,446)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Don Rawlins - Third Place
Don Rawlins - Third Place

Don Rawlins shoved over a raise from Joseph Galazzo, and Galazzo made the call.

Rawlins: {j-Hearts}{7-Hearts}
Galazzo: {a-Hearts}{3-Hearts}

The first four cards were {10-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}, and Rawlins was poised to double. The dealer burned and turned a {4-Hearts}, giving Galazzo a straight. Rawlins didn't notice the four-straight on board, and thought he was doubling up.

"Oh, a straight," Galazzo said after a moment.

"Did he really?" Rawlins asked.

Indeed, he did, and Rawlins is out third.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Don Rawlins
Don Rawlins
Busted

Tags: Joseph GalazzoDon Rawlins