Ben Hamnett Wins the 2012 World Poker Tour Borgata Open

Rich Ryan Editor

Sep 21, 2012 4 min read Last updated Dec 11, 2017

The World Poker Tour Season XI Borgata Poker Open concluded on Friday evening in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the newest member of the WPT Champions Club is Ben Hamnett.

Joining Hamnett at the six-handed final table were Matthew Burnitz, Tyler Patterson, Ofir Mor, Steve Brecher, and David Diaz. According to the World Poker Tour Live Updates Team, on the third hand of play, Burnitz, who started the day as the chip leader, opened to 325,000 from under the gun with the blinds at 60,000/120,000/10,000. Hamnett three-bet to 525,000 on the button, Burnitz called, and the flop was J♣8♦4♦. Burnitz check-called 445,000 from Hamnett, and the turn brought the A♦. Burnitz check-called another bet — this one worth 1.21 million — and the 7♣ completed the board. Burnitz checked a third time, Hamnett moved all in for 2.78 million, and Burnitz tank-called.

Hamnett tabled A♥Q♦ for a pair of aces, and Burnitz showed A♣9♠ for the same pair with a worse kicker. Suddenly, Burnitz was the short stack, but not for long — he took a 2.7 million-chip pot off of Hamnett two hands later.

The action slowed down for a while until Hand #33, where Patterson doubled through Hamnett. Both players flopped trip queens on a Q♥Q♠J♠ board, but Patterson’s Q♣10♥ out-kicked Hamnett’s Q♦9♣. The turn and river came 5♣, 6♣ respectively, and Patterson doubled to 7.865 million. Two hands later, Hamnett got back on track, turning a set of threes and taking a 6.15 million-chip pot off of Brecher.

The first elimination didn’t come until Hand #48, when Brecher moved all in from the small blind for effectively 3 million. Diaz called all-in with A♣9♦, which lead Brecher’s K♣8♠, but the board ran out 7♣5♣3♠4♠8♣, giving Brecher a leading pair of eights. Diaz was eliminated in sixth place, earning $167,337.

Despite recording the first knockout, Brecher was the next player eliminated. Brecher limped in from the small blind, Hamnett raised to 580,000 from the big blind, and Brecher called. The flop fell 9♦8♣7♦, and Brecher check-raised all in over a 565,000-chip bet from Hamnett, who called with K♦10♦. Brecher tabled 10♥9♠. The 8♦ on the turn gave Hamnett a king-high flush, the A♣ bricked on the river, and Brecher was eliminated in fifth place ($206,821).

A few hands later, Patterson doubled through Mor, who was crippled to less than a big blind. Burnitz opened to 600,000 from under the gun with the blinds at 120,000/240,000/30,000, and Mor moved all in from the small blind. Patterson re-shoved from the big blind and Burnitz folded. Mor’s 9♣9♦ was crushed by Patterson’s K♣K♦, and the board rolled out A♦3♣2♠J♥4♣. Two hands later, Mor was eliminated in fourth place ($250,065). All four players saw a flop, turn, and river of K♥Q♦10♦4♠5♦, and Patterson fired 400,000. Burnitz and Hamnett both released, Patterson took down the side pot, and then showed A♦6♦ for the nut-flush to take down the main pot.

In the first hand of three-handed play, Burnitz won a 6.23 million-chip pot off of Patterson. There was betting on all three streets as the board came 6♦5♥2♠8♦9♥, and after Patterson checked on the river, Burnitz moved all in. Patterson was forced to fold, leaving himself with just 4.135 million chips.

Thirteen hands later, Patterson three-bet jammed over a min-raise from Hamnett, and Hamnett tank-called. Patterson was ahead with A♥6♠ against Hamnett’s A♠4♦, but the board came J♥5♦2♦4♠K♣, and Patterson was eliminated in third place ($298,950).

Heads-Up Counts

Name	Chips
Matthew Burnitz	11,375,000
Ben Hamnett	24,075,000

Burnitz won the first five hands of heads-up play, peaking at 15.85 million chips, but in Hand #111, Hamnet won a 7.5 million-chip pot. Hamnett had the button and min-raised to 600,000. Burnitz three-bet to 1.3 million, Hamnett called, and the flop came J♥5♣2♥. Burnitz check-called 750,000, and the turn was the 9♦. Both players checked. The 3♠ completed the board, and Burnitz led out for 1.65 million. Hamnett called with 7♣5♦ for a pair of fives, and Burnitz showed K♣Q♥ for king-high.

Hamnett turned up the aggression from there on out, grinding Burnitz down to 5.775 million chips. The final hand was the first and only hand of Level 38. With the blinds at 250,000/500,000/75,000, Burnitz raised to 1.05 million. Hamnett moved all in, and Burnitz called with J♥10♥. Hamnett was slightly ahead with K♣Q♥, and held as the board ran out Q♦8♣2♦3♦5♣.