WPT on FSN Borgata Poker Open Part II: The Chicken and the Fox, Rowdy Rail & Much More
The World Poker Tour Season XI continued Sunday night with a new episode on Fox Sports Network, the second of three episodes from the Borgata Poker Open. The $3,500 Main Event drew 1,181 entries (the second largest in WPT history) at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September of 2012.
In our recap of Part I, we highlighted the early stages of the tournament, including tips on bubble etiquette, the final-table fashion report, and of course, the Royal Flush Girls in bikinis. It also documented Tyler Patterson’s rise from short stack to chip leader, which happened on the last hand of the broadcast when Ben Hamnett opened for 325,000 from the button holding the Q♦9♣ and Patterson defended from the big blind with the Q♣10♥. The Q♠J♠Q♥ was big for both players and the chips soon ended up in the middle. Neither the 5♣ turn nor 6♣ river changed a thing and Patterson’s ten kicker earned him the 7.54 million pot and the chip lead.
Here’s how things stacked up at the top of this week’s episode:
WPT Season XI Borgata Poker Open Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Burnitz | 3,880,000 (24 BBs) |
| 2 | Steve Brecher | 6,565,000 (41 BBs) |
| 3 | David Diaz | 5,350,000 (33 BBs) |
| 4 | Ben Hamnett | 6,645,000 (41 BBs) |
| 5 | Ofir Mor | 5,570,000 (34 BBs) |
| 6 | Tyler Patterson | 7,440,000 (46 BBs) |
Hamnett Recaptures the Chip Lead: In the first hand of the broadcast, which came two hands after Patterson doubled into the chip lead through Hamnett, World Series of Poker bracelet winner David Diaz opened for 320,000 holding the 10♠8♠ in Level 33 with the blinds at 80,000/160,000/20,000. Hamnett called from middle position with the 3♠3♣, Steve Brecher called from the big blind holding the A♠9♠, and it was three-way action to the 5♣K♥A♦ flop, which all three players checked. The 3♦came on the turn to give Hamnett a set and he promptly fired out 735,000 after action checked to him. Brecher called with his pair of aces, Diaz folded, and the 10♥ completed the board on the river. Brecher ended up check-calling a bet of 1.76 million only to muck when Hamnett tabled the best hand.
Diaz Drowned on the River: On Hand #48 of the final table, action folded to Steve Brecher in the small blind and he moved all in with the K♣8♠. David Diaz, who had 165,000 less than Brecher, quickly called off with the A♣9♦. It was a good call by Diaz, and it looked like he would be rewarded as the 7♣5♣3♠ flop and 4♠ turn kept him in the lead. Both players sat silently staring at the board, and Diaz kept staring as the 8♣ spiked on the river ending his tournament in sixth place for $167,337.
A Night Out on the Town with Amanda Musumeci and the RFGs: After returning from a commercial break, Danielle and Tugba of the Royal Flush Girls were seen getting ready for a night out on the town. They then went and met up with Season XI Ones to Watch member Amanda Musumeci at Mixx Nightclub. It seemed like a nice club, but two people dressed in chicken and fox costumes gave it a bit of “furry” feel. Speaking of the chicken and the fox, in another appropriately corny comedy skit it was revealed Mike Sexton was the man in the chicken costume while Vince Van Patten was the fox.
“Vince, they know how to party here in Borgata,” Sexton sighed upon the big revelation.
Best of Season X: In their latest segment, the WPT crowned the “Rowdiest Rail” of Season X by taking a look back at the Borgata Poker Open from the year before. That year’s champ, Bobby Oboodi, had a rather boisterous support group, which was keen to pick on finalist Fred Goldberg. They gave the obnoxious “Goldberg” chant that any wrestling fan of the WCW in the late 1990s would recognize, before Goldberg engaged them in a heated exchange. Oboodi didn’t really do anything to silence his friends, so security promptly removed them from the rail. Although his rowdy friends may have gotten under the skin on some players, they didn’t seem to bother Oboodi, who went on to add his name to the WPT Champions Cup.
Brecher Busted: After the blinds went up to 120,000/240,000/30,000, action folded to Steve Brecher in the small blind, and he limped with the 10♥9♠. Ben Hamnett then made it 580,000 to go from the big with the K♦10♦, Brecher called, and the flop came down 9♦8♣7♦. It was a huge flop for both players, and the fireworks went off after Brecher checked and Hamnett bet 565,000. Brecher moved all in and after a few moments of deliberation, Hamnett called. Both players had the same open-ended straight draw, but Brecher’s pair of nines was out in front. Despite that, Hamnett was the favorite with the flush draw, which came when the 8♦ fell on the turn.
The A♣ river put an end to Brecher’s dream of a second WPT title, and he was sent to the rail in fifth place for $206,821. Meanwhile, Hamnett took down the 11.52 million pot and finished the episode with the chip lead.
“You know they’re feeling the pressure but you know they understand this is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Mike Sexton said of the remaining four players to close out the episode.
Tune in Next Week: The conclusion of the Borgata Poker Open is set to air on Sunday, May 12 on FSN, so be sure to check your local listings. If by chance you miss it, check back next week for the latest recap of all the action here on PokerNews.
Who will be the next player to add his or her name to this prestigious list of champions?
Past Borgata Poker Open Champions
| Season | Player | Entrants | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Noli Francisco | 235 | $470,000 |
| 3 | Daniel Negreanu | 302 | $1,117,400 |
| 4 | Al Ardebili | 515 | $1,498,650 |
| 5 | Mark Newhouse | 545 | $1,519,020 |
| 6 | Roy Winston | 560 | $1,575,280 |
| 7 | Vivek Rajkumar | 516 | $1,424,500 |
| 8 | Olivier Busquet | 1,018 | $925,514 |
| 9 | Dwyte Pilgrim | 1,042 | $733,802 |
| 10 | Bobby Oboodi | 1,131 | $922,441 |
| 11 | ??? | 1,181 | $818,847 |
*Pictures courtesy of World Poker Tour.
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