Darren Elias Wins World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open for $843,744
Darren Elias is no stranger to big tournament scores, but on Friday he earned the largest of his career — both online and live — by taking down the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open to the tune of $843,744.
On Friday, the final six players from a 1,226-entry field returned for the finale of the event. The third time at a WPT final table proved to be the charm for Elias, who waited as 25-year-old Kane Kalas, the son of the late Philadelphia Phillies sportscaster Harry Kalas, eliminated four players on the way to heads-up play. Elias then scored the final knockout to capture the title.
The score proved a career-high for the 27-year-old poker pro, and marked the first major title on Elias' live poker résumé. In addition, Elias was awarded a seat to the season-ending WPT World Championship, which coincidentally will be held at the Borgata in the spring.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darren Elias | $843,744 |
| 2 | Kane Kalas | $500,364 |
| 3 | Jose Serratos | $308,067 |
| 4 | Aaron Overton | $259,012 |
| 5 | Blake Bohn | $213,999 |
| 6 | Ray Qartomy | $174,637 |
According to the WPT live blog, action resumed in Level 32 (80,000/160,000/20,000) and it took just four hands for the first elimination to occur. It happened when Kalas opened for 375,000 from the cutoff seat and then called when 48-year-old Ray Qartomy, a businessman born in Jordan and raised in the United States, three-bet all in for 1.475 million from the button.
Qartomy: A♦J♠
Kalas: A♣A♠
It was a bad spot for Qartomy, but he got a little help on the J♥8♣8♠ flop. Another jack would give him the double, but it wasn’t meant to be as the 5♥ blanked on the turn followed by the 2♦ on the river. Qartomy was eliminated in sixth place and took home $174,637 for his performance.
On the very next hand, Aaron Overton opened for 350,000 under the gun and Kalas three-bet to 755,000 from the cutoff. Mid-States Poker Tour Team Pro Blake Bohn, who was second in chips at the time, then four-bet to 3.06 million from the small blind. Overton folded, and Kalas thought for a minute before moving all in. Bohn snap-called off for 8.365 million and discovered the bad news.
Bohn: Q♥Q♠
Kalas: A♣A♦
Kalas had woke up with back-to-back aces, and Bohn was in trouble. The 10♠9♠8♣ flop gave him a gutshot straight draw, but he missed it as the 9♦ fell on the turn and the A♥ hit the river. Bohn was sent packing in fifth place for $213,999 while Kalas pulled out to a huge chip lead.
The next elimination wouldn’t come until Hand #44 of the final table, which occurred in Level 34 (125,000/250,000/25,000). It happened when Overton, a 32-year-old poker pro from Philadelphia, moved all in for 2.85 million holding the A♣2♥ on the button and Kalas called with the J♠J♣. The A♥6♠2♦ flop was kind to Overton as it gave him the lead with two pair, and the 7♠ turn meant all he needed to do was dodge a jack on the river to double. That proved easier said than done though, as the J♥ spiked on the end. Kalas made a set and Overton was bounced in fourth place for $259,012.
On the next hand, Kalas raised to 500,000 from the button and then called when Jose Serratos, a 31-year-old rental property manager from Detroit, moved all in from the big blind.
Kalas: 7♦7♠
Serratos: K♥9♥
It was a flip, but Serratos needed to improve to stay alive. He didn’t do it on the 8♣6♦4♠ flop, and the 2♠ turn left him wanting. The dealer burned one last time and put out the Q♠ on the river, meaning Serratos missed and had to settled for third place and $308,067 in prize money.
Kalas began heads-up play with a 2-1 chip lead, but over the course of the next 42 hands Elias was able to pull out to a small lead of his own. In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which happened in Level 37 (250,000/500,000/75,000), Kalas raised to 1.125 million, Elias called, and the flop came down 10♠7♥4♣. Elias check-called a bet of 1.525 million, the K♦ appeared on the turn, and Elias checked for a second time. Kalas bet 3.225 million, Elias check-raised all in, and Kalas snap-called off for 13.25 million.
Kalas: A♠K♥
Elias: K♠4♥
Kalas had turned top pair with top kicker, but it was no good as Elias held two pair. The 3♠ river failed to help Kalas, and he had to settle for runner-up and a $500,364 consolation prize.
Prior to this victory, Elias' largest live score came back in 2011 at the Borgata Poker Open where he placed fifth for $230,610. Online, Elias boasts two bigger scores than that, one for $396,988 and the other for $574,695, but both have been topped by his performance in Atlantic City this time around.
Congratulations to Darren Elias, winner of the WPT Borgata Poker Open for $843,744. Check out his winner’s interview below:
*Data and photos courtesy of WPT Live Blog.
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