2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Event 10: $660 NLHE Reentry
Day: 2
Event Info

2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j10
Prize
$33,873
Event Info
Buy-in
$600
Entries
194
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
4,000

Double Down

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Mike Sandler ever so briefly claimed the chip lead, before Joe McKeehen took it right back from him
Mike Sandler ever so briefly claimed the chip lead, before Joe McKeehen took it right back from him

In a series of two hands played in quick succession, Joe McKeehen and Mike Sandler just traded their chip stacks back and forth.

First, the two saw a flop of {4-Clubs}{k-Clubs}{2-Clubs} and McKeehen fired out for 32,000. Sandler popped him to 83,000 and McKeehen shipped all in for the rest of his stack. Sandler snapped him off while tabling {6-Clubs}{7-Clubs} for a flopped flush, while McKeehen was drawing with the {a-Clubs}. The turn ({9-Diamonds}) and river ({3-Spades}) failed to bring a fourth club to the board, and with that Sandler regained the chip leadership he owned heading into the day.

Just a deal or two later, the two went toe to toe yet again, after seeing the flop of {q-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{j-Spades}. We heard Sandler announce himself all in (likely coming over the top of McKeehen's lead out), with the young pro snap-calling and revealing {q-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds} for top two pair.

"Man!" said Sandler in frustration as he tabled {a-Hearts}{8-Hearts} for a busted bluff. "Right back to ya."

The turn and river bricked off and McKeehen rebuilt his stack to more than 1.3 million - or right where he started before the two tangled in the first place.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Mckeehen us
Joe Mckeehen
1,380,000
30,000
30,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner
Mike Sandler
Mike Sandler
850,000
100,000
100,000

Tags: Joe McKeehenMike Sandler

Joe Cool

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 3,000 ante
Joe McKeehen
Joe McKeehen

On the last hand before the recent break Joe McKeehen won what might be biggest pot of the tournament thus far - and he did so in improbable fashion.

McKeehen opened for 32,000 and watched as Sandler slid four of the red T25000 chips forward for the three-bet to 100,000.

After a pause to assess his own stack and Sandler's, McKeehen announced himself all in for 674,000 and Sandler quickly made the call looking to put a hammerlock on the tournament.

Sandler: {A-Spades}{j-Diamonds}
McKeehen: {7-Spades}{7-Hearts}

The two were flipping coins for heaps, and when the flop fell {j-Spades}{q-Spades}{3-Clubs} it appeared that Sandler had called the right side. The turn card came {8-Hearts} and McKeehen was down to two outs in the deck to avoid elimination.

River: {7-Clubs}

The 22-year old pro never even flinched at the sight of his saving grace, calmly moving his stacks forward for the dealer to count before dragging in the massive pot. He now holds nearly half of the chips in play looking for his second title in as many Borgata seasonal series.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Mckeehen us
Joe Mckeehen
1,350,000
630,000
630,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner
Mike Sandler
Mike Sandler
750,000
-800,000
-800,000

Tags: Joe McKeehenMike Sandler

Level: 23

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 3,000

Sandler Doubles Through McKeehen

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Mike Sandler
Mike Sandler

With the flop reading {4-Spades}{j-Clubs}{10-Clubs} Mike Sandler led out for a 100,000 wager.

Joe McKeehen raised it up to 240,000 and after a moment of deliberation Sandler announced himself all in for about 500,000 more.

When McKeehen snap-called Sandler shook his head and tabled the {6-Clubs}{7-Clubs} for a four-flush, while McKeehen rolled over his {j-Diamonds}{10-Spades} with authority.

Turn: {a-Clubs}
River: {k-Clubs}

Sandler made his flush (twice) to score the double, effectively reversing the player's chip positions.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Sandler
Mike Sandler
1,550,000
770,000
770,000
Joe Mckeehen us
Joe Mckeehen
720,000
-580,000
-580,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Joe McKeehenMike Sandler

Steve Saklad Eliminated in 4th Place ($9,033)

Level 22 : 8,000/16,000, 2,000 ante
Steve Saklad - 4th Place
Steve Saklad - 4th Place

Joe McKeehen cannot be stopped.

Moments after dispatching Brian Correro in 5th place, the Broad Street Bully just sent Steve Saklad to the payout desk with a 4th place finish.

McKeehen opened for 24,000 and Attllio Bitondo flatted the bet, only to see Saklad ship his last 180,000 or so into the middle. Looking to isolate, McKeehen moved all in as well, and Bitondo dutifully got out of the way.

Saklad: {a-Spades}{8-Hearts}
McKeehen: {8-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}

Saklad was in bad shape hunting for aces, but the final board came down {j-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{j-Hearts} to leave him lacking.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Mckeehen us
Joe Mckeehen
795,000
210,000
210,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner
Steve Saklad us
Steve Saklad
Busted

Tags: Attllio BitondoBrian CorreroJoe McKeehenSteve Saklad

Level: 22

Blinds: 8,000/16,000

Ante: 2,000

Brian Correro Eliminated in 5th Place ($6,774)

Level 21 : 6,000/12,000, 2,000 ante
Brian Correro - 5th Place
Brian Correro - 5th Place

Joe McKeehen is on a heater and Brian Correro was his latest victim.

Correro limped into the pot holding {a-Clubs}{5-Spades} and McKeehen raised it up to 32,000. Correro then shoved his last 290,000 into the middle and McKeehen snapped him off with {j-Spades}{j-Clubs}, risking his last 284,000 in the process.

The final board came down {10-Hearts}{7-Spades}{7-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{8-Diamonds} and Correro couldn't catch up, shipping the huge pot to McKeehen while lamenting his own "reckless" play.

Correro was left with just an ante or two to work with, and he lost those few chips on the next deal to officially hit the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Joe Mckeehen us
Joe Mckeehen
585,000
455,000
455,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 3X Winner
Brian Correro
Brian Correro
Busted

Tags: Brian CorreroJoe McKeehen