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2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open
Event 14: $15,400 $5 Million Guaranteed WPT World Championship
Day: 5
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 Borgata Spring Poker Open
Buy-in
$15,000
Prize Pool
$4,852,400
Entries
328
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
25
Event 14: $15,400 $5 Million Guaranteed WPT World Championship
Day 5 Completed
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Keven Stammen just added his name to the WPT Champions Cup, putting on a dominant final table performance to win $1.35 million, along with the pride associated with winning one of poker's most prestigious events.
Since the poker boom began in 2003, the World Poker Tour has been at the forefront of the tournament circuit scene, spanning the globe while hosting several of the premier events in the poker world. Another successful run is now in the books, as Season XII concluded with the WPT World Championship at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The event boasted a $5 million guarantee with a $15,400 buy-in - reduced from the WPT's previous standard of $25,500 - and the poker world's elite came out to take their shot at the $1.35 million first prize payout. When the two starting flights were wrapped up a total of 328 entries and reentries were recorded, and the roster of players who came to play represented a veritable who's who of the game's greats. In the end though, it was Keven Stammen who took down top honors, weaving his way through a stacked field filled with superstars at every table to claim every last chip in play. And he did so in dramatic fashion, winning a race with an ace on the river to defeat Byron Kaverman, ending a thrilling heads-up match that saw Stammen begin with a big lead before the pair traded jabs and body blows.
Kaverman's runner-up finish added another feather to his WPT résumé, as he set the record for most cashes in a single season with seven - a record he snatched from Stammen (Season XII), along with a collection of the circuit's most consistent performers on the felt. The Borgata also seems to agree with Kaverman, as he made his second final table appearance in as many seasonal opens here at the East Coast's premier poker establishment. Kaverman also made a deep run at the Borgata Winter Poker Open's WPT Main Event championship in January.
The field combined on Day 2 with 199 runners remaining, and after a full day of action on the felt just 68 survivors had chips in the bag. The chip leader at the end of Day 2 was Eric Afriat, and he turned the trick again on Day 3 by topping the counts once more.
Stammen, meanwhile, was riding one of the shortest stacks in the room with just 56,000 when Day 3 began, scoring a tournament-saving (and as it turns out, life-changing) double through George Kelly when his kings in the hole dodged the deck's aces. It was an ace from space that saved Stammen later in the day, as he doubled through Loni Harwood when a bullet hit the board on the river to crack her pocket jacks.
From there, Stammen went on a tear to the final table, building a big stack while busting many of his fellow pros along the way. Those who fell at Stammen's hand during the decisive Day 4 included many of the toughest players left in the field, as he finished Harwood off in 29th place, made Jeff Madsen go away in 19th place, cashed Chris O'Rourke out in 14th place, and booted Bobby Oboodi out the door in 12th place. A huge bluff catch against Tony Dunst also swelled Stammen's stack late during Day 4 action, and while Dunst rebounded quite nicely to reach the final table, the hand provided Stammen with the confidence to rely on his reading ability.
The televised final table was truly a star-studded affair, with the WPT's very own Tony Dunst (3rd) representing the tour and proving that the strategy tips provided in his The Raw Deal segment - in which he pointedly critiques the play of his fellow pros - are backed by true poker bona fides. Ryan D'Angelo (4th) continued his amazing run through the WPT this year, earning his fifth cash of Season XXII and earning the second-largest score of his career. The self-proclaimed "Psycho Ninja" was here, as Curt Kohlberg (5th) brought his inimitable fashion sense and outspoken attitude to the final table stage. Abraham Korotki (6th) continued to dominate the local poker scene, as the 2009 Borgata Poker Open Ladies Event Champion made his second final table of this seasonal series after winning the $2,700 Main Event just over a week ago.
Among stars who fell short during the first two starting flights were Robert "Uncle Krunk" Panitch, Lily Kiletto, Noah Schwartz, and Chris Moorman, Aaron Massey, Jonathan Jaffe, Kara Scott, Anthony Merulla, Amanda Musumeci, Dan Smith, Eugene Katchalov, Scott Clements, Ryan Riess, Mike Matusow, and James Calderaro.
Stammen's incredible run from the fourth shortest stack in the room when Day 3 began to World Champion caps off another successful season for the the WPT, as well as providing a fitting conclusion to the Borgata Spring Poker Open. Stammen pushed his career live earnings to more than $3.5 million, and he has now won two legs of poker's elusive Triple Crown, capturing WSOP and WPT titles to put himself squarely among poker's elite.
Thank you for following along with PokerNews live coverage of the Borgata Spring Poker Open and the WPT World Championship, and be sure to check out the ongoing EPT Grand Final to enjoy more nonstop poker action.
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Hand #151 After Keven Stammen completed the small blind, Byron Kaverman moved all in for 3.155 million with 
and is quickly called by Keven Stammen who has 
.
The flop came 
keeping Kaverman in the lead.
The turn was the 
and Kaverman was one card away from doubling up.
The river was the Barry Greenstein.... an Ace on the river... the 
. Keven Stammen is all smiles as he gets mobbed by his friends as they congratulated him on winning the World Poker Tour Championship Event. Byron Kaverman will have to settle for an excellent consolation prize of $727,860 and an outstanding 2nd place finish.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
16,410,000
3,180,000
|
3,180,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Hand #146: Keven Stammen received a walk.
Hand #147: Stammen limped in on the button, Byron Kaverman checked, and the flop was all clubs - 
. Kaverman checked, Stammen fired out 200,000, and Kaverman check-raised to 525,000. Stammen instantly folded.
Hand #148: Stammen received another walk.
Hand #149: Stammen limped in on the button, Kaverman moved all in, and Stammen folded.
Hand #150: Stammen received a third walk.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,230,000
-275,000
|
-275,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,180,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Hand #142 Kaverman folded giving Stammen a walk.
Hand #143 Stammen completed the small blind and Kaverman checked his option, The flop was 
and both players checked. The turn was the 
and Kaverman check-folded to Stammen's 250,000 chip wager.
Hand #144 Kaverman folded giving Keven Stammen a walk.
Hand #145 Stammen completed the small blind and Kaverman checked his option. The flop was 
and Kaverman check-called a 250,000 bet from Stammen.
The turn was the and Kaverman checked. Stammen bet 450,000 and Kaverman checked.
The river was the and both players checked. Kaverman said "four" indicating a pair of fours which was no good when Stammen showed 
for a pair of Sixes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,505,000
1,400,000
|
1,400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,905,000
-1,400,000
|
-1,400,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Hand #139: Keven Stammen limped in on the button, Byron Kaverman checked, and the flop came 
. Kaverman check-called a bet of 250,000, then checked again on the turn (
). Stammen fired out 350,000, Kaverman called, and the river was the 
.
Both players checked, and Stammen showed 
for effectively king-high. Kaverman looked a bit stunned, holding onto his cards for a few extra seconds before tossing them into the muck.
Hand #140: Stammen received a walk.
Hand #141: Stammen limped in on the button, Kaverman checked, and both players checked on a flop of 
. The turn was the 
, Kaverman led out for 250,000, and Stammen called. The completed the board, bringing a potential club flush, and Kaverman cut out a bet of 475,000. Stammen called, then flicked his cards into the muck when Kaverman showed 
for trip sevens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,105,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,305,000
-25,000
|
-25,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
: 100,000/200,000, 25 ante
Hand #136 Kaverman folded to give Stammen a walk.
Hand #137 Keven Stammen completed fromt he small blind and Kaverman checked his option. The flop came 
and both players checked. The turn was the 
and both players checked.
The river was the and Kaverman check-folded after Stammen bet 350,000.
Hand #138 Kaverman raised to 400,000 and Stammen called from the big blind. The flop came 
and both players checked.
The turn was the 
and Stammen checked. Kaverman bet 300,000 and Stammen raised it up to 750,000. Kaverman called after only a short period of deliberation.
The river was the 
and both players checked. Stammen had 
and would lose to the 
that Kaverman had.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,080,000
-825,000
|
-825,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,330,000
825,000
|
825,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 25