A smaller field led to a significant overlay to reach the guaranteed $2M prize pool
The Borgata Spring Poker Open Main Event is in the books, but it probably wasn’t the event the casino had expected. The 706 entries for this tournament failed to reach the $2 million guarantee, causing an overlay of $249,120. The top 103 players finished in the money, with the top four taking home six-figure paydays.
Joel Deutsch was the winner of the $2,700 buy-in 2024 Borgata Spring Poker Open No-Limit Hold’em main event to earn his biggest career cash of $347,224. Deutsch’s biggest payday before this event was $170,000 earned for winning the 2021 Prime Poker Open.
This most recent championship increased his lifetime winnings to $1.1 million. “It’s nice to show that hard work really pays off,” said Deutsch to reporters after the big win. “This was for my kids.” Deutsch was the chip leader among the seven players on the final day.
Max Hoffman ($46,360) was eliminated in seventh place after his A-10 suited fell to George Cain’s pocket tens. Tony Sinishtaj ($58,317) was next to the rail in sixth place, just ahead of Carlos Alvarado ($79,749), after Deutsche sent him home in fifth place.
Justin Vaysman ($108,598) was short-stacked before Deutsche eliminated him a few hands later to earn fourth place. George Cain ($165,256) was the next player to leave after bluffing with ace-high, only to see Andrew Voor flop a set of threes and send him packing in third place.
Heads-up play began with Deutsche as the slim chip leader. Voor raised on the button holding A-2 vs. Deutche’s K-J offsuit on the final hand and called his opponent’s three-bet before the flop came K-6-6. Voor then pushed all-in with a flush draw against Deutche’s two pair but got no help on the runout to give Deutsch the win. Voor earned a $239,000 payday for second place.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
