Ben Hamnett Wins First WPT Title at Borgata Poker Open

By Diana Cox

Ben Hamnett became the latest winner of a WPT title when he outlasted a 1,181 player field at the Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City. Hamnett took his seat at the final table as the second shortest stack in play, 4,720,000, but quickly got to work fighting for the chips. 

The tournament would come down to Hamnett and Matthew Burnitz, who started the final table as the chipleader with just over 8.8 million. The two men tangled early on with Hamnett scooping a massive pot off Burnitz on just the third hand of the day, reducing the chipleader’s stack to 3,26 million and increasing his own to 10.14 million. 

Four eliminations later, Hamnett and Burntiz were at it again in a heads up battle. After the elimination of Tyler Patterson in third place, Hamnett was seated with just over 24 million while Patterson was down to just under 11.4 million.

The end of the tournament began when Burntiz, down to under 5,575,000, raised to 1,050,000 and Hamnett moved all in for about 29,500,000. The short-stacked Burnitz quickly called and flipped over [Jh10h]. Hamnett opened up [KcQh] and all eyes moved to the dealer who fanned a flop of [Qd8c2d] to give Hamnett a pair of queens. The [3d] on the turn left Burnitz drawing to a nine to avoid elimination, but the river was the [5c] and Hamnett’s queens held for his first major career title and $818,847 in prize money. Burnitz left with $488,850 for his run. 

The first elimination of the final table was David Diaz, who finished in sixth for $167,337. Steve Brecher moved all in from the small blind for about 3 million and Diaz snapped called for less from the big blind. Brecher held [Kc8s] and Diaz had [Ac9d]. The board was dealt [7c5c3s4s8c] and Diaz was sent to the rail. 

Brecher, who won the Bay 101 Shooting Star during Season VII, became the fifth place finisher and added $206,821 to his lifetime WPT winnings. Brecher completed from the small blind only to have Hamnett raise to 580,000 from the big blind. Brecher called to see a flop of [9d8c7d]. Brecher checked, Hamnett made it 565,000 to go, Brecher pushed his stack to the middle of the table and Hamnett called. Brecher flipped over [10h9s] and Hamnett revealed [Kd10d]. Hamnett hit the king-high flush when the turn was the [8d] and left Brecher drawing to an eight or nine for a full house to stay alive. But the [Ac] on the river ended Brecher’s run at a second WPT title. 

Ofir Mor was next to go as the fourth place finisher for $250,065 shortly after Brecher made his exit. Mor was severely crippled when he ran his pocket nines into Patterson’s pocket kings on a [Ad3c2sJh4c] board. After that hand Mor was down to just 225,000 and was all in for his last 165,000 from under the gun two hands later. Mor mucked his final hand after Patterson showed [Ad6d] on a [KdQd10d4s5d] board. 

After surviving two previous all ins, Patterson was able to hang on long enough to become the third place finisher and take home $298,950. Hamnett min-raised from the button to 600,000 and Patterson moved all in for about 3.1 million with [Ah6s]. Hamnett went into the tank before making the call with [As4d]. Patterson stayed ahead after a flop of [Jh5d2d] but the [4s] on the turn gave Hanmett a pair of fours and the [Kc] on the river sealed Patterson’s fate as the third place finisher. 

Borgata Poker Open final table results

1. Ben Hamnett – $818,847
2. Matthew Burnitz – $488,850
3. Tyler Patterson – $298,950
4. Ofir Mor – $250,065
5. Steve Brecher – $206,065
6. David Diaz – $167,337