Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 8,100,000
Abraham Korotki – $100,000 GTD Borgata Poker Player’s Series Champion
When play was three-handed, Abraham Korotki might have been the shortest stack in front of him, but he was easily the most confident player remaining despite his numerical disadvantage to the rest of the field. Why wouldn’t he be? He was the most experienced player coming into this final table and as Korotki put it, when he gets close, he “doesn’t let these kind of opportunities get away”.
He didn’t, battling back against what some players would consider insurmountable odds, scoring a few hard fought doubles late at this BPPS final table and then besting Joe ‘Worm’ Palma heads up to score his mind boggling seventh Borgata Poker title.
For Korotki, he might have proved everything there is to prove on the East Coast poker scene, as he’s one of, if not the, winningest player in Borgata Poker history, as well as the state of Delaware’s all-time winningest player with over $1,300,000 in career earnings. But, if this victory did anything, it filled potentially the only void on his Borgata Poker resume, as he’s won everything from Borgata Poker Open events, to BPO Championship events, to Deep Stacks Challenge titles, and finally add a Player’s Series title to his already stacked trophy case.
Korotki, who is one of the more fierce competitors you’ll see at the poker table, was gracious in victory and while he’ll make just over $27,000 for the victory, it was clear that the title and the trophy meant more to him. Not surprising though, as he’s again proved his standing in the Borgata Poker history books, notching his seventh major tournament win, further cementing that the Borgata is “his house”.
That concludes our coverage of the $100,000 GTD Borgata Poker Player’s Series. We thank you for following the action and look forward to seeing you in September for the WPT Borgata Poker Open.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 1
Chip Average: 8,100,000
Heads up play didn’t last long, as Joe ‘Worm’ Palma got it in with a flopped set, only to see Abraham Korotki hit his straight on the turn. Nevertheless, this is another deep run for Palma, who has been on a tear over the last few months.
While both players were extremely deep going into heads up play, the battle between Joe ‘Worm’ Palma and Abraham Korotki only lasted a few hands. In the end, it was a cooler situation for Palma, who got it in on the flop with the best of it.
The action was picked up on a board of {5c}{4d}{2s}, with Korotki leading out, only to see Palma raise. Almost immediately, Korotki announced himself “all-in”, with Palma snap calling, turning over {4h}{4s} for a flopped set. Korotki tabled {Qh}{3s} and needed to hit his straight to score the knockout.
He did, instantly, as the {Ah} spiked on the turn, leaving Palma with only the river to catch a pair of the board for a full house. Unfortunately for him, the {9s} completed the board and his BPPS final table run was over in second place.
Palma has been on a tear over the last few months, continually going deep in major regional events and proving that he’s a force to be reckoned with. He notches another runner-up finish, following his 2nd place result at the May Parx Big Stax 1500, this one good for a $16,000 score.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 2
Chip Average: 4,050,000
John Germano controlled the chip lead at this final table but was unable to recover after doubling up the short stacked Abraham Korotki. He still notches his best career Borgata finish, earning just over $9,000 for 3rd place.
After doubling up Abraham Korotki, John Germano was left short stacked and while he was able to chip up slightly, the next time he was all-in was his last. This time, it was Joe ‘Worm’ Palma’s turn to hit a timely river, sending Germano to the rail in 3rd place.
The action was picked up with Palma opening the small blind and Germano, who was in the big blind, moving all-in for just over 850,000. Palma snap called and needed to hold to score the knockout, as he held {Ah}{5h} to Germano’s {Qh}{7s}.
Germano flopped better but Palma ended on top, as the board ran out {8d}{7d}{6s}{8h}{Ad}, with Palma rivering a superior pair to score the knockout. Germano, who controlled the chip lead for the majority of this final table, just couldn’t recover after doubling up the short stacked Korotki and will make just over $9,000 for his podium finish.
We are now heads up for the BPPS title, with Abraham Korokti controlling a 4,400,000 to 3,700,000 chip advantage.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
Abraham Korotki is now the BPPS final table chip leader, after scoring a massive double through John Germano and taking a decent pot off Joe ‘Worm’ Palma.
After working a short stack for the better part of the last level and a half, Abraham Korotki is now the chip leader at this BPPS final table. Two consecutive hands vaulted him up the leaderboard, the first was a double up through John Germano and then the next saw Korotki pick up a decent pot from Joe ‘Worm’ Palma.
The first hand was picked up with Germano opening the small blind and Korotki moving all-in from the big blind for just under 1,600,000. Germano called and tabled {Kd}{Jc} and was live against Korotki’s {Ad}{Qs}. The slightly bigger stack needed to hit to not only score the knockout but also stay alive as he and Korotki were closely stacked.
He didn’t, as the board ran out {Ah}{9d}{6c}{4d}{4s}, leaving Germano drawing dead by the turn and with just over 800,000 left in his stack. He’d get a few shoves through to move over the 1,000,000 chip mark but he has not been looked up just yet.
That’s because Korotki is putting his big stack to use against Joe ‘Worm’ Palma, as they just played a 1,000,000 chip pot with that action picked up pre flop with Korotki opening the button to 225,000. Palma, who was in the small blind, three-bet to 580,000 and after Germano folded his big, Korotki called to see the flop.
After some thought, Palma led the {Jc}{Jh}{9h} flop for 650,000 and almost immediately after his chips hit the felt, Korotki announced himself “all-in”. The all-in amount was for just over 2,800,000 and Palma, knowing Germano was short, didn’t want to put the better portion of his stack at risk.
He eventually folded and when the dust settled, Abraham Korotki was suddenly playing just over 4,200,000. That’s enough to make him the chip leader, as he’s battled back marvelously from a short stack.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
Joe ‘Worm’ Palma (Philadelphia, PA)
While it might not have been for a massive pot, Joe ‘Worm’ Palma just made perhaps the call of the tournament to take in a pot from John Germano with just ace high.
The hand was picked up pre flop, with Palma opening the small blind to 190,000. Germano defended his big blind to see the {Jh}{8d}{4d} flop. Palma quickly check-called a bet of 275,000 to see the {10c} fall on the turn. Palma checked for a second time, only to see Germano continue for 400,000. This time, Palma’s call was not quick by any means, as he went deep into the tank for close to two minutes.
Eventually, he did call, checking for a third time as the {4h} completed the board. After some consideration and a count of his nearly 1,600,000 chip stack, Germano checked behind and Worm immediately ask, “You miss diamonds?”
Germano shook his head and saw Palma table {Ac}{Kh}, with ace-king high being good enough to take down the pot. It certainly would have been interesting to see what Palma would have done had Germano bombed the river, but the way the hand played out, he likely could have found a call as he was right with his read the entire way.
Palma is now playing 4,500,000 and has a decent advantage on this BPPS final table.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
Abraham Korotki (Bethany Bch, DE)
Joe ‘Worm’ Palma jokes that it’s “Hard to kill a worm.” and while that might be true, it’s proving hard to kill Abraham Korotki at this BPPS final table. He just doubled again, for a second time in as many levels against John Germano. It was again a blind versus blind encounter but this time, there was no domination, as Korotki was flipping for his tournament life.
Germano opened the small blind to 240,000 and after some thought, Korotki moved all-in for 825,000. Germano snap called and Korotki said he “hoped Germano had ace-king” and while he didn’t, it was more or less the same hand, as Korotki held {2s}{2c} and was flipping against the big stack’s {As}{9s}.
That flip was more or less over on the flop, as the board ran out {9c}{7s}{2d}{Kc}{3s}, with Korotki flopping a set to more or less lock up the double. He’s now playing just under 1,700,000 and continues to be a hard player to dismiss from this BPPS final table.
Level 29 (40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
We mentioned earlier when fourth place finisher Justin Kadet was in fit or fold mode that any additions to his stack were quickly being negated by the blinds and antes. Korotki isn’t experiencing that effect on his stack but is also seeing some flops and working his short stack.
Unfortunately for him, after doubling up through John Germano, it’s been a slow bleed over the last 20 minutes for Korotki. He’s now back near 1,000,000 mark and in the danger zone working just over ten big blinds. His position has been made even worse, as the blinds and antes have just increased again, putting even more pressure on his short stack.
An updated list of the counts is provided below:
- Abraham Korotki – 1,100,000
- Joe ‘Worm’ Palma – 3,400,000
- John Germano – 3,600,000
Level 28 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
Abraham Korotki has hit some timely river cards at this BPPS final table, with the most recent giving him a much needed double up.
The river has been Abraham Korotki’s best friend today, as it’s kept him alive a few times and also scored him a few eliminations. This time, it was the former, as Korotki was all-in and at risk for his tournament life and caught another timely river to get an extremely important double up.
The action was picked up with John Germano raising from the small blind, only to see Korotki move all-in for 705,000 from the big blind. Germano called and had his opponent dominated, holding {Ah}{9s} to Korotki’s {Ac}{8h}.
Both players paired up on the {As}{10c}{7s} flop and after the {7h} fell on the turn, it was looking like the pot was about to be chopped. That was, until the {8c} spiked on the river to give Korotki a better two pair.
Germano couldn’t believe it but it’s was just a small hit to his stack and while the double keeps Korokti alive, he’ll likely need another to get back into contention, as he’s still playing just over ten big blinds.
Level 28 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
Joe ‘Worm’ Palma (Philadelphia, PA)
Just a few hands after making a big river fold to John Germano, Joe ‘Worm’ Palma was getting those chips back and more after flopping a full house and stringing both opponent’s along until the river.
The hand was picked up with Palma opening to 120,000 from the button, with both Germano and Abraham Korotki calling in the blinds. All three players checked the {Qc}{9c}{9d} flop, with Germano checking for a second time after the {6s} came on the turn. Korotki picked up the betting, firing out 225,000 and both Palma and Germano called to see the river.
The {3s} completed the board and the blinds both checked, with Palma cutting out 450,000 and pushing it over the line. Germano asked for a count and then called, only to see Palma table {Qh}{9H} after Korotki folded.
Germano could only laugh and while Abraham Korotki continues to see his stack drop thanks to the large blinds and antes, these two big stacks don’t seem like they are ready to shy away from one another just yet.
Both Germano and Palma are now playing close to 3,500,000 while Koroti is down just under the million chip mark.
Level 28 (30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total BPPS Entrants: 272
Players Remaining: 3
Chip Average: 2,800,000
John Germano (Providence, RI)
While Abraham Korotki returned from break as the short stack, he was not involved in the first major hand of Level 28. Big stacks Joe ‘Worm’ Palma and John Germano did though, tangling in a massive pot that has moved Germano near the 4,000,000 chip mark.
The hand was picked up with Germano opening the button to 150,000 and Palma defending his big blind to see the {Kc}{10h}{3c} flop. Palma check-called a bet of 210,000 and then check-called again after the {Qc} fell on the turn, that time for 600,000.
The {8h} completed the board and after Palma checked for a third time, Germano announced himself “all-in”, for just over 1,800,000. It was a massive bet but Palma looked interested, asking for a count and then taking inventory of his own stack. After close to two minutes in the tank, Palma finally broke his silence, saying, “I can’t afford to be wrong.”
He couldn’t, as had just over 2,800,000 in front of him and had he called and been wrong, he would have been left with under a ten big blind stack. Eventually, he folded {Ks}{Jc} face up and then claimed that he “would have called any bet on the turn”.
A fourth club or straight on the river might have made things very interesting, but as it stands, John Germano is now sitting as the chip leader of this BPPS final table, with play still stuck three-handed.
