By Matt Clark
The WPT Borgata Poker Open produced the largest field of Season XVII so far with 1,075 entries taking their shot at a $3 million guaranteed prize pool. Erkut Yilmaz started the final table as the chip leader and finished his ride into the WPT winner’s circle with his name on the Champions Cup. Yilmaz wins home $575,112 in his third career Main Tour cash and first since Season XII. Along with the trophy and cash, Yilmaz earns his seat to the season-ending Tournament of Champions.
WPT Borgata Poker Open Final Table Results
1st: Erkut Yilmaz – $575,112*
2nd: TK Miles – $383,399
3rd: Oleg Shnaider – $283,341
4th: Austin Wentling – $211,562
5th: Liam He – $159,616
6th: Anthony Maio – $121,697
*First place includes a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions.
Season XII WPT Winter Poker Open final tablist Anthony Maio was the first to depart the live streamed final table. The shortest stack at the final table and under 10 big blinds, Maio lasted until the 11th hand of play before being eliminated. Maio moved all-in for 950,000 with the blinds at 75,000/150,000 with a 150,000 big blind ante holding 
and ran into the 
of Austin Wentling. No help arrived for Maio and he earned $121,697.
Liam He joined Maio as the only prior WPT Main Tour final tablists among the last six remaining. The Season XIV Borgata Winter Poker Open bronze medalist placed fifth this time around. Oleg Shnaider raised to 400,000 and He moved all-in for 2.45 million with 
. Shnaider called with 
and flopped trip jacks to bust He.
Four-handed play lasted until the 61st hand of the final table when Austin Wentling exited. Wentling was all-in for only seven big blinds and was at risk versus TK Miles and Yilmaz. Miles bet the river on a 
board and showed 
for a flopped pair to beat Wentling’s 
.
Yilmaz brought the lead into heads up play as a result of busting Shnaider. Miles raised and Shnaider moved all-in over the top. Yilmaz called with 
and Shnaider’s 
did not improve on the ensuing runout.
On the 132nd hand of the final table, Yilmaz emerged victoriously. Miles limped in with the blinds up to 400,000/800,000 with big blind ante of 800,000 and Yilmaz checked his option. Yilmaz checked the 
flop and Miles bet 800,000. Yilmaz check-raised all-in for Miles called off for 15.8 million with 
. The 
of Yilmaz was live with a straight draw among other outs and the 
turn gave him two pair. The 
river did not help Miles and he finished in second place.
Yilmaz moves into a three-way tie for first place in the Hublot Player of the Year standings with Simon Lam and Brady Holiman. All three players have 1,200 points for their respective Season XVII wins but Yilmaz owns the tiebreaker by just over $10,000 on Lam for most money won this season.
WPT Maryland Underway
The World Poker Tour moves down the East Coast to Live! Hotel and Casino for WPT Maryland, already in Day 1A. Day 1B starts tomorrow at 12:00 pm ET with registration open for the $1.5 million guaranteed event until the start of Day 2 on Sunday, September 23.
Photography by Joe Giron / PokerPhotoArchive.com
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