The 2024 Borgata Poker Open (BPO) was a spectacular event held from September 3-17 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
This year's series featured 30 events, attracting poker enthusiasts from around the world. The BPO is known for its high-stakes games and significant prize pools, making it a must-attend event for serious poker players.
One of the standout events was Event #1: $800 NLH Kickoff Deepstack. This event saw an impressive 1,727 entries, creating a prize pool of $1,208,900. The winner, Guan Huang, took home a first-place prize of $192,236. This event set the tone for the rest of the series, showcasing the high level of competition and the substantial rewards at stake.
Another notable event was Event #17: $500 Almighty Million. With 2,837 entries, the prize pool reached $1,191,540. Joseph Molitor emerged victorious, earning a first-place prize of $103,140. This event highlighted the popularity of the BPO and the significant participation it attracts.
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The highlight of the series was undoubtedly the $3,500 Borgata Poker Open Main Event. This event had a guaranteed prize pool of $1.5 million, which was surpassed with a final prize pool of $2,340,500. The main event attracted 755 runners, all vying for the top prize.
Donovan Dean from Alabama emerged as the winner, taking home a career-high score of $408,836. This win brought his lifetime tournament earnings to over $2.1 million, according to Hendon Mob.
Notable cashes in the main event included Adel Jo (9th place) who won $35,331, Samuel Taylor (11th place) with $27,369, and Michael Rossitto (12th place) who also took home $22,133. Other notable players who cashed included Jason Min, Kane Kalas, and Joe Gossweiler, each earning $22,133 for their efforts.
One of the standout players of the series was Nick Pupillo, who claimed two titles at the event. Pupillo won Event #20 ($500 Dealer’s Choice Championship), topping a field of 58 entries for a prize of $8,977.
He also won Event #28 ($2,140 Knockout Bounty), besting a field of 78 entries for a prize of $23,294. Pupillo's achievements at the BPO solidified his reputation as a formidable player in the poker world.
The high roller experience at the BPO was another highlight. One of the last tournaments on the schedule was a high roller event with a buy-in set at $10,000. This event attracted twenty entrants and awarded a total prize pool of $200,000.
Brian Yoon secured $70,200 after a heads-up deal, while Alex Queen won the title and $89,800 in prize money. Queen's victory added to his impressive record, having also won the January event at the Borgata Winter Poker Open ($5,300 Championship Event), earning $613,063. Yoon finished third in that event with earnings totaling $277,123.
In other poker news, Daniel Negreanu recently made headlines for criticizing a wealthy poker player for being a cheap tipper. The debate centered around the appropriate amount for a wealthy poker player to tip a cocktail server for a bottle of water.
Negreanu's tweet called out an unnamed “millionaire” high-stakes pro for being stingy, sparking a heated discussion within the poker community.
Tipping culture in the U.S., especially in Las Vegas, differs significantly from Europe and other parts of the world. In Nevada, it is customary to tip around 20% or more for meals and drinks.
For free beverages at events like the Poker Masters series, most players tip $1-$2 per drink, sometimes more for alcoholic beverages. Some players are exceptionally generous, occasionally tipping as much as $100 if they are winning.
Negreanu's issue was not with low-stakes players but specifically targeted a wealthy pro competing in a $10,100 buy-in event.
The unnamed player had initially held a $5 bill but chose to tip two $1 bills instead after receiving two bottles of Fiji water. Negreanu emphasized that this was an opportunity missed to make a difference for the hardworking server.
The poker community had mixed reactions to Negreanu's criticism. Some agreed with his stance, while others found no issue with the tipping amount given by the millionaire.
Doug Polk mentioned he would have tipped $5 but opposed tip shaming based on stakes played. Max Pescatori argued that Negreanu did not engage in tip shaming since he didn't name the player. Mike Matusow found the player's behavior “beyond disgusting.”
Readers were invited to share their thoughts on tipping through a poll, further fueling the debate.
This controversy highlights the ongoing discussions within the poker community about etiquette and the responsibilities of high-stakes players.
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