Omaha Hi/Lo Recap

Borgata Summer Poker Open 2010
Event 13: $300 + $50 Omaha H/L
(June 20)

At high-noon on Father's Day Sunday, 104 brave souls entered the Borgata Poker Room to take their shot at Omaha Hi/Lo. Their $300 buy-ins created a total prize pool of $30,264 which would be awarded to the final 18 players.

It took fourteen long hours, but in the end it was Vince Coleman of Camden, NJ, who claimed the top prize of $9,321. "I was down to 5,000 chips" Vince said. That was his situation during the play-down from 27 players to the 18 that would get paid. During hand-for-hand play, Vince was nervously circling the tables, checking for other short stacks.

Once the money bubble burst, Vince kicked it into overdrive, pulling off a comeback for the record books. Within an hour, he had grown those 5,000 chips into a stack approaching 100,000. Another half-hour and Vince had doubled his stack again. When they reached the final table, he never looked back. In addition to the prize money, Vince is taking home a beautiful crystal trophy.

Sach Ramrakhani (New York, NY) had to settle for second place and $5,145. Another New Yorker, Jeff Hunter of the Bronx, took 3rd place and $2,875.

Other notables among the field were two previous Borgata Champions. Adel Shakerian of Falls Church, VA, won the Omaha Hi/Lo event during the Borgata Spring Poker Open in April 2010. That earned him $13,489. Tonight he finished 6th for $1,514. He had hoped to repeat as champion, but as he put it, "This is a high variance game. I got unlucky."

William 'Bill' Hine of Bricktown, NJ, won the Omaha Hi/Lo event during the Borgata Winter Poker Open in January 2010. Thanks to a field twice the size of this one, Bill claimed $22,407 for that victory. Tonight he finished 7th for $1,211.

Joseph Gaval (Barnegat, NJ) finished 8th, earning $908. In addition, he claimed the "Father of the Day" award this Father's Day. He has seven children, four girls and three boys, ranging in age from 18 down to 5. "I got up early and did the Father's Day thing, then left to come play poker". Well done, Joseph!