Event 22 Recap

$200 + $30 Deep Stack Semi-Turbo NLH (2 Re-Entry)

After a crazy final table that saw the chip lead shift back and forth between players numerous times, Brian Correro (Silver Spring, MD) and Neil Dever (Breezy Point, NY) finished 1-2 respectively in Event 22 of the Borgata Spring Poker Open.

Correro was the last man standing in a field of 236 entries and takes home $12,820 for first place. "This is surreal," he says, "when you get knocked out of a tournament you have that buzz kill, but to stay up on this high feels pretty good."

Correro, who took some time off work and reinvested his recently received tax return into his poker game, was on a roller coaster that saw him suffer a couple of final table bad beats before he took control and knocked out the players in 2nd-5th places.

Dever, who took home $7,554 as runner-up, is the last victim, but was relieved that the 14 hour marathon was over. "I'm tired and disappointed," he said, "I pushed with good cards and had some luck along the way."

Two players at the final table improved on their finishes from Event 21, including Alan Cohen (Brooklyn, NY), who finished 3rd/$4,340 after a 20th place finish, on his 20th anniversary, the night before. Pete Antenucci (Clifton Park, NY) also moved up the pay sheet by finishing 5th/$2,747, better than his Event 21, 10th place finish.

Rounding out the final table were Nick Guinto (Brigantine, NJ) 4th/$3,525, Jay Johnson (Philadelphia, PA) 6th/$2,289, Jordan McMahon (Montclair, NJ) 7th/$1,831, John Harvilla (Minersville, PA) 8th/$1,374, Nick Berglund (Stockholm, Sweden) 9th/$916 and Glenn Wilkins (Freehold, NJ) 10th/$595.

The day began with notables Larry Gold, James 'Suits' Salters, Mike Dentale and Steve Ryan making a run at the $47,200 total buy-in as 27 players cashed. Of the group, only Ryan, who finished 7th ($82,740) in the January Borgata Winter Poker Open, cashed as he finished 24th/$412.

Correro, who eventually grabbed all the 5.9 million chips in play, summed up his tournament like this. "My philosophy is to run good, play better," which is exactly why he took home the trophy.