The event began on September 19th and ran for four days, where the final table was a battle of new-school versus old-school poker. After four gruelling days of top-class poker, the players under the lights and cameras at the final table had to be on top of their game. The tone was set by the two chip leaders, Mark Newhouse and Chris McCormack, who dominated the table with their aggressive style.

The first player out was Blaise Ingolia whose AQ lost to the J8 of Newhouse who managed to make a straight, sending Ingolia to the rail with $261,901.

Next out was Chris Bell for $340,280, further increasing Newhouse’s chip lead.

Anthony Argila made the Borgata Poker Open down to three when his K8 lost to the K5 of McCormack who caught one of the three remaining 5s in the deck. Argila can’t be too disheartened though, he didn’t make the title but he takes home $366,660: not a bad return on the $10,000 buy in.

Three players left and one of the most known names in poker was still a contender for the title. David Sklansky, the author of Theory of Poker was the short stack. He started to make some moves to try and give himself an advantage in chips and was initially successful, doubling up twice. After a while he looked down to the 5-5 in the hole and made a small raise. When McCormack came over the top with 10-10 Sklansy pushed. McCormack called and made a set on the flop and Sklansky couldn’t improve.

He left it heads up at the Borgata Casino and took home $419,040.

After a few hands heads-up, Newhouse, the slight short stack pushed with Pocket Kings. McCormack made a quick call with A8 and managed to spike an A on the flop. The final hand was dealt with Newhouse looking down at QQ. After he pushed all-in, McCormack called with AJ but couldn’t improve, thus giving the title to Newhouse. Newhouse, the second youngest player to win a WPT event won $1,510,020 and McCormack in 2nd took $802,985. Congratulations Mark!

--Steven Eddleston