Event 3
The June 2018 DeepStacks Challenge Series was a huge success. The schedule of 13 events over 13 days carried $330,000 in guarantees, all of which were well covered. There were also some noteworthy accomplishments during this series.
Mickey Carr became the first player to win two events during a single DeepStacks Challenge Series, winning Events 1 and 8. Chuck Bryant became the first known player to win the same event in back-to-back years (Event 2, $125+$25 Deep Stack NLH). Julie Fine is the first woman to take 1st place in a DeepStacks Challenge event since October of 2016.
Here are all the June 2018 DSC winners:
* Indicates Adjusted Payouts
Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to all participants. Thanks to all the Borgata dealers and staff for a terrific series. We hope to see you all back here in a couple of weeks for the Borgata Summer Poker Open. The next DeepStacks Challenge Series has not yet been announced, but is expected to take place in August. Until then, we return you to your regularly scheduled Borgata Daily Tournaments.
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Total Entries: 228
Joe DeSanto – 1st Place
After an extensive ICM adjusted payout agreement, the final eight players called it a night. Joe DeSanto was the chip leader and took 1st place along with his first Borgata title. He collected $5,170 for his efforts as well as the ‘Baby Borgata’ trophy.
Joe is a chef at the Daymark restaurant on Long Beach Island and was anxious to call it a night — he has to work tomorrow! This is his first reported tournament win and we’ll be seeing him again during the DSC series. This was an excellent follow-up to his disappointing 22nd place finish in Event 1 two days ago.
Seated (l-r): Otto Dierkes, Dan W. & Joe DeSanto; Standing (l-r): Michael Balasa, Dan Mucciaccio, Aleksey Shestyan, Pete Maragelis, & Vincent Spinelli
The third event of the June DeepStacks Challenge series drew 228 entrants and the prize pool of $33,174 was shared among the final 27 players as shown here.
Final Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Joe DeSanto | $5,170 |
| 2 | Otto Dierkes | $4,684 |
| 3 | Dan W. | $3,057 |
| 4 | Michael Balasa | $3,030 |
| 5 | Aleksey Shestyan | $2,766 |
| 6 | Vincent Spinelli | $2,741 |
| 7 | Daniel Mucciaccio | $2,557 |
| 8 | Pete Maragelis | $2,431 |
| 9 | Matt L. | $663 |
| 10 | A. Nonymous | $431 |
| 11 | Norman Rodriguez | $431 |
| 12 | Brian Hawn | $431 |
| 13 | Chris Rags | $365 |
| 14 | Jack Barnes | $365 |
| 15 | Moshe Bernstein | $365 |
| 16 | Ezra Gheriani | $332 |
| 17 | Tislam DuPont | $332 |
| 18 | Chris Lemmo | $332 |
| 19 | Eric Miller | $299 |
| 20 | David Rosenberg | $299 |
| 21 | Frank Brannan | $299 |
| 22 | Antonio Trimboli | $299 |
| 23 | William Craft | $299 |
| 24 | Michael Hilty | $299 |
| 25 | Freddy Peralta | $299 |
| 26 | Edward Micallef | $299 |
| 27 | Joe Pitti | $299 |
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 1.14 million
After playing for a while, the final eight players decided on an Adjusted Payout agreement based on their chip counts which are shown here in seat order:
- Pete Maragelis – 535,000
- Vincent Spinelli – 545,000
- Aleksey Shestyan – 700,000
- Daniel Mucciaccio – 595,000
- Michael Balasa – 845,000
- Otto Dierkes – 2,080,000
- Dan W. – 860,000
- Joe DeSanto – 2,900,000
Here’s how they’ll finish and what they earned:
| Place | Player | Adjusted Payout |
| 1 | Joe DeSanto | $5,170 |
| 2 | Otto Dierkes | $4,684 |
| 3 | Dan W. | $3,057 |
| 4 | Michael Balasa | $3,030 |
| 5 | Aleksey Shestyan | $2,766 |
| 6 | Vincent Spinelli | $2,741 |
| 7 | Daniel Mucciaccio | $2,557 |
| 8 | Pete Maragelis | $2,431 |
-
- Joe DeSanto
-
- Otto Dierkes
-
- Dan W.
-
- Michael Balasa
-
- Aleksey Shestyan
-
- Vincent Spinelli
-
- Daniel Mucciaccio
-
- Pete Maragelis
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 8
Average Stack: 1.14 million
A. Nonymous was felted by Joe DeSanto, finishing 10th for $431. Joe’s big stack got bigger.
Matt L.
Matt L. was the next player to hit the exit. He’ll collect $663 for 9th place.
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 910,000
Here’s the final table lineup with chip counts as they settle in and resume play.
- Pete Maragelis – 265,000
- A. Nonymous – 265,000
- Vincent Spinelli – 725,000
- Aleksey Shestyan – 700,000
- Daniel Mucciaccio – 695,000
- Michael Balasa – 945,000
- Otto Dierkes – 1,105,000
- Dan W. – 900,000
- Joe DeSanto – 2,485,000
- Matt L. – 460,000
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 25: Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 10
Average Stack: 910,000
Brian Hawn
Brian Hawn exited the event in 12th place ($431).
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez got all-in on a flop of K 8 x holding KQ suited for top pair. He got action from Joe DeSanto, who had 86 for middle pair.
Then another 8 came on the turn, giving Joe trips and the last of Norman’s chips. He’ll collect $431 for 11th place.
Joe’s up to more than 2 million.
The final ten are moving to the final table.
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 12
Average Stack: 755,000
Chris Rags
Chris Rags reported to the rail in 13th place, earning $365.
Aleksey Shestyan got all-in from the small blind against Matt L. (button) who had him covered. Aleksey’s
was about even money against Matt’s pocket deuces.
The board ran out 
and Aleksey doubled up to ~800,000. Matt was left with 370,000.
Aleksey Shestyan
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 24: Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 13
Average Stack: 699,000
Play has resumed with a Baker’s Dozen remaining.
Here are the chip counts as of the break:
Table 1
- Brian Hawn – 230,000
- Norman Rodriguez – 835,000
- A. Nonymous – 225,000
- Daniel Mucciaccio – 980,000
- Vincent Spinelli – 520,000
- Joe Santo – 1,350,000
Table 2
- Michael Balasa – 1,025,000
- Dan W. – 320,000
- Chris Rags – 490,000
- Pete Maragelis – 470,000
- Matt L. – 1,155,000
- Aleksey Shestyan – 350,000
- Otto Dierkes – 1,105,000
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
End of Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000/24,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 13
Average Stack: 699,000
Two more players hit the door before the end of the level and the remainder took off for a color-up break.
Jack Barnes – 14th Place ($365)
Moshe Bernstein – 15th Place ($365)
$150+$30 Deeper Stack NLH
$20,000 Guaranteed
Level 23: Blinds 12,000/24,000/24,000 BB Ante
Total Entries: 228
Payers Remaining: 15
Average Stack: 606,000
Joe DeSanto took a nice sized pot from Norman Rodriguez with a set of 8s and Joe’s back up to about 1.3 million. Norman’s stack has shrunk to about 850,000.
Otto Dierkes and his wife Nina
Over on table 2, Otto Dierkes raised big from the button, then Ezra Gheriani moved in from the small blind. Otto called, showing pocket Kings, but Ezra, who was the shorter stack, had pocket Aces.
Otto’s wife Nina has been sweating him all day and she stood behind him saying “give him a King!” She got her wish as the board ran out 5 5 4 3 K and Otto took the pot with Kings-full. He’s stacking close to 1.5 million and is now the chip leader.
Ezra hit the rail in 16th place ($332).
Heading out before Ezra were Chris Lemmo (18th) and Tislam DuPont (17th). Both earned $332 as well.
Chris Lemmo – 18th Place
Tislam DuPont – 17th Place