WPT: Vivek Rajkumar Wins the 2008 Borgata Poker Open

The final six players stepped into the ring at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey at 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 18, and just before 7 p.m. the match was over. These six players had emerged from a field of 516 players to have the right to play for the first-place prize of $1,424,500 in the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em championship event. The championship event was the marquee tournament in the 2008 Borgata Poker Open, which featured 16 preliminary events that began on Sept. 3.

Here is how things looked when the players took their seats:

Seat 1: Vivek Rajkumar -- 6,480,000
Seat 2: Dan Heimiller -- 3,360,000
Seat 3: Andrew Knee -- 1,475,000
Seat 4: Mark Seif -- 4,665,000
Seat 5: Jason Strochak -- 1,650,000
Seat 6: Sang Kim -- 3,085,000

The final table lasted just 48 hands thanks to the fact that the blinds and antes began at 60,000-120,000 with a 10,000 ante. Vivek Rajkumar could do no wrong at the final table, thanks to solid play on a huge stack, and a little help from fate that helped him build that huge stack. The biggest pot of the night took place when the two largest stacks (Mark Seif and Rajkumar) went to war, and Rajkumar came out on top, which led to an exuberant celebration from the young internet star (read the details below). After Rajkumar won the pivotal hand to build his stack to well over 10 million, he went on to eliminate each and everyone of his opponents in succesion. He then took just seven hands to win a heads-up match against Sang Kim for the victory. Rajkumar was awarded $1,424,500, which took his career live tournament winnings up to $1,882,704. Rajkumar also took home 1,920 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win.

Here is a look at the highlights from CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Andrew Knee Eliminated in Sixth Place ($237,500)

Andrew Knee moved all in for 1.1 million under the gun and Jason Strochak announced a call.

Everyone folded and the player revealed their cards. Knee had A 4 but Strochak had woken up with 10 10.

The flop came Q 5 2 giving Knee more outs with a wheel draw. The turn was the K and he was now down to hitting an ace or a three. The river was the 8 and Knee was eliminated in sixth place, earning $237,500.

Vivek Rajkumar Doubles Up

Vivek Rajkumar raised to 450,000 and Mark Seif reraised to 1,350,000.

After some thought, Rajkumar reraised to 4,350,000. After making sure that he's not all in already, Seif moved all in and Rajkumar made the call.

Seif showed A A and Rajkumar let out some expletives as he turned over 10 10. Rajkumar said, "He $#@*ing stacks off with eights and now he has aces!" as he walked to his friends in disbelief on the rail.

The players ready themselves for the flop which came Q 10 5 giving Rajkumar a set! The crowd exploded into applause during the turn of events and Rajkumar kept repeating, "So sicks."

The turn and river came Q 9and Rajkumar doubled up to over 10 million.

Mark Seif moved all in for his last 710,000 on the first hand after the break. Vivek Rajkumar made the call and the player's showed their hands.

Seif held K Q and Rajkumar held A 5.

The flop came J 7 7 and Seif needed help. The turn was the 7, giving him some outs for the chop. Seif needed any paint card to continue, but the river was the 2 to send him home in fifth place. Seif earned $287,500 for his performance this week.

Jason Strochak Eliminated in Fourth Place ($337,500)

Vivek Rajkumar raised his button to 420,000 and Dan Heimiller folded from the small blind. Strochak was already all-in, in the big blind and the players showed their cards.

Rajkumar showed Q J and Strochak was dominated with J 2. The board was dealt Q 5 2 3 6 and both players hit a pair. Rajkumar's queen was best and Strochak was eliminated in fourth place, earning $337,500.

Dan Heimiller Eliminated in Third Place ($387,500)

Dan Heimiller moved all in from the button and Vivek Rajkumar made the call from the big blind.

Heimiller showed Q 3 and Rajkumar was ahead with A 5.

The board ran K 5 4 5 5 and Rajkumar made quads to take out Heimiller in third place. Heimiller earned $387,500 for his performance today.

Heads-Up Chip Counts:

Vivek Rajkumar - 16,845,000
Sang Kim - 3,870,000

Sang Kim opened for a raise on the button and Vivek Rajkumar reraised 2.5 million more. Kim moved all in and Rajkumar made the call.

Rajkumar revealed A J and Kim held A Q. The flop came J 10 7 and Rajkumar took the lead! Kim picked up a straight draw and he needed a king or a queen to stay alive. The turn was the A, giving Rajkumar two pair and the river was the 8, giving the championship to Rajkumar, who could hardly believe his luck. A barrage of "So sick's!" escaped from his mouth as he was enveloped by the online contigent on the rail.

Kim was eliminated in second place and earned $750,000.

Final-Table Results:

1. Vivek Rajkumar -- $1,424,500
2. Sang Kim -- $750,000
3. Dan Heimiller -- $387,500
4. Jason Strochak -- $337,500
5. Mark Seif -- $287,500
6. Andrew Knee -- $237,500

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