WPT: Erkut Yilmaz Beats TK Miles to Win Borgata Poker Open
42-year-old Erkut Yilmaz started the final table of the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open with the chip lead and over the course of six hours of play fought off TK Miles to add his name to the WPT Champions Cup while picking up a $575,112 payday.
Anthony Maio, the top-ranked online poker player in Pennsylvania, made the final table with just nine big blinds and got the chance to play just 11 hands. Down to just six big blinds, Maio moved all in from UTG with 
only to have Austin Wentling wake up in the big blind with 
. Maio got no assistance from the 
runout and was eliminated in sixth for $121,697.
Liam He had the second shortest stack when the final table began on Friday night and managed to outlast just Maio. Action folded to Aleg Shnaider in the small blind and he raised to 400,000 with 
before He moved all in from the big blind with 
and Shnaider called. The 
flop put Shnaider way ahead and he stayed there through the 
turn and 
river to elimiante He in fifth place.
From UTG, Miles raised to 500,000 before Wentling moved all in for 1,725,00 from the button. Yilmaz defended his big blind and Miles called. Yilmaz and Miles then checked through the 
runout before Miles tabled 
to force Yilmaz to muck his hand. Wentling turned over 
and was eliminated in fourth place for $211,562.
Shnaider and Yilmaz battled 15 hands later in a blind vs. blind spot that spelled the end for Shnaider. Miles raised to 500,000 from the button, Shnaider moved all in for 6,000,000 from the small blind and Yilmaz called from the big blind. Miles folded and Shnaider got bad news when he showed and found himself up against Yilmaz’s 
. The 
flop gave Shnaider some outs to a chop but the 
turn and 
river both fialed to help him out and he was eliminated in third place.
Yilmaz began heads up play with almost 60% of the chips in play but he and Miles traded the chip lead back and forth over the next 55 hands before Yilmaz finally eliminated Miles. Miles completed his bet and Yilmaz checked to go to a flop of 
. Yilmaz checked to Miles who bet 800,000 and Yilmaz check-raised all in forcing Miles to a decision for his tournament life. Miles called and showed 
for top pair while Yilmaz tabled 
for bottom pair and an open-ended straight draw. The 
turn gave Yilmaz two pair and Miles was eliminated in second when the 
river failed to improve his hand.
Final Table Payouts
- Erkut Yilmaz – $575,112
- TK Miles – $383,399
- Oleg Shnaider – $283,341
- Austin Wentling – $211,562
- Liam He – $159,616
- Anthony Maio – $121,697
Notable finishers
Just days after winning the 2018 Poker Masters Purple Jacket, Ali Imsirovic finished ninth ($57,510) while PokerStars Ambassador Maria Konnikova finished 20th ($24,695). Other well known players to finish in the money include Alex Fitzgerald (39th – $14,769), Jared Griener (84th – $7,309), Joe McKeehen (89th – $7,309), Daniel Weinman (100th – $6,393), Ryan D’Angelo (101st – $6,393), Jared Jaffee (117th – $6,097), Anthony Zinno (130th – $6,097) and Darren Elias (131st – $6,097).
Next WPT Stop
The next World Poker Tour stop actually began on Friday in Hanover, MD. The WPT Maryland At LIVE! Casino runs September 21 – 25 and has a $3,500 buy-in.