An outstanding bluff helped Kevin Saul to come from behind in the Borgata Poker Open Heads-Up Event #16 and snatch victory from an unlucky David Paredes.

1. Kevin Saul Poker Game

An outstanding bluff helped Kevin Saul to come from behind in the Borgata Poker Open Heads-Up Event #16 and snatch victory from an unlucky David Paredes

Event #16 of the Borgata Poker Open was a two-day Heads-Up bounty tournament for which 64 players paid the $1,500 + $150.00 buy-in plus an extra $500.00 for their bounty. Four former Borgata heads-up winners entered the event – none of whom cashed – and the field also included Will “The Thrill” Failla, 2005 WSOP runner-up Steve Dannenmann and the highest GPI ranked woman to being competing at the Borgata Poker Open, Amanda Musumeci.

After a flop Kevin Saul bet 3,500 after his opponent checked. She then raised to 11,500 and Saul moved all in. She made the call and her were well ahead of Saul's. The fell on the turn and when. Kevin Saul poker player profile. Get latest information, winnings and gallery.

Quarterfinal Results

Three preliminary rounds of heads-up matches were played on Day 1, with the eight remaining players returning to do battle on Day 2 – each assured of a min-cash of $4,656, plus the $500 bounties they would collect for progressing to the semi-finals and the finals. Straight sets wins for Kevin Saul and David Paredes saw them safely through to the semi-finals, but Jeff Coon found it difficult to shake off Matt Rock, while Jeff Gross overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Mike Linster.

Semi-Final Results

In the semi-finals of the Borgata Poker Open Heads-UP Event #16, David Paredes recorded his fifth straight 2-0 win in the event to earn his place in the final. His opponent was in the balance for some time, as Jeff Coon won the first of the best-of-three games against Kevin Saul – only for Saul to fight back and level the series of games, before taking down the deciding rubber.

Heads-Up Final

Round 1 of the heads-up final went to David Paredes, after both players had survived flips during the game. On the third occasion that all the chips were in the middle, Kevin Saul (A-9) was the player at risk against Paredes´ pocket Eights. The pair held and Paredes took a 1-0 advantage in the climax of the event.

Kevin Saul levelled the match in the next game, courtesy of an outstanding bluff with his tournament life at stake. On a board of 10♠ 5♠ 3♥ / K♥ / 9♥ Saul (J-8) moved all in – forcing a considered fold from Paredes and leaving him short-stacked in the game. Saul went on to win the match in a K♣ Q♣ > 10♥ 10♣ hand, but admitted afterwards that the bluff was the pivotal hand that turned the match in his favour.

The final match of the heads-up event was a drawn out battle – with many of the hands being taken unseen due to some aggressive pre-flop and post flop betting. Eventually Kevin Saul´s opening bet of 600 chips was raised by Paredes (to 1,700) and Kevin Saul moved all in with K♦ Q♦. David Paredes (9♥ 9♦) made the call, and was looking good for a valuable double-up on the board of J♦ 8♥ J♥ / 4♥, but the K♠ spiked on the River to give Kevin Saul victory in the Borgata Poker Open Heads-Up Event #16.

Borgata Poker Open Heads-Up Event #16 Result

Kevin Saul Poker Game