After two starting flights, the $2,700 Borgata Fall Poker Open Championship drew a total of 464 entries, building a $1,113,600 prize pool. Roughly 164 players returned for Day 2, and that field was trimmed to 22 by night’s end.
Day 3 picked up right where things left off—fast, deep, and loaded with East Coast talent. Big names like Clemen Deng (8th - $24,275), Michael Dentale (7th - $29,650), and local regulars like Angel Lopez (9th - $19,925) and Michael Bohmerwald couldn’t survive the final push. By late evening, the field finally settled on six players who will return to a live-streamed final table Tuesday at 12:15 PM with cards-up coverage.
1. Matthew Zambanini – 6,855,000
A long-time Borgata staple, Zambanini has put up over $1.4 million in live earnings, grinding out a steady career of deep runs and consistent results. Despite all that success, a marquee win inside these walls has somehow eluded him. He enters the final table with a real chance to change that narrative, leading the way with a comfortable chip advantage.
2. Andrew Porter – 4,985,000
A bracelet winner and one of Pennsylvania’s most respected online crushers, Porter has been on a heater in 2025. His recent 4th-place finish in the Big Big Buy-In Championship was the biggest score of his career at $206,025, and he now finds himself in another spot to close out a major Borgata title. He’ll come back second in chips and well within striking distance.
3. Ari Katz – 2,860,000
Katz is a Maryland–Baltimore grinder who’s been a steady presence in mid-Atlantic events for a few years. He has multiple Borgata results but is still chasing a breakout moment. A win here would come close to doubling his lifetime earnings and give him the kind of signature trophy run that every player hopes for.
4. Kash Corpening – 2,350,000
Corpening came onto the scene in 2018 and has quietly built a strong resume since then. The Virginia native is no stranger to deep runs, and like Katz, he’s in position to grab the biggest result of his career. If he can spin up his stack early, he’s dangerous enough to make a real push at this title.
5. Jose Wong – 785,000
Wong is an online WSOP Circuit ring winner and a respected New Jersey grinder who’s always in the mix at Borgata. With about $200K in live earnings, he’s another player chasing a statement win. He’ll return with a shorter stack, but Wong has plenty of experience navigating pressure spots deep in big fields.
6. Paul Volpe – 740,000
The lone outlier in terms of resume size, Volpe doesn’t need a breakthrough win—he already has a career full of them. With over $9 million in live earnings, three WSOP bracelets across multiple formats, a 20th-place run in the 2012 Main Event, and back-to-back WPT final tables in 2013, he’s easily the most decorated player left. Volpe brings up the rear in chips, but he’s the last person anyone wants to see with a stack at a major final table.
Remining Payouts:
- 1st – $204,000
- 2nd – $140,900
- 3rd – $97,975
- 4th – $65,300
- 5th – $45,900
- 6th – $36,625
The final six return Tuesday at 12:15 PM for the live-streamed finale. One of them will walk away with the $204,000 top prize and the latest Fall Poker Open title.
, leaving the aces best as Dentale will not be winning this event for a second time, but still takes home nearly $30k.
and Zambanini sat with 
.
, and although Deng hit an ace on the flop, Zambanini made the best hand with a flush on the turn. Deng hit the rail while Zambanini increased his chip lead.
