Gagliardi wins CSOP St. Jude at Borgata

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The latest $220 buy-in Charity Series of Poker (CSOP19) tournament – which was Event #17 of the 2019 Borgata Winter Poker Open (BWPO) – attracted 126 entries and saw Kujdes Gagliardi defeat Jefferson Choi in heads-up play to win a $3,500 World Poker Tour BWPO seat as well as entry into March’s $500 buy-in CSOP St. Jude event in Las Vegas + a $300 reception ticket.

Making the night even more special was hat Gagliardi’s sister, Alida Veliu, was busy winning the $120 buy-in Event #15: Ladies Deep Stack for $2,439 after a three-way deal. It marked her fourth Ladies Event title.

For finishing runner-up, Choi won a $1,260 Borgata Bounty NLH seat and entry into March’s $500 buy-in CSOP St. Jude event in Las Vegas + a $300 reception ticket.

The event benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

Final Table Results

1st – Kujdes Gagliardi ($3,500 BWPO Championship Seat NLH, $500 CSOP St. Jude seat, $300 Reception ticket, and the BWPO trophy)
2nd – Jefferson Choi ($1,260 Borgata Bounty NLH seat, a $500 CSOP St. Jude Seat and a $300 Reception ticket)
3rd – Tiffany Lee ($500 St. Jude seat, $300 Reception Ticket)
4th – Philip Luesdorff ($500 St. Jude seat)
5th – Albert Destade ($500 St. Jude seat)
6th – Aaron Mermelstein ($500 St. Jude seat)
7th – David Fuss ($500 St. Jude seat)
8th – Thomas Paul ($500 St. Jude seat)
9th – Lisa Pickell ($500 St. Jude seat)
10th – Brian Wilson ($500 St. Jude seat)

Additionally, David Chang earned a $1,000 bonus for finishing with the chip lead at the close of registration while noted businessman and philanthropist Lance Funston got the $1,000 bonus – which he donated to the charity – for the most entries with seven. Making it even more special was that Phil Hellmuth volunteered to emcee the action for the final two tables.

Among the notables to participate in the tournament were National Sports Betting Champion Randy Lee, Eric “Barstool Nate” Nathan, comedian Clayton Fletcher, Tiffany Lee, Tommy Bates, TJ Shulman, Judi Bielan and Lexy Gavin, who all served as bounties in the field.

Sponsors for CSOP19 included Borgata, RunGoodGear, VerStandig Law, Clayton Tax and Financial, PokerNews, GiftCash, Lake Las Vegas Water Sports, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club and Stealing Savanah Party Cover Band.

Our next event – the $500 buy-in St. Jude Against All Odds Event will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, 2 March at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.