Jia Liu Wins 2012 Borgata Spring Poker Open

Jia Liu has won the 2012 Borgata Spring Poker Open, after overcoming a field of 520 players over five days on his way to capturing the title, and the $312,483 first place prize.
After his remarkable triumph in Atlantic City, the 25 year-old Brooklyn resident has taken his live tournament earnings to $471,396, and later commented: 
“I had come down with some friends. But they didn’t do too well. But they came back to be on the rail for me. It was a pretty exciting feeling at the end. I’d say the Borgata is like my home base. I like the staff and the structures. My friends were all impressed too. It’s a great place to play.”
The $2,500 Championship Event was held at the Borgata Hotel Casino and attracted several WPT title holders, as well as 13 WSOP bracelet holders including John Cernuto, Matt Matros, Ralph “Rep” Porter and Brock Parker.
By the time the final table of ten had been reached, Jia Liu was the chip leader, while the highest profile player still remaining was WSOP bracelet holder Cliff “Johnny Bax” Josephy, who then managed a 7th place finish for $45,808.
Despite Jia Liu’s healthy chip lead, at one stage he did drop to a shortstack before managing to pull back, eventually going heads-up against Larry Abrams. Liu was then dealt pocket aces, which he slow-played before laying them down to a river bet from Abrams. As he explains:
“I asked him if he’d show me his cards if I folded. He said ‘Yes,’ and he had a full house. That was a scary hand. I should have been all in. But I didn’t make the mistake. I don’t know. I was just amazed.”
A little while later, the final hand of the tournament saw Abrams push all-in with A-J and called by Liu (K-4), who hit his hand on a K-7-2-6-7 board to claim the title. Commenting on his win, Liu said:
“I still look at poker as something I do on the side. I’ve been playing a lot the last couple of years especially, but I’m not a pro. Of course, now I don’t know. This is a big win, but it’s not that much in the poker world. I mean yeah, in the real world it’s a lot. But in the poker world, I don’t know. I could give it back fast. I’ll just have to see where I go from here.”
The Final Table payouts were as folows:
1st Jia Liu ($312,483)
2nd Larry Abrams ($175,700)
3rd Russ Dykshteyn ($112,950)
4th Robert Pardo ($89,733)
5th Cameron Cornell ($70,280)
6th Chad Batista ($57,730)
7th Cliff Josephy ($45,808)
8th Matt Woodward ($35,768)
9th Michael Borovetz ($25,100)
10th Mike Meskin ($16,315)