The 2025 Borgata Winter Poker Open wrapped up its $3,500 buy-in no-limit hold’em championship event in dramatic fashion. Joseph Neiman and Nguyen Le made headlines, not just for their remarkable performances but for an uncommon co-championship outcome. In a surprising twist, both players walked away with trophies and big payouts after agreeing to a deal in the final moments.
A Tale of Two Champions
Poker tournaments often see deals struck among the final players, but rarely does the winner’s photo include two champions. This was the case when Neiman, a former World Amateur Backgammon Champion, and Le, a rising poker star, decided to split the remaining prize money. The duo negotiated a deal that left Le with the largest payday, $425,000, while Neiman claimed $406,791 and the official title of first-place finisher after winning the final all-in flip.
Both players left with hardware to mark the occasion, with trophies from the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and presenting sponsor BetMGM Poker.
A High-Stakes Showdown
The tournament drew 932 entries across two starting flights, surpassing its $2 million guarantee and creating a prize pool of $2,875,255. The top 119 finishers shared in the spoils, and the event culminated with six skilled contenders battling it out on the final day.
Nguyen Le entered the last stretch as the chip leader, while Neiman started in third position. Salvatore Evola, the first to exit, earned a career-best $82,033 for sixth place after his A-Q couldn’t hold against Dorian Rios’ A-10.
Rios later fell in fifth place for $105,691 when his A-J lost to Clemen Deng’s A-Q suited, despite briefly taking the lead on a jack-high flop. Deng maintained momentum, eliminating Philip Saracino (4th – $153,430) with pocket aces.
Deng’s Fall Sets the Stage
As play narrowed to three, Deng’s chip lead dwindled. His tournament ended in third place, earning $233,882, after his A♠7♣ couldn’t overcome Neiman’s A♣J♣. With that, the final duel began.
Neiman started heads-up play with a significant chip advantage, but the balance shifted as both players traded leads. After intense back-and-forth action, they decided on a deal that would mark the end of the tournament in an extraordinary way.
The Bigger Picture: POY Points and More
While Le took the larger payout, Neiman earned 1,368 Player of the Year (POY) points, putting him at the top of the 2025 standings presented by Global Poker. Le sits just behind him with 1,340 points after adding 1,140 points from this event to his tally.
Notable players also made deep runs, including Kitty Kuo (8th – $51,919), Ryan Depaulo (9th – $41,315), and Darren Elias (18th), among others. Their presence highlighted the calibre of the competition.
Final Table Payouts and POY Points
Here’s a breakdown of the final table results:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Neiman | $406,791 | 1,368 |
| 2 | Nguyen Le | $425,000 | 1,140 |
| 3 | Clemen Deng | $233,882 | 912 |
| 4 | Philip Saracino | $153,430 | 684 |
| 5 | Dorian Rios | $105,691 | 570 |
| 6 | Salvatore Evola | $82,033 | 456 |
| 7 | Tom McNicholas | $65,053 | 342 |
| 8 | Kitty Kuo | $51,919 | 228 |
| 9 | Ryan Depaulo | $41,315 | 114 |
A Moment to Remember
The unusual conclusion to this high-stakes poker tournament will undoubtedly go down in history. Both Neiman and Le showcased exceptional skill and sportsmanship, proving that poker is as much about strategy as it is about adaptability. For those in Atlantic City that week, it was a tournament to remember, not just for the payouts but for the way the game brought people together in an unexpected and thrilling way.
