The 2026 Borgata Winter Poker Open concluded this month on the Borgata Resort On line casino & Spa in Atlantic Metropolis, bringing one other busy winter competition to an in depth. Operating from January 2-18, the collection featured 37 scheduled occasions and several other $8 million {dollars} in complete ensures.
The schedule was headlined by the $3,500 Winter Poker Open Championship, together with main tournaments such because the Almighty Winter Kickoff and a full slate of Deepstack and specialty occasions. Throughout two weeks of play, the collection drew hundreds of entries and produced quite a few notable winners.
Blake Vogdes Wins the Essential Occasion
The competition’s centerpiece, the $3,500 Winter Poker Open Championship, attracted 895 entries, surpassing the $3 million assure on the occasion. creating one of many largest prize swimming pools of the collection. After a number of days of play, Blake Vogdes emerged because the champion, taking house the highest payday of $457,980.
Vogdes entered the ultimate desk among the many shorter stacks, and was the shortest stack with simply 5 gamers remaining. However he labored his manner again into rivalry as play progressed. He then reached heads-up play towards Jack Kwon, and the 2 agreed to a deal earlier than persevering with for the title. Vogdes went on to win in heads-up play and safe the championship, incomes the highest prize and his largest stay match rating up to now.
$3,500 Winter Poker Open Championship Ultimate Desk Payouts
1Blake Vogdes$457,980
2Jack Kwon$407,110
3Zachary Fischer$243,245
4Duane Mitchell$159,570
5Benjamin Morgan$109,925
6Olivier Busquet$85,300
7Kyle Grupp$67,655
8Greg Himmelbrand$54,995
9Thomas Cannuli$42,970
Deepstack Essential Occasion: Hotwani Takes Down Second-Largest Discipline
The $600 Deepstack Essential Occasion, the competition’s second-largest area drew an enormous 4,280 entries and supplied one of many largest prize swimming pools exterior the Essential Occasion. Akash Hotwani navigated the sector to assert the title and his first profession BetMGM trophy, incomes $323,775 in prize cash.
Hotwani, who had confronted early setbacks in different occasions in the course of the competition, credited a pep speak from his spouse with serving to him refocus and keep motivated. The recommendation clearly paid off, as he methodically labored by an enormous area to attain his largest profession money.
Almighty Stack: Michael Renna Tops Huge Discipline
One other spotlight of the Borgata Winter Poker Open was the $400 Almighty Stack, one of many largest and most accessible occasions on the schedule. The match drew 4,082 entries, producing a $1,306,240 prize pool and operating throughout a number of beginning flights earlier than the fields mixed.
When the mud settled, Michael Renna claimed the title, incomes $190,740 for first place — the largest money of his profession. Renna completed forward of runners‑up Thomas Cullis ($129,145) and Jonathan Kim ($87,900).
Aspect Occasion Roundup
Aubrey Williams captured Occasion #4: BetMGM Hybrid Championship, incomes $52,540 for first place. The win marked her first profession BetMGM/Borgata trophy and her largest profession money up to now.
Different notable winners included Michael McGuinness, who took down Occasion #5: $380 Seniors Championship for $19,970; Christopher Basile, victorious inEvent #10: $550 Tremendous Deep 6-Max for $56,900; Ronald Cleaver, winner of Occasion #20: $450 Saturday Collection for $30,675; and Lee Llagan, who claimed the $380 Girls Championship.
Borgata Winter Poker Open Winners
