Blake Ellinghaus wins WPT Bestbet Scramble title, earning $294,900

Blake Ellinghaus won the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship, earning $294,900 and his first WPT title. He qualified through a satellite tournament ($580) and defeated Jared Reinstein heads-up.

Blake Ellinghaus made a straight on the river in heads-up play, becoming the newest member of the WPT Champions Club and winning a prize of $294,900.

The Illinois player won the $5,000 WPT bestbet Scramble tournament in Jacksonville, North Florida, a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million. He defeated Jared Reinstein to win his first World Poker Tour (WPT) title and the biggest prize of his poker career.

The chip leader maintains his advantage

Ellinghaus previously held only a $140,000 live tournament winnings record, but in this event with 294 entries, he maintained a large chip stack for most of the time. He finished Day 1, Group A, in second place, and remained second at the end of Day 2, before becoming the chip leader on Wednesday's final table.

However, the final table wasn't a smooth ride for him. Bryan Paris—one of the greatest online poker pros of all time—gained an early chip lead. Reinstein then won a large pot against Ellinghaus, giving Paris a commanding lead.

Hugh Membrino further complicated Ellinghaus's situation, doubling up to win the eventual champion while leading 60/40. But Ellinghaus never trailed too far. When he hit the flop with top pair and a top kicker, he eliminated Membrino, who held top pair but had a weaker kicker, finishing in sixth place ($57,000) and winning all his chips back.

Final table results

Reinstein successfully held onto his pocket Aces, eliminating Michael Macchia to secure fifth place ($75,000), meaning the final four players are all guaranteed a six-figure prize.

Skyler Dennis was the next player to double down against Ellinghaus. But Ellinghaus continued his comeback. Just like he did against Membrino, he successfully avenged his loss, ultimately eliminating Dennis to finish fourth ($100,000).

This time, he focused on extending his chip lead and never relinquished it. Ellinghaus defeated Paris with pocket Jacks and pocket Nines, sending him home to finish third ($135,000).

Ellinghaus qualified through the $580 satellite tournament, starting heads-up with a 6:1 chip lead, although Reinstein briefly doubled up to rejoin the competition. However, everything changed when Ellinghaus went all-in on a straight on the river, and Reinstein called—he had drawn a straight on the flop but hit a pair on the river. Reinstein was eliminated in second place, earning $184,000.

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