Atlantic City served up a proper winter poker classic this week as Blake Vogdes outlasted a massive field to win the 2026 Borgata Winter Poker Open Championship at Borgata Hotel & Casino. The $3,500 buy-in centerpiece of the festival drew 895 entries, generated a $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, and ended with Vogdes lifting the trophy for $457,980 after a heads-up deal.
Short Stack Comeback: From Bottom to Champion in Under an Hour
With five players left, Vogdes was the clear short stack — the type of spot where the next pay-jump starts whispering “just ladder.” He did the opposite.
- 1He strung together multiple double-ups in quick succession, turning a short-stack survival spot into a real title shot.
- 2The momentum swing happened over roughly 45 minutes of high-pressure final-table play - exactly the phase where most players leak EV by panicking or overcorrecting.
- 3Once he got traction, he didn't give it back - pressuring the mid-stacks, avoiding punts, and closing the door as the table shortened.
Heads-Up Deal: Trophy to Vogdes, Big Payday for Jack Kwon
Vogdes reached heads-up against Jack Kwon, who turned his run into a career score. The pair agreed to a heads-up deal. But Vogdes took the trophy and top money; Kwon banked a huge runner-up payout of $407,110.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
| 1st | Blake Vogdes | $457,980 |
| 2nd | Jack Kwon | $407,110 |
| 3rd | Zachary Fischer | $243,245 |
| 4th | Duane Mitchell | $159,570 |
| 5th | Benjamin Morgan | $109,925 |
| 6th | Olivier Busquet | $85,300 |
| 7th | Kyle Grupp | $67,655 |
| 8th | Greg Himmelbrand | $54,995 |
| 9th | Thomas Cannuli | $42,970 |
Who Is Blake Vogdes?
Blake Vogdes isn’t the type of name that dominates highlight reels — and that’s exactly why this win is so refreshing to kick of the poker tournament season. He’s been building results without the noise, such as a 4th in last year’s PGT Kickoff, and this Borgata may well be Blake’s breakthrough title.
Before this championship, Vogdes had logged ~$237k in recorded live earnings and a best live score of $50,400 (4th place) from the 2025 PGT Kickoff. This Borgata win isn’t just “bigger” — it’s a career-shaping leap.
| Vogdes Snapshot | What It Tells Us |
| Previous recorded live earnings (pre-win) | $237,000 — strong volume but no headline-breaking score yet |
| Previous best score | $50,400 (4th in a 2025 PGT Kickoff event) |
| 2026 Borgata WPO Championship | $457,980 — a true breakout win and major title |
| Win path | Short stack at 5-handed → multiple double-ups → closes in under an hour |
Let’s keep an eye on Blake Vogdes in 2026 and see if this truly was his breakthrough win.
