Blake Ellinghaus Wins WPT bestbet Scramble Title

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Thu Sep 10, 2026, 12:00 pm ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Blake Ellinghaus Wins WPT bestbet Scramble Title

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Blake Ellinghaus has secured his first World Poker Tour (WPT) title after winning the $5,000 WPT bestbet Scramble Championship. The American poker player collected $294,900 for the victory at bestbet Jacksonville.

Ellinghaus' path to the title made the result even more impressive. He earned his place through a $580 satellite before navigating a 294-entry field.

The tournament generated a $1,337,700 prize pool and awarded substantial payouts to the top finishers. Ellinghaus ultimately claimed the largest share after maintaining his momentum throughout the event.

Blake Ellinghaus Builds Momentum Throughout the Tournament

Ellinghaus established himself as a contender early in the tournament. He finished Day 1a with the second-largest stack and carried that momentum into Day 2.

Once again, Ellinghaus finished second in chips at the end of the session. That consistency positioned him as the chip leader when the final table began.

However, the final table presented several challenges. Ellinghaus faced several strong opponents while the chip lead changed hands during the closing stages.

Reinstein made a major move when he used pocket aces to eliminate Michael Macchia in fifth place. The premium hand helped Reinstein strengthen his position as the field narrowed.

Meanwhile, Ellinghaus continued finding crucial pots against the remaining contenders. He later used pocket jacks to eliminate Bryan Paris, who held pocket nines, in third place.

That knockout left Ellinghaus and Jared Reinstein heads-up for the championship. Ellinghaus entered the final duel with a substantial chip advantage.

Ellinghaus Finishes the Job Heads-Up

Blake Ellinghaus started heads-up play with approximately a 6:1 chip lead. However, Reinstein managed to double up and prolong the championship battle.

Ellinghaus eventually found the decisive hand on the river. He held 6♥ 4♥ on a board of J♠ 8♦ 5♥ 3♦ 7♣, completing a straight.

Reinstein called the all-in holding 7♥ 6♦. His hand paired the river but could not beat Ellinghaus' completed straight.

The pot secured the championship and ended an impressive run for Ellinghaus. He collected $294,900, while Reinstein earned $184,000 for finishing second.

Final Table Results

Position Player Country Prize
1 Blake Ellinghaus USA $294,900
2 Jared Reinstein USA $184,000
3 Bryan Paris USA $135,000
4 Skyler Dennis USA $100,000
5 Michael Macchia USA $75,000
6 Hugh Membrino USA $57,000

A Breakthrough Result for Ellinghaus

The victory represents a major breakthrough in Ellinghaus' live poker career. Before this tournament, he had recorded approximately $140,000 in live tournament cashes.

His $294,900 payday therefore became the biggest score of his career. More importantly, he now has a WPT championship on his résumé.

The victory also earned Ellinghaus a $10,400 entry into the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. His name will also be added to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.

For recreational players and grinders exploring paths through regional satellites and online platforms, Ellinghaus' run is a textbook example. He turned a small entry fee into a major payday.

That pathway also highlights the opportunities available to players exploring US online poker sites. Satellites can provide an affordable route toward larger tournament events and bigger prize pools.

Ultimately, Ellinghaus combined consistency, timely eliminations and a strong heads-up performance. His $580 satellite investment ultimately produced a career-defining WPT championship and nearly $300,000 in prize money.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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