Bleznick Scores Second Win Over Antonius in High Stakes Duel 5

Summary:

• Jared Bleznick has dominated High Stakes Duel 5 Round 2 and defeated Patrik Antonius.
• This is Bleznick’s second victory over Antonius. 
• The third-round rematch with a $200,000 buy-in will take place on November 26.

Jared Bleznick’s winning streak in PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel 5 has not suffered any interruptions. 

The New York resident with $7,641,464 in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, claimed his second straight victory over the 2024 Poker Hall of Fame inductee Patrik Antonius. 

Bleznick’s victory repaired the ground for a highly anticipated third round on November 26 with a $200,000 buy-in and a total of $400,000 to grab home.

Launched in 2020, High Stakes Duel has turned into a powerful magnet for high-stakes poker fans. Over the years, the premium event featured legendary showdowns between icons like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and Jason Koon. 

The Twist

In this latest round, a unique twist brought together no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha, two formats that Bleznick and Antonius both excel at.

Bleznick, a well-known figure in poker circles, has solidified his reputation with a World Series of Poker bracelet and the title of 2023 Super High Roller Bowl Pot-Limit Omaha champion. 

On the other side of the table, Antonius stands as Finland’s top poker earner, boasting $29.2 million in lifetime tournament cashes. 

Notably, $5.1 million of that sum came from his recent victory in a $200,000 buy-in invitational at the Triton Poker Monte Carlo festival, marking an important career milestone for Antonius.

Despite his esteemed record, Antonius faces a tough challenge after two consecutive losses to Bleznick in High Stakes Duel 5. 

Undeterred by the setbacks, the 43-year-old poker star swiftly requested a rematch, signaling his determination to bounce back in Round 3. 

Bleznick, meanwhile, has shifted some focus toward his thriving sports card business, yet his poker prowess remains as sharp as ever.

Round 2 Highlights

The start of the second round saw both players holding $100,000 stacks and blinds set at $200-$400. 

Antonius initiated the action by raising to $1,000 on the button with A♥ 5♥, while Bleznick, known as “The Backer” on PokerGO, three-bet to $5,400 with A♠ A♣. 

Antonius called, and the flop of 9♠ 2♥ 2♦ saw Bleznick’s $4,000 bet called by Antonius. A 3♥ on the turn led to Antonius betting $8,000 after a check from Bleznick, who called. 

The river 6♣ saw both check, with Bleznick’s pocket aces winning the hand.

Even though Antonius managed to regain momentum for a short moment in an important no-limit hold’em hand, his opponent quickly took control. 

In a decisive pot-limit Omaha moment, Antonius attempted a bluff on the turn, only to be countered by Bleznick’s full house.

A standout hand saw Bleznick, holding J♠ 9♦ 8♠ 5♦, outplay Antonius in a pivotal PLO round. Antonius, wielding Q♦ 6♥ 6♦ 3♠, check-raised on a 9♣ 7♦ 5♣ flop, but Bleznick, with top and bottom pair, called. 

The K♦ turn led to Antonius betting $10,000, only to face Bleznick’s hefty raise to $50,600, forcing a fold and securing a commanding lead.

Bleznick sealed his victory with another full-house win. The final showdown saw him limp with A♦ Q♣, leading to a raise from Antonius with A♠ J♦. 

Bleznick pushed all-in, and Antonius called, only to watch as the board delivered a win for Bleznick with A-Q high.

Antonius swiftly exercised his rematch right. As Round 3 approaches, the excitement continues to mount for what promises to be another unforgettable clash.