Ellinghaus Turns $580 Satellite Into $294,900 and WPT Title 

Summary:

• Ellinghaus defeated Jared Reinstein heads-up to win his first World Poker Tour title and $294,900.
• The Illinois player entered through a $580 satellite and had only $140,000 in previous live tournament cashes.
• He led the final table from the start of Day 3 and held off several challenges before taking control late.

Illinois-native Blake Ellinghaus is officially part of the World Poker Tour Champions Club after winning the $5,000 WPT bestbet Scramble Championship at bestbet Jacksonville in Florida.

He Took Home His First WTP Title

Ellinghaus cashed in no less than $294,900 for his feat, marking his biggest live tournament score by a wide margin after defeating Jared Reinstein heads-up to claim his first WPT title. 

The tournament brought in 294 entries in total, carrying a $1 million guaranteed prize pool.

Ellinghaus had qualified for the event through a $580 satellite. Before this result, his live tournament winnings totaled only around $140,000.

During the tournament, he was near the top of the leaderboard and ended Day 1a and Day 2 second in chips before moving into first place heading into the final table.

Hard Battle

Bryan Paris, a highly regarded online poker player, made an early push at the final table and briefly took control of the chip lead. Reinstein also won a sizeable pot against Ellinghaus, while Hugh Membrino doubled through the eventual champion after getting his chips in as a 60/40 underdog.

Ellinghaus responded each time.

Membrino was the first to fall at his hands. Ellinghaus flopped top pair with top kicker against Membrino’s weaker top pair and sent him to the rail in sixth place for $57,000.

Reinstein then used pocket aces to eliminate Michael Macchia in fifth for $75,000, leaving all four remaining players guaranteed at least $100,000.

Skyler Dennis briefly doubled through Ellinghaus, but the chip leader recovered and later eliminated Dennis in fourth place for $100,000.

From there on, Ellinghaus started pulling away, sending Paris home in third place for $135,000 after his pocket jacks held against Paris’ pocket nines. That left Ellinghaus with a sizeable advantage heading into heads-up play.

Reinstein managed to double once and give himself a chance, but Ellinghaus stayed in full control.

The final hand brought an unusual finish, as Ellinghaus made a straight on the river and moved all-in. Reinstein, who had flopped a straight draw, instead paired his hand on the river and called the shove. His call left him with the runner-up prize of $184,000.

For Ellinghaus, the $294,900 payday represents a considerably high jump from his previous results and gives him his first WPT championship title.