The Art of the Deal With Matt Berkey at High Stakes Duel 6

High Stakes Duel 6 details

In November 2024, Jared Bleznick defeated Patrik Antonius in three rounds to become the High Stakes Duel 5 champion.

Then, Matt Berkey challenged Bleznick.

This time, they played under unusual rules: starting stacks of $100K with unlimited rebuys and add-ons. Blinds were $200/$400.

The match lasted two days, six hours per day, switching between 1.5 hours of NLHE and 1.5 hours of PLO.

Bleznick finished Day 1 with a $22.7K profit, but the second day didn’t go according to plan

On Day 2, Berkey had one goal — to avoid losing too much in PLO, Bleznick’s favorite game. But he had another plan in mind.

After two levels of NLHE, Bleznick was ahead by $27K. Then, it was time for two levels of Omaha. That’s when Berkey proposed a deal: he would pay $11.5K, and the remaining two levels would be played in Hold’em only — no Omaha. Bleznick responded:

«I don’t know how win rates work but I need $15,000»

Berkey threw $15K at Bleznick, and they continued in NLHE — Bleznick with a $100K stack, Berkey with $300K.

The rest of the evening spiraled out of control for Bleznick

First, he lost a $34.4K pot with A A vs. J 3 : Berkey flopped two pair and check-called both the flop and turn; Bleznick missed a bet on the river.

Then, Bleznick lost a $64.8K pot. He three-bet preflop with Q 7 and bluffed two streets on a 2 A K 6 4 board, while Berkey called down with A 9 .

After this hand, Berkey took the lead for the first time: +$28.7K.

Then, Bleznick lost another $112K pot: on a 2 6 7 board, he three-bet shoved with 6 3 and got called by Berkey’s 9 9 .

Bleznick has lost three more big pots in the last hour:

$95.4K — Bleznick rivered trips, Berkey made a full house

$135.4K — Berkey rivered a flush, Bleznick called with top pair and kicker for a flush

$120K — cooler heads-up, kicker played

In the end, Bleznick had to rebuy for another $100K just to finish the required playtime. He ended the evening down $314.9K.