Jared 'The Backer' Bleznick returned to the PokerGO Studio to defend his High Stakes Duel title against Matt Berkey and will take a small lead of just $22,700 into Day 2 after six hours of play.
The heads-up clash is playing under the following rules: Four 90-minute rounds each day – two PLO before two NLH, with blinds at $200/$400. Each player can add-on or rebuy as many times as necessary and the player with the most money at the end raises the High Stakes Duel belt.
Bleznick is the reigning champ after he walloped Patrik Antonius on High Stakes Duel 5. Berkey jumped into the mix in a spur-of-the-moment decision just a few days earlier and he knew he'd be up against it.
“I’ve played a fair amount with Jared but I would never play him in PLO. And he didn’t want to play me in hold’em,” Berkey told us on a break at the PokerGO Studio.
It’s not a great deal, Berkey says. “I’m giving way way way too much up. He’s a very competent no-limit player and I’m not very good at PLO. But I don’t mind gambling. It’s not easy to drum high-stakes action.”
Berkey should be relatively pleased then that there's everything to play for on Day 2.
Where are all of the challengers for Jared Bleznick's title?High Stakes Duel Day 1
Berkey and The Backer chopped it up throughout Day 1.
An early full house gave Bleznick the lead, but Berkey didn't wait long to go for a big double. In the middle of a conversation about MLB pitchers and card sets, Bleznick raised to $1.2K with 
and Berkey three-bet to $3.6K with 
. Bleznick fired back with a four-bet to $10.8K and Berkey called.
The flop was 
and Berkey check-shoved $43.7K after Bleznick tossed out a bet. Bleznick called and it was agreed that they would run it once all night. The turn was 
and the 
river got Berkey there two ways for the chip lead.
Berkey has avoided the Patrik Antonius face — so far. Bleznick soon reclaimed the lead after a flush-over-flush clash and the two traded small advantages before the PLO session ended with Bleznick holding $117K against Berkey’s $82K. A small loss for Berkey but perhaps a sigh of relief after facing down Bleznick in PLO.
Bleznick breaks it open, Berkey bounces back
Berkey seemed pleased to be down a modest amount after playing a high-variance style against one of the best, and he traded the lead with Bleznick over the early stages of no-limit play.
Berkey then moved into his biggest lead of the day. On a 
flop, Bleznick fired $6.5K into a $10K pot with 
. Berkey called to chase his flush with 
and the turn was 
. Bleznick check-called when Berkey bet $10K and the river was 
.
The bailout card handed Berkey the low end of a straight and he fired $38K after Bleznick checked. The Backer went deep into the tank and found the disciplined fold to surrender to the pot.
A short time later, however, Berkey ran two pair into Bleznick’s six-high straight, and the champ stacked up $142K to the challenger’s $57K. Berkey added $100K and set his sights on closing the gap.
Berkey is in striking distance before a Day 2 showdown with Blez. The pair traded more paint and Berkey found a jolt of life with a full house that sent him above $200K. Bleznick eventually added $100K of his own and they jockeyed for the lead until the end of the night, when the defending champion had $205,200 to the challenger’s $194,800.
Add that small win to the advantage that Bleznick held when the stacks were evened up at the break and the difference going into Day 2 is $22,700 in the champion’s favor.
Part 2 of High Stakes Duel will air on PokerGO on February 5 at 8 pm ET (5 pm PT).
Photos courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego
