Blake Ellinghaus Wins the 2026 WPT bestbet Scramble: Results and Payouts
Blake Ellinghaus won his first World Poker Tour title at bestbet Jacksonville in Florida and took home US$294,900. He defeated Jared Reinstein in the final showdown of a tournament with 294 entries. Why it matters: the biggest win of his career earned Ellinghaus a place in the WPT Champions Club and put his name on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. [1][2][3]
Key Takeaways
- The no-limit Texas Hold’em Main Event had a US$5,000 buy-in and a total prize pool of US$1,337,700, exceeding the US$1 million guarantee. [1][3]
- The top 37 finishers were paid, and the top four each received at least US$100,000. [1][3]
Blake Ellinghaus Wins the 2026 WPT bestbet Scramble: How He Claimed the Title
Ellinghaus entered the final table as the chip leader but lost ground: Bryan Paris took the lead, Reinstein won a significant pot against Ellinghaus, and Hugh Membrino doubled up before being eliminated in sixth place. [1][2]
Ellinghaus’s comeback included eliminating Skyler Dennis in fourth place and Paris in third. Against Paris, his pair of jacks beat his opponent’s pair of nines, paving the way for heads-up play—the contest between the final two players. Ellinghaus had regained the lead and never relinquished it. [1][2]
Reinstein managed to double up during the decisive heads-up battle, but Ellinghaus withstood the comeback and ended the contest by making a straight on the river, the final community card. The champion moved all-in and was called by Reinstein, who had made a pair. [1][2]
Key Numbers and Final Table Payouts
The 294 entries came from three starting flights; that total counts entries, not necessarily distinct players. The centerpiece of the 16-event series concluded after six days of play. [1]
The standings and payouts for the six players on the final day match across reports from CardPlayer and PokerNews and the WPT press release. [1][2][3]
| Place | Player | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blake Ellinghaus | US$294,900 |
| 2nd | Jared Reinstein | US$184,000 |
| 3rd | Bryan Paris | US$135,000 |
| 4th | Skyler Dennis | US$100,000 |
| 5th | Michael Macchia | US$75,000 |
| 6th | Hugh Membrino | US$57,000 |
Raminder Singh finished seventh, earning US$43,500; his elimination determined the six players who advanced to the final. [1]
What to Watch Next
After Jacksonville, the WPT heads to The Star Sydney in Australia. The organization announced the WPT Prime Australia Championship for September 17–22, 2026, and the WPT Australia Championship for September 24–30, 2026. [3]
Sources
- [1] Blake Ellinghaus Wins World Poker Tour bestbet Scramble — CardPlayer — Erik Fast, September 10, 2026.
- [2] Blake Ellinghaus Claims WPT bestbet Scramble Championship for $294,900 — PokerNews — Jon Sofen.
- [3] Blake Ellinghaus Wins WPT® bestbet Scramble Championship for $294,900 — World Poker Tour — WPT Staff, press release dated September 10, 2026.
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