The latest installment of PokerGO’s High Stakes Duel, High Stakes Duel 5, saw Jared Bleznick emerge victorious over Patrik Antonius in the first round. Bleznick walked away with the $100,000 prize pool, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch between the two players.
High Stakes Duel 5 marks a return to the competitive poker scene over a year after High Stakes Duel 4 concluded with Daniel Negreanu triumphing over Doug Polk in Round 2. The format of the competition has undergone some changes, with the buy-in starting at $50,000 per player and doubling with each subsequent round.
One unique aspect of High Stakes Duel 5 is the alternating game format, switching between No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha every ten hands. Additionally, players have the option to call on the dealer to “Run It Twice” once during the contest, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.
Unlike previous iterations of the series, there is no longer a consecutive wins requirement, which had previously led to extended delays in the competition. Instead, the loser of each round now has the opportunity to request a rematch at double the stakes. If the losing player decides not to pursue a rematch, the winner of the round is declared the High Stakes Duel champion, eliminating the need for waiting for a replacement player.
The highly anticipated rematch between Bleznick and Antonius, with each player putting up $100,000, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The showdown will be streamed live on the PokerGO subscription service, allowing fans to witness the intense competition unfold in real-time.
High Stakes Duel has seen notable champions in the past, including Phil Hellmuth (Seasons 1 and 2), Jason Koon (Season 3), and Daniel Negreanu (Season 4). The series continues to attract top-tier talent and deliver thrilling poker action to audiences around the world.