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$500 Borgata Almighty Stack
Day 3 Completed
2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open
$500 Borgata Almighty Stack
Day: 3
Event Info
2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$927,780
Total Entries
2,209
Level
41
Blinds
3,000,000 / 6,000,000
Ante
6,000,000
Entries
6
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 2,209
Filter
Level 41
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
Tournaments with massive fields require both skill and luck to navigate, and they also provide an opportunity for less-experienced players to start a new chapter with a life-changing score. Such was the case over the past few days for cash game player Baruch Fishman.
Originally hailing from Israel, but living the majority of his life in the United States, Fishman calls Philadelphia home where he works as a dental technician. He has been a regular cash game player for the better part of 15 years, but has only accumulated $6,172 in live tournament earnings across five recorded cashes.
A few days ago, Fishman tried his luck, with only one bullet, in the $500 Borgata Almighty Stack at the 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open. With no expectations, the champ had no idea that an incredible run awaited him.
There were 2,209 entries tallied for the event to generate a prize pool of $927,780. From that figure, 279 players made the money but everyone was chasing the $144,250 first-place prize.
Just under 24 hours of poker was played from the first shuffle, with the tournament eventually seeing a three-way ICM chop between Fishman, Yuriy Kudrynskyy, and William Shaw. Shaw had the largest guaranteed payout, but the final three still had to play it out for the trophy and an additional $15,480.
However, once the dust settled it was Fishman who took home the title, earning $108,840 for his efforts in a life-changing score.
$500 Borgata Almighty Stack Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baruch Fishman | United States | $108,840* |
| 2 | Yuriy Kudrynskyy | Ukraine | $92,920* |
| 3 | William Shaw | United States | $107,340* |
| 4 | John Malczan | United States | $44,375 |
| 5 | John Wilson | United States | $30,225 |
| 6 | Raymond Ferretti | United States | $23,075 |
| 7 | Toby Gafner | United States | $17,895 |
| 8 | Will Failla | United States | $14,210 |
| 9 | Michael Mann | United States | $11,100 |
*denotes ICM deal
Winner's Reaction
Flooded with emotion after the victory, and it was clear how much it meant to Fishman.
"It feels unreal to be honest," Fishman explained. "I just started playing tournaments, and this is obviously the deepest I've ever ran. It just feels amazing to hit one, and I am just so blessed."
As a cash game player for 15 years, the Philadelphia resident is keenly aware of the role that short-term luck has in poker, and he explained how that is magnified in tournaments as he recounted some fortunate moments.
"Day 2 I ran so pure, I held in every all-in," he continued. "Never again will I ever get this lucky."
With two tables remaining in the tournament, Fishman was all-in preflop for less than ten big blinds on three separate occasions. On the Day 3 bubble with seven remaining, he was down to the final card to survive, rivering a straight to stay in contention. He came into the finale fifth in chips of six remaining players with 16 big blinds, and found the right hands at the right times.
"It hasn't really hit me yet," Fishman described. "I think I played good, but you just have to be so fortunate to win this kind of tournament."
A substantial score might lead to Fishman getting further involved in the tournament scene, but he is leaving his options open.
"I’ve really enjoyed playing tournaments. I think it is the most exciting form of poker, much more than cash games," he claimed, "It's just so much fun. But it's also brutal at times; these three days have been very hard."
Fishman explained that he actually has to return to his normal job this evening, and he has no immediate plans for tournament poker in the near future.
Day 3 Action
The final six players returned to the streamed feature table at the Borgata Poker Room with John Malczan and Yuriy Kudrynskyy atop the counts.
In the opening orbit of the day, Raymond Ferretti became the first casualty. He jammed his last 11 big blinds with pocket eights over an open, and ran straight into the Fishman's pocket kings of Fishman.
Malczan began his downfall after losing with top-pair-top-kicker against Kudrynskyy's flopped two pair, who took a commanding lead following the hand.
John Wilson was next to fall after losing a series a series of small pots. He jammed his final ten big blinds under the gun with ace-jack, but Fishman again woke up with kings, and notched another knockout.
Four-handed play was a swingy and cagey affair as the short stacks continued to find doubles. No player was able to pull away as the stacks got shallower.
Over two hours removed from the prior elimination, Malczan's run ended in fourth place. He became very short-stacked and got his chips into the middle with jack-seven. He fell short against the Fishman's queen-ten.
Nearly an hour and a half of chip trading occured when three remained, including a miracle double-up for Fishman after jamming nine-eight suited into William Shaw’s kings. Fishman was drawing to a gutshot and turned a straight to stay alive.
After the players went on a break, ICM deal discussions began, which was agreed upon shortly thereafter. Shaw was the only player guaranteed over six figures with the chip lead. A sum of $15,480 was set aside for the eventual champion.
Fishman quickly found a double with aces against Shaw, who bowed out in third.
The blinds increased again, leaving just 36 big blinds on the entire table for heads-up. After a few hands, Kudrynskyy called off his final eight blinds with king-six, and was up against the ace-nine. Ace-high remained the best hand after the board was dealt, and Fishman completed a magical run as he celebrated his victory.
This concludes PokerNews's coverage of the $500 Almighty Stack. Stay tuned for updates from the entirety of the 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open, including ongoing updates from the $2,700 Championship event.
Level 41
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
Baruch Fishman, with just $6,000 in prior live tournament earnings, has defeated a field of 2,209 players to take down the $500 Almighty Stack for $108,840 after a three-way ICM chop.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baruch Fishman | United States | $108,840 |
| 2 | Yuriy Kudrynskyy | Ukraine | $92,920 |
| 3 | William Shaw | United States | $107,340 |
| 4 | John Malczan | United States | $44,375 |
| 5 | John Wilson | United States | $30,225 |
| 6 | Raymond Ferretti | United States | $23,075 |
| 7 | Toby Gafner | United States | $17,895 |
| 8 | Will Failla | United States | $14,210 |
| 9 | Michael Mann | United States | $11,100 |
Stay tuned for a recap of the tournament, along with some words from our champion.
Level 41
: Blinds 3,000,000/6,000,000, 6,000,000 ante
Yuriy Kudrynskyy got blinded down to under ten big blinds after having to fold to some jams from the covering stack of Baruch Fishman.
Fishman jammed on the button and Kudrynskyy called off his 48,000,000 stack from the big blind.
Yuriy Kudrynskyy: K♥6♣ 
Baruch Fishman: A♦9♣
Kudrynskyy was behind but held live cards as the 10♠7♦3♦ flop improved neither player. The 4♠ turn added a gutshot for Kudrynskyy, but the river was the Q♣, and ace-high was the best hand to eliminate Kudrynskyy in second place.
Level: 41
Blinds: 3,000,000/6,000,000
Ante: 6,000,000
Level 40
: Blinds 2,500,000/5,000,000, 5,000,000 ante
William Shaw had moved back into second place after Fishman lost a pot to Yuriy Kudrynskyy. Shaw open-jammed from the button and Baruch Fishman called off from the big blind for around 59,000,000.
Baruch Fishman: K♠J♦
William Shaw: A♣9♦
Shaw was the slight favorite to win until the Q♠J♥8♦ flop paired Fishman. Shaw found no help on the 3♣2♦ runout, and he was left short.
The next hand, Yuriy Kudrynskyy raised to 10,000,000 on the button, Shaw jammed for 15,000,000 from the big blind, and Kudrynskyy called.
William Shaw: K♦8♥
Yuriy Kudrynskyy: Q♣J♥
Shaw was blind, but he actually ahead. However, the A♣Q♦3♦ flop paired Kudrynskyy. Shaw found no help on the 9♥7♦ runout, and his run ended in third.
Level 40
: Blinds 2,500,000/5,000,000, 5,000,000 ante
Baruch Fishman limped in from the small blind, William Shaw jammed from the big blind as the covering stack for 44,500,000 effective, and Fishman snapped it off.
Baruch Fishman: A♥A♣
William Shaw: A♠10♠
Shaw jammed into number one and needed major some help to win. However, the A♦7♠4♠ flop ensured that the money was going in at some point anyway as Shaw flopped top pair and the nut flush draw, still behind the top set of Fishman.
The board ran out 2♦4♦, leaving Fishman's hand best as he doubled his stack to take the lead
Level 40
: Blinds 2,500,000/5,000,000, 5,000,000 ante
An ICM deal has been agreed upon, and play has restarted for the final three.
William Shaw: $107,340
Baruch Fishman: $93,360
Yuriy Kudrynskyy: $92,920
A additional amount of $15,480 will be reserved for the winner, along with the trophies.
Level: 40
Blinds: 2,500,000/5,000,000
Ante: 5,000,000
Level 39
: Blinds 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
The final three players are taking some time to discuss an ICM chop.
$15,480 must be held aside to play for, along with the trophy. Details will be posted once they are finalized.
