$1,650 High Roller
Day 2 Completed
$1,650 High Roller
Day 2 Completed
The 2025 Eastern Poker Open $1,650 High Roller began with 86 entrants, and on Saturday, the final table of nine returned to compete for a share of a $129,000 prize pool.
Jordan Fishman, a retired professor who is well-known in local poker circles, began the final table as the chip leader, and while he didn’t go wire to wire, he still managed to close it out after a three-hour heads-up marathon against poker pro Steven Tabb.
Fishman was cheered on by his girlfriend, Linda Swears, whom he met on the Eastern Poker Tour. They’ve known each other for 15 years but became a couple two years ago. It’s around that time that both of their poker games started to improve dramatically.
“She had a more conservative style, and I was more aggressive. We meshed our games together,” said Fishman, a retired professor who now travels with Linda to play poker. “Without her, it wouldn’t be as much fun.”
Fishman continued: “This is the best poker I’ve ever played. I’m ready to tackle anything. This is by far my biggest poker accomplishment.”
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Fishman | $45,000 |
| 2 | Steven Tabb | $27,000 |
| 3 | Ron Scott | $15,500 |
| 4 | Dennis O’Hare | $10,500 |
| 5 | Adam Johnson | $8,400 |
| 6 | Justin Carey | $7,100 |
| 7 | Brian Haughey | $6,400 |
| 8 | Mike LaMontagne | $5,200 |
| 9 | Linval Gentles | $3,900 |
It marked a new career-high score for Fishman, who had $112,564 in career earnings prior to the win, according to The Hendon Mob. That included a prior career-best $13,589 for finishing as runner-up in the 2018 Bar Poker Open Championship. More recently, Fishman finished third in February’s Gate City Winter Open $350 No-Limit Hold’em for $10,850.
One of the bigger storylines coming into the final day was the fact that last year’s runner-up, Justin Carey, and champ, Brian Haughey, were both in contention. Unfortunately for them, there would be no rematch, as both bowed out fairly early.
In Level 19 (20,000/40,000/40,000), Mike LaMontagne moved all in for his last 95,000 from early position and Ron Scott jammed over the top for 795,000 from the cutoff. Haughey then called off for 215,000 from the small blind and all three hands were turned up.
Mike LaMontagne: Q♠Q♥
Brian Haughey: 7♦7♣
Ron Scott: A♣K♠
Scott had a chance at a double knockout and the 5♠K♦5♥ flop paired his king to give him the lead. Neither the 5♣ turn nor 8♥ river changed a thing and Scott scored the double elimination.
In the next level, Carey three-bet jammed from the small blind with ace-nine only to run into the two red jacks of Scott in the big. The pocket pair held and Carey saw his run come to an end in sixth place.
From there, Adam Johnson, Dennis O’Hare, and Scott all hit the rail to leave Fishman and Tabb to battle heads-up in what turned out to be a marathon affair. Fishman began with a big chip lead, but Tabb doubled and eventually pulled out in front. That set off three hours of back-and-forth play that saw the duo take turns in the driver’s seat.
As the blinds escalated, every hand proved more impactful, and eventually, Fishman secured a double into the lead before delivering the knockout blow when his ace-eight held against Tabb’s jack-ten.
“You measure yourself against better players,” Fishman said of Tabb, “and this was a great way to measure myself. He’s a tough player and played a great tournament.”
While the $1,650 High Roller is done, there is still one more day left in the 2025 Eastern Poker Open. The invite-only $34,000 Championship – a tournament that supports local charities, with a portion of the proceeds going to causes in the community – saw the top 16 players from Day 1 advance to Day 2.
On Sunday, April 6, the final round will be televised, and the top 16 players will be joined by Monthly Championship winners, Regional Winners, and Wild Card Spots from the “Open” Charity Tournaments.
PokerNews will be there to live report all the action, so be sure to join us then.
After a three-hour heads-up match a winner has been crowned.
In what would be the last hand of the tournament, Jordan Fishman limped and then called when Steven Tabb moved all in for 1.86 million.
Steven Tabb: J♦10♠
Jordan Fishman: A♣8♠
Fishman was ahead and stayed there on the 5♥2♦2♠ flop. The 2♥ turn left Tabb looking to hit the river, but he failed to do so as the K♠ peeled off.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,600,000
3,610,000
|
3,610,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
Level: 27
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Steven Tabb called holding the 8♣5♣ and Jordan Fishman checked his option with the Q♣J♣.
When the flop fell 5♦J♥4♥, Fishman checked, Tabb bet 350,000, and Fishman check-raised all in for 2,045,000.
Tabb paused for a few beats before making the call, but he failed to get lucky as the 2♥ bricked the turn followed by the Q♦ on the river.
Fishman scored another double into the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,990,000
2,035,000
|
2,035,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,670,000
2,035,000
|
2,035,000 |
As has been the case for much of this heads-up match, Tabb has clawed his way back into the chip lead by winning most of the smaller to mid-sized pots.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,705,000
3,125,000
|
3,125,000 |
|
|
2,955,000
3,125,000
|
3,125,000 |
|
|
||
After growing short again, Jordan Fishman got his stack of 2.94 million all in preflop against Steven Tabb.
Jordan Fishman: A♥K♥
Steven Tabb: Q♠J♦
The J♠10♥7♥ flop paired Tabb but Fishman was the favorite with two overs and both straight and flush draws. The 3♣ turn was a brick but the 5♥ river wasn't as Fishman made a flush to double again.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,080,000
3,140,000
|
3,140,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,580,000
3,140,000
|
3,140,000 |
Jordan Fishman got his stack of 2.52 million all in preflop and was at risk against Steven Tabb.
Jordan Fishman: 9♠9♦
Steven Tabb: A♠4♦
Fishman was ahead but the K♠2♠3♠ flop made things interesting as Tabb flopped flush and straight draws. Fortunately for Fishman, neither the 7♣ turn nor K♣ river dealt a knockout blow and he doubled into the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,240,000
1,620,000
|
1,620,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,420,000
1,620,000
|
1,620,000 |
Level: 26
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,040,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
|
3,620,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
|
||