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Derek Childress, a retiree from Virginia, has claimed the title in the $600 Deep Stack Kick Off at the 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open powered by BetMGM Poker. Childress topped a field of 2,390 entries to secure the trophy and a $170,610 payday after striking a heads-up deal with Lingyu “Roger” Zen.
The win came a day after Childress eliminated defending champion James Lauer, flopping the nut flush to end Lauer’s title defense. Childress said he entered the event with modest hopes, aiming only for a min-cash, and was stunned to find himself at the final table let alone winning it.
He described his approach as a simple mix of tight folding and well-timed all-ins, admitting that luck played a major role in his run through the final days of the tournament.
The final table saw several dramatic eliminations, including short stack Leo Saiag busting in sixth and Craig Robertson falling in fifth after Zen turned a flush against a chopped-pot scenario. Chip leader Coleem Chestnut’s aggressive style backfired when Childress doubled up with two pair, eventually sending Chestnut out in fourth.
Heads-up play between Childress and Zen was tightly contested, with Zen building a lead before Childress’s pocket fours held against ace-seven in a crucial race. Childress then sealed the title when his ace-queen flopped an ace against Zen’s pocket sixes.
The victory dramatically eclipses Childress’s previous live tournament earnings of just $3,100 from three cashes, according to The Hendon Mob. Now retired after nearly 30 years of playing recreationally, he said he may pursue more multi-day tournaments, though likely only a few times per year.
