The 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open has a new name in its record book. Li Liang, a New Jersey local and familiar face in the Atlantic City poker room, became the first woman to win a title at the series after taking down the 650 dollar Super Deep 6-Max event for 41,150 dollars.
A Historic Run at Borgata
Liang’s win came in a 401-entry field that built a prize pool of 228,570 dollars, a strong turnout for a mid-buy-in event on the Borgata Summer Poker Open schedule. Liang, who plays regularly at the property and is well known to the staff there, needed just over two hours to close out the final table once play got six-handed, moving through the field with the kind of composure that only comes from logging serious volume in the room.
Breaking Down the 650 Dollar Super Deep 6-Max
The Super Deep 6-Max format rewards patience and precise stack management, with fewer players per table and deeper starting stacks than a typical field. That structure tends to produce longer, more strategically dense final tables, and this one was no exception. Liang had to navigate several big pots against seasoned regulars before she ever got heads up for the title.
The Hand That Sealed the Title
The decisive moment of the tournament came down to nerve as much as cards. Liang made what was described as a gutsy call on the turn holding only second pair, putting her tournament life on the line in the process. The call held up, and from there she was able to close out the match. It is exactly the kind of read that separates a deep run from a title, and it is a reminder that hand strength alone rarely wins a tournament, reading an opponent’s story does. Players looking to sharpen that same instinct can start with the basics in Poker Pro Academy’s poker hand rankings guide.
Runner-Up Giorgi Arveladze Falls Just Short
Standing in Liang’s way in heads-up play was Giorgi Arveladze of Georgia, who had to settle for 28,575 dollars after a deep run of his own through the 401-entry field. Arveladze’s run added an international flavor to a tournament otherwise dominated by regulars from the Atlantic City circuit, and his second-place finish stands as one of the stronger scores of his live tournament resume so far.
What This Means for Women in Poker
Liang’s victory carries weight beyond the cash. According to The Hendon Mob, the win more than doubled her career live tournament earnings, and becoming the first woman to win a title on the Borgata Summer Poker Open schedule adds her name to a growing list of female champions breaking through on major regional series. Speaking after the win, Liang credited persistence as much as skill. “I played hard, and just kept going,” she said. “Not just the money is great, but to win the title.” She added that she plans to keep grinding at her home room. “I play at Borgata all the time,” she said, noting the win “gives me more confidence” and that she intends to “play every day” going forward.
The Borgata Summer Poker Open in Context
The Super Deep 6-Max title is one of dozens of events on the Borgata Summer Poker Open schedule, a series that has become one of the busiest stops on the East Coast summer circuit thanks to its mix of accessible buy-ins and deep structures. Fields of 400 or more entries are increasingly common on the series, a sign of how much the room’s summer swing has grown in recent years. Against that backdrop, Liang’s win stands out not just for being a first, but for coming in a genuinely competitive field rather than a smaller side event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tournament did Li Liang win?
Liang won the 650 dollar Super Deep 6-Max event at the 2026 Borgata Summer Poker Open, topping a 401-entry field for 41,150 dollars.
Who did Li Liang beat heads up?
She defeated Giorgi Arveladze of Georgia in heads-up play. Arveladze earned 28,575 dollars for his runner-up finish.
Why is this win significant?
Liang became the first woman to win a title at the Borgata Summer Poker Open, and the score more than doubled her prior live tournament earnings.
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