Aria Poker Classic

Lucas Bernui

Lucas Bernui had anything but an easy path to victory going into Day 2 of the $2,200 Mystery Bounty here at the Aria Poker Classic. Bernui began as the third-shortest stack with just ten big blinds but by the end of the night he held every chip in the tournament. Bernui defeated Aleks Dimitrov in a back-and-forth heads-up battle, taking home the trophy, the $132,350 top prize, and another $12,000 in bounties.

We spoke to Bernui to get his reaction after the monumental victory.

“Really proud, really happy," Bernui said of his feelings in the moment. "I don’t play much live. Normally I play at the Borgata whenever they have a series. It’s my first live win. I’m just happy and proud. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet.”

Bernui described himself as primarily an online player over the last three years, and has recently taken an interest in tournaments.

“I’ve been playing since early 2024. I started playing with college friends in home games. Recently I started playing tournaments in New Jersey; BetMGM online is one of the sites I play on. Lots of work has been put in, so it’s nice to find some results.”

Lucas Bernui

Bernui and his co-host Justin host the Uncapped poker podcast, which is centered on all angles of the American Poker Scene.

"Mainly talking to online regulars who play not only online tournaments, but online cash and mixed games as well," Bernui said when describing the podcast. 

"We’re trying to create a bit more of a community surrounding players who play in America. I know a lot of online players around the rest of the world get a lot of coverage, but I feel like it’s not the same for some of the American online players. We’re just trying to give a bit more exposure to that, trying to build a little bit of a community so people can get to know each other, and not just be a screen name.”

Final Table Results

• 1st: Lucas Bernui - $132,350
• 2nd: Aleks Dimitrov - $92,775
• 3rd: Jamie Eisenhut - $59,650
• 4th: Michael Nam - $39,975
• 5th: Eric Yanovsky - $30,750
• 6th: Nadine Copley - $25,480
• 7th: Filipp Khavin - $21,385
• 8th: Owen Savir - $17,300
• 9th: Renat Bohdanov - $13,240

Aleks Dimitrov

Level 30: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)

Aleks Dimitrov limped in from the button, Lucas Bernui raised to 800,000 from the big blind, and Dimitrov called.

The flop came , Dimitrov called a 1,200,000 bet from Bernui.

Bernui shoved for 7,025,000 on the turn. Dimitrov thought for a couple of minutes before calling all-in for a bit less than 6,000,000, putting himself at risk with most of the chips in the tournament in the middle.

Aleks Dimitrov:
Lucas Bernui:

Bernui had top two pair, while Dimitrov had bottom pair, a gutshot and a flush draw. The river was a brick, and Bernui won the final pot of the tournament. 

• Lucas Bernui - 17,000,000
• Aleks Dimitrov - eliminated

Level 30: 100,000/200,000 (200,000)

With the board reading , Lucas Bernui checked from the big blind, and Aleks Dimitrov bet 400,000 from the button. Bernui check-raised to 950,000, and Dimitrov called.

Bernui bet 1,750,000 on the turn and Dimitrov called again. On the river Bernui roughly 4,900,000, committing all of his stack except for one 25,000 chip. Dimitrov quickly folded and Berncui took both the pot and the chip lead.

• Lucas Bernui - 10,500,000
• Aleks Dimitrov - 6,500,000

Level 29: 75,000/150,000 (150,000) 

With the board reading and a bit over 1,000,000 in the middle, Lucas Bernui bet 850,000 from the big blind, and Aleks Dimitrov called from the button.

Bernui check-called a 725,000 bet from Dimitrov on the turn. On the river Bernui checked and Dimitrov shoved for 3,225,000. Bernui went into the tank for a few minutes before calling with a covering stack.

Bernui had hero-called with , but Dimitrov had a flush with to secure the double.

• Aleks Dimitrov - 11,000,000
• Lucas Bernui - 6,000,000