Is this Hero Call by Patrik Antonius the Sickest Ever in a $25K High Roller?

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Editor & Live Reporter U.S.
4 min read
Patrik Antonius

Longtime poker pro Patrik Antonius made an incredible call at the final table of a $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em high roller in at Triton Poker Cyprus holding just bottom pair, a call that left his opponent and viewers alike completely stunned.

The hero call for his tournament life gave Antonius a double-up through chip leader Fahredin Mustafov and the Finnish pro went on to win the event for his first Triton title and $825,000.

"Sickest Hand of the Tournament"

The hand, which can be viewed on the TritonPoker Twitch stream, took place during three-handed play with blinds of 200,000/400,000/400,000 and began with a raise to 800,000 from Mustafov on the button holding 108. Antonius defended his big blind holding J2.

The flop landed 726 and Antonius checked after making bottom pair. The Bulgarian continued with a bet of 700,000 with his gutshot and Antonius called to see the Q turn.

Antonius, who picked up a flush draw, checked again and Mustafov barrelled for 1.4 million. Atonius went in the tank for two and a half minutes and called.

The river brought the A to whiff both players and Antonius again checked. Mustafov took a moment before putting Antonius all in for his remaining 3.5 million. Despite being left with nothing but bottom pair, Antonius did not immediately fold.

Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius

"Can he make the call for the sickest hand of this tournament!?" exclaimed Triton commentator Randy Lew.

"The fact that he's even considering making the hero call here with bottom pair," agreed co-commentator Henry Kilbane.

Antonius used all but one of his time banks as he entered a deep tank. After six minutes, he made the call with just a pair of ducks, which brought a "good call" from Mustafov as he tabled his bluff and conceded the pot.

"Patrik Antonius, ladies and gentleman. He's done it!" Lew celebrated.

First Triton Title

The sick call propelled Antonius to his first Triton victory as he eliminated Steve O’Dwyer in third before sending Mustafov out as the runner-up, which brought the Bulgarian a career-best $557,000.

"It has some special feel," Antonius said after the victory. "Triton is growing ... all the top players are playing this tournament, so it's nice to win, I have to say. And it's a nice way to start a series like this."

Patrik Antonius
Patrik Antonius

Other players who ran deep in the Triton event include Hong Kong's Danny Tang (4th - $300,000) and American Ebony Kenney, who finished in fifth for a career-best $240,000. Later in the series, Kenney will jump up even further in stakes and play the $200,000 Coin Rivet Invitational.

The full final table results for Poker Cyprus $25,000 Eight-Handed is available in the table below.

Triton Poker Cyprus $25,000 Eight-Handed Final Table Results

 PLACENAMECOUNTRYPRIZE (IN USD)
 1Patrik AntoniusFinland$825,000
 2Fahredin MustafovBulgaria$557,000
 3Steve O’DwyerIreland$362,000
 4Danny TangHong Kong$300,000
 5Ebony KenneyUnited States$240,000
 6Viacheslav BuldyginRussia$190,500
 7Kannapong ThanarattrakulThailand$145,700
 8Seth DaviesUnited States$109,500

Here's a look at the remaining schedule for Triton Poker Cyprus, which includes the $100,000 NLH Main event, a $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event and a number of Short Deck high rollers.

Triton Poker Cyrpus Remaining Schedule

 DATETIMEEVENTBUY-IN
 6 Sep, 20223:00 PM#2 NLH - 6 HANDED$30,000
 7 Sep, 20221:00 PM#2 NLH - 6 HANDED$30,000
 7 Sep, 20223:00 PM#3 NLH - 6 HANDED$50,000
 8 Sep, 20221:00 PM#3 NLH - 6 HANDED$50,000
 8 Sep, 20224:00 PM#5 NLH - 8 HANDED$75,000
 9 Sep, 20221:00 PM#5 NLH - 8 HANDED$75,000
 10 Sep, 20224:00 PM#6 NLH - COIN RIVET INVITATIONAL$200,000
 10 Sep, 20222:00 PM#15 NLH - 8 HANDED$20,000
 11 Sep, 20221:00 PM#6 NLH - COIN RIVET INVITATIONAL$200,000
 11 Sep, 20221:00 PM#15 NLH - 8 HANDED$20,000
 11 Sep, 20224:00 PM#7 POT LIMIT OMAHA$25,000
 12 Sep, 20221:00 PM#6 NLH - COIN RIVET INVITATIONAL$200,000
 12 Sep, 20221:00 PM#7 POT LIMIT OMAHA$25,000
 12 Sep, 20224:00 PM#8 NLH - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 13 Sep, 20221:00 PM#8 NLH - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 13 Sep, 20224:00 PM#9 NLH 8-HANDED TURBO$50,000
 14 Sep, 20221:00 PM#8 NLH - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 14 Sep, 20224:00 PM#10 SHORT DECK ANTE-ONLY$30,000
 15 Sep, 20221:00 PM#10 SHORT DECK ANTE-ONLY$30,000
 15 Sep, 20223:00 PM#11 SD ANTE-ONLY - 1 BULLET (PL PF)$40,000
 16 Sep, 20221:00 PM#11 SD ANTE-ONLY - 1 BULLET (PL PF)$40,000
 16 Sep, 20223:00 PM#12 SD ANTE-ONLY - 1 BULLET$50,000
 17 Sep, 20221:00 PM#12 SD ANTE-ONLY - 1 BULLET$50,000
 17 Sep, 20225:00 PM#13 SD - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 18 Sep, 20221:00 PM#13 SD - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 18 Sep, 20225:00 PM#14 SHORT DECK ANTE-ONLY$25,000
 19 Sep, 20221:00 PM#13 SD - MAIN EVENT$100,000
 19 Sep, 20223:00 PM#14 SHORT DECK ANTE-ONLY$25,000

Images courtesy Triton Poker via Twitch

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Editor & Live Reporter U.S.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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