'Jungleman' in $2M Cooler with Kings During Heads-Up Battle
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Dan “Jungleman” Cates may have been shown the door from one businessman’s private game, but entrepreneur and esports mogul Ossie “Monarch” Ketola had no hesitation in welcoming him to the Onyx Super High Roller Series. The two are now battling in a $2 million turned $6 million winner-takes-all $15,000/$30,0000 cash game at The Onyx Club.
Just 19 hands into the biggest televised heads-up match in history, a $2 million cooler hit the felt, a change of pace from Ketola’s slower-paced showdown against Kayhan Mokri the day before. While Monday’s duel saw the deck run cold, today’s session is already producing fireworks as the chips pile into the middle.
Can Jungleman's Kings Hold?
Jungleman caught Ketola's six-high bluff in a $220,000 pot on the very first hand of play, before stacks evened out over the next 18 hands, with Ketola trailing by a couple of big blinds.
With both players sitting with around $1 million, Ketola made it $25,000 from the button with A♦K♠. Jungleman looked down at a monster of his own, peeling K♥K♦. The two-time Poker Players Championship winner three-bet to $100,000 and snap-called Ketola's four-bet jam.
“How many times?” Cates asked as the chips went in.
Ketola raised a single finger, electing to run it once. The answer clearly caught Cates off guard.
“Is that reasonable?” he said in disbelief, as the cards were tabled.
The board ran 8♠7♠2♣10♥Q♥, giving Ketola no help and shipping the full $2 million his opponent’s way.
Ketola Pulls Even; $6M Match-Up Starts Now
The pair immediately sat down for a rematch, and Ketola clawed back almost $500,000 immediately.
Both players made trips, but Ketola’s ace kicker topped Cates’ king to drag-in a $1.3 million pot. The Finn pulled in a few more pots and set up a rubber match after flopping a straight against Cates’ pocket deuces to make it all square.
The third match between Ketola and Cates is already underway, with the stakes cranked up to $15,000/$30,000 and $3 million apiece on the table. Can Ketola recover the $2 million he dropped yesterday, or will Jungleman will be the latest to dip into the entrepreneur’s bankroll?
You can find out by watching the livestream above and for more high-stakes action from The Onyx Club, head to the PokerNews live reporting of the $102,000
Onyx SHRS PLO Invitational.
