Car Dealer Busts to Quads in First Level of $250k Triton Invitational
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Brandon Steven has had quite a December. The car dealer and longtime high roller started off the month with a $2 million loss on Hustler Casino Live, which he followed up today by busting the $250,000 buy-in Triton Invitational at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise festival in under an hour.
Despite being one of the most prestigious events of the year, three players, including Steven, were eliminated during Level 1.
The unique invitational, which pairs wealthy invitees with the world's top poker pros, drew 98 players. Though the field was three players smaller by the end of the first level, all three were quick to buy back into the action.
Classic Cooler Ousts Heung
The first bustout, on Level 1 with blinds of 500/1,000/1,000, was a classic cooler as Tom Heung ran pocket kings into the pocket aces of Philip Sternheimer.
According to the Triton Plus App, Sternheimer opened to 2,500 in early position and Heung three-bet to 11,000 on the button. Sternheimer four-bet to 45,000 and Heung slow-played with a call.
It was then Sternheimer who slow-played the flop of J♣5♣4♥ by check-calling a bet of 30,000 from Heung. Sternheimer checked again on the 9♦ turn and Heung bet 55,000. Sternheimer check-raised all in and Heung called.
Tom Heung: K♠K♦
Philip Sternheimer: A♦A♠
Heung was pipped and couldn't hit a king as the Q♠ landed on the river to confirm his early elimination.
Elamawy Makes Quads to Crush Steven
In another first-level cooler, Brandon Steven raised to 3,000 in middle position and Eric Wasserson three-bet to 10,000 on the button.
Sameh Elamawy then four-bet to 31,000 in the big blind and Steven came over the top with a five-bet to 115,000. Wasserson folded, and Elamawy six-bet to 250,000 to put Steven all in. He called off for 191,000.
Brandon Steven: A♦K♦
Sameh Elamawy: J♠J♥
Steven never stood a chance as the flop of 3♠10♠J♣ gave Elamawy top set before Elamawy improved to quads on the J♦5♣ runout to put an emphatic beat on Steven.
Kaladjurdjevic Runs Into Boat After Raising War
The third elimination of Level 1, Dejan Kaladjurdjevic, lost most of his stack against Artur Martirosian in a hand where Kaladjurdjevic raised to 2,5000 in the hijack and Martirosian called in the big blind.
The flop of 7♣6♥8♣ checked through and Martirosian bet 2,000 on the 6♠ turn. Kaladjurdjevic raised to 7,000 and Martirosian three-bet to 24,000. Kaladjurdjevic called.
Martirosian then bet 40,000 on the 10♠ turn and Kaladjurdjevic raised to 125,000. Martirosian once again three-bet, this time to 272,000 and Kaladjurdjevic called. He saw the bad news as Martirosian tabled 8♥8♦ for a full house.
Kaladjurdjevic was left with crumbs and was eliminated by Daniel Negreanu in the next hand.
Steven, Kaladjurdjevic and Heung all wasted no time hopping back into the event, which allows two re-entries for VIPs and one for the poker pros.
The field also includes Kristen Foxen, Alex Foxen, Mikita Badziakouski, Jesse Lonis, Jason Koon, Paul Phua and Cary Katz.
There's sure to be plenty more notable hands in the $250,000 Triton Invitational at WSOP Paradise, which PokerNews will be covering until its conclusion on Dec. 9.
*Photos courtesy of Triton
