The Biggest Hands from HCL's Million Dollar Cash Game
The Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Marathon fell short of its planned 24-hour run, but the 13 hours that did unfold in the $500/$1,000 game were more than enough to deliver some of the biggest pots of the year.
With $10.5 million on the table, Alan Keating and Nik Airball rose as the biggest winners. Keating booked $1,699,500 and dragged one of the largest pots in livestream poker history, while Airball added $1,351,500 of his own.
The swings cut both ways. Steve finished down $1 million, and Brandon Steven, who bluff-shoved into a set of kings and later saw his aces cracked, ended as the biggest casualty with a $2 million loss. With those results, here are the biggest hands that shaped the stream.
Turbo Drags in First Big Pot
Phong "Turbo" Nguyen collected the first big pot of the stream, to the expense of Sam "Senor Tilt" Kiki.
Turbo A♠10♥ made it $3,000 from the hijack and called when Kiki K♦Q♥ made it $15,000 from the button.
Turbo check-called bets of $17,000 and $50,000 on the flop and turn for the final board to read Q♦7♣10♠5♠10♦. After sealing the checkmark on the river with trip tens, Turbo led out for $150,000 and Kiki, who had faced several difficult river spots throughout the night, paid him off to create a $467,500 pot.
Airball Starts His Heater
Airball's seven-figure haul started in a hand against fellow high-stakes regular Peter Wang, where the cameras picked up the action on the turn.
There was $63,500 in the pot on the 8♥4♥2♥6♦ board. Airball 6♥6♠ turned a set and checked from under the gun. Peter Q♠Q♥ was behind, but fired out $35,000. Airball stuck around and faded a fourth heart as the 9♦ completed the board. Airball continued with a check and Peter sized up to $55,000. Airball made it $205,000 and dragged in the $543,500 pot after Peter slid in calling chips.
Businessman Goes for a Big Bluff
Brandon Steven showed he had plenty of heart in the first $1 million pot of the livestream, but the outcome was not what he wanted.
The entrepreneur opened the action to $4,000 with 10♣10♥ from under the gun. Airball called with Q♦10♦ before Kiki looked down at K♠K♥ in the small blind. After needling Steven about playing tight, Kiki three-bet to $50,000 and Steven was the only caller.
Steven called a bet of $80,000 on the 4♦3♣2♥ flop, bringing in the A♠ turn. Kiki wasn't a fan of the ace and checked, Steven sensed some weakness and bet $127,000. Kiki called.
Kiki improved to a set on the K♣ river, and checked. Steven moved all in for his last $282,000 and was snap-called, putting him on the wrong end of the biggest pot of the stream at that point. He was not ready to quit though and reloaded.
Airball Cracks Kings on Both Runouts
Christmas may still be a few weeks away, but Airball somehow found himself on Santa’s nice list with a $689,000 pot wrapped up for him in a neat little bow.
Airball A♥Q♥ raised from under the gun and Peter K♠K♦ just called with his cowboys in the cutoff. Kiki Q♣3♣ got a bit out of line, squeezing to $19,000 with his less-than-stellar hole cards. Airball four-bet to $102,000, which must have been music to Peter’s ears. He then went over the top, shoving for $333,500. Kiki quickly got out of the way before Airball called after some thought.
They agreed to run it twice, and Airball found all the aces to scoop. An ace on the flop of the first runout let him freeroll the second board, which delivered the final two aces in the deck and let him crack kings twice.
$1.9M Pot Fails to Materialize
Peter was able to rebound pretty quickly when he topped off another $500,000. Turbo A♥Q♣ limped in before Peter J♠J♦ made it $11,000 with his premium pair. Kiki 9♥9♣ continued to drive the action, reraising to $40,000 from the button, but failed to take it down as Turbo back-raised to $180,000. That wasn't enough to push off both opponents as Peter and Kiki called to put $545,500 in the pot before the flop.
Turbo checked the 10♥5♠3♣ flop, and Peter snap-shoved in his $277,500 stack. Kiki and Turbo folded and Peter's stack grew to $823,000. Had both players called, the pot would have hit the $1.9 million mark.
Airball Gets Paid By Keating
Keating and Airball have tangled in some huge pots over the years, and while this one wasn't the biggest between the HCL regulars, Airball was delighted to get one over his rival.
Airball A♦Q♥ made it $4,000 from the button before Keating 10♥10♣ bumped it to $20,000 from the small blind. Airball called and took the lead on the A♥3♥2♥ flop and called another $20,000 wager. The J♥ turn gave both players flushes and they checked the action through to the K♥ river.
Airball essentially had the nuts, (yes, 5♥4♥ would've been the straight flush) and min-clicked it to $230,000 after Keating bet $115,000.
"Didn't see that coming," sighed Keating who agonized over his options. In the end, Keating called to see the bad news.
Keating Busts Steve & Kabrhel for $2.1M
Then came the biggest pot of the night. Five players put in $4,000 preflop to see a J♥J♠10♠ flop.
Steve J♦9♦ flopped trips and led for $1,000 from the small blind. He was called by the recently arrived Martin Kabrhel J♣6♣, who had a weaker three-of-a-kind. Steven 10♥8♥ also called with jacks and tens, but the fireworks really started when Keating 10♦10♣ raised to $25,000 with his flopped boat. Kiki 9♥8♠ ditched his open-ended straight draw before Steve called.
Kabrhel then three-bet to $69,000. Steven folded and Keating called, sending the action back to Steve, who moved all in for $784,500. Kabrhel called off his $490,000 stack and Keating tossed in the chips, leaving both opponents needing a miracle.
The pot swelled to $2,082,000, and Keating dragged the massive pot after both players failed to fill up on either runout. That beat was enough for Steve to call it a day.
Steven's Session Goes From Bad to Worse
Steven was already having a rough go of it, but his final hand is the stuff of nightmares for any poker player.
Kiki began the hand, raising to $4,000 with 4♥4♣. The action folded to Steven, who woke up with A♠A♣, the perfect hand to start his comeback, or so he thought. The automotive-mogul three-bet to $12,000 and saw a call from Keating, who had J♣10♦. DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang also came along after he decided he liked the look of his 9♥7♥. Kiki matched the raise with his small pair.
Tang made two pair on the Q♠9♣7♦ flop to move ahead and checked. Kiki also checked, prompting Steven to bet $27,000. Keating called and then the action was back on Tang. The billionaire put out $100,000, which got rid of Kiki. Steven jammed for $352,500, folding out Keating. Tang snap-called and they turned their cards over, with only lady luck deciding who'd be the victor.
Tang and Steven agreed to run it twice, and there was little drama for the former, who held on both runouts. Steven, down $2 million, exited the game.
Kabrhel Recovers in $1.55M Pot
Rounding out the stream was another seven-figure pot, this time Kabrhel being the player to add to his stack.
With the straddle on, Turbo raised to $15,000 with A♠10♦ and was called by Kabrhel Q♣J♣. Kiki 8♠8♦, who was in the staddle, three-bet to $100,000. Turbo four-bet to $280,000 and Kabrhel committed the $200,000 more he had behind. Kiki moved in over the top for $660,000 and Turbo liked his hand enough to go with it as the bigger stack.
Kabrhel connected on the Q♥5♦3♦ flop to have the best hand. The Q♠ turn was fantastic for Kabhrel and he tripled up to $679,500 after the 4♠ river. Kiki profited $208,000 after taking the sizeable side pot.
HCL Stats: Cumulative Winnings + VPIP
| Player | Cumulative Winnings | VPIP |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Keating | +$1,699,500 | 64% |
| Nik Airball | +$1,351,500 | 35% |
| Stanley Tang | +$700,000 | 44% |
| Jeff the Cash | +$139,500 | 37% |
| Sam "Senor Tilt" Kiki | -$110,000 | 38% |
| Peter Wang | -$175,000 | 56% |
| Phong "Turbo" Nguyen | -$285,000 | 25% |
| Martin Kabrhel | -$342,000 | 42% |
| Steve | -$1,000,000 | 38% |
| Brandon Steven | -$2,000,000 | 49% |
Million Dollar Marathon Part 1
Million Dollar Marathon Part 2
