Antonio Esfandiari and Alan Keating Play a $2.4 Million Nerve-Racking Pot
Antonio Esfandiari made a massive raise on the flop that created one of the largest livestreamed poker sweats ever during Tuesday's Super High Roller Cash Game on PokerGO.
Day 2 of the $500/$1,000 ($2,000 big blind ante) no-limit hold'em cash game was bonkers, with more six-figure pots than we can count, and multiple players leaving early after losing large amounts. No hand was more nerve-racking than one played between Esfandiari and Alan Keating, a pot that reached $2,441,000 between two players with over $1.2 million in their stacks.
One of the Biggest Ring Game Poker Hands You'll Ever See
Esfandiari, a poker legend who is mostly retired from the game these days, didn't compete on Day 1. But he came with a big stack for Day 2, and built up a sizable profit before he faced off against Keating, who lost over $600,000 on Monday.
The hand, in a straddled pot, started with Andrew Robl raising to $20,000 with K♦Q♣ from the small blind. Esfandiari, the first straddle, made it $58,000 to go with 9♠9♥. Keating, who had an up-and-down session, four-bet to $125,000 with 8♥7♦. Robl folded, while Esfandiari called to hit top set on the 9♦8♣6♠ flop. He checked it to his aggressive opponent, who flopped middle pair with an open-ended straight draw.
Keating continued with a $75,000 wager. Esfandiari had a decision to make — slowplay and continue allowing Keating to bet into his monster hand, or check-raise. Following a two-minute tank, he opted for the latter. But instead of making a standard raise, he moved all in for $1,084,000, a play that shocked PokerGO commentators Ali Nejad and Brent Hanks.
It was Keating's turn to go into the tank, as he had to decide if he was willing to gamble. A few minutes later and the Hustler Casino Live fan favorite announced "call," which also shocked the broadcast duo. Both players agreed to run the turn and river twice, and Keating would be freerolling after the J♦ landed on the first turn and the 5♠ completed the straight draw on the river.
Esfandiari, however, wouldn't lose his stack thanks to his opponent failing to connect on the second board. The pot was chopped. No harm, no foul. But what an instense sweat for both players and those viewing the stream on PokerGO and PokerGO's YouTube channel.
Super High Roller Cash Game Day 3, the final session, will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
*Feature image courtesy of PokerGO.
