Season 12 of Excessive Stakes Poker on PokerGO concluded with the twelfth and closing episode Monday. Little doubt it was legendary season filled with monster pots and thrilling moments, however none extra so than the 5 arms talked about on this article.
This yr’s sequence of money recreation reveals featured among the recreation’s greatest and most entertaining stars, together with the return of Phil Laak. Many different Excessive Stakes Poker regulars and fashionable gamers reminiscent of Jennifer Tilly and Jean-Robert Bellande made their presence felt. After which some new blood like Nik Airball and Santhosh Suvarna got here able to play in video games that ran as large as $1,000/$2,000 blinds with straddles.
However the twelfth season of the enduring poker present, which initially launched in 2006 on the Recreation Present Community, will endlessly be remembered by one hand — extra on this in a bit — that’s, no less than for now, the most important hand in Excessive Stakes Poker historical past.
The Bricks of Money Come Again
As a throwback to the 2000s poker TV period, Excessive Stakes Poker Season 12 featured some bricks of money on the desk at instances. One hand Laak performed throughout Episode 5 stands out.
Motion started with Laak limp-trapping with A♠Ok♣ for $1,600 (double straddle on), as did Bellande with Ok♥7♥ behind him, after which Brandon Adams on the button with A♥10♦. Chino Rheem adopted go well with within the small blind with 3♥2♥. However Suvarna, holding 9♠9♣, opted for a increase to $11,600.
Laak determined it was time to make a transfer with Massive Slick, so he $42,400, and solely Suvarna referred to as. The flop got here out 3♠2♣8♥, no over playing cards to the pair of 9’s. Laak, with simply ace-high, shoved his bricks of money within the center, an all in guess for $167,000. However Suvarna was unable to make the decision.
Cooler River Between $1 Million+ Stacks
Adams and Andrew Robl had been the one two gamers sitting on greater than $1 million throughout Episode 8. And the proper hand viewers had been searching for occurred.
Preflop motion kicked off with Adams elevating to $5,000 with 8♦7♦, after which Robl, seated within the large blind, three-betting to $40,000 with Ok♥Q♥. Adams made the decision to the 4♠9♠5♣ flop, not precisely what both participant hoped would come, in order that they each checked.
The ten♣ on the flip made for a few attracts, however they once more checked. When the J♥ on the river gave each gamers a straight, blood grew to become inevitable given the stack sizes. Robl, with the nuts, slowplayed his hand and checked.
Adams, who rivered an inferior straight, guess $70,000. The entice labored completely for Robl, and he got here with a check-raise to $350,000. There wouldn’t be a increase on prime, however Adams did name off the guess earlier than discovering out the unhealthy information that he’d misplaced a $783,000 pot. Robl’s stack had cracked the $2.8 million mark.
The Largest Pot in Excessive Stakes Poker Historical past
In Episode 9, Robl was working scorching by way of the primary half of the present. And it appeared that he was about to win one other large pot towards Suvarna, a participant he’d already stacked. However the tables had been turned in what was fairly the sick suckout.
Robl, within the small blind with 5♣4♣, raised the straddle to $16,000. Suvarna, sitting on A♣Ok♥ within the straddle, made it $54,000, not sufficient to persuade his rival to fold.
The 4♠4♦2♠flop as soon as once more smacked Robl within the face, leaving Suvarna in serious trouble. After Robl checked, he’d name a guess of $45,000 earlier than seeing the Ok♦ on the flip, a glimmer of hope for Santhosh. Surprisingly, each gamers checked.
However the Ok♠on the river accomplished the runner-runner suckout. Robl, nevertheless, wasn’t involved he was up towards a king, so he made a large guess of $300,000, to which Suvarna moved all in for $395,000 complete. It was solely $95,000 extra to name, which means Robl was pot dedicated. He would make the decision, after which found he’d misplaced a $992,000 pot, the most important in Excessive Stakes Poker historical past.
If Airball Makes the Name, Suvarna’s Hand Will Be Topped
The potential for the primary ever $1 million+ hand on Excessive Stakes Poker arose in the course of the closing episode of Season 12. Stanley Tang opened for $5,000 with the A♦7♥ and Yu referred to as from the button with the Q♥9♥. Airball got here alongside from the small blind with the 6♦6♣, Adams did the identical from the large with the J♦J♣, and the flop fell 8♦10♥6♥.
Three checks noticed Yu guess $10,000 together with his straight and flush attracts, and all three of his opponents referred to as. After the supplier burned and turned the twoâ™ , Airball led out for $50,000 and Adams launched. Tang did the identical however Yu referred to as to see the Jâ™ on the river, which gave him the nuts.
Airball guess $200,000 with a set of sixes and Yu, who had the larger stack, took a sip of his tea earlier than elevating all in. Airball had $482,000 again and for the second time within the episode went deep into the tank.
Ultimately, it was Robl who referred to as a clock giving Airball, who had been tanking for 10 minutes, one final minute to behave on his hand. After about 30 seconds, Airball folded and Yu pulled within the $1,044,000 pot (which included his final uncalled guess).
Nik Airball Set Up on Excessive Stakes Poker; One Participant Turns a Straight Flush
One of many Largest Pots in HSP Historical past
Within the first vital hand of Episode 6, Adams opened for $5,000 with the Q♦J♥ and Suvarna three-bet to $21,000 with the A♦Q♣. Airball then appeared down on the Ok♦Ok♣ within the large blind and four-bet it to $100,000. Adams received out of the best way however Suvarna referred to as to see a flop of 4♥Q♥10♦, which gave him prime pair.
Airball continued for $75,000 together with his over pair and Suvarna simply referred to as prompting the supplier to burn and switch the 4♣. With $358,000 within the pot, Airball moved all in for $308,000 and Suvarna, who had $348,000 again, thought a bit earlier than calling to create a $974,000 pot!
They agreed to run it twice, however neither the 8♠river on the primary run out nor 8♦ on the flip helped Suvarna and Airball scooped one of many greatest pots in Excessive Stakes Poker historical past.
PokerNews Excessive Stakes Poker Season 12 Episode Recaps
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*Pictures courtesy of PokerGO/Antonio Abrego
