Editor
The Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game finale took place on Thursday, for the third day of huge high-stakes cash games.
The action on the first two days of play was explosive, as we saw Texas Mike go from biggest winner to biggest loser in the span of the two sessions. Day 3 was the finale, and it had a star-studded lineup full of big hands. Once again, it was Alan Keating who stole the show.
Decked out in a white and black pinstripe suit, Keating shook up the action after a tepid first few hours of play. His insertion into the table immediately made the pots bigger and the game much more splashier.
The big hand of the night ended up happening between Keating and Nik Airball in a pot that would surpass $1.6 million. Airball started proceedings by raising from the lowjack, holding the6♦5♦. Keating had one of the worst hands in poker for his pre-flop holding with the 8♥4♣, and he tossed in the call from the big blind.
The flop was about as juicy as possible as it came 4♦8♣3♦ to give Keating two-pair and Airball an open-ended straight flush draw. Fireworks were sure to come between the two aggressive players, and sure enough, Keating check-raised a bet of $5,000 to $35,000, which Airball called.
The turn was the3♥. Keating still had the best two-pair and bet $60,000. Airball jumped on that to raise to $230,000. Keating called. The river was the A♠. Keating checked.
Airball then applied the ultimate pressure by delivering a big bet of $525,000. Keating went deep into the tank and thought for close to six minutes, talking to Airball a few times. He questioned the move and said that Airball does not usually bluff this big, which made him strongly consider folding.
But eventually, Keating made the correct decision and called to win the $1.6 million pot, adding yet another epic hand to his quickly growing resume of hands of the year.
