The World Series of Poker is in the midst of another annual windfall and, as it does so often, incredible things are happening at the tables.
Traditionally, the first tournament of the series is for the casino employees.
At the final table of this one a hand both players involved will never forget killed one player’s tournament while paving the way to victory for the other.
A Most Incredible Flop
There are five players left in Event #1 of the 2016 WSOP in Las Vegas. All five will win at least $16,000 but the main prize is $75,000.
The two biggest stacks - belonging to Brian Mikesh and Christopher Sand - get involved in a hand.
Both might want to play it carefully to not risk their position. But then they both get drawn into a vortex from where there’s no escape.
Second Nuts with One Out
Mikesh finds K♦ Q♦ and raises to 2bb, as people do these days. It’s folded around to Sand who holds 9♦ 7♦ – too good to fold if you only have to pay one more big blind.
Sand calls and the dealer deals a flop that you couldn’t even make up. Instantly you know that all the chips are going in and there’s going to be a lot of head-shaking.
And so it happens. The hands are so good that Mikesh clenches his fist in triumph because he was afraid Sand could have the nut flush and now sees no ace.
Only a couple of seconds later he realizes there's an even better hand than that.
With only one out left to a royal flush even the directors got carried away a little as a virtual ace shows up on the river temporarily. At the end of the day, Mikesh didn’t hit his out and busted. Sand went on to win the tournament.
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