WARM-UP ($565)

In a battle of the blinds, Kinh Huyan Nguyen shoved all-in from the small blind for 15,800. Deng Hao Yang, with a significant stack in front of him, made the call, putting Nguyen at risk.

Kinh Huyan Nguyen: J♣ 9♠

Deng Hao Yang: A♣ 2♣

Yang was ahead with ace-high, leaving Nguyen hoping to pair up or find a way to improve. The flop Q♣ 8♠ 3♣ gave Nguyen a glimmer of hope with a gutshot straight draw. The 8♣ turn didn’t change the situation, and to solidify Yang’s lead, the 2♥ landed on the river, giving him a pair and the pot.

Fireworks erupted when two unknown players—one on the button and the other in the small blind—engaged in a raising war preflop. Deng Hao Yang, sitting in the big blind and covering both, calmly flatted all the action, sending the three players to a high-stakes showdown.

Small Blind: A♣ K♥

Button: Q♣ 9♦

Deng Hao Yang: A♦ J♦

The small blind player breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his Ace-King was ahead. That relief held briefly as the flop came 9♣ 3♠ 9♥, giving the button trips but still leaving the small blind slightly ahead with two overcards.

But the board had more drama in store. The J♠ on the turn and the J♣ on the river gave Yang trip jacks and the winning hand—crushing both opponents in a huge three-way pot.

We arrived at the table with the flop already dealt, showing 3♥ 7♠ K♥ and 8,000 chips in the middle.

Sacha Bayard check-called Deng Hao Yang’s bet of 2,200, and did the same on the turn when Yang fired 8,500 on the T♠. After another check from Bayard on the river, Yang moved all-in for 55,000, sending Bayard deep into the tank. Ultimately, he folded.