A crypto millionaire tried to run a bluff in opposition to a poker legend in a record-smashing $3.1 million hand

• All hail poker legend Tom Dwan.
• One of many kings of the cardboard room made historical past Tuesday when he gained a file $3.1 million pot.
• His opponent Wesley Fei tried to run an ongoing bluff, however Dwan referred to as him down and took the winnings.

Crypto whizkid Wesley Fei confirmed nice coronary heart throughout Tuesday’s high-stakes poker session on the Hustler On line casino in Gardena, California.

The entrepreneur, who based the funding agency Infinite Decentralization Capital, ran a triple-barreled bluff to try to get legendary participant Tom Dwan off of his hand.

It began when Fei picked up the ace of diamonds and king of hearts through the highly-anticipated million-dollar buy-in recreation Hustler On line casino Reside organized and broadcasted.

Fingers had been all the time supposed to tally a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} and had been by no means designed for the faint of coronary heart.

Fei raised the motion to $30,000 earlier than a flop (the three opening group playing cards) had even been seen, sparking folds till Dwan was left to decide.

The pc reader that detects which playing cards gamers have couldn’t see what Dwan was holding.

Nevertheless, the 36-year-old raised the motion as soon as once more to $100,000 — about the price of a yacht.

Fei wasn’t going anyplace and was left with two clear choices — name, or increase once more. He selected the latter … elevating to $275,000, who referred to as after a minute of deliberation.

The three of diamonds, eight of diamonds, and eight of spades arrived when the seller put the flop on the board.

Dwan checked to Fei, who requested the veteran how a lot cash he had behind. “About $1.25 million,” Dwan mentioned, bringing an intrigued silence to these across the desk.

Fei down-bet to $125,000, which Dwan referred to as, so the seller put the subsequent card — the flip — on the board.

After seeing the 5 of hearts, a largely ineffectual card, Dwan once more checked to Fei, whose “arms had been shaking,” as noticed by the HCL commentator David Tuchman on the time.

Fei then wager $350,000 — barely lower than half the pot — and Dwan referred to as after excited about the choice for one more minute.

The pot had grown to $1.5 million earlier than the ultimate card — the river — arrived.

When the seller put the six of golf equipment onto the board, it was clear to these watching at residence (however to not Dwan) that Fei failed to attach with the board and had nothing greater than ace-high.

Regardless, he moved all-in to develop the pot to $2.3 million.

Dwan wanted solely a pair to beat Fei, however how Fei had performed the handcrafted it seem to be he was holding aces or kings, or had in some way related with the pair of eights on the board — maybe making journeys or quads.

“I assume he flopped an eight,” Dwan mentioned out loud as he went by his choices. “It’s extremely exhausting to fold.”

Dwan took virtually 4 minutes to make his choice, by which level the pc reader detected that he was holding a pair of queens in his hand — making him the winner if he referred to as Fei’s wager.

When he referred to as, the pot grew to $3.1 million — about the price of 31 yachts.

Inside seconds, he noticed the excellent news as Fei was distraught, flicking over his ace-king off-suit.

Poker villain Nik Airball, who was competing within the recreation however solely observing this specific hand, patted Fei on the again in an try to console him and mentioned: “You’ve got extra coronary heart than anybody right here.”

Ultimately breaking his silence, Fei mentioned: “You possibly can’t bluff, Tom.”

Watch the extraordinary, record-breaking hand proper right here:

—Hustler On line casino Reside (@HCLPokerShow) May 31, 2023

In a post-event tweet, Hustler Casino Live said that, at one level through the stay broadcast, there have been 58,000 viewers. “Probably the most in poker streaming historical past,” the present mentioned.

It added that the $3.1 million pot above is “the most important in televised/streaming poker historical past.”

Dwan praised Fei after the occasion completed.

“Wesley Fei performs actually good,” Dwan informed showrunner Ryan Feldman.

“I had a guess that he would possibly go for somewhat bit at present. I wasn’t positive that was proper. I may have simply been unsuitable and paid him off.

“However I had a little bit of a learn that my queens had been good.”

Regardless of solely showing 4 occasions on Hustler On line casino Reside, Dwan is the winningest participant within the present’s historical past with $1.8 million.

Fei, in the meantime, is down $93,915 after 102 appearances after reserving his greatest loss on the present.