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Home / Sport

Watch: Poker player wins $11m after outrageous bluff

NZ Herald
4 Nov, 2016 01:20 AM2 mins to read

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In what could be one of the most risky bluffs ever, Qui Nguyen walked away with the World Series of Poker's NZ$11 million top prize. Photo / World Series of Poker

In what could be one of the most risky bluffs ever, Qui Nguyen walked away with the World Series of Poker's NZ$11 million top prize. Photo / World Series of Poker

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Last week, poker gave us its healthy serving of drama, with William Kassouf and Griffin Benger going head-to-head in a heated verbal battle, followed by an outrageous hand.

This week, it gave us something even more exciting.

Qui Nguyen walked away from the 2016 World Series of Poker yesterday with the top prize of US$8 million (NZ$11m).

But he nearly lost it all with one of the most risky bluffs you will ever see.

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With Nguyen leading Gordon Vayo by about 100 million chips in their final showdown, Vayo drew Queen-9 and landed a "fantastic" flop of 9-4-2.

Knowing he was sitting on a good chance to win - an 82 per cent chance, to be precise - he checked, hoping to draw more money out of his opponent.

He did, with Nguyen hoping for something to complement his Jack-5.

As the turn came, he realised he was losing the battle. Probably knowing that he was holding a worse hand, Nguyen started bluffing - hard. Really hard.

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He threw in almost 28 million more chips trying to scare Vayo away, but Vayo didn't cave. He called again. The pot is 89 million chips at this point with one more round of betting.

A five fell on the river; Vayo has literally a 100 per cent chance to win the hand at this point, and has succeeded in drawing a good chunk of cash from Nguyen.

Until Nguyen goes all in with a 0 per cent change to win.

An incredible bluff that spikes the pot to 162.2 million chips and leaving Vayo totally lost.

After minutes of deliberation, Vayo folds. Nguyen's aggression turned a certain loss into a giant win with an all-time bluff.

"I'm out of words," said the commentator.

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