We already knew that Bryce Hall can play poker at more than a competent level, but he wasn’t the only one who put on a solid performance during Monday’s Celebrity Poker Tour Game Night III, which aired on PokerGO.
That said, the social media personality came out victorious, winning the belt and the $15,000 prize. But he faced some tough competition from podcaster Hila Klein, co-host of the H3 podcast, who finished in second place.
Underdog One Card Away from Victory
Klein entered the sit n’ go style poker game as a heavy underdog at +1000 odds, according to the Fliff social sportsbook. Her husband and co-host, Ethan Klein, however, was among the favorites to win (+500). But it was the underdog in the family who nearly took it down. Ethan Klein, on the other hand, was the first elimination. He spoke with PokerNews after he busted.
“I think dumb play and bad luck,” Klein said of why he busted so early. “The two things that makes you lose.”
Contortionist Sofie Dossi, an alternate in the game, got in on the action following Klein’s quick elimination. And she entered the game like only a contortionist could.
Dossi, the biggest underdog at the table (+1500), hung in there for a while before bowing out in fourth place. That left three players to fight it out for the title and the winner-take-all prize.
Steiny, a podcast host and YouTuber, was down to just six big blinds, while Hila Klein had 70% of all chips in play and was dominating the game. The gap would extend even further when Klein hit a lucky river card to leave Steiny down to just two big blinds. And then Hall would bust the short stack when 5♥5♣ held up against A♥5♦.
When heads-up play began, Klein had a 3-1 chip advantage. But that didn’t last long. Hall, decked out in a red Donald Trump MAGA hat, would grind away at the deficit before taking a commanding lead. He’d put his opponent all in with 7♠5♠ and behind up against 8♦7♦.
The board would run out 2♦2♥9♦6♠3♥ and eight-high took down the pot to double up to only a 2-1 chip deficit. On a flop of 9♥10♣7♠ moments later, Klein bet 150,000 with A♠J♦ and then called off her stack when her opponent, who had 7♦6♦ put her all in for 675,000.
It would be all over after the 6♣ hit on the turn and 2♦ on the river. Hall won the $15,000 prize, his first Celebrity Poker Tour title and then spoke with CPT founder Blake Wynn, grandson of casino mogul Steve Wynn, to discuss the victory.
“Shout out to my boy Trump, seriously, I think it was the Trump hat, seriously, signed by Trump. That was the reason I won,” Hall said explaining his victory.
You can watch the entire Celebrity Poker Tour Game Night III session on PokerGO.