In our Poker Hand Analysis feature, we bring you a thrilling hand every week. Today, we delve into a hand that recently occurred at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the final table of Event #5: $1,000 Mystery Millions, which was ultimately won by Australia’s Malcolm Trayner. The Sydney resident became the first Australian to win a bracelet at this year’s WSOP, dominating the final table of the $1K Mystery Millions event to claim the US$1 million top prize and his career-first gold bracelet.
The final table of the $1K Mystery Millions witnessed several big hands, including one that involved Christopher Castellan and Eugene Tito, who ultimately finished third, taking home a hefty $407,970.
With blinds running 2,500,000/5,000,000 and 5,000,000 ante during level 44, Christopher Castellan raised to 12,000,000 from middle position. With a strong hand of Ace-Queen offsuit (Ad Qh), Castellan aimed to apply pressure and potentially pick up the blinds and ante. Ace-Queen is a solid starting hand, often worth a raise from this position to either win the pot or to build it up if called.
Eugene Tito: As Ah
Christopher Castellan: Ad Qh
The action folded around to Eugene Tito in the small blind, who quickly moved all-in for his remaining 36,000,000 chips. Tito held pocket Aces (As Ah), the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold’em poker. Given his stack size relative to the blinds, Tito’s all-in was a standard and powerful move. He aimed to maximize his double-up potential and ladder up his chance to win the US$1 million top prize money.
Flop: 6d 8c Kc
The flop was safe for Tito’s pocket Aces. The King on the flop could have been concerning if Castellan had a King, but since Castellan held Ace-Queen, Tito’s hand was still far ahead. Castellan’s hand didn’t improve on the flop, but he still had potential outs with a backdoor straight draw.
Turn: 10h
The turn gave Castellan some hope to a straight (a Jack would complete his straight). However, Tito’s Aces were still in the lead. The turn added some suspense, increasing the potential for a dramatic river card.
River: 6c
The river 6c did pair the board but did not improve Castellan’s hand. Tito’s Aces held up, and he successfully avoided Castellan’s potential outs, doubling up his stack to survive on the final table.
Hand Analysis:
Eugene Tito’s pre-flop all-in was a well-calculated and powerful move with pocket Aces. He wanted to extract maximum value through the strongest starting hand. Castellan made a reasonable call with Ace-Queen, given the pot odds and his own hand strength. Castellan’s initial raise was standard from his position, aiming to capitalize on his strong starting hand and putting pressure on his opponents.
The flop and turn were a bit tense with potential outs for Castellan, but Tito’s dominant hand held through the river. Castellan’s call, while risky, was understandable due to the strength of Ace-Queen in many situations. Ultimately, Tito’s stronger hand and aggressive play earned him a crucial double-up, keeping him in contention at the final table and in the race to win the the US$1 million top prize, though he ultimately missed out on the US$1 million prize, falling in third place for $407,970.
Watch the video below and relive this thrilling hand from the final table of $1K Mystery Millions!
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