Over the weekend, 80 celebrities received collectively for the fourth version of the Celeb Poker Tour Invitational, competing for a share of the $50,000 prize pool. Rising because the winner of the highest prize of $20,000 was excessive stakes slots YouTuber Stephen Matt “Vegas Matt” Morrow.
Probably the most universally “well-known” attendees had been retired and lively skilled athletes equivalent to Dwight Howard, Mike Bibby, and Jose Canseco.
Key Highlights
- The listing of celebrities included athletes, YouTubers, and social media influencers
- Vegas Matt defeated chess professional Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou heads-up to win $20,000
- “Hawk Tuah Lady” Haliey Welch admitted she was new to poker and fell wanting the cash
Celebrities to Some, Unknowns to Others
If you’re of a sure age, like this author, you can be forgiven in case you don’t acknowledge a lot of the names on the participant listing. The tables weren’t full of the George Clooneys and Brad Pitts of the world, however somewhat a bunch of principally YouTubers and social media influencers {that a} youthful viewers would know.
Out of the handfuls of gamers, although, most eyeballs had been doubtless on Haliey Welch, greatest referred to as “Hawk Tuah Lady.” Well-known for an specific vox pop interview that went viral in June 2024, Welch has parlayed her second of fame right into a merchandise deal, social media notoriety, superstar appearances, and even a brand new podcast that debuted this month.
Vegas Matt Retains Nemo From Second Celeb Win
Whereas Vegas Matt is a prolific slots participant and never a poker participant, maybe his playing expertise helped him navigate the sphere to the Celeb Poker Tour Invitational IV title. In the end, he squared off in opposition to chess participant Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou heads-up.
Of all of the attainable opponents, Nemo was one of the prone to make it that far. The primary Canadian feminine chess participant to earn both the Lady Grandmaster or FIDE Grasp titles (she has each), Nemo received the Enclave Celeb Poker Invitational final 12 months, her first-ever poker event victory.
She additionally started streaming on the BotezLive Twitch channel in 2020 with Andrea and Alexandra Botez, the previous of whom has since made a number of appearances on fashionable dwell poker streams.
Pair of twos, by no means lose!
Vegas Matt, high-stakes gambler and YouTuber
Vegas Matt had about two and a half occasions the chip stack of Nemo going into the ultimate hand Saturday evening. Holding Okay♣-5♦ within the large blind, Nemo smiled and moved all-in. Vegas Matt instantly introduced, “Pair of twos, by no means lose!” and made the decision, flipping over 2♠-2♥.
Proper earlier than the supplier laid out the flop, Matt began yelling for a two. And he received one, the two♦ sitting proper there within the window.
The eventual champ proceeded to run across the desk in celebration, not realizing that though flopping a set is implausible, the opposite two playing cards on the flop had been 4♦-8♦, giving Nemo loads of outs to a flush. She even had a backdoor straight draw.
When he received again to his spot on the desk, Vegas Matt noticed the chances and let loose a pained scream. One other King on the flip didn’t assist Nemo and the case deuce on the river cemented the hand for Vegas Matt, giving him the overkill quads and the $20,000 win.
The Energy of Magic
Again to the individual everybody wished to see, Haliey Welch. She admitted in a pre-tournament interview that she had no concept what she was doing.
I’m not superb at poker, and I’ve by no means performed poker, so we’re going to see how this goes.
Haliey Welch, greatest referred to as Hawk Tuah Lady
“I’m not superb at poker, and I’ve by no means performed poker, so we’re going to see how this goes,” she informed Drea Renee.
Welch did alright on her opening hand. After Josh Richards limped in pre-flop and magician Xavier Mortimer made a min-raise, Welch accomplished from the small blind with T♠-6♣. The supplier ran down her choices together with her after Mortimer min-bet on the flop of J♣-A♠-3♦, however despite the fact that she was an entire novice, she had the great sense to fold.
Welch’s inexperience, youth, or each confirmed up later. Enjoying Okay♥-3♣ pre-flop with most of her desk additionally within the hand, Welch flopped two pairs, the perfect hand at that time. Mortimer then determined to entertain the desk with a magic trick, fashioning a bit of tape into the form of a tie, affixing it to his shirt, after which ripping it off to provide an actual necktie.
That triggered a presumably distracted Haliey Welch to fold her wonderful hand. Because it turned out, she would have misplaced had she stayed in, so it labored out for her.
Welch ultimately bowed out wanting the cash and was eradicated by Vegas Matt.
Sources
https://www.pokernews.com/information/2024/09/vegas-matt-wins-celebrity-poker-tour-invitational-iv-46873.htm
https://www.pokernews.com/information/2024/09/four-big-poker-hands-played-by-hawk-tuah-girl-in-the-cpt-46874.htm
https://x.com/celebpokertour/standing/1830001858230042880
https://x.com/FanDuelCasino/standing/1830367594571858101
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_Zhou
https://x.com/celebpokertour/standing/1830064941992464622
