Businessman Prematurely Mucks Winning Hand in $200K Pot on HCL
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Hustler Casino Live (HCL), typically broadcast from its Los Angeles casino, ventured to the Mediterranean for a special livestreamed cash game at the newly opened Onyx Club in Cyprus.
Featuring a star-studded lineup of VIPs and professional players, the $100/$200 + $200 Big Blind Ante cash game promised action, but one $200K pot between British businessman Rob Yong and HCL founder Ryan Feldman became the night’s highlight moment.
The Hand That Went Off the Rails
The hand began routinely enough. Yong, seated in the cutoff, raised to $1,000 with Q♣J♥, and Feldman called on the button with A♦9♦. Sinan, in the small blind, woke up with K♣K♠ and three-bet to $8,000. Both Yong and Feldman opted to continue, heading to the Q♦9♥4♠ flop.
Sinan remained ahead, betting $20,000 with his overpair. Neither opponent folded, swelling the pot to $84,800.
The A♥ turn gave Feldman aces-up to leapfrog Sinan’s kings. Sinan slowed down and checked, and Yong followed suit. Feldman seized the moment, moving all-in for $52,800.
Sinan released his hand, but Yong—who was up more than $300,000 before the hand—decided to call.
Yong Mucks… Prematurely
When Feldman turned over his hand, Yong mucked his cards face down, convinced his hand was dead. However, a crucial fact went unnoticed by the Brit: He still had outs. A queen on the river would give him trips and the winning hand.
Yong, who insisted his hand was dead regardless, turned his cards face up. Feldman told him he was still live.
“Guys, listen, I mucked my cards,” Yong insisted, clarifying he considered his hand dead regardless of the river.
The dealer burned and turned the Q♥, which would have delivered Yong the checkmark. However, Yong stood firm, refusing to claim the $191,800 pot.
Even with Feldman urging Yong to take the win, Yong adamantly declined.
“I wouldn’t accept the money. You can run it, but I mucked,” Yong said. Despite Feldman’s protests, the pot was awarded to the HCL founder.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a stream or not. I mucked and then showed the cards because I thought I was drawing dead,” Yong explained, laughing off the situation.
Feldman, visibly stunned by the turn of events, remarked, “You really don’t have to do that. It’s a stream—I don’t mind.”
But Yong’s decision was final. “It’s poker. That’s the rules, right?”
Poker X Reacts
As expected, the dramatic conclusion of the hand quickly made its way to social media, sparking a wave of reactions from poker players and fans alike. Opinions ranged from admiration for Rob Yong’s sportsmanship to critiques of the lengthy decision-making process.
Ian Chan , "Class act from Rob. Ryan continues his streak of worst stream run bad ever… running so far below aiEV the charts gunna need a new y-axis 😰"
Another said: "Classy move by Rob. Ryan as the game runner shoulda gave him the pot tho."
PokeStars ambassador Parker Talbot took a different angle however, saying "Everyone in the hand deserves to have their money confiscated for how f****** long that hand took. Jesus Christ."
