Tom Dwan’s Big Win Takes Center Stage On High Stakes Poker

In the history of High Stakes Poker there are few players who have moved the needle the way that Tom Dwan has. On this week’s episode of HSP, Dwan was his usual aggressive self, playing plenty of hands and when all was said and done he had in fact moved the needle this week, to an uptick of over $300,000.
It didn’t take long for the fireworks to start. On the first hand of the show, Jason Koon, who took Phil Ivey’s seat last week, straddled to $1,600. Action folded around to Jake Daniels in the big blind and he raised to $4,000 with . Koon checked his cards and then told Daniels, “I’m going to call you with a really bad hand” before putting in the additional $2,400 with
. The
flop gave Koon middle pair. Daniels bet $2,700 and Koon called. The turn was the
and Daniels fired again, betting $8,100 into the $14,600 pot. Koon called. The
completed the board and Daniels took some time before betting $40,000. Koon tanked for a full minute before folding, giving Daniels an early $16,200 boost.
The hot streak continued for Daniels on the next hand. After Daniels straddled for $1,600, Koon raised to $3,500 with , Dwan called with
, and Hernandez came along with
. Daniels also called with
. The
flop gave Daniels trip eights. Everybody checked to Dwan who bet $5,500. Hernandez and Daniels called forcing a fold from Koon. The
turn improved both Hernandez and Dwan’s outs, but left Daniels ahead. Action checked again to Dwan and fired $22,000 into the pot. Hernandez folded and Daniels called to see the
river. Daniels checked to Dwan who contemplated a bet before frustratingly tapping the table to check, giving Daniels the opportunity to show the winner and take the $75,700 pot.
With Phil Hellmuth steaming after laying down pocket tens earlier in the session, the 15-time World Series of Poker Bracelet winner raised to $3,800 with after Dwan straddled. Lazaro Hernandez re-raised to $8,500 with
which got Hellmuth talking.
“I love poker,” Hellmuth told the table. “You guys can’t beat me today I don’t think.”
Meanwhile, Dwan called with before Hellmuth folded. The
flop gave Dwan control with top pair. Dwan check-called Hernandez’s bet of $15,000. The
turn gave Dwan another opportunity to check to Hernandez who threw out a bet of $25,000. Dwan called again. The
river changed nothing and Dwan checked again. Hernandez bet $30,000 into the $102,800 pot. Dwan took some time before calling and showing the winner to take down the biggest pot of the night to that point.
Daniels and Koon weren’t done clashing though. Daniels opened to $2,200 with before Koon, sitting to Daniels’ direct left, three-bet to $8,000 with
. Action folded back to Daniels who put in yet another raise, this time making it $29,000 to go. Koon called to send the two players to a flop of
. Daniels led out for $14,300 and Koon called. The
turn gave Koon outs to a flush. Daniels did not slow down and bet $40,000 and Koon called again. The river was the
and Daniels moved all in for $128,400. Koon asked for an official count and spent nearly five minutes in the tank before calling and being shown the winning hand. Daniels won the $425,400 pot to add $213,000 to his stack.
All of that money didn’t stay in Daniels’ stack for long. Dwan straddled, and Hellmuth raised to $3,600 with . Daniels re-raised to $11,500 with
, Dwan called with
and Hellmuth folded. The flop came
and Dwan checked to Daniels who bet $8,200. Dwan raised to $30,000 and Daniels called. The
turn was a brick for both players. Dwan checked to Daniels who bet $40,200 which got another call from Dwan. The
turn completed Dwan’s flush draw but he opted to check. Daniels took the bait and bet $90,000. Dwan tanked briefly before calling to take down the $349,000 pot. After the hand, Daniels admitted he didn’t notice that the river completed a potential flush draw.
That was the final hand of the episode and ensured Dwan finished as the big winner. Dwan won $331,700 on this episode. Daniels was the only other player to crack the six-figure win mark, taking home $128,800. Hernandez was the biggest loser on this episode, dropping $108,700.
The next episode of High Stakes Poker airs on Wednesday, March 3 on PokerGO.