You can watch it right now of "Pokerstars II" on one of the FOX Sports cable channels.(Wait until heads up) Granted the dealer messed up ( I guess she thought he checked) but he could have handled it a little more calmly. I know emotions run high at the poker table and in this case certainly a lot of $ and a chance at more points to advance were at stake, but just seems a bit much. Watch it and judge for yourself.
[ $5 million in one session of limit hold-em poker... not bad ]
[h=1]Todd Brunson Purportedly Takes Andy Beal for $5 Million in Bobby's Room[/h]
He's back! Andy Beal was spotted late Friday night and early Saturday morning playing heads-up limit hold'em with blinds of $50,000/$100,000 in Bobby's Room at Bellagio against Todd Brunson. According to poker pro Kyle Loman, who was live tweeting the match while playing in a different game outside the high-stakes room, each bought in for $5 million, and when all was said and done, Brunson held all the chips.
Few amateur players have shook the poker world quite like Beal, a Texas billionaire who made his fortune through real estate and banking. In 2001 and 2004, Beal grew fond of playing high-stakes heads-up limit hold'em, which he played against a group of poker players nicknamed "The Corporation" in a legendary game documented in Michael Craig's classic book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time.
As Craig described it, Beal won and lost millions in the game as he circulated through players such as Ted Forrest, Jen Harman, Phil Ivey, and both Todd and Doyle Brunson. Despite winning a massive $11.7 pot on Mat 13, 2004, Beal ended up quitting the game a lost, only to return in Feb. 2006 for more action. He quickly lost $3.3 million, went on a three-day $13.6 million upswing, and then lost $16.6 million to Ivey in a separate three-day match. It was at that point Beal claimed he was done with poker.
Since then there have been rumors that Beal has dabbled in limit hold'em, his favorite game, which, earlier this month, scientists claimed they solved. Those rumors were unsubstantiated, but on Friday, Jan. 23, Beal's most recent return was confirmed thanks to the rise of social media and Lohman's covert reporting.
"Andy Beal playing HU 50K/100K with Todd Brunson in Bobby's Room. I'm about to lose my mind," Lohman reported in the first of a series of tweets. "All pink 25K chips now. Todd with six million and Beal with four million+. If they started with five, which is what I thought I saw, Todd up a milly.
Andy Beal and both Brunsons.
Lohman wasn't able to gain access to Bobby's Room, but despite his lack of access he was willing to chance repercussions by snapping a quick picture (see right), one that shows "Texas Dolly" sweating his son.
Here are some other updates Lohman tweeted throughout the night:
So according to Lohman, Brunson relieved Beal of $5 million. Whether or not Beal will return remains to be seen, but if his past behavior is any indication, he'll return for another shot at besting Brunson, or whoever is willing to sit down and play him for such monster stakes.
[h=1]Todd Brunson Purportedly Takes Andy Beal for $5 Million in Bobby's Room[/h]
Chad Holloway
Few amateur players have shook the poker world quite like Beal, a Texas billionaire who made his fortune through real estate and banking. In 2001 and 2004, Beal grew fond of playing high-stakes heads-up limit hold'em, which he played against a group of poker players nicknamed "The Corporation" in a legendary game documented in Michael Craig's classic book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time.
As Craig described it, Beal won and lost millions in the game as he circulated through players such as Ted Forrest, Jen Harman, Phil Ivey, and both Todd and Doyle Brunson. Despite winning a massive $11.7 pot on Mat 13, 2004, Beal ended up quitting the game a lost, only to return in Feb. 2006 for more action. He quickly lost $3.3 million, went on a three-day $13.6 million upswing, and then lost $16.6 million to Ivey in a separate three-day match. It was at that point Beal claimed he was done with poker.
Since then there have been rumors that Beal has dabbled in limit hold'em, his favorite game, which, earlier this month, scientists claimed they solved. Those rumors were unsubstantiated, but on Friday, Jan. 23, Beal's most recent return was confirmed thanks to the rise of social media and Lohman's covert reporting.
"Andy Beal playing HU 50K/100K with Todd Brunson in Bobby's Room. I'm about to lose my mind," Lohman reported in the first of a series of tweets. "All pink 25K chips now. Todd with six million and Beal with four million+. If they started with five, which is what I thought I saw, Todd up a milly.
Andy Beal and both Brunsons. Lohman wasn't able to gain access to Bobby's Room, but despite his lack of access he was willing to chance repercussions by snapping a quick picture (see right), one that shows "Texas Dolly" sweating his son.
Here are some other updates Lohman tweeted throughout the night:
- "There was almost 20 people in the room at the start of the game. Down to pretty much just Doyle watching now.
- "Doyle went to bed it appears. The battle continues though"
- "Todd continuing to win. Got about 8 million to Beal's 2."
- "Beal with a solid heater. Todd: 5.5 Beal 4.5"
- "Todd Building towers. Looks about the same. His demeanor is the same as always. Sitting backward in the chair, his emotions unchanged."
- "Todd: 7 Beal: 3. There's only 3 people in Bobby's Room now. Todd, Beal, and the dealer."
- "Brunson crushing now. Has 8.5m+ to Beal's less than 1.5m"
- "Todd just felted Beal. They fist bumped and he left the room. They're done for tonight. Todd wins 5 million. More updates tomorrow hopefully."
So according to Lohman, Brunson relieved Beal of $5 million. Whether or not Beal will return remains to be seen, but if his past behavior is any indication, he'll return for another shot at besting Brunson, or whoever is willing to sit down and play him for such monster stakes.
