The opening of Brad Owen’s new vlog episode hinted that this wasn't going to be an ordinary tournament report. Brad entered a $5,000 event at the PokerGO studio, facing one of the toughest fields imaginable in no-limit hold'em. Sitting with him were names like Jonathan Little, Jeremy Becker, Nick Schulman, Adam Hendrix, and Erik Seidel. In an environment packed with players boasting numerous titles, bracelets, and years of experience, it was clear that a bit of luck was necessary to go far. And that luck arrived quite early.
Four-Way All-In and the Battle with Erik Seidel
One of the episode's most intense moments came when Brad, holding pocket J h J d, found himself in a preflop war that escalated into a wild four-way all-in. Opposing him were Q s Q c, K c K h, and T c T h. It looked more like a setup for a rebuy than a path to chiplead. However, the flop delivered a J s, transforming a potential disaster into one of the largest pots of the tournament. Scenarios like these aren't common even in massive fields, let alone in an exclusive studio of elite regulars.
Anyone expecting the action to calm after such a double stroke of luck would be mistaken. Another major moment emerged against Erik Seidel, a ten-time WSOP bracelet winner and a poker legend. On the flop 7 d 4 s 3 s, Brad hit two pairs with 7 h 4 h, while Seidel went to battle with 5 d 4 d. The all-in occurred quickly, and the runout again favored Brad.
A Big Stack Doesn't Ensure Calm
After an amazing start, it seemed like a life-changing run was imminent. But right here came a typical poker reminder that even a massive stack guarantees nothing. A crucial turning point occurred in a hand against Dan Smith, where Brad committed to an aggressive line with A s 8 d. Despite a 3-bet preflop, a barrel on the flop 9 s 6 d 6 h and turn K c, and a subsequent check on the river 9 d, Dan Smith showed pocket T h T s and the large pot went the other way.
This hand changed the tournament’s entire dynamic. What turned from table dominance became a struggle for survival, ultimately unsuccessful. Brad busted just three spots from ITM, yet it wasn't over – he headed to Venetian.
Second Chance
To lift his spirits, Brad entered a $1,100 event at Venetian, which had a million-dollar guarantee. Though this buy-in was significantly lower than the PokerGO studio, the tension was not. As hours ticked by, Brad reached the stone bubble, where with a pair of 9 s 9 h, he faced two premium hands - K h K s and A d K c. A hopeless situation turned around when the flop revealed a 9 d, and a top set earned Brad a spot in day 2 instead of a painful elimination before the money.
The True Triumph of the Evening
The strongest point of the episode, however, came at the end. Although the main character didn't score a major title (his run ended with a $2,992 reward), the day transformed into a celebration of poker friendships. His friend Brian Gates conquered the field at Venetian, outlasting 886 entries to take home the trophy and a win of nearly $150,000.
In the end, this vlog shifts from a personal tournament story to a broader view of what poker means to the community – not just individual results, but also collective railing, shared tension, and the joy of a close friend’s success.
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Sources – YouTube, Flickr/PSLive, IrishPokerOpen
