Alan Keating Busts Saviatorteph Curry, Wins Charity Poker Bracelet

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Table Of Contents

• Keating vs. Curry at Chase
• Warriors Players React to the Dončić Trade Shock
• "Alan Keating Bracelet Winner"

Fans of Alan Keating’s YouTube channel were in for a treat this week, as the High Stakes Pokerstar dropped what might be his wildest vlog yet.

Offering a behind-the-scenes look at the Golden State Warriors Annual Poker Charity Tournament, the video follows Keating as he sends Steph Curry to the rail in a poker hand played on Center Court at the Chase Center, then captures exclusive footage of Curry and the Warriors reacting in real time to the biggest trade in NBA history.

Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, he went on to win the whole tournament, which was MC’d by none other than Phil Hellmuth, walking away with a golden Warriors bracelet.

Keating vs. Curry at Chase

Keating explains in the vlog that he was quietly dreading a one-on-one with Steph Curry, having played him seven or eight years earlier and stacking him multiple times.

“It dawns on me,” Keating jokes to the camera, “if I knock Steph out and send him packing, everyone came here to see him, not me. I’m going to be the most hated guy in the room.” The vlog then cuts to the inevitable all-in between the two.

Curry turned over pocket eights 8♥8♦, while Keating was a slight underdog holding Q♦9♦. The flop came 7♦5♥Q♥, giving Keating top pair, and the runout of 10♥and 4♦sealed the hand, sending the four-time NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist to the rail.

As per the tournament rules, the player who knocks out a Warrior is entitled to a signed jersey and photo from their opponent. “I just knocked him out again. I don’t want to ask anything from him,” Keating says. “Imagine getting knocked out of the tournament and you’ve got to smile with the guy that busted you.”

Curry, however, graciously insists, signing a white "Curry 30" Warriors jersey for Keating.

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Warriors Players React to the Dončić Trade Shock

Though released this week, the video was actually filmed in early February, with the Golden State Warriors Charity Poker Tournament happening to coincide with breaking news of the biggest trade in NBA history.

"The dealers stopped dealing, everyone was checking their phones. No one could believe it."

“Everything stopped,” Keating recalls, as the usual hubbub of a poker tournament gave way to players and staff glued to their phones. His vlog captures Warriors players crowding around Steph Curry’s screen, voices filled with disbelief — “No, that’s not real,” “No way,” “Is that actually real?”

“To be in the stadium when this happened was unforgettable,” Keating says. “The dealers stopped dealing, everyone was checking their phones. No one could believe it.”

There you have it. If you want exclusive footage of the Golden State Warriors reacting to Dončić going to the Lakers, don’t bother with ESPN or NBC. Just head over to Alan Keating’s YouTube.

"Alan Keating Bracelet Winner"

“So after I knock out Steph, and this crazy trade happens, what’s the last thing to do? Win the tournament,” Keating says with a smile, as the vlog cuts back to the poker action.

“They bring out a bracelet to present to the winner, and it occurs to me, I’m a cash game player, this might be my only shot at winning one. So let’s go for it.”

The vlog picks up with a series of bustouts as the final table whittles down, the highlight being a classic Hellmuth moment. The Poker Brat grabs the mic to inform Keating’s all-in opponent he has just 11 outs, only to be met with a deadpan, “Yes, I know what they are.” The board runs out for Keating.

Keating’s own tournament life is soon on the line in a hand against a player named Miller. All-in with J♥9♥against A♠3♣, Keating tells the camera, “We’re all-in, he’s got me beat. I’ve got Jack-high and I need to hit.”

“Welcome to my life.” - Phil Hellmuth

Naturally, it's Q♦3♠K♦Q♠10♦, giving Keating a straight on the river and burning through a good chunk of rungood to stay alive.

A few eliminations later and Keating is heads-up for the bracelet against a player named Han. Holding 2♠2♣, Keating moves all-in and watches Han turn over J♣7♠. The flop is a monster — 7♣7♦J♠— giving Han a full house. The A♣and 8♥change nothing, and the stacks level out again.

“Now we’re even stacked, and I’m going all-in. The blinds are high and I don’t even need to see my cards,” Keating says, as the video shows him jamming blind. Han calls with Q♦6♠, and Keating peels over 5♦5♠to find himself ahead. No help for Han this time — 8♦7♠2♠9♦K♦— and it’s game over. Keating takes the win.

Reacting to his maiden bracelet victory, he says, “Wow, didn’t see that coming. Feels great. Alan Keating, bracelet winner. This is probably the only bracelet I’ll ever win, but I’m so glad it’s this one.”

The final line comes from a selfie with 18-time WSOP champ Hellmuth, who cheekily tells Keating, “Welcome to my life.”

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