This hand occurred at the final table of the 2026 Los Angeles Poker Classic $1,200 no-limit hold’em event #51 at the Commerce Casino, live-streamed by Bally Poker Live on February 17.
The prize pool was $1,516,200, with 1,444 entrants, and the first-place prize was $252,840. The blinds at the final table were 100K/200K with a 200K big blind ante.
The players involved in the hand were Erick Ordonez, sitting on a 5,325,000 stack, who opened to 400K from the hijack holding 
. Duey Duong called from the small blind with 
from a 4,075,00 chip stack. And Phuoc Nguyen, the chip leader with 13,225,00 behind, came along from the big blind holding 
.
Watch the video above to hear commentator Derek Kwan, MTT grinder Jared Griener (who was at the final table), and Tournament Director Justin Hammer all chime in with mixed opinions as to how the hand should have played out.
Commentators were shocked
The commentators at the helm of this LAPC final table were two experienced professionals, Ty Dobberton and Derek Kwan of the LA Poker Roundup podcast.
The hand played out in an unusual and controversial manner, going viral on X and sparking a heated debate within the poker community.
“Duey just folded,” says Dobberton. “That was extremely surprising. We all know Duey as one of the local legends of the LA scene. He's not an amateur by any means. That is a really surprising mistake this early."
"That’s a brutal way to start a final table,” says Kwan. "What’s everyone think about this spot? Players should speak up, or not say anything?"
Watch the hand play out in the video at the top of the article.
PokerOrg would love to hear your comments below on what you think should have happened.
Follow BallyPokerLive on YouTube and X. Follow Ty Dobberton on X, Derek Kwan on X, Jared Griener on X , and Justin Hammer on X.
