Dan Cates vs. Ossi Ketola: $15 Million Heads-Up

Businessman vs. Poker PRO

Ossi Ketola, better known as "The Monarch", came to Cyprus to fight against the best players in the world. The owner of CSGO Empire and several crypto projects lost $2 million in a duel with Kayhan Mokri, but decided to stay for a new challenge.

The Finn's dream was to play against Phil Ivey, but the businessman's opponent was Dan Cates, a man many call a living legend of heads-up. Over the course of 12 hours at Onyx Club, players played 6 HU matches (303 hands) in the SnG format with the following buy-ins:

1. €1M
2. €1M
3. €3M
4. €5M
5. €5M
6. €6M

Ketola managed to win only the second and third matches.

We do not know the exact additional conditions between them (there were mentions of a handicap game). "Monarch" later reported on the X network that he lost about $19 million in a day.

It is also unknown what percentage of his power Dan Cates used during the match. However, during the broadcast, he mentioned Timofey "Trueteller" Kuznetsov as one of the organizers of the game, so it seems that Timofey also made a good profit on this action.

"This is the biggest game in my life and, perhaps, in the history of poker too," Jungleman wrote on X after the match.

Match flow

Matches 1-2:

Already in the 19th hand, a cooler occurred in equal stacks: "Monarch" played a 4-bet push with AKo, but "Jungleman" had pocket kings, and he took the lead.

In the second game, Cates quickly lost half of his stack on the board J-2-3-8-J with a set of jacks KJ - his opponent had trips higher. In the 42nd hand, Dan went all-in for 22 blinds with pocket deuces against off-suit KJ, and already on the flop, Ketola got a straight. Until the river, the American still had hopes for a shared straight, but the miracle did not happen - the score was tied 1:1.

Match 3:

The next round with a buy-in of €3 million became the most painful for Cates. He had a comfortable lead, but in the 46th hand on the 6-6-6-T-A board, Dan was going to end it all with AT. However, Ketola had quads of sixes.

In the next hand, the Jungleman immediately made two pairs, but his opponent outbid him on the turn. In the decisive, 69th hand, the Finn showed pocket kings against the American's top pair and pulled ahead.

"It was like a dream. I beat Dan at his own game," Ossi wrote in X, sharing his emotions after the match.

Match 4:

The fourth match with a €5 million buy-in was a turning point. In the 28th hand, the Jungleman played a raise-call with 53s against A8s.

• The flop of A-Q-T gave the American a flush draw. "Monarch" checked, Cates bet 400k into 900k, call followed.
• The turn was a nine, giving the Finn a draw too: check - bet 700k - call.
• The river was a seven of clubs, closing Ketola's flush: check - all-in 1.8M - fold.

Later, Cates successfully got value bets and in the 51st hand, with a stack of 21.5 bb, he 3-bet shoved with AQ. Ketola called with A8s and did not improve.

Match 5:

Another match with a €5 million buy-in became the beginning of Cates' benefit show. He completely adjusted to his opponent's game, and Ketola looked confused.

In the 11th hand, Ossi 3-bet with 77 and was called by KTs. He check-called two streets on an A-T-T-8-5 board but was forced to fold all-in on the river, leaving him with 30 bb.

The Finn then began to overfold, and in the 40th hand, he sent 15 big blinds to the center of the table with 97. Cates met him with QJ and immediately flopped trip queens.

Match 6:

"Has anyone ever died playing poker?" asked the "Monarch".

"I played three days in a row on coffee and energy drinks," Cates replied.

Ossie complained about the lack of sleep and his own poor play, but for the sake of content, he was ready to continue - now €6 million from each. He insisted that Cates put his phone down, and the American agreed, after which he showed extreme concentration.

In the most expensive game, the professional was literally successful in everything. His timing was impeccable, while Ossi constantly pressed the wrong "buttons". Although the match lasted 82 hands and was the longest, in fact, it became an absolute dominance of Cates.

In the end, everything ended with Ossi pushing 12 bb with Q3s against A8, which put an end to the series.

Results

Daniel Cates won the series with an official final profit of $15 million - a record for public poker matches. Ketola lost, but wrote his name in history as a man who was not afraid to challenge one of the strongest players in the world.

Despite the painful defeat, the Finn plans to have a rematch against Kayhan Mokri for $4 million, as well as his cherished goal: a duel with Phil Ivey himself.

According to the voting results on the X network, 57% of the votes were cast in favor of playing against Phil with a buy-in of $5 million. Most likely, the match will take place in December - at WSOP Paradise or WPT Championship.