Ossi “Monarch” Ketola, the Finnish casino owner and high-stakes regular, wrote another chapter in poker history at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju. In a heads-up clash against Hong Kong’s Bjorn Li, Monarch scooped a $12,700,000 pot — considered the biggest hand ever broadcast live.
Pocket Nines vs Pocket Eights for $12.7 Million
Before this moment, the two had battled in multiple $2,000,000 buy-in heads-up matches, with Li leading the series 3–1. They agreed to a rematch at even higher stakes, creating a $16,000,000 prize pool.
At blinds of $40,000/$80,000, the pivotal hand played out:
- Monarch raised the button to $200,000 with 9♥9♣
- Li three-bet to $600,000 holding 8♦8♥
- Monarch shoved for $6,350,000
- Li called, building a $12,700,000 pot
The board ran 6♠7♥10♥3♣2♠. Monarch’s pocket nines held to secure the record-setting pot. Li was left with $3,300,000, nearly a 4:1 disadvantage, and lost the remainder of his chips about 90 minutes later. Despite Li winning more matches overall, Monarch walked away with roughly $4,000,000 in profit thanks to the biggest game.
Debate Over Poker Records
The result reignited debate on how to define poker’s official records. For years, Tom Dwan’s $3,100,000 win against Wesley Fei on Hustler Casino Live (May 2023) was widely accepted as the largest televised pot. Unlike Dwan’s traditional cash game, Triton’s heads-up duels use special formats with fixed stakes.
Recent weeks have seen Monarch involved in multiple record-breaking confrontations:
- $10,990,000 win against Alex Foxen
- $15,000,000 heads-up loss to Dan “Jungleman” Cates
- The $12,700,000 victory over Bjorn Li in Jeju
Monarch’s Rising Profile
Though a polarizing figure at the tables, Ossi “Monarch” Ketola has quickly become a defining presence in the 2025 high-stakes scene. His willingness to gamble at unmatched levels has produced several of the biggest hands ever seen. With Triton Poker streaming these moments worldwide, the Jeju showdown is now considered a landmark in livestreamed poker history.
