Joey Ingram, one of the most recognisable figures in the poker content world, is battling back after losing a jaw-dropping three-way all-in pot on Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. The $10,400 buy-in tournament has drawn an astonishing 2,392 entries, building a record-breaking prize pool of $23.4 million.
With nearly 700 players remaining at the time of writing, all eyes are on the massive $3,138,900 first-place prize. But for Ingram, known for his expertise in pot-limit Omaha, Tuesday’s session brought a mix of highs and lows in this no-limit hold’em extravaganza.
The Cooler Hand That Shook Day 2
In a hand that left spectators buzzing, Joey Ingram found himself in a three-way cooler against two opponents, with premium pocket pairs all around. Under the gun, Ingram raised with pocket kings, only to face calls from a player holding pocket queens and another who flat-called with pocket aces.
When the action returned to “Papi,” as Ingram is affectionately called, he moved all in for 25 big blinds. Both opponents called, creating a massive pot before the flop. Unfortunately for Ingram, the board didn’t offer any help, and the player with pocket aces scooped the main pot. While Ingram won a side pot against pocket queens, it still left him with a significantly reduced stack.
Despite the setback, Ingram’s determination was on full display. By the next break, he had worked his way back to approximately 25 big blinds, largely thanks to a gutsy check-raise all in that allowed him to take down a sizable pot without going to showdown.
A Rare Appearance in No-Limit Hold’em
For a player who spends much of his time championing the nuances of pot-limit Omaha, this no-limit hold’em event is a unique opportunity for Ingram. Speaking to PokerNews, he shared his enthusiasm for participating in the prestigious WPT World Championship.
“This is basically one of the big $10Ks I play every single year, and I’m excited,” said Ingram. “I’ve been visualising, meditating, working with solvers—you know, solvers, meditation, and reading Twitter. Everyone always has nice things to say on Twitter.”
While his playful sarcasm about social media is typical of Ingram’s humour, his dedication to preparation is no joke. The Las Vegas resident has been applying his poker knowledge to adapt to this high-stakes NLH environment, showing that he’s just as competitive here as he is in Omaha games.
What’s at Stake?
With 299 players set to cash in this tournament, every decision counts as the field inches closer to the money bubble. For Ingram, securing a slice of the prize pool would be a significant achievement, especially given the monumental scale of this event.
- Total Entries: 2,392
- Buy-In: $10,400
- Prize Pool: $23.4 million
- First-Place Prize: $3,138,900
The structure of the event includes five 90-minute levels on Day 2, making it unlikely that the money bubble will burst before the end of the session. As the tension builds, players must balance aggression with survival, knowing that a single hand can drastically alter their trajectory.
A Glimpse of Resilience
Joey Ingram’s experience on Day 2 is a reminder of poker’s unpredictable nature. One moment, you’re chasing dreams of a deep run; the next, you’re scrambling to rebuild your stack. For Ingram, though, setbacks are simply part of the game.
He’s no stranger to high-pressure situations, and his passion for the game fuels his ability to grind through adversity. Whether he’ll continue to climb the leaderboard remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Ingram’s journey at the WPT World Championship is far from over.
