Dan Cates Secures $15 Million in Profit, Serves 2M Cooler

Dan “Jungleman” Cates has returned to the spotlight in high-stakes live poker, competing in a six-match heads-up series against entrepreneur and esports personality Ossie “Monarch” Ketola. 

The matches took place at The Onyx Club and during the Onyx Super High Roller Series (SHRS) Cyprus, drawing widespread attention from the poker community.

The two-time Poker Players Championship winner faced Ketola in contests with escalating stakes, with buy-ins ranging from €2 million to €6 million per match. Cates emerged victorious in four of the six matches, closing the series with an estimated profit of €13 million (~$15.1 million USD).

The first major clash occurred at The Onyx Club in a $15,000/$30,000 cash game, where each player started with $1 million. Just 19 hands into the session, a key hand developed. Ketola opened with A♦K♠, while Cates held K♥K♦.

After a three-bet and an all-in, the chips went in without a deal. The board ran 8♠7♠2♣10♥Q♥, giving Cates the pot and a $2 million swing. Ketola responded by winning a rematch session that followed, evening the early results.

The series continued at the Merit Royal Diamond in Cyprus with buy-ins increasing significantly.

With Ketola taking a 2-1 series lead, the momentum appeared to shift in his favour.

In the sixth and final match, both players agreed to a €6 million buy-in with $30,000/$60,000 blinds.

Cates initially gained a lead but lost ground when Ketola hit two pairs against his top pair. 

The comeback was short-lived. Cates rivered a flush, executed a successful $1.8 million ace-high bluff, and later hit a Royal Flush with 10♣9♠ on a A♣K♣Q♣J♣ board.

In the final hand, Ketola moved all-in with Q♥3♥, but Cates called with A♦8♥ and held on a board of 8♠J♥A♣7♣3♠, ending the match.

Dan Cates' performance in this high-stakes series against Ossie Ketola delivered key hands, large pots, and significant swings. 

With four wins from six matches and a total profit exceeding $15 million, Cates reaffirmed his place in the upper echelon of live poker. 

The series combined deep strategy with rare outcomes, including a Royal Flush, making it a standout moment in recent heads-up poker history.