Brandon Steven's rollercoaster exit and bold re-entry at Triton Invitational

One massive hand cost him 400 big blinds—and his tournament life. But Steven wasn't ready to walk away from Las Vegas just yet.

, and Administrator

2026 February 20 . 1:28 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread... — The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread out in front of them. In the background, there is a pillar and other objects, suggesting that the men are participating in a poker tournament.

Brandon Steven's rollercoaster exit and bold re-entry at Triton Invitational

Brandon Steven faced an early exit from the $250,000 Triton Invitational near me, held at the WSOP in Las Vegas. The high-stakes event attracted 79 players, but Steven lost a huge pot in Level 1 and was knocked out in dramatic fashion. Undeterred, he chose to re-enter the competition for a second chance.

The trouble began when Steven clashed with Sameh Elamawy in a massive hand. The pot grew to nearly 400 big blinds—an unusually large sum for the first level of play. Steven went all-in but found himself drawing thin after the flop.

His tournament life ended on the turn, sending him out in 44th place. Despite the setback, Steven decided to rebuy, giving himself another shot at the title.

Steven's elimination in his second attempt marked the end of his run in the event. The early bust-out highlights the high-risk nature of the Triton Invitational, where even a single hand can drastically alter a player's fate. His decision to re-enter shows the competitive spirit driving participants in this elite event on Eventbrite.