Drama unfolded on the very first hand of the final table at the LAPC Commerce Classic, a $1 million guaranteed event, when a seasoned pro mistakenly folded what should have been a chopped pot—handing his opponent a massive chip boost.
The $1,200 buy-in tournament concluded Tuesday at Commerce Casino, where Fausto Valdez outlasted a 1,444-entry field to capture the $252,840 top prize. He ultimately defeated Erick Ordonez heads-up to claim the title.
But one pivotal misstep earlier in the final table may have significantly shaped the outcome.
A Chop That Wasn’t
With nine players remaining and 2,200,000 chips already in the pot (about 10 big blinds), the board read:
8♦ 9♦ Q♦ 10♦ — and after the river — 4♦
Five diamonds on board meant one thing: unless a player held a diamond higher than the board (impossible in this case), the hand was destined to be chopped.
Duey Duong bet 500,000 holding K♣ Q♣, and Ordonez called with Q♠ Q♥. When the river completed the five-diamond board, both players checked.
Ordonez tabled his set of queens—now reduced to playing the board for a flush. Duong, apparently not realizing the flush on board meant an automatic split, mucked his hand face down.
Because his cards were not tabled, the entire 3,200,000-chip pot was pushed to Ordonez.
Ethics Debate at the Table
The hand quickly became a topic of controversy after poker pro Jared Griener shared details on X. Griener, who finished seventh for $42,990, voiced concern over how the situation was handled.
During the livestream on Bally Poker Live’s YouTube channel, Griener commented that if a player accidentally mucks at showdown, others shouldn’t intervene.
“If a player accidentally mucks, don’t tell him to table his hand,” he said. “I think it’s kind of dirty.”
Some players at the table had encouraged Duong to show his cards after the muck, prompting a brief debate about etiquette and responsibility. Ultimately, the ruling stood—the pot belonged solely to Ordonez.
A Swing That Changed the Final Table
The mistake proved expensive.
Instead of climbing to 4,375,000 chips, Duong dropped to 2,775,000—leaving him second-shortest at the table. Ordonez, meanwhile, surged to 8,825,000, vaulting into an above-average stack position.
Duong, a veteran with more than $1.3 million in prior live earnings, eventually exited in sixth place for $52,050.
Ordonez rode the momentum all the way to heads-up play, though he entered the final duel at nearly a 2:1 chip deficit against Valdez. The tournament concluded when Valdez’s pocket kings held against queen-jack, sealing the championship.
Ordonez walked away with $177,270—his deep run undoubtedly aided by the early final-table blunder.
Final Table Results
Event: LAPC Commerce Classic ($1,200 Buy-in)
Location: Commerce Casino, Los Angeles
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Fausto Valdez — $252,840
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Erick Ordonez — $177,270
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Phuoc Hong Nguyen — $115,000
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Thang Tran — $85,210
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Lihao Shen — $64,380
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Duey Duong — $52,050
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Jared Griener — $42,990
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Kevin Khuong — $34,070
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Kurt Esbenson — $25,290
The 2026 LA Poker Classic continues through March 1 in Southern California, but this single hand will likely remain one of the most talked-about moments of the series.
