Nik Airball and Mister Keating Don’t Disappoint on Hustler Casino Live

Nik Airball is back on Hustler Casino Live and what a reunion it was with Mister Keating as the pair clashed in numerous pots, including the biggest of the show in 2025 — a whopping $689,100.

The evening was jam-packed with action from the minute the game kicked off. Both Airball and Keating entertained the viewers with their usual uncompromising style of play, and it all ended with Airball leaving the casino as the night’s biggest winner — around $282,000.

Sadly for Keating, a pair of six-figure losses ruined his night, but knowing him, it won’t have dented his confidence a jot.

Nights like this are why livestream poker is really taking off these days. It’s as good as it’s ever been.

Nik Airball and Alan Keating Entertain the Masses

The first pot of note where Airball and Keating clashed came when the stakes were still at $200/$400.

Steve raised A♥ 10♥ from UTG to $3,000. Charles called in the HJ with J♣ 8♣, and is followed by Keating with K♠ 2♥ in the CO.

Airball, holding A♣ 5♦ on the BTN, raised it up to $15,000. Steve and Charles both called, and then Keating came over the top with a four-bet to $35,000.

Madness already, but then Airball decides to stick in the rest of his chips to make it $87,800. It folds around to Keating who glanced across to his rival and without much thought made the call. Well, what a start to the show!

The equities were 59% for Airball and 41% for Keating, so even staring at a $206,600 pot, it was still close enough.

Running it twice, the boards were 2♦ 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ 9♣ and 9♦ 10♠ 6♣ 3♥ 10♦ to split the pot and give each player a profit of $15,500.

Minutes later, the pair were at it again, for a pot of almost a quarter of a million dollars.

Airball raised to $4,000 in the HJ holding K♦ 9♦, and Steve called. Keating then three-bet to $21,000 and Steve folded. Airball called.

The flop came down 8♥ 7♦ 10♣ and Keating checked. Airball bet out $25,000 and Keating jammed to put Airball in for his $87,000 stack. Incredibly, Keating was actually ahead slightly.

With a pot of $221,600 at stake, two run outs saw a turn and river of 6♦ Q♦ and Q♥ 5♥ for another split pot.

$689K Pot of Madness!

The hand that stunned everyone on the night began with Airball raising 9♦ 9♣ from UTG and getting a call from Peter, Steve. Keating re-raised with A♠ K♦ in the big blind to $25,000 and was quickly four-bet by Airball to $65,000.

Now, many will think this is actually quite a straightforward hand but the stakes were now $500/$1,000 with a $1,000 ante and at this stage in the hand, Keating covered Airball who had $281,000 behind.

Keating thinks for much longer than he usually does but he does eventually go with a five-bet, bumping it up to $165,000. Airball, with a serious look on his face, also takes his time before making the call.

The flop ran out J♠ 4♦ 6♠ and the pot is $337,500.

With nothing but ace-high, Keating wastes little time in putting his opponent all-in and Airball calls equally quickly, incorrectly assuming that he’s behind.

They ran it twice and the two run outs were 6♦ 4♥ and 3♥ 3♦, giving the whole pot to Nik Airball.

Post-game thoughts from @nikairball after his big win tonight, including the biggest pot of the night, in his first game back on HCL in a year pic.twitter.com/HfphjUW3e0

— Hustler Casino Live (@HCLPokerShow) March 29, 2025

Nik Airball Gives a Post-Game Interview

Clearly happy to be back in the saddle, Nik Airball was happy to give some of his thoughts on one of the best Hustler Casino Live shows in a while.

“It feels good. My goal was to play a big pot with Alan and I was on the right side of it, so I’m really happy. The king is back, baby, the king is back!

Airball was asked about Keating’s five-bet in the hand of the night and responded with:

“When I saw him cutting out raising chips, I was no longer happy. But Alan is so capable. I thought through all my options preflop, almost folded, thought about jamming and in the end I thought I can’t live with myself if I fold nines here and it’s the best hand.

“So I decided to call and fade an ace or king or die. I faded an ace or king and got it in. 100% the king is back. Have some beers; winning a $700K pot; life is good.”