PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 14, Episode 12: Million-Dollar Fireworks! Sam Kiki Makes Unforgettable HSP Debut

Episode 12 of PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 14 brought the heat! The $500/$1,000 No-Limit Hold ’em cash game returned with some familiar faces, but a newcomer grabbed the biggest headlines and a massive chunk of change.

Returning for another go-round were Alan Keating, Rick Salomon, Peter Wang, Justin Gavri, and Nikhil “Nik Airball” Arcot. Sliding into the sixth seat, replacing Vinny Lingham from the previous session, was Sam Kiki, founder of MonkeyTilt. While this might have been Kiki’s first appearance under the bright lights of the HSP set, he clearly wasn’t intimidated by the stakes or the company.

With existing tension brewing between him and both Keating and Salomon, it didn’t take long for those undercurrents to surface, especially between Kiki and the notoriously action-loving Salomon. Known for playing fast and loose, Salomon found a willing sparring partner in the newcomer, and the two tangled multiple times right from the get-go.

While Keating, Airball, Wang, and Gavri certainly had their moments under the studio lights, the real story, the central drama of Episode 12, undeniably revolved around the escalating rivalry between the newcomer Kiki and the veteran Salomon.

The tension built throughout the session, leading to a jaw-dropping confrontation in the final hand of the night. In a move that defined his HSP debut, Kiki got the better of Salomon, scooping a colossal pot worth $1,008,500. This wasn’t just a huge win; it was the second pot of Season 14 to cross that magical seven-figure threshold, providing a high-voltage finish to the night. That Kiki-Salomon confrontation was truly the heart of the episode!

Starting Stacks

1. Alan Keating – $498,000
2. Rick Salomon – $396,000
3. Peter Wang – $288,000
4. Justin Gavri – $261,000
5. Nik Airball – $250,000
6. Sam Kiki – $175,000

Rick Salomon Tries a Move, Peter Wang Isn’t Buying

Right from the jump, things got lively. Nik Airball decided to stir the pot early, making it $10,000 to go with his . Rick Salomon, never one to shy away from potential action, came along holding . The dealer spread the flop: – Airball’s small pair was still technically ahead, but Salomon had flopped an open-ended straight draw, giving him plenty of possibilities.

Airball led out for $6,000, a standard continuation. But Salomon wasn’t just looking to see another card; he put in a raise to $26,000. That show of force was enough for Airball, who quickly let his threes go. Salomon scooped up the $59,500 pot, adding nicely to his stack right at the start.

Feeling a bit frisky after that win, Salomon tried his luck again immediately, this time tangling with Peter Wang. It didn’t quite follow the same script.

Wang initiated the action with a $12,000 raise holding . Salomon, who had put in a $4,000 straddle, defended with . The flop came , giving Wang a pair of sixes while Salomon whiffed completely. Salomon checked it over to Wang, who bet $12,000. Salomon decided to hang around.

The on the turn didn’t change the situation for either player, and the action went check-check. Then the landed on the river. Still holding just Jack-high, Salomon decided it was time to make something happen. He went for a bluff, pushing out a big $35,000 bet. Wang, however, wasn’t buying it. He quickly made the call with his modest pair of sixes, which was good. Wang collected the $120,500 pot as Salomon quietly sent his cards to the muck.

Sam Kiki Announces His Arrival!

Now it was time for the newcomer, Sam Kiki, to make some noise. He opened the action to $13,000 holding the respectable . Rick Salomon called with the suited , while Justin Gavri and Peter Wang wisely ducked out of the way.

The flop rolled out . Kiki connected nicely, hitting top pair with his Ace-Queen. Salomon, meanwhile, flopped a potent flush draw. Salomon checked it over to Kiki, who tossed in $12,000. Salomon, never one to just call with drawing potential, raised it to $37,000. Kiki went into the tank before sliding in the calling chips.

The on the turn paired the board but didn’t complete Salomon’s flush. Salomon now took the betting lead, firing out $60,000. Kiki paused, contemplated… then moved all-in for his entire $178,000 stack. Salomon, true to form, didn’t hesitate long before making the call.

As Kiki turned over his hand, Nik Airball commented from the side, “Ace-Queen.” Salomon chuckled, “I’m alive,” still hopeful for his flush draw. With a massive $458,000 pot hanging in the balance, they agreed to run the river twice.

First river: . A complete brick for Salomon. Kiki locked up half the pot.

Second river: . Another miss!

Kiki’s top pair stayed best through both runs, and he dragged the entire monster pot, making a powerful statement very early in his High Stakes Poker debut!

Kiki Keeps the Pressure On; Keating Makes a Great Escape

The Sam Kiki train kept rolling—and this time, Alan Keating was tied to the tracks, managing to wriggle free just in time.

It kicked off when Justin Gavri made it $5,000 with . Wang folded. Kiki, holding , fired back a 3-bet to $15,000. Airball vanished. Keating, though, peeked at and decided to dance. Salomon folded his straddle, and Gavri bowed out.

The flop: . Kiki snagged top pair. Keating found an open-ender. Keating checked. Kiki bet $14,000. Keating sprang a check-raise to $40,000. Kiki, unflustered, made the call.

The turn was a blank. Keating led out for a hefty $80,000. Kiki paused, eyes narrowed, taking it all in before sliding his chips forward.

The river paired the board, giving Kiki Kings-up. Keating, bricked out on his draw, checked. Kiki, after a moment, went for the kill, shoving all-in for a huge $309,000 stack.

Keating got the count, the wheels visibly turning. “I’m supposed to call. I think I’m supposed to call,” he muttered, caught in poker purgatory. The tension hung heavy before he finally surrendered his hand.

A fold that saved him a lot of money, as Kiki pulled in another monster $587,500 pot, continuing his rampage at the table.

Nik Airball Delivers a Stone-Cold Hero Call!

Nik Airball put on his detective hat for this hand, pulling off one of the slickest hero calls of the night!

It got going with Airball making it $6,000 with . Salomon, not content to just call, popped it to $16,000 with . Kiki, on the straddle with , called, and Airball came along too, making it three ways to the flop.

The flop fell . Airball hit middle pair. Surprisingly, the action went check, check, check. The turn was the . Kiki checked again. Airball decided it was time to make something happen, betting $15,000. Salomon vanished, but Kiki called quickly.

The river brought the , pairing the board but changing nothing. With a busted draw and no real hand, Kiki reached for chips, bombing the pot with a $75,000 bet. A pure power play.

Airball went into the tank. His hand was okay – tens and sixes – but Kiki was representing a monster. Yet… the story didn’t quite add up. Airball chewed on it, replaying the hand in his head, before finally flicking in the call.

Bingo. Kiki turned over his busted draw. Airball’s read was perfect, his tens-up good enough to drag a juicy $230,500 pot.

Stacking the chips, Airball shot a grin at Keating. “Blame Alan! ’Cause I would’ve folded. But Alan said you never have a hand.”

Kiki laughed it off, telling Keating, “You’re usually good dude!”

Kiki vs. Salomon: Round Two Goes to Kiki!

While Alan Keating and Peter Wang had been the headlining characters in the previous episodes—clashing in what became the biggest pot in High Stakes Poker history, the real magnetic pull of this session was the Kiki-Salomon dynamic. They clashed again and again, and the energy spiked every time.

In this particular dust-up, Peter Wang opened to $3,000 with . Kiki, seeing , made it $15,000 to go. Salomon, holding , wasn’t done writing fireworks scripts this season, putting in a large 4-bet to $80,000. Wang quickly folded, leaving it to Kiki to make a decision.

“How much more, Rick?” Kiki asked with a smirk. “I think I started the hand on $250K,” Salomon shot back casually.

Kiki made the call, and they saw the flop open —jackpot for Kiki – who it two pair, nines and fives. Salomon whiffed entirely. But that did not slow down Rick! He jammed all in for his last $178,000. Kiki nearly beat him into the pot with the call.

They agreed to run the last two cards twice for the chunky $520,000 pot.

First run: , . Bricks for Salomon. Kiki scooped half the pot.

Second board: , — More blanks for Salomon. Kiki’s hand even improved to nines and eights.

Kiki took it all down. Salomon, losing the half-million pot without batting an eye, simply signalled for more chips: “Give me a million, please.” Reloading like he was just ordering another drink. Classic Rick.

Stack Sizes Update

1. Rick Salomon – $1,000,000
2. Sam Kiki – $736,000
3. Alan Keating – $517,500
4. Peter Wang – $420,000
5. Nik Airball – $406,500
6. Justin Gavri – $145,000

The Million-Dollar Hand: Kiki vs Salomon For All the Marbles!

The final hand of Episode 12 brought the house down, with Sam Kiki bagging a colossal pot—over a million dollars—on his HSP debut!

Alan Keating lit the fuse with a $4,000 open holding . Rick Salomon promptly 3-bet to $20,000 with . Justin Gavri got out of the way. Peter Wang found and decided to smooth-call.

Then came Kiki on the straddle. He looked down at and dropped the hammer: a hefty 4-bet to $140,000. Keating made a quick exit. But Salomon came right back over the top, 5-betting to a staggering $555,000! The action was now on Wang and his Queens. He agonized over the decision before painfully folding his ladies. Kiki, however, wasn’t going anywhere. He called off his remaining $429,000.

“I’ve got a bad hand,” Salomon admitted as he tabled his . Wang turned to Nik Airball and whispered in Chinese that he’d folded Queens. When Nik translated it out loud, Alan Keating’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Two Queens?” he asked in disbelief. “Queen Queen,” confirmed Wang.

The pot stood at a stunning $1,008,500. They agreed to run it twice.

First board: — Kiki’s King-kicker played.

“Yeah, there we go! I’ve got to clap on that one,” Kiki cheered, beaming as the first half of this seven-figure pot was pushed his way. He laughed, adding, “I’m the worst. I’ve got the worst table etiquette. You guys can tell me off anytime.” Salomon offered a wry smile, “I knew it was coming.”

Second board: — Kiki paired his King on the turn. GG!

Kiki scooped the entire million-dollar behemoth, capping off an absolutely electric debut performance.

Sam Kiki didn’t just debut on High Stakes Poker Episode 12; he took it over. His arrival injected pure adrenaline into the game, instantly creating a must-watch rivalry with Rick Salomon. They tangled in huge pots all night, but Kiki landed the knockout blow, hauling in that jaw-dropping million-dollar pot to end the episode.

Sure, Keating, Airball, Wang, and Gavri had their moments, mixing it up and creating some fun action themselves. But the spotlight belonged to Kiki and Salomon. Chips were flying, egos were tested, and it quickly became clear: this table has a new dynamic duo.

Get ready for more because Episode 13—the season’s penultimate chapter—drops April 21 with the same crew back for another round. If tonight was any preview, expect more fireworks.

Check out Episode 12 and binge the whole season—it’s all streaming exclusively on PokerGO!

Content and Images Courtesy: PokerGO