Rampage and Ethan Yau pull off a miraculous comeback! Two lucky flop assists propel them to the US Poker Open final table.

Ethan “Rampage” Yau made two consecutive comebacks to advance to the final table in the 2026 US Poker Open.

Rampage Ethan Yau's Luck Explodes: Dramatic Reversal at US Poker Open 2026

In the 2026 US Poker Open in Las Vegas, popular poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau He once again became the focus of attention. In Day 1 of Event #3:$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (NLH), he successfully accumulated chips with two dramatic "suckouts" and ultimately advanced to the final stage as a leader.

This tournament attracted 115 participants, with a total prize pool of $575,000, and the champion will receive $143,750. With Day 1 completed, only 6 players remain to advance, making the competition extremely fierce.

Final table chip count overview

The current chip distribution is as follows:

• Sam Laskowitz – 3,750,000 (47BB)
• Ethan Yau – 3,500,000 (44BB)
• Adam Hendrix – 3,150,000 (39BB)
• Cherish Andrews – 2,025,000 (25BB)
• Yifu He – 1,025,000 (13BB)
• Michael Berk – 925,000 (12BB)

Yau, with a late surge, successfully rose to become the second-largest chip stack, making him one of the favorites to win the championship.

Key Moments: Two Miracles Changed His Fate

Ethan Yau's journey to the finals in this match was nothing short of dramatic. He was eliminated early on, but his luck turned around after returning to the field, leading to a series of crucial comebacks.

First key doubling

As Yau approached the money, he went all-in with pocket Jacks (JJ), only to be met by Michael Berk's pocket Aces (AA). Statistically, he had almost no chance of winning, but a Jack appeared on the flop, allowing him to complete a set and successfully turn the tide, narrowly escaping defeat and doubling up.

This hand became the first turning point of the entire game.

Second fatal blow

In the final hand of the day, Yau faced Berk head-on once again:

• Yau：AQ
• Berk: AK

Yau missed both the flop and turn, seemingly sealing his fate. However, a miraculous Queen landed on the river, turning the tide once again.

Yau excitedly shouted "WHEW!" on the spot, while Berk had no choice but to leave, becoming one of the biggest victims.

Not just Yau: Luck also smiled on other players.

Besides Yau, professional players Alex Foxen He also had incredible luck during the game, hitting key outs multiple times to win big pots.

It's worth mentioning that Foxen and Landon Tice discussed topics about faith and life that day, even having philosophical conversations such as "love can accomplish everything," adding a lot of fun to the game.

The emergence and advancement of money circles

The bubble burst when Jesse Kertland's KQ was defeated by his opponent's AQ, leaving him out of the prize money. Other players who made it into the money include:

• Justin Saliba
• Jim Collopy
• Dylan Linde

With Day 2 underway, the remaining players will compete for the ultimate championship and a large prize pool.

Conclusion: Luck or skill?

Ethan Yau humorously remarked after the match, "Sometimes, luck is more fun than skill."

In the unpredictable world of poker, skill is certainly important, but luck at crucial moments often determines success or failure. Yau's two consecutive "miracle flops" not only changed his own fate but also made the competition even more talked about.

Whether he can maintain this momentum and win the championship in the upcoming final table match will be a major highlight of this year's US Poker Open.