Life of Stammen

Keven Stammen is the defending champion of the Hollywood Poker Open Championship, and he entered the tournament this morning with a 25,000-chip stack. Flash forward just 2.5 hours, and Stammen sits on a strong stack worth 160,000. Stammen's off to do the same thing he did in 2015, when he also entered the tournament on Day 2 before winning the whole thing.

We caught up with Stammen to get some more details on his explosive start.

Stammen explained how he chipped up a bit before doubling up with ace-queen to the tens of Toby Lewis, and a little while later he ended up all in with ace-king to kings.

"He had him dead on the turn," one of the other players at the table laughed, and Stammen produced a big smile.

"Flopped an ace, turned an ace," Stammen said, as he's now sitting on 160,000 chips.

Stammen has $4.6 million in live tournament earnings, and last year he won $347,045 for winning this very event.