Paradise loss: Super Main cold deck ends qualifier's run in No Limit

Posted on: November 6, 2025 20:01 PST

Update: The WSOP has pulled the No Limit series from YouTube after quotes were found to have been fabricated using AI.

On Thursday, the second episode of No Limit hit the airwaves on the World Series of Poker YouTube channel, bringing audiences another half-hour installment of high quality story-telling. While the prior episode introduced us to a trio of notables – Daniel Negreanu, Kristen Foxen, and Faraz Jaka – the latest episode spends time with two players who qualified for the $25K Super Main Event at a fraction of the cost.

Eric Bonnuchi-Bilow and Adam Malfitano reached Paradise thanks to one of the many online qualifying routes available. Each of them earned their seats for pennies on the dollar – Bonnuchi-Bilow for just $15 and Malfitano for $500. On arrival in The Bahamas, both players were brimming with confidence and excitement, but before the close of Day 1 play only one remained in the fight.

'It was all very exciting'

After losing a sizable chunk of his stack prior to the dinner break, Malfitano returned to his seat determined to forget the bad beat and move forward.

"Alright," he said as he dropped his backpack to the floor. "Next time kings are going to hold up on the river. That's the positive thinking I need."

Unfortunately for him, the deck wasn't aligned with Malfitano's positivity and continued to send adversity his way. In the next pot he played, a no-good flush on the river put an end to his dream of a multi-million dollar score and the next Moneymaker moment. The documentary crew caught up with Malfitano in the Players Lounge.

"In this game, [if] you're calling people on the river, you gotta have the nuts. But I'm getting low on chips there. I hit my flush... he has the nut flush."

"You gotta be able to take these losses and just keep grinding away," he continued. "Oh, man. It's gonna suck sending the text out like 'Hey I busted.'"