The back half of Season 2 of PokerStars' The Big Game On Tour hit the airwaves on Sunday, bringing audiences the first installment of a $200/$400 ($400 big blind ante) cash game with a minimum buy-in of $100,000 – a significant jump from the prior $50,000 buy-in episodes.
It's an increase in stakes that might have something to do with the presence of big-money players Alan Keating, Lex Veldhuis, and Jason Koon in the lineup. Alexander 'Wolfgang' Seibt, Jay Morgan, and Loose Cannon Luke Moy filled out the rest of the table.
In Season 1, Keating got the better of Veldhuis in a $266,000 pot – the largest of the Dutchman's career. With a chance to enact a measure of revenge, Veldhuis came ready for battle and Keating answered the call.
'It's good to be back, Keating'
When the action folded around to Veldhuis on the button, he raised 
to $1,000 before Keating immediately tossed in a three-bet to $3,800 with 
. Seibt looked down at 
in the big blind and made the call. Veldhuis came along as well to close the pre-flop action. With $11,800 in the pot, the 
flop provided Keating with the nut flush draw and he continued for $8,000.
Seibt folded the best of it, leaving Veldhuis to play defense against the ever-aggressive Keating. Veldhuis' call brought the pot to $27,800 and the 
turn hit the board. Keating fired another shell, sizing up to $22,000. Veldhuis quickly sent his cards into the muck and Keating dragged the first of hopefully many pots between the two.
Alan Keating laid down a marker in the early goings of the latest episode of The Big Game On Tour. It wasn't the biggest pot of the night – far from it as the action only ramped up from there – but the tone was set early. It was going to be war between Keating and Veldhuis.
"It's good to be back, Keating," Veldhuis said.
"You know, much like The Joker needs Batman, I need you," came Keating's reply.
"You guys have a history, huh?" Morgan asked.
"Yes," they said, nearly in unison.
Morgan pressed the issue. "So, is it one of your goals to absolutely obliterate the other one today?"
"Yes," Veldhuis said.
"Both of our goals," chimed Keating.
The Big Game On Tour airs Sundays on the PokerStars YouTube Channel – check out the complete release schedule.
Featured image courtesy of PokerStars/Rational Intellectual Holdings
