Chicago Player John Kim Converts Venom Vault Prize Into $2,650 Seat And Career-Best Score

An 80-cent tournament ticket turned into the biggest poker score of John Kim’s career after the Chicago player won the Aug. 9 Mini Phil’s Thrill at ACR Poker for $42,700.01.

Kim, who plays online as DotardEatLysol, didn’t buy directly into the $2,650 high-stakes event. His path began with a prize from ACR Poker’s Venom Vault: a $0.80 Survivor Flip Step ticket.

After advancing through the Survivor Flip system, Kim turned that initial ticket into a $2,650 tournament seat and used it to enter Mini Phil’s Thrill.

The tournament attracted 61 entries, creating a $152,500 prize pool. Seven players made the money, with Kim ultimately securing the title and $42,700.01 first prize.

From Small Stakes To A High Roller

The result was a significant jump for the 47-year-old sales consultant.

Kim began playing poker during the boom that followed Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event victory and has played online since the Full Tilt Poker era. He joined ACR Poker in 2021.

Before his Mini Phil’s Thrill victory, Kim said his best online score was roughly $1,400 in a $21 Hyper tournament, a mark he had reached more than once.

That made the jump into a $2,650 tournament especially notable. The field also included established pros Chris Moneymaker, Alex Foxen, and Kristin Foxen.

Rather than trying to match the high-stakes regulars with constant aggression, Kim entered the tournament planning to remain patient early, wait for premium holdings, and accumulate chips before late registration closed.

Pocket Aces Change Everything

The most important hand came with nine players remaining and only seven set to cash.

Kim was second in chips with approximately 680,000. The player directly to his left held roughly 700,000, while a short stack in middle position moved all in for just under 70,000.

Holding pocket aces on the button, Kim elected to flat-call.

The chip leader then moved all in for approximately 700,000, putting Kim’s tournament life at risk just two eliminations away from the money.

Kim eventually made the call and saw that his opponent held pocket sixes. His aces held, sending his stack to around 1.5 million and putting him in position to attack the final stages of the tournament.

By seven-handed play, Kim had moved into the chip lead. His confidence continued to grow as the field narrowed, and he eventually completed the run to earn the first-place payout.

A Career-Best Score At The Right Time

The $42,700.01 victory carried significance for Kim beyond establishing a new personal poker best.

He said he had recently dealt with his car being repossessed and had moved into a family member’s home. His immediate priorities for the winnings include getting transportation again, finding a place of his own, and providing for his three dogs.

Players interested in seeing how Kim navigated the final table can also review the entire finish through ACR Poker’s Final Table Replayer. The replay of Mini Phil’s Thrill includes the completed final-table action with hole cards revealed.

Kim’s route to the tournament began through the Venom Vault, which remains available through Aug. 30. Guaranteed Vault prizes can include Survivor Flip Step tickets beginning at $0.80.

For Kim, one of those smallest possible tickets wound up producing a $2,650 seat, a Mini Phil’s Thrill title, and a $42,700.01 payday.