Michael Guzzardi just won back-to-back hands and is up to around 2,000,000 chips. The first pot he won we caught on the river. Guzzardi explained afterwards that Paul Hockin had raised under the gun and he called in position.
The flop came down and Hockin check-called a bet. On the turn the hit, and Hockin check-called another bet. The river was the and Hockin checked again. Guzzardi bet 300,000 and Hockin called after going into the tank for quite some time. Guzzardi showed and took down this big pot.
On the next hand Michael Lo Giudice limped under the gun. Guzzardi raised to 60,000 and only the limper called. The flop brought out and Lo Giudice check-called 65,000. The turn was the , and both players checked.
On the river the hit and Lo Giudice bet 100,000. Guzzardi called and Lo Giudice showed . Guzzardi turned over and took down this pot.
Ashley Warner just raised to 52,000 under the gun and Ismail Ismail called to his direct left. Paul Hockin was on the button and he proceeded to three-bet to 160,000.
The action was folded to Ismail who tanked for about a minute before making the call. He had just 230,000 chips left behind.
The flop brought out and Ismail checked. Hockin moved all in, and Ismail went into the tank once again. Two minutes later he decided to fold, leaving himself with very little chips.
Ismail Ismail looked down at one card and moved all in for his final 230,000 chips from the cutoff. Michael Lo Giudice was in the small blind, and he decided to call. Ismail had a good shot at doubling up to his own surprise after turning over both cards.
Ismail Ismail
Michael Lo Giudice
The flop brought out , and this gave Lo Giudice a commanding lead. Ismail was looking for running cards, and the turn brought one of them when the hit. The river was the though, and Ismail was knocked out in 5th place. Just four players remain.
Michael Lo Giudice has just been eliminated reducing the field down to three players. After a raise to 60,000 from Michael Lo Giudice all three players made the call creating a family pot.
The flop brought out and all four players checked.
On the turn the hit and Lo Giudice bet 115,000. Ashley Warner was his only caller.
The river brought the and Lo Giudice moved all in for right around 400,000 chips. Warner snap-called and announced he had a straight flush! Lo Giudice showed his , but that was no good against Warner's .
We are down to three players who are now on a short break.
The ANZPT player of the year points have also been chopped up. Every player will receive third-place points. The runner up finisher will receive an extra A$7,000 and the winner will add A$13,275 to his already big payout!
On the very first hand after the deal was made there was a massive clash between Ashley Warner and Michael Guzzardi. There was a dead small blind in this hand which we caught from the turn.
The board read and Guzzardi checked to Warner who bet 135,000. Guzzardi check-raised to 400,000 and Warner made the call.
On the river the hit and Guzzardi moved all in for right around 1.5 million. Warner called.
Guzzardi turned over and won the pot with a straight.
"What did I make that deal for?" Guzzardi laughed as he's now the overwhelming chip leader.
After a short break play will resume with three players. One of which is very short.
While you wait, if you haven't been lucky enough to join us in the Crown Poker Room today, then here is a visual of how the final table looked just four hours ago:
and Hockin check-called a bet. On the turn the 
hit, and Hockin check-called another bet. The river was the 
and Hockin checked again. Guzzardi bet 300,000 and Hockin called after going into the tank for quite some time. Guzzardi showed 
and took down this big pot.
and Lo Giudice check-called 65,000. The turn was the 
, and both players checked.
. Guzzardi turned over 
and took down this pot.
and Ismail checked. Hockin moved all in, and Ismail went into the tank once again. Two minutes later he decided to fold, leaving himself with very little chips.
, and this gave Lo Giudice a commanding lead. Ismail was looking for running cards, and the turn brought one of them when the 
though, and Ismail was knocked out in 5th place. Just four players remain.
and all four players checked.
and Lo Giudice moved all in for right around 400,000 chips. Warner snap-called and announced he had a straight flush! Lo Giudice showed his 
, but that was no good against Warner's 
and won the pot with a straight.