donpeters
Joe Hachem
No, we haven't miraculously eliminated four players to get to heads-up play, but there's is a heads-up tournament going on in the pit below the stage. There's currently nine players left out of the 32 that started. Six of them are playing their quarterfinal match while two are still playing a match from the previous round. That means there's one player in the waiting for that match to complete so he can continue on.
One of the quarterfinal matches going on is David Saab versus Team PokerStars Pro and former WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem. Hachem has a slight lead at last look. Tino Lechich is also in a quarterfinal match.
The top four spots will be paid and they plan to finish it all tonight. We'll try and keep you posted once in a while.
donpeters
The players have had some complaints about how hot it is under the spotlights on the final table. During one of the recent breaks, even a dealer asked for some water.
donpeters
Hermans in action
Wayne Carlson limped under the gun and Aaron Benton called on the button. Tom Grigg completed from the small blind and Ernst Hermans checked in the big blind.
The flop was and Grigg checked. Hermans bet 70,000 and Carlson called. Benton folded and Grigg called.
The turn was the and action checked to Carlson. He bet 200,000 and Grigg flatted. Hermans then raised to 700,000 and won the pot.
Hermans is up to 3.6 million, Carlson down to 900,000 and Grigg down to 2.2 million.
donpeters
From the small blind, Ernst Hermans raised to 140,000 and Wayne Carlson called out of the big blind. The two players took a flop of and Hermans checked. Carlson fired 250,000 to win the pot and get some chips back.
Carlson's back over a million with 1.050 million and Hermans is now on 3.45 million.
donpeters
Tom Grigg opened with a raise to 125,000 from the cutoff seat and Ernst Hermans called on the button. The flop came down and Grigg checked. Hermans fired 165,000 and Grigg folded.
[user38449]
Aaron Benton just tangled with Ernst Hermans again, emerging victorious and doubling up to 2.7 million in chips.
Benton opened the pot with a raise to 150,000 from under-the-gun and Hermans three-bet to 400,000 from the cutoff. Benton then moved all in over the top for about 1.2 million total and Hermans snap-called, setting up the following preflop showdown:
Benton:
Hermans:
The ensuing board filled out and Benton let Hermans hear it:
"That's how we roll... we smack sets! You call me with jack-ten and I'm going to hammer you again!" Benton needled.
"You three-bet me and it's going in the middle!"
After the hand, Hermans dropped down to 2.3 million in chips.
[user38449]
Leo Boxell has just doubled through to 2.3 million in chips after getting the best of Andrew Hiscox in what was a battle of the blinds.
Action folded around the table to Hiscox in the small blind who completed the bet. Boxell then kicked it up to 225,000 and Hiscox four-bet to 555,000. The action then returned to Boxell who moved all in over the top for approximately 610,000 more, putting Hiscox to a big decision.
"If he folds I'm going to cry. Seriously, I'm going to cry," said Tom Grigg.
Hiscox ended up making the call holding and found himself in bad shape against Boxell's .
The was the door card on the flop, but it was accompanied by the and pairing both players' kickers. The turn and river then blanked out , and Boxell won the pot with a pair of tens.
Hiscox was left with 725,000 in chips after the hand.
donpeters
Andrew Hiscox - 6th Place
Andrew Hiscox raised to 125,000 and Aaron Benton reraised to 375,000. Hiscox then shoved in and Benton snapped him off, tabling . Hiscox held .
"C'MON BABY!" screamed Benton, standing and turning towards his railbirds on the balcony. "COME ON!"
The flop came down and kept Benton ahead.
"Ace in the window. Ace in the window." Benton repeated over and over.
The turn card was the and now Hiscox picked up a straight draw, but after the hit the river he was sent to the rail in 6th place.
Quietly, Hiscox shook the hands of the other players left while Benton raised his hands high above his head and yelled "YEAAAAAHHHH!" so loud that he was probably heard in Melbourne. He's now up to 4.1 million.
"When I run good, I run really good baby!" said Benton as he collected the chips.
and Hiscox checked.
and Grigg checked. Hermans bet 70,000 and Carlson called. Benton folded and Grigg called.
and action checked to Carlson. He bet 200,000 and Grigg flatted. Hermans then raised to 700,000 and won the pot.
and Hermans checked. Carlson fired 250,000 to win the pot and get some chips back.
and Grigg checked. Hermans fired 165,000 and Grigg folded.
![[user38449]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Benton let Hermans hear it:
and found himself in bad shape against Boxell's 
.
, 
and Boxell won the pot with a pair of tens. 
and kept Benton ahead.
and now Hiscox picked up a straight draw, but after the 
hit the river he was sent to the rail in 6th place.
