01-28-2010 22:25 UTC+11

Hanging Around

[user38449]

The Big Show

Steve 'The Big Show' Topakas has alligator blood. He's been short-stacked all day long and has managed to reach the final five tables without ever traveling above 125,000 in chips. Most recently, he was sitting with 45,000 before doubling up through big stack Dan Shak.

Shak opened the pot with a raise to 24,000 and Topakas tossed the rest of his chips into the middle from the blinds holding {5-Spades}

{5-Spades}

{5-Diamonds}

. Shak tabled {A-Hearts}

{A-Hearts}

{Q-Clubs}

and Topakas found himself racing for his tournament life.

The board then filled out {9-Hearts}

{9-Hearts}

{2-Hearts}

{10-Clubs}

{2-Clubs}

{9-Spades}

and Topakas' fives held up, doubling him through to about 100,000 in chips.

After the hand, Shak had like a million or something. No, really.