Dan Smith just retook the lead after the two played a pretty decent pot on the 
board. On the river, Smith shoved in and Smirnov folded to fall back to under one million in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,290,000 | 190,000 |
|
910,000 | -190,000 |
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
We picked up the action after the 
flop as Dan Smith was leading out with 65,000 into a six-figure pot. Smirnov took some time to deliberate before stacking the call out into the pot, and the 
turned on fourth street. Smith barreled ahead with another 168,000, and this time, Smirnov's call came almost instantly.
The 
paired the board on the river, and Smith checked after about 20 seconds. Smirnov checked it back, and Smith did not want to show. The Russian rolled over his 
, and Smith couldn't beat it. He shook his head and mucked, and the pot goes to Smirnov.
The two men are essentially even once again; if anything, it's Smirnov with a small chip edge.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,100,000 | -140,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 | 140,000 |
Dan Smith and Mikhail Smirnov have been battling back and forth. Here's a look at two recent hands, albeit small ones, and the resulting chip counts.
Smirnov limped the button and Smith checked his option in the big blind to see the 
flop come down. Smith led out for 25,000 and Smirnov raised to 87,000. Smith gave it up and Smirnov won the pot.
A couple hands later, Smirnov limped the button again and Smith checked his option in the big blind to see the 
flop. Both players checked and then also checked the turn card. After the river completed the board with the 
, Smith checked and Smirnov bet 58,000. Smith tanked, but eventually ran out of time and his hand was declared dead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,240,000 | -126,000 |
|
|
960,000 | 126,000 |
Dan Smith opened to 48,000 from the button, and Mikhail Smirnov came right along, flicking the calling chips off his stack and into the pot.
The flop came out 
, and it went check-check to the 
turn. Now Smirnov led out int the pot with 58,000 of his own chips, and Smith made the call to see the last card. It was the 
, and Smirnov slowed back down and checked. Smith took his cue to make a healthy bet of 150,000, and Smirnov tanked and folded with some reluctance.
Dan Smith limped in on the button and Mikhail Smirnov announced a raise from the big blind, although the amount was unheard and unknown. Smith announced, "Pot," and reraised to put Smirnov all in. The Russian called and the cards were tabled.
Smirnov: 
Smith: 
The flop came down 
and Smirnov took the lead with a pair of tens. The turn was the to pair the board and the river completed the board with the . From the flop on, Smirnov held up and doubled up. He was all in for an announced amount of 417,000 and now has 834,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,366,000 | -284,000 |
|
|
834,000 | 284,000 |
Level: 13
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 0
In a series of small and uninteresting pots, Dan Smith has whittled Mikhail Smirnov down to about 550,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,650,000 | 350,000 |
|
|
550,000 | -350,000 |
Dan Smith was the preflop raiser, and he and Mikhail Smirnov came along with the call from the big blind.
They took a 
flop, and Smirnov checked to the raiser. When Smith continued out with ~40,000, though, Smirnov check-raised to 150,000, and Smith called to see the next card.
It was the , and the rest of the money got in. Smith had just over a half-million chips left at that point, and his hand was in the lead as the cards were turned up.
Showdown
Smith: 
Smirnov: 
Smirnov had a combo draw with one to come, but it would not materialize. The river brought the blank 
, and Smith's double was a lock. Just like that, he's retaken the chip lead with about 1.3 million, and Smirnov is down under the million-chip mark for the second time in this match.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,300,000 | 675,000 |
|
|
900,000 | -675,000 |
Dan Smith got his last 312,000 into the pot before the flop with , and he was a favorite to stay alive as Mikhail Smirnov looked him up with 
.
Smith was never in trouble as the board ran out 
, and he's back up over 600,000 and back in the ballgame.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
624,000 | 324,000 |
Unfortunately, we have very few details for this hand as it played out quickly while we were writing up the last hand.
When we rejoined the action, the 
board was already out, and a big pot was piled in the middle of the table. It looked like Smith bet the river and was called, but we can't be sure. In either case, his hand was second best. Smirnov took the big pot with 
, and Smith was left with just over 300,000 with which to mount a comeback.
