Naoya Kihara has improved his early position in the tournament and moved his stack up to 78,000 in chips. After a quick scan around the room, he appears to be the early chip leader.
With 1,450 in the pot on the board, Fabio Di Francesco checked to Jason Mercier. Mercier bet 1,800, and Di Francesco made the call. Mercier rolled over the for two pair, aces and nines, and Di Francesco mucked.
Anthony Zinno raised to 300 from middle position only to have the next player over pop it up to 725 total. Action folded around to Knut Hatle in the small blind and he tossed out a call. Action folded back to Zinno who came along as well.
The trio took a flop of and Hatle checked. Zinno did the same, prompting the third player to continue out for 1,200. Hatle called by tossing out two 1,000-denomination chips. The dealer ruled that this was a raise, forcing Hatle to put out 2,400. The floor was called, however, and it was stated that since Hatle called with two chips of the same denomination, it was simply a call.
After the dust settled from this small conflict, Zinno announced a raise. He moved out 3,100, prompting the original raiser to let go of his cards. Hatle, however, stuck around.
The dropped down on the turn and Hatle quickly checked. Zinno continued his aggression with a bet of 4,000. Hatle instantly called and the finished the board. Hatle once again check-called, this time to the tune of 6,000. Zinno rolled over for the win and Hatle's cards were tossed quickly into the muck.
With this pick up, Zinno's stack is now up to about 49,500 in chips.
Chi Daniel Tang opened with a raise from the hijack seat to an unknown amount, and then Scott Montgomery reraised on the button to 1,000. Play folded back to Tang, and he popped the action up to 3,200. Montgomery called.
The flop came out , and Tang led with a bet of 3,800. Montgomery raised to 10,000, and Tang folded.
Three players including Max Silver and Wladimir Stepanian took a flop of in a raised pot. The first player checked his action, prompting Silver to bet out what looked to be 800. Stepanian was on the button and he cut out a raise to 1,800 total. The first player folded and Silver called to see fourth street.
The turn was the and Silver knocked the table. Stepanian did the same, allowing the to complete the board. Silver opted to fire one final bet, moving 1,800 past the betting line. Stepanian thought for a moment before dropping out a call. Silver rolled over for top pair and Stepanian tossed his cards into the muck.
With this win, Silver's stack has increased to about 34,000 while Stepanian's has dropped to 25,300.
Action folded around to the player on the button who opened with a raise to 350. Peder Behr called from the small blind only to have Chane Kampanatsanyakorn three-bet to 1,400 from the big blind. The original raiser called and Behr came along to see a flop as well.
The dealer produced a flop of and Behr immediately moved all in for his last 4,450. Kampanatsanyakorn reached for calling chips and dropped them past the betting line. The original raiser let it go, leaving the active hands to be turned over.
Kampanatsanyakorn:
Behr:
While both players flopped spade draws, Kampanatsanyakorn's was higher and he was also drawing to a royal flush. Kampanatsanyakorn's ace-high was in the lead at the moment as well. The on the turn changed nothing, leaving Behr looking for either a nine or a seven on the river in order to stay alive.
Unfortunately for Kampanatsanyakorn, the drilled the river, pairing Behr and giving him renewed life in the Main Event. With this win, Behr's stack has increased to about 9,500 while Kampanatsanyakorn has dropped to 31,800.