Hwang on Right End of Brutal Cooler, Yarlapati Busts Soon After

The preflop action on a recent hand was a textbook display of two skilled players trying to outwit one another, but in the end, the cards played themselves.

Andy Hwang three-bet to 60,000 from the big blind after an open to 28,000 from Maruti Yarlapati in the cutoff. The action back on him, Yarlapati took his time before cutting out a four-betting stack of 140,000. From there, the theatrics were, while unnecessary considering the situation, fun to watch firsthand.

After the sizable four-bet by Yarlapati, Hwang winced and appeared to all the world to be a frustrated man, one who did not expect to be played back at. Feigning displeasure at the spot he was now put in, Hwang checked his cards once or twice and cut out a calling stack, only to put the chips back in their rightful spot as if ready to concede the hand.

Instead, Hwang grabbed the stack and placed it in the middle, simply smooth-calling the big bet and taking the flop out of position. When the first three cards were spread Hwang tapped the table silently for a check, and soon Yarlapati's chips were all pushed forward for the all-in move.

Hwang beat him to the pot and both players tabled their holdings.

Showdown:

Hwang:
Yarlapati:

Both players had picked up premium pocket pairs, and despite the protracted drama with played out preflop, the pot was preordained to be played for all the chips.

The turn () and river () changed nothing and Hwang doubled through for a huge win, while Yarlapati was left on life support. His last 100,000 or so was shipped with , but Yarlapati failed to catch up to Christopher Leon's when the flop came .