Ben Butcher - 11th Place
With the elimination of Ben Butcher we're just one bustout shy of our final table.
Preflop, Jason Brown limped in from the small blind and Butcher checked the big blind. The flop came . Brown checked and Butcher bet out 15,000. On the turn Brown once again check-called a 15,000 chip bet from Butcher.
When the dealer revealed the on the river Brown quickly said "All in" and Butcher called almost as quickly.
Brown turned over for a rivered straight, and Butcher look distraught showing his own for two pair.
Butcher exits in 11th place. Brown moves back to 750,000 in chips.
Oleg Epp - 12th Place
Oleg Epp moved all in from under the gun his last 115,000 chips and play folded around to Ke Sijia in the big blind who quickly called.
Epp:
Sijia:
The board bricked out and Sijia ends up with a full house to eliminate Epp in 12th place. He made the next pay jump and will collect NZ$11,046 for a fine tournament.
Shilton Smith opened to 25,00 from the small blind before Assadour Assadourian popped it to 60,000 in the big blind, as these two tangled once more. Smith then declared himself all in to put maximum pressure on his opponent.
Assadour rocked back in his chair and called for Eric to come over to the table from where he was watching the horse racing on a nearby TV screen. When Eric came over to the table Assadour then proclaimed, "Ok, time to double up or go home!" as he slid his chips into the middle.
Smith flipped first, tabling and the pause from Assadour had to leave Smith thinking he had the best hand. But Assadour had delivered a rather stunning slowroll as he revealed .
However the poker Gods are always watching and delivered Smith some sympathy as the board was amazingly spread to give both players a straight! Chop it up!
Assadour Assadourian has Shilton Smith in his sights
Assadour Assadourian has surged of late courtesy of two double ups, both through Shilton Smith.
In the first hand Smith made an opening raise with and Assadourian moved all in with . Smith made the call and the board ran out to double Assadourian through.
Just two hands later Smith opened to 24,000 and Assadourian flat called. The flop came and they both checked. The turn was the and Smith check-raised all in over a 35,000 chip bet from Assadourian.
"Your all in?" asked Assadourian, in a surprised tone. Smith nodded. "Well I'm all in too!" added Assadourian, before he turned over for top set. Smith had .
The river was the moving Assadourian over 300,000 in chips. Smith drops back down to around 620,000.
Sam Hill - 13th Place
Sam Hill opened from under the gun by moving all in for his last 38,000 chips. Ben Butcher made the call in the small blind as did Gerome Guitteau in the big blind.
The flop fell and Butcher led out for 25,000 with Guitteau sighing before tossing out a call. The turn was the and Butcher checked, before quickly calling the 60,000-chip bet from Guitteau as a big side pot was brewing.
The river was a repeat and Butcher checked to Guitteau who immediately moved all in. Butcher released what he said was as Guitteau flipped for the flopped full house! Meanwhile Hill tabled his which had been cracked to see him depart in 13th place.
Shinzaki had his stack karate chopped
Ben Butcher has got lucky to stay alive on the river against Michael Shinzaki.
Preflop, Shinzaki limped in from the small blind and Butcher checked his option in the big. They both checked the flop and moved to the turn.
On the turn Shinzaki checked and Butcher led 25,000. Shinzaki then popped it up to 51,000 and Butcher almost instantly moved all in. Shinzaki must have had a read because he didn't hesitate making the call.
Butcher:
Shinzaki:
Things were looking grim for Butcher with his only outs an open ended straight draw. He hit it on the river .
Butcher moves up to 460,000. Shinzaki drops to 600,000.