We’ve waited almost an hour, but the money-bubble has finally burst!
The action started with Vladimir Troyanolvskiy opening to 8,500 from the hijack, before Manuel Blaschke raised to 19,500 from the small blind. Troyanovskiy made the call as both players saw the flop come down . Blaschke then continued with a bet of 18,500, before snap-calling the all in bet from Troyanovskiy, with less chips behind.
Again, the two had to wait as the remaining tables played out their hands, before tabling their cards.
Blaschke:
Troyanovskiy:
Blaschke was at risk but in front with his over-pair, but Troyanovskiy had many outs, which only improved when the fell on the floor. With many players crowding around, including the ones hanging on with short-stacks, the dealer produced the to give Troyanovskiy two-pair, sending the Austrian home, one short of the money.
With the pot at around 30,000, and the board showing , PokerStars Team Pro Vivian Im led out for 15,500 from the big blind, before Rauf Bikbulatov raised it up to 40,000. A few minutes passed before Im moved all in for 122,000, sending Bikbulatov to the tank as well. Another couple of minutes passed before he made the call, as both players tabled their cards.
Im:
Bikbulatov:
Im was behind, but had outs to a straight and flush draw, but they never came, as the fell on the river.
Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened the pot , before Justin Jerome Geronimo moved all in for his last 105,000 in chips. He was called, as both players tabled their cards.
Geronimo:
Troyanovskiy:
The board ran out , to see another player eliminated, as Troyanovskiy moves back up to 335,000 in chips.
Geng Liu opened to 13,000 from under the gun, and was met with a call from Ka Cheong Wong on the small blind. The flop came , as Liu went into the tank. He eventually checked, as did Wong, as the fell on the turn. Liu again thought about his decision for a considerable time, before placing out a small bet of 13,000. Wong made the call, before the completed the board.
This time Liu reached quickly for his chips, and bet out 45,000. Wong let his hand go a minute later, relinquishing the pot over to his opponent.
By Asian poker terms, the bubble period in Macau was a tortuous 12 hands, and PokerStars Blog conducted a forensic examination of the crucial passage of play, even coining a new poker term: "bubble creeper".