Action folded around to the blinds, where Gening Dai shoved from the small blind for his last 2,300,000 and was called by Van Marcus in the big blind with a covering stack.
Gening Dai: K♠J♥
Van Marcus: A♦5♥
Marcus held a slight lead with his ace, but the 6♦4♣J♣6♣8♣ runout improved Dai to jacks-up and he doubled his short stack.
Yesha Punjabi shoved for 4,025,000 on the button and Chester Swords asked for a count from the small blind. After verifying the amount, Swords announced he was also all in, which got a quick fold from Kenta Ito in the big blind.
Yesha Punjabi: A♠5♥
Chester Swords: K♥10♥
The K♣6♣4♣ immediately paired Swords' king for a commanding lead in the hand, and the Q♠K♠ runout further improved Swords to trips to eliminate Punjabi in fifth place.
Level: 30
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
It's been a while since a pot of significance was played, with most pots currently consisting of a raise or shove preflop that results in taking down the blinds.
Van Marcus retains the chip lead with about 13,000,000.
Van Marcus opened to 450,000 from the hijack and it was folded to Jaxon Byrne, who shoved for just over 4,000,000 from the small blind. Marcus asked for a count and then said, "Alright, I call."
Jaxon Byrne: 5♥5♠
Van Marcus: 9♦9♠
It was the right call from Marcus, as he had Byrne's pocket fives crushed.
"Hold it!" Marcus said as the dealer dealt out A♥A♦10♦10♣6♦ — counterfeiting both players' pairs but still leaving Marcus best with his nine to eliminate Byrne in sixth place.
Level: 29
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
The final six players have been sent on a 15-minute break.
Kenta Ito opened to 300,000 on the button and Van Marcus defended his big blind.
Marcus checked on the 7♠5♥J♠ flop and Ito continued for 225,000. Marcus then check-raised to 750,000, which was met with a shove from Ito for 1,200,000 total. Marcus called and hands were turned face up.
Kenta Ito: A♥A♠
Van Marcus: Q♠8♠
Ito held the lead with his aces, but needed to fade the flush draw of Marcus.
The 6♦ turn improved Marcus to an open-ended straight in addition to his flush draw for a big sweat, but the 3♣ river bricked out and Ito doubled up.
Yesha Punjabi opened to 300,000 from the hijack and it was folded to Kenta Ito, who shoved from the small blind. Action folded back to Punjabi, who quickly called all in for 2,200,000 total.
Yesha Punjabi: K♥K♠
Kenta Ito: A♣Q♠
The K♣10♥10♦ flop improved Pubjabi to a full house and left Ito drawing to running aces or running tens.
No miracle came on the J♠4♣ runout and Punjabi doubled up through Ito.
Level: 28
Blinds: 75,000/150,000
Ante: 150,000
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