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It must feel good to be James Lillis right about now.
The New Jersey native has caught fire since the last break, eliminating one player before notching another KO and winning a huge pot on the very next hand to vault into the chip lead.
The heater began when Lillis opened to 3,500 from under the gun and was called by fellow big stack Cristian Antigua in middle position. The big blind then moved all in for 21,500, and both players called.
The flop came 9♥5♣4♥, and Lillis fired 16,000, forcing Antigua out of the pot.
The big blind turned over 6♦6♥, but found himself behind Lillis' 7♥7♦. The 3♦ turn and Q♣ river offered no help, sending the pot to Lillis, who climbed to around 175,000.
On the very next hand, Robert Thomas, sitting on roughly 170,000, opened to 3,500 from middle position. Lillis three-bet to 16,000 from the big blind, and Thomas called.
Lillis continued for 16,000 on the 8♥6♥4♣ flop, with Thomas calling once again. After Lillis checked the 4♦ turn, Thomas bet 35,000. Lillis responded with a raise to 85,000, and snap-called when Thomas moved all in.
Lillis tabled A♠A♦, which had Thomas's 7♠7♣ in bad shape. The 3♦ river gave Lillis the checkmark, and he rose to around 350,000 chips, overtaking Nick Steen for the chip lead.
Some more emerging big stacks in the room include:
- Michael Matrone - 185,000
- Dhesikan Ananchaperumal - 179,000
- Ade Gordon - 152,000
