Hands 42-48: Paredes Using the Chip Lead to Chip Up
Hand 42: Paredes opened his button to 250,000, Maio three-bet to 625,000 and Merulla eyeballed his stack before folding. Paredes laid his hand down as well and the pot was pushed to Maio.
Hand 43: Maio opened for a button raise to 250,000, Merulla folded his small blind away and Paredes flatted to take the 
flop. Both payers checked down and the turn came 
. Paredes checked to Maio, who bet 175,000. After Paredes called the river card came 
and two checks later Maio revealed 
for the winner.
Hand 44: Merulla raised his button and claimed the blinds and antes.
Hand 45: Paredes raised to 250,000 holding the button and another uncontested pot was taken down with a button raise.
Hand 46: Maio folded his button and Merulla hesitated for a beat before limping in from the small blind. Paredes wasn't about to let a flop come for free, and he raised 320,000 to defend his big blind. The aggression worked and Merulla laid his hand down.
Hand 47: Merulla min-raised from the button and claimed an uncontested pot chock full of blinds and antes.
Hand 48: Paredes opened his button for 250,000, Maio folded from the small blind and Merulla squeezed his cards before flatting in the big blind. The flop came 
and Merulla checked to Paredes, who responded with a bet of 275,000. The c-bet worked wonders and Merulla folded his hand.