It's probably had to get motivated for a €5,000 tournament when the price of the entry is just a couple big blinds at your cash table. Just ask Ilari Sahamies.
Just moments after returning to the table after an impromptu dinner break, Sahamies found his stack of 64,000 whittled down to about 20,000. Those 20,000 all went in before the flop with , and he somehow found action from Katalin Jerney and her .
The flop was, er, in her neighborhood as it came out ten-high with three clubs. Sahamies was drawing stone dead right there, and he's been eliminated just as the last break of the day approaches.
A bit of a disturbance in the tournament room right now. During or just after the break, some unfortunate soul was unable to hold their lunch and -- well, there's no real quaint way to say this -- vomited all over the tournament floor.
A swarm of housekeepers carrying mops and brooms rushed to the scene of the crime, and they're furiously trying to rid the room of the unpleasant sight and smell.
You may want to stay away from the carpaccio on the buffet this week.
After an excellent day of slow but sure upward grindage, Chaz Chattha is right back down to 26,500.
We caught up with him on the flop, when Catherine Hong bet out 2,100. Chattha made it 6,200, Hong called, and they proceeded.
We must confess that we were momentarily distracted on the turn so we missed the action, but re-focused come the turn, which Hong checked. Chattha bet a chunky 15,000 and Hong called.
Chattha: for flopped trips
Hong: for flopped two pair that turned into a flush on the river
"Nice hand," sighed Chattha, tapping the table in acknowledgment. Hong, nonchalantly munching on a sandwich, is up to 80,000.
The gentleman in seat one raised to 1,600, only for chipped-up Rifat Palevic to his immediate left to make it 3,600. Everyone else got out of their way, Mr. Seat One called, and they saw a flop.
Flop:
Both players unexpectedly checked.
Turn:
Mr. Seat One bet out 5,100 and Palevic called. Onwards.
River:
Mr. Seat One now bet 13,100, followed by an insta-call from Palevic - who then rather violently threw his pocket back to the dealer when Mr. Seat One turned over for a turned set and rivered full house.
Palevic, who looked to be our chip leader before the start of the hand, is still looking good on 115,000 or so.
Jeff Sarwer
It's been a long grind back for Jeff Sarwer, but he finally finds himself back over his starting stack for the first time since the first level.
On a flop of , Sarwer checked to the player on the other side of the table. The unknown player flicked out a bet of 5,000, and Sarwer announced a check-raise all in for 20,475. After spending some quality time in the tank, the player released his cards, and Sarwer exhaled deeply. He's back to about 33.000 now and has his sights set on Day 2.