Max Heinzelmann shoved under the gun for 2.27 million - and Xuan Liu on the button called. Max Lykov and Rupert Elder wisely got out of their way, and they were on their backs.
Heinzelmann:
Liu:
Board:
Heinzelmann doubled back up to 4.73 million, now ahead of Max Lykov once more. Liu remains firmly in second place on around 9 million.
And with all that frenetic action, the stacks have become much deeper. Lykov is the short stack and he has over 30 big blinds left. The pace of the tournament is going to change...
Max Heinzelmann opened to 200,000 from the button, Xuan Liu then reraised to 490,000 from the small blind but then Max Lykov 4-bet to 925,000.
Heinzelmann quickly got out of the way but Liu took a lot longer, gauging the Russian's stack she finally declared, "All in."
Lykov nodded, "I call."
Liu:
Lykov:
There was no help for either player on the flop but the turn was greeted by a mixture of cheers and groans from those in the theatre, Liu and Lykov remained emotionless. The came on the river and Lykov's dream of being the first double champion died, cruelly outdrawn after a cold decked hand. Liu overtakes Elder as the chip leader.
We've seen a lot of three-betting since we got short-handed, but we're fairly certain that this constitutes the first five-bet. Rupert Elder came out on top.
Max Heinzelmann folded his button and the action moved on to Xuan Liu in the small blind who raised to 245,000. In the big blind, Elder made it 625,000. Back to Liu, who calmly four-bet to 1.525 million - but the 2.8 million five-bet from Elder proved too much for her and she finally passed.
Rupert Elder raise to 200,000 and Max Heinzelman made it 525,000 from the small blind but then Xuan Liu slid in a cold 4-bet to 1,225,000 and both the others folded.
Next hand saw Heinzelmann raise from the button and Rupert Elder defended in the big blind, both players checked the flop before Elder led out for 365,000 on the turn. Heinzelmann called to see the putting four to a straight on board, Elder now fired 1.3 million and Heinzelmann snap-folded.
The 72nd hand of the final table and it was a big one for Max Heinzelmann. He called Xuan Liu's button raise of 200,000 and then fired out 180,000 on the . Liu made the call to see what looked to be a blank turn - the and Heinzelmann now bet 330,000 but Liu made it 885,000 to go. Heinzelmann wasn't going anywhere though and virtually clicked it back with a 3-bet to 1,605,000 and Liu thought for a moment before making the call.
The came on the river and Heinzelmann instantly moved all in for his remaining 2,355,000, Liu thought again but the Canadian girl had a wry smile on her face as she decided to fold. Will this hand give the German the momentum when the tournament restarts?
Max Heinzelmann had opened preflop from the small blind to 300,000 and Xuan Liu called in the big blind to see a flop of . Heinzelman continued with a bet of what looked to be around 360,000 and Liu made the call to see the turn, Heinzelmann now checked and Liu bet 725,000 but the German called as the pot got big.
The river was the and Heinzelmann checked a second time, Liu betting 1,825,000 - a chunky bet but the German made the call, Liu turned over for a rivered flush which was good. Heinzelmann's momentum from before the break just evaporated.