With a place at an EPT final table at stake it's understandable to see cagey play early on. The players on table 2 are feeling each other out and making considered decisions at every juncture.

It took a while to get a hand that made it to showdown, but when it did, chip leader Jason Tompkins lost some of his lead.

Michael Benvenuti raised to 48,000 from under the gun and was called by Imed Mahmoud on the button and Tompkins in the small blind.

All three checked the flop to head to the turn. The action checked to Mahmoud who bet 67,000, only called by Tompkins. Mahmoud bet 141,000 after the river came and Tompkins checked to him again. The Irishman called after some thought and mucked upon seeing his opponent's for trips.