Middleton in Free Fall
Two hands have put the start-of-the-day chip leader, Tom Middleton, on one of the short stacks.
In the first, we picked up the action on a 
flop when Andreas Christoforou bet 275,000 from the hijack and Middleton called from the cutoff. Both players then checked the 
turn and the 
completed the board on the river. Christoforou check for a second time and Middleton slid out a bet of 550,000. Christoforou snap-called and Middleton sheepishly turned over the 
. Christoforou then tabled the 
for trips and the win.
In the very next hand, Middleton opened for 175,000 from the hijack and Anaras Alekberovas defended his big blind. The Lithuanian then led out for 180,000 on the 
flop, Middleton called and the dealer burned and turned the 
. Alekberovas bet again ,this time 275,000, and again Middleton came along. When the 
appeared on the river, Alekberovas broke down his chips, restacked them and then committed for right around 675,000. Middleton, who barely had his opponent covered, decided to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,500,000 | 1,175,000 |
|
1,900,000 | 720,000 |
|
830,000 | -2,400,000 |