Souki is Autaa Here, Mao Loses Lead

There have been big changes at the top and bottom of the chip-counts, as following the recent pay-jump, players have been flying out of the Main Event. Philippe Souki was one of the players who departed, and he told us all about it on the rail.

"I defended my big blind twice and was rivered by a player with Ace-Three and then bricked turn and river with an open-straight draw. I was down to twenty big blinds and got them in with pocket jacks. A player who hadn't played a hand so far moved all-in and his eyes lit up. I was thinking'Please have Ace-King in this spot', but he had pocket aces. Its never nice busting the Main, but I'll play the €1k side event later. Barcelona is a great city to enjoy outside the poker room."

Souki may have left the cardroom, but three players who have real designs on the €1.122m top prize are Anthony Edouard Chimkovitch (780,000), Yannick Autaa (635,000) and Sam Mao (pictured, 620,000). Mao did rocket into an early lead, but Chimkovitch is on a heater right now and leads the way with the first level of the day's play about to end.