The seven remaining finalists are on their third 20-minute break of the day.
During the last level, we lost 2014 PCA winner and EPT11 Malta finalist Dominik Panka in 9th place. Panka reshoved pocket sixes all in after Dmitry Yurasov had opened. Yurasov called with pocket kings and held up to send Panka to the rail. The Polish star received €41,590 for his deep run.
Short stack Bastian Dohler shoved three times and got no callers. The German remained the short stack and still has around ten big blinds.
In the last hand before the break, Xixiang Luo ran his ace-king into Peter Ockenden's pocket aces. It was a cooler for the Chinese pro and he failed to improve. Luo finished in 8th and also received €41,590.
Hand #26: From the cutoff, Xixiang Luo came in raising to 90,000. One seat over, Peter Ockenden made a three-bet to 250,000. Big blind Elie Saad folded but Luo wasn't done with the hand and put in a four-bet to 655,000.
Ockenden shoved all in and Luo called. The Chinese was at risk and he was behind when the cards were tabled.
Peter Ockenden:
Xixiang Luo:
The flop was and didn't provide much help for Luo. The turn was the and gave Luo some hope. However, the river wasn't another king. When the hit the felt, Luo was eliminated from this EPT Malta Main Event.
He scores a €41,590 payday for his eighth place in this tournament. With Luo's bust out, final table play will continue until one more player busts. The remaining six will come back tomorrow to play down to a winner.
Hand #22: From first position, Xixiang Luo raised to 90,000 and Mats Karlsson defended his big blind. The Swede then check-folded to a 100,000-bet on the flop.
Hand #23: Elie Saad raised to 85,000 and both blinds, Mats Karlsson and Xixiang Luo, joined to see a flop.
Karlsson checked and Luo led out for 105,000. Saad folded but Karlsson stayed around to see the . It was checked through to the river.
The Swede started cutting out chips for a bet and made it 300,000. Luo thought for a couple of minutes, counted out the chips for a call, but eventually folded.
Hand #24: Dmitry Yurasov opened with a raise to 90,000 and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #25: It was folded to Peter Ockenden in the small blind and he completed. Big blind Dmitry Yurasov raised to 120,000. Ockenden quickly shoved all in and Yurasov folded immediately.
Hand #18: From early position, Bastian Dohler shoved all in for 355,000. Xixiang Luo appeared to be interested, but eventually folded, as did the other players.
Hand #19: Xixiang Luo raised in late position to 90,000 and Dmitry Yurasov called on the button. Both players checked the on the flop. Luo bet 80,000 on the turn and Yurasov called.
The on the river double-paired the board. Luo checked, bringing the action to Yurasov. The Russian opted for a hefty bet of 390,000 and Luo was forced to give up.
Hand #20: Xixiang Luo raised to 90,000 in middle position. Action folded to Bastian Dohler in the big blind, who reshoved all in for 445,000. Luo went in the tank for several minutes and eventually laid it down.
Hand #21: Peter Ockenden opened to 90,000 from middle position and Dmitry Yurasov called in position. On the flop, Ockenden checked, Yurasov bet 80,000, and Ockenden called. On the turn, the Brit gave it up to a 215,000 bet from Yurasov.
Hand #15: From early position, Dmitry Yurasov came in raising to 90,000. Xixiang Luo defended his big blind and they saw the flop. Luo checked and folded when Yurasov bet 65,000.
Hand #16: Dmitry Yurasov made it 90,000 again and that was enough to win the hand preflop.
Hand #17: Tomas Macnamara raised to 90,000 and Peter Ockenden called from the small blind. Big blind Dmitry Yurasov came along as well.
All three checked the flop. The turn was another spade with the . Ockenden made a bet of 215,000. Yurasov made the call and Macnamara gave it up.
The fell on the river and Ockenden moved all in for 635,000. Yurasov took a quick peek at his hand and thought about it for a minute or so before folding his hand.
Hand #12: Dmitry Yurasov raised to 90,000 from the cutoff. Elie Saad, with his newfound chips, three-bet to 215,000 on the button. Yurasov took a brief pause, then folded his hand.
Hand #13: Xixiang Luo made it 90,000 to go in early position and Aliaksei Boika defended his big blind. The flop came down . Boika checked, Luo bet 125,000 and Boika quickly folded.
Hand #14: Aliaksei Boika limped in from the small blind and Mats Karlsson checked his option. Boika led 50,000 on the flop and Karlsson quickly called.
The on the turn put a third four on the board. Boika had no intention of slowing down and bet 130,000. Karlsson once again quickly called in position.
On the river, Boika slowed down and checked. Karlsson bet 250,000 and Boika folded.
Hand #11: Dmitry Yurasov raised to 90,000 on the button. Elie Saad shoved 475,000 from the small blind and Yurasov called after some deliberation.
Elie Saad:
Dmitry Yurasov:
The flop was safe for Saad, as was the on the turn. Saad just needed to dodge the remaining fives in the deck. The landed on the river and Saad doubled up.
Hand #6: It was folded to Tomas Macnamara in the cutoff. He raised to 90,000. Mats Karlsson defended his big blind.
The flop came down and Karlsson checked to Macnamara. The Brit bet 90,000 and Karlsson called.
The on the turn completed a flush draw and Karlsson checked again. Macnamara checked behind and they saw the hit the river.
Karlsson counted out some green 25,000-chips and bet 225,000. Macnamara double checked his cards and folded.
Hand #7: Tomas Macnamara opened to 90,000 again and this time he took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #8: From first position, Dmitry Yurasov raised it up and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #9: Aliaksei Boika opened to 90,000 and from the button, Xixiang Luo made a thee-bet to 255,000. It was folded back to Boika and he made the call.
The flop came down and Boika checked to Luo. The Chinese threw in a continuation bet of 225,000 and Boika folded.
Hand #10: After being folded to him, Mats Karlsson made a raise to 90,000 and Elie Saad defended his big blind.
The flop was and it was checked through. Both checked again on the turn. The river didn't generate any action as well and Karlsson took it down with .
Hand #1: Bastian Dohler open-shoved 360,000 from middle position, taking down the blinds and antes.
Hand #2: Aliaksei Boika opened to 90,000 from middle position and everyone folded.
Hand #3: Bastian Dohler open-shoved 450,000 from under the gun and once again took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #4: Dmitry Yurasov raised to 90,000 from the cutoff, enough to win the pot.
Hand #5: Xixiang Luo opened to 90,000 in early position and Aliaksei Boika defended his big blind. The flop came and Boika quickly check-folded to a 100,000 bet from Luo.