Paunescu Steals from Nikiforov

Ilya Nikiforov opened to 16,000 from middle position and Ciprian Paunescu called from the hijack.

The A♥10♦A♦ flop was bet by Nikiforov for 8,000 and Paunescu called.

A 3♣ was turned and Nikiforov bet out 32,000. Paunescu made another call and the players saw the 10♥ complete the board.

Nikiforov moved 70,000 into the middle and Paunescu raised to 175,000, which sent Nikiforov into a near two-minute tank.

Nikiforov gave up his hand, and lost a large portion of his stack to Paunescu, sitting back with just over twenty big blinds to play with.