Martin Godsk started it off with a raise to 50,000 and would find three takers in Brian Hastings, Richard Miller, and Simon Deadman. The flop came and Deadman who had called from the big blind checked. Hastings followed suit but Miller would not as he would push his last 300,000 or so in chips into the middle. After getting a good look at how much it was, Deadman announced a call and Godsk and Hastings quickly folded.
"Good call," said Miller as he turned over for two overcards. Deadman had for a pair of nines. The turn was the and Miller would need an ace or jack on the river to stay alive. The river was the and Deadman added to his chip lead and eliminated Miller in 18th place in the process. Miller won his seat via the Hollywood Casino in Joliet, Illinois and turned that into a $13,732 payday.
In a battle of the blinds, we saw Simon Deadman check-call 56,000 on the flop out of the small blind Damian Salas was once again his opponent and there was only a small bet on the turn.
On the river, Deadman grabbed one of his T5,000 stacks, removed one chip and put four T1,000 chips instead to make it 199,000 to go. This time, Salas wasn't as nosy and folded his cards.
From early position, Steve Nguyen moved all in for 280,000 and the action folded all the way to Martin Godsk in the big blind. He peeked at his cards and then immediately called.
Nguyen:
Godsk:
After the flop, Nguyen was wishing his opponent to hit a queen as that would have given him a straight. The turn improved the hand of Godsk to a straight and the river saw Nguyen hit the rail in 17th place for $13,732.
Jack Schanbacher moved all in for slightly more than 200,000 in chips and one seat to his left Robbie Bakker moved all in. Everyone folded and Schanbacher's was in bad shape against the that Bakker held.
The flop came to give Bakker a set of kings and the on the turn changed that to a full house and Schanbacher was drawing dead. The river was an inconsequential and Schanbacher was eliminated in 16th place for $13,732.
Mike Sowers raised and then four-bet to 230,000 after Christopher DeMaci made it 118,000 to go on the button. DeMaci called to see the flop, both players checked. On the turn, Sowers check-raised all in for 651,000 and DeMaci called after he had bet 140,000.
Sowers:
DeMaci:
DeMaci was already drawing dead and the meaningless river completed the board.
It was folded to Kitty Kuo on the button who raised it to 55,000. Garrett Beckman moved all in from the small blind and after a few moments of thought Michael Wynn followed suit and moved all in as well.
"What is going on here guys," said Kuo, who then asked for a count of Wynn's stack. Once she found out the amount, she said "I call" and the hands were turned over:
Kuo:
Beckman:
Wynn:
The flop came keeping Kuo in the lead but giving Beckman a straight draw. The turn was the which changed nothing. Beckman would need a three, seven, or eight and Wynn would need an ace if either was to survive. The river was the giving Kuo an unneeded full house.
"Yes," said Kuo. "Oh my God! Oh my God! I'm so nervous." She shook the hands of Beckman, who finished in 15th place for $17,945 and Wynn, who finished in 14th place for $17,945 as well.
From the button, Bradley Yazici moved all in for 316,000 with and he got called by Dmitry Kataev in the big blind with . The board ran out and the HPO regional champion doubled up thanks to the final community card. Kataev moved all in one hand later and scooped the antes and big blind.
In the final hand of the level, Simon Deadman defended his big blind against a raise to 50,000 by Jorn Walthaus. On the flop, Deadman check-called 67,000 and both then checked the turn. The river completed the board and Deadman grabbed grey T5,000 chips, making it 135,000 to go.
Walthaus called and the Brit announced two pair, flipping over . Walthaus mucked.
![[user272102]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and Deadman who had called from the big blind checked. Hastings followed suit but Miller would not as he would push his last 300,000 or so in chips into the middle. After getting a good look at how much it was, Deadman announced a call and Godsk and Hastings quickly folded.
for two overcards. Deadman had 
for a pair of nines. The turn was the 
and Miller would need an ace or jack on the river to stay alive. The river was the 
and Deadman added to his chip lead and eliminated Miller in 18th place in the process. Miller won his seat via the Hollywood Casino in Joliet, Illinois and turned that into a $13,732 payday.
turn.
river saw Nguyen hit the rail in 17th place for $13,732.
was in bad shape against the 
that Bakker held.
to give Bakker a set of kings and the 
on the turn changed that to a full house and Schanbacher was drawing dead. The river was an inconsequential 
and Schanbacher was eliminated in 16th place for $13,732.
turn, Sowers check-raised all in for 651,000 and DeMaci called after he had bet 140,000.
river completed the board.
which changed nothing. Beckman would need a three, seven, or eight and Wynn would need an ace if either was to survive. The river was the 
. The board ran out 
