Jay Friedman got his last 350,000 in preflop from middle position and was at risk against Kevin Garosshen in the small blind.
Jay Friedman: 
Kevin Garosshen: 
Friedman flopped top pair on the 
flop, but Garosshen held a flush draw to go along with his two jacks. The 
was a blank, but the 
river gave Garosshen a winning set.
Justin Coliny raised to 30,000 from middle position, and Jay Friedman called in the hijack. Brent Cunningham three-bet shoved for 308,000, and Coliny four-bet shoved. Friedman, who had 422,000 in his stack at the start of the hand, tanked for a few minutes before folding what he later claimed to be 
.
Brent Cunningham:
Justin Coliny: 
Cunningham spiked a set on the 
flop, and held for the double on the 
turn and 
river.
While this hand was in progress, Vincent Moscati lost the last of his chips to Mike Thompson.
Mark Koeln raised to 25,000 from middle position, and Bobby Byram made the call in the small blind.
Byram checked the 
flop to Koeln, who bet 35,000. Byram check-raised all in for 200,000 and Koeln called.
Bobby Byram: 
Mark Koeln: 
Koeln's huge draw didn't come in on the 
turn, but the 
river gave him a winning straight.
Meanwhile at another table, Ryan Tepen's pocket sixes held up against the ace-ten of James Basham to send yet another player to the rail in a whirlwind opening few minutes of the final three tables.
Within the first hand or two at the final three tables, three players made their exit from the tournament in rapid succession, including last year's HPT St. Louis champ Bill Byrnes in twenty-fifth place.
| Table | Seat | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | Laura Hoppe |
| 17 | 2 | Justin Coliny |
| 17 | 3 | Bobby Byram |
| 17 | 4 | Brett Apter |
| 17 | 5 | Matt Clerk |
| 17 | 6 | Kyle Cartwright |
| 17 | 7 | Paul Belken |
| 17 | 8 | Mark Koeln |
| 17 | 9 | Thomas Rennier |
| 18 | 1 | Mike Thompson |
| 18 | 2 | Hyndi Khomutetsky |
| 18 | 3 | Vincent Moscati |
| 18 | 4 | Austin McCormick |
| 18 | 5 | Brian Reeder |
| 18 | 6 | Lucas Tae |
| 18 | 7 | BJ McBrayer |
| 18 | 8 | Ryan Tepen |
| 18 | 9 | James Basham |
| 19 | 1 | Ian Nelson |
| 19 | 2 | Chris Bibb |
| 19 | 3 | Kevin Garosshen |
| 19 | 4 | Neil Patel |
| 19 | 5 | Jimmy Bussey |
| 19 | 6 | Austin Tjaden |
| 19 | 7 | Bill Byrnes |
| 19 | 8 | Jay Friedman |
| 19 | 9 | Brent Cunningham |
Mike Thompson raised to 30,000 from the hijack, then called a three-bet shove for 58,000 from Brian Tracy in the small blind.
Brian Tracy: 
Mike Thompson:
Thompson flopped gin on the 
flop, and Tracy just missed the three-table redraw after the 
turn and river.
Neil Patel jammed for 139,000 from early position, and Chris Bibb had him at risk in the cutoff.
Neil Patel: 
Chris Bibb: 
Bibb couldn't win the flip on a 
board to send Patel a double.
At the same time at another table, Igor Holdaiy was busted.
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