With the turn showing A♠K♥8♠6♣, Aori bet 1,000,000 into a pot of 1,400,000 and Kobe called on the button. They checked the 8♦ river and Aori flashed K♠7♠ for kings and sevens, which had missed the nut flush but won the pot regardless.
Kobe folded on the button when Aori raised and then limped in next for Aori to check. The A♥K♦10♥ flop saw Kobe bet 400,000 and Aori called.
Kobe slowed down and checked the 7♣ turn only for Aori to bet 800,000. After checking his cards once, Kobe moved all-in and Aori sigh-folded.
In the third hand of heads-up play, Aori raised to 750,000 and Kobe called. The flop brought 9♣6♠6♥ and Aori continued for 500,000 for Kobe to call.
That led them to the 8♥ turn on which Aori checked. Kobe bet 1,000,000 and took down the next pot.
Aori limped in and Kobe checked to the J♦8♣6♠ flop on which Aori check-called a bet of 400,000. He also checked the 6♣ turn and Kobe bet 1,000,000 to win the first pot of the heads-up duel.
Ming Zhong Liu jammed in the cutoff for 3,375,000 and Aori called on the button.
Ming Zhong Liu: 9♥9♣
Aori: K♦J♥
The K♥Q♦6♦ flop propelled Aori into the lead, which he retained throughout the 10♥ turn and A♣ river. Liu's run ends in third place for $670,000 and the final two players have locked up a seven-figure payday. There is now a short break ahead of the heads-up duel for the title and trophy.
| Seat | Name | Country | Chip Count | Antes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Aori | China | 11,375,000 | 57 |
| 6 | Kobe | United Kingdom | 20,125,000 | 101 |
Level: 23
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 150,000
Short stack Ming Zhong Liu got a shove for 3,375,000 through before Aori limped and folded to Kobe's push.
Aori then raised to 700,000 to earn the antes and Kobe did the same with an open raise to 725,000.
In a three-way limped pot to the Q♦Q♣7♣ flop, Kobe bet 300,000 and Ming Zhong Liu folded. Aori raised to 900,000 and Kobe called. They checked the 7♠ turn and Kobe bet the A♦ river for 1,200,000.
Aori called after brief consideration to get shown Kobe's bluff with 9♦8♦, winning the pot with the Q♠7♥ for a full house.
Aori won a decent pot off chip leader Kobe when his turned set with 7♦7♥ extracted value.
He then opened to 700,000 and Kobe called in the cutoff, Ming Zhong Liu folded on the button.
The flop came A♦10♠8♠ and Aori continued for 800,000. Kobe used one time bank and raised to 4,000,000 for Aori to use two time banks himself and then call.
That led the two chip leaders to the A♣ turn on which Aori checked. Kobe bet 2,000,000 and Aori folded to get shown J♦9♦ for an open-ended straight draw.
In limped three-way action to the 10♣10♦6♦ flop, Kobe checked first to act. Ming Zhong Liu bet 125,000 and Kobe was the only caller. Kobe check-called for another 375,000 on the 9♥ turn and they checked the 6♥ on the river.
Kobe tabled the K♥J♦ and Liu won the pot with Q♦9♦.
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