One man who has been taking advantage of the tight play on the bubble is Stuart McDonald. In a recent hand, the shortest stack in the tournament, who had just 12,000 remaining, was in the big blind, meaning half his chips were committed. That player, who we could only identify as "Carlos", had been playing exceptionally tight and McDonald knew it, so he wasn't afraid to raise it up to 13,000.
Action folded back to Carlos and he decided this was his spot. He committed his chips and the cards were turned up.
Showdown
Carlos:
McDonald:
It took awhile for all the hands at other tables to finish, which helped build suspense; however, that suspense was quickly diminished when the flop was finally run out: . The turn guaranteed Carlos the double, and the meaningless was put out on the river for good measure.
Stuart McDonald opened for 14,000 from middle position and found just one caller, Marta Ramírez Hermosilla in the small blind. The didn't seem to appeal to Hermosilla, as she checked to her Australian opponent. McDonald thought for a brief moment and then bet out a modest 12,000.
Both players are sitting with decent stacks and are well positioned to make the money.
Action folded to Humberto Brenes in the hijack and he put in a raise to 14,000. It nearly cleared the field until the big blind shipped his stack of 59,000 into the pot. It was 45,000 back to Brenes, who was presented with a chance to try and crack the money bubble. Unfortunately for the spectators eagerly awaiting a call, Brenes decided against it and slid his cards to the muck.
A player in middle position opened to 13,000 and Julian Menendez defended his big blind.
The flop fell and Menendez check-called 17,000. It was a similar story on the turn as Menendez check-called 35,000. The river was checked by both as Menendez tabled to win the pot.
With 65 players left, which was two off the money, the tournament staff initiated hand-for-hand play. It didn't take long before the first all-in confrontation, but it was surely a spectacle to behold. It occurred at a table alongside the rail with two players we weren't familiar with. It happened when action folded to the short-stacked cutoff and he pushed for 16,000. The button called him and that is when things got exciting.
The tournament staff waited for all the hands at other tables to complete before the showdown. After about 90 seconds, the tournament emcee hushed the spectators, who had gathered around the rail 5-6 people deep. It was a situation more akin to a soccer game than a poker tournament. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was electric as the cards were turned up:
Showdown
Button:
Cutoff:
The flop kept the button in the lead, but it did give the cutoff a counterfeit option to any queen. Unfortunately for him, neither the turn nor river help and he was eliminated two spots off the money, which means we are now on the official money bubble. As you know, these things can take some time, but then again, they've been known to burst quite fast here on the Latin American Poker Tour.
An early-position player opened to 15,000 and next to act was Luiz Filipe Andrade. He re-raised all in for about 90,000. Action folded back to the raiser and he called all in for about 72,000 with . Andrade trailed with , but got there when the board ran out .
The completion of the sixth level of the day has brought about the 75-minute dinner break. When we return, we'll burst the money bubble on our way to the final table. Join us then to see who thrives, and who fails to survive.
We're still stuck with 67 players. Action has slowed considerably as players look to squeeze into the top 63. The dinner break is right around the corner, so we'll have to wait until we return to see who gets paid.
. The 
turn guaranteed Carlos the double, and the meaningless 
was put out on the river for good measure.
didn't seem to appeal to Hermosilla, as she checked to her Australian opponent. McDonald thought for a brief moment and then bet out a modest 12,000.
turn as Menendez check-called 35,000. The 
river was checked by both as Menendez tabled 
to win the pot.
flop kept the button in the lead, but it did give the cutoff a counterfeit option to any queen. Unfortunately for him, neither the 
turn nor 
river help and he was eliminated two spots off the money, which means we are now on the official money bubble. As you know, these things can take some time, but then again, they've been known to burst quite fast here on the 
, but got there when the board ran out 
.
