Yuriy Boyko opened the action and was raised by Smit Trivedi to 300,000. Boyko responded with a four-bet to 680,000. Trivedia thought for a while and moved all in only to see Boyko call in a flash.
Boyko:
Trivedia:
The board ran out .
No miracle queen for Trivedi and he was out.
High roller winner Joe Johnson on Smit’s rail was despondent when he saw the cards and was there too console the 12th placed Trivedi.
Daniel Harwood raised to 125,000 from the button and Francesco Cortese called in the big blind. On the flop, Cortese check-called a bet worth 145,000 before checking again the on the turn. That's where things escalated big time.
Harwood fired a second bet worth 280,000 and Cortese check-raised only for Harwood to move all in. Cortese called all in for 2,215,000 and Harwood immediately sighed towards his rail.
Francesco Cortese:
Daniel Harwood:
Cortese had called the continuation bet with an underpair and turned a set while Harwood had a gutshot and flush draw. As if there was any confirmation needed for the run good of Harwood in this tournament, the on the river completed the straight and he jumped out of his chair to celebrate with a dab.
Then he turned to Cortese and said "Sorry bro. Why you call the flop man, then you don't hit your set," Harwood added. Cortese could all but smile and headed to the payout desk while Harwood took a commanding lead with 11 players remaining.
Paul Skipper raised from early position to 80,000 and the action folded around to James Mitchell in the big blind, who three-bet. Skipper then four-bet all in for around 950,000 and Mitchell quickly called.
Paul Skipper:
James Mitchell:
What seemed to be destined to become a split pot saw Mitchell freeroll the flop of and Skipper faced the ultimate sweat on the turn. Sure enough, the appeared on the river and Mitchell made a four-card flush to eliminate Skipper in 15th place for £7,070.
Smit Trivedi opened to 85,000 and Ludovic Geilich called in the hijack. Kevin Steward then moved all in for 420,000 from the cutoff and Trivedi called. Geilich verified the shove with the dealer and called as well to head to the flop of . Trivedi continued for 430,000 and Geilich eventually folded.
Kevin Steward:
Smit Trivedi:
Neither the turn nor the river changed anything and the last PokerStars qualifier had to settle for 19th place.
Just before the level went up Guillem Cusco Bach opened from under the gun and got a call from Jose Astima in the big blind.
The flop was and Astima check-called a bet of 45,000. On the turn Bach bet 160,000 and got called again. The river was the and Bach shoved for 300,000.
Astima thought long and hard before calling with . Bach had a set though to but Astima.
The record breaking 944 field for the PokerStars Festival London £990 Main Event at the Hippodrome London is now down to the final 24 with play set to start at 12pm and play down to a winner.
Alexis Fleur will begin the day as chip leader on 2,635,000 just ahead of Smit Trivedi on 2,420,000. Fourth in chips is Kevin Steward (1,880,000) who is the last remaining PokerStars qualifier.
Some of the other players to keep an eye on are Daniel Harwood (1,870,000), Guillem Cusco Bach (1,780,000), Ludovic Geilich (1,500,000), start-of-day chip leader James Mitchell (1,410,000), High Roller 4th place finisher Yuriy Boyko (1,275,000) and Clement Tripodi (1,100,000).
The next person out to finish in 24th spot will get £4,250 with the eventual winner set to receive £112,720 a handsome trophy and the title of the first ever winner of the Pokerstars Festival London Main Event.
Keep it tuned to PokerNews as the Live Reporting Team bring you all the drama, double-ups and busts outs until a champion is crowned.