Rick Crandell had two opponents at risk preflop; one in early position for around 15,000, and one in middle position for around 10,000.
Middle Position:
Early Position:
Rick Crandell:
Crandell's aces wouldn't even get a sweat, as a flop gave him top set, and the turn and river earned him two $500 bounties, making this tournament already a near freeroll.
Jerod Smith shared with us how he sent Ricky Guan to the cashier's desk to re-enter.
Smith checked a flop with two hearts over to Guan, who bet 1,200. Smith raised to 4,000, and Guan called.
Both players checked the turn, and the fell on the river. Smith checked again, and Guan bet 12,000, leaving himself just 100 behind. Smith tank-shoved, and Guan called off his last chip, showing . Smith's for a full house was good, however, and he netted the $500 bounty.
Mark Mazza, who won this event at Run It Up Reno VII, raised to 800 from the button, and Jeff Newman three-bet to 2,300 from the big blind. Mazza called.
Newman jammed for 6,000 on the flop, and Mazza didn't take long to toss his hand to the muck.
Tyson Apostol had jammed for 20,000 from the cutoff, and Chris Lindner called off his last 8,800 in middle position. The hijack had 1,800 committed to the pot, and tanked for a bit before folding.
Chris Lindner:
Tyson Apostol:
Apostol's queens held on a board, and he earned the bounty. The hijack hung his head after the hand, and Apostol asked, "You had jacks?"
The hijack confirmed that he indeed had folded jacks, and Apostol said, "Good call...but also, you should've called!" referencing the hijack's good fold gone wrong.
Nathan Manuel raised to 800 from the cutoff, and David Olson called on the button. Kevin Gerhart three-bet to 3,000 in the small blind, and only Manuel called.
Gerhart checked the flop to Manuel, who bet 1,800. Gerhart called.
Both players checked the turn, and Gerhart checked again on the river. Manuel jammed for 5,500 and Gerhart folded.