Two Big Stacks Collide
The two big stacks in the room collided in a consequential pot when John Lopez and Merritt Kuhn clashed. Lopez opened the hand with a raise to 13,000 from early position.
Kuhn and both blinds called to create a four-way hand as they went to a flop.
The flop of K♣Q♦J♥ led to checks from the blinds and Lopez before Kuhn put out 25,000. Both blinds folded, but Lopez hung around with a call.
The 2♥ turn resulted in another check from Lopez. This time, Kuhn fired 85,000, and Lopez stayed in the pot with a call.
Lopez checked for the third time on the A♥ river. Kuhn announced a large bet of 250,000. Lopez pondered it briefly as he vocalized that he flopped a straight before putting in the call.
Kuhn showed Q♠J♠ for two pair, but Lopez showed the flopped straight with A♣10♦ to take down a large pot as he vaulted to the sole chip leader in the waning moments of Day 1a.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,050,000
410,000
|
410,000 |
|
||
|
271,000
266,000
|
266,000 |