Shchemelev Doubles Cheong, Tang Picks Off Tan, Cates Enters, Greenwood Exits
We missed two casualties before the break with Peter Chan and Vlado Banicevi chitting the rail to take the number of players down to 26, though with the arrival of Daniel Cates this has recently climbed back up to 27.
Play had not long resumed after the break before Cheok Ieng Cheong and two-time Russian WSOP bracelet winner Vladimir Shchemelev clashed in a hand that saw the former earn himself a double up at Shchemelev’s expense.
The hand started innocuously enough with a short-stacked Cheong completing the small blind and Shchemelev checking his option in the big blind to take play heads-up to a monochrome flop of 
, which Cheong checked over to Shchemelev.
The Russian wasted no time putting Cheong all-in for his last 8,500 with the Chinese player calling instantly and the cards were turned over.
Cheok Ieng Cheong: 
Vladimir Shchemelev: 
Unfortunately for Shchemelev his queen-high spade flush draw was already drawing dead against Cheong’s flopped nut flush and the Chinese player doubled to 17,500. Shchemelev however, still has plenty of chips and is sitting pretty on a stack of 123,000.
Spades were also good for Devan Tang, though not in the way you would imagine after the following hand played out between him and chip leader Xuan Tan.
Pre-flop the action folded around to Tang in the small blind, who threw in the extra 400 chips before Tan popped it up to 3,000 from the big blind. Tang shot Tan a suspicious stare and threw in the extras and the dealer spread a flop of 
which brought a check from Tang and a bet of 3,700 from Tan, which was called to keep the action heads-up.
That was it for the betting in this particular hand, with both players checking the 
turn and the 
river. Tang turned over for queen-high and a missed open ended straight draw, but this was enough to take the pot when Tang shot him a grin and threw his hand into the muck. Tang climbed to 62,000 while Tan dropped down to 152,000.
While we missed his exit Lucas Greenwood busted just as the dust was settling on this hand and walked straight past the table on his way to the exit as the dealer on the Canadian’s now 5-handed table called ‘player out’ to bring the field back down to 26.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
152,000 | -8,000 |
|
123,000 | 32,000 |
|
62,000 | 1,000 |
|
|
17,500 | 500 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
, which Tan checked over to Wang, who continuation bet another 2,000. After mulling it over Tan made the call once again and the dealer peeled off the 
turn, which brought checks from both players.
river saw Tan check for a third and final time and take down the pot with the mighty 
after Wang checked it back and then threw his hand into the muck when he saw Tan table and ace. Tan now has around 160,000 while Wang is on the other end of the chip spectrum and is looking a little short on 21,875.
just as Wu, sitting in the big blind, checked the action over to Badziakouski, who led for 7,000 into a pot of 10,000.
river, which brought checks from both players.
, had just paired his six to take the pot and bring the level to a close. Badziakouski climbed to 83,000 after the hand while Wu dropped to 56,000.
hit the turn to give Hao middle set. The 
