Scott Byron opened to 30,000 under the gun and his next door neighbor Daniel Stacey three bet to 75,000. Action quickly folded back around to Byron who four bet to 150,000. Stacey five bet to 325,000 and Byron moved all in, though we're not sure he even had more than the 325,000 Stacey asked of him. Stacey wasn't afraid to put some extra chips in just to make clear he wasn't folding.
Scott Byron:
Daniel Stacey:
The board never brought any excitement or hope for Byron: and Byron hit the rail. Stacey is the new chip leader if we're not mistaking.
Martin Stuart was doing everything in his power to improve his short stacked position, mostly by moving all-in preflop.
The first time he did this, his 85,000 all-in bet went uncalled and he showed his table mate .
When he tried it again a few hands later, his 105,000 shove went uncalled, but his third shove, for 133,000 over the top of a 26,000 under the gun raise from Craig Sewell, Stuart was called by Rodger Reynolds. Sewell folded and left the of Reynolds go head-to-head with the of Stuart.
The flop kept Stuart in front, but the turn left him needing one of the three remaining queens. The was one pip away from one of those and he became the 15th place finisher.
Daniel Stacey opened under the gun for 25,000 and received calls from John Cozens in middle position and Nick Smith in the small blind. Action was on Jordan Johnson in the big blind and he shoved for about 200,000 (about 17 big blinds). Stacey isolated by re raising and both Cozens and Smith folded.
Daniel Stacey:
Jordan Johnson:
The flop gave a glimpse of hope to Johnson, and the on the turn gave him some additional outs. The on the river was a blank however, and Johnson was heading for the exit.
The remaining 13 players are now guaranteed £2,005.
Joseph Grech made it 27,000 from the cutoff and Craig Sewell three bet to 67,000 from the small blind. The big blind folded and Grech asked out loud why Sewell not just shoved, as he had few chips behind. He then called.
The flop came and Sewell bet out 40,000 with 84,000 behind. Grech made the call in position.
The turn came the and Sewell moved in for his last 84,000. Grech needed just about 20 seconds to fold.
Sewell showed and Grech, with a smirk, said "You were winning!"
Action folded to Nick Smith in the small blind and he made it 55,000 to go. His only opponent was Daniel Stacey in the big blind and he three bet to 123,000. With the decision now back on Smith, he decided to move in.
Stacey needed some time. Meanwhile, the dealer counted out it was 813,000 total (almost 51 big blinds). Stacey tanked for a bit and then moved forward a small stack of 25,000 chips to indicate the call.
"I don't like that call" Smith said even before he saw what hand he was up against. He clearly wasn't thrilled to play such a big pot and indicated he would've preferred to take it down before seeing any community cards.
"Wow, this is a big pot!" John Cozens added.
Daniel Stacey:
Nick Smith:
The biggest pot of the tournament was a coinflip between two blinds, and Smith got up to face his faith. Unfortunately for him, he didn't need to sit down back again anymore. The board came and with just ace king high, he left the tournament room.
Joe Grech seems to have hit a purple patch and is now up to 660,000 chips.
One hand saw John Walsh raise to 33,000 from the small blind and then call when Grech raised to 94,000. Walsh checked to Grech on the flop then folded when Grech moved all-in.
The following hand, Craig Sewell opened to 38,000 from under the gun and Grech called in the small blind. Both players tapped the table and checked the flop and the turn, with Grech firing a 54,000 bet on the river. Sewell called, but didn't look confident doing so, then mucked when Grech showed him for a straight.
Paren Arzoomanian made it 35,000 to go from the hijack and his neighbor Daniel Stacey three bet to 83,000 from the cutoff. Michael Fletcher quickly released from the button but John Cozens in the small blind was committing all of his 90,000 in chips. John Lawson folded his big blind and Arzoomanian also released, wishing Cozens good luck as he knew Stacey was going to call.
Stacey indeed added the 7,000 in chips and the two of them opened their cards.
Daniel Stacey:
John Cozens:
"Ah, come on mate!" Arzoomanian said with a smile upon seeing Stacey had three bet him with the mere six three suited.
The flop came and Stacey grabbed a firm lead in the hand. After the hit the turn it was all over for Cozens and the on the river was there just to make things official.
"I had ace three" Arzoomanian smiled, while Stacey was once again stacking huge piles of chips. John Cozens wished the table good luck and made his way to the pay out desk to receive a cheque worth £2,005.