For the first time in awhile, there's a new chip leader.
Chengce Jiang opened for 300,000 in the small blind and Ben Zamani defended the big. The flop came and both players checked. On the turn, Jiang bet 275,000 and Zamani called. The river was a and Jiang checked. Zamani cut out a massive bet of 1,060,000 and slid it in. Jiang thought a couple of minutes and called, but Zamani showed him for a straight.
Deal discussions took only a few minutes. Ben Zamani, who was at a slight chip deficit, said he was willing to either chop it up evenly or do a chip chop with money left to play for. The players looked at the chip numbers and Chengce Jiang opted for the latter. His chip lead secured him $297,760 while Zamani has locked up $287,134.
That leaves $60,000 on the table for the heads-up match, which is under way now.
Ben Zamani won a big pot heads up to take the lead and avoided a potential trap when he checked back a river on the next hand.
The first hand:
Chengce Jiang opened to 160,000 and Zamani raised to 380,000. Jiang made it 1,250,000 and Zamani called.
The flop came and both players checked. The turn was the and Zamani checked. Jiang bet 1,100,000 and Zamani shoved all in. Jiang didn't waste much time before folding.
The next hand:
Zamani made it 325,000 preflop and Jiang called. The flop came and Jiang checked. Zamani bet 230,000 and Jiang called.
They both checked the on the turn and Jiang checked again when the hit the river. Zamani checked behind, which saved him some money because Jiang turned over for a full house.
Ben Zamani has opened up a big lead heads up. First, he won a number of smaller pots without getting to showdown. Then, the following hand developed.
Chengce Jiang limped in and Zamani checked to see a flop. Zamani check-called 225,000. Zamani checked the as well, and Jiang bet 500,000. Zamani shipped in 1.4 million and Jiang called to see a river. Zamani slid in a two-handed bet of 2,060,000. Jiang called in short order but couldn't beat for a flush.
Chengce Jiang was well behind Ben Zamani in heads up play until he turned a straight and got his remaining chips in against Zamani's flush draw.
The swing started one hand earlier when Jiang called 400,000 on the river with fourth pair to win about 800,000 from Zamani on that pot.
On the next hand, Jiang limped the small blind, as Zamani had done the hand before and Zamani checked behind.
The flop came and Zamani checked. Jiang bet 225,000 and Zamani raised to 625,000. Jiang called.
The turn was the and Zamani checked again. Jiang bet 800,000 and Zamani went all in. Jiang didn't look too pleased but called relatively quickly and showed a straight holding . Zamani had a chance to end the tournament if he could catch a club, since he was holding .
The river was the and earned Jiang the double up, bringing him within 2 million chips of Zamani.
Chengce Jiang called and then called 200,000 more from Ben Zamani. The WPT Player of the Year bet 280,000 on the flop, and Jiang called. Zamani bet 900,000 on the turn and Jiang called again. Finally, Zamani checked the . Jiang announced 1.6 million and Zamani called after about 30 seconds.
and both players checked. On the 
turn, Jiang bet 275,000 and Zamani called. The river was a 
and Jiang checked. Zamani cut out a massive bet of 1,060,000 and slid it in. Jiang thought a couple of minutes and called, but Zamani showed him 
for a straight.
for his last 1,700,000.
. The board ran out 
and Joseph was eliminated in third place.
and both players checked. The turn was the 
and Zamani checked. Jiang bet 1,100,000 and Zamani shoved all in. Jiang didn't waste much time before folding.
and Jiang checked. Zamani bet 230,000 and Jiang called.
on the turn and Jiang checked again when the 
for a full house.
and Zamani checked. Jiang bet 225,000 and Zamani raised to 625,000. Jiang called.
and Zamani checked again. Jiang bet 800,000 and Zamani went all in. Jiang didn't look too pleased but called relatively quickly and showed a straight holding 
.
and earned Jiang the double up, bringing him within 2 million chips of Zamani.
for two pair.