We got to the table as the dealer was counting out Giovanni Abate's stack on the button, as he just doubled with 333,000 chips. Kevin Rivest was on the other end in the cutoff.
Abate had on a board reading and Abate was good with fours full of kings. Rivest's hand was mucked.
Abate started the day with 398,000 and has almost doubled that since sitting down.
On a board reading , Christopher Turnbull checked from the big blind. Fraser Swidler was in middle position and bet 37,000. Turnbull thought for a moment and check-shoved all-in for 261,000. Swidler went into the tank for about a minute and eventually called.
Turnbull was the player at risk but was well ahead with for trip aces. The turn was the and Turnbull locked up the hand. The dealer put out the on the river for the slight needle and then shipped Turnbull the pot.
It is unknown how many bets it took before all the money went in but Fakher Alizai had Maduka Meragal all-in preflop, racing for his tournament life. Meragal had 769,000 behind and Alizai had him covered.
Meragal:
Alizai:
The board ran out and Meragal spiked a king on the flop to score a huge double up.
On a board reading , Srinivas Gottiparthi bet 80,000 from middle position and Nicholas Soller called from the hijack
The river was the and Gottiparthi bet 90,000 this time. Soller wasted no time and moved all-in for 376,000, having Gottiparthi covered by a hair.
Gottiparthi asked for a count and was clearly in agony over the decision to call for his tournament life just four players from the money. He was in the tank for several minutes, visibly torn. Eventually, he folded.
Jonathan Bussieres raised to 45,000 from the hijack and Michel Lacasse defended his small blind.
The flop came and Lacasse led out for 55,000. Bussieres called.
The turn was the and both players checked to the on the river. Lacasse led out again, this time for 85,000. Bussieres thought for a moment and then called.
Lacasse tabled for a set of queens and Bussieres just shook his head and paid the bet.