As the number of remaining players slowly descends away from treble to double digits, it appears that the rich have grown richer.
Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi is still in front with 460,000 chips, although William Chattaway has added more than 130,000 chips to his stack since the start of play and is now armed with 330,000 chips.
Marc Foggin and Shaun Conning are also climbing, although Craig Varnell — winner of the 2015 WPT500 Las Vegas — has plummetted to 45,000 from 116,800 at the last count. Varnell is sat to the right of Mizrachi so it is highly likely some of his chips are now mingling with Mizrachi's.
Andrew Hulme opened to 3,500 under the gun, Jamie Clossick folded and Daniel Tang called. To Tang's immediate left was Matt Harris and he placed two 5,000 denomination black chips over the betting line. Everyone folded back to Hulme who asked to see both Tang's and Harris' chips. Armed with that information, Hulme folded and Tang followed suit.
Iaron Lightbourne is up to 180,000 thanks in part to busting a player over at the far end of the room.
The now bust player opened to 3,500 and Lightbourne three-bet to 10,200 before calling his opponent's all-in bet of around 50,000. Lightbourne showed and was in great shape against the . A king on the flop almost locked up the hand for Lightbourne, the did exactly that. The completed the board and Lightbourne chipped up.
The action was on Kelly Saxby on the button and the American set the price to play at 5,000. Jamie O'Connor, in the small blind, defended with a three-bet to 12,500. Michael Fletcher, a wily veteran in poker terms, four-bet all-in for 36,000. Saxby got out of the way, but O'Connor made the call.
O'Connor:
Fletcher:
O'Connor took the lead on the flop and stayed there on the turn. Just as it looked like O'Connor would be adding even more chips to his stack, the improved Fletcher to the best hand, much to the dismay of Saxby who said she folded .
We've just been chatting to Tamer Kamel who was in disbelief at what he'd witnessed at his table, hands involving the legendary Alli Mallu.
Mallu is infamous for playing any two cards and playing them like his life depends on them. As you'll see from the following two hands, Mallu is rather unpredictable.
Chi Zhang opened the betting and Mallu three-bet him from the next seat along. Korey Nix was to Mallu's immediate left and he four-bet to 20,000, which folded out Zhang. Mallu then jammed for 200,000 with what turned out to be and then lost to the of Nix.
A short while later, Toby Robinson raised and Mike Tomney called. Mallu pushed his 35,000 stack into the middle only to see Robinson re-shove and Tomney snap call.
Robinson held , Tomney the and Mallu . Mallu's hand improved to be the best by the river and he's suddenly gone from hero, to zero, and back again in the space of an orbit!
and was in great shape against the 
. A king on the 
flop almost locked up the hand for Lightbourne, the 
did exactly that. The 
completed the board and Lightbourne chipped up.
turn. Just as it looked like O'Connor would be adding even more chips to his stack, the 
improved Fletcher to the best hand, much to the dismay of Saxby who said she folded 
.
. Mallu's hand improved to be the best by the river and he's suddenly gone from hero, to zero, and back again in the space of an orbit!
