The players are on a ten-minute break before the start of heads-up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,260,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
2,975,000
735,000
|
735,000 |
Level: 29
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Our finalists are back in their chairs, and the money and the ring have been dumped on the table. They're playing for nearly $120,000, a gold and diamond ring, and an entry into May's season-ending National Championship.
Game on!
Matthew Waxman raised to 100,000 from the button, and Jesus Cabrera called to see a flop. It came 
, and Cabrera led out with 100,000. Waxman called there, and he called another 100,000 on the 
turn. The 
river drew saw both men check it down, and Cabrera showed his baby straight with 
.
"That's good," Waxman said, sending his cards back to the dealer face-down.
Waxman - 3.955 million
Cabrera - 3.1 million
From the button, Matthew Waxman raised to 100,000, and Jesus Cabrera called to see a flop. It was 
, and both men checked to see the 
turn. Cabrera bet 100,000 there, and another 100,000 on the river with Waxman paying off both bets.
At showdown, Cabrera tabled 
, and his top pair earned him the pot to draw this match nearly square.
Waxman - 3,585 million
Cabrera - 3.47 million
Matthew Waxman raised to 100,000 from the button, and Jesus Cabrera came along to the flop. It was 
, and Cabrera check-called a bet of 120,000. He check-called another 160,000 following the 
turn, and the action check-checked on the river.
Cabrera's 
was no good; Waxman showed up 
for eights up, dragging the pot and moving his stack back over 4 million.
Waxman - 4.025 million
Cabrera - 3.03 million
Matthew Waxman raised to 100,000 again from the button, but this time Jesus Cabrera three-bet him to 300,000. Waxman called.
The dealer spread out 
, and Waxman called a bet of 200,000 from his opponent. Cabrera fired another 400,000 on the turn, and Waxman called once again. On the river, Cabrera slowed down with a check, and Waxman decided a bet was in order. It was all in, and it put Cabrera to a decision for all of his own chips. He could not call; Cabrera surrendered, and Waxman's count it up to 4.875 million now.
From the button, Matthew Waxman opened the pot to 100,000, and Jesus Cabrera once again three-bet to 300,000. This time, however, there would be no call from Waxman. He four-bet to 800,000 only to see Cabrera shove all in for 2.11 million. A snap-call later, and the cards are on their backs:
Waxman: 
Cabrera: 
The 
flop missed Cabrera, but the turn added a few outs to the chop.
There would be no chop. The 
struck the river like a bolt of lightning, so big a surprise that it took a moment for anyone to react to it. Cabrera was in disbelief, spiking his three-outer to save his tournament life and tally the double up. With it has come the chip lead:
Cabrera - 4.23 million
Waxman - 2.825 million
A few small pots have been pushed to Matthew Waxman's corner, and he has closed the gap.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,605,000
-625,000
|
-625,000 |
|
|
3,450,000
625,000
|
625,000 |
Essentially even in chips, Jesus Cabrera raised to 150,000 from the button, and Matthew Waxman called for a flop.
It came 
, and the action check-checked to the 
turn. Waxman check-called 100,000 there, and both men checked once again on the 
river.
Cabrera showed up 
, and that same ace-nine wins him another pot, albeit a much smaller one this time. He's still holding tight to a small chip lead with 3.765 million.
