Ivan Banic again opened pre-flop to 360,000 on the big blind with and Mihai Croitoru called on the small blind with . The flop of saw Banic c-bet and Croitoru call, before the turn of slowed the action to two checks.
The river saw Banic bet 2 million with his straight and Croitoru called to lose a massive pot and go to the short stack. Croitoru moved all-in pre-flop in the next hand for 2.8 m with and got it through.
Banic has led the action all day, and he has continued to do so in the latter stages. We saw a series of small pots go his way.
First, Ivan Banic made it 320,000 from the button with and got it through, despite Chikita holding an ace.
Next, Banic raised the big blind with next and and Croitoru check-called from the small blind with . The flop of saw Banic c-bet to 440,000 to take it down.
Banic moved all-in to take Chikita’s big blind in the following hand.
Banic raised to 320,000 on the button with and got it through another ace for Chikita, but Croitoru called wuth . He let it go on the flop, however, and Banic climbed to around 17 million chips with only 25.5 million in play.
Banic opened to 320,000 with and was called by Croitoru in the big blind with The queen-high flop saw two checks, and the turn was a . Both men checked again. The river of saw Banic bet 325,000 despite neither man improving and Croitoru raised to 1,175,000. Banic had the winning hand with his pair of fives, but let it go to give away some chips.
Croitoru limped in the button with and Banic did the same, as did Chikita with . The flop of [Jac3hAc] saw Croitoru bet, but Chikita made the call. The turn of and river saw checks also, but Chikita won’t mind, he has over three million.
In two hands, Croatian player Ivan Banic extended his chip lead.
First, Banic moved all-in from the small blind with and Chikita folded what was in his own words “the worst had in poker”, .
Banic then made it 320,000 with and was called by Mihai Croitoru with . Banic c-bet the flop of for 175,000 and was called by Croitoru. The turn of saw Banic bet again, this time 950,000. Croitoru made the call, and on the river of , both men checked. Another big one for Banic, with three million chips slid his way.
Banic opened to 560,000 with and Croitoru raised to 1,040,000 with on the button. Banic just called. The flop of saw Croitoru lead for 1,550,000 and Banic check-called.
The turn of saw Banic check to his opponent and Croitoru made it 2.4 million! Banic again made the call to create a ten million chip pot and the biggest of the tournament so far.
The river of saw Croitoru give up and Banic swept the pot, giving him a huge chip lead. Croitoru fired two barrels but the Croat held firm and his reward is holding more than double the chips of either of his opponents.
Banic opened to 375,000 with in the small blind, and Chikita called with . The flop of saw a c-bet from Banic to 415,000 and that was enough to scoop another pot for the Croatian.
It was another raise, another take for Banic in the next hand, as he opened with on the button, taking it down.
Mihai Croitoru limped from the small blind with and Banic checked with . The flop of saw Banic bet out 360,000, but Croitoru called. The turn of saw both men’s hands improve, with Banic’s bet of 325,000 raised to just over a million, which Banic called with top pair against two pair.
The river of led to Croitoru making it 395,000, and Banic called to pay off his opponent.
We’ve seen 92 hands so far at this final table, Ivan Banic having started the latest blind level with a considerable chip lead out. He just raised to 375,000 with in the small blind. Chikita woke up in the big blind with and called.
The flop of saw both men check, but on the turn of they did the same. The river of saw Banic make it 400,000. Chikita raised and got a fold to chip up further.
Ivan Banic opened from the small blind to 260,000 with and Chikita called from the big blind with . The flop of saw Banic c-bet for 180,000 and Chikita call. The turn of saw Banic check, as did Chikita. The river of gave Banic the chance to bet and he did so to 125,000, Chikita making the call and adding a little more to his stack.
A couple of hands later, Croitoru opened to 250,000 with from the button. Ivan Banic raised to 850,00 with from the small blind and Croitoru called. The flop of was checked by both men, as was the turn. The river of saw both check and Banic took it down and in doing so, grab the chip lead. Chikita is right back in it with 24 big blinds, although that will be reduced upon resumption.
The players go off for a 15-minute break and so too will we. It's been breathless stuff for most of the final table!
and Mihai Croitoru called on the small blind with 
. The flop of 
saw Banic c-bet and Croitoru call, before the turn of 
slowed the action to two checks. 
river saw Banic bet 2 million with his straight and Croitoru called to lose a massive pot and go to the short stack. Croitoru moved all-in pre-flop in the next hand for 2.8 m with 
and got it through.
next and and Croitoru check-called from the small blind with 
. The flop of 
saw Banic c-bet to 440,000 to take it down. 
and got it through another ace for Chikita, but Croitoru called wuth 
. He let it go on the 
The queen-high flop saw two checks, and the turn was a 
. Both men checked again. The river of 
saw Banic bet 325,000 despite neither man improving and Croitoru raised to 1,175,000. Banic had the winning hand with his pair of fives, but let it go to give away some chips. 
and river 
. 
. Banic c-bet the flop of 
and Croitoru raised to 1,040,000 with 
saw Croitoru lead for 1,550,000 and Banic check-called. 
saw Banic check to his opponent and Croitoru made it 2.4 million! Banic again made the call to create a ten million chip pot and the biggest of the tournament so far. 
saw Croitoru give up and Banic swept the pot, giving him a huge chip lead. Croitoru fired two barrels but the Croat held firm and his reward is holding more than double the chips of either of his opponents.
. The flop of 
saw both men’s hands improve, with Banic’s bet of 325,000 raised to just over a million, which Banic called with top pair against two pair. 
saw both men check, but on the turn of 
from the button. Ivan Banic raised to 850,00 with