If this were a boxing match, the early rounds would definitely be scored in favor of James Akenhead. Apart from one big hand that went Hinkle's way, almost every pot has gone to Akenhead. He is jabbing away at Hinkle, wearing him down by winning a series of small pots. It remains to be seen whether Hinkle has enough gas left in the tank to take a few solid cuts back at Akenhead.
Grant Hinkle has the button in seat 10. He completes the small blind. James Akenhead checks his option.
. Both players check. The turn is . They both check again. On a river of , Akenhead fires out a bet of 175,000. Hinkle flips a call into the middle. Akenhead shows for aces and queens, enough to win the pot.
James Akenhead has the button in seat 9 and he raises to 350,000. Grant Hinkle reraises to 900,000. Akenhead calls. Flop comes . Hinkle bets 1,200,000. Akenhead grips the bill of his cap firmly as he stares Hinkle down. Akenhead finally folds and Hinkle wins the pot.
Grant Hinkle has the button in seat 10. He makes it 300,000 to go. He looks totally drained (those of us in media row who have been covering this tournament for the last four days feel his pain). Akenhead again re-pops him to 900,000, and again Hinkle lets it go.
Grant Hinkle has the button in Seat 10. He makes it 300,000 to go. Akenhead cuts a row of greens off his stack and reraises to 900,000 straight. Hinkle folds.