Steven Begleiter raised to 550,000 from the cutoff and Eric Buchman called from the big blind.
Both players checked the flop. The turn was the and they checked again. The river fell the and Buchman led out for 700,000. Begleiter folded and Buchman took down his second pot in a row.
In a hand that is destined not to make the ESPN television production of this tournament, Billy Kopp opened from middle position with a raise to 450,000. Action moved next to Ben Lamb, who reraised to 1.375 million. That reraise drew folds from Kevin Schaffel and Jordan Smith. Small blind Jeff Shulman did the exact opposite -- he moved all in. Everyone else folded, allowing Schuman to add 2 million chips to his stack without taking a flop.
Ben Lamb put his foot on the gas and never took it off. He opened preflop for 515,000 and was called by small blind Kevin Schaffel. Schaffel check-called 625,000 on a flop of . The turn was a third diamond, the , drawing a hush over the gallery.
Schaffel checked to Lamb a second time. Lamb announced a bet of 1.35 million and slid the matching chips into the mdidle of the table. His railbirds got rowdy with cheers and applause when Schaffel released his hand.
Eric Buchman raised to 525,000 from the cutoff and Nick Maimone called from the big blind.
The flop came down . Maimone checked, and Buchman checked behind. The turn was the and Maimone led out for 750,000. Buchman made the call. The river fell the . Maimone fired again for 1.25 million and Buchman called.
Maimone showed for two pair, kings and eights, but Buchman showed for kings and eights... with a higher kicker. Yes, Buchman's seven played to wrest the pot away from Maimone.
Joe Cada opened for 500,000 and the action was folded around to Steven Begleiter, who reraised to 1.25 million. Cada made the call.
Cada checked the flop over to Begleiter, who checked behind. The hit the turn and Cada checked again. Begleiter bet 2,250,000, Cada gave it up, and Begleiter raked in the pot, taking his stack up to 29 million.
"BEGS, BEGS, BEGS!" chanted Begleiter's raucous supporters in response.
Joe Cada made it 500,000 to go and Nick Maimone called.
Cada led out for 850,000 on the flop and Maimone called. The turn came the and Cada checked to Maimone, who bet 1.2 million. Cada called and they went to the river, which fell the . Both players checked.
Cada showed for the nut flush and took it down. He's up to 16.8 million.