A Sleeping Giant Awakes

Phil Hellmuth has been resting his eyes in between hands, with his head slumped into his arms on the ledge of the table. When the action folded to him in this particular hand, he awoke to put in a raise on the button to 1,400.

Yukako Hiroi, in the small blind, responded by three-betting to 6,400, and Hellmuth chose to call.

Both players checked the 5♦J♥2♥ flop, moving swiftly onto the turn.

Hiroi checked for a second time on the 5♣ turn, which gave Hellmuth the green light to take over the betting lead. He placed a bet of 7,000, which Hiroi promptly called.

The 2♣ river saw Hiroi check for a third time, but Hellmuth wasn't done yet. He placed another bet, this time for 8,000, and after a moment of thought, Hiroi called.

Hellmuth rolled over Q♠Q♣, which was good enough to beat Hiroi, who mucked her hand.

The pot was pushed in Hellmuth's direction, who stacked his chips and returned to his slumber.