Over on table 520, a preflop raising war unfolded in which Tsugunari Toma and Benjamin Williams got their stacks into the middle for the following showdown.
Tsugunari Toma: 10♠10♥ 
Benjamin Williams: Q♣Q♥
The A♠7♣3♥2♣A♣ board changed nothing and both stacks were counted. Williams' 231,000 covered and that spelled the end for Toma in the second level of the day.
Michael Zulker opened to 6,500 from under the gun and Leon Sturm called from early position. Phil Hellmuth three-bet shoved for 93,000 from the hijack, Zulker called with a covering stack and Sturm mucked 8♠8♣.
Phil Hellmuth: A♠K♦
Michael Zulker: Q♠Q♦
It was a classic race that Zulker was ahead of on the 3♠4♣J♣ flop. Hellmuth became a huge favorite after making top pair on the K♣ turn, leaving Zulker drawing to just one out given that the Q♣ was folded preflop. The Q♥ river gave Zulker his one out to a set, eliminating the 17-time bracelet winner from the Main Event.
Action picked up heads-up to the turn with a little under 70,000 in the middle in a hand between Juan Barattini from middle position and Tetsuya Tsujisaka from the hijack.
With the board reading 10♣6♣3♦9♠, Barattini checked to Tsujisaka who bet 30,000. Barattini responded with a check-jam for 96,000 effective as the slightly covering stack, and Tsujisaka snapped it off.
Tetsuya Tsujisaka: A♠A♥
Juan Barattini: 6♠6♦
"Are you kidding me?" Tsujisaka lamented as he saw the bad news and he sheepishly revealed his aces.
Tsujisaka pleaded with the dealer "One time, baby!" as the 5♣ landed on the river which improved neither player, and Tsujisaka's Main Event dream was cut short holding pocket aces.
David Jackson raised in early position to 6,000, Massoud Eskandari shoved 104,000 from the big blind, Jackson called.
Massoud Eskandari: 7♥7♦
David Jackson: A♦K♦
Great start for Jackson as the flop came 10♣4♣A♠, Eskandari could not find a seven as the board ran out 2♠Q♦, and his main event run came to an end.
Jonathan Tamayo raised to 6,000 from early position and in the hijack Alen Tenorio three-bet to 17,500. Action folded back around to Tamayo who moved all in for 107,500 and Tenorio called.
Jonathan Tamayo: 8♥8♠
Alen Tenorio: A♣K♣
The board ran out A♦J♣9♣9♠Q♥ and the aces and nines were good for Tenorio to take down the pot. The 2024 WSOP Main Event champion took his leave from the tournament, opening the opportunity for another world champion to rise.
Miguel Fiscal opened to 6,500 from early position and was called by Adam Cader in the small blind.
On the 9♠7♠6♣ flop, Fiscal continued with bet before Cader check-raised to 22,000. Fiscal quickly announced all-in for 77,000 total and Cader snapped it off.
Miguel Fiscal: A♠J♠
Adam Cader: 9♦9♣
Fiscal decided to go with his nut flush draw but he was well behind the top set of Cader. Fiscal could not find the needed spade on the 4♣3♦ runout as he was sent to the exit by the hands of Cader.
Joshua Kay raised to 7,000 and Chris Audrain three-bet to 30,000 from the next seat. Kay called.
Kay checked on the flop of A♥J♠3♥ and Audrain continued for 21,000. Kay check-raised to 47,000 and Audrain called. Kay then moved all in on the 4♠ turn and Audrain called with less.
Chris Audrain: A♣K♣
Joshua Kay: J♥J♣
Audrain had top pair but was drawing dead against the set of Kay as the 4♣ river improved Kay to a full house to confirm Audrain's elimination.
Audrain has had quite the day having picked up aces to crack kings in the first level of the day. "Did I just walk into a heater?” a player who had moved to Kay's table said earlier in the tournament.
Charisse Case was all-in preflop with a short stack and looked up by Stephen Lloyd for the following showdown.
Charisse Case: 9♦9♣
Stephen Lloyd: A♦K♥
The board ran out 10♠6♥6♦8♣4♣ and Case doubled.
Soon after she clashed with John Sabey as they got it in preflop with Case at risk for 80,000.
Charisse Case: A♣Q♥
John Sabey: 10♣10♥
The K♦8♣6♥Q♠8♦ board delivered the queen for another double-up. Sabey was left with around 23,000 and busted soon thereafter.
Sebastien Aube raised on the button to 7,000, and was met by a three-bet from John Bunch in the big blind. Bunch had raised to 23,500, but quickly saw Aube move all in.
Bunch made the call, and as the shorter of the two stacks, with 92,000, he was the player at risk.
John Bunch: 6♠6♥
Sebastien Aube: A♥K♣
The flop 3♣2♦Q♥ was good for Bunch, but the A♣ turn saw Aube take the lead.
There was no help for Bunch on the 2♣ river, and he headed to the exit.
button in Safari
