Will Kassouf was up to his regular antics, but told the table to be quiet as Nazar Buhaiov limped in from the small blind. Kassouf was in the big blind and after thinking for some time, he made it 800,000 to go off a stack of 3,600,000.
"No cards, no comment," he kept repeating to the rest of the table during the hand. Meanwhile, Buhaiov then limp-shoved, silencing Kassouf for a brief moment. After thinking it over, Kassouf decided to fold, and Buhaiov slammed 9♠7♣ down in his face.
"Nine-high," said Adam Hendrix. "What a play!"
Kassouf didn't seem happy but brushed it off, "Thanks for showing me you shoved with nine-seven off. It's good for the game," he said.
"It's a great hand. I've had nine-high fourteen times this tournament and I've won with it ten times," Kassouf continued. "Like a boss."
Shortly after, Kassouf did get some chips back as he raised the small blind and bet the 8♥K♣3♠ flop. Tomas Szwarcberg folded after calling preflop from the big blind, and Kassouf showed Q♠Q♣.
Leon Sturm made it 400,000 to go, and Pedro Padilha three-bet to 1,200,000. It folded back to Sturm, who four-bet to 6,500,000 with 175,000 behind, and Padilha then moved all in for Sturm to call.
Leon Sturm: A♦K♣
Pedro Padilha: Q♦Q♣
The J♥4♦2♥ flop kept Padilha in the lead, and nothing changed with the 8♥ turn either. One railbird loudly demanded a king, but the 3♦ river ended Sturm's run in 48th place for $200,000.
Thomas Eychenne opened from under the gun and picked up two callers in Nadav Barash in the cutoff & Maksim Pisarenko in the big blind.
The trio saw a flop of Q♦7♥K♥, where Pisarenko checked and Eychenne continued for 350,000. Barash called and Pisarenko folded.
On the 3♦ turn, Eyechenne sized up with a bet of 2,200,000. After around three minutes in the tank, Barash dropped in calling chips to see the 9♥ hit the river. With a lot of draws completing, Eychenne checked and Barash bet 4,125,000.
"Oh wow wow wow wow," muttered Eychenne to himself. The Frenchman had around 4,800,000 in his stack so the bet was a test for the bulk of it. After sighing to himself multiple times, Eychenne found the fold, and Barash pulled in the decent-sized pot.
Theo Tran opened-jammed for 1,750,000 from the cutoff. Will Kassouf was in the small blind, and asked for a count despite knowing Tran covered his stack. Kassouf explained that he wanted to see how much he was jamming into Tomas Szwarcberg for.
"Nine big blinds like a boss," commented Kassouf, referencing Tran's stack.
Adam Hendrix, who has repeatedly called the clock on Kassouf, told the dealer, "Clock like a boss."
The floor came over to begin the countdown, with Kassouf calling before his time expired.
Will Kassouf: 9♠9♦
Theo Tran: A♦K♣
Kassouf was flipping for his tournament life, and essentially sealed the checkmark after making a set on the 9♣8♥4♠ flop. He filled up to confirm his double up after the 4♥ turn, ahead of the 5♦ river completing the board.
Kassouf then had some choice words for everyone at the table.
"Top set, full house, drawing dead, drawing dead," said Kassouf as he won the hand.
"Now we've got a game. I'm coming for all of you. I'm coming for every single one of you. I'm fearless, ruthless, and relentless. I will not stop until I get what I want."
"I will not rest until I've won, and God help any of you who dares to stand in my way. You have been warned."
Mitchell Hynam raised to 1,300,000 in the cutoff, leaving just 75,000 behind, and Diego Ponce reraised to 2,500,000 on the button. The blinds got out of the way, and Hynam tossed in his last few chips.
Mitchell Hynam: K♣10♣
Diego Ponce: 6♠6♦
Hynam was racing for his tournament life but found no help on the Q♠3♣3♥5♦8♦ board as the Brit was sent to the rail in 49th place.
Michael Mizrachi kicked things off with a raise to 400,000 from under the gun. Action folded to Joshua Beckenstein in middle position; he made the call with A♣A♠.
Kosaku Akashi on the button then decided to go all in for his last 3,550,000 with 3♣3♥, prompting Mizrachi to fold and Beckenstein to snap-call.
The flop came down 8♥J♦10♦, offering no help for Akashi, and the K♥ turn and the 4♠ river didn't improve his hand, sending him to the rail.
Lautaro Guerra opened the action in the hijack with A♠J♠ and a raise to 400,000, and Greg Merson in the big blind made the call with 8♣6♥.
The flop came down 3♣8♥Q♦, and Guerra continued for what Merson had left, putting him at risk, and Merson made the call.
Merson was ahead with his pair of eights, but the J♥ turn changed that quickly as Guerra made a pair of jacks. The 9♠ didn't change anything, sending Merson to the rail.
Yuchen Chen opened to 400,000 in early position and Braxton Dunaway three-bet to 1,200,000 in the cutoff. Chen responded with a four-bet shove all in for 2,800,000. Dunaway snapped him off and the cards were on their backs.
Yuchen Chen: K♠K♣
Braxton Dunaway: A♥A♣
The flop came 5♦4♣3♥ and Dunaway was in firm control with his pocket aces. The 9♣ on the turn and the J♦ on the river bricked out for Chen who was eliminated.
