Diego Ponce ripped all in for his last 4,500,000 in middle position and Chris Dombrowski reshoved all in for 11,500,000 in the hijack. The rest of the table folded and the two hands were tabled.
Diego Ponce: A♠K♣
Chris Dombrowski: J♠J♦
They were off to the races and the flop of K♠Q♠5♥ vaulted Ponce to the lead with his pair of kings. The 8♠ and 3♣ runout sent the Mexican rail into a frenzy as their countryman scored a double up.
Sebastian Schulze moved all in for 9,100,000 from the small blind and Muhamet Perati called in the big blind.
Sebastian Schulze: 8♠7♠
Muhamet Perati: A♣4♦
Schulze needed to come from behind against Perati's ace-high, but he couldn't connect with the K♥Q♦J♥5♠3♥ board and was sent to the rail in 23rd place.
John Wasnock opened to 1,200,000 from under the gun and Kenny Hallaert came along from the big blind. Following the A♥6♣5♥ flop, Hallaert checked and subsequently called a bet worth 1,800,000 to see the 3♥ on the turn.
Hallaert checked again and Wasnock bet 3,000,000 to win the pot right there.
Daehyung Lee 3♣2♣ then made it 1,200,000 to go and Hallaert A♥6♣ three-bet to 6,200,000 in order to force a fold.
The next two hands ended on the flop and turn respectively, before Hallaert took over again with a raise to 1,200,000 only to collect the blinds and antes.
Braxton Dunaway A♠K♣ raised to 1,700,000 next from the small blind and Lee A♣9♦ defended the big blind to the A♥K♠6♥ flop, which was checked through. On the 8♠ turn, Dunaway bet 3,700,000 and Lee called to see the 3♦ on the river. Dunaway glanced at the board multiple times before looking over at his table neighbour while grabbing into his stack.
He then bet 8,900,000 and Lee called to lose a big portion of his stack to Dunaway.
Sebastian Schulze raised to 1,200,000 under the gun and Stefan Nemetz put in his last 1,600,000 from the hijack. Luka Bojovic called in the big blind, while Schulze also committed the additional 400,000.
Schulze and Bojovic checked down the 10♠9♠5♥9♦7♥ board and Nemetz showed A♠K♠. Schulze mucked K♥J♥ and Bojovic 6♥4♥ as Nemetz took the pot with ace-high to triple up.
Joey Padron opened to 1,200,000 in middle position and Richard Freitas made a small three-bet to 2,600,000 on the button. Padron called and the flop of 9♠2♠2♣ hit the felt. Padron checked to Freitas who continued with a bet of 2,800,000. Padron check-raised to 6,000,000 and Freitas ripped all in for 12,400,000. Padron asked for a count and then called to put Freitas at risk.
Richard Freitas: K♥9♥
Joey Padron: A♥9♣
Padron was already ahead with the better kicker but the A♣ on the turn secured his victory. Freitas was left drawing dead to the 5♠ on the river and became the first elimination of the day.
The GGPoker ambassador made a difficult call for his tournament life on the river, calling it off with a marginal holding. But he trusted his instincts to stay alive, something he's done countless times in his Hall of Fame career.
Stefan Nemetz raised to 1,200,000 on the button and Joseph Ozimok moved all in for 10,900,000 in the big blind. Nemetz called to put him at risk, having Ozimok barely covered.
Joseph Ozimok: A♥4♥
Stefan Nemetz: A♣10♣
Nemetz had Ozimok dominated and was poised to collect the first knockout of the day, but the J♠5♦4♦ flop gave Ozimok the lead with a pair of fours. Nemetz failed to catch up on the 8♣ turn or 7♣ river as he handed over most of his stack.
