Eric Liu opened from the cutoff, and Sean Rosenthal on the button chose to jam for approximately 950,000. Liu snap called and sent them to a showdown with Rosenthal at risk, as Liu barely had him covered.
Sean Rosenthal: A♠8♠
Eric Liu: A♦A♥
Rosenthal was in dire straits as Liu had him crushed as they flipped the cards on their backs.
The flop gave Rosenthal some sliver of hope as it fanned out 8♥Q♥4♦ to give Rosenthal a pair, but the 2♠ turn and the Q♠ river marked the end of Rosenthal's tournament run.
Corey Kempson opened to 160,000 from the hijack and was called by Netanel Stern in the cutoff. Vitalijs Zavorotnijs in the small blind jammed for 2,160,000. He made Kempson fold, but Stern threw his bounty in front of him to call off his last 815,000.
Netanel Stern: A♣A♠
Vitalijs Zavorotnijs: K♠Q♣
Stern was worried about a possible split on 4♥5♣6♥8♥, but the 3♦ allowed him to double up.
The first hand began when Eric Liu jammed from the hijack for 833,000 and was called from the button by Kam Khai for 675,000 total.
Kam Khai: A♥Q♥
Eric Liu: A♣9♥
Khai did not wait long to hit their kicker as the flop fanned out 2♠8♥Q♦ to put Khai further in the lead.
The J♦ turn did give Liu some straight outs, but the A♠ river was not one of them as Khai secured the double, and left Liu with 180,000.
Liu didn't sit around to get his chips in the middle. Liu put in a raise of 175,000 and left a single 5,000 chip behind. It folded to Zheyu Weng on the button, who chose to go all-in for 1,010,000. Liu flicked in his final chip, and the two went to a showdown.
Eric Liu: J♣10♣
Zheyu Weng: A♠7♥
Liu was behind, but not for long, as the flop came to the rescue when it fanned out 7♠J♦9♠.
The 9♣ turn did nothing to change the hand, and the 2♣ river awarded Liu an immediate double-up to bounce back from his loss.