Level: 31
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
Level: 31
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
The remaining 49 players have been sent on the first scheduled 20-minute break and the blinds will resume at 125,000-250,000 with a big blind ante of 250,000. In the first of five scheduled levels, 13 contenders were sent to the payout desk and the all those remaining have locked up at least $180,000 for their efforts.
Below are highlights of the first level of play.
Jason Kornegay opened to 625,000 from under the gun and Patrick Leonard called from the big blind. It checked through to the river for the board to show: K♦9♦3♠7♦7♣. Leonard fired out 500,000 and Kornegay quickly folded.
On the next deal, Leonard called from the small blind, but folded to go on his break when Kornegay made it 1,200,000 from the big blind. The latter flashed A♣J♣ and followed Leonard off the stage.
Heads-up on a board of 5♥10♠10♥K♥, Patrick Leonard in the hijack bet 675,000. Jason Kornegay in the cutoff called.
The J♥ landed on the river and Leonard checked. "Casino Royale," Kornegay joked before betting 2,000,000.
Leonard tried to make a decision within his allotted 30 seconds but failed to act before the clock expired, forcing him to fold. Kornegay revealed 5♣5♠ for a full house.
Hendrik Terner moved all in for 2,650,000 from early position and found no action, taking down the blinds and antes.
He shoved again the next hand, this time for 3,150,000 from under the gun, and this time Allan Sannier called in the cutoff.
Hendrik Terner: A♦K♠
Allan Sannier: A♣Q♦
Both players hit top pair on the A♠3♠J♦ flop, while Terner remained in the lead with his king-kicker. The turn was the 2♣, and Terner improved to two pair on the K♦ river to secure the double up.
Jacob Thibodeau raised to 400,000 in the cutoff and Tianle Wang called in the next seat. Rami Hammoud three-bet to 2,200,000 in the big blind and forced out both opponents.
Soon after that, John Weiss pushed all-in from under the gun and it folded to Jamie Shaevel in the big blind. He asked for a count and then called when it was deemed to be for 1,750,000 total.
John Weiss: 4♠4♦
Jamie Shaevel: K♠10♠
The board ran out A♥5♣2♣Q♠Q♣ and the pocket pair held for Weiss to survive.
Malcolm Trayner raised to 450,000 in the small blind and Tolga Karakaya called in the big blind.
Trayner continued for 350,000 on the 5♦5♥3♣ flop, and Karakaya called. Trayner then checked the J♠ turn, Karakaya bet 325,000, and Trayner called.
Trayner again checked the 6♥ river, and Karakaya bet 1,400,000. Trayner snap-called and Karakaya showed Q♠J♥ for two pair, but Trayner had A♦A♣ to win the pot.
"How the hell do you wake up with that hand?" Karakaya lamented.
Dylan Smith manoeuvred his 3,725,000 stack into the middle preflop from the hijack and was at risk against Han Feng on the button.
Dylan Smith: J♥J♦
Han Feng: A♥A♦
A perilous situation for Smith soon flipped on its head, as the dealer spread a J♣K♠5♣ flop, improving him to a set.
The 6♥ turn and 3♥ river couldn't save Feng, seeing Smith leadfrog him on the leaderboard.
Rami Hammoud opened to 400,000 from the hijack before Lucas Jumalon three-bet to 1,200,000 on the button. The blinds folded, and Hammoud responded by moving all in as the bigger stack.
Jumalon looked over at his rail and smiled. "We're all in," he said, before committing his 9,575,000-chip stack.
Lucas Jumalon: A♣A♠
Rami Hammoud: 9♥9♦
Jumalon had plenty to smile about, having Hammoud crush but there was plenty of nerves for Jumalon as Hammoud picked up a flush draw after the A♥K♦5♥ flop and Q♥ turn. The river card was a red four-sider, which allowed Jumalon to breathe a sigh of relief as the 10♦ completed the board.
On the next deal, Greg Mueller raised to 400,000 from the hijack and Jumalon called from the cutoff. Mueller bet on the A♥K♦5♥ flop, and Jumalon open-folded 9♦9♠.
Allan Sannier raised to 400,000 in middle position before Michael Conoran three-bet to 1,025,000 in the hijack. Sannier then four-bet to 2,250,000, and Conoran moved all in for 3,800,000. Sannier quickly called.
Michael Conoran: K♣K♠
Allan Sannier: J♥J♦
"Anyone fold a jack?" Conoran asked the table as he was a big favorite to double up with his kings. The flop, though, brought J♠8♦2♥ to give Sannier a set. No miracles arrived for Conoran on the 8♣ turn or 7♠ river, and Sannier finished with a full house to eliminate Conoran in 50th place.
"Sorry," Sannier said to him.
"Good game. Do something good with it," Conoran told him on his way to the exit.