Hand #19: Action folded to Scott Blumstein in the cutoff and he raised to 1.8 million. Everyone folded and the chip leader added to his stack.
Hand #20: Dan Ott raised to 1.7 million from early position and raked in the blinds and antes after the rest of the players folded.
Hand #21: John Hesp raised it up to 2 million from early position and Benjamin Pollak called from the cutoff, as did Bryan Piccioli from the big blind. The flop came and Piccioli checked. Hesp bet 4 million, Pollak called and Piccioli folded. The turn was the and Hesp opted to check this time, as did Pollak. The river was the and both players checked. Hesp showed for two pair with a king kicker, but Pollak tabled for the winner with ace high.
Here's a look at the chip trends from the first 90 minutes of play:
Hand #22: John Hesp raised to 2 million from under the gun and Scott Blumstein called from directly to his left. Benjamin Pollak called from the hijack, and they went three ways to the flop of . Hesp led out for 3 million and both Blumstein and Pollak called.
The turn was the and the action was checked around. The river brought the and Hesp checked again. Blumstein bet 8.5 million, Pollak folded, and Hesp quickly called. Blumstein tabled and Hesp showed for trip jacks.
Hand #23: Bryan Piccioli raised to 2.2 million on the button and Hesp called from the big blind. The flop fell and Hesp bet 3 million. Piccioli laid his hand down and Hesp showed , raking in yet another pot.
Hand #24: The action was folded around to Hesp in the small blind. He called and Blumstein checked his option. The flop came and Hesp checked to Blumstein who bet 1.2 million. Hesp mucked his hand and Blumstein earned himself a pot.
Hand #25: Action folded all the way around to Scott Blumstein in the small blind, and he thought it over for a bit before giving the short stack Antoine Saout a walk in the big blind.
Hand #26: John Hesp raised to 2 million from the cutoff, and Blumstein reraised to 5.2 million on the button. The blinds ducked out of the way, and Hesp quickly four-bet it to 20 million. Blumstein checked his hole cards a few times before folding, and the two exchanged in a bit of playful banter, with Hesp trying to fist bump Blumstein at the end. Blumstein leaned away, and Hesp jokingly went for a punch. Both players laughed it off as they moved on to the next hand.
Hand #27: Action folded around to Saout on the button, and he moved all in for his final 9.7 million. Jack Sinclair quickly called in the big blind, and the cards were tabled.
Saout:
Sinclair:
Saout would need some help to survive, and he got it right away, as the flop came down , giving him trip tens. Sinclair would need running kings now to win the hand, and the on the turn sealed the double up for the former November Niner. Sinclair caught the on the river to rub some salt in the wound, as Saout doubled to over 20 million.
Hand #28: Scott Blumstein raised to 2.8 million from the hijack and he scooped up the blinds and antes after everyone folded.
Hand #29: Action folded to Blumstein in late position and he raised it up to 2.3 million. Bryan Piccioli rubbed his hands together in anticipation of peeling his cards, but he wasn't happy with them and tossed them into the muck.
Hand #30: Damian Salas moved all-in for 11,625,000 on the button and both blinds folded, sending the blinds and antes towards Salas.
Hand #31: Bryan Piccioli raised to 2.2 million on the button and John Hesp called from the big blind. The flop came and Hesp checked the action over to Piccioli who checked behind. The fell on the turn and Hesp led out for 3 million. Piccioli called to see the on the river. Both players checked and Hesp tabled . Piccioli showed and scooped a pot from the chip leader.
Hand #32: Dan Ott raised it up to 2.2 million on the button and both Hesp and Scott Blumstein called from the blinds. The flop was and the action was checked to Ott who bet 3.5 million. Hesp pushed his cards to the muck and Blumstein shoved all-in. Ott quickly called for his remaining 14,525,000 and was the player at risk.
Scott Blumstein:
Dan Ott:
The turn was the , giving Blumstein a flush draw to go with his straight draw. The river brought the and Ott scored a full double up.
Hand #33: Bryan Piccioli raised it up to 2.2 million from the hijack, and John Hesp called on the button. Scott Blumstein also called in the small blind, and Antoine Saout released from the big blind. Three players saw a flop of , and Blumstein checked to Piccioli, who did the same. Hesp quickly announced a bet of 3 million, and Blumstein called. Piccioli folded, and the two big stacks saw the hit the turn. Blumstein checked, and Hesp fired another 3 million into the pot. Blumstein released his hand, and Hesp flashed a black jack before scooping the pot.
Hand #34: Action folded to Blumstein on the button, and he bumped it up to 2.1 million. Both blinds released their hands, and Blumstein took in the pot.
Hand #35: Benjamin Pollak raised to 3.5 million from the small blind and Jack Sinclair defended his big blind. The flop came . Pollak bet 3.1 million and Sinclair folded.
Hand #36: Scott Blumstein raised it up to 2.3 million from the hijack and Antoine Saout moved all in for 18,250,000 from the cutoff. Blumstein asked for a count but decided to fold.
Hand #37: Blumstein raised to 2.3 million from late position and action folded to Bryan Piccioli in the big blind. He tanked for about half a minute before deciding to fold, sending the blinds and antes to Blumstein.
Hand #38: Pollak raised to 2.3 million from the hijack and Dan Ott defended his big blind. The flop came . Ott checked and Pollak bet 2.4 million. Ott called. The turn was the and Ott checked again. Pollak bet 5.5 million this time and Ott decided to fold.
and Piccioli checked. Hesp bet 4 million, Pollak called and Piccioli folded. The turn was the 
and Hesp opted to check this time, as did Pollak. The river was the 
and both players checked. Hesp showed 
for two pair with a king kicker, but Pollak tabled 
for the winner with ace high. 
. Hesp led out for 3 million and both Blumstein and Pollak called. 
and the action was checked around. The river brought the 
and Hesp checked again. Blumstein bet 8.5 million, Pollak folded, and Hesp quickly called. Blumstein tabled 
and Hesp showed 
for trip jacks. 
and Hesp bet 3 million. Piccioli laid his hand down and Hesp showed 
, raking in yet another pot.
, giving him trip tens. Sinclair would need running kings now to win the hand, and the 
on the turn sealed the double up for the former November Niner. Sinclair caught the 
and Hesp checked the action over to Piccioli who checked behind. The 
and the action was checked to Ott who bet 3.5 million. Hesp pushed his cards to the muck and Blumstein shoved all-in. Ott quickly called for his remaining 14,525,000 and was the player at risk.
, giving Blumstein a flush draw to go with his straight draw. The river brought the 
and Ott scored a full double up.
. Ott checked and Pollak bet 2.4 million. Ott called. The turn was the 
and Ott checked again. Pollak bet 5.5 million this time and Ott decided to fold.