Hirled into the Lead
A gentleman in mid position opened, only for Johnny Lodden to make it 3,800 from the cutoff. Mark Hirleman called from the small blind; the original raiser tanked up for a bit and then called too.
Flop:
Hirleman checked to Original Raiser, who bet 6,600, and the action proceeded to Lodden, who now made it 15,250 to go. Hirleman tanked up for some time before flat-calling, his hand shaking ever so slightly as he tossed the chips into the middle. Original Raiser now took over tanking duties, and after an admirable three minutes or so, also called.
Turn:
Hirleman checked again, and this time - not without several minutes' worth of tanking - both Original Raiser and Lodden checked behind.
River:
The hand had now been going on for well over 10 minutes, and Hirleman, so passive up until this point, now bet out 25,000. The folds from his opponents were surprisingly and mercifully swift, and Hirleman took the huge pot to propel him into the chip lead - around 140,000 by the looks of it.