The gravitational pull of Martin Jacobson is proving too much for Armin Mette's chips.
Armin Mette min-raised in early position and Martin Jacobson called in the small blind to see a flop, which he checked. Mette continuation-bet 150,000, but Jacobson now check-raised to 425,000. Mette's hand went in the the muck, and Jacobson took the pot.
As if he wasn't already far enough in the lead chipwise, Ben Wilinofsky has won another multi-million pot. He raised preflop, called by Vadzim Kursevich on the button. The flop came . Out bet Wilinofsky - 175,000 - called by Kursevich, The turn was a bricky and now Wilinofsky bet slightly over the pot - 800,000. This huge bet was slowly counted out and called by Kursevich.
The river was the and after checking out his opponent's dented stack, Wilinofsky bet out 1,300,000. This river card looked like it had punched Kursevich in the stomach. He thought for a long time, knowing that to call and lose would be devastating for him and send Wilinofsky's stack into the stratosphere. Finally, he made the painful-looking decision to pass.
Armin Mette made it 125,000 to go preflop, called yet again by Martin Jacobson - although this time from the small blind. Jacobson led for 125,000 on the flop; Mette called. Jacobson led again on the turn, this time for 300,000 and was again called. The river saw a double check, and Mette's were seen to be good.
Ben Wilinofsky raised to 125,000 from the button and Max Heinzelmann made the call to see a flop of . Heinzelman checked and Wilinofsky continuation bet for 200,000 but the German then check-raised to 560,000.
Wilinofsky contemplated his choices and elected to make the call to see the turn. Heinzelmann did not slow down, he now fired out 725,000 and again Wilinofsky flat-called as the pot swelled to such a size that it was now bigger than any remaining player's stack!
The river was the which didn't really look like it helped either player but Heizelmann decided to check. Wilinofsky asked for a count on his opponent's remaining stack, "About three and a half million," was the reply.
Wilinofsky now bet 1.7 million - the biggest bet of the tournament, but Heizelmann did not fold immediately and began to seriously contemplate making the call. Finally, the German did so only for Wilinofsky to turn over for bottom set, Heizelmann nodded and mucked.
Wilinofsky is now around the 9 million mark, he could double anyone up other than Kursevich and he would still be the chip leader, such is his dominance.
The snippet of level 26 played to finish it off today saw one hand of note, involving Armin Mette and Martin Jacobson. Mette min-+ raised the second hand, called by button Jacobson. The flop came and Mette led 130,000. Jacobson called. The turn was the . Now Mette checked and Jacobson took his chance to pick up the pot, betting an uncalled 260,000.
Mette has been the only really dented stack on the final table as yet - he also passed on the flop (3rd hand) after calling a preflop raise to 125,000 from Ben Wilinofsky.
It's actually very difficult to work out what's going on, as we have been banned from going anywhere near the actual table, and the live stream doesn't work in the press room. There is, however, a live feed in another room, down a long corridor and through some doors. We'll be scurrying back and forth between here and there for the rest of the day.