Christopher Kruk still holds a commanding lead while Igor Kurganov has almost closed the gap to JC Alvarado. Stephen Chidwick will return with 14 big blinds for the next level.
JC Alvarado's raise to 60,000 triggered a three-bet by Christopher Kruk and the Canadian scooped the pot without resistance.
Alvarado himself three-bet a raise by Stephen Chidwick and also got through with it to see Chidwick drop to 22 big blinds. PokerStars Team Pro Igor Kurganov was not actively involved in any of the hands and the blinds and antes have taken a toll, reducing the Russian to only 12 big blinds as a result.
Only one other recent hand even went to the river and consisted of a min-bet on the flop and river without any major action.
After two shoves from Thomas Muehloecker and one from Stephen Chidwick got through, it was now Christopher Kruk who shoved. Kruk shoved on the button and covered both blinds by a wide margin.
Igor Kurganov folded his small blind and Thomas Muehloecker used a time bank chip. After around a minute of thought, he called for 344,000.
Christopher Kruk:
Thomas Muehloecker:
Kruk had a near mortal lock on the hand after the flop. Muehloecker needed running straight cards and found the to keep his hopes alive. The on the river did complete the backdoor straight but gave Kruk a jack-high flush to win.
Muehloecker received �108,000 for his fifth place finish. Kruk now controls half the chips in play.
JC Alvarado scooped a middle-sized pot in a battle of the blinds against Stephen Chidwick before Igor Kurganov limped in from under the gun. Alvarado filled up from the small blind and Christopher Kruk checked from the big blind. On the flop all three players checked. Kruk min-bet the turn for 24,000 and that won the pot right there.
Alvarado raised to 50,000 and Thomas Muehloecker defended the big blind with 270,000 behind. The flop fell and Muehloecker checked before folding to a bet worth 25,000.
Thomas Muehloecker raised nearly all of his 178,000 stack on the button, JC Alvarado reraised from the big blind and Muehloecker put the final chips in as well.
Thomas Muehloecker:
JC Alvarado:
Muehloecker stood up but could sit back down after the board ran out .
Thomas Muehloecker limped in from the small blind and Stephen Chidwick checked his option out of the big blind. On the flop, Muehloecker bet 30,000 and Chidwick called. Both checked the turn and Muehloecker bet the river for 75,000. Chidwick called and Muehloecker sent his cards into the muck to forfeit the pot.
Christopher Kruk raised to 55,000 and JC Alvarado called out of the big blind. Both big stacks ended up checking down the board and Alvarado showed , which Kruk had beat with .
flop kept Kurganov way ahead but the 
on the turn gave Kruk plenty of outs.
. It was safe for the Team PokerStars Pro, who doubled up.
flop. Muehloecker needed running straight cards and found the 
to keep his hopes alive. The 
on the river did complete the backdoor straight but gave Kruk a jack-high flush to win.
flop all three players checked. Kruk min-bet the 
turn for 24,000 and that won the pot right there.
.
flop, Muehloecker bet 30,000 and Chidwick called. Both checked the 
turn and Muehloecker bet the 
river for 75,000. Chidwick called and Muehloecker sent his cards into the muck to forfeit the pot.
and Alvarado showed 