Aaron Johnson raised to 85,000 on the button, and Matt Kirby reraised to 200,000 from the small blind. Johnson crammed it in for about 1.2 million, and Kirby snap-called.
Kirby:
Johnson:
The two were racing, but Kirby flopped a pair on the to take a huge lead. The turn kept him in front, and a river ended Johnson's tournament.
Matthew Anderson has the chip lead after holding against a combo draw.
After a flop of , Jeremy Putthoff checked in the small blind. Matthew Anderson bet, and Putthoff shoved all in and was called.
Putthoff:
Anderson:
Anderson's top pair was good for the moment, but Putthoff held a flush draw, an over, and a gutter. The gave him even more outs since a nine would make him a straight, but the river was a brick: .
Matt Kirby raised to 60,000 in middle position, and Marty Martimo pushed all in for about 360,000 on the button. Kirby called immediately when action came back to him.
Kirby:
Martimo:
The were the first four cards, leaving Martimo with two outs to the river. The board paired with the , and Martimo exited in eighth.
Matt Kirby raised to 65,000 in the small blind, and Jeremy Putthoff defended. Kirby bet 72,000 on the flop, and Putthoff called. Kirby then check-called 130,000 on the turn, and a finished the board. Kirby checked, and Putthoff announced 230,000. Kirby beat him to the pot, but Putthoff was the one holding the monster with for a flopped straight.
Ryan Tepen raised to 60,000 in middle position, and Taylor Howard three-bet to 170,000 in the hijack. Action folded back to Tepen, who took a long look at Howard before announcing all in. Howard called right away with his 680,000 stack.
Howard:
Tepen:
Howard had Tepen dominated, but Tepen picked up a gutter on the flop. The turn gave Tepen chopping outs, but a river meant he shipped nearly all of his stack to Howard.
The next hand, Tepen pushed all in for 57,000 in early position, and both Rick McGown and Matt Kirby called in the blinds. After the flop, McGown shoved and Kirby folded.
McGown:
Tepen:
Tepen had a straight draw in addition to his set outs, but nothing materialized for him on the turn or river, and he became the second player ousted from the final table.
, giving Putthoff trips.
turn further closed off an out for Payne since it gave Putthoff a flush draw, and the 
river was close but no cigar.
to take a huge lead. The 
turn kept him in front, and a 
, Jeremy Putthoff checked in the small blind. Matthew Anderson bet, and Putthoff shoved all in and was called.
gave him even more outs since a nine would make him a straight, but the river was a brick: 
.
turn or 
river, and he had to settle for seventh.
for a flopped straight.
