Robert Scott opened with a raise to from the button, and Kenny Nguyen three-bet to 450,000 straight. Scott reraised all in for 960,000 total, and Nguyen made the quick call to put Scott's tournament in jeopardy.
Showdown
Scott:
Nguyen:
The flop was about as good as it gets for Scott, and he shot from his chair in celebration at the sight of those three cards. His celebration was a bit premature, though, and Nguyen turned the nut-flush draw with the on fourth street. He had 15 outs to chase, but the river was the wrong shade of black. The filled out the board, and Scott has found his double.
He's up to 1.98 million, the chip leader once again. That loss knocks "Super Tuan" back to 1.62 million, and it's still wide open here three-handed.
Robert Scott had been whittled down to 730,000 when he three-bet shoved behind a Kenny Nguyen raise of 150,000. Nguyen gave it a long look before folding, increasing Scott to 970,000 again.
From the small blind, Ramana Epparla raised to 135,000, and Kenny Nguyen defended from the big.
The two men checked through the flop, and the paired the board on fourth street. Nguyen called a bet of 150,000 this time, and he called another 250,000 after the river.
Epparla tabled for the backdoor flush, and Nguyen couldn't beat it. The two men have drawn very close once again, both with right around 2.25 million. Nguyen appears to have the lead by just a few small chips.
Well, there hasn't been much three-handed action yet. This one's pretty ho-hum too, but as much action as we've seen in about twenty minutes.
Ramana Epparla raised to 135,000 from the small blind, and Kenny Nguyen defended his big. On the flop, a bet of 225,000 was good enough for Ramana to take the pot.
Told you it wasn't much. It does move Epparla up to about 1.66 million, and Kenny has fallen under 3 million to about 2.83 now.
Two hands after his double, Ari Engel shoved in for 150,000 lonely chips. Kenny Nguyen made the call from the small blind with , and Engel's was a favorite to keep him around.
The flop was safe and sound for Engel, but the turn gave Nguyen a straight draw to chase down. And that's just what he'd do. The landed on the river, the kiss of death for Engel's tournament. He's out in 4th place, pocketing more than $30,000 as a consolation prize.
From the small blind, Ari Engel shoved his last 70,000 chips into the middle. Ramana Epparla called the extra few chips from the big, and his was leading Engel's .
The flop pulled Engel into the lead, but the turn stole it right back from him. Things changed again on the river, though, the dropping to give Engel two pair and the baby double up. It's a start, but he's still awfully short with 160,000.
From the cutoff seat, Ramana Epparla opened to 130,000, and Kenny Nguyen called on the button. From the big blind, Ari Engel squeezed in a reraise, all in for 1.475 million. Epparla quickly folded, but Nguyen tanked for a couple minutes before calling all in for 1.4 million on the dot. It was the right call.
Showdown
Nguyen:
Engel:
The flop wasn't much help to Engel, looking for a five to notch the knockout. The turn sent the pot the other way, though, locking up Nguyen's double and leaving Engel dead to the river.
After the biggest pot of the tournament, Engel is down to just 75,000, and Nguyen is now in command of the big stack with 2.975 million heaped in front of him.
Under the gun, Ari Engel raised to 120,000, and Ramana Epparla three-bet shoved for 500,000 even. Engel folded, and Epparla climbed to 715,000.
On the next hand, Epparla was the one opening to 130,000, and Engel three-bet to 240,000 from the big blind. Epparla shoved for 710,000, and Engel made the call with a chance at the knockout. He was going to have to come from behind, though.
Showdown
Epparla:
Engel:
The board ran through , and Epparla's kicker plays. He's doubled back to 1.465 million, and it's now he who's back in the top spot, just edging Engel's 1.4 million-chip stack.
It's really a dead heat between all four men, though, and it's most certainly anyone's game at this point.