Andrew Rothfolk had the button. He opened to 250,000 and was called by Ryan Stevenson from the small blind.
The flop was and both players tapped the table to see the turn. Fourth street brought the and Stevenson checked once more. Rothfolk fired 260,000 and Stevenson decided to stick around.
The river was the and Stevenson checked for a third time. Rothfolk slid out 725,000 and Stevenson snapped him off. Rothfolk tabled and Stevenson shook his head and shot his hand to the muck. Rothfolk now has about half of the chips in play with 6.7 million to Stevenson's 2.775 million.
We've reached the stage in the final table where the blinds have become so high that every decision is a crucial one. Players are taking their time before each decision and it's rare to see a hand take a flop. Those that do are usually won with a single bet.
Picking up with the action on a flop of , Norman McKeldin checked and Ryan Stevenson bet 325,000. McKeldin called and the river was the . McKeldin led for 1 million even and Stevenson called.
McKeldin rolled over the for queens full of eights and Stevenson mucked.
Soon after, Stevenson opened to 250,000 from the button and McKeldin open-shipped all in from the small blind. Stevenson tanked for well over two minutes before finally laying down face up. McKeldin showed and dragged in the pot.
Ryan Stevenson held the button. He made it 200,000 to go and received calls from Norman McKeldin from the small blind and Andrew Rothfolk from the big blind.
The flop was and action checked around. The dropped down on the turn and McKeldin checked. Rothfolk bet 210,000 and both of his opponents called.
The river was the and it once again checked around. Rothfolk showed and both of this opponents mucked, awarding him the pot.
After being a severe short stack, Ryan Stevenson has now regained the chip lead. We caught the tail end of this hand, but we do know that Norman McKeldin limped from the button and all three players saw a flop with action checked from Stevenson's big blind.
The flop read and all three players saw a turn of . After an unknown bet, Andrew Rothfolk got out of the way and the river brought the . Stevenson checked and McKeldin bet 1 million.
Stevenson tank-called and showed for the win. McKeldin mucked and Stevenson raked a large pot.
Norman McKeldin opened to 225,000 from the button. It folded to Ryan Stevenson who moved 1.29 million in from the big blind. McKeldin called the all in and the hands were rolled over.
McKeldin:
Stevenson:
The board dropped down {Ah][ac} and Stevenson's trips were able to secure him yet another double up. He's sitting on about 2.65 million. McKeldin now has about 4.7 million.
A short-stacked Ryan Stevenson was all in preflop for his tournament life against Andrew Rothfolk.
Rothfolk:
Stevenson:
The flop brought nothing for Stevenson as it fell . He paired up when the hit the turn and sealed the double up when the finished off the board. He's now sitting on about 2 million to Rothfolk's 4.95 million.