Early Edge to Ernst
Ernst Schmejkal jumped out to a slight lead in the early going in his match versus Alexander Kostritsyn, pushing over 2 million to Kostritsyn's 1.8 million. Then came the first significant hand of the match.
The hand began with Kostritsyn raising to 40,000 from the small blind/button, and Schmejkal making the call. The flop came 
. Schmejkal checked, Kostritsyn bet 46,000, and Schmejkal called.
The turn brought the 
. Schmejkal checked, Kostritsyn bet 112,000, and this time Schmejkal promptly check-raised to 280,000 total. Kostritsyn asked how much more it was to call, then did so.
The river was the 
. Schmejkal, sitting silently with one hand over his mouth, reached with the other to set out a big bet of 550,000. Kostritsyn looked as though he was going for chips to call, but then pushed his cards dealerward.
Kostritsyn slips to about 1.3 million, with Schmejkal up over 2.5 million.