Balaguer Busts Manley and Stark in Back-to-Back Hands
Adria Balaguer has just hit a nice little rush to move his stack up to 233,000 in chips and take what looks to be the current chip lead. He busted Kevin Manley and Joseph Stark in back-to-back hands to get the chips and here's how it happened.
On the first hand of his two-hand rush, action folded to the cutoff seat where Manley sat. He raised to 5,500. Balaguer was on the button and reraised to 12,500. The blinds folded and Manley reraised all in for 39,300. Balaguer thought for a little bit, then tossed out just one chip to signify a call.
Balaguer: 
Manley: 
The flop came down 
and Manley kept his lead. The turn delivered what would be the winning blow for Balaguer as the 
fell and then the river completed the board with the 
. Manley was eliminated and not happy about the way he went out.
On the very next hand, Stark raised all in for 30,000 from middle position and action went over to Balaguer in the cutoff seat. He paused, then tossed out a single T100 chip to signify a call. The dealer was a little confused and asked Balaguer to at least slide out a tall stack of chips, which Balaguer did. Everyone else folded and for the second hand in a row, Balaguer was in an all-in situation and looking to knock out an opponent.
Balaguer: 
Stark: 
This time Balaguer had the lead going in and kept it as the board ran out 
to send Stark to the rail.
Although Balaguer is a rather unknown player, he's had three decent scores to his credit. In March 2011, Balaguer too sixth place in the Unibet Open Malta event for €19,500. Then in September 2011, he took ninth place in the European Poker Tour London Main Event for ￡45,000. Balaguer saved his best score of 2011, and his career, for the last month of 2011. In December, he scored second place in the World Poker Tour Prague Main Event for €238,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
233,000 | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |