Kovalchuk brought it in, Danzer completed, and Kovalchuk raised. Danzer called. Danzer check-called bets on fourth and fifth street, and on sixth, he led out. Kovalchuk was very baffled by this, and gave Danzer an unpleasant look before calling.
On seventh, Danzer led again, and Kovalchuk called. Danzer tabled for aces up, and Kovalchuk mucked.
George Danzer has picked up the first three hands of heads-up play, essentially evening things up with Oleksii Kovalchuk.
In the first, Kovalchuk raised and Danzer called, then the pair both checked the flop and turn. Danzer fired a bet after the , and Kovalchuk folded.
In the second, Danzer raised and Kovalchuk called, and the flop came . Kovalchuk checked, Danzer bet, and Kovalchuk called. The turn was the . Kovalchuk bet this time, Danzer raised, and Kovalchuk called. The river then brought the and a check from Kovalchuk. Danzer fired again, and Kovalchuk folded.
The third hand went much like the first, with a Kovalchuk raise and Danzer preflop, then checking through the flop and turn. Danzer then bet the river, and Kovalchuk folded.
George Danzer had the button, and raised. Mark Gregorich called from the small blind, and Oleksii Kovalchuk made it three bets from the big. Both players called. The flop came , and Gregorich led out. Kovalchuk raised, Danzer folded, and Gregorich moved all in for less than three bets. Kovalchuk called.
Gregorich:
Kovalchuk:
The turn () and river () were both bricks, and Kovalchuk scooped the pot, eliminating Gregorich in third place.
Oleksii Kovalchuk raised on the button, George Danzer three-bet, and Kovalchuk four-bet. Danzer called. The flop was , and Danzer check-called a bet. The turn was the , and Danzer checked again. Kovalchuk bet, and Danzer check-raised. Kovalchuk called.
The river was the , and Danzer led out. Kovalchuk thought for a second, then raised.
"Call," Danzer said immediately.
Kovalchuk mucked his hand in disgust, and Danzer showed for kings and tens.
The very next hand, Danzer had the button and raised. Kovalchuk defended, and the flop came . Kovalchuk check-raised Danzer, who called. The turn was the , and Kovalchuk led out. Danzer called.
The river was the , and Kovalchuk slowed down, checking the Danzer who bet. Kovalchuk folded, and Danzer scooped the pot.
Mark Gregorich raised from the small blind, Oleksii Kovalchuk reraised from the big blind, and Gregorich called. The flop came . Gregorich checked, Kovalchuk bet, Gregorich raised, and Kovalchuk called. The turn was the , Gregorich bet, and Kovalchuk called. The river was the , and again Gregorich bet and Kovalchuk called.
"Ace-deuce," said Gregorich, tabling . Kovalchuk also had the nut low with , plus two pair for the high as well. Gregorich had been quartered, and Kovalchuk increased his lead.
A small rail of supporters cheered in support of the Ukrainian, with 2011 WSOP Main Event November Niner Anton Makiievskyi among them.
Gregorich brought it in, Kovalchuk completed, and Gregorich called. Gregorich check-called a bet on fourth street, both players checked on fifth, and Kovalchuk led out on sixth when he paired his jack. Gregorich called.
Kovalchuk checked on seventh, and Gregorich looked at his downcard.
"You're good," he announced, folding his hand.
Kovalchuk showed , and scooped with a pair of jacks.