Level 26
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Raul Garza made it 200,000 to go from the small blind with the 
and Robert Cowen defended out of the big blind with the 
. The flop fell 
and Garza slowed down as Cowen now bet 325,000, earning a call from Garza.
Both headed to the 
on the turn and that prompted another check by Garza, to which Cowen checked back this time. Following the 
river, Garza bet 260,000 and Cowen sent his cards into the muck.
After the hand was over, the final four players were sent into a scheduled 15-minute break. Their updated counts and big blinds for the next level are below.
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Ryan Messick | United States | 3,055,000 | 38 |
| 4 | Benjamin Kaupp | United States | 3,950,000 | 49 |
| 5 | Raul Garza | United States | 4,185,000 | 52 |
| 7 | Robert Cowen | United Kingdom | 2,905,000 | 36 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,185,000
585,000
|
585,000 |
|
3,950,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
||
|
3,055,000
-45,000
|
-45,000 |
|
2,905,000
-595,000
|
-595,000 |
|
||
and Ryan Messick flat-called in the small blind holding the 
. Both players checked the 
turn for 180,000. On the 
river, Messick checked again and a bet worth 350,000 by Garza won the pot uncontested.
river, Cowen checked again and Kaupp bet 340,000. That sent the Brit into a short tank but he called with the 
to chop it up versus 
.
for Ryan Messick to three-bet for 450,000 out of the big blind with the 
flop on which Messick continued for 275,000 and received a call by Garza.
followed on the turn, both players checked and headed to the 
. Benjamin Kaupp three-bet to 400,000 in the small blind with the 
.
flop, Messick opted to check-call a bet worth 120,000 and the 
followed on the river and Messick checked once more.
river, Garza bet another 250,000 by Messick and received the call. He flipped over the 
and Ali Eslami called out of the big blind with 
. On the 
river only improved Cowen to the ten-high straight and Eslami departed in fifth place for $50,000.
flop and retained the lead throughout the 
