Brandon Steven jammed for 1,725,000 from under the gun and Martin Kabrhel called to put last year's runners-up at risk of elimination.
Brandon Steven: K?6?
Martin Kabrhel: AxJx
Kabrhel made trips on the J?J?5? flop but Steven had some hope with his flush draw. The 7? turn and 9? river completed the runout and Steven was eliminated.
David Peters moved all-in from early position for 3,375,000 but got no callers.
Artur Martirosian would be the next player to move all-in preflop from the button, but he would be without callers, as well.
In a subsequent hand, Martin Kabrhel called the 400,000 big blind from early position and action folded around to David Peters in the big blind, who checked his option.
Peters check-called a bet from Kabrhel for 400,000 on a flop of A?A?9? and would again check on the J? turn.
Kabrhel bet 400,000 once more, but this time Peters opted to raise to 1,200,000. After a few moments of deliberation, Kabrhel released his hand
Chris Brewer raised to 750,000 from the hijack and Artur Martirosian called from the big blind.
Brewer continued for 800,000 on the 9?7?2? flop and was called. Brewer sized up to 2,500,000 on the K? turn and again his opponent stuck around, after Martirosian used up a time bank.
The 10? completed the board and Martirosian moved all in. Brewer, the shorter stack with 2,675,000 behind, had a small chuckle to himself before calling for his tournament life.
Martirosian had a pair of nines with his J?9? but Brewer had top pair with his K?Q?.
Artur Martirosian opened to 600,000 from early position, and Brandon Steven defended his big blind.
Steven check-folded to a bet of 300,000 on the Q?Q?9? flop.
On the next hand, Alex Kulev opened to 600,000 from early position and Martin Kabrhel called from the button.
Kulev checked on the Q?8?4? flop which prompted Kabrhel to fire for 800,000. Kulev then made it 2,600,000 and Kabrhel returned his cards to the dealer.
"Show the bluff Alex," said Kabrhel and his opponent responded by tabling the 2? which gave Chance Kornuth a laugh.
"And the second one please Alex," followed up Kabrhel but the Kulev opted to keep his other card face down.
Artur Martirosian raised to 600,000 from late position and was called by Alex Kulev in the small blind.
Martirosian sized up to 1,200,000 on a 4?2?10? board and Kulev called.
Both players checked the 7? turn and the 10? river is where the fireworks would start. Kulev lead out for 800,000 and Martirosian raised to 4,000,000, sending Kulev into the tank.
After using one of his time banks, Kulev announced all-in, with Martirosian quickly folding.
Chance Kornuth opened to 600,000 from under the gun before Artur Martirosian three-bet to 1,800,000 on his direct left. As action folded back to Kornuth some of the players were chatting about the mood and Chris Brewer seemed the most uplifted of them all.
"This is the first time I've played over a $100,000 and made money," said Brewer. Not long after he finished his sentence, Kornuth folded.
The following hand, action folded to short stack Brandon Steven.
"Ooh, this is is going to be fun," said Steven to Kornuth who was in the big blind.
"I think this is going to be fun too," he replied.
After the duo exchanged words, Steven moved all in for 2,625,000 from and Kornuth called as the much bigger stack.
Brandon Steven: Q?J?
Chance Kornuth: Q?9?
Steven had Kornuth dominated until the latter paired on the 9?8?3? flop.
"The f****** nine," grimaced Steven before he called for a ten.
The ten didn't arrive but the J? turn did put Steven into the lead.
However, the spoils were shared as the 10? river gave both players a straight and they chopped the pot.
