Louie Calvo opened to 70,000, and Eric Hicks, who was next to act, asked for the size of a pot-sized raise. The answer was 270,000, and Hicks then potted. Rudolph Sawa was on the button, and he re-potted to get rid of all opponents but Hicks, who called for 395,000 total.
Eric Hicks:
Rudolph Sawa:
Hicks was in bad shape, but he found the goods on the board to double up.
In the following minutes, Hicks managed to score yet another double. He was all in on a flop holding . Hicks was facing elimination against Aleksei Altshuller's , but the landed on the turn. The river kept Hicks' trips ahead, and he received a big chunk of chips from Altshuller.
Mark Reilly raised to 70,000 under the gun, and Luis Calvo, sitting on the button, three-bet to 250,000. Reilly called.
Calvo checked back the flop. Reilly led out for 300,000 on the turn, and Calvo called. The river was checked through, and Calvo announced, "Aces up," for the winner, turning up his .
Mark Reilly entered the final table with a substantial chip lead, and he just added some more chips to his big stack after taking down a three-way pot.
Reilly opened to 70,000 from the hijack, earning calls from button Gerhard Schleicher and small blind Alberto Fonseca.
Fonseca led out for 115,000 on the flop, and both of his opponents called. The turn brought a check from Fonseca, and Reilly retook the betting lead. He cut out a hefty bet of 450,000 and slid it forward. Schleicher first thought it was 250,000 but quickly released his hand when he found out the correct price. Fonseca mucked, too, leaving the pot to the leader.
Gionni DeMers raised to 60,000 from under the gun, Aleksei Altshuller called from the small blind, and Eric Hicks called from the big blind.
The flop came , and Altshuller checked. Hicks checked as well, and DeMers bet 85,000. Altshuller check-raised to 435,000, Hicks quickly folded, and DeMers and Altshuller got the rest of the chips in, putting the cards on their backs.
DeMers:
Altshuller:
Altshuller was ahead with a set of threes, and DeMers needed to improve in order to survive. The turn and river changed nothing, and Altshuller took the pot to end DeMers' run in this tournament.
With about 150,000 already in the pot on a flop of , Eric Hicks checked from the big blind and Gionni DeMers bet 150,000 from the cutoff. Hicks check-raised to put DeMers to a decision for his stack and he called.
Hicks:
DeMers:
DeMers was in the lead with his aces and Hicks needed to improve in order to win the pot and eliminate his opponent. The turn and river were no help to Hicks and DeMers doubled up.