Raj Ramakrishnan limped in from the small blind for 8,000 and big blind Dzmitry Urbanovich raised to 23,000. Ramakrishnan came over the top for 69,000 and Urbanovich called in position.
The flop came and Ramakrishnan bet 100,000, or announced pot - that we don't know. Urbanovich shoved all of his chip to the middle and Ramakrishnan added some more towers of chips to get to showdown.
Raj Ramakrishnan:
Dmitry Urbanovich:
The on the turn and on the river did not help Urbanovich and the Pole had to settle for third place, worth AUD$42,770.
Espen Solaas won the first hand of heads up after min-raising the button with Raj Ramakrishnan just flat calling from the small blind.
Ramakrishnan led out for full pot on the flop and Solaas called leaving himself with around 200k behind. That was all the betting for the hand after the hit the turn, with the action checking through to the river.
Ramakrishnan rolled over for a pair of kings, but Solaas, holding had improved to tow pairs on the turn and a better two pairs on the river to take the hand and climb to just under 300k.
However, Ramakrishnan clawed this back with interest the very next hand after limping the button. Solaas check the small blind and the flop came down . The action was checked through to the which Ramakrishnan bet for 16,000 after Solaas checked and then called.
The river brought in the and Solaas again check-called Ramakrishnan's bet of 50,000 but mucked when the Australian player rolled over for the straight.
Ramakrishnan limped the button and Solaas check from the small blind and the dealer spread a flop.
Solaas checked it over to Ramakrishnan who decided to bet pot (20,000) and Solaas called before checking again on the turn.
Ramakrishnan fired out another pot-sized bet of 60,000 and Solaas called once more to bring the action to the river.
This brought a third check from Solaas and another pot bet from Ramakrishnan. His Norwegian opponent check-raised all-in and Ramakrishnan called but mucked when Solaas turned over .
The first hand of the new level saw Ramakrishnan mix things up a little and increase the aggression, which is a change of pace from both players limping the button and folding out on flops.
Solaas limped the button once again and this time Ramakrishnan re-raised pot. Solaas called and the flop came .
First to act Ramakrishnan led out for a full pot bet of 72,000 and while Solaas looked like he was thinking about it he eventually let it go.
Espen Solaas limped in from the button and Raj Ramakrishnan checked. Ramakrishnan bet 24,000 on and another 72,000 on the 72,000 turn. Solaas called both times and checked behind on the river. Ramakrishnan showed and Solaas mucked.
It was Solaas' turn to get aggressive and after Ramakrishnan made what had become the standard button limp the Norwegian popped it up to 36,000 in total. Ramakrishnan made the call and the flop fell .
Solaas led out for a pot-sized 72,000 and after thinking for maybe 10 seconds Ramakrishnan called to take play to the turn.
This brought another pot-sized second barrel from Solaas, this time for 216,000 to leave himself what looked to be about 23,000 behind.
Ramakrishnan went into the tank and nearly ran down the shot clock before eventually folding.