What started out as a small pot (Mike McDonald limped in from the small blind, Mikita Badziakouski checked his big blind), soon got really big.
The flop came and McDonald bet out 40,000. Badziakouski raised to 100,000 and McDonald called. McDonald check called another 125,000 on the turn after a short (but intense) stare down.
The river came the and McDonald checked again, still keeping his focus on his neighbor. Badziakouski bet out 250,000 with just 227,000 behind. McDonald tanked for a bit and then moved all in. Badziakouski sighed and folded.
Huidong Gu opened for 54,000 from the hijack and action folded to Justin Bonomo in the small blind. "Zeejustin" announced all in and the big blind quickly released. Gu gathered his chips and announced all in as well.
Bonomo had 444,000 and had Gu slightly covered as the player from China had 429,000.
Huidong Gu:
Justin Bonomo:
The didn't bring much hope for Gu but the on the turn opened the door for a chop. The on the river was a blank however and Gu hit the rail in 17th place.
With Gu's bust out the tournament is now down to 16 players. The clock has been paused for the redraw.
Christopher Frank opened the hijack to 50,000 and Huidong Gu on the button three bet to 105,000. Sylvain Loosli in the small blind flat called and the big blind folded. Frank moved in for 505,000 and Gu shoved all in over the top after some hefty tanking. Loosli shook his head and folded.
In the last hand before the start of the break, Chris Hunichen opened under the gun for 51,000. Action folded to Mike McDonald on the button who made it 140,000 to go. Both blinds folded and Hunichen shoved for around 800,000. McDonald called.
Chris Hunichen:
Mike McDonald:
The board ran out and Hunichen hit the rail. Only upside for him is he has more than 75 minutes to enjoy his dinner.
Four of the six who skipped Day 1 entirely remain in contention with only 18 players left in the EPT Malta €25,000 High Roller. PokerStars Blog wonders why anyone would bother with Day 1.
We picked up the action with the entire board already out: . Mikita Badziakouski in the big blind bet 250,000 into what appeared to be a pot of around 180,000.
Quan Zhou on the button had some trouble with his decision and reached into his wallet to find a coin. Zhou apparently is so rich he doesn't have coins, because he came up short finding something to make his decision any easier. Chris Hunichen came to the rescue and gave him a coin. Zhou tossed it, but didn't act on it immediately.
Hunichen now called the clock but before the countdown even started, Zhou called. Badziakouski showed for the straight and Zhou mucked.
Thomas Muehloecker moved all in for 242,000 from the hijack and Sam Greenwood isolated by moving all in over the top from the cutoff.
Muehloecker:
Greenwood:
Muehloecker got it in good, but he failed to hold on the flop. The turn meant Muehloecker needed a four on the river, but it was not meant to be as the blanked.
no Safari
and McDonald bet out 40,000. Badziakouski raised to 100,000 and McDonald called. McDonald check called another 125,000 on the 
turn after a short (but intense) stare down.
and McDonald checked again, still keeping his focus on his neighbor. Badziakouski bet out 250,000 with just 227,000 behind. McDonald tanked for a bit and then moved all in. Badziakouski sighed and folded.
didn't bring much hope for Gu but the 
on the turn opened the door for a chop. The 
on the river was a blank however and Gu hit the rail in 17th place. 
and Frank doubled.
. Mikita Badziakouski in the big blind bet 250,000 into what appeared to be a pot of around 180,000. 
flop. The 
turn meant Muehloecker needed a four on the river, but it was not meant to be as the 
blanked.
