Under the gun, Phil Laak opened to 57,000, and the table folded all the way around to the man on his right. From the big blind, David Bach potted it to 183,000, and Laak tanked and called to proceed.
The flop came , and Bach didn't waste much time announcing, "Pot," again. It was 378,000 now, and it was too much for Laak to call. He surrendered, sending a chunk of his chip-leading stack over to the former $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. world champ. It moves Bach across a big milestone, up now to 1.155 million.
Just before the level up, Bjorn Verbakel raised to 40,000 only to have Nick Binger three-bet to 150,000 on the button. Verbakel made the call and watched as the flop fell . The man from the Netherlands surprised the call by moving all in for his last 202,000, which Binger called.
Binger:
Verbakel:
Verbakel held a nice straight draw, but at the moment all he had was a pair of fours, which was behinds Binger's pair of jacks. The turn was discouraging to Verbakel as it gave Binger both flush and low outs. The river completed Binger's low, which complimented his pair of jacks for the high.
Binger scooped the pot to chip up to 1.45 million while Verbakel was eliminated in 8th place.
Nick Schulman raised to 50,000 from the button only to have Peter Charalambous pot all in for 160,000 from the big blind. Schulman made the call and the cards were turned on their backs.
Charalambous:
Schulman:
The flop dashed any chance of a low, but it did deliver Charalambous a flush draw. The turn kept Schulman's ace-queen in the lead, but the spiked on the river to give Charalambous the said flush and a much-needed double.
For the second hand in a row, Peter Charalambous opened with a pot-sized raise to 70,000. The first time, it got through. This time, though, Nick Binger re-potted, and Charalambous called all in for 145,000 total.
Showdown
Charalambous:
Binger:
The flop paired Charalambous, but he was still in need of some help with two cards to come. The turn gave him a low draw to try and chase down, a sight he was very much pleased with. "I'll take a seven," he said, content to settle for half the pot. "I'm not greedy. Put a seven out there."
River:
That'll do for Charalambous, and he'll get half the pot.
Nick Schulman raised to 50,000 from early position and found a caller in the form of Phil Laak in the small blind. The Unabomber then turned around and led out for 63,000 on the flop, which Schulman called. Both players proceeded to check down the turn and river, prompting Schulman to turn over for the winning hand. Laak simply mucked.
In late position, Phil Laak opened to 70,000, and Allen Kessler three-bet shoved for 126,000 from the small blind. Laak waited for the count, and he clearly did not like the spot. He chuckled, then told Kessler, "You might be getting a courtesy double-up here." With that, he made the call, but neither player immediately tabled their hands.
"I'm 100% ahead," Kessler said.
Laak knew it too. "Can I bet $10,000 on your hand?"
Kessler shook his head with a bit of a frustrated air. He was, as expected, well in front as the cards were finally shown down.
Showdown
Laak:
Kessler:
Laak had some connecting low cards with two suits, and off they went to the board. The flop came out , pairing Laak to open up a few knockout possibilities. On the turn, the was a bad card for Kessler, improving Laak to two pair and leaving the Chainsaw in a big hole with one to come. He needed to find an ace, ten, or six to scoop, or at least make a low to chop the pot.
The river was a fateful , though, and Kessler could only throw his arms up in disbelief. Laak makes the Michael Jackson full house, and Kessler is left pacing toward the cashier with a ticket that shows ninth place. It's good for $33,352, but it's not much consolation right now as Kessler tries to shake off a cooler of a summer.
Action folded to Phil Laak on the button and he potted to 52,000, which Bryce Yockey called from the big blind. It was heads up to the flop, which saw Yockey check-call a bet of 48,000. When the was put out on the turn, Yockey check-called another bet, this time 174,000.
The completed the board and Yockey checked one last time. Laak thought for a few moments before sliding in the remainder of his stack . . . 527,000! Yockey snap-called only to muck when Laak rolled over for trip threes with the nut low.
With that, Laak takes a commanding chip lead while Yockey was reduced to just 328,000.
We're back in action, here now at the official final table. The players were just introduced to the assembled masses over the microphone, and we're ready to get back in action. It's a big mass that's gathered here on the rai today with the Main Event drawing spectators out of the woodwork. But we've still got a bracelet to hand out before we get too focused on The Big Show, and these nine are the ones left fighting it out. Here's how they stack up:
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, and Bach didn't waste much time announcing, "Pot," again. It was 378,000 now, and it was too much for Laak to call. He surrendered, sending a chunk of his chip-leading stack over to the former $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. world champ. It moves Bach across a big milestone, up now to 1.155 million.
. The man from the Netherlands surprised the call by moving all in for his last 202,000, which Binger called.
turn was discouraging to Verbakel as it gave Binger both flush and low outs. The 
river completed Binger's low, which complimented his pair of jacks for the high.
flop dashed any chance of a low, but it did deliver Charalambous a flush draw. The 
turn kept Schulman's ace-queen in the lead, but the 
spiked on the river to give Charalambous the said flush and a much-needed double.
turn and 
for the winning hand. Laak simply mucked.
was put out on the turn, Yockey check-called another bet, this time 174,000.
for trip threes with the nut low.
