With the flop showing , Ben Sulsky check-called a bet of 40,000 made by Phil Galfond.
The turn brought the , both players tapped the table, and the fell on the river.
After another check by Sulsky, Galfond fired a bet of 105,000 into the middle, prompting Sulsky to tank for a minute or so before moving his entire stack forward and forcing Galfond to a test for his tournament life.
The online pro known as "OMGClayAiken" on the virtual felt was put to a tough decision, and he chewed his finger for while before finally sliding his cards toward the dealer.
"Nice hand," said Galfond, appreciative of the high-skill level brought to bear in this matchup. Sulsky could only nod his head in the affirmative, as if to say "why yes Phil, it was a nice hand indeed."
With only one match remaining, we will now be doing hand-for-hand coverage between Phil Galfond and Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky.
Hand #1: Sulsky limped on the button, then folded to a shove from Galfond.
Hand #2: Galfond folded on the button.
Hand #3: Sulsky open-shoved on the button, and Galfond folded.
"Just us," Galfond said, smiling.
"I'm not surprised," Sulsky responded.
Hand #4: Galfond limped in on the button, Sulsky checked, and the flop came . Sulsky check-called 25,000 from Galfond, and the turn brought the . Both players checked.
The river was the , Sulsky led out for 85,000, and Galfond folded.
Hands #5-7: Each player folded their respective button.
Hand #8: Phil Galfond had the button. He raised to 50,000 and Ben Sulsky called. The flop came and both players checked. The hit the turn and Sulsky led for 65,000. Galfond called and the rivered. Sulsky slowed with a check and Galfond moved all in. Sulsky quickly released.
Hand #9: Sulsky had the button and won it with a 50,000-chip raise.
In the last match of this round, Ben Sulsky has just defeated Phil Galfond after more than two and a half hours of grueling head-up play.
The final hand occurred when Sulsky responded to Galfond's limp with an overbet to 425,000, effectively putting Galfond all-in if he decided to call.
"This is close..." Galfond said, before ultimately saying "Yep, let's go."
Galfond tabled the , and he would need help to overcome Sulsky's . No such help arrived on the board, however, and Galfond was sent to the payout desk, while Sulsky will return shortly for his Elite Eight matchup against Randy Lew.
Justin Bonomo raised to 18,000 with the button, Russell Rosenblum defended, and the flop came . Rosenblum checked, Bonomo continued for 20,000, and Rosenblum check-raised to 61,000. Bonomo called.
The turn was the , Rosenblum led out for 85,000, and Bonomo moved all in for 241,000. Rosenblum called.
Bonomo:
Rosenblum:
Rosenblum was drawing dead, and the completed the board. Bonomo is up to 640,000 chips with two lammers, while Rosenblum is down to 320,000 and one lammer.
The flop read and Mark Radoja tossed out a bet of 8,000. Phil Hellmuth spoke up before Radoja's chips even hit the felt.
"Twenty-two!" declared Hellmuth, putting in a raise to 22,000. Radoja reached for chips and announced a call. "Ooh," continued Hellmuth. "Ooh man, do it."
The board paired queens on the turn with the and the action went check-check, prompting the to finish off the board. Radoja cut out a bet of 46,000 and Hellmuth snapped him off.
Radoja rolled over for trip queens and Hellmuth immediately put out calling chips and mucked his cards.
Radoja has now taken a lead over Hellmuth but both players have add-ons that are have been untapped.