World Series of Poker bracelet-holder Mark Radoja has just claimed a second stack from Alexander Venovski, who is down to his last 160,000 chips and facing a steep comeback climb.
The two got it all-in before the flop, with Radoja's leading Venovski's . A flop of put Radoja way out in front, and the on the turn left Venovski drawing dead. He will need to make moves quickly to prevent his effective stack from shrinking along with the quickly escalating blinds.
We arrived at the table to find a flop of on the felt. David Kitai moved Russell Rosenblum all in and Rosenblum called for all of the chips left from his first bullet.
Kitai:
Rosenblum:
Rosenblum was ahead with top pair and even made two pair when the struck the turn, but the on the river made Kitai's flush and allowed him to scoop up all of Rosenblum's chips. Rosenbulm then tossed both lammers toward the dealer, taking both for a stack of 320,000 to Kitai's 640,000.
Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky checked to Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond on a flop of . Galfond tossed out 8,000, Sulsky check-raised to 25,000, and Galfond re-raised to 43,000. Sulsky moved all in for 168,000, and Galfond looked back at his cards quickly before calling.
Galfond:
Sulsky:
Galfond flopped two pair, and Sulsky held an open-ended straight draw. The on the turn completed said straight, and all Sulsky needed to do to double was dodge a jack or three on the river. The completed the board, and Sulsky doubled to 336,000. He also has one lammer.
Galfond now has 142,000 in chips, plus two lammers.
The flop read and Phil Hellmuth checked. Marc-Andre Ladouceur fired 8,000 and Hellmuth tossed out a call. Fourth street was the and Hellmuth opted to lead for 12,000 and this time it was Ladouceur who flatted.
Fifth street was the and Hellmuth announced 26,000.
"I don't know if I can fold," lamented Ladouceur.
About fifteen seconds later, Ladouceur dropped in a call.
"Jack," said Hellmuth, rolling over .
Ladouceur mucked his cards and Hellmuth dragged in yet another pot. He now has 840,000 to Ladouceur's 120,000.
Phil Galfond just claimed the first of Ben Sulsky's 160,000 starting stacks, after turning a straight and stringing Sulsky along.
With the board showing , Sulsky moved his entire stack forward, leaving Galfond to snap-call with his . Sulsky's cards were slid into the muck, and he was forced to fire another bullet.
We caught the aftermath of a hand that saw Marc-Andre Ladouceur lose his second bullet against Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth held against Ladouceur's .
We're not sure when the money went in, but the finished board read , giving Hellmuth a winning full house with treys over jacks to Ladouceur's top two.
We noticed Alexander Venovski's chip stack had already been depleted just a few hands into his match with Mark Radoja, and stuck around to watch him lose another pot, falling even deeper behind.
With the board reading , Radoja fired out a bet and forced Venovski to muck. Radoja opening up a lead early on in the match may force Venovski to use his remaining 160,000 chip bullets.
On one of the first hands played, Phil Hellmuth opened to 9,000 on the button, Marc-Andre Ladouceur three-bet to 20,000, and Hellmuth moved all in for 156,000. Ladouceur snap-called.
Hellmuth:
Ladouceur:
Ladouceur remained ahead after the flop fell , but the turned, giving Hellmuth a leading pair of aces. The completed the board, and Hellmuth was shipped the pot. Ladouceur had 6,000 remaining, but opted to cash in one of his two lammers for another 160,000 chips.