Hands 177-181: Chopped and Screwed
Hand #177: With his boisterous cheering section imploring him to put the hammer down, Polychronopoulos raised his button to 225,000, but Carlton moved all-in from the small blind to force him off the hand.
Hand #178: Mutke raised from the small blind and added to his chip lead.
Hand #179: Mutke opened on the button, making it 200,000 to go, and Polychronopoulos immediately moved all-in over the top for 2.555 million. Carlton had a decision on his hands, and he went through the scenarios while slowly counting his stack, and that of his opponent. After a few looks across the table were exchanged, Carlton uncapped his cards and slid them to the dealer.
Hand #180: Polychronopoulos raised his button to 225,000, and Carlton returned the favor from the last hand, shipping over the top for 2.345 million. Mutke then moved all-in as well, forcing Polychronopoulos to fold and bringing Mutke and Polychronopoulos to a showdown. Both players held 
, however, and the pot was chopped up after a clean runout produced no flushes.
Hand #181: Polychronopoulos received a walk in the big blind.