HomeJohn Sayo just showed John Tech why he is one of the leaders of the day. Sayo kicked off the hand with a raise to 2100 and Tech called. At the flop of 10♣ 9♥ 9♦, both players checked and the dealer turned the next card 8♦. Acting first, Sayo checked to Tech who bet 2700. Sayo smooth-called. On the river of 4♠, Sayo checked again, Tech took a stab at the pot with a 3800 bet, and after assessing the situation, Sayo called. Tech showed 5♠ 7♠ and Sayo had A♦ K♦ for ace high and the win. Good call for Sayo.
William Mcauley tangled in a pot against Aaron Mermelstein that began Mcauley limping in then calling Mermelstein’s 2k raise. The flop landed Q♦ 10♣ Q♥ and both players checked. On the turn of A♠, Mcauley checked again, Mermelstein bet 1300, and Mcauley called. The river of 3♥ had both players checking to each other and Mcauley won with his A♦ 8♦ top pair. After Mermelstein mucked, Mcauley happily scooped the pot while announcing he finally won one.
Kevin Hii took one last stand with his remaining 7k and was called by Iori Yogo. Hii had A♦ 7♠ and Yogo had K♦ K♣. The board improved Yogo to a set and Hii was sent to the rail.
Short-stacked Nicolas Ragot avoided elimination when his A♦ 8♥ found two pairs on the board 6♥ A♠ Q♣ 8♦ 10♠ against Ian Brion’s 9♦ 9♣. He now has 12k. Still well below average of 46k.
So far we have seen several pocket aces grace the felt, some turned out well for the holder some not. In this hand, Hii Hieng Dee and Harold Sonnenberg were in a raised pot preflop and watched the dealer spread Q♥ 3♦ 9♦. They both checked to each other and the dealer turned over Q♠ on fourth street. Action got underway with Hii Hieng Dee betting 5500 and Sonnenberg calling. On the river of Q♣, Dee went all in and snap-calling was Sonnenberg. Dee had A♣ A♠ for a full house but Sonnenberg had A♥ Q♦ for a sweet quads. Sonnenberg doubled up.
Another one bites the dust, this one at the hands of Simba. With a raised pot preflop, the dealer felted J♣ 6♥ K♣. Simba bet 2800, Robert Piltz raised to 8600, then Cho Youngwoo piled above them with an all of 12,100. Both Simba and Piltz called and action continued for a possible side pot. The dealer turned 3♦ and they checked. Then on the river of 5♦, Simba bet 10k and Piltz folded for no side pot. Cho showed his A♣ K♦ however Simba had 6♣ 6♦ set for a nice big scoop.
Big moves preflop had a big pot nicely brewed for the winner of this hand. It began with Julius Malaznini raising to 1300, three-bet to 3900 by Byeongcheol Kim, then four-bet to 9000 by Lim Yah Loon. This was enough to get Malzanini to fold but not Kim who flat-called. At the flop of 8♠ 3♥ 5♥, Kim quickly announced all in for over 20k and Loon opted to fold giving Kim the hefty pile in the middle.
Aaron Mermelstein is surely making waves at his tale. Shortly after cracking Edison Marzan’s aces, he got aces himself which led to the demise of Jeonghan Lee. During the hand, one player limped, Mermelstein raised to 2600, Lee three-bet to 10k , and Mermelstein called. At the flop of 6♥ 10♥ 9♠, Lee immediately moved all in with around 20k and Mermelstein snap-called. Lee had A♥ K♥ and Mermelstein had A♦ A♣. With the turn of 7♦ and river of 2♦, Lee was unable to find another heart and was eliminated.
Looking down at aces is always exciting but it can also hurt one’s stack if it doesn’t produce the best results. In this hand, Edison Marzan was in a hand against Aaron Mermelstein. With a pot of 12k in the middle and a board of 3♠ 6♥ 8♠ 3♣ K♦, Marzan bet 3400 then Mermelstein pushed to his 19k chips. Marzan called and was pained to see his A♠ A♣ was way behind Mermelstein’s 6♣ 6♦ set. Marzan fell to around 13k chips.