HomeQuick break in the main event and some (estimated) chip counts:
Fheng Zhao (China) – 1.8M
Mike Fawaz (Lebanon) – 430,000
Ineka Santos (Spain) – 710,000
HC Choi (Korea) – 700,000
JJ Liang (China) – 530,000
Hyeong Wook Choi was willing to go to war with all of his chips preflop with A♠ Q♠ and found the chip leader Feng Zhao willing to do the same as well with K♦ J♥.
Live cards and the board 7♥ 5♠ 10♦ 5♦ 7♣ ran out to assure Choi he’s live in this tournament and doubles-up to around 800K in chips.
With the shortest stack among the final five players, Mike Fawaz has no option but move all-in or fold…He did in two consecutive hands, first from the small blind and then from the button… The Lebanese has around 280,000 left.
Another one falls under Feng Zhao’s hands, this time it was Huy Pham. During the hand, Zhao raised to 44000, Pham responded with a shove, and Zhao made the quick call. At the showdown, Zhao had A♣ Q♦ and Pham had K♥ 10♣. When the board landed 8♠ 10♥ 5♣, Pham connected with a pair, but with the turn of A♦, Zhao hit a higher pair. Then with the river of 3♠, Pham was eliminated in 6th place. He collects $23,200 in winnings.
Feng Zhao may be eliminating players but his remaining opponents are determined to shave down some of his towers. From the cutoff, Jia Jie Liang raised to 40000 only to face a reraise to 94000 from the button Zhao. Liang called and both went to see a flop of 3♥ 4♦ 6♠. Both checked their option and off they went for a free turn card of 4♣. Action changed at this point with Zhao betting 97000 and Liang check-calling. Then on the river of 5♦, both checked, and Liang wished he hadn’t as he showed his winning 6♦ 7♦ hand for a straight.
Michael Marvanek of Austrlaia announced all-in preflop and Zeng Fhao was interested asked immediately for a count.
With a HUGE stack and a BIG lead over the field, Fhao’s decision was easy when told it was at 187,000.
“Call.” The chip leader declared.
Marvanek: A♦ Q♦
Zhao: 5♣ 5♦
Off to the races, and the flop 4♦ 7♠ 8♦ wasn’t the help Marvanek was looking for. Turn 4♥ didn’t change anything and river 8♣ did it in for Marvanek, who’s out at 7th place for $18,700.
Immediately after winning a pot against Feng Zhao, Mike Fawaz raised on his small blind to 42000 and big blind Inaki Santos reacted with a shove for 336000. After getting the count, Fawaz called and it was a showdown. Fawaz was ahead with A♦ J♠ against Santos’s K♣ 10♦. The flop ran J♣ 2♥ 7♦ giving Fawaz top pair, then with the turn of 9♠ Fawaz still up, but with the river of 8♦ gracing the felt, Santos took the lead with a straight and doubled up to 700K.
In the previous orbit with Feng Zhao in the small blind and Mike Fawaz in the big blind, Fawaz got the better and doubled up. Back in the same position, Zhao raised to 49000 preflop and bb Fawaz called. At the flop of 9♠ 8♣ K♦, Zhao led out for 57000 and Fawaz smooth-called. At the turn, Zhao couldn’t fire another bullet so he checked to Fawaz who did the same. Then on the river of 7♣, Zhao took a stab and banged out 92000, Fawaz called. Fawaz won with his A♥ 9♣ over Zhao’s A♠ 4♠ high card.