The players are now on a 15-minute break after the completion of Level 29.
During that last level, we witnessed the fall of John Esposito, Steve Brecher and Philipp Gruissem along with the poker couple David "Doc" Sands and Erika Moutinho. Sands and Moutinho fell in back-to-back places of 30th and 29th place, taking home nearly $500,000 in combined winnings.
There are 27 players left and after the break, the players will be redrawing to the final three tables. Everyone left is guaranteed at least $302,005.
In the last hand before the break, Christopher Moore opened from 250,000 from the cutoff, then Philipp Gruissem reraised to 625,000 from the button. The blinds folded, then Moore reraised all in. Gruissem called with his remaining chips, meaning he was all in for about 2.5 million total.
Gruissem showed and Moore . The flop came , hitting Moore's hand and leaving Gruissem looking for a saving seven. The turn was the and river the , and Gruissem is out in 28th. Moore now has over 9.3 million.
They'll be redrawing for the final three tables when players return from the break.
Sam Barnhart opened from under the gun, and the action folded to JP Kelly who three-bet to 720,000 from the big blind. Barnhart four-bet shoved for 3.375 million, Kelly snapped it off, and we were off to the races!
Showdown
Barnhart:
Kelly:
The rail grew as the dealer fanned . Both players remained seated, Barnhart visually more anxious than Kelly. The turn was another brick - the - and Barnhart was one card away from successfully doubling.
The on the river gave Barnhart a straight just for kicks, and he doubled to 6.9 million chips.
Greg Kaplan raised to 250,000 in early position and Jerry Van Strydonck made the call from the big blind. Van Strydonck proceeded to check-call bets of 325,000 and 880,000 on the flop and turn, bringing about the river. Both players opted to check and Van Strydonck rolled over for sixes and fives; however, Kaplan proudly flipped for a higher two pair and the win.
Matt Giannetti raised to 260,000 and then action folded to Erika Moutinho in the small blind. Moutinho reraised all in for 1.79 million before action fell on Andrew Hinrichsen in the big blind. He thought for a little bit and then reshoved all in for 6.085 million in chips. Giannetti quickly folded.
Hinrichsen:
Moutinho:
As you can see, Moutinho was dominated by Hinrichsen's hand. She was behind, but still had a flop, turn and river to come from behind and double up.
The flop came down and both players paired their queen. Hinrichsen held the better kicker with his ace.
The turn was the and Moutinho was left with just a river card to hit a ten and win the hand. The crowd in the Thunderdome began chanting for a ten, any ten, to hit the river.
The dealer dealt the on the river and Moutinho missed. She was eliminated in 29th place for $242,636, just one spot after her boyfriend David "Doc" Sands was eliminated. Collectively, the two earned nearly half a million dollars from their runs.
Gregory Kaplan opened with a bet of 250,000 from the button, and both Pius Heinz (small blind) and Konstantinos Mamaliadis (big blind) called. The flop came and all three checked. The turn brought the . Heinz checked, Mamaliadis bet 375,000, Kaplan called, and Heinz got out.
The river was the . Mamaliadis checked this time, and Kaplan decided to bet 380,000. Mamaliadis check-raised to 900,000, and after some thought Kaplan made the call.
Mamaliadis showed for the nut flush, having perhaps earned a few extra chips with it via that river check-raise, and Kaplan mucked. Mamaliadis now has 8.2 million while Kaplan falls to 4.34 million.
From middle position, Andrew Hinrichsen raised to 260,000. Ryan Lenaghan called from the hijack seat, Matt Giannetti called from the cutoff and Martin Staszko called from the big blind. The four players saw the flop come down and action checked to Lenaghan. He fired 525,000 and won the pot.
After Martin Staszko raised from early position to 260,000, Andrew Hinrichsen three-bet to 595,000 from the cutoff seat. Everyone, including Staszko, folded and Hinrichsen won the pot.
From the hijack seat, John Hewitt raised to 255,000. In the cutoff seat, Martin Staszko reraised to 585,000. Action folded back to Hewitt and he four-bet to 1.2 million and won the pot.
Ahtoh Makiievskyi raised in the small blind, Bryan Devonshire defended his big, and the flop fell . Makiievskyi led for 350,000, Devonshire raised to a million straight, and Makiievskyi re-raised, pushing out a tower of lavender T100,000 chips.
Devonshire instantly mucked, and Makiievskyi raked in the pot.