Kornuth and Farrell Active Early

Before the action had gotten underway, Chance Kornuth welcomed EPT Season 12 Malta Main Event champion Niall Farrell at his table with a "how you doing, my friend?" and both players were joking and smiling after having met not long ago at the tables in Melbourne during the 2016 Aussie Millions.

As soon as the first cards were dealt, however, Kornuth put on his sunglasses and became silent. He then raised to 2,500 from under the gun and Farrell called from the big blind. On the flop of , Farrell check-called a bet of 2,500. Farrell then folded on the turn to a second barrel worth 5,600.

One hand later, Farrell raised to 3,500 from the small blind and claimed Kornuth's big blind and the antes. He then raised on the button the hand after that, but folded to a three-bet from Kornuth, who was in the small blind.