JC Alvarado scooped a middle-sized pot in a battle of the blinds against Stephen Chidwick before Igor Kurganov limped in from under the gun. Alvarado filled up from the small blind and Christopher Kruk checked from the big blind. On the flop all three players checked. Kruk min-bet the turn for 24,000 and that won the pot right there.
Alvarado raised to 50,000 and Thomas Muehloecker defended the big blind with 270,000 behind. The flop fell and Muehloecker checked before folding to a bet worth 25,000.
After two shoves from Thomas Muehloecker and one from Stephen Chidwick got through, it was now Christopher Kruk who shoved. Kruk shoved on the button and covered both blinds by a wide margin.
Igor Kurganov folded his small blind and Thomas Muehloecker used a time bank chip. After around a minute of thought, he called for 344,000.
Christopher Kruk:
Thomas Muehloecker:
Kruk had a near mortal lock on the hand after the flop. Muehloecker needed running straight cards and found the to keep his hopes alive. The on the river did complete the backdoor straight but gave Kruk a jack-high flush to win.
Muehloecker received €108,000 for his fifth place finish. Kruk now controls half the chips in play.
JC Alvarado's raise to 60,000 triggered a three-bet by Christopher Kruk and the Canadian scooped the pot without resistance.
Alvarado himself three-bet a raise by Stephen Chidwick and also got through with it to see Chidwick drop to 22 big blinds. PokerStars Team Pro Igor Kurganov was not actively involved in any of the hands and the blinds and antes have taken a toll, reducing the Russian to only 12 big blinds as a result.
Only one other recent hand even went to the river and consisted of a min-bet on the flop and river without any major action.
Christopher Kruk still holds a commanding lead while Igor Kurganov has almost closed the gap to JC Alvarado. Stephen Chidwick will return with 14 big blinds for the next level.
It's been slow in the first ten minutes after the break. The most interesting hand was a limp from Igor Kurganov for 40,000 and a raise from JC Alvarado to 300,000 from the small blind. Kurganov briefly considered it before flinging his hand in the muck.
Christopher Kruk made it 90,000 to go first to act and Igor Kurganov flat-called from one seat over on the button. On the flop, Kruk continued for 85,000 and Kurganov called before the on the turn brought a second barrel for 300,000 and a call by Kurganov.
The river completed the board and Kruk moved all in, Kurganov snap-called for 725,000. Kruk was caught with the fingers in the cookie jar and briefly flashed for a bluff gone wrong, while Kurganov had the for kings and jacks. Suddenly the PokerStars Team Pro now holds the lead with four players remaining after being the shortest stack not long ago.
flop all three players checked. Kruk min-bet the 
turn for 24,000 and that won the pot right there.
and Muehloecker checked before folding to a bet worth 25,000.
to keep his hopes alive. The 
on the river did complete the backdoor straight but gave Kruk a jack-high flush to win.
flop kept Kurganov way ahead but the 
. It was safe for the Team PokerStars Pro, who doubled up.
river completed the board and Kruk moved all in, Kurganov snap-called for 725,000. Kruk was caught with the fingers in the cookie jar and briefly flashed 
for a bluff gone wrong, while Kurganov had the 