The deal numbers are as follows:
Eugene Katchalov: €50,972
Vladimir Troyanovskiy: €50,208
The elusive PokerStars Festival High Roller trophy as well as €2,000 are left on the side for the eventual champion, play will resume shortly.
With very similar stacks, both Eugene Katchalov and Vladimir Troyanovskiy asked for the clock to be stopped to look into ICM numbers and leave €2,000 as well as the trophy on the side to be played for. Below are the updated counts with 11 minutes left in the current level.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
967,000
-3,000
|
-3,000 |
|
||
|
883,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
Down to around 10 big blinds, Tomas Soderstrom moved all in from the button and Vladimir Troyanovskiy called in the small blind, Eugene Katchalov gave up his big blind.
Tomas Soderstrom: 
Vladimir Troyanovskiy: 
The flop of 
was bad news for Soderstrom, as he needed a runner runner miracle. It was officially over on the turn, making the 
river a formality. The Swede takes home €26,920 for his efforts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
880,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
Busted |
Vladimir Troyanovskiy limped in from the small blind and Eugene Katchalov raised to 60,000, Troyanovskiy called. On the 
flop, both players checked. Troyanovskiy also checked the turn and folded to a delayed continuation bet of Katchalov, who had bet 80,000.
Katchalov then stole the big blind of short stack Tomas Soderstrom, who was reduced to all but ten big blinds as a result.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
970,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
630,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
|
|
200,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
Vladimir Troyanovskiy flashed the after min-betting a flop of 
after Eugene Katchalov had folded.
One hand later, Jonas Lauck shoved from the button and also showed the after his opponents had folded.
Fast forward one hand, Lauck shoved first to act and Eugene Katchalov asked for a count on the button. Lauck was all in for 272,000 and Katchalov reshoved to isolate successfully.
Jonas Lauck: 
Eugene Katchalov: 
"I folded a five," Troyanovskiy said and Katchalov smiled back with the words "don't spoil it."
The board ran out 
and Lauck failed to improve, joining the rail in 4th place for a payday of €20,640.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
890,000
280,000
|
280,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
The new level started with two raises to 45,000 by Eugene Katchalov. In the first hand, he faced opposition in Tomas Soderstrom, who moved all in from one seat over and forced a fold.
Then, Jonas Lauck defended the big blind and checked the 
flop. Katchalov checked back and the 
appeared on the turn. Lauck checked, Katchalov bet 42,000 and that took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
610,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
340,000
65,000
|
65,000 |
|
|
270,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 22
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000
The remaining four players headed into their next 15-minute break, and Tomas Soderstrom scooped the last hand of the level to somewhat close the gap to Jonas Lauck at the bottom of the counts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
660,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
|
600,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
320,000
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
275,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
The last couple of hands saw no involvement by Jonas Lauck and Tomas Soderstrom, while Eugene Katchalov and Vladimir Troyanovskiy traded pots back and forth.
There was even one showdown, but the excitement soon faded. Troyanovskiy had raised to 35,000 on the button and Katchalov called in the big blind. On the 
flop, both checked. Same then applied for the 
turn and river.
Katchalov showed the 
and Troyanovskiy had the . "It's prettier," Katchalov joked to his opponent while the Russian grabbed the seven and grinned "but it's a black card." Both players laughed, while the action has slowed down a lot as of lately.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
330,000
-90,000
|
-90,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
225,000
-65,000
|
-65,000 |
Eugene Katchalov raised to 35,000 on the button and Vladimir Troyanovskiy defended the big blond. On a flop of 
, Troyanovskiy checked and Katchalov continued for 27,000, which the Russian called.
The 
on the turn went check, check, and Troyanovskiy also checked the river. Katchalov now made it 65,000 to go with around 420,000 behind, and Troyanovskiy studied his opponent and the board for a good minute before letting go.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
600,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
550,000
-80,000
|
-80,000 |
