In the hand right before hand-for-hand, Pat Tighe called a 20,000-chip Andy Spears open and a third player came along to a flop. It checked to Spears and he continued for 35,000. Only Tighe called.
The turn brought checks from both, but Spears shoved the river with his trips and Tighe called, mucked and left.
Tomasz Werstler just busted Alica LaPorte Pachla in a massive 560,000-chip pot, vaulting him into a spot near the top of the counts as the bubble looms.
They got the money in on an flop with Pachla holding the flush and Werstler on the set.
The turn changed little, but the river gave Werstler quads, all the chips and Pachla's tournament life.
Marcy Jo Phillips has a huge stack after a massive rush heading into the break.
She had kings over queens, jacks over , and turned quad threes over after an ace-high flop, to name just a few of the hands that have vaulted her up to an amazing 720,000 now.
She's got a final table stack before the bubble here and is absolutely crushing the field. It's all about Phillips right now and she's as giddy as a schoolgirl.
In the meantime, Alicia LaPorte Pachla has turned a little run good into a top ten stack as well, making Broadway, folding kings in a tough spot, and winning some key pots on the way to 270,000.
Plus, Pat Tighe just showed up to claim his once-230,000-plus stack. He starts the day with 160,000 after blinding off the first four levels.