Aleksei Lebedev opened from the hijack and Justin Bonomo three-bet to 33,000 in the small blind. Boban Zhivkovikj called in the big blind and Lebedev also called.
The flop of 5♣Q♦9♣ checked through and Bonomo bet 40,000 on the 4♦ turn. Both opponents folded.
With about 30,000 in the middle the flop read J♥3♠2♥, and Jon Vallinas checked from the big blind to Stephen Song in the cutoff as he fired 23,000. Vallinas made the call.
The 10♦ fell on the turn, and Vallinas checked once again to Song who didn't slow down, dropping 100,000 across the line. Vallinas took about 15 seconds before matching the bet.
When the 6♠ landed on the river, Vallinas checked for a final time and Song took a few seconds before splashing a bet of 375,000 into the middle. Vallinas went deep into the tank, taking just shy of three minutes before deciding to let his cards go.
Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 21st episode, Connor speaks with Survivor legend Boston Rob, aka Rob Mariano, about growing up near Fenway Park, learning poker at the age of 6, studying psychology at Boston University, applying for Survivor and winning Season 22, his recent appearance on Deal or No Deal Island and filming an upcoming season of The Traitors.
Boston Rob also revealed a story about Costa Rican authorities raiding a mansion known to host high-stakes poker games during a 2006 filming that included Daniel Negreanu, Josh Arieh, David Williams, Michael Mizrachi and actress Cheryl Hines.
"(Gambling mogul) Calvin (Ayre) had a big party at the house, and they came in guns drawn," he said. "And we were fine, but we all had to stay at the party until they checked our passports and everything. I think it was a little bit of a shakedown. But we had a good weekend."
Eelis Parssinen raised to 13,000 from under the gun and was called by Sorel Mizzi in middle position and Jorge Pacheco in the big blind. The flop came 9♣8♣6♣ and the action checked around to the 3♦ on the turn.
Pacheco led out with a bet of 13,000 which got Parssinen to fold but Mizzi stuck around for the J♠ on the river. Pacheco put together another bet of 20,000 only to have Mizzi raise to 80,000. Pacheco thought for a minute but came to the conclusion of folding.
Karolis Sereika opened to 12,000 from the cutoff, with Shaun Deeb calling in the small blind and Magnus Pukk coming along from the big blind.
Sereika continued with a bet on the J♠Q♥5♠ flop, with Deeb raising and Pukk letting his hand go. Sereika moved all in and Deeb quickly called and turned over his cards.
Karolis Sereika: A♠2♠
Shaun Deeb: 10♠8♠
Sereika's ace-high was in front until the 8♦ turn, where Deeb made a pair. The 6♥ was a blank, as Sereika hit the exit while Deeb raked in the pot.
Jean-Noel Thorel opened 20,000 in the cutoff and Shawn Stroke defended the big blind. When the 10♠6♥4♥ flop hit the felt, Stroke check-called a bet of 20,000 from Thorel.
The J♦ fell on the turn and once checked to, Thorel fired 20,000 once again. Stroke called.
The Q♥ completed the board on the river and Stroke took the lead, firing 60,000 across the line. Thorel wasted no time tossing in chips to make the call to hear the words, "You're good."
Stroke rolled 8♦7♠ for a busted straight draw and Thorel took down the pot with two pair as he showed J♣10♣.
A completed board of A♥8♦4♥2♦K♥ was spread across the felt and Daniel Negreanu was seen pushing his entire stack of 358,000 into the middle.
There was already around 350,000 in the pot as he was heads up with Georgios Karakousis in a bloated pot. Karakousis asked for a count and gave it some thought but eventually decided to toss his 2♠2♣ in the muck.
After pleading with Negreanu to show his hand, the seven-time WSOP bracelet winner finally caved by flashing his 5♣3♣ from the big blind.
Yoav Schverd opened and Sosia Jiang three-bet. Schverd four-bet and Jiang called.
Schverd then moved all in on the flop of 4♦Q♥9♠ and Jiang called with a shorter stack.
Sosia Jiang: 9x9x
Yoav Schverd: Q♣Q♦
Jiang had flopped middle set but was drawing nearly dead against Schverd's set of queens as the board finished out 6♠4♠ to mark the high roller's elimination.
With the K♦10♠6♦ flop already on the felt, Sergi Reixach led for 35,000 into the pot of about 115,000 from the big blind. Viktor Ustimov was the only opponent in the hand and put in a raise to 125,000 on the button. Reixach made the call.
The Q♠ turn was checked through to see the 8♦ river, and Reixach checked. Ustimov announced all in for about 385,000, and Reixach held on to his remaining stack as his cards hit the muck.
Another two levels have passed and the field has continued to grow for Day 1a of the $25,000 WSOP Super Main Event. Closing in on nearly 400 entries, there are 340 players still battling on the felt. The players are taking another 15-minute break and will return to an 8,000 big blind when the action resumes.
