Stephen Ma Eliminated in 4th Place ($33,503)

We were tying up the details on the last hand when an all-in pot developed quickly at the table. Scott Stanko had called a raise from the blinds, then check-raised Stephen Ma on the {9-Hearts} {3-Spades} {6-Clubs} flop. Ma called the remainder, leaving himself with 525,000 chips in front of him.

The turn brought the {8-Hearts} and the hammer from Stanko — all in. He had Ma just covered, and the latter spent a couple minute wriggling before committing himself with the call.

Showdown
Ma: {9-Spades} {2-Spades}
Stanko: {A-Hearts} {A-Spades}

Stanko was well in front, but he had some outs to fade. The river was the {3-Hearts} , and that was safe and sound.

Unable to get over the hump, Stephen Ma has been run out of the room in fourth place. That's worth more than $33,000, and that's a handsome consolation prize for three days' work.