Topic moved all-in for 1,190,000 with 
from early position and he was isolated by Ivan Banic’s re-raise with 
.
Everyone got out of the way , and the board of 
sent the German home for €49,356.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,880,000
1,430,000
|
1,430,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Vrakas opened to 225,000 with 
and saw Banic raise all-in for 8 million chips with 
. Chikita had woken up with 
, but despite that premium holding, took a considerable amount of time to weigh up his move.
With the clock having been called on him, Chikita folded, which saw Ivan Banic’s worst hand win the pot and no-one at the table seemed quite sure what to make of it.
Chikita then folded 
to players openly laughing as in the small blind, Chikita threw away another premium hand to a opening bet from Banic with 
on the button! Chikita is still in this tournament.
On a less than dramatic board until the river, Ivan Banic put in a big bet of 1.4m on a board of J 
.
Croitoru had the decision and called with 
, but he was wrong to do so with Banic holding 
and a thrilling 2.2m swing in chips saw Banic take the lead.
the chips now show exactly how disparate the stacks are divided, with Banic and Croitoru both massive favourites to make the heads-up battle. Everyone else is considering ICM with each move.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,980,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
9,545,000
-1,185,000
|
-1,185,000 |
|
1,485,000
-515,000
|
-515,000 |
|
1,410,000
215,000
|
215,000 |
|
1,290,000
-850,000
|
-850,000 |
Level: 32
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 20,000
Michal Kadziela moved all-in from the small blind for 1.3m chips with and was called by Mihai Croitoru’s 
in the small blind.
The board of 
saw Kadziela depart in 5th place after a really difficult day at the felt never really saw the Polish player get any traction.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,200,000
1,655,000
|
1,655,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Croitoru made it 250,000 with on the button and Vrakas moved all-in with 
for 1,695,000 from the small blind. He was called by the Romanian.
The flop of of 
flopped Vrakas almost stone dead as it gave Croitoru the nut flush, and the turn ended all hope for the Greek player.
The river completed the action and Vrakas was out, giving Croitoru back the chip lead by just one big blind from The Croatian player Ivan Banic.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,760,000
560,000
|
560,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Directly after Vrakas' elimination, Banic moved all-in from the small blind with for 11.6m and Chikita had the decision with for his tournament life. He called and the flop of 
saw Banic move ahead.
The on the turn gave Chikita a lifeline, however, and he was jumping out of his seat. The river saw Chikita double, to his unbridled joy.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,000,000
-980,000
|
-980,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,200,000
1,080,000
|
1,080,000 |
Ivan Banic opened from the small blind to 260,000 with 
and Chikita called from the big blind with . The flop of 
saw Banic c-bet for 180,000 and Chikita call. The turn of 
saw Banic check, as did Chikita. The river of 
gave Banic the chance to bet and he did so to 125,000, Chikita making the call and adding a little more to his stack.
A couple of hands later, Croitoru opened to 250,000 with from the button. Ivan Banic raised to 850,00 with from the small blind and Croitoru called. The flop of 
was checked by both men, as was the 
turn. The river of 
saw both check and Banic took it down and in doing so, grab the chip lead. Chikita is right back in it with 24 big blinds, although that will be reduced upon resumption.
The players go off for a 15-minute break and so too will we. It's been breathless stuff for most of the final table!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,280,000
1,325,000
|
1,325,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
9,835,000
-860,000
|
-860,000 |
|
|
2,895,000
1,035,000
|
1,035,000 |
Level: 33
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 20,000
We’ve seen 92 hands so far at this final table, Ivan Banic having started the latest blind level with a considerable chip lead out. He just raised to 375,000 with in the small blind. Chikita woke up in the big blind with 
and called.
The flop of saw both men check, but on the turn of they did the same. The river of saw Banic make it 400,000. Chikita raised and got a fold to chip up further.
