A bit of a rivalry is perhaps forming between Michael Linn and chip leader Taylor Larkin as they just three-bet one another to take down the respective pots. On the first hand, Larkin three-bet Linn's raise of 125,000 to 360,000, only for Linn to return the favor just one hand later with a reraise of 100,000 to Larkin's open of 330,000.
Mihai Manole raised to 95,000 from the button before being made to complete the raise to the minimum of 100,000. Chadwick Grimes made the call in the big blind leading to a flop. Despite Manole being the initial aggressor, it was Grimes who fired the first shot, sliding 100,000 across the felt. Manole wasn't willing to concede the pot, however, and duly raised to 195,000. Chadwick relinquished his hand.
Alexander Kuzmin pushed all in for 875,000 from under the gun, and with the action on Taylor Larkin the big blind, he made the call to put Kuzmin at risk.
Kuzmin:
Larkin:
The board ran out a rather undramatic to see Kuzmin eliminated in 6th place for a $104,364 payday as Larkin soars to 4,410,000 in chips.
Easily the most quietest player on the final table, Taylor Larkin has just opened for consecutive min-raises of 100,000 to take down the 105,000 in blinds and antes.
Larkin has now taken his stack to just a little over the 3,500,000-chip mark.
Mihai Manole opened to 100,000 from the button only to have Justin Zaki move all in for 775,000 from the big blin. Manole instantly-called to put Zaki and his tournament life at risk.
Zaki:
Manole:
The flop of gave Manole top set, but still left Zaki with outs to a gutshot straight.
To the cheers of the Romanian's on the rail sweating Manole, the landed on the turn to ensure victory for Manole as the meaningless peeled on the river.
Zaki shook hands with his fellow opponents before making his way to the rail to collect his $78,067 in prizemoney for his 7th place finish as Manole climbs to 1,675,000 in chips.