Ryan Hoenig limped the button and Hassan Kamel checked out of the big blind.
On the K♣10♣3♣ flop, Kamel check-called for "the minimum" as declared by Hoenig, who then bet the 5♦ turn for "more than the minimum". Kamel check-called for 225,000 and checked the 3♥ river.
Hoenig bet 270,000 and folded when Kamel check-raised to 1,000,000.
Hassan Kamel raised to 240,000 before Anton Smirnov slid a raise into the middle representing almost all of his remaining stack. The two players got the rest into the middle and the cards were turned up.
Anton Smirnov: A♥A♦7♠2♦
Hassan Kamel: A♠9♠8♣5♠
Smirnov was looking to crack Kamel's aces and took the lead with two pair on the 3♦9♦8♠ flop. The 10♥ turn was safe, but the Q♦ river gave Kamel a flush to eliminate Smirnov in fourth place.
When on the button, John Holley announced "maximum" and Hassan Kamel did so too, repotting from the small blind. Vladimir Smirnov glanced at four low cards and folded in the big blind while Holley called.
John Holley: 10♣9♠7♠2♣
Hassan Kamel:A♠K♣K♦6♦
The board ran out J♠9♣6♣Q♥Q♣ and Holley rivered a flush to double for 590,000.
"He folded low cards? Wow," Holley joked and another player remarked that it was an ICM fold.
"What is ICM?" Holley grinned and Kamel shook his head.
Smirnov and Dylan Weisman had to fold due to ICM implications the next orbit before Holley chopped with Kamel in the same button versus small blind scenario.
Hassan Kamel raised to 240,000 two hands in a row and Stephen Deutsch called the second time when he was in the big blind. On the 8♦6♠2♦ flop, Deutsch checked and folded when Kamel bet the pot.
One hand later, Deutsch got it in against Ryan Hoenig and they chopped it up. Fellow short stack John Holley went through the blinds as both Deutsch and Holley had a very similar short stack between five and six blinds.
Deutsch then potted to 280,000 and Kamel called in the small blind. Kamel bet the pot on the A♠9♦8♥ flop and Deutsch called for the fumes he had behind.
Stephen Deutsch: 10♦5♦3♥2♦
Hassan Kamel: A♣6♠6♥4♣
The J♣ turn and K♥ river were both high cards to entirely miss the low draw of Deutsch, who was ousted in sixth place for $105,737.
John Holley raised to 280,000 under the gun, leaving just 50,000 chips behind. The action folded to Stephen Deutsch in the big blind, who made the call.
The rest of Holley's chips were at risk after the K♠8♥3♥ flop.
John Holley: A♥Q♥9♣2♣
Stephen Deutsch: A♦9♦7♠6♦
Holley was in great shape with a flush draw to go with a nut low draw, and the K♠ turn changed nothing. The J♥ river completed Holley's flush to earn the double up.
Stephen Deutsch raised to 130,000 and John Holley let it ride with a pot-sized three-bet from the big blind. Deutsch started casual table chat with the jovial Holley and opted to "live another day" with a fold. Holley exposed the 9♥ which he declared as the key card, then stated he had AxAx2x9x.
One hand later, Holley limped in but instantly asked "how much can he make it", fully expecting a raise by Hassan Kamel.
"You know what it is," Kamel replied and potted to 240,000 for Holley to call. The 8♥5♥2♣ flop was check-called by Holley when Kamel continued for 200,000. Both checked the 9♠ turn and the 2♦ river saw Holley check again. Kamel bet the full pot for 960,000 and forced a fold.
In the very next hand, Holley raised to 200,000 on the button and Anton Smirnov potted to 600,000 from the big blind. Without any hesitation, Holley called and they headed to the Q♠10♠5♣ flop. Smirnov pushed forward 250,000 and left 25,000 behind, which Holley didn't see.
Holley instantly splashed in chips and exposed his cards, then turned them back over when it was pointed out. Hence, Holley only called and Smirnov checked the 3♥ turn.
"Wait, let me check my cards," Holley stated and checked it back to the 10♦ river.
Smirnov moved all-in and Holley called. "You win, but I can't fold the wrap," Holley said as he exposed his A♥K♣J♠5♠. Smirnov earned the full double with the A♠Q♦7♠3♦ to leave Holley on fumes.
