Nozomu Shimizu limped in from under the gun and Josh Reichard moved all in from the small blind for 550,000. Guoliang Wei called in the big blind and Shimizu also called.
Both Shimizu and Wei checked through the flop, turn and river leading to a final board of 3♦9♦3♣4♣5♠.
Reichard showed down K♥J♥, Wei had K♦J♣ and Shimizu had A♠10♠ to secure Reichard's elimination and take the pot down.
Christian Harder went all in for 1,325,000 under the gun and was called by Josh Reichard in the big blind.
Christian Harder: 7♣7♠
Josh Reichard: K♦9♠
The flop was bad news for Harder as it came out 9♦3♠6♣ and when the 9♥ came Harder got up out his seat as he could only catch a seven to pull ahead. It wasn't meant to be for the seasoned pro as the 5♦ rolled off the deck and Reichard thinned the field with his trip nines.
Alex Keating moved all in from the hijack, covering all other players. Guoliang Wei called off from the small blind for his last 875,000 chips to put himself at risk.
Guoliang Wei: A♥J♥
Alex Keating: 3♠3♥
Keating was ahead on the Q♦6♦2♦ flop but that all changed when Wei spiked a pair on the J♦ turn. The 4♣ river was a brick and Wei secured a much-needed double-up while Keating remained the chip leader despite taking a small hit to his stack.
Nozomu Shimizu raised to 600,000 from late position and was shoved on by Alexandros Kolonias directly to his left. When it folded back around to Shimizu he made the call and the table was quick to needle him for his gamble.
Nozomu Shimizu: 9♥3♥
Alexandros Kolonias: K♠Q♣
The board pulled Shimizu ahead with the 10♠7♣9♣ and he was preemptively thanking the dealer, as the turn arrived the safe 4♠, but when the J♦ came it gave Kolonias the nut straight and another crucial double.
Hand 2
Marcello Delgrosso made the mistake of going to muck his hand before the dealer and table informed him that it was his big blind. As soon as it happened Alex Keating was quick to say, "That's going to cause a shit storm," and when it folded to him he went ahead and raised to 600,000.
It got back to Delgrosso and he kicked in a call, to which Keating said, "Really?"
Heads up they saw the flop of 7♣5♠4♣. Big blind checked and Keating quickly announced an all in which Delgrosso bemoaned before making the call.
Marcello Delgrosso: Q♥7♦
Alex Keating: Q♣4♠
Keating realized the bad news, as they both shared the queen but Delgrosso had the better pair. Keating picked up a flush draw on the 6♣ turn but it never came when the 9♥ bricked out on the river.
Delgrosso's mistake paid off handsomely for him in the end.
Jason Hickey found himself all in and at risk preflop from early position for approximately 600,000 against Nozomu Shimizu in the small blind who covered him.
Jason Hickey: 10♠9♦
Nozomu Shimizu: K♠3♥
The board ran out 8♥8♦4♠3♠5♦. Shimizu's two pair, threes and eights, was good for the winner and Hickey became the first casualty of the official final table.
Alexandros Kolonias went all in from early position and was isloated by Jason Hickey to his left.
Alexandros Kolonias: Q♥Q♣
Jason Hickey: 10♥10♠
The flop kept Kolonias ahead with the 3♠9♣6♥, but there was no doubt for him when the Q♦ fell on the turn and Hickey had already paid the man by the time the 9♦ fell on the river.
