Mario Adinolfi, a well-known Italian politician and journalist, has raced out ahead of the field early on and accumulated more than four starting stacks already.
In one recent pot, he fired 3,500 into a 5,000 pot after two players checked to him on a flop and a player called from under the gun. That same player check-called another 3,500 on the turn and both players checked the river. The first player opened but Adinolfi had taken the lead on the turn with and raked in another pot to add to his already huge stack.
Paul Newey had high hopes to grab an EPT Super High Roller title, and those were dashed with his elimination from that event at the final table. He fared no better in taking a fast exit from the Main Event, having already busted out less than an hour after we saw him seated.
Joining Newey on the rail is Justin Bonomo, as the American pro had been short early and looks to be out as well.
The floor was called over after a hand where two players had the nuts on a board holding .
The issue is that the second player in the hand opted to call instead of raising despite holding the best possible hand after the river. The floor originally said this player should receive a penalty.
A couple of the players stood up saying that it should be just a warning. Martin Kabrhel said he just wants some clarification. The floor called over the tournament director for more clarification.
After a pair of hands were played, the decision was made that the player would not receive a penalty. Kabrhel demanded an explanation unsure why this was the rule and created a few examples of calling with the nuts asking if that would be a penalty. The tournament director went on to explain that the rule isn't black and white. He pointed out in this case that no penalty will be served with one of the reasons being that the player already was dealt into a couple of hands since the incident in question.
Andy Hwang and Dario Sammartino, two tournament players with strong results, are seated next to each other, which should result in some battles. They tangled in a recent pot with both in late position on an flop. Sammartino fired barrels of 1,000 on the flop and 3,300 on the turn before a hit the river. The Italian didn't slow down, putting 5,950 in. Hwang thought about two minutes and called, but he couldn't beat for aces and nines.
In between an initial ruling being made after the floor was called Table 21and a subsequent ruling, Martin Kabrhel who was making the most noise about clarification about the hand doubled his chip stack.
Kabrhrel fired out a bet of 6,500 after the three low cards appeared on the flop with the pot already over 10,000. His opponent called. Kahbrhel opted to check when the appeared on the turn. His opponent, who had Kabrhel covered, declared himself all in. Kahbrel quickly called with for top set, while his opponent had an overpair with . The river was a blank shipping a big pot to Kabrhel.
Adrian Mateos continues to watch his chip stack climb, while Quentin Lecomte, who late registered for the tournament, has almost tripled his chip stack to 80,000.
There was a 14,000 pot in between Ben Heath (middle position) and Mikita Badziakouski (cutoff). The latter was all in for 12,725 when we got to the table with the board reading on fourth street. Heath thought awhile and decided to call.
Heath:
Badziakouski:
Badziakouski's top pair was good for the moment but Heath had a nut flush draw. The river safely paired the board for Badziakouski, and Heath is down under 5,000.
flop and a player called from under the gun. That same player check-called another 3,500 on the 
turn and both players checked the 
river. The first player opened 
but Adinolfi had taken the lead on the turn with 
and raked in another pot to add to his already huge stack.
board holding 
flop. Sammartino fired barrels of 1,000 on the flop and 3,300 on the 
turn before a 
hit the river. The Italian didn't slow down, putting 5,950 in. Hwang thought about two minutes and called, but he couldn't beat 
for top set, while his opponent had an overpair with 
on fourth street. Heath thought awhile and decided to call.
river safely paired the board for Badziakouski, and Heath is down under 5,000.
