Ian Hamilton was all in for his last 1,000,000 on the button and up against Tom Vogelsang in the hijack.
Ian Hamilton: 9♣9♥
Tom Vogelsang: A♣J♣
Hamilton was racing for his tournament life and remained in front as the board came K♣4♠3♦7♥, but Vogelsang spiked the J♦ on the river to send the EPT London champion to the rail.
Rene Hochmuth moved all in for 670,000 from the big blind and Ankit Ahuja called in the cutoff.
Rene Hochmuth: A♣5♦
Ankit Ahuja: A♥K♣
Hochmuth was dominated but picked up a straight draw on the 9♥4♦2♣ flop. He didn't improve on the J♣ turn, while the 7♠ river sealed his elimination as Ahuja took the pot.
Michele Guerrini was also eliminated at this table a few hands earlier.
Andreas Christoforou moved all in for 325,000 in the hijack and Ankit Ahuja called in the small blind. Ivan Tukmachev then reshoved for 1,600,000 in the big blind and Ahuja called once more.
Andreas Christoforou: 6♣5♣
Ivan Tukmachev: A♠9♠
Ankit Ahuja: A♣Q♥
Ahuja was in the lead heading to the flop, which came 2♥9♥A♦ and gave Tukmachev two pair. The 3♥ fell on the turn, but the river was the 8♥ and Ahuja improved to a flush to send both players to the rail.
"Now you can sleep, come back and play the final table tomorrow," a tablemate joked with Ahuja, who moved over 6,000,000 with that pot.
Mauricio Salazar Sanchez raised to 85,000 on the button before Luka Bojovic moved all in for 1,175,000 in the small blind. Salazar Sanchez tanked for several minutes before calling.
Luka Bojovic: J♣J♠
Mauricio Salazar Sanchez: A♣J♥
The 5♦7♥3♠8♠Q♠ board brought no relief to Salazar Sanchez and he handed over the double up to Bojovic. Salazar Sanchez was left with around 100,000 and was eliminated the next hand.
At the same time on another table, Ali Al-Kubasi had raised to 100,000 on the button, then called when Karen Nazarian moved all in for 1,390,000 in the small blind.
Karen Nazarian: J♣J♦
Ali Al-Kubasi: A♦K♥
It was Nazarian's turn to hope his jacks held on to double up, but he wouldn't have as much luck as the board came 7♦K♠Q♦2♣Q♣, giving Al-Kubasi two pair and the knockout.
Aksel Aygun raised to 60,000 in the cutoff and Walter Treccarichi called on the button. Jovan Kenjic then moved all in from the big blind for 580,000 and Aygun called, while Treccarichi folded J♣10♣.
Jovan Kenjic: 7♣7♥
Aksel Aygun: Q♣Q♥
Aygun hit top set on the J♥9♠Q♦ flop, but the 10♦ turn gave Kenjic some outs to a straight. "It's never easy," Kenjic said, both opponents standing from their seats.
The 2♣ fell on the river and Aygun let out a deep sigh of relief as his set held up to send Kenjic to the rail.
Alessio Isaia bet 210,000 from the button on a board of 7♠K♥3♠A♦ and Eduard Norel called in the small blind.
The river came the 2♦ and Isaia moved all in for around 600,000. Norel snap-called and Isaia showed A♣J♥. Norel, though, had A♠2♣ for two pair on the river as Isaia shot out of his seat and slammed a nearby table, muttering to himself as he headed for the rail.
At the same time, Alexandr Dusco was all in for 300,000 and up against Andrei Vavilonskii.
Alexandr Dusco: 8♥8♣
Andrei Vavilonskii: A♥Q♣
Vavilonskii wasted no time taking the lead on the A♦9♥Q♥ flop, then improved to a full house by the river on K♣A♠ to send the Day 1a chip leader to the rail.
Start-of-day chip leader Gaelle Baumann also recently headed for the payout desk.