A huge pot had developed before we arrived at the table hosting Nick Maimone and Pascal Lefrancois' battle for the chip lead. All afternoon, they have been getting involved with each in hand after hand in a struggle for supremacy here on Day 3 of the PokerStars Championship Bahamas. We may now have the momentum-shifting hand.
With the board already complete and showing , Lefrancois was checked to by Maimone and the Frenchman made a big bet of 250,000 into a pot worth 170,000. Maimone took his time coming to a decision.
"If you have me beat, I'm down to 600,000." he groaned. With the requisite chips to make the call in his hand the whole time, Maimone eyeballed Lefrancois for all he was worth, while the French pro sat motionless, his headphones in and his features immovable.
"Pascal, can you beat Ace-Jack?" asked Maimone. No reply. Not a flicker.
Eventually, Maimone put in the call, and Lefrancois showed . Maimone turned over his and took a huge pot, giving him the lead in the tournament.
Nadya Magnus opened for 17,000 and was met by an all-in three-bet to 144,000 from Raul Martinez in the big blind. Magnus thought for a bit and then called to put her opponent at risk.
Martinez:
Magnus:
Martinez had a kicker problem, and it didn't get resolved as the board ran out a dry .
Marius Cazacu got it in with before the flop agains the of Michael Bartholomew. The board ran out giving Bartholomew quads and Cazacu a ticket to show at the payout desk.
France's Sylvain Loosli, who finished fourth in the 2013 WSOP Main Event, got his last 140,000 or so all in preflop and was at risk against Ronan Gorey.
Gorey:
Loosli:
Loosli was in trouble, but the flop delivered him two pair for the lead. A king, queen or ten would give Gorey the best hand, and while Loosli survived the turn, he could not get past the river as the spiked.
The preflop action escaped us, but we do know Kyle Zechner managed to get his last 200,000 all in and he was in big trouble against Norway's Rasmus Glaesel.
Glaesel:
Zechner:
Zechner was looking for some major help, but he was left wanting as the board ran out a dry .