2012 Aussie Millions Champion Oliver Speidel has just been spotted, while the likes of Edison Nguyen, Ryan Hong and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Rast is now also in the field.
Tony Hachem, the brother of 2005 World Series of Poker champ Joe Hachem, raised to 675 from the hijack and received a call from Todor Kondevski on the button. The player in the big blind then three-bet to 1,600, Hachem four-bet to 3,875, and Kondevski got out of the way. The big blind tanked for a minute before calling, and then he checked the flop.
Hachem bet 5,900, and the big blind tanked again, this time for two minutes, before making the call. When the appeared on the turn, Hachem shoved all in for 20,050, which had his opponent covered. The big blind thought for several more minutes, but ultimately settled on a fold.
"Good hand?" Hachem asked.
"Overpair," came the response.
"Queens?" Hachem prodded.
"Yes," was his answer. Hachem then tabled pocket aces to show his opponent that folding was the right decision.
Following a hijack raise to 600, Steven Zhou moved all in for 5,450 from the small blind. The original raiser contemplated for a few moments before making the call.
Suzy Khoueis' table recently broke and she found herself sharing a table with her brother Sam Khouiss.
Following a raise to 700 and a call, Khoueis raised all in for her last 1,675 with the initial raiser giving her some protection by making it 3,700 to force the player in the middle to fold.
Khoueis:
Opponent:
With Khoueis packing her belongings, her brother Sam said, "Where you going? The ace is coming!"
The dealer spread a board to see Sam's premonition come true as Suzy doubled to 4,500 in chips.
Jeff Rossiter opened for 750 under the gun and was met by a three-bet to 2,225 from Toan Nguyen in the cutoff. Antonio Esfandiari flatted from the button, the blinds both folded, and the flop came down . Two checks put action on Esfandiari, and he fired out 2,700.
Rossiter paused for a moment before check-raising all in for 19,500, and that proved more than enough to get both Nguyen and Esfandiari to fold.
A player in late position raised to 650 and then called when Brendon Rubie raised to 1,500 from the cutoff.
"Both check for hearts?" Rubie asked his opponent when the flop came down . An affirmative was given and Rubie responded, "Ok... go."
Indeed, both players took a moment to recheck their hole cards, and then the late-position player check-called a bet of 1,500. He'd check-call another one of 3,400 on the turn before both players checked the river. The late-position player revealed the for jacks and fives, and it was good as Rubie sent his cards to the muck.
Corey Kempson raised to 700 and got called by Brian Rast as well as the player in the small blind. On the flop everyone checked and Kempson then bet 1,300 on the turn. Both his opponents called and the on the river saw Kempson fired 2,700 chips to win the pot without showdown, as Rast and the player in the small blind both folded.