Joseph Alban limped on the button, Mark Herm called from the small blind, and Mike Watson checked his option.
The flop fell and action checked to Alban who bet 15,000. Only Watson called to see the turn, which he checked. Alban bet 26,000, Watson check-raised to 80,000, and Alban called. The river completed the board and Watson bet 120,000. Alban raised all in for about 340,000 and after a little while in the tank, Watson folded.
In a battle of the blinds, Mark Herm (small blind) and Mike Watson (big blind) exchanged a few raises before Watson called all in for about 325,000 with . Herm trailed with and couldn't catch up as the board ran out .
The pot was raised an indeterminate amount before the flop, and the first three board cards read when we caught the action.
Anton Smirnov checked from the small blind and Brandon Cantu — who had won several of the previous pots by raising preflop and continuing for 28,000 to force folds — made it 49,000 to go this time.
Smirnov quickly made the call and the turn card came , prompting another tap of the table by Smirnov and another bet by Cantu, this time for 120,000.
After pausing for a beat to assess his stack, Smirnov tossed a few yellow T1000 chips forward and announced himself all in. Cantu immediately shot out of his chair and asked for a count, and as soon as he heard the raise was for 300,000 more he forcefully announced the call.
Cantu:
Smirnov:
Cantu was correct in determining his turned top pair to be best, and Smirnov was left searching the deck for aces, fours, or spades to catch up. The river came , though, and Smirnov missed his multiple draws to go bust, while Cantu continued to roll through this third and final day of play.
On the flop Xiao Peng checked from the small blind, and holding the button Branton Cantu decided on a 28,000 bet.
Peng then popped it to 85,000 and Cantu quickly called to peel the on the turn. Peng checked again, and after Cantu continued his line with a bet of 95,000, she deliberated for a long minute before cutting out and committing a stack of calling chips.
The dealer dropped the on the river and Peng checked for a third time, with Cantu following suit shortly afterward. Peng rolled over her for a flopped straight and the winner, while Cantu could only wince and stare at the board.
"Did I miss a big pot?" Peng asked from across the table.
"That was a good river for me," replied Cantu, obviously glad he did not improve against Peng's made hand.
Moments after getting chopped down in a previous clash with Brandon Cantu, Gustavo Kamei just fell with Rio's resident lightning rod delivering the finishing blow.
Kamei open-shoved for roughly 175,000 and Cantu called him down with to find himself in dominant position over the Brazilian's .
The final board brought no help to Kamei, coming to leave him with no pair — and no chips. With that, the eight remaining runners headed for the redraw before reassembling at the final two tables.
Jared Jaffee raised to 25,000 on the button and Mark Herm called from the big blind.
The flop fell and Herm check-called 39,000 from Jaffee to see the turn. Herm checked to Jaffee again who fired 74,000. After a few moments in the tank, Herm folded.
Brandon Cantu raised to 27,000 on the button, Xiao Peng defended her big blind, and the flop came down .
Peng checked, Cantu bet 28,000, and Peng called. The fell on the turn and Peng check-called another 66,000 from Cantu. The river then completed the board and both players checked.
Cantu tabled for fours and deuces, Peng mucked, and Cantu collected the pot.