Chad Eveslage was in the hijack against Anthony Hu in the cutoff.
There was 56,000 in the pot as the board read . Eveslage checked to Hu. Hu bet 44,000 and Eveslage called.
The river came the and Eveslage checked. Hu bet 74,000 leaving himself a single 5,000 chip behind. Eveslage asked for a count and went into the tank before deciding to fold.
Artur Matirosian opened to 11,000 from under the gun before Eliot Hudon three-bet to 35,000 from the button. Martirosian called.
Martirosian check-raised to 72,000 after Hudon continued for 21,000 on the flop. Hudon called.
Martirosian fired for another 45,000 on the turn and Hudon called again.
The river brought in the and Martirosian slowed down with a check. Hudon, with 201,000 behind, decided to bet small and bet out 55,000. Martirosian then wasted little time before moving all in as the covering stack.
Hudon was sickened and couldn't believe what had just happened and after a moment he called for his tournament life.
Matirosian had gone runner-runner to make a straight with his and Hudon had suffered a bad beat as he had the for flopped trips.
Chris Brewer raised to 14,000 from under the gun and was called by Michael Gathy in early position. Tauan Naves moved all in for 67,000 from middle position before Justin Zaki moved all in over the top for 112,000 from the hijack.
Action folded to Steve O'Dwyer in the small blind who called. Brewer folded flashing and Gathy snap-folded.
Tauan Naves:
Justin Zaki:
Steve O'Dwyer:
Naves had a pair of nines while both his opponents had ace-king. The flop came putting Naves in control. The turn came the giving Zaki and O'Dwyer a gutshot and it was pain for Naves as the river came the to give his opponents a wheel to chop Naves' chips and eliminate him from the tournament.
Anatoly Nikitin raised to 12,000 before Mike Watson shoved with 89,000. Nikitin called and turned over , while Watson showed . The board ran out and the jacks held to secure the double for Watson.
Elsewhere, action was heads up with around 110,000 in the pot and on the board when Chino Rheem bet 23,000 before Sam Grafton shoved for 376,000. The move sent Rheem deep into the tank for several minutes.
"I'm sorry," Rheem said. "I have a pair. I shouldn't be taking this long to think about a pair."
"You're the defending champ. Take as much time as you need," Grafton said.
Rheem eventually folded and the pot went to Grafton.
"Nice bluff!" someone shouted from nearby.
"I can see the relief on his face," Rheem said.
"I'm just relieved you're still in!" Grafton responded.
Joni Jouhkimainen moved all in for 34,000 from under the gun with and was called by Michael Rocco in the small blind with and Mustapha Kanit with in the big blind.
The flop came and Rocco bet 37,000. Kanit called.
The turn was the and Rocco bet 95,000. Kanit went deep into the tank before folding.
Joni Jouhkimainen:
Michael Rocco:
Jouhkimainen needed help but it didn't come as the river came the to eliminate him from the tournament.
Ignacio Moron raised with to 12,000 from under the gun before Anton Wigg three-bet with to 36,000 in the hijack. Action folded around to Michael Rocco in the small blind with who cold four-bet to 85,000.
Moron moved all in for 161,000 and Wigg went into the tank before folding. Rocco took a few moments to make his decision before calling.
Ignacio Moron:
Michael Rocco:
Moron was ahead but the flop came giving Rocco plenty of outs. The turn came the meaning that Moron needed a jack to survive. It didn't come as the river came the giving Rocco a straight and eliminating Moron from the tournament.
Defending Champion Chino Rheem jammed for 78,000 from under the gun and only Evan Sparling called from the button.
Chino Rheem:
Evan Sparling:
Rheem was behind but had two overcards. He was unable to connect on the flop. The turn changed nothing and the river ended any hopes of Rheem becoming the first two-time PCA Main Event champion.
Rheem bowed in 80th place and collected $22,300 for his deep run.