Having a big stack gives you a lot of leverage in poker tournaments; a lesson Albert Paik is keen to teach the rest of his table.
School was already in session in a three-way hand between Professor Paik (Ph.D. in aggression), Vitaly Tevis and Beh Kok Weng. We caught the action on the flop with the board reading and over 15,000 already in the pot just as Weng (small blind) and Paik (big blind) checked the action over to Tevis.
Tevis had obviously not done his homework and decided to take a stab for 4,800. Weng was another inattentive pupil slipping behind in his studies and he elected to make the call before Paik reiterated his point forcibly with a check-raise to 15,000 in total.
Tevis looked nonplussed by this turn of events but grudgingly found the fold, and after chewing it over so did Weng leaving Paik to drag in the pot and chip up further.
David Peters was first into the pot, raising it to 3,700 from early position. Peter Jaksland called in the small blind before Michael Addamo three-bet to 12,200 from the big blind. Peters thought for a moment and folded. Jaksland spent more than a moment thinking, but also folded.
In the next hand, the player in the hijack seat raised to 3,300 and Jaksland pushed all in for 25,000, winning the pot when his opponent gave up.
A number of notable players fell during the last couple levels including Martin Kozlov and Isaac Haxton. The following have lost all of their chips and must find other means of entertainment.
The remaining 207 or so players are now headed on their final 15-minute break of the day. Two more levels left to play today and then bagging up for Day 3.
While you wait, have a look at what Donger Kim had to say about his battle with Libratus.
Ivan Deyra opened to 3,000 from late position and Billy 'The Croc' Argyros bumped it up to 9,000 on the button. The blinds got out of the way and Deyra made the call.
The flop came and Deyra check-called a bet of 14,000 from the Croc, bringing the on the turn. Both players checked to see the peeled off the deck on the river.
Deyra decided to take the betting lead and fired out a bet of 18,500. Argyros agonized over the decision for a moment before tossing a call into the pot.
Deyra showed Argyros the bad news, tabling for a full house.
Taiwan’s Yen 'Pete' Chen and David Freiburghaus got it all in preflop, Freiburghaus moving all in from the small blind for the last of his chips and Chen, who had him easily covered, making the call.
Freiburghaus was the at-risk player but he had the best hand in poker — — which unsurprisingly was in front of Chen’s .
However, the flop hit the table to a cry of “ten-ball!” from Chen. There was no miracle ace on the turn or river and a disgruntled-looking Freiburghaus headed for the rail while Chen stacked up to 145,000.
Frederik Farrington raised to 2,000 from the hijack seat and Elliot Smith called from the big blind. The players went heads-up to a flop of and both checked.
The turn was the and Smith led out for 5,000, getting a call from Farrington. The river was the and Smith pushed all in for his remaining 23,000. Farrington barely paused before calling. Smith flipped up for a rivered straight, grinning. Farrington shook his head, paying out the double-up while showing his .
"You had to call with jack-six?" Farrington said lightheartedly, referring to the preflop action.
"I just wanted to get you," Smith joked.
Farrington was left with a very short stack, pushed it all in the next hand, and won a double-up with over an opponent's .
The numbers are in and the PokerStars Championship Macau has attracted a very respectable 536 entries, 234 of whom currently remain in contention.
The field is a veritable cultural melting pot and, while the majority of the field come from China (30%), the rest is a diverse mix of players from around the world, making this a truly international affair.
This has ballooned the prize pool to a whopping HK$20,796,000 (~US$2,676,731) with a massive HK$3,130,000 (~US$402,874) on offer for first place.
The top 103 places will be getting paid with a min-cash good for HK$62,500 (~US$8,044).
and over 15,000 already in the pot just as Weng (small blind) and Paik (big blind) checked the action over to Tevis.
and Deyra check-called a bet of 14,000 from the Croc, bringing the 
on the turn. Both players checked to see the 
peeled off the deck on the river.
for a full house.
— which unsurprisingly was in front of Chen’s 
. 
flop hit the table to a cry of “ten-ball!” from Chen. There was no miracle ace on the turn or river and a disgruntled-looking Freiburghaus headed for the rail while Chen stacked up to 145,000.
and Smith led out for 5,000, getting a call from Farrington. The river was the 
and Smith pushed all in for his remaining 23,000. Farrington barely paused before calling. Smith flipped up 
for a rivered straight, grinning. Farrington shook his head, paying out the double-up while showing his 
.
over an opponent's 
.
