Alexander Tkatschew, who finished third in the Main Event in 2021, bet 1,000 from the hijack on a board of 2♠A♣A♥A♠ and Ka Ming Li called in the cutoff.
The river came the 9♦ and Tkatschew bet 9,500. Li leaned back in his chair as he tanked for a minute, eventually deciding to fold.
"Take it down on the river," Li said to Tkatschew, who winked over at him as he took the pot.
"You're nice to me. Pocket nines," Tkatschew asked Li, who shook his head.
With several thousand already in the middle on a 6♣8♥7♥2♠ board, Erich Friedl checked from early position to Daniel Rezaei, who bet 11,500 on the button. Friedl asked for a count and called.
The 4♣ completed the board and Friedl checked once more. Rezaei announced a bet of 46,500 before placing it into the middle. Friedl quickly folded and Rezaei took down the pot.
Junhyoung Ki opened to 1,000 from middle position and was called by Klas Krueger in the hijack. Yannick Schumacher then squeezed to 5,000 from the small blind and both Ki and Krueger called.
Schumacher continued for 4,200 on the 8♣8♠6♥ flop and only Ki called.
The A♦ fell on the turn and Schumacher fired 16,000 into the middle. Undeterred, Ki made it 33,000 to go and Schumacher let his hand go after a bit of thought.
Alexandros Kolonias raised to 1,000 in early position before Dino Volkholz three-bet to 3,300 in middle position. Kolonias came back with a four-bet to 9,000 and Volkholz called.
The flop came 10♣6♣6♠ and Kolonias continued for 6,000. Volkholz called and the 9♥ fell on the turn.
Kolonias then led out for another 10,000 and Volkholtz took his time before calling again. Kolonias slowed down and checked the 8♥ river, and Volkholz checked back.
Kolonias turned over 8♦5♦ while Volkholz had Q♦Q♣ to take the pot off the 2019 champion.
Volkholz's old nemesis Oender Yildirim is still at this table, along with Jessica Teusl and Adrian State. Axel Hallay and Jan-Peter Jachtmann, a Main Event finalist this summer, also recently took their seats in the tournament.