Grant Levy limped from under the gun and James Obst popped it up from the button. Levy made the call.
The flop landed and Levy checked to Obst, who bet out. Levy then check-raised him, putting Obst all in. Obst chuckled and swore very quietly to himself. Pot committed, he called for his tournament life holding just queen-high with . He remarkably found himself in front as Levy showed for a bare flush draw.
The turn was the and river . Obst doubled through Levy and both players are now on about 45,000 chips each.
Portaro has recoverd after losing a few pots in a row.
Preflop, he called a raise from Grant Levy.
"Let's see if I can win a pot agains this guy," exclaimed Portaro.
"If you win this I'll walk to China!" replied Levy.
The flop landed and Levy checked to Portaro, who bet 4,000. Levy made the call. The turn was the and Levy led out for 8,000. Portaro called and Levy chirped, "That's right, call with your jack."
The river was a repeat and Levy led for 8,000. Portaro called and Levy tabled for trips, but Portaro showed for the broadway straight!
Portaro recovers to 96,000 with Levy back to 66,000.
Bruno Portaro had limped in from under the gun before Zach Gruneberg made it 8,000 to go. David Bach called in the big blind as did Portaro.
The flop was checked to Gruneberg, who fired out a bet of 4,000. Bach then check-raised to 8,000 with both opponents making the call.
The turn was the and Bach led out for 8,000. Portaro folded and Gruneberg called. The river was the . Bach slowed down and checked to Gruneberg, who made the 8,000 bet. Bach called, but couldn't better Gruneberg's for the rivered straight.
Gruneberg is now up to 180,000. Bach is on life support with only 6,000 chips.
Grant Levy had opened with a raise before Billy "The Croc" Argyros was all in with a three-bet to 12,000 . Levy said "I apologize in advance," and made the call.
Levy:
Argyros:
The board fell and Levy made a full house to eliminate The Croc from the event in 9th place. "Terrible work dealer!" joked Argyros. "Ace-queen beats nine-high! Now where's my money you maggots!" he laughed as he went to collect his AU$3,500 in prize money.
Zach Gruneberg has started the final table well after collecting a few early pots. He's taken chips from Bruno Portaro and David Bach in small pots - although small pots with the blinds at 4,000/8,000 are still very significant.