Julian Track has further stretched his chip advantage over Georgios Sotiropoulos and has grinded the Greek player down to 25 big blinds.
First he three-bet shoved for an effective 30 big blinds with and forced Sotiropoulos to fold. He then three-bet with over the top of Georgios Sotiropoulos's open with . The Greek player took a rueful look at his cards before sending them into the muck.
Julian Track opened the button to 325,000 with and Georgios Sotiropoulos made the call with .
Sotiropoulos flopped best on and didn't think twice when Track asked 285,000 from him. Both players checked the on the turn and the hit the river. Track, now with the nuts, saw Sotiropoulos bet 425,000. Track raised it up to 1,650,000 and Sotiropoulos folded.
Another three-bet pot has gone the way of the chip leader and he now has over 24 million chips.
Pre-flop Track made it 325,000 to play with , Sotiropoulos three-bet to 800,000 with and Track made the call. "I think that three-bet is a little small, you're getting called by too many hands," said Mickey Petersen.
On the flop both players checked to see the hit the turn. Once again it was checked to Track, he bet 625,000 and Sotiropoulos made the call. There was no further betting on the river and Track took the pot.
Julian Track opened the button to 325,000 with and received a call from Georgios Sotiropoulos who held .
The had something for both. Sotiropoulos flopped an open ended while Track had middle pair with a more than decent kicker. No crazy action though, just check (Sotiropoulos), bet 185,000 (Track) and call (Sotiropoulos).
Both players continued to check the on the turn. The on the river made Sotiropoulos check again. Track bet 375,000 and was called by the better hand.
Julian Track now has 74% of the chips in play after hitting a fortunate river card.
Pre-flop the German raised to 325,000 with and Georgios Sotiropoulos called with . On the flop Track continuation bet 285,000 and Sotiropoulos smooth called. On the turn Track bet again, this time 875,000 and Sotiropoulos called again.
The river meant Track went from worst to first, but he checked behind when checked to, "I think it's just too thin of a value bet to bet here," said Mickey Petersen. After taking that hand Julian Track has 74% of the chips in play.
Julian Track opened to 325,000 with and Georgios Sotiropoulos made the call with .
Sotiropoulos check called a 255,000 bet on , and both players checked the on the turn which gave Sotiropoulos the better pair. The river brought the to the table and Sotiropoulos lead for 625,000.
Track gave it some real good thoughts and eventually made the very disciplined fold.
From the button Georgios Sotiropoulos raised to 325,000 with and Julian Track flat called with .
The flop was checked through and the hit the turn, Track led for 280,000 and Sotiropoulos just smooth called. The completed the board and Track went deep, betting 1,400,000 into a pot of just 1,200,000.
His Greek opponent took his time over his decision but eventually he made the call and was rewarded with the pot.
Georgios Sotiropoulos opened to 325,000 from the button with , Julian Track defended his big blind with .
on the flop and Track check called a 325,000 continuation bet. The turn brought the on the board and Track lead for 525,000. Georgios Sotiropoulos wasn't going to invest another half a million and quickly folded.
The first four hands of the level passed without incident but on the fifth Julian Track once again pulled the four-bet out of his bag of tricks.
He made it 325,000 from the button and Georgios Sotiropoulos three-bet to 825,000 with . "I prefer calling without any other knowledge," said Team PokerStars Online's Mickey Petersen who's also stepped into the commentary booth.
And it's a thought process that Sotiropoulos might agree with as he folded when Track four-bet to 2,200,000.