Ponakovs Starts Off Strong
Barny Boatman opened to 400,000 from the cutoff with A?J? and folded out the button and the blinds.
David Kaufmann looked down at Q?9? in the small blind and limped in. Aleksejs Ponakovs made it 600,000 in the big blind with 8?5? and Kaufmann called. On the 10?6?3? flop, Kaufmann check-folded to a bet of 550,000.
Now on the button, Kaufmann raised to 400,000 with 10?9?. Ponakovs called with Q?J? before Peter Jorgne tossed his 9?4? into the muck. Both players paired up on the J?10?2? flop, and action checked through to the 8? turn. Ponakovs check-called for 800,000. The 9? river gave Ponakovs the straight, and he took in another pot after both players checked.
The following hand, Ponakovs clicked it to 400,000 with Q?9?. Jorgne and Boatman released their hands from the blinds.
Eric Afriat then got involved for the first time today and opened to 400,000 from under the gun with A?9?. Ponakovs flatted with the dominating A?J?. Neither player connected on the 10?8?2? flop but Afriat continued with the aggression with a bet of 250,000. Ponakovs made it 650,000 and Afriat ditched his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
22,400,000
-2,400,000
|
-2,400,000 |
|
||
|
14,100,000
4,050,000
|
4,050,000 |
|
9,680,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
||
|
2,550,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
1,900,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
1,780,000
-745,000
|
-745,000 |