Ken Silberstein was first to act and opened with a preflop raise to what looked like 80,000. Rex Clinkscales folded his button and Andrew Rudnik announced that he was all in for 690,000 total. It folded back to Silberstein and he went into the tank.
A moment passed.
"I call," Silberstein quietly said.
Rudnik let out a sigh and flipped onto the felt. Silberstein showed and was in a slight lead heading to the flop. The dealer spread out and Silberstein's king high remained in the lead.
The came on fourth street and Rudnik needed to pair up in order to stay alive. Alas, the was the final card and Rudnik's tournament life came to an end. He pocketed $40,509 for his efforts.
A few hands back from break, Michael Assante opened to 60,000 from the button and Mike Jukich called out of the small blind. Ken Silberstein three-bet to an unknown amount out of the big blind and Assante four-bet all in. Jukich folded and Silberstein called.
Silberstein:
Assante:
The dealer rapped the table and produced the flop: .
"Wow"'s and "Oooh"'s filled the area surrounding the final table area as Silberstein flopped top set. Before anyone could react the dealer made the appear on the turn and suddenly it was all over for Assante. The rivered and Assante was eliminated in 5th place.
Andrew Rudnik opened with a raise that was immediately three-bet to 120,000 by Michael Assante from the button. Mike Jukich announced an all in from the small blind and it folded back to Assante who tanked for quite some time before calling 761,000 total.
Assante:
Jukich:
The board came down and Jukich's hand was able to hold up as the best. He doubled to about 1.54 million while Assante is down to around 670,000.
The next hand after Tony Natale fell, we saw Leonardo Palermo move all in for his last 360,000 before the flop. It folded around to Natale's executioner, Andrew Rudnik, in the big blind. He called once again and was looking to eliminate another player.
Rudnik showed and was racing against Palermo's . Rudnik paired on the flop and never looked back as the turned and the rivered. Palermo was eliminated in sixth place and will take home $23,340 in tournament winnings.
Tony Natale decided to run the gauntlet and ship all in from under the gun. Andrew Rudnik shipped all in over the top from the next seat over and the rest of the table threw away their cards.
Natale:
Rudnik:
Natale's fate was just about sealed when Rudnik flopped a set on the flop. The on the turn made it official and the meaningless finished off the board. Rudnik scooped up the pot and is now at 830,000 in chips.
Tony Natale opened with a button raise to 65,000 only to have Andrew Rudnik three-bet all in for 255,000 from the small blind. The big blind got out of the way and Natale announced a call.
Natale:
Rudnik:
The two were racing for Rudnik's tournament life heading to the flop. The dealer spread out giving Rudnik a couple of additional outs to make a straight. They weren't needed though, as he paired up when the hit the turn. Natale was now open-ended but it didn't come through as the finished off the board.
Rudnik scooped up the double to around 540,000 while Natale has fallen to about 290,000.