Kal Raichura limped in from the small blind and Nick Kost raised. Raichura made the call and the flop was . Kost bet and Raichura called. The turn was the and again Kost bet and was called. The river was the and Kost bet, Raichura raised, and Kost three-bet. Raichura called with for the jack high straight. Kost also had a jack high straight with and also had a low to take three-fourths the pot.
Jim Bucci raised from the button and Kal Raichura called from the big blind. Bucci would get the last of his chips all in on the flop with Bucci holding and Raichura . Bucci held a slight lead but Raichura would assume control on the turn. The on the river would seal the deal for the chip leader and Bucci was eliminated in 3rd place. Heads up play will start with Raichura holding close to a 2:1 chip lead over Nick Kost.
Calen McNeil three-bet from the button after Nick Kost opened, and Kost called. The two got the last of McNeil's chips in on the flop.
McNeil:
Kost:
Kost had flopped a wrap and a low draw, while McNeil and his sizable rail contingent began calling for hearts. The dealer burned and turned: , keeping McNeil best and giving him a scooper if a big card hit.
"Big!" he yelled. "Big!"
The dealer revealed the river card: the . Kost had made the wheel, sending the man known as "Big Wheel" McNeil to the rail in fourth after a valiant champion's defense. He leaned against the door, back to the room in apparent agony, before shaking the remaining players' hands one by one.
Jim Bucci opened for a raise from the button and Calen McNeil called from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked. The turn was the and McNeil check-called a bet from Bucci, leaving himself with not much behind. Both players would check the river and McNeil would turn over for a river two pair, queens and fives. That would be good enough to give him the pot and keep his dreams of winning back-to-back titles in this event alive. He stood up, and took a quick bow for the benefit of his rail.