WARM-UP ($565)

Hoang Duy Nguyen raised from under the gun, and Tan Tan, from the big blind, shoved all-in for his tournament life. Nguyen called, putting Tan at risk of elimination.

Tan Tan: 3♦ 3♥

Hoang Duy Nguyen: A♦ Q♦

The flop came 5♥ A♣ 5♠, giving Nguyen a pair of aces and leaving Tan praying for a miracle. The turn 5♦ completed Nguyen’s full house, making Tan’s draw dead. The river 8♠ was just a formality as Tan was eliminated from the tournament.

Jian Lin opened to 8,000 from the lowjack and was called by Chao Luong in the cutoff. But in the small blind, Sacha Bayard pulled the trigger, shoving all-in. His move was quickly met with a call from his co-blind Hoang Duy Nguyen, putting himself at risk.

Lin and Luong wisely stepped aside, leaving the blinds to battle it out.

Hoang Duy Nguyen: A♣ A♠

Sacha Bayard: A♥ 3♥

Bayard’s shove backfired the moment Nguyen tabled pocket rockets. The board ran out 2♣ 6♥ 7♠ 2♦ 4♣, offering no escape.

Nguyen’s bullets hit their mark, cutting down Bayard’s stack and earning him a crucial double-up.