MYSTERY BOUNTY (200$ TO BOUNTY POOL) ($675)

Mr. Lion raised to 40,000 from the hijack and was called by Khayal Abbasov in the cutoff, taking them to a flop.

The dealer spread A♣ 7♦ 2♥, prompting Mr. Lion to shove all-in. Abbasov snap-called and the cards were revealed:

Mr. Lion: A♠ K♠

Khayal Abbasov: A♦ A♥

Mr. Lion confidently tabled top pair with a strong kicker, unaware he was drawing thin against Abbasov’s set of aces. The turn 5♦ and river 3♠ brought no help, sealing Mr. Lion’s fate and eliminating him from the tournament.

Mr. Lion opened to 32,000, triggering a flurry of action. Khayal Abbasov shoved from the small blind, and Quynh Thai, at risk in the big blind, moved all-in over the top. Mr. Lion quickly folded, dodging what turned out to be a dangerous spot.

Quynh Thai: A♦ K♥

Khayal Abbasov: A♠ Q♦

Though Thai held the preflop advantage, the flop came 5♣ 6♣ Q♠, pairing Abbasov’s queen and flipping the script. The board ran out 7♣ 2♣, offering no help to Thai. She was eliminated, while Abbasov scooped the pot and surged ahead.

Mr. Lion roared all-in after Dave Erquiaga opened from late position. Erquiaga, holding a slightly bigger stack, made the call—momentarily putting the king of the jungle in danger.

Mr. Lion: Q♥ K♦

Dave Erquiaga: 7♠ 7♣

Erquiaga was ahead preflop and remained confident as the board ran out J♦ T♦ J♥ 4♥. But when the T♠ landed on the river, his pair of sevens was counterfeited. Mr. Lion emerged from the brush, claws sharp, and pounced on the pot—roaring his way back into contention.