W HIGHROLLER ($5,000)

In a dramatic showdown, Hoang Hai Nam and Neng Zhao got all the chips in preflop—Nam holding Ax 9x and Zhao well ahead with Ax Jx .

The board ran out Ax Ax 8x 2x 9x , giving both players trip aces. But it was the 9x on the river that gave Nam a full house, allowing him to outdraw Zhao’s stronger kicker and win the pot.

After the hand, Hoang Hai Nam surged to 1,700,000 in chips, making him one of the top stacks in the field

Abhijith Cheruku opened to 35,000 from the hijack, and Neng Zhao defended his big blind.

The flop came 5♠ 7♥ 9♠ and both players checked.

On the turn J♥ , Zhao checked again and Cheruku fired a sizable bet of 100,000. Zhao made the call.

The river brought the A♠ , and both players checked it down.

Cheruku tabled Q♣ J♣ for second pair, and Zhao mucked his hand, sending the pot Cheruku’s way.

Neng Zhao opened to 30,000 from early position, and Fabian Rolli made the call on the button. Ilya Firstov, sitting in the small blind, moved all in. Zhao quickly folded, but Rolli made the call to put Firstov at risk.

Firstov turned over A♠ T♥ , while Rolli showed 6♣ 6♠, a classic coin flip.

The flop came 6♦ J♠ Q♥ , giving Rolli bottom set and leaving Firstov drawing slim. Only a king would save him, but the turn 3♣ and river J♦ sealed his fate.

Fabian Rolli scored the knockout, eliminating Ilya Firstov from the tournament.

Action folded to Zhifan Ye in the small blind, who raised it up to 25,000. Neng Zhao defended his big blind to see a flop.

The dealer spread 6♣ Q♣ Q♠ . Ye checked, and Zhao took the lead with a bet of 16,000. Ye made the call.

On the turn 5♥ , Ye checked again but quickly gave up when Zhao fired a second barrel for 56,000.

With no resistance left, Zhao scooped the pot with well-timed aggression.

Neng Zhao opened to 17,000 from utg and got a call from David Erquiaga in the hijack.

The flop came 5♣ 7♣ A♠ and both players checked. The turn brought the 9♣ , and again, action checked through.

On the river 8♣ , Zhao bet 28,000 and Erquiaga made the call.

Zhao showed J♣ J♠ for a flush, while Erquiaga tabled 8♠ 8♦ for a rivered set. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t enough to beat Zhao’s turned flush, who scooped the pot.