Ron Ware raised the button, and Mike Ross called. Ross took the betting lead after changing two, while Ware changed three. Ross drew one and Ware two on the second draw. Ross led again, earning a call once more. He patted on the third draw, and Ware took one.
Ross checked to Ware on the final betting round and called his bet, showing . "Eight-seven perfect", he declared.
"Eight-seven smooth," came from the rail. Ross then revealed his strategy: "I only play perfect."
Ross is still trailing, however, with a three-to-one chip disadvantage.
Mike Ross raised on the button, and Ron Ware called. The flop came , and Ware check-raised. Ross called. On the turn, Ware bet, and Ross raised. Ware called. Ware check-called the river.
"Nut flush and a six-deuce," Ross said.
Ware said that was a scooper.
"Convenient turn," he said. "Convenient river, too."
Down to his last 145,000 chips (six big blinds), Fabrice Soulier moved all in from the button. Mike Ross called from the big blind, and when the cards were face-up, he shouted to his railbirds, "I'm ahead!"
Soulier:
Ross:
Ross had a better starting hand, but his advantage wasn't as decisive as he'd have liked. The board came , securing Soulier a double-up.
However, Ross got his revenge in the very next hand. He limped from the small blind and then called Soulier's shove. Ross was slightly ahead again.
Soulier:
Ross:
Shouts from both rails followed, but the loudest voice in the room belonged to Ross. He saw the ace hit the flop and screamed, "Ace!" in celebration. The flop couldn't get much worse for Soulier, as he now needed runner-runner to survive.
It wasn't meant to be this time, with the on the turn sealing the win for Ross. The river was only a formality as Soulier already knew he was getting the $58,968 third-place prize.
Ron Ware raised from the button, and Sachin Bhargava defended his big blind.
The flop was , and Bhargava check-called another bet. The turn was checked through, but Ware bet one more time on the river.
Bhargava called, but he couldn't get any piece of the pot, as Ware showed for the nut low and a pair of tens. Bhargava was left with 70,000 after the hand.
The four remaining players are now leaving for a one-hour dinner break. They will be back in action at 9:43 p.m. Stay tuned to PokerNews to follow the final stage of the tournament as the event draws closer to crowning its champion.
The rich get richer — that's the story of the past few minutes in the 8-Game tournament. Ron Ware just picked off Sachin Bhargava in no-limit hold'em round to extend his already commanding lead.
The hand started with Bhargava's button-raise to 50,000. Ware defended his big blind with a call.
The flop was checked through, and so was the turn. Ware led the river, though, making it 55,000. Bhargava raised to 180,000, and Ware called instantly. Bhargava had and likely knew his third pair was no good. Ware showed for a turned flush.
Ron Ware raised in the cutoff, and Fabrice Soulier defended his big blind. The flop came , and Soulier check-called. On the turn, he bet out, and Ware put him all in for 27,000 more. Soulier called with for a flush, and Ware had seen a worst-case turn with . He was already drawing dead, and Soulier doubled.
. "Eight-seven perfect", he declared. 
, and Ware check-raised. Ross called. On the 
turn, Ware bet, and Ross raised. Ware called. Ware check-called the 
river.
, securing Soulier a double-up.
flop couldn't get much worse for Soulier, as he now needed runner-runner to survive. 
on the turn sealing the win for Ross. The 
river was only a formality as Soulier already knew he was getting the $58,968 third-place prize.
, and Sachin Bhargava put the last of it in with the 
, and Bhargava check-called another bet. The 
turn was checked through, but Ware bet one more time on the 
for the nut low and a pair of tens. Bhargava was left with 70,000 after the hand.
flop was checked through, and so was the 
turn. Ware led the 
river, though, making it 55,000. Bhargava raised to 180,000, and Ware called instantly. Bhargava had 
, and Soulier check-called. On the 
turn, he bet out, and Ware put him all in for 27,000 more. Soulier called with 
. He was already drawing dead, and Soulier doubled.