$350 Deep Stack No Limit Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 32: 75,000/150,000/25,000 Ante

The remaining players breathed a sigh of relief as Sam Panzica, arguably the strongest player remaining in the field, was eliminated in 18th place.

Panzica was followed to the rail by Richard Whitebrook, who busted in 17th.

Then there was a massive pot between Jake Melen and Thomas Collazo. They didn’t get it all in until the river on a board of , and they both caught runner-runner flushes — but Collazo’s beat Melen’s for the double-up in a pot worth 7 million.

This pot would kick off a lot of momentum for Collazo, which we’ll get to in a few minutes.

Thomas Collazo  –  7,170,000  (60 bb)
Jake Melen  –  3,780,000  (32 bb)

Recent chipleader Fabian Foster has lost all of his momentum. Pedro Palacio, who has likely held the chip lead longer than anyone else, got it all in against Foster after a flop of .

Palacio was the shorter stack, and he shoved with (pair of nines), while Foster called with for a diamond flush draw. The turn was the , the river was the , and Palacio won the pot with two pair, queens and nines, to double up in chips. Foster was audibly upset that Palacio played nine-five offsuit, and openly criticized his play as the dealer counted down the stcks.

Pedro Palacio  –  4,550,000  (38 bb)
Fabian Foster  –  820,000  (7 bb)

A few minutes later, Taylor Dean-Lipson was eliminated by Taylor Fortini when his couldn’t catch Fortini’s .

Taylor Fortini  –  7,775,000  (65 bb)
Taylor Dean-Lipson  –  Eliminated in 16th Place  ($4,624)

Fortini continued his momentum by playing a big pot against David Albertson on a board of . Fortini bet 1.25 million on the river, and Albertson tank-called. Fortini showed to win the pot with kings full, and Albertson mucked, claiming he had a queen for queens full.

Taylor Fortini  –  10,600,000  (88 bb)
David Albertson  –  4,200,000  (35 bb)

That’s when the blinds increased to 75,000-150,000, with a 25,000 ante.

Daniel Visconti got it all in from the big blind with , and Thomas Collazo called from the small blind with — his “favorite hand.” The board came , and Collazo pairs his jack on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Visconti from the tournament.

Thomas Collazo  –  11,350,000  (76 bb)
Daniel Visconti  –  Eliminated in 15th Place  ($5,893)

The bustouts kept coming quickly, as Fabian Foster got his short stack all in with , but he ran into the of Nicholas Nieto. The board came , and the tens held up for Nieto to win the pot and eliminate Foster.

Nicholas Nieto  –  3,850,000  (26 bb)
Fabian Foster  –  Eliminated in 14th Place  ($5,893)

A few minutes later, James Salmon moved all in with , and Mike Chiappetta called with . The board came , and Chiappetta won the pot with his king kicker to send Salmon — who won Event 1 in April — out of the tournament.

Mike Chiappetta  –  6,175,000  (41 bb)
James Salmon  –  Eliminated in 13th Place  ($5,893)

There are now 12 players remaining, with an average chip stack around 5 million (33 big blinds). These players are all guaranteed at least $8,159, and the next pay jump is $12,692 for 12th place.