Event 14: Rafael Rodriguez – 3rd Place  ($31,000)

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  2 of 312

Rafael Rodriguez
Rafael Rodriguez

Matthew Lambrecht raised from the button to 150,000, Rafael Rodriguez moved all in from the small blind for about 1,600,000, and Nicholas Chong called or shoved from the big blind.

Lambrecht quickly folded, and Rodriguez showed AdKh. Chong turned over QdQc, and Rodriguez needed to improve to stay alive.

The board came 8c3c3dQhAs, and Chong turned a full house, queens full of threes, to clinch the pot and eliminate Rodriguez in third place.

Rafael Rodriguez  –  Eliminated in 3rd Place  ($31,000)

Here are the updated chip counts for the start of heads-up play:

Nicholas Chong  –  6,000,000  (80 bb)
Matthew Lambrecht  –  3,350,000  (45 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $60,340 + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  $41,500

3rd:  Rafael Rodriguez  –  $31,000
4th:  Kevin DiPasquale  –  $23,100
5th:  Michael Garcia  –  $17,400
6th:  Cangir Elcin  –  $13,300
7th:  David DiBernardi  –  $10,200
8th:  Feiwen Wu  –  $7,900
9th:  Zhen Cai  –  $6,200

Reminder:  In heads-up play, the button has the small blind and acts first before the flop.

Event 14: Matthew Lambrecht Four-Bet Shoves Against Nicholas Chong

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Matthew Lambrecht
Matthew Lambrecht

Matthew Lambrecht raised from the button to 150,000, Nicholas Chong reraised from the big blind to 375,000, and Lambrecht moved all in for 2,625,000.

Chong tanked for a long time before he folded, and Lambrecht took the pot.

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  4,500,000  (60 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  3,125,000  (42 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  1,725,000  (23 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,125,000 (42 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Light Action for the Final Three Players

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Nicholas Chong raised from the small blind to 175,000, and Matthew Lambrecht called from the big blind.

The flop came 7d6c5d, Chong bet 150,000, and Lambrecht called.

The turn card was the Kc, Chong bet 325,000, and Lambrecht called.

The river card paired the board with the 6s, Chong bet 750,000, and Lambrecht folded. Chong took the pot.

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  4,050,000  (54 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  3,250,000  (43 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  2,050,000  (27 bb)

The first half of Level 28 hasn’t had much action. Rafael Rodriguez gets a small burst of momentum by winning a few small pots in a row, but then the others slowly take it back.

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,125,000 (42 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Nicholas Chong Narrowly Holds the Lead with Three Players Left

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 28:  50,000/75,000 with a 75,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Nicholas Chong
Nicholas Chong

The players return from break to begin Level 28, with increased blinds of 50,000-75,000 and a 75,000 ante. Here are the official chip counts:

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  3,775,000  (50 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  3,600,000  (48 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  1,975,000  (26 bb)

And here are the final table payouts:

1st:  $60,340 + LHPO Trophy
2nd:  $41,500
3rd:  $31,000

4th:  Kevin DiPasquale  –  $23,100
5th:  Michael Garcia  –  $17,400
6th:  Cangir Elcin  –  $13,300
7th:  David DiBernardi  –  $10,200
8th:  Feiwen Wu  –  $7,900
9th:  Zhen Cai  –  $6,200

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,125,000 (42 big blinds).

Event 14: Matthew Lambrecht Three-Bet Shoves the Turn to Nearly Catch Chipleader Nicholas Chong

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 27:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Matthew Lambrecht
Matthew Lambrecht

In the last hand of the level, Nicholas Chong raised from the small blind to 130,000, Matthew Lambrecht reraised from the big blind to 375,000, and Chong called.

The flop came Ad4c2h, Chong checked, Lambrecht bet 200,000, and Chong called.

The turn card paired the board with the 4s, Chong checked, Lambrecht bet 375,000, and Chong check-raised to 875,000. Lambrecht tanked for a while before he three-bet all in for 1,530,000.

Then it was Chong’s turn to tank, and he eventually folded. Lambrecht took the pot.

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  3,775,000  (63 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  3,600,000  (60 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  1,975,000  (33 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,120,000 (52 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Nicholas Chong Reaches 5.2 Million; “What Have You Got Over There?”

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 27:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Nicholas Chong
Nicholas Chong

Nicholas Chong raised from the small blind to 155,000, and Matthew Lambrecht called from the big blind.

Both players checked to the turn on a board of Kd10d10h3h, Chong bet 100,000, Lambrecht raised to 400,000, and Chong reraised to 800,000. Lambrecht quickly folded, and Chong took the pot.

“What have you got over there?” asked Lambrecht. “Bet eight hundred, just like that?”

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  5,270,000  (88 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  1,850,000  (31 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  2,250,000  (38 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,120,000 (52 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Nicholas Chong Reaches 4.6 Million; “Is That a Flush and a Straight?”

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 27:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Nicholas Chong
Nicholas Chong

Nicholas Chong raised from the small blind, and Matthew Lambrecht called from the big blind.

The flop came Qs5d3d, Chong bet 125,000, and Lambrecht called.

The turn card was the 8d, and both players checked.

The river card was the 7h, Chong bet 325,000, and Lambrecht quickly called. Chong showed 9d6d for a nine-high flush.

“Is that a flush and a straight?” asked Lambrecht as he mucked. Chong won the pot.

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  4,620,000  (77 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  2,150,000  (36 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  2,590,000  (43 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,120,000 (52 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Matthew Lambrecht Four-Bet Shoves

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 27:  30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Matthew Lambrecht
Matthew Lambrecht

The action has been relatively light since Kevin DiPasquale’s fourth-place elimination.

Matthew Lambrecht raised from the button to 125,000, Nicholas Chong reraised from the big blind to 350,000, and Lambrecht four-bet all in for 2,080,000.

Chong thought for a while before he folded, and Lambrecht took the pot.

Seat 1.  Nicholas Chong  –  3,900,000  (65 bb)
Seat 2.  Matthew Lambrecht  –  2,520,000  (42 bb)
Seat 3.  Rafael Rodriguez  –  2,950,000  (49 bb)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,120,000 (52 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Kevin DiPasquale – 4th Place ($23,100)

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 26:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  3 of 312

Kevin DiPasquale
Kevin DiPasquale

Nicholas Chong raised from the small blind, and Kevin DiPasquale called from the big blind.

The flop came 10c8s2h, Chong checked, DiPasquale bet 125,000, and Chong called.

The turn card was the 9c, Chong checked, DiPasquale bet 325,000, and Chong called.

The river card was the 7h, Chong checked, DiPasquale moved all in for about 600,000, and Chong snap-called with Jc9d for a jack-high straight.

DiPasquale turned over Ad6d for a lower ten-high straight, and Chong won the pot to eliminate DiPasquale in fourth place.

Nicholas Chong  –  4,775,000  (96 bb)
Kevin DiPasquale  –  Eliminated in 4th Place  ($23,100)

With three players remaining, the average chip stack is around 3,120,000 (62 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $31,000 each.

Event 14: Kevin DiPasquale Doubles Thru Nicholas Chong

$1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry)
Prize Pool:  $302,640  |   Structure  |  Payouts
Level 26:  25,000/50,000 with a 50,000 ante
Players Remaining:  4 of 312

Kevin DiPasquale
Kevin DiPasquale

Nicholas Chong raised from the button to 125,000, Kevin DiPasquale moved all in from the small blind for 730,000, and Chong thought for a while before he called with 3h3d.

DiPasquale turned over JhJc, and needed it to hold to stay alive.

The board came 10d9c5s4hKh, and the pocket jacks held up for DiPasquale to win the pot and double up in chips.

Kevin DiPasquale  –  1,560,000  (31 bb)
Nicholas Chong  –  3,290,000  (66 bb)

With four players remaining, the average chip stack is around 2,340,000 (47 big blinds). The remaining players are guaranteed at least $23,100 each.