All about eights

Forget Aces, 88 is the new power hand at the PPT Madrid after three quick fire eliminations - including two monster pots.

The first went the way of chip magnet Robert Haigh, the German doubling one of the biggest stacks in the room in dramatic fashion.

Robert (pictured) had defended his big blind with the snowmen vs an utg raise and caller in the small blind, and was only too happy to see the flop fall Q8x despite the flush draw on board.

He smooth-called a check-raise from the small blind and the pair went to the turn two-handed. A heart on fourth street prompted the villain to lead out and Haigh shoved, earning a call from his fellow big stack - who held AQ plus a nut flush draw.

The river was blank and the PPT regular was left wielding the chip lead.

The 8s' next victim came at the hands of Nacho Guerra, 'Krusty' flopping a set vs his rival's TPTK and ending another tournament life, before Jari Hurri exited with AQ vs 88.

Also out as we enter another short break are Ignacio Menendez De Andres, Fidel Delgado and Miguel Fernandez Menendez.