Huge hand sends us to a break

Things can turn so quickly in poker. Take Milan Simko, staying alive with a below average stack just a few minutes ago, he shipped his 38,000 with 10s and when he got two callers things looked a little bleak.

Vojtěch Růžička was also at risk, holding J♠Q♠, while Team Paradise member Rafal Lubczynski was the third ingredient with AK in his armoury.

As if the pre-flop fireworks weren't enough, the board brought 2♠2♥7♣-3♠ to leave Simko needing to dodge flush cards and over cards aplenty.

The river 8♣ was the blank he prayed for and propelled him from short stack to 120,000. The Czech ensured dangerous player Růžička goes home empty handed in 101st place.

Meanwhile, Luis Machado looks like going from strength-to-strength today after another fold from his opponents. The Portuguese fired out on a 8♦8♣4♦ flop when we last passed by, with the villain backing down after some thought.