Mathias Viberg raises to $110,000 on the button and Ricardo Sousa makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes 9 8 3 and Sousa checks to Viberg, who bets out $170,000. Sousa moves all-in over the top and Viberg makes the call, showing J J to Sousa's J T. Sousa is on the draw and with the Q on the turn he gets there. The river is the A and "Rico Suave" makes the diamond flush for good measure, doubling up and leaving Viberg with only $102,000 to his name.

No details as to the reputed deal, but here are the chip counts as we return to action:

Michael Schulze	$1,800,000
Mathias Viberg	$950,000
Ricardo Sousa	$840,000

 

International man of mystery Lee Jones has stopped the tournament clock and, at Ricardo Sousa's request, the surviving three players are discussing a deal. We'll try to keep on top of just what they decide and let you know when play resumes.

The break is over and our triumvirate of poker politicos is back at the table for what promises to be a mad dash to the finish line. Here are the chip counts as we get back in the action:

Michael Schulze	$1,952,000
Mathias Viberg	$1,072,000
Ricardo Straus	$458,000

 

On the last hand before the break, Mathias Viberg raises to $80,000 from under the gun and Ricardo Sousa puts him all-in from the big blind. Viberg calls with A-K and Sousa is behind with A-4. The board comes 10-6-5-J-6 and Viberg doubles through Sousa to stay alive as we head to a fifteen-minute intermission.

A short-stacked Mehdi Ouakhir open-shoves from the small blind and Michael Schulze makes the call in the big blind, turning up T T to Ouakhir's Q 3. The board brings no surprises, coming K 8 2 8 2 and Ouakhir is our fourth-place finisher, earning 538,500 PLN for his efforts.

Mehdi Ouakhir raises to $100,000 on the button and Ricardo Sousa re-raises all-in for another $421,000. Ouakhir gives the matter some thought before announcing, "All right, I'll make a sick call."

He matches the wager and turns up Q J to Sousa's 9 9 and we're off to the races. The board comes K 5 4 4 T and Sousa doubles. Then he rubs salt in the wound, telling Ouakhir "I never lose. That was a bad call. You knew you were going to lose."

Classy.

Michael Schulze raises to $80,000 from early position and Christian Oman makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes K Q 7 and both players check. The turn is the 9 and Oman checks again. Schulze moves all-in and Oman goes into the tank, mulling over his options before calling off the last of his $330,000 stack and turning up K 5 to Schulze's A 9.

Oman looks to be in great shape to double-up, but the river is a cruel, cruel 9 and Schulze makes trips to send Oman to the exits. He's out in 5th place and will take home 437,980 PLN.

The level is over and the blinds are moving on up. Action continues unabated.

Action folds to Ricardo Sousa, who limps-in from the small blind before Mathias Viberg raises to $70,000 from the big blind. Sousa thinks for a few minutes before moving all-in for another $177,000 and Viberg goes into the tank, mulling things over for about three minutes and prompting Sousa to call the clock.

That spurs Viberg into a call, and the Swede is ebullient as he turns up A 9 to Sousa's A-#2. The board comes A T 7 T Q, though, and both players make aces-up and chop the pot.