After 17 hours and greater than 3,800 hands, the second one All-Star Showdown quarterfinal is done, with Team Online's Isaac Haxton getting back from the edge of elimination to defeat Alex "Kanu7" Millar in a very epic heads-up battle to earn a place within the semifinals.
On Friday afternoon, Haxton (playing from Malta) had a brief warm-up session with fellow All-Star Showdown competitor Tobias "KTPOKP" Kuder. As we reported yesterday, Kuder went up against Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky within the first quarterfinal match, and Sulsky came away the winner.
With the winner between today's Haxton-Millar match having been scheduled to move up against yesterday's victor, Haxton and Kuder concluded their warm-up session with some chat by which they alluded to the potential of meeting again within the second round.
However, unknown to the 2 of them, another person was listening in!
KTPOKP: gtg wp glIke Haxton: gg glKTPOKP: gl within the challenge as wellIke Haxton: you tooIke Haxton: see you within the semis :)Kanu7 (observer): we'll see about thatKanu7 (observer): ;)Ike Haxton: lolKTPOKP: haha :-DIke Haxton: hi there!Kanu7 (observer): heyKTPOKP: heyKanu7 (observer): gg guys, cya sunday ike ;)KTPOKP: cyaKTPOKP: have fun
Millar was watching -- doing some advanced scouting, it's possible you'll say. And naturally Kanu7 couldn't help but chime in in regards to the question of who may well be claiming the opposite semifinal spot.
As mentioned, Sulsky ended up prevailing against Kuder, and thus it was Sauce123 probably doing just a little railing this time to look who between Haxton and Millar would come to be his next opponent.
Moments before the match began, Haxton tweeted his thoughts to his followers:
@ikepoker: About to get underway within the AllStar Showdown vs Kanu. I'VE a sense this may be a protracted one but I'm excited and feeling good.
As it turned out, Haxton was dead on together with his read that the match could be a lengthy one.
Following the All-Star Showdown format, players each brought $100,000 to the match, starting with stacks of $10,000 at each of 4 tables. The blinds were $50/$100, and would remain such unless the pair happened to achieve 3,000 hands, at which point the blinds would double.
They'd remain at four tables until one player's overall roll decreased to the purpose where he couldn't top as much as $10K at every table, at which point the collection of tables in play could be reduced.
Haxton was seated on the four tables a couple of minutes early, while the united kingdom.. player Millar arrived right on the 18:00 CET start time. They exchanged a snappy greeting...
Ike Haxton: :)Kanu7: let the joys beginIke Haxton: yup
...and with that, cards were within the air!
Hour 1 (Hands 1-263)
Play began with Haxton grabbing several small pots early directly to take leads on three of the four tables.
On the opposite (Table 3), Haxton fired a river bet on a board of J♣K♠7♦6♥7♠ holding Q♠9♦ (a busted gutshot draw), and Millar called the bluff with T♠7♥ (trip sevens) to snatch a $6,434 pot. Kanu7 would snag another almost-$7K pot on Table 4 shortly thereafter, and after 60 hands Haxton's overall lead was slightly below $3,000.
Unsurprisingly, buttons were routinely raised, with Haxton raising to $222 while Millar usually made it $250 to move. As play progressed, some hands saw three- and four-bets beginning to happen preflop, although the massive confrontations were largely avoided and pots remained mostly small over the the primary half-hour.
A hand then arose by which Haxton called Millar's preflop three-bet, then Millar check-called Haxton's flop and switch bets because the board came 7♣3♥T♠4♣. The river then brought the 7♥ and another check from Kanu7, and when Haxton shoved, Millar folded, condeding the $8,412 pot to the Team Online Pro.
After exactly 100 hands, Haxton had built his lead up over $6,000. A SHORT TIME later the primary big all-in occurred on Table 1 with all the chips going into the center at the river with the board showing 2♣J♠9♣K♦T♦. But Haxton had Q♣7♣ and Millar Q♦J♣, they usually chopped the $25K pot.
Millar then grabbed a $20K-plus pot interested in himself on Table 3 in a hand by which he rivered a whole house to overcome Haxton's turned flush. Take a look:
A moment later the totals were reported, and Kanu7 had snuck into the lead by an insignificant $20.
Haxton would soon ward off in front, however, aided in no small way by picking up a $24K-plus pot in a hand by which a flop brought Kanu7 two pair and Haxton a set:
The pair soon reached the primary five-minute break of the day. Each led on two of the four tables, with Haxton enjoying the whole edge after 263 hands.
60 hands: Ike Haxton +$2,957100 hands: Ike Haxton +$6,011152 hands: Ike Haxton +$8,015168 hands: Kanu7 +$20203 hands: Ike Haxton +$2,523263 hands: Ike Haxton +$6,057
Hour 2 (Hands 264-483)
The pots remained small-to-medium throughout the first a part of the second one hour, with Millar gradually closing the space to minimize Haxton's small lead.
A hand arose on Table 3 through which Kanu7 three-bet and Haxton called, and the pair saw the flop come 2♠8♣J♦. Kanu7 led for $1,000 and Haxton called again. The turn was the J♣. Millar checked this time, Haxton bet $2,150, and Millar called.
The river brought the 9♣ and another check from Millar. This time Haxton fired $3,650, and when Millar called Haxton showed 9♥9♦ for nines full. Millar mucked, and Haxton collected the $15,200 pot.
Haxton continued to take care of a large lead on Tables 1 and 2, while Millar led at the other two tables. Haxton began to close the space on Table 4, however, and after a stretch wherein he won eight of nine small pots had pulled nearly even there.
That's when a hand arose on Table 4 leading to the largest pot to this point of $33,344. In that one they'd reach the river with the board showing A♠2♣Q♦8♠6♠ and $9,500 in middle. That's when Kanu7 shoved all in, and after some thought Haxton called with the $11,922 he had left behind.
Haxton had Q♥8♥, but Millar's A♦Q♣ gave him the simpler two pair, the chips, and the total lead within the match.
Haxton started to chip up on Table 3, then came an enormous preflop all-in that saw Haxton calling a Kanu7 five-bet shove. Haxton showed A♣K♥ and Millar A♦4♦, and when the community cards came 8♦Q♥3♠7♣2♥ Haxton had won a $34,132 pot.
Shortly after came another update of the totals showing that Haxton had grabbed the total lead back with a greater than $8K profit through 459 hands. Moments later, however, Millar grabbed the lead right back after calling Haxton's big all-in overbet on a 8♥K♠Q♥Q♠9♦ board. Haxton had T♥9♠ while Kanu7 had K♥Q♦ for queens filled with kings, thus earning the latter a virtually $30K pot.
Millar would chip up some more before they reached the two-hour break, at which point Kanu7 held a $16,676 advantage throughout the first 483 hands.
303 hands: Ike Haxton +$2,437350 hands: Ike Haxton +$2,544401 hands: Kanu7 +$6,601459 hands: Ike Haxton +$8,138464 hands: Kanu7 +$7,651483 hands: Kanu7 +$16,676
Hour 3 (Hands 484-726)
The third hour kicked off with Haxton doubling as much as earn a $20K-plus pot on Table 4 in a hand wherein he called a Millar river shove with the board showing Q♣T♦Q♥9♣5♠. Kanu7 held A♦Q♦ for trip queens, but Haxton had K♦J♦ for the straight to win the pot and lessen Millar's lead.
Another big hand soon came up on Table 1. With the pot as much as about $15K and the board showing 8♠5♣J♥A♠6♠, Haxton shoved his stack of just over $17K and after tanking for a while Millar called with the $14,479 he had left.
Millar had J♠T♦, not enough against Haxton's A♥K♠ (aces), and the massive pot of $44,258 went to Haxton.
Millar would claim the following big pot of $19,660 after turning two pair and getting paid. Kanu7 would grab another $10K pot after flopping top pair of aces and getting Haxton to name a few post-flop bets.
But Haxton was still winning an excellent share of the smaller pots, and thus continued to keep up his lead.
Then Haxton won two $25K-plus pots -- almost simultaneously on two tables -- and suddenly pushed as much as a greater than $30,000 lead over Millar.
One hand saw Haxton river a small flush versus Millar's two pair to earn a $28,030 pot. Within the other Millar flopped top pair of aces, but Haxton turn a suite of tens and got Kanu7 to repay the river to earn himself a $25,610 pot.
Just a couple of hands later they'd reached the tip of Hour #3, with Haxton enjoying his largest lead of the day.
549 hands: Ike Haxton +$10,790581 hands: Ike Haxton +$11,323634 hands: Ike Haxton +$7,846656 hands: Ike Haxton +$8,407696 hands: Ike Haxton +$8,617710 hands: Ike Haxton +$31,205726 hands: Ike Haxton +$34,834
Hour 4 (Hands 727-925)
The next half-hour saw the pair back in small-ball mode, with most pots remaining within the $1K-$2K range and only occasionally edging higher.
Then came a hand on Table 3 through which the pair traded bets until fifth street with the board showing K♥8♠6♠4♥T♣. With $5,644 within the middle, Kanu7 fired $3,600, then Haxton raised all in and after some thought Millar called with the $4,206 he had behind.
Millar had K♦6♥ -- he'd flopped two pair. But Haxton had turned a straight with 7♠5♥ and earned himself another big pot.
The match was soon paused to rebalance stacks a little bit. Haxton now had nearly a $60K lead on Millar, meaning Millar only barely had enough to keep up $10K stacks on all four tables.
Haxton would soon chip away enough at Millar's overall roll to force play at one table to be halted.
Over on Table 2 a hand came up wherein Kanu7 raised to $250 from the button, Haxton made it $933 to go, and Kanu7 called. The flop came J♦4♣T♠. Haxton checked, Kanu7 bet $1,000, and Haxton called. The turn was the 3♦, and again Haxton check-called Kanu7's bet, this time for $2,200.
The river was the 3♥. Haxton checked once more, and after pausing for several seconds, Millar pushed all in and Haxton instantly called the bet. Haxton had J♣2♣ for jacks and treys, but Millar held 4♦4♠ for an entire house, the $20,850 pot helping decelerate Haxton's rush for the moment.
The pattern repeated, though, with Haxton winning several small pots to nudge Millar back down, then Millar earning another $20K double-up in a hand during which both flopped top pair of kings, then bet right down to the river just for Millar to turn A♠Q♦ to Haxton's K♥Q♥.
They reached the four-hour mark, with Haxton picking up a $12K-plus pot in advance of the break in a hand during which he rivered a king-high straight and got Kanu7 to repay a $5K fifth-street bet.
763 hands: Ike Haxton +$32,566840 hands: Ike Haxton +$59,138888 hands: Ike Haxton +$70,662898 hands: Ike Haxton +$60,387925 hands: Ike Haxton +$67,512
Hour 5 (Hands 926-1,157)
Hour #5 saw Haxton keep applying pressure, and as they crossed the 1,000th-hand mark his lead continued to hover around $62K.
Soon after that Haxton called a Kanu7 three-bet before the flop, then called a c-bet after the flop came K♦A♠4♦. The turn was the 8♥ and Kanu7 led again for $2,200. Haxton raised to $5,400 and Millar called. The river was the 9♦ and this time Millar checked, Haxton shoved, and Millar let it go, the $14,400 pot going Haxton.
Haxton's lead hovered just about $75,000, and shortly it was essential to close a second table and continue on just two.
Kanu7 continued to struggle to forestall Haxton's momentum, and after losing another small pot took to the chat box for some comic relief.
Kanu7: clearly a part of being a team pro is attending to choose turns and rivers ;)Ike Haxton: yes, among my favorite partsKanu7: only among! i gotta get myself the sort of deals
Millar's humorousness was intact, but his bankroll for the match was becoming increasingly endangered, slipping down under $20K total.
Still more relief was afforded to Millar in a hand ahead of the five-hour break wherein he managed to show an entire house and receives a commission. Take a look:
Millar pushed back a bit of more, and by the point the break arrived had built back up over $40K total.
1,003 hands: Ike Haxton +$62,6951,021 hands: Ike Haxton +$67,1531,054 hands: Ike Haxton +$73,9581,083 hands: Ike Haxton +$75,0191,097 hands: Ike Haxton +$76,3891,104 hands: Ike Haxton +$80,6611,137 hands: Ike Haxton +$75,2701,157 hands: Ike Haxton +$58,236
Hour 6 (Hands 1,158-1,385)
When play resumed they were in a position to open back up the opposite two tables, and the match continued on all four again.
The tide seemed to be turning, with Millar continuing to chip up because the sixth hour progressed. A LARGE hand then developed by which Millar raised all in over a Haxton river bet with the board showing 9♥4♥3♦7♦Q♦ and after some thought Haxton called.
Haxton had 9♠7♣ for 2 pair, but Millar had the flush with K♦5♦ and suddenly Haxton's lead was backpedal to around $40K.
Haxton would soon chase away to extend his lead over $50K again. But Kanu7 would soon pick off a river bluff by Haxton to earn another $20K pot and carve back into Haxton's advantage.
They'd soon reach another break, with the lead having shrunk backpedal with reference to $35K.
1,201 hands: Ike Haxton +$57,0201,228 hands: Ike Haxton +$40,4051,251 hands: Ike Haxton +$53,8991,279 hands: Ike Haxton +$55,8491,328 hands: Ike Haxton +$42,1551,365 hands: Ike Haxton +$31,7541,385 hands: Ike Haxton +$35,195
Hour 7 (Hands 1,386-1,643)
It was back to small-ball for the pair because the seventh hour began, with Haxton yet again inching his lead upwards against Millar. It was back around $40K after they moved past the 1,457 hands, the number it took Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky to complete off Tobias "KTPOKP" Kuder in Saturday's first quarterfinal match.
Haxton would soon claim a chain of pots, highlighted by a preflop all-in situation on Table 1 that saw Kanu7 calling Haxton's five-bet shove. Millar had A♥Q♦ and Haxton T♣T♥, and when the board came 3♦2♥T♠5♦A♣, Haxton's set of tens meant he's won the $13,560 pot.
That hand and others helped push Haxton's lead back up over $60,000, but soon Kanu7 picked up a double-up and $20K pot in a hand through which his J♠J♥ held versus Haxton's A♣K♣ when the board came Q♠8♦T♠9♠8♣.
1,438 hands: Ike Haxton +$40,6461,482 hands: Ike Haxton +$40,3551,506 hands: Ike Haxton +$45,3701,541 hands: Ike Haxton +$63,8791,573 hands: Ike Haxton +$64,0971,617 hands: Ike Haxton +$45,9281,613 hands: Ike Haxton +$39,7731,643 hands: Ike Haxton +$33,478
Hour 8 (Hands 1,644-1,901)
Millar continued to chip back, and before long had Haxton's lead down under $25K.
Some of that chipping back came in another instance of Millar calling a Haxton river bluff to earn a $12,592 pot. Then came simultaneous hands on Tables 1 and a couple of that saw a $24,208 pot visit Haxton, and a $31,370 one to Millar.
In the only won by Haxton, a river card brought him a straight after Millar had turned a couple of jacks. Meanwhile within the other, both players made two pair by the river, but Kanu7's hand was best. Take a look:
Haxton's lead continued to dwindle because the pots remained relatively small. Then came a preflop all-in on Table 1 pitting Kanu7's K♠K♦ versus Haxton's 8♣8♥. The kings held, and the virtually $30K pot went to Millar.
The next break arrived -- a 30-minute one this time -- and for the primary time in an extended while, Kanu7 had the lead.
1,683 hands: Ike Haxton +$22,2691,726 hands: Ike Haxton +$17,8801,756 hands: Ike Haxton +$21,2181,790 hands: Ike Haxton +$13,4021,818 hands: Ike Haxton +$15,4721,850 hands: Ike Haxton +$14,2091,901 hands: Kanu7 +$5,874
Hour 9 (Hands 1,902-2,127)
Eight hours down, and Millar and Haxton were essentially right back where that they had begun. What had appeared a match destined to finish relatively rapidly once Haxton's lead had exceeded $80K was now either player's match to win.
The ninth hour started slowly, then a hand arose on Table 3 during which the pair got all of Haxton's $10K stack within the middle following a 6♠7♠9♥ flop with Haxton holding Q♠Q♥ and Kanu7 9♣8♠. The turn then brought another nine, and after a king fell at the river Millar had added to his lead.
Soon another $20K-plus pot went Kanu7's way, this one featuring Haxton flopping top pair of nines, then Millar rivering a greater pair of kings. Check it out:
Another hand involving Kanu7 picking up A♦A♥, flopping a suite of aces, then getting Haxton to bluff a river with out a pair ended in another $20,200 pot going to Millar. Suddenly, because the pair were approaching 2,000 hands played, Millar's lead was as much as $46,864
Haxton soon got $10K back after picking up pocket kings versus Millar's pocket tens, then getting all of his stack in by the river because the board came nine-high.
But Kanu7 soon won that back and a few more in a hand that reached the river with the board showing Q♠2♣Q♦A♣7♥ and Millar -- holding an ace -- quickly check-calling a Haxton shove.
They reached the following break. It have been an ideal hour for Millar.
1,954 hands: Kanu7 +$19,7521,989 hands: Kanu7 +$46,8642,010 hands: Kanu7 +$36,4722,030 hands: Kanu7 +$40,5792,047 hands: Kanu7 +$49,9092,086 hands: Kanu7 +$48,0752,097 hands: Kanu7 +$59,4542,127 hands: Kanu7 +$59,265
Hour 10 (Hands 2,128-2,376)
Haxton -- now routinely min-raising his button (as opposed to raising to $222) -- chipped back some over the following half-hour, but Millar slowly wrestled back what Haxton had gained.
Pots remained mostly small over that stretch, with out a all-ins and only the occasional river flare-up, equivalent to in a hand that saw a board roll out 3♦4♦J♦2♠6♠ and Kanu7 check-call a Haxton bet. Haxton had 4♣2♣, but Millar 6♣4♠ for a greater two pair to win a $5,750 pot.
Kanu7 would claim another $8,266 pot after flopping an ace with A♠Q♥ and getting a few streets' worth of value. That one pushed Millar's lead up near $70K.
Table 4 then suddenly saw some action, with Haxton winning a $19,600 pot with two pair, then Millar winning a $20,000 one at the very next hand once they got all in on a 8♥2♦7♥ flop with Haxton holding Q♠8♠ (eights) and Millar K♥9♥ (flush draw), and Millar spiked a king at the river.
Haxton then scooped a $21K pot on Table 3 after check-calling a Kanu7 river shove and winning with a small flush:
Even so, another hour came to an in depth with Millar having extended his lead.
2,176 hands: Kanu7 +$50,0122,194 hands: Kanu7 +$48,2442,276 hands: Kanu7 +$57,5632,294 hands: Kanu7 +$63.0632,304 hands: Kanu7 +$68,3832,317 hands: Kanu7 +$65,9332,376 hands: Kanu7 +$67,341
Hour 11 (Hands 2,377-2,610)
There were just three tables in action to begin the 11th hour of play, way to Haxton's overall bankroll for the match having slipped under $35K.
Kanu7 soon won a $8,200 pot on Table 2 after rivering the low end of a seven-high straight, checking to Haxton, then watching Haxton pause a very long time before checking back.
For a temporary period the lead was up over $70K, but Haxton pushed back to attain an $18K-plus pot with a rivered straight over Kanu7's top pair.
That was enough to drag Haxton back up over $40K total and make allowance the fourth table to be reopened. Haxton then swiftly doubled to $20K at that table when he turned two pair with Q♠4♦, then got all of it in at the river to crack Mullar's A♦A♠ overpair.
A twinkling of an eye later, Kanu7 would pick up pocket aces again on the same table, this time on a hand through which Haxton was dealt 9♦9♥. They'd get all of Millar's chips in preflop, and when the aces held up the $29,134 pot helped bolster Millar's lead again.
A straight flush would earn Haxton a $10K pot on Table 1, and a short time later a whole house garnered him an $11K-plus one on Table 2. And prior to the break arrived Haxton would pick up A♦A♣ on Table 3, flop a set, then receives a commission by Millar who held A♠3♠ to the tune of another $20K pot.
After a tricky previous hour, Haxton had fought his technique to gaining back about $40K from Millar during Hour #11.
2,427 hands: Kanu7 +$70,2692,452 hands: Kanu7 +$54,7582,461 hands: Kanu7 +$44,2832,544 hands: Kanu7 +$60,8032,581 hands: Kanu7 +$43,4722,610 hands: Kanu7 +$27,704
Hour 12 (Hands 2,611-2,845)
The 12th hour saw more small ball as Millar maintained the lead, with only some pots exceeding $5K.
Haxton grabbed one pot of just over $10K early on and not using a showdown, while Kanu7 took a $9,500 one with a turned nut flush that got checked down at the river. But for essentially the most part play was snug because the pair moved toward that 3,000-hand mark at which point the blinds were scheduled to double.
2,663 hands: Kanu7 +$32,1872,698 hands: Kanu7 +$23,2272,780 hands: Kanu7 +$27,0712,845 hands: Kanu7 +$26,383
Hour 13 (Hands 2,846-3,024)
The same, relatively quiet pattern continued into the 13th hour. A flicker of pleasure arose on Table 3 when Haxton shoved all in on a 2♠8♣4♥5♥7♣ board and earned a fold and a $9,664 pot.
Before folding, Kanu7 commented at the additional time Haxton spent before his all-in push, and the pair continued the conversation afterwards.
Kanu7: i really like the timing balancing at the river, then shove 100% of the time ;)Ike Haxton: i need to spend a short while interested by how excited i'm to shoveKanu7: hahaIke Haxton: savor the momentKanu7: on a scale of one to 10, how was that one?Ike Haxton: 9.5Kanu7: niceIke Haxton: i had the second one nut lowIke Haxton: so it was very excitingKanu7: haha
Shortly after that one, a hand arose on Table 1 that reached the river with the board showing 3♦J♠5♣7♥4♣ and $8,366 within the middle. Haxton pushed all in immediately that time, and Kanu called, showing A♥J♦ for high pair, top kicker. Haxton showed his K♣J♣, and Millar took the $21K pot.
"Shoved quick once for you," said Haxton after, and Kanu7 responded with a "lol thanks." "I see why you do not do it now," added Millar, "bad luck."
Millar added a couple of more chips to increase his lead back up over $40K, and shortly after that they completed the 3,000th hand of the match and play was paused.
"We will now move to the $100/$200 tables," said the host, and after a few minutes cards were back within the air. Needing $20K stacks (100 big blinds), Haxton's deficit meant they just opened two tables when play resumed.
Haxton would soon pick up a $17K-plus pot with another river shove (this time uncalled), they usually were in a position to open a 3rd table. Millar then earned a similar-sized pot with a turn shove that got Haxton to fold.
2,874 hands: Kanu7 +$34,0672,894 hands: Kanu7 +$33,2972,924 hands: Kanu7 +$27,6712,980 hands: Kanu7 +$43,7793,024 hands: Kanu7 +$38,678
Hour 14 (Hands 3,025-3,244)
Then came a hand through which Haxton raised 2x from the button and Millar called, and the pair saw a flop come 9♦Q♦4♥. Kanu7 check-called Haxton's bet of $528, then the turn brought the 2♣ and checks from both.
The river was the 2♦. Millar bet $1,200 this time, Haxton raised to $2,800, Millar shoved all in, and Haxton called with the $9,655 he had left. Millar showed Q♥2♠ for a whole house, beating Haxton's flush with A♦J♦, and the $26,766 went into Kanu7's stack.
That hand was immediately followed by a bigger one on Table 3, with pair getting all $18,900 of Haxton's stack in at the river with the board showing Q♦5♦K♦Q♥8♣. Haxton had A♦Q♣ for trip queens, nevertheless it was queens full again for Millar who held Q♠5♠.
Suddenly within the space of only a few minutes, Haxton was all the way down to fighting with not up to $20,000 at a single table.
Haxton added a couple of chips there, but soon was all in before the flop with A♣K♦ against Millar's Q♣Q♠. For the primary time all day and night the match could end dependent on the result of a hand. A king fell at the flop to pair the Team Online Pro, and when Haxton's hand-held he was back up over $40K.
The pair needed to chat just a little about that one.
Kanu7: nooooooooooooooooIke Haxton: hahahaKanu7: nh lolKanu7: don't even consider coming back to win now :)Ike Haxton: i'm fascinated by itKanu7: rude
A second table was reopened, with Millar's lead staying at around $60K over the following QUARTER-HOUR or so.
Haxton then won another all-in and $40K pot in a hand that saw all of his chips go in on a 7♥6♥8♠4♠ board with Ike holding 8♣7♣ for high two pair. Millar had 7♠6♠ for a lesser two pair, and after the 2♦ river Haxton had swiftly cut Kanu7's lead down under $40K.
A third table was installed play, and so they took a five-minute break soon afterwards, pausing for a breather following a wild first half-hour at the $100/$200 tables.
Play resumed, and pocket queens soon helped Haxton cut further into the lead. But Millar would quickly snare a few $40K pots as they approached the 14-hour mark. One came in a hand that saw Haxton pushing all in at the river with a bottom pair of treys and Millar calling with top pair of aces, while within the other Millar made a straight versus Haxton's two pair.
Thus, as they headed toward Hour #15 of play, Millar was ascending once more.
3,037 hands: Kanu7 +$27,7593,081 hands: Kanu7 +$84,5533,108 hands: Kanu7 +$59,4063,141 hands: Kanu7 +$57,2483,162 hands: Kanu7 +$35,5943,184 hands: Kanu7 +$36,3663,196 hands: Kanu7 +$20,9943,203 hands: Kanu7 +$21,3943,211 hands: Kanu7 +$16,9283,244 hands: Kanu7 +$53,383
Hour 15 (Hands 3,245-3,484)
Haxton started the hour chipping back at Millar, including once picking up pocket aces and turning a suite to narrow the space.
But there has been a decided loss of drama in comparison to the former hour, with both players keeping pots small for the primary 35 minutes or so.
Then came a hand wherein Haxton raised before the flop, then called a Millar check-raise following a J♦7♣4♠ flop. The turn was the 5♣ and this time Millar bet $3,200 and Haxton called.
The river was the T♠ and when Kanu7 checked, Haxton shoved for $13,521 and Millar called. Millar had J♣4♦ for 2 pair, but Haxton had 8♣6♠ for the straight and took the $37,842 pot.
The lead had shrunk to not up to $12,000, and shortly all four tables were again in play.
From there, a busted draw and river shove by Haxton on Table 2 caused the following chip swing, sending a $42,200 pot to Kanu7 after he called.
A flurry followed through which the players traded $40K-ish pots back and forth, with Haxton ultimately popping out ahead. Haxton then chipped up some more, and after 15 hours of poker the pair were nearing even once again.
3,256 hands: Kanu7 +$50,7253,277 hands: Kanu7 +$44,7313,301 hands: Kanu7 +$30,7273,324 hands: Kanu7 +$32,4893,376 hands: Kanu7 +$11,1383,403 hands: Kanu7 +$14,4363,443 hands: Kanu7 +$33,9043,458 hands: Kanu7 +$9.9403,469 hands: Kanu7 +$11,8283,484 hands: Kanu7 +$10,628
Hour 16 (Hands 3,485-3,699)
The duel continued across four tables, with both players sitting with about $20K at each. After another succession of small pots, a large one brewed on Table 4 with Haxton's flopped set of jacks earning him a $40K pot when Millar rivered a pairing queen.
Close to 8 hours after he had lost it, Haxton had regained the lead.
For the rest of the hour the pots were small-to-medium, with Haxton gradually increasing his edge.
3,563 hands: Ike Haxton +$19,0523,623 hands: Ike Haxton +$32,1693,648 hands: Ike Haxton +$15,6593,681 hands: Ike Haxton +$17,0163,699 hands: Ike Haxton +$27,0343,720 hands: Ike Haxton +$33,727
Hour 17 (Hands 3,721-3,881)
Haxton continued to snatch pots and increase his lead, and shortly moved back up over the $50K mark together with his advantage, thereby forcing the action backpedal to simply two tables.
Haxton whittled away at Kanu7 at Table 2, then came a hand through which Millar raised to $500 from the button and Haxton called, and the flop came 7♦9♦J♠. Haxton checked, Kanu7 bet $600, and Haxton called. The turn was the A♣, and again Haxton check-called, with Millar betting $1,400 this time.
The river was the 4♠ and Haxton checked over again. Kanu7 bet $6,400, and Haxton called yet again, showing A♦7♠ for 2 pair, better than Millar's Q♦T♥.
Meanwhile at the other table, the pair traded raises backward and forward until Kanu7 was all in for $20,400 with 9♥9♦ against Haxton's K♠Q♠.
The board rolled out A♣6♠J♠T♠5♠, giving Haxton a straight, then a flush, and suddenly, just because the match was nearing the top of 17 hours of play, Kanu7 was right down to not up to $6,000 total.
It would take but five more hands to complete it.
In the last hand, Haxton raised the button and Kanu7 called, then Millar check-called bets on all three post-flop streets because the board came 6♥4♣7♥6♣3♥, happening all in with the river call. Millar had K♦5♣ for a straight, but Haxton 9♥5♥ for a heart flush to win the match.
3,791 hands: Ike Haxton +$43,3623,796 hands: Ike Haxton +$50,4623,827 hands: Ike Haxton +$54,1643,876 hands: Ike Haxton +$94,2143,881 hands: Ike Haxton +$100,000
The pair weren't too tired to switch some congrats within the chat box:
Kanu7: congrats ggIke Haxton: thanksIke Haxton: ggIke Haxton: crazy matchKanu7: yeahKanu7: win the QQ vs AK 1 time ffsIke Haxton: lolIke Haxton: indeedKanu7: can't remember the last time i used to be more card dead than the last couple of hours besides :(Kanu7: ah well, shame someone has to lose such an epic match but better of luck for the remainder of the tourneyIke Haxton: yeah, i think itIke Haxton: it really felt that wayIke Haxton: thanks, you played really well
We'll add our congrats to both players besides for a surprisingly competitive match. Team Online Pro Isaac Haxton moves directly to face Ben "Sauce123" Sulsky within the semifinals later this week. Be sure you follow the entire action here at the PokerStars blog!
Martin Harris is a contract Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: All Star Showdown]
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