Event #27: $1,500 SHOOTOUT No-Limit Hold'em

"Good luck," David Dowdy wished Michael Simhai as the pair began heads-up play.

"You too. I'm glad it's you and nobody else at this table" Simhai told him, "seriously."

Just a few hands later, Dowdy moved all in. Simhai knew he had a difficult decision to make. He initially had a big grin on his face, before letting out an exasperated "oh god." He leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms. He knocked over his drink on the table beside him, picked it up, and took a sip. "I gotta get rid of you but I don't want to double you up."

After a brief moment, Simhai made the call.

David Dowdy:   
Michael Simhai:   

Simhai was behind, but had an overcard. The flop came    , providing no help to Simhai. The   turn changed nothing as well. Then, the   arrived on the river, pairing the board for a second time, counterfeiting Dowdy's pocket sevens. Simhai's ace kicker played, giving him the pot, and sending Dowdy to the rail in second place, where he'll take home a cash of $148,618.

The two shook hands and embraced following the conclusion of the tournament.

Michael Simhai	25,000,000	23,005,000
David Dowdy	0	-5,050,000

After limping preflop, the     flop was checked through before the   turn. Michael Simhai fired for 650,000. Anant Patel made the call. After the   river was checked as well, Simhai announced "Seven high," before Patel turned over   , good for two pair with the paired board, and Patel scooped the pot.

A hand or two later, Patel opened to 500,000 from the button. Simhai made the call after David Dowdy got out of the way.

On the     flop, Patel fired for another 450,000. Simhai made another call.

After checking through the   turn, Patel sized up and fired one final barrel at the   river. This time, Simhai made the laydown, giving the pot to Patel.

The very next saw Simhai lead out for 600,000, getting a call from Patel as Dowdy got out of the way. The     flop was checked through before Patel fired for 500,000 on the   turn. Simhai made the call.

The   river was checked through, after which Simhai turned over   , giving him top pair, and Patel tossed his hand into the muck.

Michael Simhai	10,775,000	-100,000
Anant Patel	6,800,000	-800,000
David Dowdy	6,300,000	2,300,000

Anant Patel moved all in from the button for 3,500,000. David Dowdy decided to make the call from the small blind. Patel at risk, cards were turned over.

Anant Patel:   
David Dowdy:   

Patel found a flop of dreams when the     hit the board. The   turn and   river ended the hand and Patel locked up the full double.

Anant Patel	7,600,000	4,200,000
David Dowdy	4,000,000	-6,200,000

Michael Simhai opened to 1,200,000 from the cutoff. Action folded to Ravi Raghavan who moved all in for about 2,100,000. Simhai made the call and cards were on their backs.

Ravi Raghavan:   
Michael Simhai:   

At risk, Raghavan saw the board run out      , and he couldn't improve. Simhai added to his stack and Raghavan was eliminated.

Michael Simhai	11,000,000	2,400,000
Ravi Raghavan	0	-3,900,000

Ravi Raghavan opened to 300 from the cutoff, getting a call from all three other players at the table.

The     flop and   turn were checked around, before David Dowdy fired for 475,000 on the   river. Raghavan and Michael Simhai got out of the way before Anant Patel made the call, announcing "straight" as he did so. He turned over   , good for the queen high straight. Dowdy mucked his hand as Patel scooped the pot to add to his growing chip stack.

David Dowdy	7,050,000	-1,150,000
Anant Patel	6,700,000	2,700,000

After limping preflop, Ravi Raghavan fired for 150,000 at the     flop. David Dowdy raised to 350,000, and Raghavan called.

The   turn was checked around before Dowdy fired for 250,000 at the   river. Raghavan made the call, and Dowdy announced "Two pair," before turning over   . Raghavan tossed his hand in the muck as Dowdy raked in the pot.

A couple hands later, Raghavan opened to 300,000, getting called by Michael Simhai and Anant Patel.

On the     flop, an identical round of betting occurred, as Raghavan led for 300,000 and both opponents called.

The   turn was checked before Patel fired for 650,000 on the   river. Raghavan got out of the way before Simhai made the call. Simhai turned over   , good for two pair, and the pot, adding to his narrow chip lead over Dowdy.

Michael Simhai	9,850,000	1,025,000
David Dowdy	8,200,000	1,050,000
Ravi Raghavan	3,900,000	-1,175,000
Anant Patel	2,300,000	-1,450,000

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Players are on their second 15-minute break of the day.

Ravi Raghavan opened to 250,000 from the button, getting a call from Anant Patel in the big blind.

Raghavan continued for 275,000 on the     flop, again earning a call from Patel.

On the   turn, Raghavan sized up and fired his biggest barrel yet, for 425,000. Patel again found the call.

Both players checked on the   river. Raghavan turned over   , good for top pair. Patel tossed his hand in the muck while Raghavan scooped the pot.

Anant Patel	5,000,000	1,400,000
Ravi Raghavan	2,650,000	-1,400,000