Event 56: $1,600 No-Limit Hold’em $2,000,000 Guarantee 

Level 21
Blinds: 6,000/12,000/2,000
Total Entrants: 2,216
Players Remaining: 72
Chip Average: 616,000

Paul Volpe gave Noah Vaillancourt a thorough stare-down and called off for his tournament life in a 1,800,000 chip pot. 

In a field as tough as Event 56, any elimination is a welcome sight, but when a player the caliber of Paul Volpe hits the rail, the tournament gives a collective exhale. Volpe and Noah Vaillancourt tangled in one of the largest pots of the tournament that resulted in Volpe calling off for his tournament life.

Vaillancourt opened from the button and Volpe three-bet from the big blind. Vaillancourt called and the flop ran out J♥10♠2♣. Volpe continued for 81,000 and Vaillancourt called to the A♣ turn. Volpe slowed down with a check and Vaillancourt bet 220,000. Volpe carefully sized up Vaillancourt and called.

The river was the 8♣ and Volpe checked again. Vaillancourt shoved for 670,000, barely having Volpe covered. Volpe let out a few sighs and whistles noting how he thought Vaillancourt might have king-queen. After counting down his own stack to see what he would be left with should he fold (640,000) and about four total minutes of thought, Volpe called.

Vaillancourt showed K♦Q♠ for a turned straight and Volpe threw down J♣J♠. Volpe collected his payout slip and Vaillancourt took in the huge pot. He is now the chip leader with 1,840,000 as Event 56 is down to just eight tables.