Level 19 (4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total RG Main Event Entries: 278
Players Remaining: 21
Average Stack: 265,000
Team RunGood's Grant Hinkle is over 500,000 and closing in on another main event final table appearance.
The chips have been flying since the field moved to three tables and players haven't wasted any time trying to accumulate as many chips as possible before the final table. Grant Hinkle and Alex Candelaria have been the two major gainers since the draw and are both over 500,000.
Hinkle gained most of his chips through the elimination of Kipp Smith to move up to 520,000. Hinkle opened for 16,000 under the gun and Smith moved all-in for about 65,000 from the big blind. It didn't take long for Hinkle to call with A♠9♦ as he had the Q♥8♥ of Smith in bad shape. An ace hit the flop and Hinkle locked up the hand to increase his stack.
On the next table over, Candelaria is sitting with the chip lead after coming into his new seat with 150,000. Candelaria doubled up with a set against Henry Gingerich and then eliminated Richard Arndt in a similar fashion. Arndt opened with Q♥9♥ from the hijack to 20,000 and Candelaria called with 4♣4♦ from the small blind to see a Q♠9♣4♠ flop.
Candelaria checked and Arndt bet 20,000 only to be check-raised by Candelaria to 100,000. Arndt moved all-in for 180,000 total and Candelaria called to put almost 450,000 up for grabs. The turn and river did not help Arndt and Candelaria is the new chip leader with 560,000 in front of him.