Damien Rony Eliminated in 27th Place (€9,055)
It started humbly enough -- just another hand, it seemed, with Damien Rony and Dominik Nitsche exercising some preflop aggression, much as they had for the first several hands since we reached the money.
Then things got interesting.
Rony opened with a standard raise from middle position, then Nitsche reraised from the button. The blinds got out, and after taking a few moments Rony called the three-bet.
The flop came 
. Rony checked, and Nitsche fired out a bet of 42,000. Rony took a full minute before making the call.
The turn was the 
, prompting another quick check from Rony. Nitsche fired once more, this time for 77,000. Rony took two minutes this time, and once more made the call.
The river brought the 
. Rony again checked. Nitsche rechecked his cards, then asked his opponent what he had left. Rony moved his hands for Nitsche to see the answer was around 220,000. Nitsche then announced he was all in, putting out a large stack of lavender chips as he did.
Rony ran a hand over his forehead and through his hair. He contemplated the situation, counting out his own chips to confirm to himself just how much he had left. Finally he said he was calling.
"Aces," said Nitsche, turning over 
. Rony nodded and mucked his cards, then stood to leave, the first of 27 players to cash in the tournament.
Nitsche is still stacking, but he appears to be over 1.15 million after that one, enough to make him our new chip leader with 26 left.