Kibrit Catching Cards, Momentum Officially Turned
Riding that incredible rush which all poker players have known at some point in their lives, Rafe Kibrit raised to 80,000 from the button and Elie Payan came along for the ride.
Flop:
Both players checked the flop and the fell on the turn. Payan checked it once more, his aggression a thing of the past at this point, and Kibrit fired 120,000 into the middle. Payan decided to peel off one more card and made the call.
River:
Kibrit slid eight green chips forward for a bet of 200,000 and Payan agonized briefly before deciding to look his red-hot opponent up. Kibrit calmly turned over his for trip eights on the turn and Payan had paid him off once again.
Kibrit now holds all of the green 25,000 denomination chips on the table in a stunning reversal of fortune. In an entertaining coincidence, at least for Kibrit, his rush began immediately after a fan wearing all green entered the audience area to cheer him on. This fan tells us his nickname is "The Royal Sweat" and he seems to have the uncanny ability of rooting for eventual bracelet winners. Rafe Kibrit will certainly be thankful to "The Royal Sweat" for arriving just in the nick of time if he goes on to complete the comeback and capture the gold bracelet here tonight.