Deborah Lee Espe Doubles Up in a Dramatic Showdown
Level 6: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 236/305
Christodoulos Adamou opened the action from under the gun, with USA’s Deborah Lee Espe calling from the hijack, and Niccolò Cadoni joining in from the big blind. The flop came a dangerous K♠9♦10♠, prompting Adamou to make a continuation bet of 2,500. Espe called, but Cadoni raised it up to 11,000. Adamou folded, leaving Espe and Cadoni to battle it out.
Before Cadoni’s raise was even complete, Espe threw her remaining 33,600 chips into the middle, and Cadoni called without hesitation. The cards were on their backs:
- Deborah Lee Espe: K♥J♦ (top pair, straight draw)
- Niccolò Cadoni: 9♠8♠ (pair of nines, flush draw)
With her tournament life on the line, Espe needed to dodge a spade or another nine. The turn brought the 8♥, offering no help to Cadoni’s flush draw, and the river sealed her fate with the 10♣, awarding Espe a full double-up and keeping her tournament hopes alive.
A big pot won for the American as she successfully navigated a tense spot against a tricky board!
Deborah Lee Espe: 87,000
Niccolò Cadoni: 37,000
