Big Stax 500 (Day 2): It's Worm Time!!

Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 925
Players Remaining: 109

Joe Palma (Bensalem, PA)

Only a few hands back from break, Joe "Worm" Palma would open a pot UTG to 20,000.  Matteo Menna would three-bet to 45,000, with Michael Hickman and Kevin Daravour coming along for the 45,000.  Action would be back on Palma, and he four-bet shoved for 170,000.  Menna folded after some thought, with Hickman announcing a call, and Kevin folding A♥ K♠ face up:

Palma: A♣ A♦
Hickman: Q♣ Q♦

Runout: A♠ 2♦ 10♣ 7♦ 5♠

Palma's lead would only increase on the flop, and after the turn he would have Hickman drawing dead.  "It's worm time," Joe exclaimed as he scooped in the pot, chipping up to just under 500,000.  Only moments before that hand unfolded, the field lost birthday girl Nancy Martin (Washington Crossing, PA).