And then there have been three!

It's been five hours since play began today and now we've reached our final three.

After the primary three players found the rail in quick succession, Erich Stadler was next to move when he was eliminated in sixth place. Stadler moved all in for his last 340,000 in chips from the hijack and Manny Stavropoulos would call off the shortstack from the large blind.

Stadler: A♠K♦Stavropoulos: A♥6♣

Stadler was in great shape to double up and avoided danger during the 7♥8♦Q♠ flop. The turn, however, landed the 6♥ as Stadler dropped his head into his hands. With just a king capable of save him it wasn't to be because the 5♣ river arrived sealing his fate. For his sixth place finish Stadler picks up $45,305.

6th place - Erich Stadler

Fifth place would visit Kenn Langcake after a cooler found him in search of an ace to stick alive. After an under the gun open from Stavropoulos, Langcake moved all in for 670,000 from the cutoff. Peter Matusik called to position him in danger and Stavropoulos got out of the way.

Langcake: A♠K♥Matusik: K♠K♦

The 7♦T♠J♠ flop gave Langcake some extra outs with a Broadway draw however the 4♣ turn and 6♠ river would see Matusik hold and Langcake hit the rail. For his fifth place finish Langcake scores himself $55,965.

5th place - Kenn Langcake

Play bogged down dramatically at this point as everyone tightened approaching the highest three spots. It could take greater than an entire 75-minute level before another player would hit the rail. That was Nikolce Trajkovski who ended up in fourth place for a healthy $71,960 payday.

In the hand that saw him eliminated, Trajkovski found himself all in for his last 200,000 in chips after calling for his tournament life within the big blind from Shi's small blind jam.

Trajkovski: A♣7♦Shi: 9♦8♣

The call proved good and Trajkovski was looking set for a double up because the board came down 2♣3♥J♦J♣. Only needing to vanish an eight or nine at the river he couldn't do it because the dealer turned up the 8♠ and Trajkovski headed to the exit in fourth place.

4th place - Nikolce Trajkovski

So now there are just three left searching for the ANZPT7 Melbourne title and the $261,200 first place prize. Who will navigate their well beyond the opposite remaining two players and emerge victorious here tonight? Stick with us as we discover out!

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Australia New Zealand Poker Tour]