Carlos Lopez and Iago Lopez are best friends and have known each other for 15 years. They live only six miles apart - near Lugo in Galicia, Spain. They took up playing poker together and both qualified for this year's WSOP on PokerStars, flying over together on the same flight.

Iago Lopez (left) and Carlos Lopez

Once at the Rio, they were drawn to play on exactly the same days during the tournament - and often only a few tables apart. They were the last surviving Spanish players here and both made it through to Day 5. Then, at 3.15pm this afternoon, they both got dealt Aces.

A lot of people here in the Rio could probably tell you the odds of all that happening. But what happened next is simply extraodinary.

Iago was dealt AdAh. With a three-diamond flop, he bet $50,000. Another player re-raised $200,000 and Iago called all in. But no other diamonds appeared to help him and the other player had already flopped his flush. Iago was out in 101st place - with a failed nut flush draw.

A few tables down, and at exactly the same time, Carlos, with about $200,000, was dealt an Ace of clubs and a King. Another player, with pocket 5s, bet all-in and the short-stacked Galician called. The flop brought another three clubs but no more appeared so the 5s took it. Carlos was out in 102nd place - with a failed nut flush draw.

It's also worth mentioning that the two pair go home with exactly the same prize money: $51,129.