2013 World Series of Poker - LIVE and In-Depth WSOP 2013 Coverage

Greg Merson Wins 2012 Main Event for $8,531,853

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson was widely-considered to be the best player at the final table of the 2012 WSOP Main Event and he certainly played like it today.

Merson showed an incredible amount of poise surviving over 11 hours of three-handed play with Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger.

It was a roller-coaster affair that saw Merson, Sylvia and Balsiger all take turns as the chip leader. It was also the longest Main Event final table ever held in Las Vegas coming in at 399 hands.

Despite the chips being swapped back and forth it always seemed to be Merson’s tournament to lose as every time he fell behind in chips he would grind his way back to the top.

It seemed the final three players were simply too deep for anyone but Merson to walk out on top.

Merson overcame getting unlucky in a couple spots to finally bust Balsiger in third place with king-queen over queen-ten.

Heads-up took far less time as Merson steam-rolled Sylvia in 17 hands. Merson won the final hand with K♦ 5♦ over Sylvia’s Q♠ J♠.

Merson is the new world champion and $8.5 million richer. Amazingly it was his second WSOP bracelet of the summer and he also passed Phil Hellmuth to win WSOP Player of the Year.

Congratulations to Merson for his fantastic performance here at the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table.

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2012 Main Event: Merson Busts Sylvia in 2nd ($5,295,149)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Three-handed play may have lasted for over 11 hours but it took Merson less than one hour to land the knockout blow against Jesse Sylvia.

In the final hand of the tournament Merson opened for 4 million and Jesse Sylvia raised to 9 million. Merson 4-bet jammed, having Sylvia’s 69 million covered.

That sent Sylvia deep into the tank. Sylvia pondered his options for several minutes but eventually announced a call.

Somewhat surprisingly Sylvia could only offer Q♠ J♠ but Merson was ahead with K♦ 5♦.

The crowd was whipped into a frenzy as the dealer threw laid out a 9♦ 6♣ 3♥ flop. The turn came 6♠ and the tension in the air was palpable with one card left to go.

Finally the river came… 7♣!

Merson busts Sylvia to win the 2012 WSOP Main Event. The room exploded as Merson’s fans jumped onto the stage to cheer on their hero.

Sylvia picks up $5,295,149 for coming in second place. Stay tuned for a complete recap.

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2012 Main Event: Merson Builds on Lead

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson has further cemented his status as chip leader over the first 10 hands of heads-up play.

Although we haven’t seen any enormous pots yet, Merson did just take down a significant pot off Sylvia.

Merson opened for 4 million but Sylvia re-popped it to 9.1 million. Merson thought for a minute, grabbed two massive stacks and pushed them into the middle to raise it up to 18.4 million.

Sylvia couldn’t make the call and threw his hand into the muck. Merson scooped the rather large pot.

Here’s how the chip counts look after the hand:

1. Greg Merson: 130,900,000 2. Jesse Sylvia: 67,300,000

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2012 Main Event: Merson Eliminates Balsiger in 3rd ($3,797,558)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

After more than 11 hours of play we finally have our first elimination of the day.

Jesse Sylvia opened betting for 4 million from the button and Jake Balsiger immediately moved all-in for about 20 million from the small blind.

Merson didn’t appear to be folding, and after several minutes of thought, he decided to call. Sylvia got out of the way and Merson and Balsiger revealed their hands:

Merson: K♣ Q♠

Balsiger: Q♥ T♦

Merson had Balsiger crushed and the young poker player was going to need some serious help from the board to continue in this tournament.

The dealer put out a 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ flop, which caused the audience to gasp. Despite the beastly look of the flop, Merson was still in the lead. The J♣ peeled off the turn and finally the board finished with the 5♥.

Despite busting, Balsiger has to be happy with a performance that saw him go from second-to-last in chips to finishing in third place for $3,797,558.

Here are the chip counts going into heads-up play between Merson and Sylvia:

1. Greg Merson: 117,600,0002. Jesse Sylvia: 80,600,000

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2012 Main Event: Breaking Records

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s official: the 2012 Main Event has broken the official record as the longest final table in the history of the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.

The record was set at 364 hands at the final table in 2009 and we’re now up to over 380 hands. Of course if you include the WSOPE Main Event, that one still has the record with 484 hands played.

We may very well break that number too before this night is over, however.

Over the last 30 minutes we’ve seen Jake Balsiger once again get busy with several all-in shoves but Sylvia and Merson weren’t ready to make the call.

Here’s a look the most recent chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 92,700,000 2. Jesse Sylvia – 84,900,000 3. Jake Balsiger – 20,600,000

Blinds are now 1,000,000/2,000,000 with a 300,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Strikes Back, Doubles Through Balsiger

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It didn’t take long for Jesse Sylvia to retrieve the majority of the chips he lost against Jake Balsiger.

Balsiger limped his button, Greg Merson folded the small blind and Jesse Sylvia checked his big blind.

The flop came K♣ 8♦ 2♠ and Sylvia checked. Balsiger bet 2.2 million and Sylvia raised to 7.6 million. Balsiger moved all-in and Sylvia called.

Sylvia showed 8♠ 2♦ for two-pair while Balsiger flipped over K♦ 9♣ for the flopped pair of kings.

The turn came 2♦, improving Sylvia to a full house, and then the board finished with a meaningless 3♥ to give Sylvia the double up.

Balsiger is once again last in chips. Here’s a complete look at the updated chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 73,600,000 2. Jesse Sylvia – 69,200,000 3. Jake Balsiger – 55,400,000

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2012 Main Event: Balsiger Steals Chip Lead in Shocker

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jake Balsiger, who started the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table second-to-last in chips, is suddenly the chip leader.

Balsiger doubled through Jesse Sylvia in a massive 92 million-chip pot.

Sylvia limped his button but Balsiger bet 4.5 million from the small blind. Greg Merson folded the big blind while Sylvia decided to call.

The pair saw a flop of 9♦ 3♣ 3♠ and Balsiger thought for a minute or two before betting 4.5 million. Sylvia raised to 11.2 million and Balsiger opted to move all-in for his 41 million-chip stack.

Sylvia called in short order and flipped over K♦ 9♥ but Balsiger had him crushed with a monster K♠ K♣.

The turn came J♣ and the river finished with the A♦ to send Sylvia spiriling down to 37 million while Balsiger soared to 92 million.

Here are your new chip counts:

1. Jake Balsiger – 92,300,000 2. Greg Merson – 68,800,000 3. Jesse Sylvia – 37,100,000

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Takes Chip Lead from Merson

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jesse Sylvia just displayed some creativity in a huge hand against Greg Merson to take the overall chip lead.

Merson opened the betting with a 3.2 million bet from the button. Sylvia re-popped it to 7.5 million from the small blind, which prompted a fold from Jake Balsiger.

Merson wasn’t going anywhere, however, and decided to raise it up to 12.1 million. Sylvia weighed his options but eventually made the call.

The flop came K♥ 9♥ 3♣ and Sylvia checked. Merson made a rather small bet of 4.6 million and Sylvia called.

The turn came Q♥ and both players checked. The board finished with the K♣ and once again both players checked.

Sylvia showed Q♣ 9♣ and that was enough to take the 35 million chip pot down and give Sylvia the chip lead.

Here’s a look at the updated chip counts:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 82,350,0002. Greg Merson – 70,600,0003. Jake Balsiger – 45,250,000

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2012 WSOP: Balsiger Starts Shoving

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jake Balsiger finally slipped below 20 big blinds over the last 30 minutes of play and started to take matters into his hands by moving all-in several times.

He hasn’t had any callers yet as Jesse Sylvia and Greg Merson haven’t found anything they want to go to war with.

Thanks to his all-in shoves Balsiger has moved back up to 46 million and should be safer for a little bit longer.

Meanwhile Merson has cooled off and has once again dipped below 100 million.

We’re now up to 339 hands as this marathon final table continues.

Here’s a look at the latest chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 90,800,000 2. Jesse Sylvia – 60,750,000 3. Jake Balsiger – 46,650,000

Blinds are 800,000/1,600,000 with a 200,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Greg Merson Wearing Them Down

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Once again action has slowed at the final table but a patient Greg Merson seems to be getting the best of Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger.

Merson has been winning tons of small pots and it’s starting to add up. Merson is up to 110 million right now while both Balsiger and Sylvia have slipped.

The most significant recent hand saw all three players limp to see a flop of A♣ Q♥ 5♠, which prompted a check from all three players.

The turn came 6♥ and Sylvia, who was first to act, fired 2.7 million into the pot. Balsiger folded but Merson came over the top and raised it to 6.8 total.

Sylvia called and the board finished with the 2♣ on the river. Sylvia checked but Merson fired 14 million into the pot. Sylvia tanked but eventually folded.

We’re now up to over 305 hands, which surpasses last year’s mark of 301 hands total at the 2011 Main Event final table.

Here are the updated chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 112,000,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 56,000,0003. Jake Balsiger – 29,550,000

Blinds are 600,000/1,200,000 with a 200,000 ante

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2012 Main Event: Suckouts Continue as Balsiger Doubles Through Sylvia

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

At this point players might want to consider getting it in bad. Jake Balsiger once again appeared to be on his way out of the tournament but the board rescued him.

Jesse Sylvia started the hand with a standard bet from the button and Balsiger, who was down to 18 million chips thanks to losing a couple prior hands, decided to move all-in from the big blind.

Sylvia thought for a minute but then made the call flipping over A♠ T♥. He was ahead of Balsiger’s K♠ J♦ and it looked like we might finally have our first elimination today.

Instead the flop came K♣ 5♠ 2♣ and Balsiger’s supporters went nuts. The K♦ turn sealed the deal and Balsiger doubled up to 35 million. Despite winning the hand, Balsiger is still the shortest stack at the final table.

Here’s a look at the chip counts after the hand:

1. Greg Merson – 106,125,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 56,450,0003. Jake Balsiger – 35,400,000

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2012 Main Event: Merson on the Grind, Re-takes Lead

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson, Jake Balsiger and Jesse Sylvia have now been locked in three-handed battle for over seven hours.

After those two massive double ups, play has slowed considerably with Merson, Balsiger and Sylvia apparently not included to play any big pots against each other.

That’s been just fine for Merson, who has been able to grind his way back up to over 80 million chips for the chip lead. Merson has won numerous pots over the last 30 minutes without getting to showdown.

When it comes to the marathon game you’d think the edge has to go to Merson who has played high stakes games for years now but both Sylvia and Balsiger have cash game experience as well.

Here’s a look at the most recent chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 83,325,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 76,550,0003. Jake Balsiger – 38,100,000

Blinds are 600,000/1,200,000 with a 250,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Posts Epic Double Through Merson with AK>KK

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Apparently there’s still a little bit of luck with Jesse Sylvia as he just doubled through Greg Merson in a wild hand.

Sylvia opened the betting with a 2 million bet and Merson raised to 4.8 million. Sylvia responded by 4-Betting to 10.2 million.

Merson thought for a minute but then moved all-in, having Sylvia’s 42 million easily covered. Sylvia snap-called and tabled A♥ K♠ but was in a world of hurt against Merson’s K♦ K♥.

By this point the Sylvia cheering squad was screaming for an ace as the dealer prepared to put the all-important board.

The flop came 5♣ 3♠ 2♦, which all things considered, wasn’t that bad for Sylvia. The turn changed nothing when it came 8♥ and Sylvia’s tournament appeared to be coming to an end.

Instead the river finished with the 4♥, completing Sylvia’s wheel and giving him the massive 85 million chip pot. Sylvia is once again our chip leader thanks to his good fortune.

Here’s an updated look at the chip counts:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 85,500,0002. Greg Merson – 75,325,0003. Jake Balsiger – 38,150,000

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2012 Main Event: Balsiger Spikes Lucky Double Through Sylvia

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jesse Sylvia has had his share of run-good in the 2012 Main Event but Jake Balsiger just nailed a miracle turn card to double through Sylvia.

Balsiger open-shoved for 18.3 million and Greg Merson got out of the way but Sylvia immediately announced a call.

Sylvia flipped over A♣ Q♠ and Balsiger was in trouble with A♦ T♠.

The J♣ 8♦ 4♥ flop didn’t change anything. But as luck would have it the turn came T♣ to give Balsiger a pair and the lead.

The river was a meaningless 7♥ and that secured a double up for Balsiger.

Here are the updated chips counts after the hand:

1. Greg Merson – 116,750,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 42,425,000 3. Jake Balsiger – 38,800,000

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2012 Main Event: Merson Pulling Away Balsiger, Sylvia

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It seems that Greg Merson has been inspired by that crazy call he made against Jake Balsiger.

Over the last 30 minutes Merson has been dominating and now has over two-thirds of the chips in play with 123 million.

To make matters worse for Sylvia and Balsiger they’ve been giving Merson numerous walks.

Balsiger is starting to fall into danger territory with 27 million but there is still a lot of play at the final table.

Even Sylvia’s massive cheering crowd has been somewhat silenced by Merson’s strong play over the last half hour.

Here’s a look at the latest chip counts as Merson continues to dominate the table:

1. Greg Merson – 123,950,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 46,700,0003. Jake Balsiger – 27,325,000

Blinds are 500,000/1,000,000 with a 150,000 ante

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2012 Main Event: Merson Pulls Off Massive Bluff Against Balsiger

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson just proved once again why he's considered by many to be the most skilled poker player at the final table.

Merson limped the button and Jesse Sylvia completed from the small blind but Jake Balsiger popped it up to 3.7 million from the big blind.

Merson called but Sylvia had seen enough and folded his hand.

The flop came 9♥ 8♠ 3♣ and Balsiger bet 4.5 million. Merson simply wouldn’t shake and made the call.

The turn came 4♥ and Balsiger thought for a minute before firing 7.5 million into the pot. Once again Merson called and the board finished with the 6♠ on the river.

Balsiger would make one final bet worth 13 million and that sent Merson deep into the tank.

Finally Merson opted to make the call and was immediately validated as Balsiger through his hand into the muck. Merson only had Q♥ J♥ for queen-high but that was enough to win the hand.

Here are the updated chip counts after the hand:

1. Greg Merson – 110,300,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 45,300,000 3. Jake Balsiger – 42,375,000

Blinds are 500,000/1,000,000 with a 150,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Balsiger Snaps Off Sylvia to Move into 2nd

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It still seems surprisingly tentatively at the 2012 Main Event but Jake Balsiger just won a significant pot off Jesse Sylvia.

Balsiger opened the pot for 1.6 million, Greg Merson folded and Jesse Sylvia raised from the big blind to 3.9 million.

Balsiger called and the flop ran out 6♥ 6♠ 4♥. Sylvia didn’t hesitate to fire another 4.1 million into the pot and Balsiger eventually called.

The turn came 4♠ and both players checked. The board finished with the Q♠ and Sylvia fired a massive 9.4 million bet.

It seemed to be a tough call for Balsiger, but eventually he counted out the chips and confidently pushed the stack into the middle.

Calling was the right decision as Sylvia turned over J♥ 5♥ for a missed flush draw while Balsiger ahd A♣ Q♥.

Here are the updated chip counts after the hand:

1. Greg Merson – 80,900,0002. Jake Balsiger – 68,375,0003. Jesse Sylvia – 48,700,000

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2012 Main Event: Action Slows, Stacks Closer to Even

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s looking more and more likely that tonight will take the form of a marathon instead of a sprint.

Greg Merson has slowed right down since his fantastic start and currently has less than his starting stack.

Meanwhile Jake Balsiger and Jesse Sylvia have trading chips back and forth with neither player scoring anything truly significant.

Over the last 20 minutes or so we’ve seen a lot of walks and very few flops.

One of the bigger recent hands saw Greg Merson open for 1.6 million, Sylvia then raised it to 2.6 million but Balsiger came barreling over the top for 7 million.

That was enough to chase both opponents and Balsiger picked up a decent little pot.

At this point it seems almost inevitable that we will get to a point where players have almost exactly the same size stacks.

Here’s the latest counts:

1. Greg Merson – 77,700,0002. Jake Balsiger – 60,475,0003. Jesse Sylvia – 59,900,00

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Passes Balsiger

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jesse Sylvia is in the zone over the last fifteen hands and just won a 37 million chip pot off Jake Balsiger.

Balsiger opened the pot for 1.6 million and Sylvia called from the big blind to see a flop of 4♠ 4♣ 3♣.

Sylvia checked but Balsiger fired two million into the pot. Sylvia weighed his options but eventually responded by putting 5.6 million into the pot.

Balsiger called and the dealer peeled the 2♦ off the deck as the river card. Sylvia fired 10.2 million into the pot and that was enough to chase Balsiger.

Here’s how the chip stacks looked after that last hand:

1. Greg Merson – 78,500,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 68,600,0003. Jake Balsiger – 50,875,000

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Keeps Pace

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jesse Sylvia had been bleeding chips for the last 20 minutes but just struck back in a big way.

Sylvia opened for 1.6 million and Greg Merson 3-Bet to 5.2 million. Sylvia thought for a minute but then fearlessly fired 10.6 million into the pot.

Merson finally threw his cards into the muck and Sylvia raked in the important 16 million pot.

Since that hand Sylvia has won a couple more pots without showdown and is back up to 53 million.

Merson’s momentum seems to be slowing as all the stacks are starting to even out at the final table.

Here are the latest chip counts:

Jake Balsiger – 60,675,000Greg Merson – 83,900,000Jesse Sylvia – 53,400,000

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Brings Merson Down a Notch

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jesse Sylvia just derailed the Greg Merson freight train in a significant hand.

Merson opened for 1.6 million pre-flop and Sylvia called. The flop came K♣ J♥ 4♦ and Sylvia immediately led out for 2.2 million.

Merson responded by throwing seven million into the pot. Sylvia spent a couple minutes thinking about his next move but eventually decided to raise to 13 million.

It didn’t take long for Merson to throw his hand into the muck and give Sylvia the pot.

After the hand Merson tumbled back to around his starting stack of 83 million while Sylvia moved up to 60 million. Balsiger is still in third with 53 million.

In other news female poker superstar Jennifer Harman has joined Phil Ivey on the rail cheering for Merson.

Blinds are now 400,000/800,000 with a 100,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Merson Dominates Early, Balsiger Scores Massive Double

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson has been on a mission over the first hour of three-handed play.

The Laurel, MD, native has been adding to his chip lead by winning almost every hand he’s in. He’s currently up over 100 million chips and looking downright unstoppable.

Meanwhile Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger have played most of their big hands against other.

Sylvia won a large pot off Balsiger without showdown but shortly after that hand Balsiger managed the big double up

Sylvia opened for just over one million but Balsiger cranked it up to 3.5 million. Sylvia responded by raising to 7.2 million. Balsiger thought for a minute but then moved all-in. Sylvia, having Balsiger covered, opted to make the call with 9♥ 9♣.

Unfortunately for Sylvia Balsiger showed J♠ J♦.

The board ran out 5♥ 2♠ 2♥ T♠ 6♥ and that was enough to give Balsiger the checkmark and the 57 million pot.

Suddenly Sylvia is the short stack for the first time at the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table.

Updated chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 103,450,0002. Jake Balsiger – 57,425,0003. Jesse Sylvia – 37,100

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2012 Main Event: Time to Get it Done

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We’re once again live from the 2012 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas and by the time we finish tonight we will have a new world champion.

It all comes down to Greg Merson, Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger. One of them will walk away with the $8.5 million and the title of Main Event champion.

Merson will take the chip lead into action today thanks to some outstanding play yesterday that saw him amass 88 million chips.

Former chip leader Sylvia couldn’t keep pace with Merson but still managed to finish with 62 million chips.

Meanwhile the surprising Jake Balsiger, who entered the final table second-to-last in chips, will take 46 million into battle today.

Jack Effel just announced an epic shuffle up and deal so the cards are in the air for the final time at the WSOP this year.

Here’s a look at the chip counts as play begins:

1. Greg Merson – 88,350,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 62,750,0003. Jake Balsiger – 46,875,000

Blinds begin at 300,000/600,000 with a 75,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Tuesday We Crown a World Champ

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Poker can be boring. Sometimes it’s nothing more than hours and hours of silent contemplation, punctuated only by the riffling of chips and the snap of cards.

The final table of the WSOP Main Event is anything but.

The atmosphere in the Penn and Teller Theater today was electric, and after just eight hours of action we’re left with the three players who will return tomorrow to play down to a champion.

Greg Merson is the chip leader, thanks in large part to one of the biggest meltdowns we’ve ever seen. Andras Koroknai was second in chips and five-bet shoved with K-Q, getting snapped off by Merson with A-K.

Jesse Sylvia, the start-of-day chip leader, dealt with the final-table pressure handily and didn’t waver for a moment on his way to the final three.

And Jake Balsiger, the 21-year-old college student from Arizona, managed to amass enough chips to give himself a real shot as they head down the home stretch tomorrow.

Each of the three players are guaranteed $3,799,073 but they all have their sights set on the $8.5 million waiting for first, not to mention the title of world champion and all the extras that come with it.

Play resumes at 5:45pm local Las Vegas time tomorrow and you can get all the action live right here on PokerListings.com.

In the meantime, click through to our end-of-day news story for a more comprehensive recap. It’ll be posted momentarily.

Final Three Chip Counts

Greg Merson – 88,350,000 Jesse Sylvia – 62,750,000 Jake Balsiger – 46,875,000

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2012 Main Event: Russell Thomas Busts in 4th ($2,851,537)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Hot on the heels of Jeremy Ausmus's exit is Russell Thomas, busted in fourth place in a big preflop all-in confrontation with youngster Jake Balsiger.

Thomas's final hand started with Thomas opening to 1.5 million from the small blind and Balsiger moving all-in from the big. Balsiger had his opponent covered by a wide margin and after a bit of time in the tank Thomas called off for his remaining 15 million.

Balsiger turned his hand over with authority, tabling A♠ K♣ which had Thomas's A♥ 9♦ in rough shape.

The board ran Q♥ 8♣ 5♥ 5♦ 7♥ and despite picking up a few extra chop outs on the turn, Thomas was unable to suck out and was summarily dismissed.

Russell Thomas takes home $2,851,537 while Balsiger carries a healthier stack into three-handed play tomorrow.

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2012 Main Event: Jeremy Ausmus Finishes 5th ($2,155,313)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We’re down to four players at the 2012 Main Event final table, thanks to the recent exit of Jeremy Ausmus in fifth place.

Ausmus came into this finale dead last in chips but managed to outlast four of his final-table opponents. That accomplishment translates into $2,155,313 in real money, almost $1.5 million more than if he had finished ninth.

Ausmus got his final hand started with a raise to 1.2 million from the button, getting a call from Jesse Sylvia in the big blind and seeing the flop roll out 9♣ 8♠ 3♠.

Both players checked and the 3♦ hit the turn.

Sylvia checked, Ausmus fired 1.5 million and Sylvia check-raised to 3.6 million. Ausmus announced all-in and Sylvia called instantly.

Ausmus: T♠ 7♦

Sylvia: A♣ 9♥

Ausmus needed a six, a ten or a jack but the river peeled off the 5♠ and that was all she wrote for Jeremy Ausmus.

With that elimination Jesse Sylvia’s stack jumps to 63 million.

Updated Chip Counts

Greg Merson – 88,050,000 Jesse Sylvia – 63,050,000 Jake Balsiger – 31,350,000 Russell Thomas – 15,525,000

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2012 Main Event: Merson Stuns Koroknai in Sixth ($1,640,902)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We just saw one of the biggest blow-ups in the history of the WSOP Main Event final table.

In our last update we told you Andras Koroknai and Greg Merson had been trading blows back and forth but we never dreamt it would escalate to this degree.

In what may end up being the decisive hand of the final table Greg Merson opened for one million from the button.

Jesse Sylvia raised to 2.6 million from the small blind but Koroknai re-raised to 5.3 million from the big blind.

Merson wasn’t going anywhere, however, and he made a dramatic five-bet to 9.2 million.

Amazingly Koroknai announced he was all-in and it didn’t take long for Merson to call to create a truly massive pot worth more than 80 million.

Things got really interesting when the players revealed their hands:

Merson: A♠ K♠

Koroknai: K♥ Q♦

King-Queen is not what you want to have in that situation.

The board ran out 2♣ 3♠ T♥ 7♠ 7♥ and that was enough to send Koroknai packing in an absolute stunner of a hand. Koroknai receives $1.6 million for coming in sixth place.

Meanwhile Merson now has 86.6 million and is the runaway chip leader. This may be the hand that decides the tournament and eventually makes Merson $8.5 million richer.

Here’s how the chip stacks look after that barn-burner of a hand:

1. Greg Merson – 86,600,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 51,025,000 3. Russell Thomas – 22,900,000 4. Jeremy Ausmus – 19,325,000 5. Jake Balsiger – 18,125,0006. Andras Koroknai – 0 7. Michael Esposito – 0 8. Robert Salaburu – 0 9. Steven Gee – 0

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2012 Main Event: Action Slows, Koroknai Clashes with Merson

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s pretty obvious the remaining six players really want to make it into the final three tomorrow. As such action has slowed to a crawl with very few flops seen over the last 30 minutes of play.

One of the biggest hands saw Greg Merson open for one million and Koroknai raise to 2.7 million.

Merson thought for a minute but eventually decided to call to see a flop of J♦ J♣ 8♣.

Koroknai bet 3.5 million and Merson made the call. The turn came 2♣ and this time Koroknai fired 5.6 million into the pot.

That was enough to finally prompt a fold from Merson.

Merson and Koroknai are starting to develop a bit of history with each other. About 20 minutes before that hand Koroknai opened a pot for 1.1 million, Merson 3-Bet to 3.4 million and Koroknai made a huge 4-Bet, which was enough to take it down.

Here’s a look at the most recent chip counts:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 54,375,0002. Andras Koroknai – 41,400,0003. Greg Merson – 40,450,0004. Russell Thomas – 27,850,0005. Jake Balsiger – 18,825,0006. Jeremy Ausmus – 15,075,0007. Michael Esposito – 08. Robert Salaburu – 09. Steven Gee – 0

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Strikes Back

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Greg Merson finally dethroned Jesse Sylvia for the chip lead in our last update but Sylvia has come storming back and after winning several consecutive pots is up to 53 million.

The most recent hand saw Merson open for one million but Sylvia 3-bet to 2.6 million. Andras Koroknai was in the big blind, however, and he decided to re-pop it up to 4.8 million.

Merson got out of the way but Sylvia re-raised and that was enough to chase Koroknai from the hand.

Here’s a look at the chip counts after Sylvia’s most recent hot run:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 53,325,0002. Greg Merson – 43,950,0003. Russell Thomas – 35,350,0004. Andras Koroknai – 32,750,0005. Jeremy Ausmus – 16,175,0006. Jake Balsiger – 15,925,0007. Michael Esposito – 08. Robert Salaburu – 09. Steven Gee – 0

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2012 Main Event: Merson Finishes Esposito in 7th ($1,258,040)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Amateur poker player Michael Esposito has been ousted from the final table by experienced poker pro Greg Merson.

The short-stacked Esposito shoved three hands in a row before finally being called down by Merson.

Merson opened for one million and Esposito opted to move all-in for 10 million. Merson called almost immediately and both players tabled their hands:

Merson: A♣ K♠

Esposito: A♠ J♥

The board offered no escape for Esposito as it ran out 9♠ 7♦ 4♠ 6♠ 8♣, which gave Merson’s big slick the checkmark. Esposito earns $1,258,040 for coming in seventh place.

Meanwhile Merson moved into the chip lead for the first time of the evening with 44.2 million.

Chip Counts

Here are the latest chip counts:

1. Greg Merson – 44,200,0002. Jesse Sylvia – 42,775,0003. Russell Thomas – 41,775,0004. Andras Koroknai – 33,8005. Jake Balsiger – 20,150,006. Jeremy Ausmus – 14,775,0007. Michael Esposito – 08. Robert Salaburu – 09. Steven Gee – 0

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2012 Main Event: Koroknai Wins 20 Million Pot Before Break

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Hungarian Andras Koroknai just took a big step towards his goal of snatching this year’s world championship from the six Americans left at this final table, and it came at the expense of chip leader Jesse Sylvia.

What turned into a massive 20m+ pot started with a raise from Sylvia on the button to 900k, and a three-bet from Koroknai in the big blind to 2.3 million.

The flop came A♣ 6♦ 4♦ and Koroknai, first to act, fired 2.5 million.

Sylvia made the call and they both checked the 4♠ on the turn. The 9♦ landed on the river and Koroknai slowly checked.

Sylvia took his time before betting 5.2 million and Korkonai made a relatively quick call.

Koroknai: A♠ 7♦

Sylvia: 7♠ 8♠

Sylvia had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar and it cost him. He’s now down to 45 million and change while Koroknai’s count jumps to 32,350,000.

Blinds are now 250,000/500,000 with a 50,000 ante.

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia Slashes Salaburu in 8th ($971,360)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The rail has claimed another player as Robert Salaburu couldn’t get by a rampaging Jesse Sylvia.

Sylvia moved all-in from the small blind against a short-stack Salaburu in the big blind. Salaburu decided to call with 7♦ 7♥. Sylvia showed a modest Q♣ 5♣.

With 16 million in the pot the leader threw down a A♠ A♦ 4♣ flop.

That didn’t offer a lot of help for Sylvia but he did pick up a backdoor straight draw. The turn came 5♣ and that put him one card closer to the straight.

Sylvia didn’t hit a straight on the river… instead it was the Q♥ gave him the winning hand. A downcast Salaburu headed for the exit. He will receive a $971,360 for coming in eighth place.

'Awesome' Ausmus Getting Busy

Jeremy Ausmus came into this final table dead last in chips but thanks to a bit of well-timed aggression, or perhaps a run of good hands, he now finds himself in sixth position.

Ausmus got things started with a three-bet all-in that got through and followed it up with a medium-sized pot won from chip leader Jesse Sylvia.

The hand began with Ausmus making it 800k from under the gun plus one, and Jesse Sylvia calling from the hijack.

The flop came down T♥ 5♣ 3♦ and Ausmus, first to act, bet one million flat. Sylvia made the call and the K♣ hit the turn.

Ausmus took a bit longer this time but ultimately bet again, this time 2.4 million. It was enough to force Sylvia out of the pot, increasing Ausmus’s stack to 15,175,000.

Chip Counts

Here are the latest chip counts:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 55,150,000

2. Russell Thomas – 41,825,000

3. Greg Merson – 33,425,000

4. Jake Balsiger – 24,275,000

5. Andras Koroknai – 22,300,000

6. Jeremy Ausmus – 15,375,000

7. Michael Esposito – 5,625,000

8. Robert Salaburu – 0

9. Steven Gee – 0

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2012 Main Event: Balsiger Doubles through Salaburu

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The pace is picking up at this final table as Jake Balsiger just pulled off a big double-up, getting it in good against Robert Salaburu and making it hold up.

Balsiger opened the action to 800k and Salaburu 3-bet to 2.8 million straight.

Balsiger paused for a moment before announcing all-in for roughly 10 million total. Salaburu thought for a few moments before calling and tabling pocket queens.

Balsiger had pocket kings and they stayed good through the A♣ 9♣ 7♦ T♥ 2♠ board.

Salaburu gets knocked down to just under 10 million while Balsiger is bumped to over 22 million.

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2012 Main Event: Sylvia and Thomas Out in Front

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

52 hands have played out at this final table and in addition to the elimination of Steven Gee, we’re beginning to see some separation in the chip counts.

While Jesse Sylvia and Russell Thomas are still way out in front, Jeremy Ausmus, Jake Balsiger and Michael Esposito are approaching the danger zone.

Greg Merson, meanwhile, seems to be hitting his stride and has chipped up in a big way this past level.

Read on for the details and updated chip counts.

Merson Opening Up

It’s starting to look like Phil Ivey was right on the money with his prediction that Greg Merson would win this Main Event.

Merson is opening up his game and steadily chipping up. Right now he’s on almost 32 million.

One orbit ago Merson three-bet twice, taking down the pot on both occasions.

Shortly after, Merson played a hand against Robert Salaburu, calling preflop and taking control with a 1.3 million bet on the turn with the board reading T♦ 9♥ 6♦ 9♦.

Merson bet again when the 7♦ hit the river and Salaburu folded.

Ausmus and Esposito Approaching Push/Fold Mode

Blinds are now 200k/400k with a 50k ante, meaning Jeremy Ausmus is flirting with shortstack territory with just under 10 million.

Michael Esposito, however, has just 7.9 million meaning if he’s playing a pot, there’s a good chance he’ll be playing for all his chips.

Ausmus three-bet shoved a few hands ago, taking down the pot, but Esposito has been extremely quiet for the last few rounds.

New Counts

1. Jesse Sylvia – 48,725,000 2. Russell Thomas – 20,795,000 3. Greg Merson – 35,375,000 4. Andras Koroknai – 23,375,000 5. Robert Salaburu – 20,375,000 6. Jake Balsiger – 10,450,000 7. Jeremy Ausmus- 9,950,000 8. Michael Esposito – 7,700,000

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2012 Main Event: Steven Gee Busted in 9th ($754,798)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It took 32 hands but we have our first elimination. Steven Gee is the unlucky individual headed out the door after a massive clash with Russell Thomas.

The hand started with Gee opening to 900k from under the gun, with blinds of 200k/400k.

Greg Merson called from the next seat over and Russell Thomas came along from the big blind. The flop came down 7♣ 5♦ 4♥ and it was checked to Gee who fired 1.6 million.

Only Thomas called and the turn brought the J♣.

Thomas check-called again, this time to the tune of 3.25 million, and the 3♠ hit the river.

Thomas checked one final time and Gee took a few moments before announcing all-in. The bet was 11.35 million, which would leave Thomas with just 3 million and change if he called and lost.

Thomas took a long time in the tank before making the call. The small part of the crowd that wasn’t already on their feet immediately leapt up to see over the people in front of them.

Thomas: Q-Q

Gee: 8-8

Gee had flopped an overpair and a gutshot but in the end Thomas was able to make the right decision. Thomas is now up to just under 40 million.

Steven Gee is our ninth-place finisher, taking home $754,798.

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2012 Main Event: Merson Flushes Esposito

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Action has been fairly tentative over the first 30 hands of the final table but we just saw our first big showdown between Greg Merson and Michael Esposito.

Merson opened for 700,000 and Esposito called from the button.

The flop came K♥ J♦ 7♥ and both players checked. The turn peeled off 2♦ and Esposito threw 800,000 into the pot.

Merson eventually called and that brought the Q♦ on the river. Esposito kept the pressure on with a 1.250 million bet.

After a minute, Merson 3.7 million. Esposito snap-called only to have Merson immediately lay down T♦ 8♦ for the rivered diamond flush.

Merson scooped the 11-million chip pot.

In other news we’ve finally completed Level 34 and players will now have to contend with blinds of 200,000/400,000 with a 50,000 ante in Level 35.

We're still awaiting the first elimination at the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table.

Here’s a look at the updated chip stacks:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 43,650,0002. Greg Merson – 26,345,0003. Andras Koroknai – 25,880,0004. Robert Salaburu – 24,575,0005. Russell Thomas – 20,795,0006. Jake Balsiger – 19,700,0007. Steven Gee – 17,350,0008. Michael Esposito – 10,880,0009. Jeremy Ausmus – 8,705,000

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2012 Main Event: Ivey Arrives, Ausmus Battles Back

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We’re 18 hands into this Main Event finale and with the exception of poker superstar Phil Ivey’s quiet entrance, not much has changed since we checked in last.

Ivey is now sitting directly behind the final table, rooting on the player he picked as the favorite to become the next world champion: Greg Merson.

Ivey recently signed Merson to an endorsement deal for his new website IveyPoker.com, so it’s no big surprise that he’s here to drum up a little extra hype for his latest business venture.

On the felt, meanwhile, our start-of-day shortstack Jeremy Ausmus has managed to chip up thanks to a small clash with Hungarian Andras Koroknai.

Blinds are 150k/300k with a 40k ante.

Ausmus Over Andras

After a prolonged period of opening raises taking down pots uncontested Jeremy Ausmus popped it to 675k from middle position and got a call from Andras Koroknai in the big blind.

The flop came down A♦ 5♦ 3♣ and after a check from Korokanai, Ausmus fired 700k. Koroknai called and the 7♣ hit the turn.

Both players checked, making way for the J♠ on the river and another check from the Hungarian.

Ausmus paused a few beats before tossing 1.6 million into the middle. Koroknai looked displeased with that latest turn of events but eventually conceded the pot.

Ausmus bumps his stack up to almost 11 million.

Latest Chip Counts

1. Jesse Sylvia – 44,525,000 2. Andras Koroknai – 28,405,000 3. Greg Merson – 24,555,000 4. Steven Gee – 21,170,000 5. Russell Thomas – 20,325,000 6. Michael Esposito – 17,450,000 7. Robert Salaburu – 16,480,000 8. Jake Balsiger – 15,855,000 9. Jeremy Ausmus – 10,100,000

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2012 Main Event: Gee, Balsiger Strike Early

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We’re 30 minutes into the 2012 WSOP and we’ve yet to see an all-in but Steven Gee and Jake Balsiger are the big winners early.

Steven Gee won a significant pot in the very first hand of the tournament.

Gee opened to 700k and Russell Thomas called from the big blind.

The flop came T♥ 7♥ 4♣ and after a Thomas check, Gee bet out 850,000. Thomas called and the turn came A♣.

Once again Thomas checked and Gee didn’t let up, betting two million into the pot.

Thomas called and the river fell 7♦. For the third time Thomas checked and Gee fired yet again, this time for 4.5 million.

That was enough to finally chase Thomas from the pot. After the hand Gee moved up to 20 million while Thomas fell to 21 million.

Balsiger Takes it to Merson

Meanwhile Jake Balsiger won a significant pot off fan-favorite Greg Merson.

Balsiger opened for 725,000, Merson three-bet to 1.6 million from the cutoff and Balsiger four-bet to 3.4 million.

Merson thought for a minute but then called.

The flop came a polarizing 4♠ 3♠ 2♠ and Balsiger immediately bet out 1.75 million. That was enough to get Merson out of the pot and Balsiger scooped a tidy pot.

Here are the updated chip counts:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 44,525,0002. Andras Koroknais – 28,405,0003. Greg Merson – 24,565,0004. Steven Gee – 21,170,0005. Russell Thomas – 20,325,0006. Michael Esposito – 17,450,0007. Robert Salaburu – 16,480,0008. Jake Balsiger – 15,855,0009. Jeremy Ausmus – 9,195,000

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2012 Main Event: Final Table Starts with a Bang

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The 2012 WSOP Main Event is finally underway and the energy is electric in the Penn & Teller amphitheater.

This year players walked out UFC style with ring girl escorts and walkout music that included Eminem’s Lose Yourself, House of Pain’s I Came to Get Down and the obligatory Oppa Gangnam Style.

Despite a final table that has fewer big names then we’re used to, the fans are as riled up as we’ve ever seen them in the Penn & Teller amphitheater.

In other words, it’s loud.

Jesse Sylvia, Greg Merson, Jeremy Ausmus and Robert Salaburu seem to be getting the lion’s share of cheering but there are literally fans here for every player.

Considering it’s been three months, here is a refresher on blinds and table position as play begins.

The table begins in the midst of Level 34 with blinds of 150,000/300,000 and an ante of 40,000.

Here are the players’ positions and chip counts:

Seat 1 Russell Thomas 24,800,000

Seat 2 Jacob Balsiger 13,115,000

Seat 3 Jeremy Ausmus 9,805,000

Seat 4 Steven Gee 16,860,000

Seat 5 Greg Merson 28,725,000

Seat 6 Jesse Sylvia 43,875,000

Seat 7 Robert Salaburu 15,155,000

Seat 8 Andras Koronai 29,375,000

Seat 9 Michael Esposito 16,260,000

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2012 Main Event: At Long Last It’s the Final Showdown

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s been 104 days since Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille were eliminated in heart-breaking fashion to set the 2012 WSOP Main Event and today the final table will officially begin.

Jesse Sylvia leads a rag-tag group of lesser-known but skilled players looking to cash in on that life-changing $8.5 million first-place prize and world champion status. Action begins at 4:30 p.m. PST today.

Sylvia is the obvious choice to take the tournament down as he amassed 43.8 million chips on his way to the final table. We’ll see if he’s able to maintain momentum after the pro-longed break.

Hungarian Andras Koroknai, the only international player at the final table, has flown under the radar leading up to the October Nine but has already proven he has the ability to close out a tournament when he won the LAPC in 2010. He’s also stacked with 29 million chips.

Greg Merson

Poker Pros Like Merson’s Odds

Greg Merson is widely considered to be the pro’s pick as he’s a feared online poker player and already won a bracelet earlier this summer. He could also win 2012 WSOP POY with a victory in the Main Event. He’ll bring 28 million chips to the final table.

Don’t ever let it be said that Russell Thomas isn’t prepared. The 24 year old trained with coach Jason Somerville in the weeks leading up to the final table and ran several mock final tables. He’ll enter today’s festivities with 24.8 million chips.

Steven Gee and Michael Esposito are the elder statesmen at the final table and will each enter with 16 million chips.

Texan Robert Salaburu, whose brash style rubbed some viewers the wrong way in the WSOP broadcast, is the ultimate wildcard at the final table and will bring 15.1 million chips into battle.

Finally Jake Balsiger (13 million chips) and Jeremy Ausmus (9.8 million chips) bring up the rear but stacks are still deep so they should not be underestimate.

Today the plan is to have the players get down to the final three and then play will be postponed until tomorrow. The final three will reconvene tomorrow and play to a winner.

Check back to this page at 4:30 PST for live updates of all the action.

Here are chip counts entering the final table:

1. Jesse Sylvia – 43,875,0002. Andras Koroknai – 29,375,0003. Greg Merson – 28,725,0004. Russell Thomas – 24,800,0005. Steven Gee – 16,860,0006. Michael Esposito – 16,260,0007. Robert Salaburu – 15,155,0008. Jacob Balsiger – 13,115,0009. Jeremy Ausmus – 9,805,000

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2012 Main Event: The Final Table is Set!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Within 12 hours of Day 7 play, the final nine are set. It was the hopes and dreams of many that this would be the year that a female would make it to the final table, but alas, those dreams faded with a 10th place finish.

Here is a recap of how we made it to the final nine:

Out of the 6,598 players who entered the Main Event 27 players returned for Day 7. Marc Ladouceur was the chip leader with 132 big blinds, and Nicco Maag was the short stack with only 10 big blinds to work with.

Nicco Maag didn’t have much to work with, and he ended up being the first player eliminated for the day. He shoved with A♥ J♠ and was called Russell Thomas who was holding A♣ Q♥. Maag couldn’t catch a break and bricked out with little excitement for the crowd.

Shortly after Maag got eliminated, Robert Salaburu went on a rampage and shot to the top of the chip lead.

While Salaburu was stacking chips, Jan Heitmann was shipping his. He four-bet shoved over the top of Strelitz’s bet. It was a swift and easy decision for Strelitz as he made the call turning up pocket eights. Heitmann was in trouble with his pocket sixes that were never able to catch up. Heitmann was the second elimination of the day, but he still took home $294,601.

Salaburu finds himself at the top of the chip counts early in the day.

Gaelle Baumann facetted herself at the top of the chip counts for much of the tournament, but she was having a hard time growing her chips on Day 7. She got short and was able to double through Jeremy Ausmus when her pocket tens held up against pocket nines.

The few hours before dinner break brought a string of bust outs that brought play down to the final two tables.

16th Percy Mahatan $369,026

17th Robert Buckenmayer $369,026

18th David Balkin $369,026

19th Jamie Robbins $294,601

20th Paul Volpe $294,601

21st Robert Corcione $294,601

22nd Cylus Watson $294,601

23rd Yuval Bronsthein $294,601

24th Daniel Strelitz $294,601

25th Roland Israelashvili $294,601

After the dinner break, the pace slowed down a bit. But that seemed inevitable considering the lightning-quick speed the tournament had been going at. During the first two hours back from our dinner break, we had one elimination.

Wilfried Harig moved all-in for his remaining 2.45 million and got a call from Greg Merson. Merson showed K♠ J♦ and Harig appeared to be in good shape with A♠ A♣.

The board came 3♦ Q♠ K♦ J♠ 7♠ and Merson's two-pair eliminated Harig in 15th place. Harig also made the pay jump and earned $465,159.

But while this level didn't bring too many eliminations, it gave Jesse Sylvia the chip lead. Sylvia got involved in a huge pot against Robert Salaburu. Salaburu held pocket jacks while Sylvia showed K♠ Q♥. The flop brought Sylvia a king and his ascent to the top started.

Sylvia found the cards he needed to raise to the top.

Danny Wong was the next elimination. His Main Event executioner was also Greg Merson. After getting it all-in pre flop, Wong showed A♠ 2♣ to Merson's A♣ J♣.

The flop fell Q♠ 6♣ 5♠ 8♣ 7♠ and Wong was eliminated in 14th place.

The next to go was Marc Ladouceur.

Ladouceur also fell to the person we call Merson. It was a pre flop battle that ended with all of Ladouceur's chips in the middle.

Merson: 4♥ 4♣

Ladouceur: A♦ 7♥

The 7♦ 4♠ 7♣ flop hit both players, but Merson's full house was better than Ladouceur three sevens.

Ladouceur was also the bubble for the next money jump. Scott Abrams would be the first player to make that pay jump.

Scott Abrams was eliminated in the largest pot of the tournament yet.

Thomas Russell raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and Steven Gee called from the button. Jesse Sylvia and Scott Abrams called from the blinds and we got a K♥ 7♦ 3♦ flop. Action was checked to Gee on the button and he led out for 1.35 million.

Sylvia raised to 3.4 million and Abrams 3-bet to 7 million. Russell and Gee folded and Sylvia moved all-in.

Abrams had about 18 million to start the hand, but Sylvia had him covered. Abrams called, putting his tournament life at risk.

Abrams showed K♦ J♦ for top pair and a flush draw while Sylvia turned over 7♠ 7♣ for a set. The turn was a Q♣ and the crowd exploded when the 6♣ came on the river. Abrams was eliminated in 12th place and was the first player to make the pay jump to $590,442. Sylvia -- on the other hand -- took a commanding chip lead with 44.5 million.

We still had two ladies left with 11 players to go, but they'd be the next two to fall.

The ladies shake hands as Hille gets eliminated.

Hille was short stacked with only about 10 big blinds. She moved all-in and got called by Andras Koroknai.

Hille: A♥ Q♥

Koroknai: 7♠ 7♣

Everyone jumped out of their seats to watch as one of the favorites doubled up or went bust. The board came out 4♠ 3♠ J♦ which didn’t help Hille. Her rail started chanting and calling for cards that would help her.

The K♣ came on the turn which didn’t help, and the 3♣ was disappointing to everyone that wanted to see the young Norwegian become part of the October festivities. But, as a consolation prize, Hille will be taking home $590,442.

The Main Event then moved all its remaining players to the feature stage. It was packed with spectators, moving lights and the most energy we've seen in the Amazon room this year. Baumann was severely short-stacked with about 2.2 million and managed to double up once. She wasn't as lucky the second time.

Gaelle Baumann bubbles the final table.

Baumann moved all-in from the hijack and action was folded to Andras Koroknai in the small blind. Koroknai tanked for about a minute and finally called.

Baumann: A♦ 9♥

Koroknai: A♥ J♠

Someone in the crowd screamed for a nine and other railbirds followed suit. Soon enough, the entire right side of the rail was chanting for a nine. The flop came 3♥ Q♣ Q♥ and there were sounds of dissapointment across the rail.

They came back and started chanting for a nine or a three. The turn was an 8♠ and everyone went silent for a moment. The cheering started again and the last card of Baumann's Main Event was dealt, the K♦.

Baumann was eliminated in 10th place and became the November Nine bubble. Baumann was also the last woman standing, but now she's gone. Baumann will take home $590,442 for her finish.

And that was it. This part of the Main Event was over. Players then went and took pictures and celebrated with their posses. They'll be coming back tomorrow for interviews, but they won't be coming back to play until October 28th.

Here is how the players will stack up when they reach the final table in October:

1 Russell Thomas 24,800,000

2 Jacob Balsiger 13,115,000

3 Jeremy Ausmus 9,805,000

4 Steven Gee 16,860,000

5 Greg Merson 28,725,000

6 Jesse Sylvia 43,875,000

7 Robert Salaburu 15,155,000

8 Andras Koronai 29,375,000

9 Michael Esposito 16,260,000

After almost eight weeks of poker excitement, the 2012 WSOP is in the books-almost. In a few months, players will file back into the Rio for one last shot to claim a bracelet. Although the Amazon room will go dark, there will be plenty of coverage from now until October to keep our readers up to date on the latest poker news.

Thank you for being part of this amazing WSOP!

Video: Meet the 2012 WSOP October Nine

WSOP 2012 October Nine Player Bios and Videos

We've got profiles of each and every October Niner, along with video interviews. Use the links below to get to know the guys who have a shot at this year's world championship.

Jesse Sylvia Greg Merson Jake Balsiger Russell Thomas Steven Gee Robert Salaburu Michael Esposito Jeremy Ausmus Andras Koroknai

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2012 Main Event: Baumann Bubbles

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

With the unofficial final table set, all eyes were on Gaelle Baumann. She was the last hope to have a woman make the final table—a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since Barbara Enright finished 5th in 1995.

The stands were jam packed, the lights were flashing, and people were chanting between the sips of liquor. It was a scene that was more reminiscent to being at a rock concert than a poker tournament.

However, the mood was contagious. Everyone could feel that history was being made, and it was exciting to witness.

As the first hand of the unofficial final table was being dealt, everyone intuitively rose from their seats to watch the cards being dealt around the table.

Baumann Doubles

Gaelle Baumann entered the unofficial final table as the tournament short stack. She needed to double up and that's exactly what she did.

Steven Gee raised to 700,000 from the button and Greg Merson 3-bet to 1.8 million from the small blind. Baumann then moved all-in from the big blind. Gee folded, Merson called and we had our first unofficial final table showdown.

Baumann celebrates her double up...

Baumann: K♥ K♦

Merson: J♦ 9♠

The flop came J♥ 5♣ 7♥ and the crowd gasped. The turn was a 10♦ and Merson picked up a few more outs. The crowd started chanting for a deuce and the river delivered with a 2♦. The crowd exploded and Baumann doubled up to about 4.6 million.

Baumann Busts

Baumann moved all-in again, but everyone folded to her. Her stack grew to 5.2 million and she moved all-in the following hand. This time, she got a caller.

Then laments her decline.

Baumann moved all-in from the hijack and action was folded to Andras Koroknai in the small blind. Koroknai tanked for about a minute and finally called.

Baumann: A♦ 9♥

Koroknai: A♥ J♠

Baumann was eliminated in 10th place and became the November Nine bubble. Baumann was also the last woman standing, but now she's gone. Baumann will take home $590,442 for her finish.

The November Nine

With Baumann out, we had our November Nine. But they'll be playing in October this year. So maybe they're the October Nine, or October's November Nine, we haven't decided yet. Despite what they're called, they'll all be coming back on October 28th, to the following table:

Seat 1: Russell Thomas -- 24,480,000

Seat 2: Jacob Balsiger -- 13,115,000

Seat 3: Jeremy Ausmus -- 9,805,000

Seat 4: Steven Gee -- 16,860,000

Seat 5: Greg Merson -- 28,725,000

Seat 6: Jesse Sylvia -- 43,875,000

Seat 7: Robert Salaburu -- 15,155,000

Seat 8: Andras Koroknai -- 29,375,000

Seat 9: Michael Esposito -- 16,260,000

Check back later for a full recap of the day's events.

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2012 Main Event: Unofficial Final Table

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

And we have our unofficial final table, the mid-July 10 if you will. We lost one player in a massive four-way pot and lost one of our two remaining women. If we had two women at this point, we'd be guaranteed to have a woman in the November Nine for the first time.

But alas, Hille was eliminated in 11th place and Gaelle Baumann is the last lady standing. She's also the tournament short stack with 2.1 million.

While Baumann has a chance at being the first woman to make the November Nine, she'd be the second woman to make the final table of the Main Event. The only other woman to make the ME final table was Barbara Enright. Enright made the final table back in 1995 and she finished in 5th place.

Now Baumann has a chance to make history, but she's going to need some luck. The players have all been moved to the main feature table and the rail is the largest we've seen all year.

Scott Abrams Out in 12th

Scott Abrams was eliminated in the largest pot of the tournament yet.

Sylvia raised to 3.4 million and Abrams 3-bet to 7 million. Russell and Gee folded and Sylvia moved all-in.

Abrams had about 18 million to start the hand, but Sylvia had him covered. Abrams called, putting his tournament life at risk.

Hille shakes hands with Koroknai, the man who ended her November Nine dreams

Elisabeth Hille Eliminated in 11th Place

The women in the 2012 WSOP have been really stepping up their game this year. As Elisabeth Hille and Gaelle Baumann made it deeper and deeper into the Main Event, everyone had their eyes on them.

They have made an unprecedented run at the Main Event this year. However, as play got closer to the final table, both ladies started dropping to the bottom of the chip counts.

Hille was short stacked with only about 10 big blinds, and when Andras Koroknai raised to 605,000 she moved all in. Koroknai called the 3,465,000 and put Hille’s tournament life on the line.

Hille: A♥ Q♥

Koroknai: 7♠ 7♣

Everyone jumped out of their seats to watch as one of the favorites doubled up or went bust. The flop came out 4♠ 3♠ J♦ which didn’t help Hille. Her rail started chanting and calling for cards that would help her.

Now, there is only one woman left, and anyone that wants to see a softer final table will have all their bets on Gaelle Baumann. She goes into the final 10 as the short stack with only 5,030,000 (16 BB).

Gaelle Baumann, surviving an all in. She's now the last woman standing.

However, with play going ten handed, she will have more time to wait for a good hand before sticking her stack in.

The Unofficial Final Table

Seat 1: Russell Thomas -- 18,700,000

Seat 2: Jacob Balsiger -- 16,300,000

Seat 3: Jeremy Ausmus -- 10,855,000

Seat 4: Steven Gee -- 15,800,000

Seat 5: Greg Merson -- 31,305,000

Seat 6: Gaelle Baumann -- 2,140,000

Seat 7: Jesse Sylvia -- 48,450,000

Seat 8: Robert Salaburu -- 16,675,000

Seat 9: Andras Korknai -- 23,180,000

Seat 10: Michael Esposito -- 18,470,000

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2012 Main Event: 12 Left; Both Women Short Stacked

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

With two women left among the final 12 players in the WSOP Main Event, many people are talking about the first woman to make a November Nine, and the first to final table the Main Event since Barbara Enright did it in 1995.

But nothing is locked up yet, as both women are short on chips after playing the following hand.

Elisabeth Hille opened from 480,000 on the button, and Gaelle Baumann jammed for 2,455,000 from the big blind. Hille had folded to Baumann’s all in before, but after thinking for a bit she decided to call.

Baumann: 4♥ 4♠ Hille: Q♦ 9♦

The flop was good for both players as it came 7♦ 6♠ 5♠. Baumann was open ended with her pair of fours and was ahead, but Hille could win with any eight to complete a bigger straight.

The 3♣ came on the turn to give Baumann the lead, but any four would chop and she could still lose with any eight on the board.

Baumann must have nine lives because the Q♣ came on the river to give her a double up.

Even with the double up, Baumann was still short, and now Hille was short as well -- they are currently at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Jesse Sylvia Near the Chip Lead

Jesse Sylvia's been on a heater since his loud, emotional double-up. Aside from taking away lots of Robert Salaburu's chips, Sylvia has also taken Salaburu's momentum. Earlier today, Salaburu seemed unstoppable.

He won pot after pot and his stack was dwarfing all the other stacks at the table. At one point -- with 8 players at the table -- Salaburu had 36 percent of the chips on the table.

Now Sylvia is the one winning pots. Just taking down the blinds and antes adds 570,000 to a players stack. Sylvia has taken down the blinds and antes a few times as well as a fairly large pot.

Russell Thomas raised from the big blind and Sylvia called from the big blind. The flop came 2♥ 7♣ 4♦ and Sylvia check-called a bet. The turn was a J♠ and Sylvia checked again. Thomas bet 1.05 million and Sylvia called, bringing the 3♠ on the river.

Sylvia checked one more time and Thomas bet 1.55 million. Sylvia didn't call this time, he didn't fold either. Sylvia raised to 3.9 million and Thomas folded. The crowd cheered and Sylvia's stack grew to about 27 million.

Marc-Andre Ladouceur is out in unlucky 13th place.

Marc Ladouceur Gone in 13th

Greg Merson raised to 500,000 from the cutoff, and when action folded to Marc Ladouceur he shoved all in from the big blind. Merson quickly called the 4,285,000 to knock Ladouceur out.

Merson: 4♥ 4♣ Ladouceur: A♦ 7♥

The flop was incredible for both players as it came 7♦ 4♠ 7♣. Merson flopped a boat, but Ladouceur could pull ahead with an ace. The 2♣ came on the turn and the 6♠ came on the river to knock Ladouceur out in 13th place.

Ladouceur started the day as the chip leader, but after some brutal hands midday he wasn’t able to recover. His consolation prize will be the $465,159 that he will take home for his seven days of effort in the Main Event.

Bigger Chips = Smaller Stacks

It's that time of the tournament again. A new, almond-colored chip has been put into play. These fancy new chips are worth 250,000 and have really helped clear up some of the more massive stacks in play.

A standard stack of 20 of these chips is worth 5 million, almost 167 times the amount of the starting stack.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the updated chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com, with blinds increasing to 150,000-300,000 and a 40,000 ante:

1. Greg Merson - 31,305,000 (104 bb) 2. Jesse Sylvia - 25,500,000 (85 bb) 3. Andras Koroknai - 18,810,000 (62 bb) 4. Scott Abrams - 18,700,000 (62 bb) 5. Russell Thomas - 18,700,000 (62 bb) 6. Michael Esposito - 18,470,000 (61 bb) 7. Jacob Balsiger - 16,300,000 (54 bb) 8. Steven Gee - 15,800,000 (52 bb) 9. Robert Salaburu - 11,020,000 (36 bb) 10. Jeremy Ausmus - 10,100,000 (33 bb) 11. Elisabeth Hille - 7,480,000 (24 bb) 12. Gaelle Baumann - 5,030,000 (16 bb)

VIDEO: Get to Know Local Vegas Pro Scott Abrams

We're just a few spots off this year's final table so what better time to get to know the players who will be taking a shot at the world championship this October?

Scott Abrams is originally from the Chicago area but now lives right here in Las Vegas, playing live cash games to make a living.

A lifelong lover of chess and video games, Abrams turned his attention to poker a few years ago and it might pay off here at the WSOP to the tune of $8.5 million.

Check out the full interview below to get to know Vegas pro Scott Abrams.

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2012 Main Event: A-K vs. A-K Gives Koroknai a Double-Up

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Gaelle Baumann has been watching her stack slowly dwindle down, and she was getting to the point where her stack was getting alarmingly low.

After Elisabeth Hille raised to 480,000 from the cutoff, Baumann shoved over the top for her remaining 1,525,000 from the small blind. Michael Esposito called from the big blind which gave Hille something to think about. After a long pause, Hille decided to let the two go head to head and she folded her hand.

Baumann: A♥ 9♦ Esposito: A♦ 7♦

To Baumann’s surprise, she was ahead in the hand. She extended her lead when the flop came T♣ 9♥ K♦. The deal was sealed when the 9♣ came on the turn, and the 4♦ came on the river.

Baumann survives the all-in, but she is still short and will have to find another spot to put her chips in good.

Jesse Sylvia has some of the most enthusiastic supporters in the room.

Sylvia Doubles, Salaburu Drops

Jesse Sylvia has doubled up and Robert Salaburu has lost the chip lead.

Salabur raised to 550,000 from the cutoff and Steven Gee called from the button. Sylvia was in the small blind and he moved all-in for 8.085 million.

Salaburu re-shoved and Gee got out of the way.

Salaburu: J♥ J♠ Sylvia: K♠ Q♥

The crowd started chanting for different cards and Sylvia's rail exploded when the flop came K♣ 4♠ 8♦. They cheered so loud when the 6♣ came on the turn that Scott Ambrams covered his ears.

The crowd started chanting for a 3♥ on the river, but it brought a 9♦ instead. Sylvia was holding onto a girl on the rail and when the river fell, he did too. Sylvia lied on the floor and covered his smiling face with his hands.

Sylvia is now up to about 17 million while Salaburu is down to 12 million.

A-K vs. A-K Makes a Flush For Koroknai to Bad Beat Ladouceur

In the last hand before the break, Andras Koroknai just got all his chips in with A♣ K♠ against Marc-Andre Ladouceur's A♠ K♣.

As expected, the crowd got very excited when the players moved all in, then felt let down when they saw it was A-K vs. A-K.

But then the flop came Q♣ 10♣ 2♣, Koroknai was freerolling to a flush draw.

The turn card was the 8♣, and Koroknai made an ace-high club flush to win the pot and double up to about 18 million in chips.

Ladouceur took a painfully brutal beat to drop down to about 5 million in chips.

Marc-Andre Ladouceur took a brutal beat, but he's still alive.

Flashback to 2011

With a very similar overall field size for the 2011 and 2012 Main Events, we thought it'd be interesting to take a look at last year's final table to see how it compares in terms of chip stacks.

Last year, they reached the final nine players during Level 36, with blinds at 250,000-500,000 and a 50,000 ante. Here were their chip counts:

Martin Staszko - 40,175,000 (80 bb) Eoghan O'Dea - 33,925,000 (67 bb) Matt Giannetti - 24,750,000 (49 bb) Phil Collins - 23,875,000 (47 bb) Ben Lamb - 20,875,000 (41 bb) Badih Bounahra - 19,700,000 (39 bb) Pius Heinz - 16,425,000 (32 bb) Anton Makiievskyi - 13,825,000 (27 bb) Sam Holden - 12,375,000 (24 bb)

The average stack last year had 45 big blinds when they reached the November Nine.

If this year's field reaches nine at 200,000-400,000, the average stack would have 54 big blinds. If it takes until the 250,000-500,000 level, the average stack would have 43 big blinds.

And if action continues until the 300,000-600,000 level, the average stack would have 36 big blinds.

The closest parallel to last year is the 250,000-500,000 level, which won't start for another five hours -- not counting breaks.

And ESPN just called for a break.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the updated chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com, with blinds at 120,000-240,000 and a 30,000 ante:

1. Jesse Sylvia - 24,065,000 (100 bb) 2. Michael Esposito - 21,580,000 (89 bb) 3. Russell Thomas - 21,490,000 (89 bb) 4. Greg Merson - 19,425,000 (80 bb) 5. Andras Koroknai - 18,300,000 (76 bb) 6. Scott Abrams - 15,560,000 (64 bb) 7. Jacob Balsiger - 15,355,000 (63 bb) 8. Steven Gee - 14,215,000 (59 bb) 9. Jeremy Ausmus - 12,775,000 (53 bb) 10. Robert Salaburu - 11,780,000 (49 bb) 11. Elisabeth Hille - 11,770,000 (49 bb) 12. Marc-Andre Ladouceur - 5,025,000 (20 bb) 13. Gaelle Baumann - 3,050,000 (12 bb) 14. Danny Wong - 1,940,000 (8 bb)

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2012 Main Event: Losing Harig Leaves Final 14

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

In the first hour of play after the dinner break, another man has fallen victim to the cash out cage. Although disappointing, it isn’t the worst thing that could happen to these players over the summer. With 14 players remaining, the next two bust outs will get an exciting $465,159 for their efforts over the last week.

Checking in with the Shorties

There are 15 players remaining as we come back from the dinner break, with one more hour of blinds of 100,000/200,000 with a 30,000 ante, meaning that each orbit will carve out roughly 500,000 chips from each stack.

Our shortest stacks of Wilfried Harig (2.9 million chips) and Gaelle Baumann (3 million chips) have little margin for error and will likely have their stacks in the middle pretty quickly, as even just picking up the blinds and antes will boost their stacks by about 20%.

Wilfried Harig Eliminated in 15th Place

Greg Merson opened to 400,000 from middle position. Michael Esposito called from the cutoff, and Wilfried Harig moved his remaining 2,450,000 into the pot. When action folded back around to Merson, he reraised to isolate the pot. Esposito got the message and folded his hand.

Merson: K♠ J♦

Harig: A♠ A♣

Merson was behind in the hand, but when the flop came 3♦ Q♠ K♦ his rail exploded. The flop gave Merson a chance to catch up with any king or jack. The J♠ was good enough to give Merson the lead to knock Harig out. However, Harig could resuck if he landed an ace or a queen to give him a set or a higher two pair.

The 7♠ on the river was the last piece of bag luck Harig would have during this year’s WSOP. He became our 15th place finisher and takes home a hefty $465,159.

Remaining Ladies Headed in Opposite Directions

Elisabeth Hille and Gaelle Baumann both started the day with top ten stacks, but as the day progressed they’ve headed in different directions.

Gee prevents drowning by catching a boat.

Hille has gotten more active as the day has worn on, not just waiting for big hands or relying on double-ups but pressing the action in several big pots. She’s been firing barrels all the way to the river to get folds and rake in chips.

It’s been a different story for Gaelle Baumann, as she just hasn’t been able to get anything going today and has seen her stack wilt to about 3 million chips, making her our current short stack with 14 players left.

A Gee Full House

Scott Abrams raised to 425,000 from UTG and Steven Gee called from the small blind. Jesse Sylvia was in the big blind and called as well.

The flop came 10♣ 8♣ 7♠ and the blinds checked. Abrams led out for 750,000 and Gee called. Sylvia folded and a 10♥ came on the turn. Gee check-called Abrams 1.25 million bet and the 3♦ came on the river. Gee checked again and Abrams bet 1.8 million. Gee raised to 4.3 million and after some thought, Abrams called.

Gee showed 7♣ 7♥ for a full house and Abrams mucked. Gee went up to 16.8 million while Abrams dropped to 15.4 million.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Jacob Balsiger 25,100,000

Scott Abrams 22,900,000

Robert Salaburu 22,500,000

Greg Merson 19,850,000

Michael Esposito 17,570,000

Marc Ladouceur 17,500,000

Russell Thomas 16,800,000

Jeremy Ausmus 12,000,000

Elisabeth Hille 11,710,000

Steven Gee 11,300,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

VIDEO - Get to Know Big-Stack Jeremy Ausmus

Professional poker player Jeremy Ausmus has been among the big stacks all day and we grabbed him for a quick video interview last break.

Ausmus is originally from Colorado but decided to move to Las Vegas a few years ago to pursue his dream of playing poker professionally. While he was already successful before this Main Event run, it's safe to say this is the biggest thing that's ever happened to him in poker.

Ausmus tells us how he got into the game after watching Rounders and what it means to be this deep in the Main Event.

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2012 Main Event: Back From Dinner

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The 90 minutes are up and we're back.

There's one hour left in Level 32, giving players 100,000/200,000 blinds and a 30,000 ante. Our remaining 15 players are also coming back to a guaranteed payday of $465,159.

The money will only go up as we keep on bringing the number of players down. The final 12 will make a jump to $590,442.

Play has been going by fairly quickly and bust outs tend to pick up after the dinner break. We'll see if the fast pace that's been present all day continues for the rest of the day.

We don't know how many levels we'll be playing, but we do know that we won't stop until we hit the November Nine. Stay tuned for more live updates from the 2012 Main Event.

VIDEO: Get to Know Big-Stack Robert Salaburu

Robert Salaburu is a poker pro who's been making his living playing cards for the last 10 years.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas Salaburu is reveling in the opportunity to score big in this Main Event. Check out the full interview below to get to know him a little better and stay tuned for more videos as we play down to the final table.

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2012 Main Event: Final Two Tables and Dinner Break

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Twenty minutes after players came back from their 20-minute break, they went on another break. With 1 hour and 39 minutes left in level 32, we got down to our final 18 players. There was a complete redraw and now every hand is being diligently recorded, hold cards included.

Our 2012 World Champion is now seated at one of these tables. Also present in the last two tables are our last two women: Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille.

After our post-Level 31 break, there was a storm of eliminations. In that one hour, we've lost four players and made another pay jump.

Now we're down to 15 players and they're all on another break. With one hour left into Level 32, the floor has decided to take a 90-minute dinner break. Cards will be back in the air at 8pm.

We'll see if we get another boost of post-dinner bustouts.

Moving On Up

We’re down to just two tables left and the remaining 15 players are now guaranteed to walk away with at least $465,159.

At this stage of things every three eliminations clicks up the pay meter one notch, with the next jump at $590,442 for 12th.

Not that anyone is sitting out to just move up a few pay levels but the math is pretty compelling, as far as tacking on an extra $130K+ with each pay bump.

Jamie Robbins Implodes For 19th

Jamie Robbins raised to 500,000, and Jacob Balsiger reraised to 1,200,000 from the button. Robbins made the call to see the flop.

When the flop came 9♠ 5♣ 4♦, both players checked their option. The T♦ came on the turn, and Robbins moved all in for 2,900,000, and Balsigner quickly called.

18th place finisher, David Balkin

Robins: K♦ J♦

Balsiger: 9♣ 9♥

Balsiger had a set of nines, but Robins had a chance to catch up if a non-paired diamond hit the board. Unfortunately for Robbins, it was the 3♠ that hit the board which put him out in 19th place for $294,601.

Balkin Goes Down In 18th Place

Right after the redraw to two tables, David Balkin raised to 425,000 from middle position. Michael Esposito made the call to see the flop.

The flop came out 8♠ K♠ 8♥. Blakin fired out 625,000, and Esposito called to see the Q♣ come on the turn.

Balkin checked leaving Esposito to bet out 925,000. Balkin shoved back by moving all in. Esposito snap called turning up his cards.

Esposito: A♣ 8♣

Balkin: A♠ A♥

Balkin could only win if the case ace hit the board. The river wasn’t the ace Balkin was looking for, it was the Q♠. Balkin was sent walking in 18th place which was good for a $369,026 pay day.

Buckenmayer Second Best For 17th Place

Robert Buckenmayer

Wilfried Harig raised from early position to 400,000, and Robert Buckenmayer shoved from the small blind. It folded back around to Harig who quickly called putting Buckenmayer at risk for elimination.

Buckenmayer:A♥ Q♥

Harig: A♣ K♥

Buckenmayer was second best to Harig’s ace-king and was looking for a queen to fall on the board. The community cards were laid out and they came 4♦ 7♠ 5♠ 9♥ 6♣.

Buckenmayer was eliminated in 17th place which was good for $369,026.

Win Some, Lose Some

Those cheering for the 40+ crowd saw their hopes take a hit with the exit of Robert Buckenmayer in 17th place ($369,026) but their two remaining war horses are at least charging along with plenty of vigor and chips.

Percy Mahatan

Michael Esposito is among the overall chip leaders with 18 million while Steven Gee is right at average stack of about 12 million.

Percy Mahatan Out in 16th

And we don't stop, the bust outs don't stop.

Percy Mahatan was the next to go, and he fell to Robert Salaburu's monstrous stack. Mahatan raised to 450,000 from the hijack and Salaburu called from the big blind.

The flop came K♦ 9♦ 5♥ and Mahatan check-called a bet from Mahatan. The 7♥ came on the river and Salaburu moved all-in for over 20 million.

Salaburu had Mahatan -- and everyone else in the tournament -- covered. Salaburu showed 9♠ 7♠ for two-pair when Mahatan called. Mahatan looked resined and showed Q♠ Q♥.

Mahatan had a few outs, but the 4♣ that came on the river wasn't one of them. Mahatan finished 16th and just missed the pay jump to $465,159.

Chip Counts

1. Robert Salaburu - 23,400,000

2. Jacob Balsiger - 21,800,000

3. Scott Abrams - 21,000,000

4. Russel Thomas - 20,900,000

5. Michael Esposito - 18,250,000

6. Marc Ladouceur - 17,080,000

7. Greg Merson - 16,395,000

8. Jeremy Ausmus - 14,085,000

9. Steven Gee - 11,700,000

10. Andras Koroknai - 9,910,000

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2012 Main Event: Down to 19

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We’ve reached that magic point, where the ante -- 30,000 at the current level -- is the same size as the entire starting stack players began with a week or so ago when their Main Event quest began.

We’re two eliminations away from the next pay jump at $369,026 for 18th place, with 20 players still soldiering on here on Day 7 as we play our way down to a final table of nine.

Russell Thomas has been one of the big movers on the day, starting with 9 million chips and doubling that up to now lead the way with just under 18 million.

Corcione and Volpe Representing the EC, Baby

It doesn’t come close to rivaling Tupac/Biggie but the poker world has a rivalry of its own with East coast grinders at Foxwoods and the Borgata not always getting the same props that their West coast counterparts in Vegas and California receive.

Paul Volpe and Robert Corcione are trying to change that in this year’s Main Event, with the two talented pros showing that their success at Foxwoods and the Borgata translates well to the WSOP stage.

Volpe has rolled up over $150,000 in cashes and Corcione is close behind with just over $140,000 -- although both are poised to bump those figures up in a big way when their Main Event winnings are tallied up and added in.

Watson Out in 22nd

Cylus Watson moved all-in for his remaining 920,000 and Greg Merson called.

Watson showed A♦ 5♣ while Merson turned over J♣ 10♦. Watson's final board read 7♦ 8♦ 10♣ Q♥ 2♦ and Watson was eliminated in 22nd place. This is Watson's third WSOP cash and it is largest, by far.

Before this, Watson had a total of $61,000 in live-tournament earnings, he nearly quintupled that number today.

No More Representation

The East Coast - West Coast rivalry has come to an end.

Our East Coast representatives, Paul Volpe and Robert Corcione have been eliminated.

21st place finisher, Robert Corcione

Corcione was the first to go, his elimination started when Scott Abrams raised to 340,000 from early position. Corcione moved all-in for 4.3 million from the button and Abrams called.

Abrams: A♦ Q♦

Corcione: 10♠ 10♦

The flop brought a Q♣ and Abrams took the lead. Corcione couldn't improve and he was eliminated in 21st place.

Down Goes Volpe

There was a wild three-way going on at the secondary feature table.

Steven Gee moved all-in from the cutoff and Danny Wong reshoved from the button. Paul Volpe was in the small blind and called. Salaburu folded the big blind and we had ourselves a three-way. Wong had Volpe and Gee covered, he also had the best hand:

David Wong and Paul Volpe as they await the river

Wong: 10♠ 10♣

Gee: 8♣ 8♥

Volpe: A♣ K♥

The flop fell 5♥ 7♦ 6♦ and Gee picked up a straight draw. The turn was a J♣ and Gee and Volpe started standing up. But a 4♣ came on the river and Gee sat back down. Volpe became our 20th place finisher and Gee tripled up to 11.7 million.

Chip Counts

Russell Thomas - 20,900,000

Scott Abrams - 19,760,000

Marc Ladouceur - 19,475,000

Robert Salaburu - 17,965,000

Jacob Balsiger - 15,200,000

Jeremy Ausmus - 14,085,000

Michael Esposito - 13,200,000

Steven Gee - 11,700,000

Greg Merson - 9,650,000

Elisabeth Hille - 9,445,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Three More Hit The Rail- Down To 21

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It has been a pretty exciting last hour watching the final three tables. The short stacks are being forced to roll with their good hands in an attempt to double up. Because of this, we have seen three more players fall during the last hour.

Double Dozen-Israelashvili Out In 25th

Down at the non-hole-cam featured table, Roland Israelashvili was short-stacked with only about 1.9 million. Israelashvili moved all-in from early position and got called by Russell Thomas in the cutoff. The blinds and button folded and Israelashvili's tournament life was at risk.

Thomas showed a pair of jacks and Israelashvili showed Ace-Five.

The board came 9♣ Q♠ 9♠ K♦ 7♠ and Israelashvili became our 25th place finisher. Israelashvili will take home $294,601, his second biggest cash this summer. Just two weeks ago, Israelashvili finished 5th in the $50K Poker Players Championship for $317,882.

Strelitz Takes 24th

Scott Abrams opened for 340,000 from the button, and Daniel Strelitz three-bet from the small blind to 720,000. Abrams wasn’t taking that laying down, so he tour-bet to 1,250,000. Strelitz five-bet all in for 6,500,000, and Abrams called for a shot to take Strelitz out.

Abrams: K♠ K♥

Strelitz: 4♥ 4♠

The flop came K♣ Q♦ 5♦ which made it nearly impossible for Strelitz to catch up. When the 9♠ came on the turn, Strelitz was drawing dead. The 9♥ completed the board and Strelitz became our 24th place finisher for $294,601.

Meanwhile, Abrams was given a nice boost to 16,200,000 in chips.

Sylvia hits a miracle river card to double up.

Sylvia Goes Runner Runner Miracle

Jesse Syliva has been active and aggressive on the feature table today. However, this style of play hasn’t been working out as well as he expected, as he has had to give up a fair amount of pots at showdown. He finally got it in with the best hand, but had to hit a miracle to survive.

Greg Merson opened for 235,000, and Jesse Sylvia called behind. David Balkin also called the raise from the big blind, and the flop came 3♠ 8♣ J♣. Both Balkin and Merson checked their option, but Sylvia fired out 530,000. Balkin quickly folded his hand, and Merson moved all in over the top. Sylvia insta-called for his remaining 3,415,000.

Merson: Q♣ T♣

Syliva: A♦ A♥

Syliva was ahead, but Merson had a huge draw against his hand and could win with any club for a flush or a nine to complete the straight.

The 3♣ came on the turn to give Merson the out he needed to come out on top.

“Three, three, three!” The crowd shouted.

The poker gods listened and delivered a 3♥ on the river to give Syliva a full house and propel him back into the winner’s seat. That hand boosted Sylvia back up to 8,045,000.

Bronshtein is out in 23rd place and takes home $294,601.

Bronshtein Out in 23rd

Yuval Bronsthein had been moving all-in a lot at the secondary feature table. One of those all-ins was called, but was very uneventful. Yuval moved all-in from the small blind and Andras Koroknai reshoved from the big blind.

Both players showed ace-queen and they chopped the pot.

Bronsthein then moved in without getting any callers a few times. Then, he got a customer. Bronsthein raised to 360,000 from UTG and Jeremy Ausmus moved all-in from the small blind. Ausmus had Bronshtein covered by about 1 million.

Bronshtein tanked, the call would put his tournament life at risk.

Bronshtein eventually called and showed A♠ Q♦. It was a flip for his tournament life as Ausmus showed J♣ J♥.

The flop came K♥ 7♥ 9♥ and Ausmus was the only player with a heart. The turn was a 6♥ and Ausmus hit a flush. Yuval was drawing dead and he was eliminated from the tournament in 23rd place.

This is Bronshtein's 21st WSOP cash, but his first Main Event cash. This will also be Bronshtein's largest cash, with 23rd place being worth $294,601.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Russell Thomas 17,900,000

Robert Salaburu 16,700,000

Marc Ladouceur 15,995,000

Scott Abrams 14,700,000

Jacob Balsiger 13,700,000

Michael Esposito 11,300,000

Jeremy Ausmus 10,650,000

Elisabeth Hille 10,185,000

Jamie Robbins 9,400,000

Greg Merson 8,500,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Gaelle Baumann Doubles

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players took their first break of the day. The blinds have gone up to 80,000/160,000 with a 20,000 ante. Robert Salaburu has the chip lead with just under 20 million. On the other side of the coin, Andras Koroknai is the short stack with only 2,215,000. He will need to find a place to double up since he only has 13 big blinds.

Pairs of Pairs

Pocket tens have been kind to the short stacks at the secondary feature table.

Robert Salaburu raised to 320,000 from early position and Jeremy Ausmus and Yuval Bronshtein called. Danny Wong moved all-in from the small blind for 4.250 million and Salaburu folded. Ausmus also folded and Bronsthein went into the tank. After about a minute, Bronshtein called and showed 9♥ 9♣. Wong was at risk but he turned over a higher pocket pair, 10♣ 10♠.

The flop came J♣ J♠ J♦ and both players hit a full house. The turn was an A♦ and the river brought the 3♥.

Wong doubled up to about 9.5 million while Bronshtein's stack shrunk to about 4.5 million.

A few minutes later, a similar hand would play out.

Jeremy Ausmus raised to 325,000 and Gaelle Baumann moved all-in for 2.965 million. Action folded back to Ausmus and he made the call.

Gaelle: 10♥ 10♦

Ausmus: 9♥ 9♦

The crowd laugh at the repetitious showdown and the dealer fanned out a J♣ 4♣ 5♥ flop. The turn was a 2♠ and an A♣ completed the board. Gaelle doubled up to 6.1 million and Ausmus was left with 3.85 million.

Table Dynamics

The makeup of the secondary feature table has changed a bit. Robert Corcione has been moved out of the nine seat and gone off to the tertiary feature table. The chips at this table also seem to prefer the five seat. That seat is currently occupied by Robert Salaburu and he has a giant stack. It seems to have its own gravitational pull and chips just can't stay away.

Salaburu has been winning pot after pot, and with 19.1 million, he currently holds 36 percent of the chips at his table.

Scott Abrams Isn’t Bad at NLHE, Either

Scott Abrams has five previous WSOP cashes to his credit, but he’s a rare beast in the world where everyone is eating a steady diet of No-Limit Hold’em. His best results have come in Razz, Stud, and 8 Game Mix events.

This will be his first Main Event cash and by far his biggest tournament score. His lifetime tournament winnings prior to the Main Event total just over $57,000.

He’s best known as an online grinder under the “weirdchess” handle and is a regular on the forums at 2+2.

His run here in the Main will be slightly bittersweet, as he sold off 72% of his WSOP action via packages on 2+2. However, at least he’ll be providing a big sweat for a lot of his backers that are looking at a very nice ROI on their investment so far.

Harig’s River Save

Wilfried Harig has been very active on the file table today. He’s moved all in more than a few times today, but he never got called. Greg Merson finally gave him the chance double up.

Harig moved all in from middle position for 2,915,000, and Merson called from the big blind.

Harig 6♠ 6♣

Merson: Q♣ Q♠

The flop came out T♥ 7♥ K♥, which extended Merson’s lead in the hand. When the 9♣ came on the turn, everyone was expecting Harig to be the next player to exit the Amazon room. However, the 6♥ came on the river, which was one of the only cards in the deck that could save Harig’s tournament life.

Harig doubled up to 6,030,000 in chips.

Jeremy Ausmus adds some No Limit Hold'em to his credentials.

Jeremy Ausmus Capping an Awesome WSOP

Jeremy Ausmus is one of the more decorated players that made it through to Day 7. He has cashes stringing back to 2008 which is virtually the Stone Ages for many of today’s uber-young grinders.

Ausmus’ biggest lifetime cash was for $190,000 in a $4,750 NLHE event at the Bike, and he has put together a very impressive 2012 WSOP.

Ausmus has already cashed in eight different events this WSOP, with the biggest a $28,793 payday in Event #50 $5,000 NLHE.

He’s also shown that he’s a well-rounded player, with scores in different formats including NLHE, Omaha/7 Card Stud HiLo, Mixed Hold’em, and NLHE/PLO tournaments.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Robert Salaburu 19,100,000

Marc Ladouceur 17,710,000

Russell Thomas 15,200,000

Michael Esposito 12,450,000

Jacob Balsiger 11,275,000

Jamie Robbins 9,820,000

Scott Abrams 9,580,000

Greg Merson 9,150,000

Daniel Strelitz 8,250,000

Danny Wong 8,050,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Jan Heitmann Takes The 26th Spot

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Within the second hour of play, another player has fallen victim to the bust out fairy. Jan Heitmann was eliminated in 26th place, and his bustout brings us one step closer to the final table.

Jan Heitmann Eliminated in 26th Place

In our second elimination of the day, we have lost Jan Heitmann. He opened to 250,000 from early position, and Daniel Strelitz three-bet to 650,000 from the small blind. Heitmann shoved over the top for 3.1 million. Strelitz made the call and both players opened their hands.

Heitmann: 6♥ 6♣

Strelitz: 8♣ 8♠

Heitmann needed some help if he was going to stay alive against Strelitz’s pocket eights. The board ran out 5♠ 7♥ K♦ K♠ Q♣, which just wasn’t good enough to keep Heitmann in the game.

Heitmann takes home a cool $294,601 for his efforts at the Main Event.

Gee, Another Big Cash at the WSOP

Steven Gee may not be a household name in the poker world, but he’s no stranger to success at the WSOP. He’s one of the handful of bracelet winners returning for Day 7, and he’s looking to add the biggest bracelet of all to his collection.

Gee’s previous cashes are those of a standard low-limit tournament grinder, with a few $1,000+ cashes over the years in small buy-in events in California. However, all that changed in 2010 when the poker gods smiled on him during the WSOP.

He managed a min-cash of $3,114 in a $1,500 NLHE event at the 2010 WSOP, and put some of those winnings to excellent use when he then entered a $1,000 NLHE event. He plowed his way through a field of 3,042 runners to win it all including bracelet and $472,479 in cash.

He fell off the poker radar for a bit, but managed a few baby cashes in small tournaments in California in 2011. Now he’s back with a vengeance working his magic at the WSOP. He’s already guaranteed to cash for at least $294,601, and with each player who falls, that number gets bigger and bigger.

Gee has chipped up a bit early on Day 7 to put him around 6 million chips and that puts him squarely in the middle of the pack at the moment.

Salaburu Takes the Lead

Robert Salaburu has been dominating the secondary feature table and now he has the chip lead with 25 players left. Salaburu started the day with 10.915 million and quickly took a big pot off of Robert Corcione.

Salaburu raised to 255,000 from middle position and Corcione called from the cutoff. The flop fell 9♥ 3♠ 4♣ and Salaburu bet 295,000. Salaburu called and the turn brought a 7♠. Salaburu bet 925,000 and Corcione called, bringing the K♥ on the river. Salaburu threw out a final bet worth 1.5 million and Corcione called.

Robert Salaburu takes the chip lead.

Salaburu showed ace-king for the rivered top pair and Corcione mucked. Salaburu was up to about 14 million.

Salaburu then continued to dominate his table. He raised to 250,000 and Gaelle Baumann called. The flop came 9♠ 6♦ K♥ and both players checked, bringing the 7♥ on the turn. Salaburu led out for 300,000 and Baumann called, bringing the A♠ on the river. Salabur bet 1 million and Gaelle called. Salaburu showed ace-king for two pair and Baumann mucked.

Salaburu then took some chips off of the player to Baumann's left, Yuval Bronshtein. Bronshtein bet 265,000 from early position and Salaburu called from the big blind. There was a 3♠ J♣ 8♥ flop and Salaburu checked. Bronshtein bet 275,000, Salaburu called and the 5♠ came on the turn. Salaburu check-called Bronshtein's 385,000 bet and the river brought a 3♣.

Both players checked and Salaburu showed king-jack. Bronshtein mucked and Salaburu's stack grew even more.

Then Salaburu took another 1.65 million. Seven Gee raised to 1.65 million pre flop and Salaburu made it 5 million to go. Action folded back to Gee and -- after some deliberation -- Gee folded. Salaburu is now the chip leader with 19.825 million.

Volpe Doubles

Gaelle Baumann raised to 250,000 from early position and Danny Wong called from the small blind. Paul Volpe was in the big blind and moved all-in for 1.445 million.

Baumann folded and Wong called. Wong showed a pair of fives while Volpe turned over jacks.

The board came 4♥ K♣ A♥ 2♣ 8♣ and Volpe doubled up to just over 3 million.

Chip Counts

1. Robert Salaburu - 19,825,000

2. Russell Thomas - 15,310,000

3. Marc Ladouceur - 15,135,000

4. Greg Merson - 11,775,000

5. Michael Esposito - 11,595,000

6. Jacob Balsiger - 11,275,000

7. Daniel Strelitz - 9,555,000

8. Scott Abrams - 8,760,000

9. Jamie Robbins 8,750,000

10. Elisabeth Hille - 8,310,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Nicco Maag Eliminated In 27th Place

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

In just the first hour of the day, we are starting to see a deviation of chips from when the day first started. We lost one player this level, and we are aiming for 17 more to fall before the day is out.

Nicco Maag Out in 27th Place

Nicco Maag is our first elimination of the day. Maag was short-stacked and moved all-in for 1.11 million from early position. Russell Thomas called from middle position and we had ourselves a showdown.

Thomas: AcQ♥

Maag: A♥ J♠

Maag was dominated and the 9♥ 8♣ 4♣ flop brought no help. The 3♣ on the turn was worse for Maag, as it gave Thomas nine more outs. The 2♣ on the river was one of them and Thomas flushed away Maag's Main Event run. Maag finished in 27th place and earned $294,601.

Money Money Money

Our remaining players are definitely focused on one thing -- making the final table of nine players -- but some will still be keeping an eye on the tournament clock as far as the payout jumps.

All 27 that start the day are guaranteed at least $294,601, but there’s some extra incentive for hanging around as long as possible even if they don’t make the final table.

Here are the remaining payout jumps leading up to the final table of nine:

19-27: $294,601

16-18: $369,026

13-15: $465,159

10-12: $590,442

Balkin Binks A Pair

Jesse Sylvia raised to 240,000 at the ESPN feature table. It folded around to David Balkin, who was on the button, and he called to see a flop.

The flop came down 8♥ 9♠ K♦. Both players checked to see the 5♥ that came on the turn.

At this point, Sylvia felt confident enough to bet 355,000. Balkin made the call, and the river was the T♣. Both players checked.

Balkin was the first to open his hand with A♦ 9♣ for a pair of nines. Seeing that he was beat, Sylvia mucked his hand.

Scott Abrams climbs to the top.

Scott To The Top

Scott Abrams has been climbing at the tertiary feature table.

After three big pots, Abrams is now fourth in chips with 11.5 million. It all started when Abrams raised to 255,000 from early position. He got calls from Russel Thomas in the cutoff and Michael Esposito in the big blind.

Esposito checked the 3♣ 2♥ 2♦ flop and Abrams led out for 475,000. Thomas called and Esposito folded

The turn was a J♣, and Abrams led out for 1.075 million. Thomas folded and Abrams chiped up to about 9 million.

The following hand, Abrams came in with another raise from 255,000 from early position. Esposito called from the small blind and the flop came Q♠ 9♦ 8♣.

Esposito bet 325,000 and Abrams called, bringing the K♥ on the turn.

Esposito led out for 600,000, Abrams called and the Q♣ came on the river. Both players checked and Esposito showed 9♥ 8♥ while Abrams showed J♣ J♥.

Abrams rivered two-pair won him the pot and he was over 10 million.

Then things got settled on the flop

Jan Heitmann raised to 250,000 from the hijack and Abrams re-raised to 700,000 from the big blind. The flop came 10♠ 10♥ 9♣ and Abrams led out for 710,000. Heitmann folded and Abrams stack grew even more.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Robert Salaburu 15,300,000

Marc Ladouceur 15,205,000

Russell Thomas 13,900,000

Scott Abrams 11,500,000

Greg Merson 11,285,000

Yuval Bronshtein 9,735,000

Elisabeth Hille 9,515,000

Daniel Strelitz 9,515,000

Jamie Robbins 8,750,000

Jacob Balsiger 8,600,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: The Final 27 Battle

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

After a ten-minute delay to get cameras set up and finish player interviews, cards are finally in the air here on Day 7 of the Main Event. Twenty-seven players return on their quest to make the October 9.

Marc Ladouceur enters the day with the chip lead. However, blinds for the day will start at 60,000/120,000 with a 15,000 ante, so pots are getting huge and chips can change hands quickly.

Around the Poker World

We’ve got an eclectic mix of players from around the world that have survived to reach the final 27 players here at the Main Event, with the US taking its customary spot at the head of the pack.

The rest of the world has been playing catch-up in recent years, however, with poker becoming increasingly global as online sites and brick-and-mortar casinos alike look to tap into new markets.

That focus is increasingly reflected here at the WSOP, with more and more foreign players making their mark on poker’s biggest stage.

Last year’s winner Pius Heinz hailed from Germany, which may explain the fact that three German players (Haerig, Heitmann, and Maag) hail from there.

Australia, France, Hungary and Canada each field one representative.

US (19 players)

Germany (4 players)

Australia (1 player)

France (1 player)

Hungary (1 player)

Norway (1 player)

Table 410

1 Greg Merson 7,400,000

2 Jesse Sylvia 7,385,000

3 Percy Mahatan 6,750,000

4 Jamie Robbins 8,750,000

5 Wilfried Haerig 2,665,000

6 Cylus Watson 8,500,000

7 Elisabeth Hille 9,770,000

8 David Balkin 6,330,000

9 Marc Ladouceur 15,875,000

Table 414

1 Daniel Strelitz 12,790,000

2 Russell Thomas 9,985,000

3 Jacob Balsiger 7,330,000

4 Jan Heitmann 6,390,000

5 Michael Esposito 7,045,000

6 Robert Buckenmayer 4,410,000

7 Roland Israelashvili 5,525,000

8 Scott Abrams 8,080,000

9 Nicco Maag 1,300,000

Table 416

1 Andras Koroknai 3,125,000

2 Steven Gee 4,830,000

3 Danny Wong 6,360,000

4 Paul Volpe 2,650,000

5 Robert Salaburu 10,915,000

6 Jeremy Ausmus 8,300,000

7 Gaelle Baumann 5,530,000

8 Yuval Bronshtein 9,735,000

9 Robert Corcione 8,745,000

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2012 Main Event: Day 7 Preview

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Ten days of the most intense poker action in the world and it all comes down to this.

Twenty-seven players will get a shot at poker immortality by making it into the final nine today in the Amazon Room.

While yesterday saw most of the big name pros get eliminated - including Gavin Smith, Vanessa Selbst, Jason Somerville and Sam Holden - there are still some very notable players gunning for the final table.

For the first time in the Chris Moneymaker era we have not one but two females still alive in the final three tables. If either Elisabeth Hille or Gaelle Baumann makes the final table it will truly be a game changer.

Meanwhile Yuval Bronshtein, Gerg Merson, Jeremy Ausmus and Scott Abrams are skilled pros who may take their games to the next level by making it into the final nine.

Jan Heitmann and Roland Israelashvili are well-known pros in the poker world and may very well bust their way onto poker's grandest stage today.

Action will resume at 1 p.m. today thanks to the tournament going late last night. Check back here for all the action leading up to the final table.

Here’s a look at the complete chip counts of the 27 remaining players:

1. Marc Ladouceur - 15,875,000 (132 bb) 2. Daniel Strelitz - 12,790,000 (106 bb) 3. Robert Salaburu - 10,915,000 (90 bb) 4. Russell Thomas - 9,985,000 (83 bb) 5. Elisabeth Hille - 9,770,000 (81 bb) 6. Yuval Bronshtein - 9,735,000 (81 bb) 7. Jamie Robbins - 8,750,000 (72 bb) 8. Robert Corcione - 8,745,000 (72 bb) 9. Cylus Watson - 8,500,000 (70 bb) 10. Jeremy Ausmus - 8,300,000 (69 bb) 11. Scott Abrams - 8,080,000 (67 bb) 12. Greg Merson - 7,435,000 (61 bb) 13. Jesse Sylvia - 7,385,000 (61 bb) 14. Jacob Balsiger - 7,330,000 (61 bb) 15. Michael Esposito - 7,045,000 (58 bb) 16. Percy Mahatan - 6,750,000 (56 bb) 17. Jan Heitmann - 6,390,000 (53 bb) 18. Danny Wong - 6,360,000 (53 bb) 19. David Balkin - 6,330,000 (52 bb) 20. Gaelle Baumann - 5,530,000 (46 bb) 21. Roland Israelashvili - 5,525,000 (46 bb) 22. Steven Gee - 4,830,000 (40 bb) 23. Robert Buckenmayer - 4,410,000 (36 bb) 24. Andras Koroknai - 3,125,000 (26 bb) 25. Wilfried Haerig - 2,665,000 (22 bb) 26. Paul Volpe - 2,650,000 (22 bb) 27. Nicco Maag - 1,300,000 (10 bb)

In the meantime here’s our video recap of Day 6 featuring Jesse Sylvia, Erik Hellman and Niels van Alphen:

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2012 Main Event: Marc Ladouceur Leads Final 27

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Day 6 is over.

Our final elimination of the day came with 1 hour and 37 minutes left in Level 30. Erik Hellman was the Day 7 bubble, his 28th place finish will earn him $236,921.

The final hand of the day started with action folding to Erik Hellman in the small blind. Hellman moved all-in and Robert Salaburu called from the big blind. Hellman showed A♠ J♦ and was dominated by Salaburu's A♣ Q♣.

The flop came 7♠ Q♥ 2♠ and Salaburu's hand improved. The turn was a 4♥ and Hellman was drawing dead. The river brought a 7♠ and a cheers from all across the Amazon room.

We've reached the final three tables. Tomorrow, we'll get our final nine.

Official Leaderboard for Day 7

With the blinds at 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante, here's a look at the entire leaderboard heading into Day 7.

All of these players are guaranteed at least $294,601.

1. Marc Ladouceur - 15,875,000 (132 bb) 2. Daniel Strelitz - 12,790,000 (106 bb) 3. Robert Salaburu - 10,915,000 (90 bb) 4. Russell Thomas - 9,985,000 (83 bb) 5. Elisabeth Hille - 9,770,000 (81 bb) 6. Yuval Bronshtein - 9,735,000 (81 bb) 7. Jamie Robbins - 8,750,000 (72 bb) 8. Robert Corcione - 8,745,000 (72 bb) 9. Cylus Watson - 8,500,000 (70 bb) 10. Jeremy Ausmus - 8,300,000 (69 bb) 11. Scott Abrams - 8,080,000 (67 bb) 12. Greg Merson - 7,435,000 (61 bb) 13. Jesse Sylvia - 7,385,000 (61 bb) 14. Jacob Balsiger - 7,330,000 (61 bb) 15. Michael Esposito - 7,045,000 (58 bb) 16. Percy Mahatan - 6,750,000 (56 bb) 17. Jan Heitmann - 6,390,000 (53 bb) 18. Danny Wong - 6,360,000 (53 bb) 19. David Balkin - 6,330,000 (52 bb) 20. Gaelle Baumann - 5,530,000 (46 bb) 21. Rolan Israelashvili - 5,525,000 (46 bb) 22. Steven Gee - 4,830,000 (40 bb) 23. Robert Buckenmayer - 4,410,000 (36 bb) 24. Andras Koroknai - 3,125,000 (26 bb) 25. Wilfried Haerig - 2,665,000 (22 bb) 26. Paul Volpe - 2,650,000 (22 bb) 27. Nicco Maag - 1,300,000 (10 bb)

Day 7 begins tomorrow (Monday) at 1:00 pm PT, and they will play as long as it takes until there are nine players left for the November Nine -- which will be played in late October.

The first nine players eliminated tomorrow will receive $294,601 each, while the nine survivors will be guaranteed at least $754,798, with a shot at $8.5 million.

As you might imagine, it'll be an important day.

Return to PokerListings.com for continuing coverage of the WSOP Main Event.

WSOP Daily Video Show with Jesse Sylvia, Niels van Alphen and Erik Hellman

Check out today's show to get to know three of the Day 6 players a little better. Niels van Alphen was the last Dutch player in the field, while Erik Hellman was the final Swede.

Jesse Sylvia is an American pro originally from Martha's Vineyard and he's heading into the final 27 right around the middle of the pack.

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2012 Main Event: 28 Left, Playing to 27

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

There has been another last-minute schedule change.

Since there were 28 players remaining at the end of the level, it was determined by the WSOP and/or ESPN to continue playing until one more player is eliminated.

It might seem like a frivolous thing, but there is a rather substantial TV production difference between 28 players and 27.

With 27 players, ESPN can set up three tables and provide thorough coverage. With 28 players, there will need to be four tables, and as soon as the first player busts, they will need to take a break to consolidate to the final three tables.

So it is much easier on everyone if they start tomorrow with 27 players rather than 28. And so they keep playing into Level 30, with blinds increasing to 60,000-120,000 and a 15,000 ante.

There hasn't been any word yet as to whether this will affect tomorrow's start, which was rescheduled for 1:00 pm PT earlier this evening.

Shahriar Assareh Can’t Beat Kings

Shahriar Assareh shoved over an opening raise for his last 2.2 million chips but couldn’t have been too happy when Robert Corcione re-shoved, with the original raiser getting out of the way and Assareh and his pocket tens getting the bad news when Corcione flipped up pocket kings.

The board blanked out and didn’t even produce a sweat for Assareh, who finishes 31st for $236,921, leaving us with 30 players remaining.

Niels van Alphen is out in 30th place.

Last Dutchman is Down

Niels van Alphen has finished in 30th place ($236,921), and his exit ended Dutch hopes that they might produce the next Main Event champ.

He’d been battling with a shorter stack for much of the evening and found a good spot to double up his remaining 1.2 million chips, getting it all-in preflop with A♠ K♠ versus Cylus Watsons 9♥ 9♠.

The board ran out 5♣ 7♦ 4♣ 7♣ Q♣ with the nod going to Watson, boosting his stack up to nearly 12 million chips.

Jordan Batt Eliminated by Scott Abrams

Jordan Batt was down to about 3.1 million (31 big blinds), when he four-bet all in over a raise from Marc Ladouceur and a reraise from Scott Abrams.

Ladouceur folded, and Abrams called with A♦ K♥. Batt turned over J♦ J♥, and he'd need it to hold to stay alive.

The board came K♦ 8♥ 5♣ 4♠ 10♠, and Abrams paired his king on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Jordan Batt in 29th place.

Batt earns $236,921, while Abrams increases his stack to about 9.75 million.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard with 28 players remaining, courtesy of WSOP.com, with blinds increasing to 60,000-120,000 and a 15,000 ante:

1. Daniel Strelitz - 14,505,000 (120 bb) 2. Marc Ladouceur - 13,500,000 (112 bb) 3. Jamie Robbins - 9,770,000 (81 bb) T4. Scott Abrams - 9,750,000 (81 bb) T4. Cylus Watson - 9,750,000 (81 bb) 6. Jacob Balsiger - 9,400,000 (78 bb) 7. Russell Thomas - 8,925,000 (74 bb) 8. Gaelle Baumann - 8,740,000 (72 bb) 9. Jeremy Ausmus - 8,580,000 (71 bb) 10. Percy Mahatan - 7,550,000 (62 bb)

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2012 Main Event: Lightning Round

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Lightning.

The thunderstorm outside the Rio has died down, but it seems the electric storm has moved indoors. The tournament took a while to get down to the final four tables, but once we did, there was a quick flurry of bustouts. In under 15 minutes, we lost four players and are now down to our final 32 players.

While the cause of all this action is most definitely due to invisible poker lightning, some people think the blinds have something to do with the accelerated action. Blinds are now 50,000/100,000 with a 10,000 ante, with 36 players left, that made the average stack 54 big blinds.

Jonathan Schoder was the first to go. Soon after players sat down, his ace-jack ran into Michael Esposito's pocket queens. The board brought all low cards and Schoder became our 36th place finisher.

Marty Zabib Runs Out of Lifelines

Marty Zabib was saved on the river earlier when he was all-in and at risk but he couldn’t pull off the feat again, falling in 35th ($236,921).

He shoved for 1.4 million and got a call from David Balkin who was holding pocket eights, ahead of Zabib’s A♣ 6♠.

The flop of J♠ 5♥ 2♠ didn’t change anything but Zabib’s rail exploded when the A♦ came on the turn. Their roars turned to stunned silence, however, when the 8♣ fell on the river to swing things back in Balkin’s favor and eliminate Zabib.

Charles Coultas

Coultas Out in 34th

Charles Coultas was next on the cutting board.

David Balkin raised to 200,000 from early position and Coultas moved all-in for 1.7 million from the button. The blinds folded, Balkin called and showed pocket kings.

Coultas turned over A♦ Q♥ and was in need of an ace. The Q♣ 8♣ 5♣ brought him a queen instead and the 10♣ came on the turn. The river was the 9♥ and Coultas was eliminated in 34th place.

Down to 32

Our next fast-paced elimination came from the feature table.

Taylor Paur moved all-in for 1.355 million and Jamie Robbins called from the big blind.

Paur: A♣ J♥

Robbins: A♥ Q♦

The 10♠ 9♠ 6♠ flop gave Paur hopes for running straight cards. The 2♠ came on the turn instead and Paur could hit any spade on the river to chop the pot. But the river was a 7♦ and Paur was eliminated in 33rd place, earning the same as all the other recent eliminations, $236,921.

Tomas Samol No Match for Ladies

Tomas Somal is our 32nd place finisher ($236,921), knocked out by a lady holding two more in her hand.

Samol and Elisabeth Hille went to war pre-flop with Somal eventually shoving for 2.5 million, with Hille making the quick call and rolling over Q♦ Q♣, far ahead of Samol’s A♠ Q♠.

A flop of 2♦ 3♦ 4♦ was a good one for Hille, with the door slamming on Samol when the K♦ came on the turn to give Hille a lock on the hand and send Samol packing.

Chip Counts

1. Daniel Strelitz - 16,390,000

2. Marc Ladouceur - 10,255,000

3. Cylus Watson - 10,120,000

4. Jeremy Ausmus - 9,860,000

5. Jacob Balsiger - 9,400,000

6. Russell Thomas - 8,925,000

7. Gaelle Baumann - 8,740,000

8. Jamie Robbins - 8,470,000

9. Robert Corcione - 8,400,000

10. Percy Mahatan - 7,550,000

Chip counts courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Final 4 Tables & Schedule Changes

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

A few changes have been made to the schedule for tonight and tomorrow.

First, it appears that tomorrow's Day 7 action will begin at 1:00 pm PT, rather than noon.

Second, the WSOP staff is planning a hard stop tonight at the end of this level (1:47 am PT), if the field hasn't yet reached the final three tables (27 players).

There are currently 36 players remaining at the final four tables, and it looks like it's going to come down to the wire tonight.

Gaelle Baumann Doubles Thru David Balkin

It was a little surreal at ESPN's secondary table, as it looked for a few moments like Gaelle Baumann -- one of the last two women standing -- had been eliminated.

But it was a false alarm.

David Balkin raised from middle position, and got two callers. The flop came A♦ 10♠ 9♥, Balkin bet 425,000, Baumann called from the cutoff, and Erik Hellman folded from the big blind.

The turn was the 7♥, Balkin bet 1 million, and Baumann thought for a while before she called.

The river card was the 4♥, and Balkin moved all in. Baumann immediately called with A♥ J♥. She had the nuts -- an ace-high flush.

But Balkin seemed to only see her ace, not the hearts, and reacted as if she only had top pair. Balkin proudly turned over 10-10 for a set of tens and began celebrating with his buddies on the rail.

It took a few moments, but perhaps when the announcer called out that Baumann had a flush, realization sank in for Balkin, and he quietly slinked back to the table to pay off the all-in bet.

Baumann doubled up to about 7.5 million in chips, and Balkin dropped down to about 1.1 million.

Balkin would double up a few minutes later, giving himself a little bit more of a cushion with about 2.3 million.

Amnon Filippi won the $10,000 Bellagio Cup in 2005 -- before it was a televised World Poker Tour event.

Amnon Filippi Eliminated in 39th Place

Amnon Filippi was one of the most recognizable pros remaining in the field, with $2.8 million in live tournament earnings and four televised WPT final tables under his belt, and a fourth-place finish in the 2007 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship.

Filippi was short-stacked, and moved all in from the button for 700,000 (7 big blinds). Paul Volpe called from the big blind with K♦ J♦, and Filippi turned over Q♠ 9♣.

Filippi would need to improve to stay alive, but the board came A♥ 6♦ 5♥ 8♥ A♣, and Volpe won the pot with king high to build his stack up to about 3.9 million.

Amnon Filippi was eliminated in 39th place, earning $191,646.

Omar Saeed Out in 37th

The bubble for the final four tables has burst. Omar Saeed was eliminated in 37th place and will be the last player to cash for $191,646. The remaining 36 players will reorganize into four tables and be guaranteed $236,921.

Saeed was another feature table elimination. It all started when Elisabeth Hille raised to 200,000. Saeed re-raised to 525,000 and Daniel Strelitz 4-bet to 985,000. Hille folded and Saeed moved all-in for 2.88 million. Strelitz knew he had the best hand and called instantly:

Strelitz: A♦ A♣ Saeed: A♠ K♥

The flop came J♥ 9♠ 6♦ and Saeed was in need of running straight cards or running kings. The turn was a 6♥ and Saeed's Main Event journey came to an end. The river was an irrelevant 4♥ and we were down to our final four tables.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard with 43 players remaining, courtesy of WSOP.com, with blinds at 50,000-100,000 and a 10,000 ante:

1. Daniel Strelitz - 16,390,000 (163 bb) 2. Jeremy Ausmus - 12,000,000 (120 bb) 3. Cylus Watson - 9,895,000 (98 bb) 4. Russell Thomas - 9,375,000 (93 bb) 5. Gaelle Baumann - 8,600,000 (86 bb) 6. Robert Corcione - 8,400,000 (84 bb) 7. Scott Abrams - 8,005,000 (80 bb) 8. Jacob Balsiger - 7,500,000 (75 bb) 9. Greg Merson - 7,270,000 (72 bb) 10. Jesse Sylvia - 6,200,000 (62 bb)

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2012 Main Event: Forty Left

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

If He Only Had a Heart

The Spanish rail did their best for Jordi Martinez, but he couldn’t find a heart when he needed it most and hit the rails in 43rd place ($191,646).

He was in bad shape when he found himself all-in with A♥ Q♥ versus Jesse Sylvia’s A♦ K♠, but he definitely had the rail behind him. With various supporters shouting for a queen or heart in equal mixtures of English and Spanish.

A flop of J♦ 7♥ 4♥ produced a very big sweat and plenty of excitement on the rail, but the# Qd on the turn quieted the crowd slightly. Then, a 2♣ on the river taking all the remaining wind from their sails.

Paul's Fall

Paul Siem finished 42nd after busting out to Russell Thomas at the feature table.

Jan Heitmann raised to 175,000 and Thomas called. Siem moved in for about 1.7 million, Heitmann folded and Thomas threw in the extra 1.5 million.

Russell: Q♠ Q♣

Siem: A♠ 10♠

When the flop was in the dealer's hand, the A♣ was visible in the window. Siem's fans started to celebrate until the rest of the flop came out.

The flop read Q♥ 4♦ A♣ and Russell hit a set. The turn was a 4♣ and only an ace could save Siem. The river brought another four instead, the 4♠. Siem was eliminated in 42nd place and gets $191,646 for his finish.

This person is Greg Merson

Kang Can't Hang

The feature table has been pretty active recently. Rio scientists speculate this might be due to the massive electrical storm covering Las Vegas right now.

The most recent final table casualty was Webber Kang.

Kang raised to 160,000 from early position and Greg Merson called from the cutoff. The flop came A♥ K♦ 3♣ and Kang led out for 175,000. Merson called, bringing a 6♦ on the turn. Kang bet 425,000 and Merson raised to 1.075 million. Kang then went for the ultimate bet, all-in. Merson quickly called Kang's 3.43 million all-in and we had another final table showdown:

Kang; A♦ 9♦

Merson A♣ K♣

Kang was in need of a third diamond, but the river brought a taunting 9♥. Merson's two pairs were bigger than Kang's and Kang became our 41st place finisher, earning $191,646. Merson saw his stack grow to 8.2 million, good for 7th in chips.

Draggggggggiiiinnnnggggg

We’ve had longer days of poker, but it’s hard on both players and media when we reach the very late stages. The schedule dictates we play down to a certain number of players instead of a set stopping time. In some ways, there’s no real end in sight; it's matter of fate and cards and coolers and other random, arbitrary things.

The elimination pace has slowed over the last thirty minutes, with players sticking tighter and tighter to their chairs. Random unscheduled breaks have also taken their toll, as we’d have normally gotten in an extra hour of play by this point on a normal day.

We are now down to 40 players after the elimination of Webber Kang. The magic number is 27 players, that's when we’ll call it a night.

Twitter Roundup

Most of the players still in are too busy trying to win the Main Event to spend much time Tweeting. So, we rounded up what other poker players are saying about today’s action and the chances of those remaining:

Jason Mercier ‏@JasonMercier: So many good professional poker players went bust today in the main event. Final table gonna b a lot less talented than I hoped#justbadluck

John Kim ‏@NicolakPoker: Forgot Greg Merson is still in it, don't know him but have played online cash w/ him and he's good + great Wsop so up there w/ Ausmus also

John Kim ‏@NicolakPoker: No offense to others in the main event but the best player left happens to be chip leader @jeremyausmus

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: Of the 42 left in the WSOP main event I've "heard of" 5. By the final table it's unlikely I'll know more than 1.5.

Chip Counts

Top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Jeremy Ausmus - 12,400,000

2. Daniel Strelitz - 10,605,000

3. Russell Thomas - 10,330,000

4. Marc Ladouceur - 8,900,000

5. Cylus Watson - 8,600,000

6. Scott Ambrams - 8,240,000

7. Greg Merson - 8,190,000

8. Percy Mahatan - 7,200,000

9. Andras Koroknai - 6,900,000

10. Robert Corcione - 6,720,000

Hellman is Last Swede Standing

Erik Hellman is Sweden's last hope in this event, which might be confusing to Sweden because he actually goes by Jonatan.

He told us that Erik is the first name on his passport, which they used at registration. He also tells us that even if he wins this tournament, he'll still be heading to university this coming year.

Check out the full interview below for even more.

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2012 Main Event: Amit Makhija Latest to Hit Rail

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The field is down to the final five tables, and has consolidated into ESPN's featured areas. There is still plenty of good seating for fans who are in Las Vegas to come down and watch in person.

There was another three-way all-in situation, and once again, it caused two players to bust.

Scott Abrams raised under the gun to 170,000, Amit Makhija moved all in from the cutoff for 1.27 million (15 big blinds). Tristan Clemencon called from the big blind, and then Abrams four-bet all in for about 2.7 million (33 big blinds).

Clemencon tanked for a little while as Makhija gathered his things, in case he was eliminated on the hand. Clemencon eventually called, and they turned over their cards.

Scott Abrams: A♣ A♦ Tristan Clemencon: 10♦ 10♥ Amit Makhija: A♠ Q♣

The board came Q♠ 7♣ 3♠ 7♦ 9♥, and the pocket aces held up for Abrams to win the entire pot, busting two players as he increased his chip stack to about 9 million.

Amit Makhija was out in 47th, and Tristan Clemencon was out in 46th. Both players earned $156,293.

Jeremy Ausmus Leads with 13 Million

The new chipleader is Jeremy Ausmus, who eliminated Amit Zulkowitz on his way to 13.1 million in chips.

After a flop of 9♦ 7♦ 3♣, Ausmus bet 200,000, Zulkowitz raised to 700,000, and Ausmus moved all in.

Zulkowitz called with A♣ 7♣ for a pair of sevens, but Ausmus turned over J♦ 9♥ for a pair of nines. Both players had runner-runner flush draws as well.

The turn was the Q♠, the river was the 3♦, and the pair of nines held up for Ausmus to win the pot and eliminate Zulkowitz in 49th place, earning $156,293.

To put 13.1 million in chips in perspective, that is probably more chips than the short stack will have at the end in this year's November Nine.

Ben Yu holds a sign cheering on Scott Abrams (foreground) on Day 5.

Octo-Nine?

After we get down to the final nine players tomorrow the Main Event will pause for a few months, with the new structure adopted in 2008 that delays the conclusion of the final table in an attempt to build a little more buzz and excitement.

The resumption of the final table has been held in November in each year in Vegas, with the final nine players each year accordingly dubbed the “November Nine”.

This year, though, the WSOP bumped up the date on the calendar into late October to avoid conflicting with the US Presidential election, leading to a predicament of what exactly to call this year’s final nine players.

The Sam Holden Tweet below is a reference to a mini-movement on Twitter among poker players to come up with a brand new moniker for this year’s final table players.

@Sam_Holden888 (Sam Holden): And good luck to @amak316 and @NielsvanAlphen9 and the rest of team 888Poker. Would love to see you at the Octo-Nine!

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard with 43 players remaining, courtesy of WSOP.com, with blinds at 40,000-80,000 and a 10,000 ante:

1. Jeremy Ausmus - 13,435,000 (167 bb) 2. Daniel Strelitz - 10,605,000 (132 bb) 3. Scott Abrams - 9,000,000 (112 bb) 4. Jesse Sylvia - 8,800,000 (110 bb) 5. Cylus Watson - 8,700,000 (108 bb) 6. Andras Koroknai - 6,900,000 (86 bb) 7. Russell Thomas - 6,685,000 (83 bb) 8. Marc Ladoceur - 6,600,000 (82 bb) 9. Danny Wong - 6,125,000 (76 bb) 10. Jaco Balsiger - 5,685,000 (71 bb) 44th place: Gwennael Grandmougin ($191,646) 45th place: Fabrizio Gonzalez ($191,646) 46th place: Tristan Clemencon ($156,293) 47th place: Amit Makhija ($156,293) 48th place: Jean Malherbe ($156,293) 49th place: Amit Zulkowitz ($156,293) 50th place: Leo Wolpert ($156,293)

The next increase in prize money comes at 36th place, which is worth $236,921.

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2012 Main Event: Final Fifty

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We're getting close to the 40s. Only 50 players remain in this year's Main Event and Daniel Strelitz has lost the lead. Despite being the first to 10 million, Strelitz now has a partner in the club. That partner also has more chips then he does.

Jeremy Ausmus is the new chip leader, he took the lead over after knocking out our 51st place finisher, Scott Anderson. Our two chip leaders have pulled away from the field, Cylus Watson is in third place with 6,900,000. With 50 players to go, we still have lots of play before we call it a day.

Daniel Strelitz the First to 10 Million

Strelitz is the first man or woman to breach the 10 million mark barrier here at the 2012 WSOP Main Event, putting a little bit of daylight between himself and Danny Wong in second with 7 million chips.

Strelitz has already played himself into what will be by far his largest tournament cash, prior to this, his biggest score was for $12,050 at EPT Prague in 2011.

Yontz Out

Back at the feature table, Casey Yontz had raised to 125,000. Russell Thomas was in the cutoff and re-raised to 305,000. Action was folded back to Yontz, who moved all-in for 1.83 million. Thomas called and showed Q♠ Q♦ while Yontz turned over A♦ Q♣ for his tournament life.

Casey Yontz, out in 53rd

The board came 6♥ J♦ 10♠ 3♦ 9♠ and Yontz was eliminated in 53rd place and earned $156,293.

Down Hille

Elisabeth Hille's stack took a big hit at the beginning of the level.

Greg Merson raised to 125,000 from the cutoff and Hille re-raised to 300,000 from the small blind. Omar Saeed put in a 4-bet to 635,000. Merson folded, Hille be enough to put Saeed all-in and Saeed called.

Hille: A♣ J♣

Saeed: Q♥ Q♦

There was a 8♥ 5♠ 6♦ flop and Hille's hope of a flush were ruined. The turn was a 10♣ and Hille was looking for an ace on the river. But the river brought the 5♣ and Saeed doubled up to about 5 million. Hille's stack took a big hit and now she's down to about 3.4 million.

Jeremy Ausmus, Second to 10 million

In a raised pot, Scott Anderson and Jeremy Ausmus were faced with a 9♥ 7♦ 5♠ flop. Anderson bet 325,000 and Ausmus moved all-in. Anderson called and showed J♦ J♣ for an overpaid, but Ausmus had a set with 7♣ 7♠.

The turn was the 9♣ and a 4♣ came on the river. Anderson was eliminated and the tournament went down to 50 players.

And Then There Were 50

Only fifty players remain from a starting field of 6,598. Our remaining players have gone through an emotional and physical wringer over the last six long days of poker to reach this point.

The math is still pretty brutal, as 41 of those 50 will have their greatest poker dream crushed over the next 24-36 hours, coming oh-so-close to making the final table of nine players.

They’ll walk away with their pockets full of cash and the knowledge that the luckiest and skilled of poker players might only reach the final 50 of the Main Event once in their lives -- a pretty sobering thought, no matter how much you cash for.

Chip Counts

1. Jeremy Ausmus - 10,700,000

2. Daniel Strelitz - 10,100,000

3. Cylus Watson - 6,900,000

4. Erik Hellman - 6,600,000

5. Russell Thomas - 6,315,000

6. Danny Wong - 6,125,000

7. Jan Heitmann - 5,815,000

8. Gaelle Baumann - 5,800,000

9. Jacob Balsiger - 5,795,000

10. Steven Gee - 5,350,000

Counts courtesy of WSOP.com

888poker.com's Jesse Sylvia Still In

We caught up with the newest addition to Team 888poker, American live cash game pro Jesse Sylvia.

Sylvia is 26 years old, originally from Martha's Vineyard and he's hunting the by far the biggest score of his career. In fact, he's already locked it up since his biggest previous live tournament result was just $15,000.

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Daniel Strelitz is 1st to 10 Million

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Daniel Strelitz was the chipleader at the dinner break with a little more than 9 million in chips, and he's only increased his stack since they've been back in action.

When Gaelle Baumann raised under the gun at the secondary featured table, Strelitz reraised from the small blind to 385,000. Baumann called.

The flop came Q♠ 5♥ 3♠, Strelitz bet 440,000, and Baumann called. The turn card paired the board with the 3♥, and Strelitz bet 615,000. This time, Baumann folds, and Strelitz picks up another 900,000 or so in chips.

That knocks Baumann down to about 4.6 million, and makes Strelitz the first player to reach 10 million in chips.

Fast Pace After Dinner

It’s always tricky to predict the elimination pace at any live event but so far so good tonight for players (and media) hoping for a relatively early end to the evening, as there were three players who busted rather quickly. Four more followed later in the level.

58th place: John Beauprez ($128,384) 57th place: Bobby Law ($128,384) 56th place: David “ODB” Baker ($128,384) 55th place: Sam Holden ($128,384) 54th place: Helge Stjernvang ($156,293) 53rd place: Casey Yontz (($156,293) 52nd place: Richard Pyne ($156,293)

As you can see, they've crossed another pay jump. The next pay jump is at 45th place, earning $191,646.

Mark Ladoceur eliminates two players on the same hand -- David Baker and Bobby Law.

Marc Ladouceur Wins 3-Way All In; Busts David Baker and Bobby Law

Bobby Law moved all in under the gun for 650,000 (10 big blinds), and David Baker moved all in over the top from the cutoff for 950,000 (15 big blinds).

Then Marc Ladouceur had them both covered and called from the small blind with K♥ K♠. Ouch.

Baker showed A♥ K♦, and Law turned over A♦ Q♣.

The board came 5♦ 4♠ 3♦ 7♠ 4♥, and Baker and Law flopped a gutshot straight draw, but improved no further.

Ladouceur won the pot to increase his stack to about 3.5 million, while Law placed 57th, and Baker finished 56th, both earning $128,384.

What Cards to Call Out For

The deeper players go here in the Main Event the louder their rail tends to get (especially when supporters have had a few adult beverages as the evening wears on), with the loudest cries and pleas coming when their horse is all-in and needing some help.

It’s always interesting to see the different approaches that railbirds take when pleading with the poker gods for a little help, which we just saw in the big 3 million chip pot that saw Bobbly Law, David “ODB” Baker, and Marc Ladouceur all-in preflop.

Law had the loudest railbirds -- and the worst hand of the three with just Ad Qq versus pocket kings and AK -- with his camp split in their approach when it came to begging for a little help.

The direct approach: “Queen queen! Queen queen on the flop! Queen queen!”

The don’t-get-too-greedy-approach: “Just put three diamonds out there, dealer!”

The confused/drunk approach: “Let’s see paint, dealer! A lot of paint!”

Checking in with the Player of the Year Race

The WSOP Player of the Year (PoY) competition is more about pride and putting together the best overall performance at the WSOP each year than about dollar signs, but the two tend to be closely intertwined.

The Main Event is worth a ton of PoY points and can lead to some big changes at the top; WSOPE events also count in the race now, so we likely won’t know the 2012 WSOP PoY for quite some time.

Those caveats aside, below are the current standings, with Greg Merson holding the best shot of players still in the Main Event of passing Phil Ivey for the current lead:

1. Phil Ivey - 568.70 2. John Monnette - 524.25 3. David “ODB” Baker - 508.38 4. Phil Hellmuth - 500.70 5. Antonio Esfandiari - 488.10 6. Michael Mizrachi - 486.20 7. Gregory Merson - 481.13 8. Vanessa Selbst - 463.17 9. Andy Frankenberger - 406.66 10. Andy Bloch - 405.30

The second deep Main Event run in two years for Sam Holden falls short.

Holden Can’t Hang On

There will be no back-to-back final tables for Sam Holden, who saw his night end quickly after the dinner break to finish in 55th place ($128,384).

Holden had slipped to under 2 million but was in great shape to double when he got all his chips in pre-flop with 8♦ 8♥ versus Andras Koroknai’s 5♣ 5♦ -- great shape that is until the dealer fanned out a flop of J♦ T♦ 5♠.

Holden couldn’t hit his own two-outer to stay alive, with the turn and river bricking to send Holden off in 55th and crush the dreams of media and WSOP officials of seeing Holden pull off the nearly impossible task of making consecutive Main Event final tables.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard with 51 players remaining, courtesy of WSOP.com. The blinds have just increased to 40,000-80,000 and a 10,000 ante:

1. Daniel Strelitz - 10,070,000 (125 bb) 2. Danny Wong - 6,950,000 (86 bb) 3. Percy Mahatan - 5,850,000 (73 bb) 4. Jan Heitmann - 5,815,000 (72 bb) 5. Cylus Watson - 5,800,000 (72 bb) 6. Jacob Balsiger - 5,795,000 (72 bb) 7. Elisabeth Hille - 5,790,000 (72 bb) 8. Robert Corcione - 5,780,000 (72 bb) 9. Taylor Paur - 5,715,000 (71 bb) 10. Erik Hellman - 5,695,000 (71 bb)

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2012 Main Event: Back From Dinner

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players are back from their 90-minute break to finish up Level 27. There's one more hour of 30,000/60,000 blinds with and a 10,000 ante before the blinds get raised to 40,000/80,000.

With 58 players left, the average stack is 3.4 million, or 57 big blinds. There's also no set stopping level today since we're playing down to our final 27.

Three tables. 27 players. The rest is bat country, we can't stop there.

Dinner with a Side of Indigestion for Bobby Law

Bobby Law made the dinner break on Day 6 of the Main Event -- a feat any poker player would be rightfully proud of -- but he isn’t exactly in a spot for a leisurely dining experience. Law will come back the short stack of the remaining 58 players with just 700,000 chips.

Facing 30,000/60,000 blinds and a 10,000 ante, Law has just over 11 big blinds to work with. Now he’ll need to cross his fingers and hope the poker gods bless him in a big way if he wants to be around at dinner time tomorrow.

Video: Last Dutchie Standing Niels van Alphen

The last remaining player from the Netherlands is Niels van Alphen who just signed on as the newest member of Team 888poker.com.

Check out the video interview we did on the break to get to know the man who's got a shot to become the first Dutch world champion of poker.

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2012 Main Event: Danny Wong 2nd in Chips at Dinner

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

There was a massive pot between Danny Wong and Nicco Maag right before the dinner break, that knocked Maag out of the chip lead and catapulted Wong up the leaderboard.

Nicco Maag five-bet all in preflop with J♣ J♦, and Wong called with a dominating K♣ K♠.

The board came 10♠ 7♣ 2♥ 3♦ 3♥, and Wong's pocket kings held up to win a huge pot and double him up to about 7.7 million -- second in chips with 58 players remaining.

Nicco Maag, Who Are You?

Nicco Maag (who lists his hometown as Karlsruhe, Germany) briefly held the chip lead with nearly 8 million in chips, but he remains a mystery man so far as far as his poker credentials.

Nicco Maag was feeling great about the dinner break -- until Danny Wong doubled thru him.

Most remaining players have at least some live cashes to their credit -- albeit pretty small ones in some cases -- but Maag is pretty much a cipher, with no Hendon Mob results and no real Google results as far as a search for his name.

He wouldn’t be the first unknown player to explode on the scene at the Main Event -- think Jerry Yang or Darvin Moon -- but now that Maag has taken a big hit from Danny Wong, his road to the November Nine just got a lot more difficult.

63-Way Chop?

In case you’re bored or curious (or both), we just ran the numbers to see what each player would have received if the remaining 63 players coming back from the last break had agreed to a 63 way chop for the roughly $40.5 million still remaining in the prizepool.

The answer? Each player would have gotten about $644,322 if they chopped it up equally at that point.

Tristan Clemencon Doesn’t Even Need to Look

Young French pro Tristan Clemencon has just knocked out David Kluchman and he did so without even looking at his cards before calling from the big blind when Kluchman shoved for his last 300,000 chips.

How good is Clemencon running? When he finally did peek he turned over two queens, which was enough to send Kluchman to the rails in 63rd place.

Clemencon isn’t well-known on US soil but he’s been a regular on the European circuit since 2008 when he turned 18, piling up more than $1 million in tournament earnings.

When you work the entire day at the featured table, you're allowed to unwind a bit on the breaks.

Working the Final Table

While the spotlight is on the players, there are a lot of people involved in the WSOP crew and the ESPN crew to keep things moving smoothly.

During the last break, a few of them got together on the main stage for a quick photograph. There are dozens and dozens more, but consider this to be just a sampling.

ESPN reporter Kara Scott is in green, but most of you are already familiar with her. There are also the three featured table dealers: Jennifer Palmer, Shaun Harris (seated, center), and Dealer of the Year Tim Louie.

They are joined by Liz Ramey, the stage manager for ESPN. And in the background is the legendary announcer, Robbie Thompson, also known as "Redbull Robbie" for the high number of Redbull energy drinks he consumes while announcing a final table.

Updated Leaderboard - Dinner Break

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard, courtesy of WSOP.com, with the blinds increasing after the dinner break to 40,000-80,000 and a 10,000 ante:

1. Daniel Strelitz - 9,050,000 (113 bb) 2. Danny Wong - 7,700,000 (96 bb) 3. Taylor Paur - 6,750,000 (84 bb) 4. Jeremy Ausmus - 6,350,000 (79 bb) T5. Erik Hellman - 5,900,000 (73 bb) T5. Jacob Balsiger - 5,900,000 (73 bb) 7. Jan Heitmann - 5,800,000 (72 bb) 8. Cylus Watson - 5,500,000 (68 bb) 9. Charles Coultas - 5,300,000 (66 bb) 10. Percy Mahatan - 5,100,000 (63 bb)

The remaining 58 players are now on a 90-minute dinner break, and action will resume around 7:40 pm PT. Return to PokerListings.com for continuing coverage as the Main Event field plays down to the final three tables today.

77th-Place Finisher Nicolau Villa-Lobos

Brazil's Nicolau Villa-Lobos was playing his first-ever WSOP Main Event and made it all the way to 77th place before going broke, good for more than $88,000.

Villa-Lobos is the son of legendary Brazilian rock guitarist Dado Villa-Lobos from band Legião Urbana. And Nicolau will even be playing the role of his father in an upcoming feature film about the band's frontman Renato Russo.

In addition to the cash Nicolau snagged a spot on Team 888poker.com. Check out the video interview below for more on how Nicolau won his way into the Main Event and the poker scene in Rio de Janeiro.

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2012 Main Event: Taylor Paur Leads

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players are now returning from a 20-minute break to play Level 27 of the Main Event. Aside from two hours of poker, Level 27 features 30,000/60,000 blinds with a 10,000 ante. Only 63 players will be coming back to play this level, and they're all guaranteed $128,384.

They'll pack into the seven remaining tables and play won't stop until we bring the number of tables down to three.

Up to Paur

Taylor Paur is now leading the 2012 Main Event. Paur is the first player to break the 7 million mark and he's in the hunt for his first major tournament victory.

Paur has nearly $500,000 in live-tournament winnings, but he's yet to win one. Paur's largest cash came last year, when he finished 5th in the $10k NLHE 6-max tournament for $198,140.

But the closest Paur's come to a major victory was last month. Paur finished 2nd in the $2.5K NLHE event at the Deep Stack Extravaganza III. That finish earned Puar $56,511, he's now guaranteed more than double that amount.

Paur started the day with 5.85 million and he's been taking down pots ever since.

Paur took a big pot from Steven Gee earlier on. The final board read 3♦ Q♣ K♣ 5♣ 2♦ and both Gee and Paur had put 900,000 into the pot. Paur put in a river bet worth 1.2 million and Gee folded.

Paur then took 320,000 away from Jan Heitmann.

Paur had led out on the turn and river on a 10♥ 3♥ 2♦ 4♠ K♠ board. Heitmann called Paur's river 135,000 river bet, but mucked when Paur turned over 7♥ 7♦.

Paur then took another 320,000 off of Jamie Robbins. It was a raised pot on a 5♣ 3♥ 2♥ board and Robbins had just bet 205,000. Paur raised to 545,000 and took down the pot.

Paur is now up to 7.4 million.

Holden, holding on

Holden Doubles

Sam Holden has doubled up again.

After dropping down to 1.6 million, Holden made his way back up to 2 million. Holden then got into a pre flop raising war with Jean Malherbe and went all-in. Malherbe had about 4.1 million and called Holden's 2.025 million all-in.

Holden showed Q♦ Q♠ and was up against Malherbe's A♥ 10♦.

The board came 8♠ 8♣ 6♠ 6♦ 6♣ and Holden doubled up to 4.2 million. The 2011 November Niner stays alive and continues to try to be the first back-to-back November Niner.

And So it Goes

We’re now down to 63 players, with all players now having locked up at least a six figure payday for their efforts here at the Main Event.

The next money jump is at 64th place, which pays out $156,293 -- not too shabby at all, but a far cry from the $8.5 million the winner will get for outlasting just 62 more players.

The payout jumps start to get more significant now as we play down to 27 players here on Day 6. As the levels keep coming, tension and the potential money at stake will only increase.

55-63: $128,384

46-54: $156,293

37-45: $191,646

28-36: $236,921

There Will Be No Main Event Champ from Japan

Takashi Ogura was the lone player from Japan still alive in Day 6, but that country’s Main Event dreams just died. Ogura was just sent to the rails when his A♦ Q♦ couldn’t outrun Wilfried Haerig’s pocket nines.

Here are the countries still in the hunt for poker’s biggest prize:

Naoya Kihara won Japan its first WSOP bracelet this year, now Japan will have to wait until 2013 for another chance

US (40 players)

France (5 players)

Germany (4 players)

Norway (2 players)

the Netherlands (2 players)

Sweden (1 player)

UK (1 player)

Israel (1 player)

Hungary (1 player)

Australia (1 player)

Canada (1 player)

Spain (1 player)

Slovakia (1 player)

Break Time Twitter-style

Sam Holden ‏@Sam_Holden888: 4.14m at 2nd break. Double twice JJ>AQ then QQ>AT. 30k/60k next level.

David Baker ‏@audavidb: 63 left I have 3.2 million...

Taylor Paur ‏@taypaur: About 7.3m on 2nd break. 30k/60k when we get back. About 60 left

Scott Abrams ‏@weirdchess1: 2.1m holding steady

paul volpe ‏@paulgees81: Won a nice lil pot. Just About 3 mill

Chip Counts

Here are the top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Taylor Paur - 7,400,000

2. Robert Corcione - 6,370,000

3. Wilfried Haerig - 6,335,000

4. Nicco Maag - 6,200,000

5. Robert Buckenmayer - 5,985,000

6. Jacob Balsiger - 5,900,000

7. Cylus Watsun - 5,590,000

8. Robert Salaburu - 4,960,000

9. Jeremy Ausmus - 4,950,000

10. Elisabeth Hille - 4,920,000

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Jason Somerville Eliminated

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The big names keep falling from the WSOP Main Event. Former November Niner Eric Buchman busted 74th, immediately followed by Vanessa Selbst in 73rd.

We lost another woman in 71st place, when Marcia Topp was eliminated. There are now only two women left.

For historical perspective, @Kevmath tells us that the best combined finishes for two women in the WSOP Main Event happened in 1998 (Susie Isaacs 10th, Kathy Liebert 17th) and 2000 (Annie Duke 10th, Kathy Liebert 17th).

It remains to be seen whether Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille can top.

Jason Somerville Eliminated by Jacob Balsiger

Jason Somerville caught some good luck when he doubled thru Eric Buchamn with pocket nines against pocket tens -- Somerville flopped a nine.

But when he needed the best hand to hold up, it didn't.

Somerville raised to 105,000, Jacob Balsiger moved all in from the big blind, and Somerville quickly called with Q♦ Q♠. Balsiger turned over K♦ 10♠.

The board came 10♦ 10♥ 7♠ 3♥ 8♠, and Balsiger flopped trip tens to win the pot and eliminate Jason Somerville in 69th place. Balsiger increased his stack to about 4.1 million.

Somerville earned $106,056 for his week of poker, and it was his second six-figure cash of the WSOP, as he finished third in the $25,000 mega-satellite for the Million-Dollar One-Drop tournament, which earned him $400,000.

Sam Holden Getting Lonely

Sam Holden started the day as the only UK player still left in the field but at least he had a little company in the “November Nine players still in the running” category with fellow November Niner Eric Buchman joining him on Day 6.

Holden is now completely alone on both counts, with Buchman bowing out in 76th place moments ago.

Holden has dipped to about 1.6 million chips at last count, giving back a few after his big triple up to start the day.

Amit Makhija was briefly in the lead, but has slipped down the leaderboard a bit.

Checking in with the Leaders

Stacks are still pretty fluid and we’ve had no player yet make a break from the general pack but at the moment we’ve got three players solidly over the 6 million chip mark.

We’ve already talked about Amit Makhija’s path to the top but Elisabeth Hille and Taylor Paur have gotten their the old-fashioned way: starting the day with big stacks and steadily grinding their way up.

Hille did dispatch Eric Buchman and Andrew Flaherty when she flopped two pair with 7c 4c on a Kh 5h 4d flop (Buchman held Td 7d and Flaherty As Qc) but both were relatively short-stacked, with most of Hille’s gains coming from small wins here and there.

Paur started the day among the leaders with 5.8 million chips and having a fairly quiet day so far chip up a bit to around 6.5 million.

Hille’s Amazing WSOP Adventure

Elisabeth Hille is putting together an amazing run here at the Main Event -- sitting in the top three chip counts with over 6 million chips -- but the real story goes back to Event #59, a $1,000 NLHE event held earlier in the series.

Hille was here in Vegas with her boyfriend Harald Olsen, who had qualified online with Betfair to win a package to play in Event #59.

Olsen would go on to cash for just over $20,000 in Event #59, with Hille rooting him on at various stages.

With Olsen’s Main Event buy-in secured, it’d be Hille’s turn to try to play her way in, hitting up satellites and cash games in an attempt to give the Main Event a whirl herself.

Hille would come up short in that quest but Olsen would do what any good poker boyfriend should; he paid Hille’s $10,000 Main Event buy-in out of his winnings and kick-started her deep run here at the Main Event that shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Three women have busted so far today, but Elisabeth Hille (pictured) and Gaelle Baumann are holding strong.

Queen of the Hille

Elisabeth Hille started popping up on poker radars all over the world yesterday. Before this tournament, Hille had no major tournament cashes. She tried to satellite in, but Hille didn't make it far enough. She tried to play cash games to win enough money for the buy-in, but that didn't work either.

Now Hille is fourth in chips and is guaranteed at least $106,056.

A lot of Hille's chips came from a double elimination at the feature table. Andrew Flaherty moved all-in for 130,000 and Eric Buchman called from the small blind. Hille was in the big blind and also came along for the ride.

The flop came 5♥ 4♦ K♦ and both players checked. The turn was a 7♥ and Buchman moved all-in for 775,000. Hille called and everyone showed their cards.

Flaherty: A♠ Q♣ Buchman: 10♦ 7♦ Hille: 7♣ 4♣

Hille's two pair was in the lead and Buchman was drawing slim with his pair of sevens. Flaherty, on the other hand, was drawing dead. The river was the 8♦ and Hille killed two birds with one board. Hille is now up to 5,125,000.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard, courtesy of WSOP.com, with the blinds about to increase to 30,000-60,000 and a 10,000 ante:

1. Taylor Paur - 7,000,000 (140 bb) 2. Robert Corcione - 6,370,000 (127 bb) 3. Robert Buckenmayer - 5,985,000 (120 bb) 4. Elisabeth Hille - 5,125,000 (102 bb) 5. Webber Kang - 4,975,000 (99 bb) T6. Jacob Balsiger - 4,950,000 (99 bb) T6. Jeremy Ausmus - 4,950,000 (99 bb) 7. Nicco Mag - 4,920,000 (98 bb) 8. Amit Makhija - 4,885,000 (97 bb) 9. Eric Legoff - 4,800,000 (96 bb) 10. Charles Coultas - 4,740,000 (95 bb)

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Selbst Out, Somerville Doubles

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Day 6 of the Main Event has some special features to it. First, most of the media are banished from the tournament area. The tables are roped off and a little "media corral" has been set up around the tables.

It seems like a cattle pen, but instead of being sent to the slaughter, the media are watching the slaughter of Main Event players.

While these new restrictions make reporting a bit harder, it's for the best interest of the players. Only 72 players remain, and they're almost outnumbered by the media.

Aside from the ESPN crew, there are nearly a dozen media outlets present today. If all of them are allowed inside the ropes -- like yesterday -- the swarm the tables and the players whenever there's a big hand.

This restriction gives players space to breath and move around while also allowing the ESPN crew to run back and forth without running any tournament reporters.

Spectators can surround the media corral or chose to go to the Mothership feature table. The main feature table has seen a recent addition, Jason Somerville.

Welcome to the Feature Table

WSOP officials are regularly rotating out the players on the main feature table stage. A new crop of players are taking their seats, some of whom are very familiar with poker’s biggest stage at the WSOP.

Eric Buchman is back on center stage at the WSOP. It's a familiar position for the 2009 November Niner who finished 5th for $2,502,890 that year. This will be his 9th WSOP cash since his Main Event final table, including winning a bracelet in 2010 in a $2,000 Limit Holdem event.

Jason Somerville is another new player at the feature table with some bling to his credit, winning a $1,000 NLHE event in 2011 for a $493,091 payday.

Greg Merson is one of the newer members of the feature table and bracelet crowd, winning his first bracelet in this year’s $10,000 NLHE shorthanded event for a massive $ 1,136,197 payday.

Erich Buchman out in 76th

Jason Somerville Doubles Thru Eric Buchman

Deep in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, with 28 players remaining, Eric Buchman surprised some people when he open-shoved 30 big blinds with A♥ 10♥.

Buchman was called by Jonathan Tamayo, who had J♥ J♠, but Buchman flopped a heart flush to win that pot and double up.

There was a little deja vu at the ESPN Featured Table as Buchman again open-shoved, this time for 32 big blinds.

And Buchman was called again, but this time by a shorter stack, Jason Somerville.

Somerville turned over 9♣ 9♥, but he was dominated by Buchman's 10♣ 10♠ and facing elimination.

But the board came 9♠ 5♥ 3♣ 8♥ 2♣, and Somerville flopped a set of nines to win the pot and double up in chips.

This time, Buchman open-shoved 30+ big blinds and had the best of it, but the board didn't cooperate, cracking his tens. Both players finished the hand with about a million in chips.

A few minutes later, Somerville three-bet all in over the top of a reraise to pick up some more chips, improving his stack to about 1.4 million (28 big blinds).

Selbst Out

Vanessa Selbst's Main Event run has come to an end. After losing a big flip earlier today, Selbst managed to double up once to stay alive. That luck wouldn't continue.

Selbst moved all-in from the button for 745,000 and Greg Merson called from the big blind.

Selbst: Q♥ 7♠

Merson: A♣ 8♣

Vanessa Selbst during her post-bust interview. Check it out in a few months on ESPN

The flop came 7♣ 2♣ 10♠ and Selbst paired her seven. The turn was a 6♥ and Maria Ho started chanting from the stands.

"Seven!" Ho screamed. "Pair the board!"

Selbst was in the lead, but had to dodge any club, eight, ace or nine. The river was a 9♦ and Merson hit his straight, eliminating Selbst in 75th place. Selbst now ends her 2012 WSOP with her second and largest Main Event cash.

Movers and Shakers

Here are a few of the players who’ve made big moves today on Day 6:

Elisabeth Hille: 5.4 million chips (+2 million chips)

Webber Kang: 5 million chips (+4 million chips)

Jesse Sylvia: 4.1 million chips (+1 million chips)

Manos Foudoulakis: Finished 91st (-3 million chips)

Lawrie Gibson: Finished 83rd (-2.2 million chips)

Stephane Bisson: Finished 87th (-1.5 million chips)

Chip Counts

Here are the top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Taylor Paur -- 6,475,000

2. Amit Makhija -- 6,265,000

3. Elisabeth Hille -- 6,100,000

4. Webber Kang -- 4,975,000

5. Jeremy Ausmus -- 4,950,000

6. Eric Legoff -- 4,800,000

7. Charles Coultas -- 4,740,000

8. Robert Salaburu -- 4,700,000

9. Shahriar Assareh -- 4,660,000

10. Jean Malherbe -- 4,500,000

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Gaelle Baumann Continues to Rise

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Gaelle Baumann finished last night on a bit of a down note, losing a potentially big pot when Andras Koroknai moved all in over the top of her raise, and then mucked his cards when the big blind folded, thinking the hand was over.

Baumann had pocket kings.

But, according to the WSOP rulebook, the ruling appears to have been correct, and Koroknai only had to forfeit the amount of Baumann's raise.

Baumann hasn't let last night's controversy slow her down today.

Stephane Bisson min-raised to 80,000, and Baumann reraised to 210,000. Bisson four-bet all in for about 1 million (25 big blinds), and Baumann called.

Bisson showed J♣ J♠, but he'd need them to hold up against Baumann's A♦ K♠ to stay in the tournament.

The board came K♦ 10♥ 2♦ Q♦ 6♣, and Baumann paired her king on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Stephane Bisson in 87th place, earning $73,805.

Gaelle Baumann climbed a little further up the leaderboard with about 5,000,000 in chips.

I would not want to be the one to eliminate Erik Cajelais. Dude is strong.

Erik Cajelais Eliminated by Jean Malherbe

Erik Cajelais, one of the handful of WSOP bracelet winners remaining in the field, has been eliminated.

Cajelais moved all in for about 700,000 (17 big blinds), and Jean Malherbe called from the small blind with Q♣ Q♦.

Cajelais showed 10♣ 10♠, and he'd need to improve to stay alive.

The board came 6♣ 4♣ 2♥ Q♥ 3♠, and Malherbe won the pot with a set of queens on the turn to eliminate Cajelais from the WSOP Main Event in 86th place, earning $73,805.

Isaac Baron Eliminated by Amnon Filippi

Two of the well-known pros in the field tangled in an all-in situation, but only one survived.

Isaac Baron min-raised to 80,000, Amnon Filippi reraised to 225,000, and Baron moved all in for about 1.75 million.

Filippi called with K♦ K♥, and Baron was in jeopardy with A♥ K♠.

The board came Q♥ 7♦ 4♠ 7♠ 2♦, never giving Baron much hope as he was eliminated from the WSOP Main Event in 85th place, earning $73,805.

Amnon Filippi builds his stack to about 4.6 million, enough to barely slip into the top 10 on the leaderboard.

Can Sam Holden do what Dennis Phillips couldn't -- back-to-back November 9s?

Other Notable Eliminations, and Notable Survivors

Dung Nguyen, one of four players who started the day with a shot at winning multiple bracelets this summer, was eliminated in 89th place ($73,805).

The three remaining players who can win their second bracelet of the summer are David "ODB" Baker, Greg Merson, and Vanessa Selbst.

There is only one remaining player in the field from last year's November Nine -- Sam Holden. Holden finished ninth last year, earning $782,115.

Since the November Nine concept originated in 2008, the closest any player has come to going back-to-back was Dennis Phillips, who followed up his third-place finish in 2008 with a 45th-place finish in 2009.

The Year of the Woman Continues at the WSOP

Susie Zhao, one of the final five females in the field, was eliminated when her K♣ Q♥ couldn't catch up to Isaac Baron's A♦ Q♣. She was eliminated in 90th place, earning $73,805.

That leaves four women in the field trying to become the first female November Niner: Gaelle Baumann, Elisabeth Hille, Vanessa Selbst, Marcia Topp.

Hille and Baumann are both in the top four of the leaderboard, while Selbst and Toopp have shorter stacks but are still in the mix. Selbst has rebuilt her stack somewhat after losing a big pot worth more than 2 million in chips in the first few minutes of the day.

Selbst could become the first female November Niner, and also the only multi-bracelet winner of 2012.

Four women among the final 80 players is unprecedented in recent years, and puts an exclamation mark on what’s been a very strong 2012 WSOP for female players.

Selbst won her second WSOP bracelet (both in open events), while Allyn Jaffrey Shulman won the Seniors event. Overall, there have been 13 WSOP final table appearances by women this year.

(So far.)

Here is a look at the Last Women Standing during the post-Moneymaker era:

2011: Erika Moutinho (29th place) 2010: Breeze Zuckerman (121st place) 2009: Leo Margets (27th place) 2008: Tiffany Michelle (17th place) 2007: Mario Ho (38th place) 2006: Sabyl Cohen-Landrum (56th place) 2005: Tiffany Williamson (15th place) 2004: Rose Richie (98th place) 2003: Annie Duke (47th place)

Only one woman in history has ever made the final table of the WSOP Main Event -- Barbara Enright did it in 1995, finishing fifth.

Twitter at the Break

Players are on their first scheduled 20 minute break of the day, giving them time to hop on Twitter and let the world know how they’re faring so far on Day 5:

@MSauce_ (Mazin Khoury): Relaxed and in the comfort zone with stack size. Time for some doubles.

@NickDiVella (Nick DiVella): 20min break till blinds go 25k/50k w/ 5k ante. Low on chips w/ only 800k. 80 players left guaranteed over $80,000! Need to make a move asap!

@paulgees81 (Paul Volpe): Lost a big pot with aq on 2282q vs kk. 2.7 mill still above avg

@VanessaSelbst (Vanessa Selbst): 945,000 going to first break. 19BB. Feels like a huge stack!

@audavidb (David Baker): 80 left in the main despite losing a 1.6 million chip pot with ak v qq today is going well up to 2.7 million and feeling good!

@amak316 (Amit Makhija): And were up to 3.4m at break. Thanks so much for all the well wishes guys this is an amazing experience

@JasonSomerville (Jason Somerville): 650k or so with 81 left #grinding

@superroger47 (Tristan Clemencon): Next blind 25/50K 1.8M #susuwsop #Winamax

@pzerotm (Jacob Balsiger): Lost 1.4 million chip pot with a set to overpair that rivered a flush. 3.3 million

Elisabeth Hille is third in chips.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard, courtesy of WSOP.com, with the blinds increasing to 25,000-50,000 and a 5,000 ante:

1. Robert Salaburu - 6,500,000 (130 bb) 2. Taylor Paur - 5,820,000 (116 bb) 3. Elisabeth Hille - 5,480,000 (109 bb) 4. Gaelle Baumann - 5,000,000 (100 bb) 5. Jeremy Ausmus - 4,750,000 (95 bb) 6. Erik Hellman - 4,715,000 (94 bb) 7. Shahriar Assareh - 4,660,000 (93 bb) 8. Wilfried Haerig - 4,500,000 (90 bb) 9. Kyle Keranen - 4,300,000 (86 bb) 10. Charles Coultas - 4,200,000 (84 bb)

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Selbst Doubles, Holden Hangs In

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players went on a five-minute break so the ESPN crew could switch around some feature tables. The main Mothership stage still has Vanessa Selbst, but the secondary feature table now features Gaelle Baumann and David ODB Baker.

Both these tables have a crew of alien-looking cameras peering and swooping in on their every move. Aside from all their facial expressions and conversations, cameras are capturing every single hole card.

Then near the front of the Amazon room, there are three semi-feature tables. They're all in a roped off area with a smaller camera crew and no hole cams. A few of these tables were also switched out during the small break.

Feature Table Deal

An unusual deal was made at the feature table. A small blonde dealer came to tap out Shaun the dealer and Vanessa Selbst told them to wait up.

"Shaun said he was going to give me a big hand on the big blind," Selbst said.

The feature table floor person, Robbie "Redbull" Thompson, let the deal proceed and told the other dealer to hold up a hand.

"I didn't know you guys had a verbal agreement," Thompson said. "I never would've interfered if I'd known."

Shaun dealt another hand and Robert Corcione raised from the button. Action was folded to Selbst and she folded. Shaun failed on his promise and the dealer was switched out. Their friendship managed to survive though.

@ShaunTheDealer: Starting the day off dealing on the Main Table & I'm dealing to my girl @VanessaSelbst. She'll have a MONSTER stack! #SheWillBeDealtMonsters

Selbst Doubles

Despite their failed agreement, Selbst doubled up soon after. Selbst moved all-in for 315,000 from the hijack and Scott Anderson called from the small blind.

Selbst: J♥ 9♠

Anderson: A♦ 7♦

The flop came 2♥ 7♥ 8♠ and Anderson hit a pair while Selbst got a straight draw. The turn brought a 10♠ and Selbst hit a jack-high straight. Selbt's double-up was guaranteed and the river was an irrelevant 6♣.

Selbst is still going to need some help with about 700,000

Holden looking for another November 9

Holden Hanging In

Sam Holden is our last standing member of last year’s November Nine but he’s off to a fast start on Day 5, managing to triple his starting stack to about 2.3 million:

@Sam_Holden888: Wow! Upto 2.3m after tripling up on a coinflip 44>AQ after guy calls and then folds to larger shove.#runbetter

Joeseph Cheong got a lot of well-deserved props for his Main Event finishes the last three years (3rd, 114th, and 116th) but Holden is moving into impressive territory as well, among the last 86 players remaining here in 2012 and trying to improve on his 9th place finish in 2011.

Fabrizio Gonzalez Putting Uruguay on the Poker Map

You don’t often see the country Uruguay as the home country of players among the chip leaders in big live events, but Fabrizio “SixthSenSe19” Gonzalez is building up a big stack here in the late stages and putting himself in position to make some noise.

You can find an in-depth interview with Uruguay’s most decorated poker player here but we’ll give you the Cliffs below:

Over $3 million in online tournament winnings

Second place in the 2010 WCOOP second-chance for $94,975 and a win in the $530 WCOOP Heads-Up event for $120,000 just two weeks later

Second place on Uruguay’s all-time live tournament money list with $263,398, trailing Adolfo Vaeza who has $566,079.

Gonzalez has already notched three cashes at the 2012 WSOP for a total of $33K, and he’s primed to add to that total in a big way when his run is finished here in the Main Event.

Chip Counts

Top 10 chip courts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Robert Salaburu -- 5,970,000

2. Taylor Paur -- 5,820,000

3. Kyle Keranen -- 5,800,000

4. Gaell Baumann -- 5,000,000

5. A.J. Jejelowo -- 4,900,000

6. Erik Hellman -- 4,715,000

7. Shahriar Assareh -- 4,660,000

8. Wilfried Haerig -- 4,505,000

9. Jacob Balsiger -- 4,030,000

10. Charles Coultas -- 4,105,000

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Gavin Smith Eliminated

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Gavin Smith was the most notable player at ESPN's secondary featured table, but he came into the day relatively short with 675,000 in chips (16 big blinds).

Smith had dropped down to 545,000 (13 big blinds) by the time he moved all in from the button. But then Eric Legoff moved all in over the top from the small blind with J♣ J♦.

Smith turned over A♥ Q♦, and he'd need to improve to stay alive.

The board came 9♦ 6♣ 3♥ 10♦ 8♥, and the pocket jacks held up for Legoff to win the pot and eliminate Gavin Smith from the WSOP Main Event.

Smith earns $62,021, and finishes in approximately 94th place.

David Balkin Doubles Thru Vanessa Selbst

Shortly after play began, there was an all-in situation at the featured table involving one of the most famous players in the field, Vanessa Selbst.

David Balkin raised from the cutoff to 85,000, Selbst reraised from the small blind to 205,000, and Balkin moved all in for 940,000 (23 big blinds). Selbst thought for a little bit before she called with A♣ J♦. Balkin turned over 4♦ 4♥, and it was a race situation.

Vanessa's road to a 2nd bracelet just got a lot tougher.

The flop came 4♠ 3♣ 2♥, and Balkin flopped a set against a gutshot straight draw for Selbst. The turn was the 10♠, the river was the 6♦, and the set held up for Balkin to win the pot and double up to about 1.9 million.

Vanessa Selbst was knocket down to about 380,000, leaving her with less than 10 big blinds to work with.

Abrams Fleet Afoot

Scott Abrams has just won a huge pot for his tournament life, taking a chunk out of chip leader Kyle Keranen in the process.

The two would get it all-in preflop in a classic race situation -- Abrams holding Ac Kd and Keranen with pocket eights -- with an ace on the flop enough to give the nod to Abrams and ship nearly 3 million chips his way along with a new lease on his tournament life.

It’s just a flesh wound for Keranen who is still among the overall leaders with 6 million chips.

Country Counts

Our 97 players who began Day 5 hail from a diverse set of countries, with home court advantage giving the US its typical big edge at this stage of things.

France has put in a surprisingly strong showing -- reflecting the poker boom currently going on in that country -- with the UK one of the bigger disappointments, getting exactly one player (November Niner Sam Holden) through to Day 5, which is just as many as countries such as Uruguay, Mexico, and Israel, which aren’t traditionally thought of as poker hotspots.

Here’s a quick country count as far as where the starting field today call home:

Actor Kevin Pollak has caught the poker bug. First symptom: Chip Tricks.

US (65) France (5) Canada (4) Germany (4) Australia (2) Norway (2) Brazil (2) Belgium (1) Greece (1) Hungary (1) Israel (1) Japan (1) Mexico (1) Netherlands (1) Slovakia (1) Spain (1) Sweden (1) Uruguay (1) UK (1)

Kevin Pollak Hooked On Poker?

Actor Kevin Pollak spun up plenty of buzz and laughs during his run at the Main Event (which ended in pretty brutal fashion in a 134th place finish for $52,718 when his pocket queens lost to pocket queens when his opponent hit a four flush) but it may not be the last we’ve seen of him based on his recent Tweets:

@kevinpollak (Kevin Pollak): Flying home... It's only now that I realize what a truly intoxicating drug playing #WSOP Main Event 10 hours for 4 & 3/5 days became...

@kevinpollak (Kevin Pollak): Thank you @HollywoodPoker, the dealers/staff of #WSOP Main Event, & the entire #ESPN crew. An AMAZING week that I'll dine on forever more.

@kevinpollak (Kevin Pollak): #WSOP 484 remain from field of 6584, and I'm still in it... 1st cash level came at 665. I will brag about cashing my 1st time here forever.

Updated Leaderboard

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard, courtesy of WSOP.com, with the blinds at 20,000-40,000 and a 5,000 ante:

1. Robert Salaburu - 6,195,000 (154 bb) 2. Kyle Keranen - 6,100,000 (152 bb) 3. Taylor Paur - 5,820,000 (145 bb) 4. A.J. Jejelowo - 4,900,000 (122 bb) 5. Erik Hellman - 4,715,000 (117 bb) 6. Shahriar Assareh - 4,660,000 (116 bb) 7. Wilfried Haerig - 4,505,000 (112 bb) 8. Jacob Balsiger - 4,030,000 (100 bb) 9. Charles Coultas - 4,015,000 (100 bb) 10. Gaelle Baumann - 3,980,000 (99 bb)

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2012 Main Event: Day 6, Shuffle Up & Deal!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Action begins today with 97 players, and all of them are guaranteed to make at least $62,021. The field will play five 2-hour levels today, or down to the final three tables (27 players), whichever takes the longest.

Vanessa Selbst, one of the four remaining players with a chance to win their second bracelet of the 2012 WSOP, is at the featured table. That photo of her and the Main Event bracelet was taken when action got underway.

The other three players hoping to win their second WSOP bracelet of 2012 are David "ODB" Baker, Greg Merson, and Dung Nguyen.

There are plenty of great storylines still in the field, and the average stack has about 51 big blinds to start the day. Shuffle up and deal!

Video: Fabrizio "SixthSenSe19" Gonzalez

Fabrizio Gonzalez is a top-ranked online tournament pro from Uruguay who started Day 6 11th in chips.

Watch the video below to find out how Fabrizio got his start in poker when the game was barely known in his home country.

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2012 Main Event: Day 6 Preview

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s Day 6 of the 2012 Main Event and with 97 players left the final table is starting to loom.

Leading the way into the final 97 is Kyle Keranen who amassed a stack of 6.9 million and will be looking to parlay that stack into at least one more day at the Main Event.

We’re starting to approach the serious money as every player left will receive at least $62,021 and one hell of a story to tell their friends.

Although yesterday saw famous faces Daniel Negreanu and Kevin Pollak hit the rail there are still a number of interesting stories in the mix with Gavin Smith, Fabrizio Gonzalez, Jan Heitmann and Jason Somerville still in it to win it.

Interestingly there are still five women in the mix with Gaelle Baumann, Elisabeth Hille, Vanessa Selbst, Marcia Topp and Susie Zhao looking to cap an incredible summer for female poker players with a final table appearance.

Action will resume in about an hour so check back to this page for real-time live updates.

Here’s a look at the top 10 chip counts to start the day:

1. Kyle Keranen – 6,935,000 2. Robert Salaburu – 6,195,000 3. Taylor Paur – 5,820,000 4. Erik Hellman – 4,715,000 5. Wilfried Haerig – 4,505,000 6. Shahriar Assareh – 4,395,000 7. Charles Coultas – 4,015,000 8. Gaelle Baumann – 3,980,000 9. Fabrizio Gonzalez – 3,935,000 10. Nicco Maag – 3,895,000

In addition here’s our daily recap show with Fabrizio Gonzalez, Elisabeth Hille and more:

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2012 Main Event: Day 5 Ends with 97 Players (& 5 Women)

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Action started on Day 5 with 282 players, and after five levels, they were down to 97.

There were five women who started Day 5, and amazingly, all five survived -- Gaelle Baumann, Elisabeth Hille, Marcia Topp, and Vanessa Selbst, and Susie Zhao.

Check out the video interview we did with Elisabeth Hille at the end of this update.

Only one woman in history has ever made the final table of the WSOP Main Event. Barbara Enright finished fifth in 1995, the year Dan Harrington won.

This year, there are five women among the final 97 trying to become the first to make it since the November Nine concept was implemented. This is a dramatic change from just two years ago, when no women at all reached the top 100. (Breeze Zuckerman was the last woman standing, eliminated in 121st place.)

Luske Drawing To Elimination

Marcel Luske had a tough couple hours to end the day, and since he was moved to the final table he had met with some sticky situations.

Eric Pratt raised to 62,000 from under the gun. It folded around to Marcel Luske who three-bet from middle position. When it folded back around to Pratt he decided to shove over the top of Luske’s 215,000 bet. It didn’t take long for Luske to make the call.

Luske: A♠ K♣

Pratt: A♦ A♣

Luske was way behind in the hand, and the T♦ 2♥ T♥ board didn’t help. When the 9♣ came on the turn, Luske was a dead man walking. The T♣ on the river was insignificant. The jovial Dutch pro was sent to the rail, leaving Pratt to stack over 3.7 million in chips.

Controversial Ruling Saves Andras Koroknai; Costs Gaelle Baumann

Late in the last level, there was a highly controversial situation involving Gaelle Baumann and Andras Koroknai.

Baumann min-raised under the gun to 60,000, and Koroknai moved all in from the small blind.

Gavin Smith folded the big blind, and Koroknai acted as if that was the end of the hand -- and he mucked his cards before Baumann had a chance to react to his reraise.

Koroknai realized his mistake at the last second, and was able to save one of his cards from going into the muck. Unfortunately, the other card was irretrievable.

Dennis Jones is on the phone w/ WSOP TD Jack Effel as he determines the fates of Andras Koroknai (left) and Gaelle Baumann (right).

"Floor!"

Tournament Director Dennis Jones came over to rule on the situation, second in command to WSOP TD Jack Effel. Baumann had yet to act.

Jones heard the story, and ruled that Koroknai would forfeit the amount of Baumann's raise (60,000 in chips), but would keep the rest of his stack.

There was still some confusion, so Jones called WSOP TD Jack Effel, and spent a couple of minutes on the phone. When he was finished, Jones said the ruling would stand.

Jones specifically said, "You're not losing your tournament life."

Jones gave a lengthier explanation to the table, and cited that the ruling was made in the best interest of the entire tournament.

At the end of it all, Baumann showed her cards to the table -- she had pocket kings. Ouch.

A similar ruling happened at the 2009 WSOP, where a player moved all in, but her cards were pulled into the muck by the dealer. In that situation, it was the same ruling -- her hand was dead, but she only forfeited the amount of the raise in front of her.

Negreanu was still cheerful enough after his bustout to make Kara Scott laugh.

Big Names Hit the Rail Today

There were a lot of very notable players in the field to start the day, from Daniel Negreanu (arguably the most popular player in poker) to actor/comedian Kevin Pollak (who could shine a mainstream light on poker if he were to make the November Nine).

Unfortunately, Negreanu was eliminated in the middle of the day by Pollak, who was himself eliminated a little while later.

Other notables who hit the rail today include John Juanda, J.P. Kelly, Freddy Deeb, Andrew Lichtenberger, Dan Shak, Sorel Mizzi, Matt Marafioti, John Phan, and Marcel Luske.

Perry Green (76 years old) was the oldest player in the event at the start of play today, but didn't make it to Day 6. Green has three WSOP bracelets to his credit, and was the WSOP Main Event runner-up to Stu Ungar in 1981.

Joseph Cheong has had an amazing run in the WSOP Main Event the past three years. Cheong was among the chipleaders with fewer than 150 players in the field, but hit some hard luck and went from top of the leaderboard to eliminated in a single level.

Cheong finished 116th here today, and that's the worst finish he's had in the past three years. Cheong finished 114th in 2011, and third in 2010.

Ben Yu holds a sign on the rail to support his friend Scott Abrams (foreground).

Unofficial Day 5 Leaderboard

The official chip counts will be released overnight by the WSOP staff, but here is a look at the unofficial leaderboard, courtesy of WSOP.com. The blinds will begin tomorrow at 20,000-40,000 and a 5,000 ante.

1. Kyle Keranen - 6,935,000 (173 bb) 2. Robert Salaburu - 6,195,000 (154 bb) 3. Taylor Paur - 5,820,000 (145 bb) 4. Erik Hellman - 4,715,000 (117 bb) 5. Wilfried Haerig - 4,505,000 (112 bb) 6. Shahriar Assareh - 4,395,000 (109 bb) 7. Charles Coultas - 4,015,000 (100 bb) 8. Gaelle Baumann - 3,980,000 (99 bb) 9. Fabrizio Gonzalez - 3,935,000 (98 bb) 10. Nicco Maag - 3,895,000 (97 bb)

Action resumes tomorrow at 12:00 noon PT for Day 6, when the field will play down to the final three tables (27 players). Return to PokerListings.com for continuing coverage of the WSOP Main Event.

Norwegian Elisabeth Hille Among Remaining Women (Video)

Elisabeth Hille is a 26-year old waitress from Norway and she's been among the chip leaders all day. Check out the interview we did with her earlier.

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2012 Main Event: Day 5 Coming to a Close

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We're getting close to the double-digit mark and the final level of the day is almost over. Level 24 saw 15,000/30,000 blinds and a 4,000 ante.

Level 24 is special in a few ways; not only is it the final level of the day, it's going to be the last level of the tournament to feature the yellow, T1,000 chips. But while we lose one chip, we gain another. The floor has put a white, T100,000 chip into play.

This recent development has really helped turn the monstrous, multi-million stacks into more manageable stacks for the players. This is especially true for our new chip leader, Robert Salaburu.

Hitting 6 Million

Robert Salaburu has taken over the chip lead, and sits at 6,070,000. He was able to take the lead after he raised to 65,000 from under the gun. Marcel Luske made the call, and Amit Makhija called from the big blind.

The flop came down 3♣ 9♠ 5♣. Makhija checked to Salaburu, and he came out with a bet of 30,000. Luske wasn’t playing nice, as he raised to 150,000. Makhija got the message and threw in his cards, but Salaburu wasn’t convinced so he called.

The turn was the A♣. Both players checked their option to see if things improved on the river. The last card to hit the board was the Q♠. Salaburu bet 250,000 to which Luske folded after thinking for a minute.

Salaburu showed a 3♠ before scooping up the pot and building his stack over 6 million.

Stache and mohawk

Bronshtein Takes One Out

Yuval Bronshtein is always changing. One year his hair is short and topped off with a yarmulke, in other tournaments he's sporting an afro and sometimes he's wearing a hat. Today, Bronshtein is sporting a mohawk and a mustache.

He's also got some chips.

Bronshtein and John Ro -- who tripled up in our last update -- were all-in pre flop. Ro had about 400,000 while Bronshtein was closer to the 2 million mark.

Ro: A♦ K♥

Bronstein: 10♠ 10♣

The board ran 4♠ J♥ 6♠ 7♥ 8♥ and Ro was eliminated in 105th place. Bronshtein, on the other hand, saw his stack grow to 2.4 million.

There was also some commotion at the table a bit earlier. A railbird had asked a reporter a question and when the reporter didn't know the answer, Amnon Filippi offered to help.

"It's none of your business," the railbird said. After more sass from the railbird, Filippi asked for the rail to be moved back a bit.

The ever-polite railbird responded with, "F#ck you asshole." Filippi then asked security to remove the unnecessarily combative railbird from the room and he was escorted out.

Chip Counts

Top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Robert Salaburu -- 6,503,000

2. Taylor Paur -- 5,500,00

3. Kyle Keranen -- 5,473,000

4. Erik Hellman -- 4,400,000

T5. Paul Volpe -- 3,900,000

T5. Robert Corcione -- 3,900,000

7. Gaelle Baumann -- 3,860,000

8. Jesse Sylvia -- 3,800,000

9. Eric Pratt -- 3,742,000

10. Charles Coultas -- 3,620,000

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2012 Main Event: Cheong Vanishes From The Main Event

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The bust outs are starting to slow down a bit with 126 players remaining. It could be a fluke, or it could be the fact that stacks are starting to even out a bit. With blinds at 12,000/24,000 with a 3,000 ante the average stack has about 66 big blinds. Our chip leader, Kyle Keranen is working with about 256 big blinds.

Joseph Cheong Eliminated by Paul Volpe

Joseph Cheong was poised to make another deep run in the WSOP Main Event this year.

Two years ago, Cheong famously finished third. Last year, Cheong finished 114th.

This year, he was among the chipleaders with fewer than 150 players left in the field, and poised to make another deep run.

But the past level had been a brutal one for Cheong, knocking him down from about 3.1 million to about 1.1 million in chips.

Some of Cheong's chips were lost early in the level in an all-in preflop situation where he had A♠ Q♥ to the A♣ K♠ of Nicolau Villa Lobos.

Late in the level, Cheong was down to about 1.1 million when he got it all in preflop with 10♥ 10♠, and he was racing against the A♣ K♥ of Paul Volpe.

The board came K♣ 6♥ 5♦ 2♥ J♣, and Volpe paired his king on the flop to win the pot and eliminate Cheong from the Main Event in 116th place. It was a brutal end to a brutal level for Cheong.

Paul Volpe moved up the leaderboard, and he is now sixth in chips with about 4.25 million.

A Look At The Chip Lead

The great thing about poker is that it attracts people from all walks of life and at all skill levels. It may be one of the only “sports” where players are able to compete against each other without having a handicap or having to be at a relatively even skill level.

Vanessa Selbst is a seasoned pro, but that doesn't mean its an easy ride to the final table.

This creates a rather interesting dynamic in that players can be successful and well rounded without having to have the same experience as the pros. At this stage of the game, there are many seasoned players amongst the sea of “unknowns.” However, the term “unknown” is about to be thrown out the door as players go deeper and deeper in.

Kyle Keranen, from Minneapolis, is our current chip leader with 5,780,000 in chips. So far, he is guaranteed $52,718, which will be his biggest tournament cash to date. He has also had a few other deep runs which include a 1st place finish in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic for $24,844.

Robert Sazlaburu is second in chips with 5,401,000. He too, has a rather sparse tournament history, with this being his biggest tournament cash to date. His best finish was for $17,261 at PokerStars NAPT Mohegan Sun, and he has a few other 1st place finishes in smaller events as well.

Gaelle Baumann, from France, is third in chips at the moment. She only has four cashes listed to her name, and her biggest cash was for $19,804 earlier this year. However, she has been climbing steadily as the tournament has gone on, and she has proven that she can tango with the best players on the table and hold her own.

These guys may not have as many cashes as Vanessa Selbst (who is sitting at 2,960,000 in chips), but they are proving that they have what it takes to play well and battle the fatigue that comes from long days of play.

Three Way

There's been a lot of three-way action here in the Amazon room recently.

Down at table 421 in the purple section, there were three hands face-up. The table was surrounded by cameramen and nearly all the players were standing up.

Lasse Soerensen, John Ro and Charles Coutas all had hands in front of them. Ro was the shortest stack with less than 150,000 and Soerensen had about 400,000. Coutas had them both covered by millions, but he also had the worst hand.

Coutas: J♣ 4♣

Soerensen: A♣ 7♥

Ro: 6♣ 6♠

The flop came 2♣ 8♦ 5♣ and Coutas picked up a flush draw. The turn was a 6♦, Ro hit a set and Soerensen got a straight draw. There were outs, draws and straights all over the place. The river could turn those draws into made hands, but a 10♥ came instead.

Soerensen tripled up, Ro took the side pot and Coutas still had a massive stack.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Kyle Keranen 6,150,000

Robert Salaburu 5,300,000

Gaelle Baumann 4,700,000

Charles Coultas 4,400,000

Erik Hellman 3,910,000

Paul Volpe 3,866,000

Jacob Balsiger 3,650,000

Elisabeth Hille 3,360,000

Jesse Sylvia 3,300,000

Nicco Maag 3,300,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Brutal Beat For Pollak

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We're down to 132 at the WSOP Main Event.

The post-dinner bustouts are in full force today. A dealer yelling "All in and a call!" followed by rush of camera crews tell us someone's Main Event life is at risk again. There's no break for the frantic and dangerous camera crew, there seem to be all-ins going on every hand. The stacks are also getting unnecessarily massive.

Some players are towering their chips in stacks of 40 and creating mini fortresses of solitude. One player has a pyramid of chips that extends almost a foot into the table.

The floor has taken note and started to color up some of the T1,000 chips. Some players are a bit reluctant though, they find their massive stacks reassuring. With 130 players left, the guaranteed payout is still $52,178. There won't be a pay jump until the tournament gets into the double digits. The final 99 players will be guaranteed $62,021 and that number will slowly grow until it reaches $8.5 million.

Pollak Out

Kevin Pollak was a joy at the poker table. When he wasn't playing a hand, Pollak was busy making everyone at the table laugh. It was destined that one of the most joyous players would be eliminated in the most brutal fashion.

Kirill Rabstov raised to 52,000 from UTG and Omar Saeed called from the button. Pollak moved all-in for 369,000 from the blinds and only Rabstov called. Both players the turned over the same pocket pair. Pollak had Q♦ Q♣ while Rabstov showed Q♠ Q♥.

The flop was a kingly K♣ 9♥ K♥ and the river brought a 3♥. Rabstov was the only player with a heart, and needed one more card for the flush. The river: 2♥.

Rabstov hit his flush and Kevin Pollak was eliminated in 134th place for $52,718.

Gavin Smith doubles again

Smith Doubles

Gavin Smith is still alive in the Main Event. This is Smith's fourth, and largest, Main Event cash. Smith's largest Main Event cash before this came in 2004, when he finished 52nd for $45,000. Smith is now guaranteed a bit more, but he's looking to improve that run. Doubling up helps.

Smith moved all-in for 326,000 from the hijack and Bobby Poe reshoved from the button. The blinds released and it was Smith v. Poe.

Smith: Q♥ J♥

Poe: A♥ 10♥

Poe was in the lead and the 2♠ 6♦ 2♥ flop kept him there. The turn was a Q♣ and Smith was now the favorite. The river was a 7♠ and Smith doubled up to about 800,000.

Aces Cracked

As soon as dinner break was over, there were several short stacks who were just itching to get it in. John Duley couldn’t wait to get his last 240,000 into the pot, and he was even happier when Timothy Adams made the call.

“All in and a call!” the dealer shouted.

It was apparent why Duley was so eager to get it in when he turned up A♦ A♣. Adams looked a little disappointed when he turned up K♠ K♥.

When the flop came 6♠ K♦ 7♠ Adams perked up a little. Even though he was behind, Duley was still in good spirits, as he smiled and chatted with one of his tablemates.

The 9♠ that came on the turn was a brutal card for Duley. It meant that he could win with an ace, but it could only be the lone red ace in the deck. The ace of spades would give Adams a flush.

The river was the 8♣ which send Duley off to the sidelines to collect his cash.

Chip Counts

Top 10 chip courts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Kyle Keranen -- 5,780,000

2. Robert Salaburu -- 5,401,000

3. Gaelle Baumann -- 4,800,000

4. Charles Coutlas -- 4,400,000

5. Erik Hellman -- 3,910,000

6. Paul Volpe -- 3,866,000

7. Nicco Maag -- 3,540,000

8. Elisabeth Hille -- 3,360,000

9. Jesse Sylvia -- 3,300,000

10. Dung Nguyen -- 3,250,000

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2012 Main Event: After Dinner Action

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Cards are back in the air on Day 5 of the Main Event. There are 139 hopefuls that have returned from dinner and are antsy to make it to Day 6.

If you are wondering what they are hopeful for, here is a look at the next couple pay jumps:

162-100: $52,718

99-91: $62,021

90-82: $73,805

81-73: $88,070

72-64: $106,056

Kyle Keranen (5,662,000) and Robert Salaburu (5,401,000) have bypassed the 5 million chip mark. It is another milestone crossed in the Main Event road. Although--what may be called the coolest development of the day--Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille have made it to the top of the leader board. Each have a little over 4 million in chips and are doing a great job representing women in poker.

Stay tuned for more action from the felt, as we get closer and closer to the final nine.

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2012 Main Event: Daniel Negreanu Eliminated

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

For the second straight year, Daniel Negreanu has made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event.

But for the second straight year, Negreanu's run came to an end on Day 5, much earlier than he would've liked.

Negreanu came into the day with a short stack, but a positive attitude, as you can see from his Twitter feed.

@RealKidPoker (Daniel Negreanu): Started Day 4 with 22 bbs. I'll start day 5 with 25 bbs. No big deal. Been here before. I'll be tough to bust. That is all.

Not surprisingly, Negreanu has been anchoring ESPN's Featured Table, and it took a couple hours before he was all in for the first time in this event.

@RealKidPoker (Daniel Negreanu): At risk for the first time all tourney against 8 outs with one to come I was an emotional wreck but faded it! 750k now!!

Earlier this level, Negreanu played what he called a "key pot" against Kyle Bowker.

Negreanu and Bowker checked to the turn on a board of 7♥ 6♦ 3♥ 2♥. Negreanu bet 91,000, and Bowker called.

The river paired the board with the 6♣, Negreanu checked, and Bowker bet 210,000. That represented nearly half of Negreanu's remaining stack, and he tanked for a while before calling.

Bowker showed 2♣ 2♠ to win the pot with a full house (deuces full of sixes), and Negreanu mucked. On Twitter, Negreanu would later admit that he had 4-4.

After winning that hand, Bowker shot up to 2.3 million, while Negreanu dropped to about 250,000 (12 big blinds).

Actor Kevin Pollak was able to bust one of his poker idols, Daniel Negreanu.

Daniel Negreanu Eliminated by Kevin Pollak

It didn't take long after that for Negreanu to move all in for his last 12 big blinds, and actor Kevin Pollak moved all in over the top for 25 big blinds.

Negreanu showed K♦ Q♦, but he was dominated by Pollak's A♥ Q♣.

The board came J♣ 6♥ 5♠ 5♦ 3♣, and Pollak won the pot with his ace to eliminate Daniel Negreanu from the WSOP Main Event in 160th place.

@RealKidPoker (Daniel Negreanu): It was a good run but I'm out in 160th place. Lost key pot with 44 vs 22 on 367 flop turn 2 put me in tough spot. Then KQdd vs AQ no good. Even after the fact I can't imagine folding the 44 on the 6 river. Not much he could have that beat me. Time for some R & R

Negreanu gave an interesting interview to ESPN's Kara Scott afterward, where he explains his thinking in the key hand against Kyle Bowker, and also says that he feels most people play the WSOP Main Event incorrectly. With two deep runs in back-to-back years, Negreanu may know what he's talking about.

Gaelle Baumann smiles after catching a runner-runner straight with pocket sixes.

Gaelle Baumann Nears the Lead

There are still four women in the WSOP Main Event, and two of them are among the top five on the leaderboard -- Gaelle Baumann (3.85 million) and Elisabeth Hille (3.4 million).

Vanessa Selbst (1,060,000) and Susie Zhao (860,000) are also still in contention.

Baumann recently climbed into third place on the leaderboard on the strength of riveting a straight with 6♥ 6♠ on a board of 7♠ 5♠ 2♦ 9♠ 8♣. Baumann bet big on the river, and got paid off.

Leaderboard at the Dinner Break

Here's a look at the top of the leaderboard as the field takes their dinner break. When action resumes, the blinds will be 12,000-24,000 with a 3,000 ante.

1. Kyle Keranen - 5,040,000 (210 bb) 2. Paul Volpe - 3,900,000 (162 bb) 3. Gaelle Baumann - 3,850,000 (160 bb) 4. Erik Hellman - 3,750,000 (156 bb) T5. Charles Coultas - 3,400,000 (141 bb) T5. Elisabeth Hille - 3,400,000 (141 bb) 7. Robert Salaburu - 3,350,000 (139 bb) 8. Jesse Sylvia - 3,200,000 (133 bb) 9. Wilfried Haerig - 3,160,000 (131 bb) 10. Joseph Cheong - 3,100,000 (129 bb)

Action will resume after dinner at roughly 8:15 pm PT. Return to PokerListings.com for continuing coverage of the WSOP Main Event.

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: Tough Day To Be Religous

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players took their second break of the day, and they will play one more two-hour level before the dinner break. The day started with 282 players, and there are 174 players remaining.

Blinds have gone up to 10,000/20,000 with a 3,000 ante, so pots are getting huge and even the big stacks have to be careful when doubling up a short stack.

Freddy Deeb, Brian Meinders, and Andrew Lichtenberger were a few of the short stacks that weren’t able to double. They have since picked up their cash from the payout stand, and will be strategizing for next year’s WSOP.

Gavin Smith Doubles Thru Jason Somerville

At the secondary featured table, Gavin Smith and Jason Somerville got it all in after a flop of 9♠ 9♦ 4♦.

Smith was the short stack with K♦ K♥, while Somerville turned over J♦ 10♦ for a diamond flush draw.

The turn was the Q♥, giving Somerville additional outs with an open-ended straight draw, but the river was the 5♥. Gavin Smith doubled up with his pocket kings.

Gavin Smith - 1,330,000 (66 bb)

Jason Somerville - 855,000 (42 bb)

Where Is Jarrett Nash?

Since play started today, Jarrett Nash’s chair has been empty. For the first few moments, everyone thought that Nash had just been running late. After the first level was over, it became apparent that Nash wasn’t going to show up for awhile.

Ryan Daut @rcdaut: “Jarrett Nash started today with 525k and has blinded down to 350k sitting out because he doesnt play on the Sabbath”

According to some sources, Nash departed the tournament before sundown on Day 4. As part of his observance, he is unable to play from sundown on Friday thru sundown on Saturday. With the blinds and antes getting so big, it would have been a miracle for him to survive until the dinner break today.

About halfway through the second level of the day, Tournament Director Bill Bruce announced that Jarrett Nash was eliminated in 171st place. He just barely misses the pay jump, but still takes $44,655.

Elisabeth Hille crushes the guys on her table.

Hille In The Top 10

The ladies continue to dominate at this year’s WSOP. Elisabeth Hille, the Betfair qualifier, started to build her stack late yesterday. Today, she continues to stack chips, as the boys on her table keep paying her off.

Jeffrey Finkelstein got in a betting battle against Hille preflop. It didn’t take long before Finkelstein had all of his chips in the pot. He had about a million behind and Hille quickly called turning up A♥ A♦. Finkelstein was obviously disappointed as he turned up his A♣ K♦.

The board ran really dry for Finkelstein as it came out T♦ 5♠ 5♦ 9♠ 2♣.

With that hand, Hille placed her name at the top of the chip counts.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Paul Volpe 3,800,000

Elisabeth Hille 3,650,000

Robert Salaburu 3,616,000

Robert Corcione 3,600,000

Erik Hellman 3,550,000

Kyle Keranen 3,400,000

Jesse Sylvia 3,200,000

Gaelle Baumann 3,200,000

Joseph Cheong 3,070,000

David Kluchman 2,700,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: JP Kelly Out, Negreanu Doubles

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

J.P. Kelly Eliminated

J.P. Kelly had been hanging on at the ESPN Featured Table, but was relatively short with about 23 big blinds.

Omar Saeed raised from late position to 35,000, William Katona called from the cutoff, and J.P. Kelly moved all in from the button for 372,000.

Saeed called, and Katona folded. Kelly turned over A♦ 8♦, but he was dominated by Saeed's A♥ Q♠.

The board came K♠ 10♠ 9♣ 2♦ 4♥, and Omar Saeed won the pot with his queen kicker to eliminate J.P. Kelly from the tournament.

Kelly, who is the only player to win a WSOP bracelet and a WSOP Europe bracelet in the same year (2009), finished 26th in last year's WSOP Main Event to earn $302,005. Not a happy ending here today, but another deep run for Kelly in poker's biggest event.

Kelly's empty seat was filled a few minutes later by actor Kevin Pollak, causing a few spectators to question whether he was purposefully moved to the TV table -- he wasn't. It was the standard random table draw.

Daniel Negreanu celebrating his first double up of the tournament

The Feature Creature

The Mothership feature table is alive and chirping with railbirds.

With JP Kelly's seat open, a lucky player in the Amazon was about to be beamed up to the Mothership. Luckily for the television crew and fans, that player turned out to be Kevin Pollak.

Pollak has made it further than he ever expected in this event, and now he's going even further. But now, it'll all be captured by the ESPN crew.

Daniel Negreanu is also at the feature table, and he recently got a double up.

William Katona raised to 37,000 from middle position and Negreanu called from the big blind. The flop came Q♣ 7♦ 10♣ and Negreanu checked.

Katona bet 46,000 and Negreanu called, bringing a 7♥ on the turn. Negreanu checked again and Katona bet 95,000. Negreanu moved all-in for 191,000 more and after a few minutes in the tank, Katona called.

Negreanu showed 7♠ 6♣ for three sevens while Katona turned over K♥ J♥ for a straight draw. Negreanu had to dodge nines and aces to double up, and he did when the 4♠ came on the river. Negreanu is now up to 750,000.

Baumann Boats Up

Gaelle Baumann has been dominating the field since Day 2 of the Main Event. She arrived for Day 3 of the Main Event as the Chip leader, and has been able to keep her stack building.

Dave D’Alesandro opened from early postion to 35,000. Baumann was in middle position and called, while Timothy Adams called from the hijack.

When the flop came Q♠ Q♥ 5♣, D’Alesandro decided to check. Baumann was next to act and threw out 52,000. Adams called to see a turn, as did D’Alesandro.

The turn was the 9♥. D’Alesandro checked again, and Baumann kept the pressure on by betting 110,000. Adams made the call, and this time D’Alesandro decided to give up by folding his hand.

When the river brought the J♥, Baumann kept up the pace and bet 250,000. Adams looked perplexed, but called anyways. Baumann turned up 5♠ 5♦ for a flopped full house.

Adams mucked his hand shipping the pot to Baumann. She is now up to 2,600,000 in chips.

Chip Counts

Here are the top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Elisabeth Hille -- 3,650,000

2. Robert Salaburu -- 3,616,000

3. Robert Corcione -- 3,605,000

4. Erik Hellman -- 3,550,000

5. Kyle Keranen -- 3,400,000

T6. Jesse Sylvia -- 3,200,000

T6. Gaelle Bauman -- 3,200,000

8. Joseph Cheong -- 3,070,000

9. David Kluchman -- 2,700,000

10. Paul Volpe -- 2,670,000

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2012 Main Event: Lucky Chewy Eliminated

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jason Somerville was moved to the secondary featured table just in time to liven things up a bit.

In his first hand at the table, a player raised under the gun gun, and Somerville called. Then Amit Zulkowitz reraised from the big blind. The UTG player folded, and Somerville moved all in.

Zulkowitz snap-called with A♣ A♠, and Somerville turned over Q♦ Q♥.

The board came K♣ 5♠ 2♣ K♠ Q♣, and Somerville spike a queen on the river to win the pot with a full house, queens full of kings, and double up to be among the chipleaders with 2.3 million.

Zulkowitz dropped down to 1.36 million, having been one card away from being the tournament chipleader.

@JasonSomerville: Well. I get moved to the feature table. First hand guy raises utg, i flat queens, CL in bb makes a huge raise. I move all in for a mil… He snaps with aces :( board comes K52K…Q! And i double huge to 2.3 million. #gameisonnowboys

Somerville had just finished stacking his chips when Andrew Lichtenberger got involved in a big pot at the same table.

Jason Somerville is ready to accept his elimination as the dealer is about to put out a queen on the river to save him.

Even though it's a featured table, there was no access to see the board, but we know that Lichtenberger had gotten it all in on the turn against A.J. Jejelowo.

Lichtenberger had K♣ Q♠ for two pair, kings and queens, but Jejelowo had the lead with 7-7 for a set of sevens. That's what we know.

Lichtenberger needed a king or a queen on the river to stay alive, but the last card was a blank, and Jejelowo won the pot. Lichtenberger was eliminated from the Main Event with a little more than 200 players remaining.

Monkeying Around w/ Will Souther

Will “Monkey” Souther is a long time tournament and cash game grinder from Biloxi, MS. He has over $450,000 in tournament winnings to his name, and he has a bigger than life personality. This is his first deep run in the WSOP Main Event, and he is trying to make it worthwhile.

Tomas Samol opened to 25,000 form the hijack, and A.P. Phahurat called from the cutoff. “Monkey” was on the button and raised all in for 189,000. The blinds folded, and when it got back to Samol, he folded his hand. Phahurat took a few moments before making the call.

Phahurat: K♣ J♣ Souther: A♥ K♦

Monkey seemed to be bracing himself for a bad beat. When the flop came 4♥ A♦ A♠ he seemed to be a lot more relaxed as he was way ahead. The A♣ came on the turn, giving Monkey quads. The 6♦ on the river was meaningless.

Monkey’s stack was given a little more life, and is now up to 495,000.

The Chip Count Leaderboard

With the blinds at 8,000-16,000 and a 2,000 ante, here's a look at the top of the leaderboard:

1. Paul Volpe - 3,550,000 (221 bb) 2. Robert Corcione - 3,400,000 (212 bb) 3. Robert Salaburu - 3,240,000 (202 bb) 4. Andras Koroknai - 2,700,000 (168 bb) 5. Kyle Keranen - 2,600,000 (162 bb) 6. Erik Hellman - 2,400,000 (150 bb) 7. Erik Cajelais - 2,350,000 (146 bb) 8. Jason Somerville - 2,300,000 (143 bb) 9. Kyle Bowker - 2,200,000 (137 bb) 10. Eric Buchman - 2,200,000 (137 bb)

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2012 Main Event: John Juanda Helps The Numbers Drop

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The day began with 282 players, and the number is steadily dropping. The entire Amazon room was filled with poker tables a few days ago. Now, there is a lot of empty space. As soon as tables become empty the WSOP staff quickly packs up the tables and chairs, providing further evidence that the summer is almost over.

Luckbox Can’t Catch Up

John Juanda is known as @LuckBoxJuanda on Twitter, and we’ve been following his progress during the Main Event. He has been able to double his short stack on several occasions during this tournament, but today his luck ran out.

Kyle Knecht min-raised under the gun to 24,000, and when it folded back around to John Juanda in the big blind he announced he was all in. Knecht insta-called having Juanda covered.

Knecht confidently turned up K♦ K♥, and when Juanda saw his hand he sheepishly turned up J♠ J♣.

Juanda needed to find the last two jacks in the deck or some kind of draw in order to have any hopes of surviving. The board ran out 9♠ 9♥ 6♥ 3♣ 5♦, which wasn’t what Juanda was looking for. He graciously wished his tablemates good luck and headed for the payout cage.

Joseph Cheong Crushing the Main Event For the 3rd Straight Year

This is the third straight year that Joseph Cheong has cashed in the WSOP Main Event, and he has done it in impressive fashion.

Everyone remembers Cheong's memorable third-place finish as part of the 2009 November Nine, and his infamous hand where he six-bet A-7 into Jonathan Duhamel's Q-Q in one of the biggest pots in WSOP history. (The queens held up to cripple Cheong and propel Duhamel into a huge chip lead.)

Cheong earned $4,130,049 for that third-place finish.

Cheong barely missed the top 100 in last year's WSOP Main Event, finishing 114th for $54,851.

Joseph Cheong looking for a November Nine repeat.

This year, Cheong is still alive with about 230 players left, and he's up among the chipleaders with 2.2 million in chips (137 big blinds). Could Cheong make another deep run, and become the first two-time November Niner?

(Even though this year's November Nine takes place in late October, the delayed-final table concept is still being called the November Nine.)

Chips and a Chair

The old saying says that as long as you have a chip and a chair, you can still win the tournament. But there's another crucial element to the equation: the player.

There's a lot of chips and one chair at table 420, seat 4, but no player. We're already one level into the day and one player still hasn't showed up.

Jarrett Nash is currently missing, and his 526,000 stack is slowly being blinded away. Despite not playing a single hand today, Nash has already made an extra $6,202. Only 236 players are left in the Main Event and they're all guaranteed $44,655. Nash's no-show strategy may be good for making a few pay jumps, but it won't get him into the November 9. We'll keep an eye out and see if Nash shows up to the biggest tournament in the world.

TV Time

The ESPN crew is out in full force today. Nearly a dozen cameraman and boom operators are buzzing around the Amazon room trying to catch every all in. When John Juanda was eliminated, a cameraman and boom operator nearly tripped over themselves trying to follow him to the payout booth. At these speeds, they're a danger to others and themselves, it's lucky for them that there are no traffic cops in the area.

We'll keep you updated on any TV crew-related accidents in the Amazon room.

Chip Counts

Here are some updated chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Paul Volpe -- 3,550,000

2. Robert Salaburu -- 3,060,000

3. Erik Hellman -- 2,400,000

4. Timothy Adams -- 2,170,000

5. Joseph Cheong -- 2,130,00

6. Eric Buchman -- 2,120,000

7. Jacob Balsiger -- 2,110,000

8. Erik Cajelais -- 2,075,000

9. Andras Koroknai -- 2,070,000

10. Elisabeth Hille -- 2,060,000

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2012 Main Event: The Shrinking Field

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The Rio is different than it was a few days ago.

The Pavilion room is eerily quiet and the once crowded hallways only have a few passersby. The Brasilia room appears to have been struck by a well-organized tornado. All the tables are flipped over and the table lights are placed neatly on top. There are no cash games, no other tournaments, just the Main Event.

All the energy and money that flowed through all three rooms is now concentrated in the Amazon room. Even in there, things are starting to clear up a bit. Only 32 tables are left, and they fit rather comfortably in the massive Amazon room.

The tournament is only going to get smaller. Only one player can survive the tournament, but nine will survive this part of the Main Event. We have three days left until we have October's November 9.

Deeb Looking For A Double

Freddy Deeb is still hanging on at the Main Event. He's really short-stacked with only 98,000, but he is in shove mode and has already picked up one round of blinds in the first level.

Deeb shoved for 98,000. As players decided whether to call or not, Deeb laughed and joked with his tablemates.

“How much is it?” someone on the table asked.

“98,000,” Deeb replied “Will someone lend me 2,000 to make it an even hundred?”

Marcel Luske

The player next to him gave him two yellow chips, and Deeb placed it on his stack.

Although the two extra chips didn’t count towards Deeb’s stack, his confidence must have tipped the other players off because they all folded, giving Deeb the blinds.

Luske Knocks Daya Out

Preflop, Marcel Luske and Aadam Daya got in a betting war, and Daya ended up with all of his chips in the middle. Luske quickly called and the two were left to wait a few minutes until the ESPN cameras showed up.

Once the cameras were put in place, Luske and Daya turned up their hands.

Luske: A♦ K♣

Daya: K♦ Q♠

The flop came out 6♠ A♣ 3♥, which extended Luske’s lead in the hand. When the J♣ hit the turn, Daya picked up more outs and could win if a ten came on board. However, it was the 5♠ that came on the river, which left Daya packing his bags.

Lucky Chewy Not So Lucky

Andrew Lichtenberger (a.k.a. "Lucky Chewy") ran into a bit of a cooler at the secondary featured table, getting it all in preflop with Q-Q, but watching Bobby Poe turn over K-K.

The board came J♥ 9♦ 4♣ 8♥ K♦, and Lichtenberger turned a gutshot straight draw, but he missed as Poe made a set of kings on the river to win the pot.

Poe doubled up his short stack as Lichtenberger took a hit to knock him below a million in chips.

Bobby Poe - 490,000 (40 bb)

Andrew Lichtenberger - 890,000 (74 bb)

Chip Counts

Here are the top 10 chip counts, courtesy of WSOP.com:

1. Erik Hellman -- 2,400,000

2. Paul Volpe -- 2,350,000

3. Joseph Cheong -- 2,200,000

4. Ruggeri Marco -- 2,110,000

5. Dave D'Alesandro - 2,093,000

6. Kyle Bowker -- 2,081,000

7. Eric Buchman -- 2,076,000

8. Elisabeth Hille -- 2,014,000

9. Andras Koroknai -- 1,971,000

10. Amit Zulkowits -- 1,961,000

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2012 Main Event: Day 5, Shuffle Up & Deal!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Action begins today with 282 players, and all of them are guaranteed to make at least $38,453. The field will play five 2-hour levels today.

WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel gave the opening announcements, and he was joined by 76-year-old Perry Green. Green is the oldest player who still has chips in the Main Event -- he has 304,000 (25 big blinds).

Green finished as runner-up to Stu Ungar in the 1981 WSOP Main Event, the year Ungar won his second World Championship in a row. There were 75 players in the entire field that year -- there are still more than three times that many still alive on Day 5 of this year's Main Event.

Green also has three WSOP bracelets of his own, and most recently made a WSOP final table in 2010.

Day 5 begins with the blinds at 6,000-12,000, and the average stack has about 58 big blinds. Shuffle up and deal!

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2012 Main Event: Day 5 Preview

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s Day 5 of the 2012 WSOP Main and things are starting to get serious in the Amazon Room.

With the money bubble successfully burst and many players have already collected their min-cash and headed home with a few stories to tell about their experience in Las Vegas.

The journey continues for the 282 players that remain, however, as they will attempt to chip up today and get one step closer to the final table of nine players.

Everyone is chasing Paul Volpe, who picked up 2,750,000 chips yesterday. The New Jersey-native has numerous cashes at the WSOP but has yet to make a final table. This would be the event to do it in with $8.5 million on the line for first place.

Poker pros Kyle Bowker (2.08 million) and Eric Buchman (2.07 million) are also in the top five as we enter play today.

There are still plenty of notable players in the mix with Leo Wolpert, Kevin Pollak, Vanessa Selbst, Erik Cajelais, Joe Cheong, David “ODB” Baker, Tristan Clemencon, Isaac Baron, JP Kelly, Jason Somerville and Daniel Negreanu looking to do some damage today.

Here’s a look at the top 10 chip counts as we enter play:

1. Paul Volpe – 2,750,000 2. Erik Hellman – 2,216,000 3. Dave D’Alesandro – 2,093,000 4. Kyle Bowker – 2,083,000 5. Eric Buchman – 2,076,000 6. Elisabeth Hille – 2,014,000 7. Andras Koroknal – 1,971,000 8. Amit Zulkowitz – 1,961,000 9. Eric Legoff – 1,947,000 10. Nicco Maag – 1,899,000

Action resumes in a little over an hour so check back here for real-time live updates from the tournament floor.

WSOP Daily Video Show from Las Vegas

In the meantime check out our video recap from yesterday, which includes interviews with Jeff Gross, Kevin Pollak, Maria Ho, Jared Hamby and Mike McDonald:

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2012 Main Event: Day 4 Done, 282 Remain

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The drop in players is becoming stunningly evident as there a number of vacant tables sitting in the Amazon room. The once jam packed poker arena is starting to look sparse due to the drop in numbers.

As the end of the day draws to an end, so do the unfamiliar faces. The sea of “unknowns” are starting to wade to the surface as players we should be on the lookout for.

Volpe in Charge

One player we don’t have to wait to put a name to is Paul Volpe. Everything has been going his way today. He was able to hit the next unattained chip mile stone with more than 3 million chips.

Volpe’s biggest previous cash was at the 2011 edition of this very event. He banked $47,107 for his 192nd finish in last year’s Main Event. This year, he is looking to out last his previous record. If he continues accumulating chips in this fashion, he will surely be able to bypass his previous Main Event cash.

Kevin Pollak Isn’t Ready for the Show to End

Nearly every Main Event sees at least one actor/celebrity make the money. Lou Diamond Phillips made the deepest celebrity finish in recent memory with his 186th place finish in 2009.

Kevin Pollak is the last standing member of the Hollywood set here at the Main Event. As the tournament progresses he only gets stronger.

The next payout level is $38,453.

We were able to catch up with him as he very loudly celebrated a big double-up. He was able to get it in with kings versus queens, and his hand held up. Pollak’s stack looks a little more lively, as he’s up over 700,000 chips.

Elisabeth Hille Wishes This Day Would Never End

Betfair qualifier Elizabeth Hille probably wishes this day would never end, as it’s one she’ll likely never forget.

She’s gone on an absolute tear over the last few levels, and she’s been running in god mode. She’s not just hitting big hands, but she’s also been fortunate enough to have her opponents hit the flop fairly hard themselves.

She called a 28,000 raise from an early position player, and the two saw a A♠ J♣ 10♣ flop. Her opponent check-called a 36,000 bet from Hille on the flop.

When the 8♠ hit the turn, Hille fired out 50,000 and her opponent quickly check-raised all-in for about 150,000 more. Hille just as quickly called and turned over A♦ J♥ for top two pair. Her opponent was behind with A♥ Q♣.

A harmless river sent another pot Hille’s way, pushing her up around 2 million chips.

The Remains of the Day

It’s beer time for many players with just a few minutes left to play here on Day 4. We started with just under 700 players and that’s been trimmed all the way down to 284. The final numbers for the day won’t come out until after everything is bagged and tagged.

We’ve still got some big names in the mix. Negreanu, Selbst, Mizzi, and Juanda are among the recognizable faces. However, as is the case with many Main Events, it’s a pack of relative unknowns atop the leaderboard.

Eric Buchman runs a deep stack for Day 5.

Its still a very long road to the final nine, and the names will likely change throughout the next few days.

This is what the leader board looks like for the end of the day:

1. Paul Volpe - 2,750,0002. Erik Hellman - 2,216,0003. Dave D'Alesandro - 2,093,0004. Kyle Bowker - 2,081,0005. Eric Buchman - 2,076,0006. Elisabeth Hille - 2,014,0007. Andras Koroknai - 1,971,0008. Amit Zulkowitz - 1,961,0009. Eric Legoff - 1,947,00010. Nicco Maag - 1,899,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

WSOP Daily Video Show: Main Event Day 4 with Kevin Pollak, Jeff Gross

PokerListings.com gives you a backstage pass to the action with help from actor and comedian Kevin Pollak, plus Maria Ho, Mike McDonald and Jared Hamby.

And finally we have an interview with poker pro Jeff Gross, whose best friend Michael Phelps is cheering him on. Yes, that Michael Phelps.

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2012 Main Event: Deeb & Ho Can't Hold On

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The last hour of the night is upon us, and there are currently 346 players fighting their way through the money. Players have gone up a few pay spots and are guaranteed $32,871. When the player count drops to 306, the next pay jump will be reached and will increase their value to $38,453.

Shorties!

Short stacked players don’t necessarily have the luxury of coasting into the end of the day. John Juanda, and Amit Makhija are fighting for their Main Event lives as each have under 200,000.

Amit Makhija @amak316: “Trying my hand at lucky beer level #2 of this main event. Haven't had to use it since day 1. 163k at 5k-10k.”

John Juanda @LuckBoxJuanda “Dear: Poker God, Please help keep my WSOP dream alive. Last level of the day& I only have 165K (H/L: 430k/160k) #FinishStrong”

Deeb Wastes Four Days

One short stacker that won’t be recovering from the Main Event economy is Shaun Deeb. He has had a rollercoaster chip ride for the last few days. He has been at the top and towards the bottom of the chip counts over the last few days. However, today would be the last ride he takes at this carnival.

Shaun Deeb @shaundeeb: “Guy loses 2m pot shoves 75k I iso 77 he has qj 894k10 fun runouts 90k left”

Shaun Deeb @shaundeeb: “Out shoved 115k jj get called by Buchanan otb with kjs he rivered king fun waste of 4 days”

Maria Ho is out of the Main Event, but there are still some ladies left to represent.

Shaun Deeb @shaundeeb: “sorry phone autocorrected my hand had a5o not jj”

Deeb was still able to make a profit on his time here at the Main Event, but it probably pales in comparison with his other WSOP cashes. His best cash this year was taking 2nd place in a satallite for the Big One Drop million-dollar buy-in event. He took home a handsome $1 million for that event, which certainly over shadows what he made here today.

Maria Ho is No More

Maria Ho slipped to 100,000 chips, and she found those chips slide away when she shoved over a raise of 26,000. The initial raiser insta-called when the action folded back around to him.

He tabled A♠ K♣, and was far ahead of Ho’s A♦ J♣. She needed a lot of help to stay alive. Unfortunately, it was help that never came, as the board bricked out for her and she was left waving goodbye to the Amazon room.

It likely won’t give her any comfort, but three other women are flush with chips and over the 1 million mark, including Vanessa Selbst (1.8 million), Gaelle Baumann (1.2 million), and Elizabeth Hille (1 million).

Top 10 Chip Counts

Paul Volpe 3,150,000

Ben Greenberg 2,020,000

Vanessa Selbst 1,800,000

Erik Hellman 1,800,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,780,000

A.J. Jejelowo 1,750,000

Leo Wolpert 1,500,000

Ercan Olgun 1,455,000

Jamie Robbins 1,450,000

Nghi Van Tran 1,444,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: There Will Be A New Champion

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

And Then There Was One

Phil Collins’ recent exit means that just Sam Holden is left from last year’s November Nine, but he’s showing no signs of going anywhere anytime soon. He has spent much of the day with is stack hovering around 700,000.

And Then There Were None

Main Event champs left in the field, that is, as Johnny Chan’s exit means that we’re guaranteed to have a brand new Main Event champion, one who is currently seated among the 350 or so players left in the field.

Elisabeth Hille Quietly Builds a Stack

We’ve talked a lot about how prominent female players such as Vanessa Selbst, Maria Ho, and Claudia Crawford are fairing today. However, there are several other women who are putting themselves into great shape for a deep run here at the Main Event.

One of those is Betfair qualifier Elisabeth Hille from Norway. She is sitting in the corner of the Amazon Room away from a lot of the fanfare and hubbub -- possibly a good thing as she’s managed to amass a stack of close to 900,000 chips.

She doesn’t have any other live event cashes to her name, and she is likely looking to follow in the footsteps of players each year who manage to run good at the right time and take down their first big poker cash at the Main Event.

Christina Lindley was nursing a short stack, but she wasn't able to bring it back to life.

Twitter-Obits

Christina Lindley @lindleyloo: “Busted a9 v Aj blind vs blind. Finished 360th for 33k..#gg Glgl To@DBTRandall & @sorelmizzi still in.. Thanks for all The Support everyone”

Filip Verboven @VerbovenFilip: “Busted 423rd for $28.530. Thx everyone for support, and thx@happyfreaked @webjoker for another top notch coverage!”

Terrence Chan @tchanpoker:”I wish I were still in. I really do. But I'm very blessed just to even get to play the WSOP for 9 years, when so many dream of doing it.”

Philip Collins @USCphildo: “Time to play lots of NCAA football 13 on PS3 and golf. might not play poker for a month.”

Paul McTaggart @BobaFettdozer11:”Busto. QQ v 66 all in pre. 6 on the flop. Fkn sigh! 364th wsopme”

Shawn Buchanan @shawnbuchanan1:”Just busted 404th In wsop main, yes I was still in everyone, flying under the radar as usual! gl to all left”

Break It Up

Players are now on their last 15-minute break of the day. The early bubble and an unscheduled break caused today’s schedule to get slightly out of whack from the planned routine.

As a result we’ll have a slightly early night here, with players sitting down to play their last level of the night. They should be bagging and tagging their chips before midnight so they can have a good nights rest before returning tomorrow

Vivek Rajkumar's aggressive style couldn't get him past Day 4.

Casualties

It has been a fast moving day, and it has been tough to keep track of all the bust outs. That being said, here is a list of some of the players who were in the money, but out of the glory:

Antonio Esfandiari

Christian Harder

Bernard Lee

Bruno Lopes

Salvatore Bonavena

Vivek Rajkumar

Justin Young

David Peters

Johnny Chan

Chris Moorman

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2012 Main Event: Negreanu Makes A Surprising Play

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

We are about an hour into the 18th level, and despite the formula of the day, there haven’t been any interruptions. The blinds and antes have gone up which means that players are paying 4,000/8,000 blinds and 1,000 antes.

Almost half the field is gone from the start of the day with 392 players left.

Negreanu Takes a Hit

Daniel Negreanu has been booming today, but he just lost over 200,000 chips in an odd spot where he insta-folded to his opponent’s shove on the river for just a fraction of the pot.

With about 50,000 chips already in the middle, Negreanu’s opponent checked on a flop of 10♥ 4♠ 3♣. Negreanu pushed out 26,000 and his opponent quickly check-raised to 80,000.

Negreanu thought for a bit before calling. The 6♥ came on the turn, and Negreanu’s opponent wasted no time cutting out a bet of 125,000. This left his opponent with less than 100,000 behind.

Negreanu took much longer this time to decide his next move. He checked his cards several times, then checked his opponent’s remaining chips, and then did a little mental math. The math must have been right because Negreanu just smooth-called the bet.

The river was the 2♣ and his opponent duly lumped his last 100,000 into a pot that had swelled to nearly 600,000 chips. Negreanu insta mucked faster than his opponent could get the chips into the pot--all to the shock of his opponent and onlookers.

“I didn’t have anything,” Negreanu explained, saying that he’d planned to instantly put his opponent all-in if he’d checked to Negreanu instead of betting on the river.

Negreanu still has about 300,000 chips in front of him so Kid Poker isn’t down for the count just yet.

That’s Some Sick Poker!

Sometimes watching the amateur players at this stage of the game is just as compelling as watching the pros. We were able to catch a hand between two amateur players on table 413 which could be the sickest hand of the day.

We watched as the player under the gun (UTG) raised to 18,000 with A♣ J♥. A player in middle position (MP) called, and the rest of the players on the table folded.

The board came out 2♠ 6♣ 4♥. The UTG player continuation bet for 22,000, and the MP player called.

When the 8♠ hit the turn, the UTG player double barreled for 75,000. The player in MP thought for a long time before making the call.

As soon as the 4♠ came on the river, the UTG player calmly announced that he was all in. This is when the MP player really tanked. It looked like he was thinking of calling off his last 180,000 with a small pair.

The MP player looked at his opponent’s stack a few times, noting that he was covered 3-1 in chips.

After about five minutes, the MP player called and turned up his A♠ K♥ for ace-king high.

Teddy Sheringham is still alive and well in the Main Event.

The UTG player sighed and simply said, “good call” as he turned up his A♣ J♥ for ace-jack high.

The middle position player flew out of his seat in a victorious celebration to let everyone around him know about his amazing call.

Sheringham Strikes Again

It’s no surprise to see football great Teddy Sheringham go deep in a poker event but he’s quietly played his way to his best showing at the WSOP.

Sheringham has been hitting the poker circuit up for years since his retirement from football. His results have been picking up the last few years -- including a $100K+ cash for his 5th place finish at the 2010 EPT Vilamoura main event.

He currently has about 250,000 chips to work with, and is looking to add more cashes to his resume.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Ben Greenberg 2,095,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,695,000

Jonathan Seelbach 1,650,000

Paul Volpe 1,590,000

Erik Hellman 1,425,000

Nghi Van Tran 1,346,000

Richard Pyne 1,330,000

Shahriar Assareh 1,300,000

Michael Shelton 1,285,000

Vanessa Selbst 1,282,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Never a Dull Moment At The Main Event

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Cards are back in the air after an unscheduled early dinner break. Just before the break it looked like the WSOP staff was clamoring about trying to figure out if the payouts were correct. This caused a 20-minute delay in which the players were getting antsy while they waited for cards to be dealt.

Ultimately, it was decided that players would take their dinner break early while the staff figured out if there was a problem or not.

As Twitter exploded with a mass of players wondering what the problem was and how it could have happened, the WSOP issued this statement through Twitter:

WSOP @WSOP: “Erred on side of caution to triple check. We'll keep it moving towards $8.5mm when players return at 7:30 to resume play.”

As players began to file into the Amazon room, the tournament official announced that there were no issues with the payout, but they wanted to make sure. To ease tensions with the players, it was decided that there would only be two more levels in today’s play. Players will have this two-hour long level, a fifteen-minute break, and another two-hour level before the day is out.

Now that we have that all sorted out, lets get back to the action!

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2012 Main Event: A Day Of Unscheduled Breaks

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

There have been quite a few unexpected delays in today’s festivities. First, the bubble burst was a slight setback. Then, play was paused because players were dropping out so fast and the floor staff had to get caught up on the count. Now, there seems to be an issue with the payouts, and things have once again been halted.

We will have more information on what the payout issues are when we receive more information.

Joseph Cheong is at it Again

Joesph Cheong used the 2010 Main Event final table as his stage to really burst onto the poker scene and he’s at it again this year, building up a dangerous stack of 800,000 and looking like he might have another deep run in him.

He’s been very active on the circuit since his 2010 final table and displayed his knack for amassing chips, finishing 114th in the 2011 Main Event and going deep in WPT and EPT events around the globe.

He’s had a great 2012 WSOP so far, finishing runner-up in the $5,000 NLHE Mixed Max event for $296,956 and cashing in a total of three WSOP Events (as well as booking cashes at events at the Venetian and Bellagio this summer in Vegas).

Tweet-Break

Players went on their second 20-minute break of the day, and we tapped into the twitter feed to see what the pros had to say.

Gavin Smith ‏@olegsmith: “Break have 141k, need to get this show moving!”

Katie Dozier ‏@Katie_Dozier: “Went out with Aa vs TT aipf, had a blast! 451 for $24808”

Vanessa Selbst ‏@VanessaSelbst: “1.28MM going into second break. Mid 400s left.”

Amit Makhija ‏@amak316: “Exactly 420k at break, shame I'm not a pothead or I'd be really happy with that stack. Still cool with my day thus far!”

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: “@DNChips someone at my table has 736k. That is me!!!”

Terrence Chan ‏@tchanpoker: “199k, spinning the tires a bit today, but still obviously a workable stack. Also gg to @Katie_Dozier who got aces cracked aipf.”

Unscheduled Dinner Break

The payout issue has still not been solved, and tournament officials stopped the clock when players came back from their 20-minute break. As players grew restless trying to figure out what the hold up was, clusters of WSOP staff could be seen speaking amongst themselves.

After a 15-20 minute period of waiting around, officials announced that players would be going on their dinner break early. Officials will take the time to figure out what is going on with the payouts during the dinner break.

No statements have been made on what the issues are, but they were adamant that cards would be back in the air at 7:30pm.

Dinner Break Top 10

Ben Greenberg 2,018,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,760,000

Paul Volpe 1,607,000

Nghi Van Tran 1,459,000

Erik Hellman 1,400,000

Vanessa Selbst 1,282,000

Michael Shelton 1,280,000

Ricky Markowitz 1,170,000

Leo Wolpert 1,125,000

Jacob Balsiger 1,100,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Ho Takes A Hit While Champion Doubles

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Since players are dropping so fast the schedule for today is going to be slightly off from previous days. Players will be going on a 90-minute dinner break at 6:00 pm until 8:00pm. Instead of playing the usual 5 levels of play, it looks like it might be an early day with only 4.5 levels being completed for the day.

Maria Ho Ships Chips

Maria Ho is one of the last remaining women in the field, and she has been able to stay above the chip average for most of the tournament. This has given her ample opportunity to play a wide range of hands against her opponents.

She had just split a big pot against an opponent when she flopped a flush draw with K♦ 9♦. Her draw turned into a four-straight which allowed her to chop the pot with her opponent.

The very next hand, Ho called a 12,000 raise from the middle position player directly in front of her. The middle position player behind her raised to 33,000. It folded around to the initial raiser who folded. Ho looked at the stack of her opponent and quietly announced she was all in.

“I call!” her opponent quickly stated.

Ho: J♣ J♠

Opponent: A♦ K♠

The board wasn’t looking too hot for Ho when it came K♣ 2♣ 6♦. Ho would need to catch a jack if she wanted to keep her chips in front of her. The rest of the board laid out 2♠ A♥.

Ho was forced to ship a total of 224,000 from her stack to double up her opponent.

Negreanu Having a Big Day

Daniel Negreanu is always a crowd favorite and he’s been especially chipper today -- picking up a heap of chips early on always helps.

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: “In the money in the WSOP main event for the 2nd straight year with 412k avg is 300k. My 5th cash of the 2012 WSOP and 3rd in the last week.”

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: “My WSOP main event stack on the bubble now looking healthy! Let's do this. http://instagr.am/p/NCM220olAJ/ "

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: “A rainy day in Vegas. Friday the 13th. Trying to make top 666. Based on how my luck has gone this month today is the perfect day!”

At last count Negreanu was closing in on the 500,000 chip mark, picking up chips when he knocked out a short-stack. He was holding pocket queens versus the short-stack’s pocket sevens.

Chan on the Ropes

Johnny Chan has been at the ESPN feature table all day, but so far it’s an experience he’d rather forget. His healthy stack to start the day has been whittled all the way down to just 90,000 chips. That leaves him with less than 20 bets, so he will surely be pushing in his stack in the near future.

Seed gets out flopped and leaves Chan as the last remaining Champion.

Huck Hits the Rails

Huck Seed was the only other Main Event champ still in the running. We haven’t seen Seed actually play a hand over the last few days, but he’s managed to stay just active enough to keep pace with the blinds and antes.

Huck Seed’s quest for a second Main Event victory just ended. Seed patiently waited for a spot to double, but he found himself crushed when all his chips went in the middle.

Seed and a single opponent made it to the turn with the board showing K♣ 10♠ 6♥ #.4d. Seed’s last 100,000 chips went in on the turn, and his opponent snap-called and tabling K♠ 10♣ for top two.

Seed angrily shook his head before finally showing A♠ K♦. He would need an ace on the river to survive.

The 4♠ on the river wasn’t what he needed to stay alive, so was Seed eliminated leaving a short-stacked Johnny Chan (120,000 chips) the last Main Event winner still standing.

One Luongo Remains

NHL goalie Roberto Luongo may have seen his Main Event end with a min-cash, but his brother Fabio is still going strong. Fabio got his chips in dominated with A♣ 4♦ versus A♦ Q♣. However, he was able to hit when the A♠ 4♣ J♦ flopped. The board blanked for his opponent and he was able to double up to over 500,000 chips.

Meanwhile, Roberto has been chilling out watching the ESPN feature table for the last few minutes. As he hovered over the rail, he was able to witness Johnny Chan double-up. Chan’s A♠ J♣ drew out against pocket eights when Chan spiked a jack on the flop. Chan was able to double up to 250,000 chips.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Ben Greenberg 1,950,000

Paul Volpe 1,710,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,400,000

Nghi Van Tran 1,380,000

Jonathan Seelbach 1,360,000

A.J. Jejelowo 1,300,000

Ricky Markowitz 1,300,000

Erik Hellman 1,180,000

Leo Wolpert 1,168,000

Jacob Balsiger 1,100,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Pepper Spray Attack

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Players took their first break of Day 4. They got a slightly longer 30-minute respite due to coloring up and racing off chips. They came back to play level 17, which has 3,000/6,000 blinds with a 1,000 ante.

"If I can't win, I'll pepper spray"

It’s been an exciting day so far, having the bubble bursting in a dramatic fashion with four eliminations during the first hand-for-hand round. It was only a few minutes after play resumed from the bubble burst that a new development arose from the felt.

There was a player fiddling around with what he thought was a pen that he found in the parking lot. Unfortunately for everyone who was around him, that pen turned out to be a pepper spray. When he clicked the cap, it unleashed an ungodly wreaking havoc of pepper spray for the next few minutes.

The culprit’s table, and the few tables around his, flew out of their chairs coughing and covering their mouths. Thankfully, it only took a few minutes for the cloud of gas to clear, and action resumed. However, coughs could be heard throughout the tournament area for the next 30-minutes.

"What? I thought it was a pen!"

Just Barely Made It

Usually when the bubble bursts, players who were blinding away are able to shove knowing that they’ve at least made some dough to compensate for the long hours of play.

This tournament is no different. Players are dropping fast now that the money bubble has been reached. Tournament officials have even stopped the clock in the second level of the day to catch up on updating the player count.

Jason Mercier, Roberto Luongo, and Liv Boeree are just some of the big names that were able to just squeeze into the money.

What’s Ahead

Now that we’re in the money the next step for many players is to keep laddering up the pay table, padding the amount of cash they’ll walk away with as the money payouts increase.

Below are the next few rungs on the payout table and where we’ll likely finish up the day when play wraps up with around 300-350 players likely surviving Day 4:

307-378: $32,871

379-450: $28,530

451-522: $24,808

523-594: $21,707

595-666: $19,227

Top 10 Chip Counts

Ben Greenberg 1,260,000

Sean Rice 1,170,000

Bryan Vanrijsbergen 1,150,000

Sean Rice 1,145,000

Erik Hellman 1,115,000

Nghi Van Tran 1,100,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,060,000

A.J. Jejelowo 1,020,000

Kunal Patel 965,000

Leo Wolpert 950,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Off The Bubble, On The Money

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It has been an exciting last hour here in the Amazon room. Not only did we hit the money bubble, but we surpassed it with ease in just one hand.

Bubble Bubble, Toil and Trouble

Hand for hand play went into effect when 669 players remained. That meant each table would play a hand and then pause, waiting for all tables to finish that hand before dealers are allowed to shuffle up and deal a new one.

In this stage of the game, it is always a little different as far as how long the bubble and hand-for-hand play actually takes. In some years, the bubble has been as quick as five or ten minutes, while other years it’s taken well over an hour to separate the haves from the have nots.

The tournament director told all the dealers that if there was an all in and a call, play would have to be paused until after all the hands were completed. If there wasn’t any all in action, dealers could stand when the hand was completed at the table so that the tournament official would know all the hands were complete.

Dan Shak is a Lucky Man

Hedge fund manager Dan Shak has plenty of experience at poker’s highest levels but a live misclick nearly sent him to the rails here when Shak missed a raise in front of him and tried to steal the blinds with K♥ 7♣.

They saw a flop of J♣ K♦ 6♦ and checked it through to the 7♥ on the turn. Backing into two pair, Shak likely was happy to get it all-in on the turn -- until his opponent turned over 7♠ 7♦ for a turned set.

Shak binked the K♣ on the river, though, turning his misclick into a big double-up and at an opportune time smack on the bubble.

Daniel Shak ‏@daniel_shak: “Flopped K check turn 7 we get it all in he has 77 omg was going to be out on bubble by mistake cameras all come river K!!!! Omg#onetimeused”

Daniel Shak ‏@daniel_shak: “Thought was raising from small blind with k 7 bb folded didn't realize someone had raised when I went to raise BB"

Daniel Shak ‏@daniel_shak: “got the luckiest ever on bubble in hand I played by mistake hit 2 outer on river against set# wasSBraiseddidn'tknowsomeoneraised before”

Shaun Deeb kept his stack healthy during the bubble.

Bubble Tweets

Shaun Deeb ‏@shaundeeb: “Bubble going badly double 910 vs aj I turn. 9 he riv j then@MazeOrBowie with q6 vs ak then 88 vs qq 600k still”

Jason Mercier ‏@JasonMercier: “Folded every hand so far today. Down to 52k. Best hand I've had is K7o. We 8 from the money. #wsopME”

Katie Dozier ‏@Katie_Dozier: “Reaaally close to the money, short stack just raised sb and begged bb to fold, and it worked. #thatwasntme #stayingalivethough :)”

Paul Volpe ‏@paulgees81: “Real close to the moola. Kinda want the bubble to last longer so I can get more chippes”

Marvin Rettenmaier ‏@MadMarvin: “Lady steals the blinds AGAIN w her 15bb stack, smiles and goes: "@shaundeeb taught me how to play on day 2!":D 75k=15bb,7 to the money”

Daniel Negreanu ‏@RealKidPoker: “@DNChips busted a guy with AA vs TT 380k now!!!”

We Have Our Bubble Boy(s)

Hand for hand action lasted exactly one hand. As dealers started popping up from their seats after the hand was completed, it was confirmed that there were five all-ins with calls behind. Those hands would have to wait to be played out until all the hands were completed and the tournament official could announce them.

Here is how the all-in hands looked:

Bubble Hand 1:

Steve Rosen shoved for his last 85,000 from under the gun. Gwennael Grandmougin was in the small blind and made the call.

Rosen: K♠ K♣

Grandmougin: A♠ A♣

The board came out 7♠ 5♦ 5♣ 3♦ Q♥ which was enough to eliminate Rosen. However, since there were more all in’s Rosen would have to wait to see if he would be the only one to finish outside of the money.

Bubble Hand 2:

Roberto Riva raised to 11,000 from under the gun, and Desmond Portano three-bet to 32,500. Action folded back around to Riva who moved all in for the rest of his stack.

After a few moments of tanking from Portano, Riva called the clock, and the pressure was on Portant to call-which he did.

Portano: K♠ K♣

Riva: 5♣ 5♥

The board came 9♠ 6♥ 5♠ Q♠ A♦ which gave Riva a set of fives and sent Portano to the rail to stand with Rosen as a bubble boy.

Bubble Hand 3:

Dane Lomas was all in holding A♦ A♠, and he was against the A♣ K♣ of Devin Looney. The board came out K♥ K♦ 7♣ 2♠ J♦. Unfortunately, Lomas was holding the best hand preflop, but Looney was able to pull out ahead and knock Lomas out.

Bubble Hand 4:

Christina Lindley was holding A♥ A♦ when she moved all in. She got a call from David Kelley who was holding Q♦ Q♥. The two players were really close in chips, but it was Kelley who was at risk for elimination.

The board ran out A♣ 2♠ T♥ 6♣ 7♠ which gave Lindley the save and Kelley the boot.

Conclusion: We're In The Money!

There were actually five all in hands during the first round of hand for hand, but one was aces versus ace-king, and the aces held up to which there was no elimination. That means that there were four players who were eliminated during the first hand.

The four players would tie for 666th place, splitting the $19,227 in cash to give each a little under $5,000 each.

The four will also play a single table Sit n Go to see who gets the $10,000 entry to the 2013 Main Event that was reserved for the bubble boy, so the winner of that will actually manage to walk away with a decent haul for finishing “out” of the money at the Main Event.

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2012 Main Event: On The Bubble Verge

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

There seems to be a lot of excitement in the Amazon room this afternoon. Players are dropping like flies and we expect by our next update we will be on the money bubble or in the money.

Spectators are starting to loom around to catch a glimpse of big name players from the rails. Every once in awhile a player will shoot up from his seat with a burst of excitement which we assume means that they were able to suck out to stay in the game.

Cue Spooky Music

Superstitious poker players returning for Day 4 and the money bubble have several reasons to be a little spooked. Not only is today Friday the 13th but the money bubble this year is at 666th place, which is worth a min-cash of $19,227.

Of course the “bubble” is slightly misleading here, as the player who finishes just out of the money here at the Main Event traditionally gets a free $10,000 entry to the next Main Event. It hasn't been confirmed that is the case this year, but we are assuming it will be true for this year as well. If that is the case, it’s really the player who finishes two off the money that gets the pain of bubbling the Main Event and walking away with nada.

Roll Call

Our surviving November Niners from last year’s Main is dwindling, with just the following players still chasing a final table seat for the second straight year:

Sam Holden: 424,500 chips

Phil Collins: 252,500 chips

That just highlights how hard it is to navigate your way through the modern era of huge Main Event fields, and the importance of making your final table count if you’re lucky and skilled enough to ever get there -- it’s quite likely the one shot you’ll have in your poker lifetime to emerge a Main Event winner.

As far as Main Event champs still alive, here’s that list which has been chiseled down as well:

Johnny Chan: 374,500 chips

Huck Seed: 137,500 chips

Seed was saddled with a short stack for much of yesterday but found a way to stay alive, while Chan took a big hit early but rebounded late in the day to bring a healthy stack into play today on Day 4.

The Leaders of the Pack

Four players managed to crack the one million chip mark last night when they bagged up chips, who will likely have very little sweat early on Day 4 when the money bubble looms:

Dave D'Alesandro - 1,100,000

Sean Rice - 1,076,000

Jacob Balsiger - 1,065,000

Leo Wolpert - 1,003,500

Those are massive stacks, but by the end of play today the leader will likely have 2-2.5 million chips, so even the chip leaders will be under pressure today to keep grinding up those stacks and building chip towers to the sky if they want to stay ahead of the curve and among the leaders.

Vanessa Selbst is representing the ladies with a nice stack on Day 4.

Checking in With the Ladies

We’re nearing that time when -- right or wrong -- the talk starts cranking up as far as “last woman standing” in the Main Event, with the focus turning to how high the last woman in the field finishes.

This might be the year to render that sort of thinking moot, as female players have put in a very strong showing so far in the 2012 WSOP. Several women have built up big stacks so far and have just as good a shot, or better, than any men in the field of not just making the final table but winning the whole thing.

The always dangerous Vanessa Selbst came into today with a big stack of 800,000 chips. Maria Ho (382,000) and Liv Boeree (207,500) sat with plenty of chips to work with as well.

Vanessa Selbst ‏@VanessaSelbst: "Mini heater to end the day with 814k! Day 4 tomorrow."

Maria Ho ‏@MariaHo: "Back for Day 4 of the @WSOP Main Event. Coming into today with 382,000 chips. 720 players remain, 666 spots pay. #letsgetit"

Liv Boeree ‏@Liv_Boeree: "Friday the 13th, 666 get paid... could there be anything a metal loving girl nicknamed "The Iron Maiden" could love more?‪#numberofthebeast‬"

Top 10 Chip Counts

Sean Rice 1,170,000

Dave D’Alesandro 1,129,000

Erik Hellman 1,100,000

Ben Greenberg 1,060,000

Leo Wolpert 1,010,000

Bryan Vanrisbergen 1,000,000

Niels van Alphen 930,000

A.J. Jejelowo 910,000

Jacob Balsiger 845,000

Daniel Rudd 834,500

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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2012 Main Event: Stacked Feature Table

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Cards are in the air, and Day 4 of the Main Event is underway. The tournament announcer made his preliminary speech and said that players will be playing five levels today with a 20-minute break after each level.

There is no surprise there, but if there is a long bubble, players might have to stay past the usual 12:45 am to make up for lost time.

All of the remaining 720 players are packed inside the Amazon room which means that we have passed a pivotal mile stone in the Main Event. Another mile stone which will be uncovered today is the money bubble.

There are several short stacks coming into today’s play, so we should see the bubble early in the day.

ESPN Feature Table

The ESPN Feature Table has been fired up today and it hosts a pretty well rounded line up. Vivek Rajkumar, Erick Lindgren, and Johnny Chan will be battling at the feature table. Rajkumar is known for being a very aggressive player, so we expect the action on this table to be something to watch out for.

Here is the line up for the feature table:

1 Scott Blackman 315,000

2 Patrick Khayat 106,000

3 Louis Werman 147,000

4 Johnny Chan 374,000

5 Vivek Rajkumar 678,000

6 Erick Lindgren 222,000

7 Anthony Scherer 249,000

8 Remy Cucak 185,000

9 Sean Giesbrecht 148,000

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2012 Main Event: Day 4 Preview

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s Day 4 of the 2012 WSOP Main Event and the money has never been closer.

Just 54 players need to bust before the 666 remaining players have earned a minimum of $19,227 for the efforts here in the Main Event.

Once the bubble bursts we expect a cavalcade of bust outs as short stacks happily ship their chips into the middle.

The chip stacks are starting to get enormous with four players over a million chips including leader Dave D’Alesandro with 1.1 million.

Poker pros Sean Rice (1.07 million), Leo Wolpert (1 million), Vanessa Selbst (814,000), Sorel Mizzi (738,000) and Vivek Rajkumar (678,000) are all in the top 30 so it will be interesting to see the kind of moves they make as the money bubble approaches.

Meanwhile Daniel Negreanu, Huck Seed, Christina Lindley, Jason Mercier, Chris Moore and NHL goalie Roberto Luongo are all short on chips and will need a double up ASAP.

Action begins in about an hour so be sure to check back to this page for real-time live updates of the 2012 Main Event.

Here are the top 10 chip counts to start the day:

Dave D'Alesandro - 1,100,000Sean Rice - 1,076,000Jacob Balsiger - 1,065,000Leo Wolpert - 1,003,500Ben Greenberg - 963,000A.J. Jejelowo - 928,500Daniel Rudd - 834,500Jonathan Seelbach - 824,000Michael Ferrell - 821,000Paul Volpe - 820,000

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2012 Main Event: Prepping For Day 4-Friday The 13th

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

It’s the last stretch of the night, and players are starting to order cocktails. Beer seems to be the liquid of choice, and for some it is the perfect recipe to get rid of the game day jitters enough to get some sleep.

Fighting To Survive

It’s been a long grind today for Dan Harrington who was seemingly stuck on 70,000-80,000 chips for the entire day. He managed to chip up late on Day 3, and stacked about 175,000 chips. However, he wasn't able to keep ahold of them and ended up shipping them off to someone else by the day's end.

Daniel Negreanu also had a rough start, but he got a little of his mojo back and rebuilt some of the damage to get back up around 200,000 chips.

Actor Kevin Pollak made the most of his time on the ESPN feature table; he slowly but steadily chipped up and he sits close to 300,000 chips going into Day 4.

RIP Brasilia

Tournament officials said that they were going to make a special announcement, then they announced that all remaining players are now seated in the Amazon Room. Players didn’t seem to be too excited about that, as they were hoping the announcement meant they were in the money. It seems that making it to the Amazon room isn’t that exciting after all.

However, what is exciting is that somewhere, seated inside the Amazon room is our next Main Event Chamption. It also means that there are several newly made millionaires walking around the Rio.

Phil Galfond has a tough last level and exits the tournament just before the day was out.

Phil Galfond Can’t Get There

Phil Galfond spent much of the day yo-yoing between 200,000-300,000 chips, but he picked the wrong time to go on an anti-heater. This cold streak ended his Main Event.

Phil Galfond ‏@PhilGalfond: “Lost a big one. C/r turn with JT on 986Qdd. River 7d and I value bet, called by KJdd. Down to 60k. ‪#frownyface‬ ‪#WSOP‬”

Phil Galfond ‏@PhilGalfond: “Made what I'm almost sure was a correct river fold, but down to 140k because of it (now is when you count). ‪#WSOP‬”

Phil Galfond ‏@PhilGalfond: “Just dodged one bullet. Standard reshove spot w A9s but it felt weird. Just called and c/f 6 hi flop. He had AA. 55k”

Phil Galfond ‏@PhilGalfond: “Oh well. Got in J9ss v AQo on Q84ss. Couldn't hit and I'm out. Thanks for all the support, guys. It was a fun ride!”

One of the genuinely nice poker superstars out there, Galfond thanked all his tablemates and wished them good luck before packing up and heading for the rail.

Six More Hands!

As the tournament clock ticked down, the tournament officials announced that there would be six more hands played until the end of the night.

With 768 players coming back for Day 4, only a little more than a hundred need to falter to get to the money. There will be 666 players paid on Friday the 13th.

Unfortunately, Michael Binger, Bret Richey, Phil Galfond, and Will Failla will not be among those getting paid. Each of them had a rough last level and weren’t able to survive the night.

Here is a preliminary look at the top 10 chip counts for the night:

David D’Alesandro 1,100,000

Sean Rice 1,076,000

Leo Wolpert 1,003,000

Ben Greenberg 963,000

A.J. Jejelowo 928,000

Daniel Rudd 834,000

Paul Volpe 820,000

Kyle Keranen 802,500

Benjamin Alcober 789,000

Erik Hellman 770,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

WSOP Daily Video Show

Today on the WSOP Daily Show we bring you action from Day 3 of the 2012 Main Event with help from Vancouver Canuck Roberto Luongo and his brother Fabio.

We also check in with William Reynolds, Sam Holden and Joe Cheong about why Twitter's so big in the poker world, plus talk to video game legend Griffin Benger about making the move from Counter Strike to poker.

Visit www.pokerlistings.com

2012 Main Event: End Of Day Jitters

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

The last break of the day is in the books, and now we get to look forward to some high intensity action in the last two hours of the day. There were 828 players left to play at 2,000/4,000 blinds with a 500 ante.

That number is dropping quickly, but it looks like it isn’t dropping quick enough to see the money bubble tonight. It will certainly be first thing on the agenda tomorrow when play resumes. This will certainly be on the minds of many short-stacked players who probably won’t have the most restful sleep tonight.

Gavin Smith Throws Around Chips

Gavin Smith has been steadily building chips throughout the day. However, since he moved from the Brasilia room to the Amazon room, he’s been having a rough time of it.

He has just lost two pots in one orbit when he raised from under the gun. The player in middle position reraised making it 26,000 to go. It folded back around to Smith who took little time deciding to make the call.

The flop came out 4♣ 8♥ 3♣. Smith checked out of position, and the middle position player made it 27,000. Smith called to see the turn.

The turn brought the T♠. Smith considered the best option and decided to check. The middle position player starred down at the board and slowly checked as well.

When the J♦ came on the turn both players decided their best bet would be to check.

Smith turned up A♣ Q♣, but it just wasn’t any good against the 5♠ 5♥ that his opponent held.

Chris Moorman stacks more chips.

Moorman Clips Randall

Chris Moorman has had a swingy stack but he just took a nice pot off David Randall to push Moorman’s stack back up to the 500,000 mark.

There was about 70,000 already in the middle when the two traded jabs on a flop of 8♠ 6♣ 7♥. Moorman was first to act and lead out for 26,000. Randall bumped it up to 80,000.

Moorman had to think before calling. The two played it safe and checked it down on a 2♥ turn and T♥ river.

Moorman tabled A♠ T♠. Randall grimaced and mucked his cards, shipping the pot Moorman’s way.

Holden Blasting Away

Sam Holden is trying to play his way back to the final table for a second straight year, and he’s not doing it by waiting patiently for big cards.

Holden just tangled with a lone opponent on a 2♠ T♠ J♦ 5♣ 7♥ board. Holden’s opponent check-called Holden’s 25,000 chip bet on the turn, and then called a bigger 80,000 barrel on the river.

Holden sheepishly turned over A♠ K♣. To Holden’s surprise that was good enough for a chop, as his opponent held the same hand with A♦ K♠.

Sam Holden Video Update

We caught up with 888poker's Sam Holden and talked about his poker deja vu here at the WSOP.

Top 10 Chip Counts

Daniel Rudd 980,000

Benjamin Alcober 965,000

Ben Greenberg 870,000

A.J. Jejelowo 860,000

Paul Volpe 859,000

Sean Rice 835,000

Erik Hellman 807,000

Cylus Watson 780,000

Michael Ferrell 735,000

Dane Lomas 683,000

Chip Counts Courtesy of WSOP.com

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