Bellagio Cup III - Live Updates

Kevin Saul opens for $220,000 and Mike Matusow makes the call. The flop comes T♥ 6♣ 5♣ and Matusow checks to Saul, who bets out $385,000. Matusow moves all-in for $2.633 million and Saul insta-calls. Matusow has 8♣ 7♣ for the open-ended straight flush draw, while Saul shows Q♠ Q♥

The crowd is on its feet and calling for the turn as Matusow shouts, "I just got my money in the favorite, is all!"

The turn card is the 3♦ and Matusow is down to Fifth Street to stay alive. The river is the K♦ and Kevin Saul has won the Bellagio Cup! Saul is mobbed by his parents and friends while Matusow seeks solace in what we presume are comforting words from Phil Hellmuth.

For second place, the Mouth takes home $671,320, while Kevin Saul earns a WPT bracelet, chip set and $1,342,320 in cold, hard cash. Congratulations to both finalists!

We're now playing 60-minute rounds and the blinds are up. Mike Matusow has about $2.5 million to Kevin Saul's $8 million.

Kevin Saul raises to $160,000 and Mike Matusow folds.

Mike Matusow limps-in and Kevin Saul checks. The flop comes Q♠ 5♠ 3♦ and both players check. The turn is the 6♥ and both players check again. The river is the A♦ and Matusow takes the pot with king high.

Kevin Saul raises to $170,0000 and Mike Matusow makes the call. The flop comes 7♣ 6♥ 3♠ and Matusow bets $200,000. Saul makes the call and the turn is the Q♣. Matusow checks and Saul checks behind. The river is a jack and Matusow bets $200,000. Saul raises to $700,000 and Matusow thinks for a minute before laying it down. Saul takes the pot.

Mike Matusow raises to $135,000 and Kevin Saul makes the call. The flop comes J♥ 4♣ 2♦ and Saul checks. Matusow bets $150,000 and Saul raises to $370,000. Matusow moves all-in and Saul ruminates before laying it down.

"It doesn't mater what he bluffed with; it was good," says Saul. "I had ten-high." 

Kevin Saul raises to $160,000 and Mike Matusow calls the raise. The flop comes K♦ Q♦ 2♣ and Matusow checks to Saul, who bets $261,000. Matusow folds and Saul takes the pot.

Mike Matusow gives Kevin Saul a walk.

Kevin Saul raises to $170,000 and Mike Matusow lays it down. Saul again takes down the pot.

Mike Matusow limps-in and Kevin Saul raises to $150,000. Matusow folds and Saul takes the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $175,000 and Mike Matusow releases. Saul takes the pot.

Mike Matusow limps-in and Kevin Saul checks his option. The flop comes T♣ 6♦ 4♥ and Matusow bets $76,000. Saul folds and Matusow takes the pot.

On the first hand of heads-up, Kevin Saul raises to $160,000 and Mike Matusow folds.

The theatrics are over and a parade of scantily-clad women has deposited stacks of $1 bills wrapped in hundos on the poker table, along with a precariously-perched WPT chip set. Now we're set for heads-up action between Kevin "beLOWaBOVe" Saul and Mike the Mouth" Matusow.

Chip counts as we get underway are:

Kevin Saul - $8.2 million

Mike Matusow - $2.48 million 

Mike Matusow opens for $175,000 and Danny Wong comes over the top all-in for $783,000. Kevin Saul folds out and Matusow makes the call, turning up K♣ J♠ to Wong's A♦ 3♦. The crowd is on its feet and Wong's cheering section calls for an ace while Matusow and Wong shake hands.

The flop comes T♦ 7♠ 5♦ and Wong retains the lead. The turn is the J♥ and Matusow takes the lead, leaving Wong drawing to the remaining three aces to stay alive in this event. The river card is the T♣ and Mike Matusow has eliminated Danny Wong in third place.

Wong will take home $361,480 for his accomplishment, but narrowly misses out on the WPT victory that will garner this talented young pro the recognition he deserves. Next time, Danny.

Kevin Saul limps-in from the small blind and Mike Matusow checks his option. The flop comes A♣ J♣ 6♥ and Saul bets $85,000. Matusow calls and the turn is the 9♦. Saul checks and Matusow bets $100,000. Saul folds and Matusow wins the pot.

Danny Wong raises to $180,000 from the small blind and Kevin Saul announces all-in. Wong lays it down and Saul takes down the pot.

Danny Wong gets a walk in his big blind.

Danny Wong and Kevin Saul see a flop come 7♦ 6♦ 3♠ and Wong bets out $350,000. Saul makes the call and the turn is the J♠. Saul bets out $150,000 and Danny Wong raises to $600,000. Saul goes into the tank for about five minutes before committing another $2.9 million to the pot in an all-in re-raise. Wong takes a minute to call, showing 7♠ 6♥ for middle two pair, while Saul has J♦ 3♦ for two pair with the diamond draw.

Wong needs to hit a six or seven to bust Saul, but the river card is the 9♠ and Kevin Saul has doubled through Danny Wong to take a commanding lead at this final table. 

Here are the latest chip counts, direct from Jack McClelland's eagle eye:

Seat 1 - Kevin Saul - $4 million

Seat 2 - Mike Matusow - $1.4 million

Seat 3 - Danny Wong - $5.1 million 

All three players see an unraised flop come Q♥ 9♠ 7♣ and Mike Matusow bets out $125,000. Danny Wong folds but Kevin Saul calls and the turn is the A♠. Saul checks to Matusow, who bets out $300,000. Saul folds and Matusow wins the pot.

Mike Matusow raises to $155,000 from the small blind and Danny Wong makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes 9♥ 5♦ 4♥ and Matusow checks to Wong, who bets $135,000. Matusow folds K-Q and Wong takes down the pot.

Danny Wong limps-in and Kevin Saul raises to $200,000. Mike Matusow folds and Wong makes the call. The flop comes K♠ T♥ 2♦ and Wong checks. Saul bets out $350,000 and Wong raises to $900,000. Saul stands to better get a view of his opponent's chips and then sits back down to plot his course.

After a good five minutes in the tank, Saul lays it down and Wong takes a large pot to take over the chip lead.

The break is over and the players have celebrated the return to poker action by giving Mike Matusow a walk in the big blind. Game on!

Danny Wong limps-in from the small blind and Kevin Saul checks his option. The flop comes Q♦ J♥ 4♠ and Wong bets $80,000. Saul lays it down and Wong takes the pot.

We're taking a ten minute tape change break so change your tapes and hurry on back. 

Mike Matusow raises to $160,000 and Danny Wong makes the call from the big blind. The flop comes A♥ K♦ Q♥. Both players check and the turn is the Q♣. Matusow bets out $175,000 and Wong folds, giving the Mouth the pot.

Danny Wong limps-in from the button and Mike Matusow checks his option. The flop comes 7♦ 3♥ 3♣ and Matusow checks. Wong bets $100,000 and takes the pot with pocket deuces.

Danny Wong limps-in from the small blind and Kevin Saul checks his option. The flop comes A♥ 9♥ 2♣ and both players check. The turn is the K♦ and both players check again. The river is a trey and Wong bets $85,000, which is good to take the pot.

Danny Wong gets a walk in his big blind.

Danny Wong raises to $180,000 and nobody wants to play. He takes down the blinds and antes.

Danny Wong calls from the small blind and Kevin Saul checks his option. The flop comes 7♣ 6♣ 4♣ and Wong bets $72,000. Saul makes the call and the turn brings the J♣. Wong checks to Saul, who bets $163,000. Wong mulls things over for a few minutes as he considers his options, and finally makes the call. The river is the K♠ and Wong checks. Saul checks behind and Wong shows the 5♣. Saul mucks and Wong takes the pot with the club flush.

Kevin Saul raises to $183,000 and Mike Matusow announces a re-raise, making it $430,000. Danny Wong folds in the big blind and Saul thinks things over before making the call. The flop comes K♥ J♥ 6♠ and Matusow bets out $400,000. Saul immediately moves all-in and Matusow lays it down. Saul takes a large pot.

Kevin Saul limps-in from the small blind and Mike Matusow checks his option. The flop comes Q♣ 9♦ 9♥ and Saul bets out #75,000. Matusow calls and the turn is the T♠. Both players check and the river is a deuce, prompting a $285,000 bet from Saul and a fold from Matusow.

Mike Matusow raises to $150,000 from the button and gets no callers.

Kevin Saul limps-in from the small blind and Mike Matusow raises $100,000 from the big blind. Saul folds and Matusow takes the pot.

Here are the chip counts as three-handed play commences:

1. Kevin Saul - $4.6 million

2. Mike Matusow - $2.3 million

3. Danny Wong - $3.9 million 

Kevin Saul raises to $175,000 from under the gun and Shane Schleger moves all-in over the top for another $1.539 million from the big blind. Saul thinks it over for a few minutes before making the call and the audience is on their feet as Saul turns up A♣ J♥ to Shaniac's A♥ 6♠.

The flop comes J♦ T♦ 6♥ and Shaniac's crowd squeals as they see the six, then groan as they see the jack. Shaniac is still behind heading to Fourth Street. The turn card is the K♠ and Shaniac can now hit a queen to split and a six to double-up. The river card is the 4♦ and Shane "Shaniac" Schleger has been eliminated in fourth place. He earns $232,490 for his time.

We've reached the end of the level and the blinds are on the move once again.

Danny Wong raises to $120,000 on back to back hands and gets no callers in either hand.

Kevin Saul raises to $120,000 and Mike Matusow is game. He calls and the flop comes T♥ 8♥ 3♣. Matusow bets out $200,000 and Saul folds. Matusow shows two jacks as he rakes the pot.

Kevin Saul limps-in and Mike Matusow completes in the small blind. Danny Wong checks his option and the flop comes A♥ 9♣ 3♦ and Matusow bets $85,000. Wong folds and Saul mucks behind, giving Matusow the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $120,000 from the small blind and Kevin Saul folds in the big blind. Shaniac wins the pot.

Danny Wong limps-in and Shane Schleger checks his option. The flop comes J♦ 7♥ 4♠ and both players check. The turn is the 5♠ and Wong checks to Schleger, who bets $55,000. Wong folds and Schleger takes the pot.

Mike Matusow limps in from the small blind and Danny Wong checks his option. The flop comes K♥ Q♣ T♦ and Matusow bets $50,000. Wong folds and the Mouth wins the pot.

Mike Matusow opens for $104,000 and Kevin Saul calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q♦ 5♥ 3♦ and both players check. The turn is the T♣ and Saul bets $170,000. Matusow makes the call and the river is the K♠. Saul bets out $300,000 and Matusow thinks for a moment before calling. Saul has K-10 for two pair and Matusow mucks, giving Saul the pot.

Mike Matusow opens for $104,000 and Danny Wong makes the call. Shane Schleger makes the call out of the big blind we're three-hnaded going to the flop. The flop comes T♥ 5♥ 2♠ and the blinds check before Matusow bets out $300,000. Wong mucks and Shaniac mucks behind, giving Matusow the pot.

Shane Schleger limps-in and Kevin Saul makes it $163,000 to go. Action folds around and Saul wins the pot.

Mike Matusow limps-in from under the gun and Danny raises to $200,000 on the button. Action folds around and Wong takes the pot.

Kevin Saul opens for $112,000 and Mike Matusow makes the call. The flop comes K♠ J♦ T♦ and Saul bets out $163,000. Matusow flat calls and the turn is the 7♦. Saul checks and Matusow bets $200,000. Saul mucks and Matusow takes the pot.

Shane Schleger opens for $120,000 and Kevin Saul makes the call from the button. Mike Matusow raises to $340,000 out of the small blind and Danny Wong considers jumping into the pot as well. After a minute or so he adds $500,000 to the pot. Schleger, Saul and Matusow all fold and Wong takes a tension-filled pot.

Greg Mueller has jsut arrived with Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi to sweat the final table. 

Shane Schleger limps-in from the small blind and Kevin Saul checks his option. The flop comes 9♠ 6♠ 2♣ and Shaniac checks to Saul, who bets $60,000. Schleger folds and Saul takes the pot.

Danny Wong limps-in from the small blind and Shane Schleger checks his option in the big. The flop comes A♦ 9♥ 4♥ and both players check. The turn is the 2♠ and Wong bets $51,000. Shaniac calls and the river is the 7♣, prompting another $51,000 bet from Wong and a call from Shaniac. Wong shows K-4 for a pair of fours and it's good for the pot.

Buckle up, kiddoos; it could be a long, wild ride. Phil Hellmuth is in the house, as are Doug Lee and Kirk Morrison, so ack like you know and keep it popped, dropped and locked on PokerListings.com for the duration. Shuffle up and Deal!

Here are the chip counts as we return from break:

Kevin Saul	$3,106,000
Mike Matusow	$2,516,000
Danny Wong	$2,908,000
Shane Schleger	$2,156,000

 

WPT spokesmodel Layla Kayleigh has announced we're taking a 30 minute snack break. Get your snack on and we'll reconvene at 8:45 p.m. PDT.

Danny Wong raises to $120,000 and Kevin Saul makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes Q♥ Q♦ 2♠ and Saul checks to Wong, who bets $135,000. Saul makes the call and the turn is the T♣. Saul checks and Wong checks behind, and the river is the 9♣. Saul checks again and Wong checks behind, showing pocket fours to Saul's ace to take the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $110,000 and Shane Schleger makes it $420,000 from the big blind. Saul folds and Schelger take the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $125,000 and the action folds to Danny Wong, who makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes A♠ K♦ 4♥ and Wong checks to Saul, who bets out $185,000. Wong lays it down and Saul takes the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $120,000 and Mike Matusow calls from the big blind. The flop comes T♥ 5♣ 4♦ and Matusow checks to Shaniac, who bets $210,000. Matusow folds and Schleger takes the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $130,000 from the small blind and Kevin Saul folds in the big blind. Shaniac takes the blinds and antes.

Mike Matusow raises to $125,000 from the small blind and Kevin Saul lays it down. Matusow earns the blinds and antes.

Here are the latest chip counts from the WPT soundstage:

Kevin Saul	$2.95 million
Mike Matusow	$2.8 million
Danny Wong	$2.65 million
Shane Schleger	$2.2 million

Kevin Saul and Mike Matusow limp-in before Danny Wong completes in the small blind and Shane Schleger checks his option. The flop comes A♥ 6♠ 2♥ and Wong bets out $110,000. It's good to take the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $111,000 and Mike Matusow makes the call in the small blind. The flop comes Q♦ 9♠ 5♣ and Matusow checks to Saul, who bets $145,000. Matusow folds pocket eights face-up and Saul takes the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $125,000 from the button and Danny Wong makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes K♥ 8♠ 8♣ and Wong checks to Saul, who bets $200,000. Wong raises to $500,000 and Saul immediately moves all-in. Wong insta-calls for his last $1,024,000 and shows 9♠ 8♦ to Saul's K♠ Q♠. Saul needs to hit a king or two spades to bust Wong, and the audience is on its feet for the turn.

The turn card is the 3♥ and the river is the 8♥, giving Wong quads and doubling him through Kevin Saul to keep Steve Wong and Co. happy on the rail.

Danny Wong raises to $120,000 and Shane Schleger makes the call. Mike Matusow calls from the big blind and the flop comes 9♠ 8♣ 3♠. Matusow bets $125,000 and Wong raises to $450,000. Shaniac and the Mouth both fold and Wong takes the pot.

Danny Wong raises to $110,000 and takes down the blinds and antes.

Get a load of these puppies!

Kevin Saul	$4.7 million
Mike Matusow	$3.8 million
Danny Wong	$1 million
Shane Schleger	$1.65 million

Shane Schleger raises to $120,000 from under the gun and gets no callers. He takes down the blinds and antes.

Kevin Saul limps in from the small blind and Mike Matusow raises $100,000 from the big blind. The flop comes Q♦ J♦ 6♥ and Saul checks to Matusow, who bets $150,000. Saul calls and the turn is the 8♥. Saul bets $200,000 and Matusow folds. Saul takes the pot.

Eric Panayioyou moves all-in for $315,000 from under the gun and Kevin Saul makes the call, showing A♠ K♣ to Panayioyou J♠ T♠. The flop comes T♣ 9♥ 4♠ and Panayioyou pairs his ten. The turn is the 5♠, giving Panayioyou the flush draw and eliminating some of Saul's outs. The river is the A♦ and the audience roars as Panayioyou is rivered, eliminated in fifth place at the cruel hand of Saul's pair of aces.

Panayioyou receives $154.920 for his accomplishments while the poker media thanks its typing figures they don't have to write his name any longer.

The blinds and antes are on the way up again for another 90-minute level of madness. Stay tuned for more action as the poker heats up.

Kevin Saul raises to $85,000 and Danny Wong makes the call. The flop comes J♥ J♠ 6♠ and both players check. The turn is the K♦ and both players check again. The river is the 2♣ and Wong checks to Saul, who bets $125,000. Wong folds and Saul takes the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and Kevin Saul makes the call. The flop comes A♥ J♣ T♠ and Shaniac checks. Saul bets $128,000 and Schleger makes the call. The turn is the A♠ and Schleger again checks. Saul checks behind and the turn is the T♥. Both players check again and Shaniac shows a jack while Saul has K-Q for the nut straight. Saul takes down the pot.

Danny Wong opens for $90,000 and Shane Schleger makes the call in the small blind. The flop comes K♣ 7♦ 2♥ and Shaniac checks to Wong, who bets $120,000. Schleger folds and Wong has the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $85,000 and Danny Wong reraises to $285,000. Action folds back to Saul, who asks Wong how much he has left. Wong answers "About five," and Saul moves all-in, putting Wong to a decision for his tournament life.  Wong thinks for a minute but lays it down and Saul continues to accumulate chips.

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and Kevin Saul adds $176,000 to the wager. Action folds back around to Shaniac, who makes the call. The flop comes K♦ 9♥ 3♣ and both players check. The turn is the 5♦ and Schleger bets $280,000. Saul raises to $560,000 and Shaniac lays it down. Saul takes the pot.

Eric Panayioyou open-shoves all-in for $343,000 from the small blind and Mike "The Mouth" Matusow ruminates for a minute or two before laying it down from the big blind.

Danny Wong raises to $90,000 and Kevin Saul raises to $420,000. Action folds to Wong, who mulls things over for a few minutes before laying the hand down. Saul takes the pot.

Mike Matusow raises to $87,000 and Danny Wong and Shane Schleger both call. The flop comes J♦ 6♠ 5♥ and Wong and Shaniac both check before Matusow bets $225,000. Wong and Schleger fold and Matusow takes the pot.

We're back in the game from the Tower Ballroom. Here are the current chip counts:

Kevin Saul	$2,420,000
Eric Panayioyou	$385,000
Mike Matusow	$3,557,000
Danny Wong	$1,600,000
Shane Schleger	$2,685,000

We're taking a quick tape-change break so get your tapes changed and come back in ten. Holla!

Kevin Saul raises to $85,000 and Danny Wong gives the matter some serious thought before making the call. The flop comes 7♣ 6♠ 4♦ and Wong checks to Saul, who checks behind. The turn is the 5♠ and Wong again checks. Saul checks behind and the river is the T♦. Wong bets $200,000 and Saul lays it down.

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and Kevin Saul makes the call. The flop comes J♠ 2♥ 2♦ and Shaniac checks to Saul, who bets $128,000. Schleger lays it down and Saul wins another pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $90,000 and Eric Panayioyou makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes K♣ T♣ 6♥ and Saul bets $135,000. Panayioyou folds and Saul takes the pot.

Shane Schleger limps in from the small blind and Kevin Saul raises to $100,000 from the big blind. Shaniac folds and Saul takes the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $88,000 and Shane Schleger moves all-in for $1,307,000. Saul tanks for about five minutes before making the call and showing A♦ Q♦. He's in bad shape against Shaniac's A♥ K♠.

The audience is on its feet as the flop comes J♥ 7♣ 5♣ and Shaniac maintains his advantage. The turn is the 6♠ and Schleger has to dodge a queen to double-up. The river is the 7♥ and Shaniac has doubled through Saul to stay alive. 

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and Kevin Saul re-raises to $388,000. Action folds around and Shaniac lays it down, giving the pot to Saul.

Konstantin Puchkov limps in from the small blind and Mike Matusow checks his option. The flopc omes Q♦ 6♥ 4♥ and Puchkov checks. Matusow bets $35,000 and Puchkov makes the call. The turn is the 3♥ and Puchkov checks. Matusow bets $225,000 and Puchkov moves all-in for an additional $198,000. Matusow makes the call and shows Q♠ 9♣ to Puchkov's Q♣ 5♠

The river card is the 8♥ and Konstantin Puchkov has been eliminated in sixth place. He'll take home  $103,280 for his efforts.

Mike Matusow raises to $87,000 from under the gun and nobody calls. Matusow takes down the blinds and antes.

Konstantin Puchkov limps-in from under the gun and Shane Schleger raises to $110,000. Action folds around and Puchkov folds out, giving Shaniac the pot.

Konstantin Puchkov open-shoves for $591,000 and gets no callers. He takes down the blinds and antes.

Here are the latest in updated chip counts:

Kevin Saul	$3.6 million
Eric Panayioyou	$500,000
Konstantin Puchkov	$550,000
Mike Matusow	$3.1 million
Danny Wong	$1.5 million
Shane Schleger	$1.5 million

 

Kevin Saul limps-in from under the gun and Danny Wong limps-in from the small blind. Shane Schleger checks his option and the flop comes 9♠ 8♦ 7♠, prompting a check from both blinds and a $47,000 bet by Saul. Wong folds and Schelger raises to $180,000.  Saul makes the call and the turn is the T♠. Both players check and the river is the A♥.

Shaniac checks and Saul bets $325,000. After some thought, Shaniac makes the call. Both players show a six for the ten-high straight and we'll chop the pot. 

Eric Panayioyou raises to $95,000 and the action folds around to Danny Wong, who asks Panayioyou how much he has left. After getting a satisfactory answer (around $550,000) Wong makes the call and the flop comes Q♣ 5♣ 2♦. Wong checks to Panayioyou, who bets $150,000. After a few minutes of thought, Wong announces all-in and Panayioyou quickly folds. Wong takes the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and Kevin Saul and Eric Panayioyou make the call. The flop comes K♦ Q♥ T♦ and Shaniac bets $180,000. Saul gives the matter some thought before announcing a raise and making it another $420,000 to go. Both players fold and Saul shows K-Q as he rakes the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $88,000 and nobody wants to play. Shaniac takes the blinds and antes.

Mike Matusow raises to $86,000 and gets no callers. Matusow takes down the blinds and antes.

Evelyn Ng has joined other pro railbirds like Jeff Cabanillas, Steve Sung and Jon Friedberg in the audience and has just asked for a chip count, so here you go:

Kevin Saul	$3.1 million
Eric Panayioyou	$690,000
Konstantin Puchkov	$650,000
Mike Matusow	$3.1 million
Danny Wong	$1.4 million
Shane Schleger	$1.7 million

 

Kevin Saul opens for $85,000 and Shane Schleger makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes A♣ 5♣ 3♠ and Saul bets $125,000. Saul makes the call and the turn is the 5♥. Saul bets $175,000 and Schleger makes it $420,000. Saul makes the call and the river is the K♥. Both players check and Schleger shows the K♣ while Saul has A-J for a pair of aces and will take down the pot.

Danny Wong, Kevin Saul and Konstantin Puchkov see a flop come Q♥ 7♣ 6♠ and Wong checks to Saul, who bets $150,000. Puchkov gets out of the way and Wong makes the call. The turn is the 2♣ and Wong checks. Saul ponders his next move before checking behind and the river is the K♦. Wong bets $250,000 and Saul thinks for a few minutes before making the call. Wong shows 5-4 while Saul has K-3 and takes the pot with a pair of kings.

We've played one 90-minute level and the blinds are on the rise. Stay tuned for more exciting poker action!

Shane Schleger opens for $78,000 and Kevin Saul re-raises $212,000 more. Konstantin Puchkov thinks for a long time before mucking his hand and the action folds around. Saul takes down the pot.

Mike Matusow raises to $75,000 and the action folds around to Kevin Saul, who makes the call. The flop comes 8♣ 7♦ 6♣ and both players check. The turn is the 4♥ and both players check again. The river is the 5♥, putting a straight on the board. Matusow bets $400,000 and Saul folds. Matusow shows pocket nines as he rakes the pot.

"First time he's checked behind in three days," says Matusow about Saul. 

Kevin Saul and Eric Panayioyou see a flop come A♠ Q♦ 9♦ in a battle of the blinds. Saul bets $40,000 and Panayioyou makes the call. The turn is the 4♠ and Saul bets $80,000 and is called. The river is the K♠ and Saul bets $200,000. Panayioyou folds and Saul takes the pot.

Danny Wong opens for $75,000 and gets no callers. Wong takes the blinds and antes.

Kevin Saul raises to $72,000 and Shane Schleger makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes 8♦ 7♦ 4♥ and Shaniac checks to Saul, who bets $100,000. Shaniac makes it $700,000 and Saul tanks for a few minutes before taking a deep breath and re-raising all-in for $70,000 more.

Shaniac makes the call with A♠ 9♥ for ace-high while Saul turns over Q♦ T♦. The turn card is the 4♦ and Saul makes his flush. Shaniac is drawing dead and after the river is the T♠ Saul has doubled through Shaniac to stay alive at this final table.

Shane Schleger raises to $77,000 and the action folds around to Konstantin Puchkov, who re-raises to $250,000. Action folds back around to Shaniac, who makes the call after some confusion. The flop comes A♦ 8♦ 3♥ and both players check. The turn is the 5♦ and Schleger bets $420,000. The audience giggles at the herbal humor but Puchkov is not in on the joke. He folds and Schleger takes the pot.

Here are the latest chip counts from the Bellagio Cup's final table:

Kevin Saul	$1.1 million
Eric Panayioyou	$1.1 million
Konstantin Puchkov	$750,000
Mike Matusow	$3 million
Danny Wong	$1.9 million
Shane Schleger	$3 million

 

Steve Buckner has just appeared, cigar in hand, to rail this final table from the audience. He and Mike Matusow are playfully flirting from the table to the rail, but the noise is not music to Jack McClelland's ear and he tells both players to keep it down. It wouldn't be the final table without your favorite "cuz" though, now would it?

 

 

Konstantin Puchkov limps-in and Danny Wong joins Kevin Saul in the pot. The flop comes 8♠ 8♦ 6♣ and Saul checks to Puchkov, who bets $80,000. Wong raises to $220,000 and Saul folds (gasp). Puchkov folds and Wong takes the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $75,000 and Mike Matusow makes the call on the button. Danny Wong calls in the small blind and Shaniac folds in the big blind. The flop comes T♠ 7♠ 4♣ and Wong checks to Saul, who bets out $130,000. Matusow calls and Wong folds out. The turn is the K♥ and both players check. The river is the A♠ and both players check behind. Saul shows a seven but Matusow a ten and he takes the pot with a pair of tens.

Eracles Panayioyou raises to $79,000 and the action folds around to Danny Wong, who makes the call from the big blind. The flop comes Q♠ J♥ J♦ and Wong checks to Panayioyou, who checks behind. The turn is the J♠ and Wong checks again as the audience murmurs its approval. Panayioyou checks behind and the river is the K♣, prompting gasps from the audience. Both players check and Panayioyou shows A-K for jacks-full to take down the pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $74,000 and Kevin Saul calls. We're heads-up going to the flop, which comes Q♦ J♠ 2♠. Shaniac checks and Saul bets out $121,000. Schleger makes the calls and the turn is the 8♣. Again Shaniac checks and Saul bets $250,000. Shaniac thinks for a second before raising to $700,000 and Saul goes into the tank.

He thinks for a few minutes before making the call, and the river card is the A♠. Both players check and Schleger shows 10-9 for the queen-high straight. Saul mucks and Shaniac takes the pot.

Kevin Saul is looking completely outclassed in this final table so far and appears to be tilting pretty heavily. He's been chipleader since the beginning of the tournament but now will have to battle from behind for the first time in days. 

Eracles Panayioyou raises to $75,000 and takes down the blinds and antes.

Kevin Saul and Mike Matusow see a flop come T♥ 9♦ 5♦, whereupon Saul checks and Matusow bets $125,000. Saul makes the call and the turn is the 2♣, prompting a check from Saul and a $300,000 bet from Matusow. Saul makes the call and the river is the 8♣. Saul checks a third time and Matusow bets another $300,000. Saul quickly calls and Matusow shows pocket nines for a set. Saul mucks and Matusow takes a substantial pot.

Shane Schleger raises to $78,000 and is called by Kevin Saul. The flop comes Q♥ 7♦ 5♦ and both players check. The turn is the K♦ and Shaniac bets $110,000. Saul folds and Shaniac takes down the pot.

Kevin Saul opens for $77,000 and the action folds to Danny Wong, who calls. Saul asks Wong how much he has left before the flop comes 8♥ 7♦ 4♦. Wong bets out $135,000 and Saul makes the call. The turn is the T♥ and Wong bets $225,000 after some serious consideration. Saul announces all-in and Wong calls immediately for his last $729,000, turning up a pair of black aces to Saul's K♣ J♥.

Saul needs a nine to eliminate Wong, but the river is the 6♣ and Wong has doubled through Saul to put a massive dent in the former chipleader's stack.

Mike Matusow's analysi: "This ain't the internet, son! Welcome to Poker 101!"

Mike Matusow raises to $75,000 out of the small blind and Danny Wong folds, giving Matusow the pot. The Mouth shows K-Q as he rakes the blinds and antes.

Kevin Saul raises to $76,000 and Eracles Panayioyou re-ups to $225,000. Action folds back around to Saul, who gives the matter some thought before making the call. The flop comes K♦ J♥ 3♠ and Saul checks to Panayioyou, who bets $300,000. Saul asks for a chip count and apparently the number is too high, as he lays it down and gives Pnayioyou the pot.

Danny Wong raises to $75,000 and Shane Schleger raises to $220,000. The action folds back around to Wong, who lays it down. Shaniac takes the pot.

Mike Matusow limps-in and Danny Wong raises $80,000. The action folds back to the Mouth, who folds and Wong takes the pot.

Kevin Saul raises to $76,000 and everyone folds around. Saul takes down the first pot of the day.

The theatrics have been completed and the cards are in the air from the Tower Ballroom at Bellagio. Get your game faces on; it's time to get mean.

Here are the chip counts as we prepare to get underway:

Seat 1	Kevin Saul	$4,210,000
Seat 2	Eracles Panayioyou	$759,000
Seat 3	Konstantin Puchkoy	$1,005,000
Seat 4	Mike Matusow	$1,872,000
Seat 5	Danny Wong	$1,022,000
Seat 6	Shane Schleger	$1,838,000

We're currently going through player introductions but the balling will commence shortly. Stay tuned!

While the World Series of Poker rages down Flamingo Road at the Rio, six World Poker Tour finalists will duke it out for a $1.3 million first prize in the Tower Ballroom at Bellagio. The final table of the third Bellagio Cup is upon us and it's time to get busy!

We've got pros like Nick Schulman, Gavin Griffin, Steve Wong and Haralabos Voulgaris on the rails and we're ready to kick off the new, improved WPT final table blind structure - meaning  this could go on for days!

Action will begin momentarily, so take a break from our WSOP coverage and come ball with the flyest live update team in the business, live and on location with PokerListings.com.