Mandalay Bay Poker Championship - Live Updates

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby shoves all-in for $865,000 from the big blind. Buchanon doesn't look altogether undeterred from making the call as he counts up his stack and gives the matter his full consideration. After a couple of minutes, he finally sits forward "all right," he says. "I call."

Hamby shows K♥ 8♥ and Buchanon has pair of red treys, setting up TheWacoKidd's race for his tournament life as his crowd calls for a king. The flop comes J♣ 7♣ 5♣ and Buchanon retains the lead. The turn is the 4♠, giving Hamby the gutterball straight draw as well as his overcards. Hamby and Buchanon stand together and await Fifth Street, and when the river card is the A♠ and Shawn Buchanon has won the Mandalay Bay Poker Championship!

For the win, Buchanon takes home $768,775, as well as a $25,000 seat in the WPT World Championship next spring, a WPT chip set, a Mandalay Bay trophy that fairly reeks of Hubris, and the adulation of millions of PokerListings.com readers worldwide. Jared Hamby takes home $459,080 for his second place finish, as well as slightly less adulation.

Congratulations to both finalists!

Here are the latest chip counts, courtesy of Kim Lansing, the WPT's stand-in hostess for this event:

Shawn Buchanon	$3.2 million
Jared Hambt	$1.4 million

Shawn Buchanon raises to $130,000 and Jared Hamby adds $220,000 to the wager. Buchanon makes the call. The flop comes Q♠ 9♥ 4♥ and Hamby bets out $410,000. Buchanon doesn't blink as he makes the call and the audience begins to murmur as the turn is the 9♣. Hamby thinks for a minute before betting out $600,000, and Buchanon has to give the matter some thought before making the call. The river is the K♦ and Hamby checks to Buchanon, who checks behind and shows pocket threes to take down the biggest pot of the tournament so far.

For the last five minutes and about every thirty seconds, the Shoreline B room in which the final table is being held has been rocked by the sounds of approaching jet airliners. It sounds like the traffic controllers at McCarran have switched runways to an approach path directly overhead, which is no doubt wreaking havoc with the WPT film crew.

The blinds and antes are on the rise, although there is still plenty of room for these two players to muck around with both of their stacks hovering around $2 million.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby checks his option. The flop comes T♠ T♥ 4♣ and both players check. The turn is the 6♦ and Hamby bets $55,000. Buchanon calls and the river is the A♥. Both players check again and Buchanon shows queen-high to take down the pot.

Jared Hamby folds and Shawn Buchanon gets a walk.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby announces a raise, making it $145,000 to go. Buchanon calls and the flop comes Q♥ 8♥ 6♣. Hamby bets $150,000 and Buchanon flat calls. The turn is the 8♦ and Hamby fires again, this time betting out $200,000. Buchanon immediately smooth calls again and the river is the 6♥. Hamby checks and Buchanon shoots out an $800,000 wager. Hamby leans back in his chair and chews his gum, deliberating for a few seconds before mucking his hand with a stone-face as Buchanon takes down a monster pot.

Jared Hamby raises to $105,000 and Shawn Buchanon makes the call. The flop comes 7♠ 6♠ 5♣ and Buchanon checks to Hamby, who bets $125,000. Buchanon makes the call and the turn is the Q♦. Buchanon again checks, and Hamby checks behind. The river is the 2♥ and again both players check. Buchanon shows 5-4 for a pair of fives, and Hamby mucks to give Buchanon the pot.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby checks. The flop comes K♣ T♣ T♠ and Hamby bets $30,000 and is told he must make it $40,000. Buchanon raises to $80,000 and Hamby folds. Buchanon takes the pot as his crowd laughs at TheWacoKidd.

Jared Hamby folds and Shawn Buchanon takes the blinds and antes.

Shawn Buchanon calls from the small blind and Jared Hamby checks. The flop comes Q♦ Q♠ 8♥ and both players check. The turn is the 7♥ and Hamby bets $50,000. Buchanon raises $100,000 and Hamby folds.

Jared Hamby raises to $115,000 and Shawn Buchanon makes the call. The flop comes J♦ 5♣ 4♠ and both players check. The turn is the 5♠ and Buchanon bets $125,000. Hamby folds and Buchanon takes the pot.

Shawn Buchanon folds and Jared Hamby takes the blinds and antes.

Jared Hamby limps-in and Shawn Buchanon raises to $100,000. Hamby calls and the flop comes 9♠ 2♦ 2♥. Buchanon bets out $95,000 and Hamby calls. The turn is the 9♥ and Buchanon checks. Hamby bets $115,000 and Buchanon mucks. Hamby takes the pot.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby checks. The flop comes 9♦ 9♥ 4♥ and Hamby checks. Buchanon bets $40,000. Hamby calls and the turn is the 7♠. Hamby again checks and Buchanon checks behind. The river is the 2♣ and both players check again. Buchanon shows ace-five and takes down the pot with ace high.

Jared Hamby limps-in and Shawn Buchanon checks his option. The flop comes Q♥ 8♣ 5♠ and both players check. The turn is the 2♥ and Buchanon checks to Hamby, who throws out $55,000. Buchanon calls, and the river is the 8♦. Buchanon checks again, and Hamby bets $70,000. Buchanon mucks and Hamby takes the pot.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby checks his option. The flop comes Q♣ 6♣ 6♠ and Hamby checks. Buchanon bets $45,000 and takes down the pot.

Jared Hamby raises to $105,000 and takes down the blinds and antes.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and Jared Hamby raises another $105,000. Buchanon folds and Hamby takes down the pot.

The cash has been unveiled, along with a very large overcompensator of a trophy, and the promo girls are putting their clothes back on, which must mean it's time to play more poker. Heads-up play begins now!

Here are the latest chip counts, courtesy of the greatest janitor in WPT history, Billy Chuckerson:

Jared Hamby	$2.8 million
Shawn Buchanon	$1.8 million

We're now configuring the table for heads-up play, which means a whole stack of $1 bills wrapped in hundos will be dumped on the table by voluptuous women wearing little more than cocktail napkins. Stay tuned for more poker once the theatrics are quelled.

David Levi opens for $150,000 and Jared Hamby raises to $420,000. Buchanon folds and Levi shoves his entire stack into the middle. Hamby calls without delay and shows pocket nines to Levi's pocket sevens. Levi will need a seven or a freakish draw to stay alive and his crowd hollers for that seven.

The flop comes A♦ J♦ 8♦ giving Levi - who holds the 7♦ - the diamond flush draw. The turn is the J♥ and Levi's crowd begins screaming for a diamond. The river is the 3♠ and it's TheWacoKidd's crowd's turn to cheer as Jared Hamby has eliminated David Levi in third place. Tenacious D takes home $229,540 for his remarkable persistence in this event.

David Levi opens for $180,000 and gets no takers. He takes down the blinds and antes.

Jared Hamby raises to $110,000 and nobody wants to play. Hamby takes down the blinds and antes.

The level has gone up and the cards are back in the air. Who will be crowned Poker Champion of Mandalay Bay? Stay tuned...

Shawn Buchanon gets a walk in his big blind in the last hand of this level. We're now racing off the $1,000 chips.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in and David Levi raises $50,000 from the big blind. Buchanon folds and Levi takes the pot.

David Levi limps-in from the small blind and Jared Hamby checks his option. The flop comes K♦ J♠ 6♠ and both players check. The turn is the 9♦ and Levi bets $70,000. Hamby mucks and Levi takes the pot.

Jared Hamby raises to $70,000 and David Levi calls out of the big blind. The flop comes 8♠ 8♦ 6♦ and Levi checks to Hamby, who bets $85,000. Levi flat-calls and the turn is the 6♠. Levi bets out $150,000. Hamby announces call and the river card is the A♣. Both players check and Hamby turns up A3o, which is good to take down the pot.

Jared Hamby limps-in from the small blind and Shawn Buchanon checks his option. The flop comes Q♥ T♠ 2♣ and Hamby bets out $30,000. Buchanon mucks and Hamby takes the pot.

Here are the latest chip counts, brought to you by the most prestigious poker reporting firm in the poker reporting business, PokerListings.com:

Shawn Buchanon	$2.1 million
Jared Hamby	$1.75 million
David Levi	$1.02 million

David Levi and Jared Hamby limp-in before Shawn Buchanon raises to $59,000 out of the small blind. From the big blind, Thayer Rasmussen moves all-in for another $219,000. Levi and Hamby fold, but Buchanon makes the call, turning up A♣ J♦ to Rasmussen's A♠ T♥. The board comes Q♣ 6♠ 3♥ 6♣ 7♠ and Thayer Rasmussen has been eliminated in fourth place. He'll take home $131,170 for his work here tonight.

Thayer Rasmussen limps-in from the small blind and David Levi raises to $124,000 total. Rasmussen mucks and Levi defends his blind.

P.S. The pro-Levi contingent either just watched The Waterboy or are big Rob Schneider fans, as they seem to yell only one phrase of encouragement to their boy: "You can DO it!" PokerListings.com does not condone or approve of using Rob Schneider quotes in everyday speech years after they've ceased to be funny, but good luck anyway, David!

Jared Hamby raises to $67,000 and Shawn Buchanon calls. The flop comes T♣ 9♣ 7♣ and Hamby bets out $82,000. Buchanon folds and Hamby takes the pot.

Shawn Buchanon raises to $52,000 and nobody wants to play. The Canadian takes the blinds and antes.

Jared Hamby leads out for $66,000 and the action folds around. TheWacoKidd takes down the blinds and antes.

Shawn Buchanon opens for $53,000 and the action folds around. Buchanon takes down the blinds and antes.

Jared Hamby raises to $55,000 and the action folds around to Thayer Rasmussen, who moves all-in from the big blind. Hamby lays the hand down and Rasmussen takes the pot.

Shawn Buchanon opens for $51,000 and Jared Hamby calls in the big blind. The flop comes Q♦ 4♦ 4♣ and Hamby checks to Buchanon, who bets $72,000. Hamby makes it $202,000 and Buchanon pauses for a second but lays the hand down, and Hamby adds to his chip lead.

Here are the latest chip counts, courtesy of the ballingest T.D. that ever been invented, Jack McClelland:

Jared Hamby	$1.6 million
David Levi	$1.2 million
Shawn Buchanon	$1.2 million
Thayer Rasmussen	$600,000

The cards are back in the air and the blinds and antes are up. Stay tuned for more explosive poker from the WPT at Mandalay Bay.

We're taking a quick tape change break and will return to action in about ten minutes. Stay tuned.

Shawn Buchanon raises to $42,000 preflop and is called by David Levi and Jared Hamby in the blinds. The flop comes 8♦ 8♥ 7♠ and action checks to Buchanon, who bets out $60,000. Levi raises to $220,000 total and Hamby gets out of the way. Buchanon ruminates for a minute but makes the call, and the turn is the 4♥. Levi checks to Buchanon, who moves all-in, and Levi calls instantly for his last $326,000, showing pocket sevens for the boat against Buchanon's K♣ 8♣ for trip eights. The pro-Levi contingent chants insistently for a deuce, and sure enough, the river card is the 2♠, doubling Levi up again through the Canadian and taking another chunk out of Buchanon.

Thayer Rasmussen raises to $45,000 and the action folds around. Rasmussen wins the blinds and antes.

Jared Hamby limps-in from the small blind and Shawn Buchanon checks his option. The flop comes 5♦ 4♠ 2♣ and Hamby bets $20,000. Buchanon calls and the turns is the 8♦. Hamby checks and Buchanon bets out $35,000. Hamby lays it down and Buchanon takes the pot.

Here are the latest chip counts, courtesy of the grand dame of poker herself, Linda Johnson:

Shawn Buchanon	$1.7 million
Jared Hamby	$1.7 million
David Levi	$600,000
Thayer Rasmussen	$500,000

David Levi raises to $45,000 and Shawn Buchanon makes the call in the big blind. The flop comes K♥ J♥ 4♥ and Buchanon bets out $60,000. Levi moves all-in for his last $251,000. Buchanon makes the call and shows a ten-high flush with T♥ 6♥ to Levi's Q♥ J♦ for a pair of queens and the flush draw.

Levi's fans start hollering for a heart, but the turn gives Levi more outs with the Q♣, even if it doesn't give him the win. The river card is the 8♥ and the pro-Levi contingent goes nuts as Levi doubles through Buchanon to keep the dream alive.

It sounds like most of the fans in the Shoreline B amphitheater are pro-Levi, so the WPT had better hope their boy is not eliminated, lest the entire audience leave with him.

Thayer Rasmussen raises to $45,000 and David Haddad announces all-in. Then Shawn Buchanon announces all-in for $243,000 from behind and Rasmussen quickly gets out of the way. Haddad turns up A♠ J♠ and Buchanon A♣ K♥. The Horseshoe Hombre will need some luck to stay alive.

The flop comes Q♥ 5♠ 4♣, giving no help to Haddad, and the turn is the K♣. The river card is the 5♥ and Haddad cannot make the Broadway Straight. He's eliminated in fifth place and earns $98,375 for his time.

Shawn Buchanon limps-in from under the gun and Thayer Rasmussen joins him, as does David Haddad in the small blind. Danny Wong moves all-in from the big blind for $92,000 more and Buchanon folds. Rasmussen announces he's all-in and Haddad gets out of the way.

Rasmussen shows 7♠ 7♥ to Wong's 3♣ 3♠ and Wong is behind for his tournament life as the flop comes K♥ J♦ 9♥. The turn is the K♣ and Wong gets a few more outs heading to Fifth Street. The river card is the 8♣ and Danny Wong has been eliminated in sixth place. He'll take home $76,515 for his finish.

Danny Wong shoves all-in for his last $94,000 and the action folds around to Jared Hamby. TheWacoKidd gives the matter some thought but eventually lays it down, and Wong takes the blinds and antes.

David Haddad raises to $42,000 and Shawn Buchanon raises another $130,000. Haddad thinks for a few moments before announcing he's all-in. Buchanon makes the call for his last $863,000 after only a few seconds, showing pocket kings (K♣ K♦) to Haddad's pocket jacks (J♠ J♦).

The flop comes K♠ J♣ 8♠ and both players flop sets, with Buchanon retaining the lead and Haddad picking up a backdoor flush draw. The turn is the 5♦ and Haddad is down to one out. The river card is the 3♣ and Shawn Buchanon has doubled through David Haddad to take over the chip lead.

Danny Wong opens the first hand of the day for $42,000 and Shawn Buchanon raises to $130,000. After some thought, Wong lays it down and Buchanon takes the pot.

The cards are in the air from the final table with $8,000/$16,000 blinds and a $2,000 ante. Stay tuned for live updates as the action unfolds.

Here are the seating positions and chip counts for the final six:

Seat 1	Thayer Rasmussen	$273,000
Seat 2	David Levi	$334,000
Seat 3	Jared Hamby	$1,764,000
Seat 4	David Haddad	$1,180,000
Seat 5	Danny Wong	$190,000
Seat 6	Shawn Buchanon	$853,000

As the World Series of Poker spontaneously combusts a few miles away at the Rio, six nervous hopefuls are withstanding Linda Johnson's introductory address as they prepare to do battle at the World Poker Tour's ubiquitous TV soundstage.

It's time for the final table of the Mandalay Poker Championship, and we're just minutes away from kicking off the proceedings that will eventually result in one of the final six players being handed a glass of champagne and a $768,755 check. PokerListings.com will be at Mandalay Bay for the duration of the final table while we simultaneously destroy all challengers at the Rio. Stay tuned for final table excitement!