The beat goes on, as does the tournament clock, at our final table. We're down to four now and there aren't any signs it'll be over anytime soon.

Moving the Table

It looks like our final table is going to be moved over to the ESPN set after all. According to WSOP Communications Director Seth Palansky, ESPN had to get extra insurance coverage to indemnify them against any possible accidents on the set. That coverage has been secured and the remaining players will move to the set after the next break.

Schneider Schtumped! (5th)

It looks like last year’s WSOP Player of the Year, Tom Schneider, is going to have to wait a little longer for his third career bracelet.
Jeffrey Lisandro raised to $60,000 under the gun and Mike Matusow immediately flat-called. Schneider then moved all-in from the button for $185,000. Both other men in the pot called and went to the draw.

Lisandro took one card, Matusow took one card, and Schneider stood pat. Lisandro then checked, prompting a quick $200,000 bet from the Mouth. Lisandro mucked 8-8-5-3-2, and Matusow declared he had a 9-5-4-3-2.

Schneider quietly mucked his cards, and Matusow bolted out of his chair. “YES!” he screamed, pumping his fist, before approaching Schneider and shaking his hand.

Schneider comes up short, finishing 5th.

We talked to Schneider as he was cashing out about his final hand - he said he stood pat on a 10-7.

“I had a shot to triple up there,” said Schneider. “When Jeff checks, I know I’ve got him beat, and I just have on guy to fade. And then Mikey draws it.”

“I was getting short-stacked and had to do something. I knew I was going to get called in both spots, but I don’t really mind getting it in there. I’m not a favorite against both hands together, but I’m a favorite over each one of them separately.”

This was Schneider’s sixth career WSOP final table, and he says it was by far the toughest. “No one was giving any chips. It’s really a card-catching deal - if you catch cards, you’re going to last.”

“All in all it wasn’t a bad $15,000 investment. I’ve had a bad WSOP so far and this will reset me. I’m going to go register for the HORSE event now and win that baby.”

It's Business Time

Now that we're four-handed the pace is beginning to pick up. Gathering chips now is starting to become a much higher priority, as the starting hand requirements for getting involved go down and the players get closer together in chips.

Happiness Is a Warm Chip Count

Here are your current chip counts, courtesy of WorldSeriesOfPoker.com:

Another level, another elimination - the game might not be moving all that fast, but at this pace we still won’t be going late into the night. Of course, this is the WSOP and anything could happen.

Official Statement From WSOP About Final Table Placement 

We spoke with Seth Palansky, the WSOP's Communications Director, and he gave us an official statement on why the final table is being played away from the stage.

"The event was never meant to be a televised table," said Palansky. "The stage area is used exclusively for televised events, so this final table could not be held there."

Lindgren keeps control in the hunt for his second bracelet of 2008.

No Pins Dropping Here

Despite the presence of Mike Matusow, the table is mostly quiet today as these elite players battle it out for one of the most prestigious bracelets at the WSOP. The shuffling of chips at all the tables throughout the room is actually louder than anything going on at our final table - with the exceptional of an occasional Matusow outburst like “Tony G is in the hizzy!”

Top Shelf Railbirds

It seems like even with all the other tournaments going on today, all the pros in the room want to know what’s going on next to the No Limit Lounge. Among the well-known players dropping in to check on the proceedings are 2006 Deuce-to-Seven bracelet winner Daniel Alaei, Bret Jungblut, Chris Bell, and Max Pescatori.

Stone cold killah Tony G finishes 6th.

Tony Toni Toned! (6th)

When we talked to Tom Schneider before today’s final table, he told us that he felt Tony G’s psychological game would be mostly useless because of the quality of his opponents. It looks like relying on just the cards to carry him through wasn’t enough today.

After several missteps, the G was down to just $141,000. He made his stand after Erick Lindgren opened the pot for $40,000, shoving all-in from the button. Lindgren called when the action got back to him and both men drew one card.

Tony G showed 8-5-3-2 against Lindgren’s 9-8-6-4, meaning he was in great shape. While Lindgren drew a 5 for a made 9-8, Tony G drew a second deuce to pair his hand, losing the pot and his tournament life in the process.

Tony G takes home $78,075.

Greenstein has many, many gears, and he is not afraid to use them all.

Greenstein Gears Up

After staying relatively quiet through the first portion of this final table, Barry Greenstein has begun to pick spots to get involved.

First he picked off a bluff from Tom Schneider after the draw, calling with 2-2-9-7-3 when Schneider had paired a ten that was already in his hand.

Then just before the break, Greenstein moved all-in for $500,000 over the top of Lindgren’s $40,000 opening bet. The exasperated Lindgren eventually decided against the call, shipping the pot to Greenstein.

Finally, right after the break, Greenstein tangled with Mike Matusow and came out on the right end. Matusow opened for $46,000 under the gun and Greenstein reraised to $150,000 from the small blind. Matusow called quickly and drew one card after Greenstein stood pat. After the draw, Greenstein fired out $100,000, putting Matusow into the tank before he eventually folded.

Emperor Tomato Chip Counts

Here are your current chip leaders, courtesy of WorldSeriesOfPoker.com: