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9:40pm: That’s that
Leonardo Pires is still the chip leader of the 19 players left. Click through for a full wrap of the day.
9:30pm: Lewis doubles through Waxman in the last hand of the day
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
What a way to end the day for Toby Lewis.
Lewis kicked off this pot with an open to 45,000, only for Martin McCormick to make it 100,000. Matt Waxman wasn’t going anywhere in the big blind – he made the call, but Lewis then felt the time was right to raise all-in for 629,000 total.
McCormick folded, clearly frustrated, and Waxman snap-called. McCormick then announced he had let go of pocket tens.
Toby Lewis A♦ A♥
Matt Waxman Q♥ Qâ™
If McCormick was frustrated before, he was even more so when the flop was dealt 10♣ 9♦ 4♣ would have given him top set and the lead. Lewis was in good shape for the double up, and the 8â™ on the turn changed nothing immediately but gave Waxman a gutshot. However, it was another ace – the A♣ – and Lewis shot up to 1,396,000. The last remaining former EPT champion in the field, and the last man to be day-end chip leader before Pires, is in good shape.
We bet Marty McCormick is glad he folded those tens now. –JS
Next year, it could be you! Click here to get a PokerStars account so you can qualify.
9:20pm: The end of things
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
There are only a couple of hands left in today’s action. We have details of that, then a full wrap, very soon.
9:20pm: McCormick’s bet didn’t look all that good – he won though
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
On a flop of J♦ 2♦ 6♥ , Martin McCormick checked over to his only opponent, Anthony Gregg, who bet 75,000. McCormick started moving his chips around and spilt a load of blue chips over the table. Without saying anything, he started scooping them back up, but it was taking longer than expected.
“Just leave it,” said Fedor Holz. “It’s fine.”
“No it’s not fine,” McCormick said. “I’m gonna raise though – I just want to make it look good.”
Well, it didn’t. McCormick intended to raise to 165,000 but a string bet resulted it being a min-raise to 150,000. Gregg called.
The 10♥ was dealt on the turn and both players checked, taking us to a river card of the Q♥ . There was no more checking from McCormick who bet 320,000 into the 472,000 pot and took it down. –JS
Martin McCormick 1,070,000
9.15pm: Chidwick back beyond a million
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
A big hand just played out between Stephen Chidwick and Mike Watson, with the former coming out best.
With the board showing 3♥ Q♥ J♣ 10♥ there was already around 600,000 in the pot when Mike Watson, having watched Chidwick check, bet about 225,000. Chidwick paused, then called for the 6♠river card.
Chidwick checked, evidently hoping that Watson would try something given that when Watson also checked Chidwick showed 8♠9♥ for a turned straight.
Watson didn’t show. He’s down to 825,000 while Chidwick moves back past the million mark to 1.4 million. – SB
9:10pm: Three pots for Pires
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Leonardo Pires is still on the rise. He recently took down three pots by throwing around his massive stack.
The first was the smallest but it was against the second-largest stack in the tournament. Phillip McAllister raised to 44,000 from the cutoff and Pires re-raised to 150,000 and everyone else folded.
Pot for Pires.
Vasken Demlakian raised to 46,000 from under-the-gun the following hand and Pires called from the cutoff. David Eldridge called from the small blind and the flop came A♣ K♦ 3♦ . Demlakian bet 86,000 when checked to and Pires raised to 250,000. Eldridge folded and Vasken called.
A 4♦ came on the turn and Pires fired off a bet of 500,000. Demlakian thought for a bit but then folded.
Pot for Pires.
The same three players then played the next pot.
Pires raised to 61,000 from the hijack and Eldridge raised to 131,000 from the button. Demlakian called and Pires four-bet to 500,000.
Eldridge quickly folded and Demlakian did the same after showing Pires A♣ J♦ .
Another pot for Pires.
Pires min-raised from under-the-gun the following hand but ended up folding on the turn. The Brazilian is still comfortably in the lead with not much time left in the day. –AV
Leonardo Pires — 4,250,000
Phillip McAllister — 2,700,000
David Eldridge — 1,905,000
Vasken Demlakian — 1,750,000
9pm: Ging, gang Gooley
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
Paul Gooley just doubled. There was some confusion as to whether he was limping, raising and shoving from his place on the button, but either way Ami Barer was calling from the small blind.
Q♦ Q♣ for Gooley
4♣ 4♦ for Barer.
The board ran out K♥ 7â™ 2♦ 6♦ 6♣ changing nothing. Gooley’s shove was for 359,000, which takes him up to around 750,000. -SB
8:55pm: Fedor Holz: McCormick’s new sponsor?
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
“Would you sponsor me Fedor?”
“Huh?!”
“Would you sponsor me to play?”
Martin McCormick is setting up his new career path by badgering Fedor Holz into backing him – or “sponsoring” him.
“Sure, I’d sponsor you. But you’ve gotta work hard.”
“Oh, I’m not work shy,” said the Scot. –JS
8:50pm: Ami bears arms
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
A potentially huge pot just played out between Ami Barer and Stephen Chidwick. Barer raised pre-flop, Chidwick called. There was a bet and call on the Aâ™ 2♣ 10♥ flop. The same pattern took place on the 6♣ turn but the bets were getting bigger – this time it was 128,000 that Barer put in the middle and Chidwick matched.
The river was 7♣ . Chidwick checked a third time. Barer now pounded away with 282,000. Chidwick had a long think about it before finally folding. It was a decent-sized pot for Barer, but it was close to being much, much bigger.
Barer and Chidwick now share similar 1.1m stacks. – RJ
8:45pm: Big stacks side by side
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
There is a mixture of stacks left in the main event but two in particular stand out.
Leonardo Pires was on the feature table after the re-draw, but the departure of three players meant he was ordered back to the outer table, with his stack of around 4 million, where he now sits directly to the left of the other big stack of Phillip McAllister, who has 3.2 million. -SB
8:35pm: Relative calm
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000)
After the departure of Jason Mercier, the table he left has settled into a period of relative calm. Ami Barer gets involved in a lot of pots, Stephen Chidwick sits bolt upright, elbows out, whether he’s in a pot or not, and they all keep a watchful eye on short stacked Paul Gooley, who in turn regularly checks the tournament clock for any movement. None yet.-SB
8:30pm: Troyanovskiy squeezes
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
Vladimir Troyanovskiy rarely looks happy. He might be smiling inside though after a well-timed squeeze play helped him take down 100,000 chips uncontested.
Phil McAllister raised to 44,000, Randy Kritzer called on the button and then it was on Troyanovskiy in the big blind. He made it 185,000 to go and that was too big a price for his two opponents. They both folded. – RJ
8:25pm: Mercier out in 20th
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
The last Team PokerStars Pro in the field is gone.
Jason Mercier’s last hand of the 2016 PCA Main Event started when Ami Barer raised to 45,000 from middle position. Mercier moved all in for 365,000 from the button and Barer called.
Barer: A♠A♣
Mercier: 10♦ 10♥
Mercier was hoping for a set but the 2♥ 6♣ 9♠A♥ 3♥ board gave Barer one instead. Barer chipped up to 1.1 million while Mercier was eliminated in 20th.
This is Mercier’s third consecutive PCA Main Event cash. The Team Pro finished 142nd in 2014 and 41st last year. Maybe next year he’ll win it. –AV
8:15pm: Racener eliminated by McCormick
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (2,000 ante)
John Racener found himself all in against Martin McCormick holding the A♦ 9â™ against pocket jacks for McCormick. The K♥ 10♥ 10â™ flop didn’t help the American, and nor did the 6♥ turn or Q♣ river.
John Racener was eliminated in 20th place and will take home $32,360. –JS
8:10pm: Barbuto loses the race
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
Some crazy pre-flop action has just resulted in the elimination of Ivan Barbuto in 22nd place.
Fabian Chauriye raised to 44,000 and Barbuto three-bet to 106,000. So far, nothing unusual. And then the action got to David Eldridge on the button. He cold four-bet all-in, covering both players.
Chauriye didn’t fold right away but eventually came to that decision. Barbuto called quickly – he had A♣ K♦ . Eldridge held Q♥ Q♣ and we were off to the races.
The 8â™ 6♥ 2♦ 6♣ J♣ runout was perfect for Eldridge and disastrous for Barbuto. He collects $27,860 for his fine work this week. Eldridge will be looking to win significantly more than that as he now has 2.2 million. – RJ
8:05pm: Nanev not in
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (2,000 ante)
David Eldridge went from potential eliminee to eliminator and is now over 1 million.
Phillip McAllister raised to 44,000 from the hijack and Eldridge three-bet to 98,000 from the small blind. Rumen Nanev moved all in for 340,000 and only Eldridge called.
Nanev showed A♥ Qâ™ and had Eldridge’s A♦ Jâ™ dominated.
But the 2♥ 3♦ 10♦ 5♦ J♣ board ended in a river defeat for Nanev. Eldridge chipped up to 1.17 million while Nanev hit the rail in 23rd.
8pm: Eldridge doubles
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
A crucial double up for David Eldridge against Randy Kritzer. Eldridge shoved for 370,000 with pocket fours, which Kritzer called with ace-king. The flop brought an ace, but also a four, which made a set for Eldridge.-SB
7:55pm: New line-up
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Here’s how they are seated as we play the last level of the day:
Table 1
1 – empty
2 – Jason Mercier
3 – Timothy Ulmer
4 – Mike Watson
5 – Paul Gooley
6 – Ami Barer
7 – Taylor Paur
8 – Stephen Chidwick
Table 2 (feature table)
1 – John Racener
2 – Martin McCormick
3 – Tony Gregg
4 – Leonardo Pires
5 – Matt Waxman
6 – Fedor Holz
7 – Toby Lewis
8 – Fabian Ortiz
Table 3
1 – Randy Kritzer
2 – David Eldridge
3 – Rumen Nanev
4 – Vladimir Troyanovskiy
5 – Ken Demlakian
6 – Fabian Chauriye
7 – Phillip McAllister
8 – Ivan Barbuto
7:50pm: Redraw
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
They’re redrawing for the last three tables. New seating positions to follow momentarily.
7:50pm: Farid Jattin out in 24th
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Before we could even break to the final three tables, we got down to 23 players.
Farid Jattin raised from under-the-gun and Vladimir Troyanovskiy moved all in from the small blind. Jattin called and showed J♦ J♣ to Troyanovskiy’s K♣ Q♣ . The board ran 9â™ 10â™ Q♦ 2♦ 7♥ and the dealer counted out Troyanovskiy’s stack: 326,000.
Jattin started counting out the amount to pay him and realized he didn’t have enough. Jattin only had 315,000 and was eliminated in 24th place while Troyanovskiy rose to about 800,000. –AV
7:45pm: Thomas Petre out in 25th
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
Minutes into the new level Thomas Petre moved all in without response. A minute later he tried again, this time getting a call from Leonardo Pires.
Petre on the button showed K♠Q♠with Pires showing A♥ 4♦ . The board ran 2♦ 10♠A♣ 9♣ 6♥ .
“Good luck guys,” said Petre as he made his way to the payout desk, out in 25th place.-SB
7:40pm: Heron gets fished out
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000 – 20,000 (3,000 ante)
Randy Kritzer opened to 45,000 in mid-position and Steven Heron jammed his 360,000 (18 big blinds) from the button. Krtizer got a quick count before calling.
Kritzer’s A♥ Kâ™ was way in front of Heron’s A♣ 8♣ . The Jâ™ 2â™ J♣ flop offered hope of a chopped pot to Heron – the 3♣ turn was even better as he picked up a flush draw. But it was not to be – the 10♥ on the river meant all of Heron’s remaining chips went Kritzer’s way.
Heron stood up, shook the hands of all on his table and wished them luck. He finished in 26th place for $23,360. Kritzer now has 1.76m. – RJ
7:35pm: Barer back
Level 23 – Blinds 10,000-20,000 (3,000 ante)
Ami Barer was the shortest stack at the feature table during the latest break–but not any more. He got his stack of 288,000 into the middle with pocket eights and picked up a call from Taylor Paur and his A♣ 10♣ . Not only was the board absent an ace or a ten, but there was an eight on the turn. — HS
7pm: Break time
It’s a 30 minute break now for everybody to regroup. But we have the latest chip counts on the chip-count page.
7pm: Bayley out
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Lawrence Bayley busted on the penultimate hand of the level. He moved in with Q♥ A♦ and got called by Fabian Ortiz with K♥ 6♦ . Bayley was ahead, but nervous as the flop came 4♣ 7â™ 2♦ . The turn card 8♣ was safe enough, but not the river, the 6♣ . “It’s been fun,” said Bayley as he walked to the payout desk.-SB
6:45pm: One for the PCA Highlights reel
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen. Here is the hand of the tournament so far.
It took place on the EPT Live feature table, so if you want to watch it play out, head over to the video coverage and scrub forward to about 6:45:00 and enjoy it. Alternatively, read below. But there will be spoilers.
It all started innocuously enough with Paul-Francois Tedeschi making an opening raise to 36,000 from early position and Phillip McAllister calling on the button. Fabian Chauriye probably considered it worth sticking around from the big blind. That would prove to be a little costly.
The flop fell Q♥ 8♣ 4♣ and both Tedeschi and Chauriye checked. McAllister, with the biggest stack of the three, seized an opportunity to take over the betting and pushed forward 48,000. Tedeschi called and Chauriye called right behind him.
That took them to the J♥ on the turn and a familiar pattern: check, check and then a bet from McAllister, this time 136,000. But there was nothing standard about what happened next.
Tedeschi took a moment or two but then announced that he was all in, pushing out his stack of 388,000. Chauriye called. And then McAllister called it too, which meant Tedeschi was potentially in line for a triple up.
But this was merely the start. The A♥ game on the river, which filled all the draws in the world. And it certainly seemed as if Chauriye had hit one as he bet 300,000–a tiny bet, given that the pot was already at around 1.4 million.
But get this: McAllister, the biggest stack at the table, announced that he was all in. He still had 1.2 million behind, covering Chauriye’s 851,000, and the Chilean player was now being asked if he wanted to play for his entire tournament, despite sitting with one of the largest stacks in the room.
Tedeschi didn’t say anything and neither did Chauriye. The latter simply sat in abject anguish, pondering how he had got himself into a spot like this, and how to get out of it. The length of time he took over his decision suggested he had an enormous hand, but not the nuts.
McAllister told him that he could think for another two minutes, but they he would be calling the clock.
Eventually Chauriye made the pained decision to fold. But he received instant gratification: McAllister tabled K♥ 10♥ , having gone runner-runner royal flush.
Tedeschi showed his cards too, of course, even though he couldn’t win. He turned over Qâ™ Q♦ and, having flopped top set, was knocked out by the best hand anybody can possibly get. Tedeschi wandered off in a daze.
McAllister, meanwhile, moves up to more than 2.7 million chips, while Chauriye has about 850,000. Tedeschi is out.
They all have a story, but it’s going to be better if you hear it from McAllister. — HS
6:35pm: Oliver out, Gregg crosses 1 million
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Kevin Wan raised to 42,000 from the cutoff and Justin Oliver re-raise all-in for 312,000 from the button. Tony Gregg called from the small blind and Wan folded.
Gregg tabled A♦ K♥ while Oliver turned over 8♣ 8♥ for a flip. Gregg hit a king on the the flop and another on the river.
Oliver was eliminated in 31st while Gregg chipped up to 1.07 million. –AV
6:20pm: Racener off to the races
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
John Racener just doubled up through Italian Ivan Barbuto with Q♥ Q♦ against A♠K♣ . No help came on the flop, turn or river for Barbuto and Racener is now up to 310,000.
John Racener 310,000
Ivan Barbuto 620,000 –JS
6:13pm: Pires takes chips from Holz
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Fedor Holz is one of the best players in the world with more than $5,000,000 in live winnings since December 2015 alone.
But there’s only so much a player can do when they’re up a Goliath. Today’s Goliath is Leonardo Pires.
He seems to love nothing more than getting in big pots; sliding green stacks worth 500,000 into the middle. In a hand just now with Holz, the young German opened to 40,000 and both blinds called – Paul Gooley and Pires.
To the flop – 2♥ K♥ 5â™ . Both Gooley and Pires checked allowing Holz to bet 85,000. Gooley got out of the way but now Pires decided to raise, making it 317,000 to play. Fedor called.
The turn was the 7â™ and there would be no more checking from Pires. The Brazilian did what he loves to do. Bet. And bet big. He made it 405,000.
It was too steep a price for Fedor who let his hand go and dropped down to 620,000. Pires, meanwhile has
so many chips we couldn’t even count them until he organises them properly. It’s at least 3,000,000 though. –JS
6:12pm: Mercier left on fumes; Desferet not even that
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
A big hand on the feature table ending with a stack of 1.65 million in front of Fabian Chauriye Rabah, but Jason Mercier in big trouble and Renaud Desferet out.
Desferet open shoved for 275,000 and Jason Mercier, one seat around the table, reshoved behind him for 785,000. Chauriye Rabah’s dream came true. He really did wake up with aces in the big blind. Naturally, he called.
The hands were as follows:
Chauriye Rabah: A♠A♥
Mercier: K♠K♥
Desferet: 6♥ 6♦
And the board ran 9♦ Jâ™ 4♣ 8♣ A♣ . It left Mercier with about 110,000 and Desferet looking for the payouts table. Chauriye Rabah, meanwhile, is hanging around. — HS
6:06pm: Waxman doubles through Lewis
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Matt Waxman and Toby Lewis were heads-up on a 6♥ 6♦ 3♥ 5♠8♦ board and there was about 500,000 in the pot.
“All-in,” Lewis said.
Waxman had 487,000 to Lewis’s 1 million and started thinking. A few minutes later, Waxman grabbed his cards and moved them out a bit before he shook his head and brought them back.
A few minutes after that Waxman stood up and kneeled on his chair.
Lewis tabled 10♥ 7♥ for a busted flush draw while Waxman showed a winning 9♣ 9♦ .
Waxman doubled up to 1.52 million while Lewis dropped to 550,000. –AV
6:02pm: Wan wins one, doubles up
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Kevin Wan has doubled to more than 520,000, clipping Rumen Nanev down to his last 150,000 in the process. I’m not totally sure of the betting, but they did get it in pre-flop and Nanev was way behind with his K♥ J♣ to Wan’s Q♣ Q♦ .
The flop seemed to help Wan when it came Qâ™ 10♦ 5♦ but the straight draw actually improved Nanev’s equity. However the K♦ turn and 6♦ river was insufficient and Wan won. — HS
5:56pm: Koon and Rocco bust, four tables remain
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
We’re down to our final 32 players.
We got down to 33 after Lawrence Bayley and Jason Koon got it in from the blinds. Bayley was on the small blind with about 340,000 while Koon was on the big with 154,000.
Koon tabled A♥ K♦ and was flipping against Bayley’s 10♥ 10♦ .
The 7♥ 2♥ 9♦ 8♦ 8♣ board left Bayley in the lead and Koon was eliminated in 34th place.
Timothy Ulmer raised from the cutoff and Michael Rocco moved all-in from the big blind for about 415,000.
The board ran 3♣ 9♦ 3â™ J♦ 4♣ and Rocco was eliminated in 33rd while Ulmer chipped up to 2.27 million. –AV
Timothy Ulmer — 2,265,000
Lawrence Bayley — 550,000
Michael Rocco — 33rd
Jason Koon — 34th
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Everything is going right for Leonardo Pires right now. Here’s an example.
On a Q♦ Q♥ 3♠8♥ board, Pires checked to Laurence Bailey who made it 40,000 to go. Joseph Drory called and Pires check-raised up to 100,000 even. Both his opponents called and the J♥ landed on the river.
At this point, Pires wasted no time and slided a huge stack of green 25,000 chips – more than enough to put both of his opponents all in. Bailey removed himself from the hand immediately, but Drory called and was heartbroken when Pires showed his hand:
Leonardo Pires 3♣ 3♥
Joseph Drory K♥ K♦
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
The eliminations come thick and fast including, sorry to say, Luke Guest.
The British player has been on the mother of all freerolls this week in the Bahamas having won a package in a special PokerStars promotion. Guest was one of a random table full of players who were given packages to the PCA during an online promo, and he bumped up his tournament folio with excellent results in a couple of early side events.
But he was down to his last 238,000 in the Main Event and got it in against Fabian Ortiz. Ortiz had by far the bigger stack–more than a million at last count–and also the bigger hand. Ortiz’s Aâ™ K♣ was dominant against Guest’s A♣ Q♣ .
Guest went out in 35th (tbc) and takes $17,420. Not bad given his cheap passage to the Caribbean. — HS
5:41pm: Lewis busts Jaffe
Level 22 – Blinds 8,000-16,000 (2,000 ante)
Jonathan Jaffe came back from break with just around 250,000 and got it all-in with Aâ™ K♥ against Toby Lewis’s Qâ™ Q♦ .
The board ran J♣ J♥ 10♥ Jâ™ 8♦ and Lewis took down the pot with a full house. Jaffe won $17,420 for the 37th place elimination while Lewis’ stack grew to 1.35 million. –AV
5:41pm: Quick doubles before break
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
David Eldridge and John Racener doubled up their short stacks shortly before break.
Both players were behind but paired the board to stay alive.
Eldridge was wall-in with Q♦ J♣ against Farid Jttin’s K♣ 10♣ . Eldrige hit two pair on the 5â™ 8â™ 3♦ J♦ Q♥ board and doubled up to 300,000 while Jattin dropped to 680,000.
Racener was down to just 89,000 and moved all-in with Q♣ 8♣ . Fedor Holz called with 8♥ 8♠but Racener paired his queen on the turn of a J♥ 4♥ 2♦ Q♦ 2♥ board.
Racener doubled up to about 170,000 while Holz dipped to 855,000. –AV
5:35pm: Spears gone in 38th; Toby Lewis knocking on a million
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Andrew Spears has been eliminated in 38th for $17,420.
He’d min-opened to 24,000 and had just one caller – Toby Lewis from the big blind. The flop was the 9â™ 4♥ 7â™ and Spears continued for 36,000. He would be faced by a re-raise to 125,000 though, and after half a minute he decided to move all in for 220,000 more. Lewis snap called and turned over his 9♦ 4♦ for a big blind special. Spears had the best starting hand in this game – A♣ Aâ™ , but the K♣ turn and Qâ™ river were no help.
Toby Lewis is now on 970,000. –JS
5:00pm Demlakian happy still to be on solid ground
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Vasken Demlakian should have been in Dallas today. However he quadrupled his stack at the death last night and changed his flight to hang around in the Bahamas. Might as well see if you can pick up the best part of a million bucks, huh.
Demlakian has more than 600,000 chips right now, although his table has got significantly more difficult over the past 30 minutes. In addition to David Eldridge and Vladimir Troyanovskiy, both Michael Watson and Stephen Chidwick landed on Demlakian’s table when their own broke. There’s a whole lot of trouble coming with those two.
That said, Demlakian, in the big blind, took a small pot from Watson after SirWatts opened from the button. “I’ll donate to your healthy stack, young man,” Demlakian said.
The flop fell Qâ™ 2♦ 5â™ and Demlakian check-called Watson’s bet of 35,000. Both players checked the 4♦ turn but then Demlakian bet 59,000 at the J♣ river.
“You got it,” Watson said as he folded. — HS
4:58pm: Waxman shoves on Heron
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Steven Barrie Heron from the UK kicked off a pot with a 29,000 open, called by Matt Waxman and Toby Lewis, who was in the big blind. The dealer laid out a flop of J♦ 10♠2♣ , Lewis checked and Heron made it 42,000, before being raised by Matt Waxman up to 104,000.
Only Heron made the call and we saw a turn – the 3♣ . Both players checked it and next up was the Aâ™ on the river. Heron checked once more and now Waxman shoved; he had Heron covered so it was a decision for Heron’s tournament. He laid it down and Waxman added another rack of blue chips to his stack. –JS
Matt Waxman 575,000
Steven Barrie Heron 340,000
4:50pm: Barnes out
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Barnes was eliminated a few hands later.
The board read K♣ 6♥ 9♠10♠and Barnes was standing up while Vasken Demlakian was reaching over to take his chips.
While Barnes had A♦ A♥ in front of him he was drawing dead against Demlakian’s 8♦ 7♥ .
The river was an inconsequential 4♦ and Barnes was eliminated in 39th while Demlakian chipped up to 1.45 million. -AV
4:48pm: Barnes back down
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Farid Jattin is steadily building a stack today and now has about 630,000 after bullying Allan Barnes out of a pot.
Barnes, with his newly acquired stack, opened to 28,000 from early position and Jattin called from the button. Eldridge also called, from the big blind, and that meant three of them saw a flop of 8♥ 3♥ 6♠.
Both Eldridge and Barnes checked, but Jattin bet 24,000, which proved to be enough to persuade Eldridge out of it. However Barnes called and saw the 8â™ fall on the turn.
Barnes checked, Jattin bet 65,000 and Barnes called again. That meant they saw the 4♥ on the river and Barnes kept up his passive line. Jattin now bet big — covering Barnes’s 235,000 — and Barnes folded. –HS
4:48pm: Ulmer takes out Tarmakov
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Another flip, another elimination.
Kliment Tarmakov got it all-in for about 350,000 from the small blind and against Timothy Ulmer on the big blind.
Tarmakov showed 8♦ 8♣ and had to survive against Ulmer’s A♥ K♣ . But the K♥ 5♣ 4♦ A♣ 7♦ board paired both of Ulmer’s cards.
Tarmakov was eliminated in 40th place while Ulmer chipped up to about 1.64 million. –AV
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
A double up for Allan Barnes, who won a race for his tournament life against David Eldridge, leaving the latter with only about 190,000. Barnes meanwhile has about 325,000.
The details are as follows: Eldridge opened from the hijack, making it 28,000 to play. Barnes shoved from the small blind for his last 162,000 and Eldridge called.
Eldridge was ahead at this stage with his 8♣ 8♦ to Barnes’s A♣ 9♣ . But the flop of A♥ 5â™ J♥ launched Barnes into the lead, which consolidated through the A♦ turn and the 4â™ river. — HS
4:38pm: Pires gets frisky, doubles Petre
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Having a ton of chips and being the current tournament boss can have an effect on a player. We’re not saying that’s what’s going on with Leonardo Pires right now; we’re just saying he’s getting a little frisky when it comes to throwing his chips around.
Thomas Petre opened on the button to 26,000 but Pires raised it up from the small blind to 106,000. After Petre shoved for 361,000 Pires snap called, so we were expecting him to turn over a big hand. What we ended up seeing was the 10♦ 6♣ .
Petre was ahead with his A♣ 9♣ and the K♦ 8â™ 9â™ paired him up, leaving Petre needing a ten or seven for a straight. The 9♥ on the turn eliminated the tens from Pires’ outs, and the A♥ secured the double up for him.
Thomas Petre 748,000
Leonardo Pires 2,200,000 –JS
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
“I kind of wanted it to happen,” said Matt Waxman after his aces got cracked.
He’d just got it all-in with Aâ™ A♥ against Andrew Spears’s K♥ Kâ™ and the K♦ Q♣ 6♣ 7♦ 9♦ board gave Spears a set on the flop.
“I think I’ve lost like over 50 percent of pair of pair situations over the last year,” Waxman said as he counted out 145,000 to pay Spears.
“That’s definitely a made-up number,” said Fedor Holz.
“Well it’s only been like eleven days this year,” said Jonathan Jaffe. “Could be.”
“No,” Waxman said. “Like the past 365 days.”
“I was trying to help,” Jaffe laughed. “But I’m out of your corner now.”
“One of these days it’s going to turn around” Waxman said. –AV
Andrew Spears — 320,000
Matt Waxman — 420,000
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Table neighbours Leonardo Pires (our chipleader) and the UK’s Laurence Bailey have been battling quite a bit, despite the fact that Bailey’s stack is little over a tenth the size of Pires’.
We just caught a hand in which Pires made it 29,000 to go and Bailey 3-bet to 67,000. The Brazilian made the call and the flop came the 3♥ A♠Q♠, which Pires would check. Bailey now bet 62,000 but Pires check-raised to 175,000.
Bailey took his time, but would eventually throw his hand away claiming that: “I was so close to calling. So, so close.”
Jason Koon called to Pires: “Show the bluff!”
Pires smiled and said he had an ace, but as he never actually turned his hand over, we’ll just have to take his word for it. He seems a trustworthy chap. With 2,800,000 in front of him right now, he doesn’t really need to lie. –JS
Leonardo Pires 2,800,000
Laurence Bailey 270,000
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
A simple all in pre-flop skirmish has accounted for Rui Milhomens. He had A♥ 10♥ while Stephen Chidwick had K♦ K♠. And the board of 8♦ 2♠3♦ 4♥ 7♣ was no good for a man trying to outdraw a big pair.
Milhomens’ departure ends Portuguese participation in the PCA Main Event. — HS
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Not even support from Leonardo Pires could save Brandon Crawford, whose tournament has come to an end in the first orbit of Level 21.
Crawford was down to his last 14,000 and he got it in from early position. Tony Gregg raised to 35,000 from the cutoff, but it didn’t work if he was trying to isolate. Timothy Ulmer called from the small blind.
Pires scampered over to fist bump Crawford and to hang around to see it play out. “I could quadruple up,” Crawford said to his new supporter as the dealer delivered a flop of Aâ™ 3♦ 8♦ .
Both Ulmer and Gregg checked that, but Ulmer bet at the 10♥ turn. Gregg folded and it left two only for the money. Ulmer hadn’t got there yet. He had K♦ J♦ .
“I’m live!” Crawford said when he turned over his Q♦ 9♣ and for a moment he thought he’d won it when the 9♦ came on the river. “Oh, you’ve got a flush,” he soon said, however. And that was the end of that. — HS
4:05pm Ramos out in 45th
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Friend of PokerStars Felipe Ramos was holding on for dear life in level 20 but couldn’t make it past the first few minutes of level 21.
Ramos moved all-in for 78,000 from the button and Justin Oliver called from the big blind. Ramos’ 6â™ 6♥ was a favorite against Oliver’s 5♦ 5â™ , but then there was a slew of diamonds.
The board ran 2♦ 10♦ 4♦ 3♦ 7♠and Oliver hit a flush to knock out Ramos in 45th place.
Level 21 – Blinds 6,000-12,000 (2,000 ante)
Brandon Crawford is down to just a few big blinds after doubling up Tony Gregg.
It was a classic flip with Gregg’s Qâ™ Q♣ against Crawford’s A♥ Kâ™ . The board brought all low cards and Gregg doubled up to 1.1 million while Crawford was left with less than 25,000.
Leonardo Pires and Fabian Ortiz got it all-in as well a few moments later.
Ortiz showed Aâ™ 10â™ and Pires confidently slammed K♦ J♥ on the table. Ortiz walked away while the dealer fanned out an Aâ™ 4â™ Jâ™ 2â™ 9♣ and started counting Ortiz’s stack.
“I win?” Ortiz said when he came back to the table. “My god.”
“I gotta say,” Jason Koon said. “The way he slammed that king-jack on the table, I was feeling nervous for you too.”
Pires has been on a roll since the day started and is still in the lead with 2.34 million despite losing the hand. Ortiz on the other hand doubled up to 1 million.
Leonardo Pires — 2,335,000
Tony Gregg — 1,100,000
Fabian Ortiz — 1,000,000
Brandon Crawford — 20,000
3:30pm: Break time
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
That’s the end of Level 20. They will play Level 21 in about 15 minutes.
3:15pm: Double for Troyanovskiy
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Not long before the break, Vladimir Troyanovskiy found aces and turned them into a double up thanks to David Eldridge picking up Aâ™ Q♥ at the same time. Troyanovskiy ended the hand with 572,000 while Eldridge has only 245,000 left now. — HS
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
It’s a pretty exceptional feature table today, headlined by Jason Mercier but also including Phillip McAllister, Taylor Paur and the outspoken Martin McCormick.
At the break, the counts are as follows:
Phillip McAllister 1,524,000
Taylor Paur 997,000
Dorian Rios 830,000
Jason Mercier 592,000
Fabian Rabah 494,000
Martin McCormick 481,000
Krasimir Yankov 326,000
2:55pm: Hajiyev’s star declines
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Rumin Hajiyev has spent the best part of two days at the feature table, but his time in the spotlight is now over. He lost the most classic of all poker races: Q♥ Q♣ into Dorian Rios’s A♦ K♥ .
Hajiyev had slightly less than 200,000, while Rios had him comfortably covered, even though Rios had the big slick and needed to improve. He did just that on a flop that featured the Aâ™ and the king on the river was overkill.
Rios now has 760,000, about as many as Jason Mercier, who is also up there on the feature table. — HS
2:50pm: Six tables left, Watson over 1 million
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
We’re now down to our final 48 players after Jonathan Jaffe and Mike Watson knocked out a couple of players.
A short-stacked Hans Winzeler moved all in from the button and Jaffe called from the big blind. Winzeler showed 10â™ 10♥ , a favorite against Jaffe’s Aâ™ 7♥ . But Jaffe paired his ace and brought the tournament down to 48 players.
But before a table could break, Tomas Geleziunas and Mike Watson got it all in. Watson showed K♥ K♦ while Geleziunas was hoping for an ace with A♣ Q♣ . But Geleziunas was drawing dead after the flop.
Watson hit quad kings on a 9♥ K♣ Kâ™ Q♦ 4â™ board and chipped up to 1.05 million while Geleziunas was eliminated in 48th. –AV
2:45pm: Spears down but not out
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
After Andrew Spears doubled up John Racener to 166,000, he was left with just 29,000. However, two double ups in a row have shot him back up, albeit modestly.
First he doubled with pocket jacks against Matt Waxman’s A♣ 7♣ –eventually making quads by the river–and then he did it again in the next hand against Fedor Holz. Spears had the K♥ Qâ™ against Holz’s K♣ J♣ and the best hand help up.
Andrew Spears 208,000
Fedor Holz 520,000
Matt Waxman 702,000
John Racener 166,000 –JS
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Toby “810ofclubs” Lewis took on the former November Niner John Racener and got paid off in full. Lewis jammed on a flop of 6♦ 5â™ 8♦ , but only after he first checked, Fedor Holz bet 48,000 and Racener called.
Lewis had about 150,000 and after Holz folded, only Racener called.
John Racener 10♠10♥
Toby Lewis 5♥ 6♥
Lewis was ahead with his two pair, and the 9♣ turn and J♦ river changed nothing. Racener is down to just 8 big blinds. –JS
Toby Lewis 425,000
John Racener 86,000
2:30pm: Aye aye, SirWatts
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Mike Watson just scooped a nice pot. After the turn, the board was the Q♥ 10♦ 7♥ 5♦ . Watson bet 35,000 but was 3-bet to 125,000 by Canada’s Marco Lang. Watson would 4-bet shove, though, and with 215,000 behind Lang would lay it down and opt to fight another day. Mike Watson now has 630,000. –JS
2:25pm: Zamani, Brinker and Huinan out
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
“You’re like a vacuum,” Giulio Spampinato told Leonardo Pires.
Pires had just eliminated Benjamin Zamani and his stock was nearing 2 million again. It was a now routine short-stack bust out for Pires.
Pires raised from the cutoff and Zamani moved all-in for 106,000 from the small blind. Pires called and showed Kâ™ Q♦ to Zamani’s A♣ J♣ .
Zamani needed to hold up to survive but Pires paired his queen on the flop. Zamani was eliminated in 52nd place while Pires chipped up to 1.9 million.
Dalton Brinker followed Zamani shortly after that and then Stephen Chidwick eliminated Wu Huinan.
Chidwick raised to 22,00 from the cutoff and Huinan moved all-in for 130,000 from the button. Chidwick called and showed 6♥ 6♦ for a flip against Huinan’s Kâ™ Qâ™ .
The board was a lowly 9â™ 7â™ 3♦ 2♥ 5♣ and Chidwick’s sixes took the pot. Huinan was out in 50th place while Chidwick’s stack rose to 850,000. –AV
Leonardo Pires — 1,900,000
Stephen Chidwick — 850,000
Wu Huinan — 50th
Dalton Brinker — 51st
Benjamin Zamani — 52nd
2:20pm: Koon wounded, but recovers quickly
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Poker is a swingy game. Jason Koon knows this too well.
First, his stack took a hit when he doubled up Luke Guest. With the board showing 10♥ J♣ 2♦ 5♦ 6♥ , Guest shoved and Koon debated long and hard before making the call with the Q♦ Jâ™ . He was out-kicked against Guest’s K♥ J♥ though, and lost an extra 186,000. This took him down to 560,000, while Guest moved up to 485,000.
Then, the next hand. Farid Jattin opened to 22,000 and Anthony Gregg and Koon made the call. The flop was the 8♥ 6â™ Qâ™ and Jattin’s 33,000 bet was enough to get rid of Gregg but not Koon.
The Q♥ arrived on the turn and this time the bet was 55,000. Koon called again and we saw the 9♣ land on the river. Now Jattin checked and Koon took control of the pot with a big 185,000 bet. He took it down and his stack returned to normal.
Koon now has 760,000, while Jattin is down to 480,000. –JS
2:15pm: Barer pushes two out
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
There were three players in the pot and about 80,000 in the middle. Vasken Demlakian checked, Vladimir Troyanovskiy checked but that allowed Ami Barer to have a 46,000 stab at it.
Demlakian, with about 520,000 behind, asked Barer if he could show his chips more clearly. He saw that there was still about 300,000 in Barer’s stack and folded.
Troyanovskiy, who had about 280,000 called and they saw the 3♥ on the turn. Troyanovskiy checked and Barer bet again, this time 98,000. It didn’t take Troyanovskiy that long to get out of the way. He has about 240,000. Barer has 490,000 and Demlakian 520,000. — HS
2:10pm: Hot chips
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
The chip-count page couldn’t be more fresh if it was living in the 1950s and slapped your momma’s butt.
2pm: Cantos out
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000-10,000 (1,000 ante)
Vasken Demlakian raised to 21,000 from middle position and action folded to Jorge Cantos on the big blind.
Cantos was down to about 110,000 and moved all-in. Demlakian called with A♣ 3♥ and Cantos showed a dominating A♥ 8♦ .
But Demlakian paired his three on the turn of a [4]7♥ 10♦ 3♠5♠board and Cantos hit the rai.
Demlakian chipped up to about 555,000 while Cantos won $14,900 for finishing 53rd. –AV
1:55pm: One from the last level; Lawrence double through Pires
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
This happened just before the break:
Leonardo Pires and Lawrence Bayley were heads-up on a 3♠4♣ 4♠flop and Pires bet 30,000 from the small blind. Bayley raised to 60,000 from the big blind and Pires tried to call by adding two 25,000 chips.
“Is that a raise?” Bayley asked. The floor came over and the television cameras flocked over once they heard discussion.
Players at the table all agreed that Pires wanted to call, but the chips he put out were more than 50 percent so the floor ruled that Pires had to raise to 120,000.
Bayley only had 132,000 total and moved all in. Pires called and showed 3♣ 5♣ to Bayley’s Qâ™ 4â™ .
“Oh, I got a feeling this might be dirty,” Bayley said.
Then a 6♣ came on the turn to give Pires a flush and open-ended straight draw.
“We would’ve gotten it on the turn anyways,” Bayley added.
The river brought an 8â™ and Bayley doubled up to about 34,000 while Pires dropped to 1.58 million.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to go down that way,” Bayley told Pires and another player advised him to verbally announce any action before moving his chips. That’s good advice for everyone. –AV
1:36pm: Level end
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
That’s the end of the day’s first level. They’ll take a 20-minute break.
1:35pm: Wow. What a call.
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Leonardo Pires, the tournament chip leader, put Fabian Ortiz all in with the board reading as follows: 8â™ 7♥ 8♦ 3♥ 10♣ . If Ortiz folded he’d be left with just 250,000, so it was clearly a tough decision. He spent several minutes debating it before the clock was eventually called; this, however, confirmed the decision he would make. He made the call. He turned over 5♣ 7â™ for one pair. And he was right.
Pires was on the bluff with just 4♥ 5♦ . It was an amazing call by Ortiz who now has 700,000, while Pires has slipped to 1,700,000. He’s still the biggest stack in the tournament though. –JS
1:30pm: An orbit with Stephen Chidwick
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
What an orbit for Stephen Chidwick. First he doubles up, then he knocks out the guy he just doubled through.
The Brit opened to 18,000 only to face a three-bet from Justin Ouimette to 51,000. Chidwick then shoved over the top for 253,000 and we had a call. It was the 9♥ 9♠for Chidwick, against the A♥ J♦ for Ouimette, and we went to the board:
Q♦ 4♦ 6♦ 3♠2♣
Nice and safe for Chidwick who doubled up to 520,000. Then, two hands later, Chidwick and Ouimette were at it again, and this time the Canadian player was all in.
Justin Ouimette 10â™ Jâ™
Stephen Chidwick Q♠Q♣
The dealer burned and turned a board showing 9â™ 3♥ 2♥ 7♥ Q♦ , making a set for Chidwick and home time for Ouimette. Chidwick now sits with 630,000. –JS
1.25pm: Heron hacks Halac
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Steven Heron and Fernando Halac got it all-in with pocket pairs.
The at-risk Halac tabled 7♥ 7♠and Heron showed a slightly better pair of 8♦ 8♥ .
The J♣ 6♠4♠4♥ A♠board brought no help for Halac and he was eliminated in 59th place while Heron chipped up to 390,000.
1:25pm: Watson doubles
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
The board read 9♦ K♣ 9♠3♠J♣ and there was about 250,000 in the pot.
Mike Watson moved all in for 150,000 and Ivan Barbuto thought. He looked down at his stack. It was now about the same size as the pot, 400,000.
Barbuto called and tried to muck when Watson showed A♣ A♥ , but the dealer made Barbuto show his K♠Q♥ .
Watson doubled up to 580,000 while Barbuto was left with 395,000. –AV
1:20pm: Tedeschi takes one from Spears
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Paul-Francois Tedeschi has just given his chances in this tournament a big boost by winning a hefty pot from Andrew Spears.
The Frenchman made it 16,000 to go and Matt Waxman called from the small blind. Over to Spears in the big blind, the New York pro made it an even 60,000, which wasn’t quite enough for Tedeschi. He raised it up to 142,000 and Spears made the call.
The 10♦ 6♦ 4♠flop was dealt, and after a little consideration Tedeschi slid out a bet of 104,000. It was enough to make Spears lay his hand down.
Paul-Francois Tedeschi 830,000
Andrew Spears 645,000 –JS
1:15pm: Payouts
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
All the payouts and prizewinners to date are on the payouts and prizewinners to date page. You could have worked that out for yourself maybe, but no shame.
1:05pm: Aces Nguyen
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
A severely short-stacked Binh Nguyen moved all-in for about 55,000 from the hijack and Vasken Demlakian called from the button.
Demlakian turned over 9♣ 9♦ but Nguyen showed the biggest pocket pair with A♠A♦ .
The A♣ 5♥ 2♠Q♣ 6♦ board gave Nguyen a set and he chipped up to 112,000 while Demlakian dropped to 230,000.
1pm: Paur sends Buchanan packing
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Aces won again.
Taylor Paur raised to 17,000 from the cutoff and Shawn Buchanan moved all-in for about 180,000. Paur called and showed A♣ A♦ to Buchanan’s 7♦ 7♥ . Aces held up again and Buchanan was eliminated in 60th while Paur neared 800,000. — AV
12:45pm: Spampinato says ciao for now
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
We’ve just lost Italian player Giulio Spampinato. Fabian Rabah made it 17,000 to go and Spampinato made the call, as did Jason Koon in the big blind. The 5♥ J♣ 5â™ flop was spread, and Koon and Rabah checked over to the Spampinato who made it 23,000. Koon got out of the way but Rabah came along.
The turn was the Q♣ and Rabah checked again. Spampinato shoved for his last 135,000 and was quickly called.
Giulio Spampinato 8♣ 8♦
Fabian Chauriye Rabah A♥ A♦
The Qâ™ on the river changed nothing for Spampinato, and he exited the Main Event in 63rd place, takling home $12,880 for his efforts. Rabah is now sitting pretty with 730,000. –JS
12:40pm: Isenthal all-in and all out
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Frank Isenthall just got his last 37,000 all in in a three-way pot with K♥ Q♣ but couldn’t make it hold against Matt Waxman’s J♦ 7♦ . Waxman paired both his cards on the flop and held on for the victory. –BW
12:35pm: Milhomens doubles through Ortiz
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Fabian Ortiz feels like playing today. He just got aggressive against Portugal’s Rui Milhomens, raising all-in pre-flop with his K♥ J♦ . Milhomens made the call with his pocket tens and secured a nice double up.
He’s up to around 360,000 now, while Ortiz slips to 500,000. –JS
12:30pm: Chidwick takes out Qu
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Boyuan Qu moved all-in for 97,000 from the cutoff and was up against Stephe Chidwick, who didn’t have much more.
Qu tabled 7♦ 7â™ while Chidwick showed A♣ 7♣ . Odds were in Qu’s favor but the 3♦ 9♥ A♦ 6â™ 10â™ board fell in Chidwick’s.
Chidwick is still below average with 260,000 while Qu won $12,880 for finishing 67th. –AV
12:25pm: Early eliminations
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
These are the first five to leave today.
69. Carter Swidler (Canada) $12,880
70. Davidi Kitai (Belgium) $12,880
71. Leonardo Maria Armino (Netherlands) $12,880
72. Neeraj Madhvani (UK) $10,840
73. Jonathan Crute (UK) $10,840
12:20pm: Gross is gone
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
We joined the action after the turn had been dealt, with the board reading as follows: 4♦ 5♣ 3♥ 3♦ . Taylor Paur had put Jeff Gross all in, so it would cost him his remaining 123,000 if he called and was wrong.
After five minutes thinking time the clock was eventually called, and 30 seconds later Gross’ chips were in the middle and the cards were on their backs.
Taylor Paur 4♠4♣
Jeff Gross J♦ J♥
Only a jack on the river could save Gross (giving him a bigger full house), but it wasn’t to be. Gross will take home $12,880 for 68th place, while Paur is up to 450,000. –JS
12:15pm: Crute falls to Ulmer
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Ilkin Amirov raised to 16,000 from the button and Jonathan Crute re-raised to 44,000 from the small blind. Timothy Ulmer, who had both of the players covered, moved all-in from the big blind.
Amirov folded but Crute called.
Crute: A♣ Q♣
Ulmer: A♦ K♦
Crute was dominated and couldn’t improve on the 7♣ 9♣ 8♥ Kâ™ 2♦ board.
Crute won $10,840 for his 73rd place elimination while Ulmer chipped up to about 1 million.
Timothy Ulmer — 1,000,000
Ilkin Amirov — 145,000
Jonathan Crute — OUT –AV
12:10pm: Gregg busts Madhvani
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
Two hands in and we’ve just lost Neeraj Madhvani. He shoved his 116,000 stack holding the A♣ Q♦ , and Anthony Gregg made the call on the button with pocket eights. An eight in the window on the flop made it trips for Gregg, and Madhvani hit the rail. Gregg now sits with 710,000. –JS
12pm: Dealers, start please
Level 19, Blinds 4,000-8,000 (1,000 ante)
No “Shuffle up and deal” in these parts. It’s a more measured, “Dealers, start please.” The button is in seat two and action is under way. — HS
11:30am: Five levels, is that all we’ve got!
It’s the day before the penultimate day at the $5,000 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event. This tournament has played through three days; it has three more left. You could call this the halfway point.
Today’s schedule is pretty simple: we’ll play five 90-minute levels and get down, probably, to around 20-30 players (give or take.) The day after that is when we’ll need to get down to a final.
There are 73 still involved at the moment, each of whom is already guaranteed $10,840. But the aim getting towards that final–and the $833,260 first prize. Play begins at noon.
Next year, it could be you! Click here to get a PokerStars account so you can qualify.
Take a look at the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.
Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.
PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $5,000 Main Event: Jack Stanton, Howard Swains, Alex Villegas and Brad Willis. Photos by Joe Giron and Neil Stoddart. For more photos from this event by Joe Giron visit Poker Photo Archive.
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