It’s been a few years since Jonathan Jaffe had a six-figure score in a live tournament, but now he’s leading the final eight in the $25K High Roller with 2.14 million and is guaranteed at least $108,030.

If Jaffe can make it all the way, he’ll get the biggest payday of his career: $836,650. While Jaffe is in the hunt for his biggest, this is already the largest cash for the NFL star turned rising poker star, Richard Seymour. Seymour finished the day third with 1.4 million in chips thanks to a big double up in the last level of the day. Seymour hit a full house on the turn and then doubled up when Justin Bonomo shoved on the river. Before today, Seymour’s biggest cash was for $52,174 and his live tournament earnings totaled just under $140,000. Seymour can almost sextuple that number with a victory tomorrow.

A victory will be far from easy though. Tomorrow’s final table includes Christopher Kruk (1.42 million), Igor Kurganov (660,000) and Felipe Ramos (633,000). The final eight players are all that remain from the 50 that started the day. Those who busted out early were lucky enough to enjoy some Bahamian sunshine, but unlucky enough to miss out on the money.

Some of the day’s early bustees include Jason Koon, Kevin Hobbs, James Calderaro and Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari. Players who made it a bit deeper were able to get a nice return on their $25,000 investment.

Twenty players cashed this tournament, with a mincash coming in at $45,300. The last player to miss out on that sweet payday was Robert Kirsch, who rebought at the start of Day 2. Kirsch lost most of his chips near the bubble after he doubled up Liv Boeree. Boeree got it in with A♠ K♥ and had Kirsch’s A♦ Q♥ dominated. The board dodged both players and Boeree doubled while Kirsch was left with just five big blinds.

Kirsch’s stack didn’t grow by the time we got to the bubble, which burst incredibly fast. Kirsch found himself with A♦ K♣ in the first hand of hand-for-hand play and put his handful of blinds in. It wouldn’t get him the double up though as Isaac Haxton hit trip queens with K♠ Q♠ to burst the bubble.

This put our final 20 players in the money, including Team PokerStars Pros Daniel Negreanu, Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree. While Kurganov made it to the final table, Boeree busted in 14th after Christopher Kruk turned a straight to beat her flopped pair of kings. It was another great finish for Boeree, who finished 17th in the Main Event for $49,680.

While Boeree had the best Main Event/High Roller finish, Isaac Haxton had the best Single-Day High Roller/High Roller results. Haxton finished 8th in the Single-Day High Roller two nights ago for $56,140 and then won $55,740 for finishing 15th today.

For a full list of the results, check out our payouts page.

We still need to pay the bulk of the prize pool out and we’ll start doing that tomorrow at noon. We won’t just crown a High Roller champion tomorrow, we’ll also have a new PCA Main Event champion. Check our Main Event updates to see how the final 16 played down to a final table of six today.

For more details on how we got to the final table, just scroll down and check out the updates.

12:15pm: Done

Play is done for the day. A full wrap of today’s events will be up soon.

12:05pm: Seymour fills up and doubles through Bonomo
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 16,000)

It’s never a good sign when your river all-in gets snap-called. That’s exactly what happened to Justin Bonomo when he jammed on Richard Seymour. Seymour had a turned full house and we’ll never know what Bonomo had since his hand went straight into the muck.

Christopher Kruk started that hand off with a raise to 35,000 from middle position and Justin Bonomo called from the hijack. Seymour then three-bet to 105,000 from the button and both Kruk and Bonomo called.

The flop came 4♠ 4♥ 3♠ and Seymour bet 85,000 when checked to. Kruk folded, Bonomo called and a J♦ fell on the turn. Bonomo checked and Seymour, who’d just hit a full house, checked behind. A 6♥ completed the board and Bonomo moved all-in. Seymour snap-called and turned over J♥ J♠ for a full house.

Seymour doubled up to 1.36 million while Bonomo was left with just 365,000. –AV

11:55pm: Ramos doubles again again again!
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 16,000)

Felipe Ramos simply flat out refuses to be eliminated from this tournament. After Jonathan Jaffe opened to 36,000 under the gun, Ramos shoved for 274,000 and it folded back to the chip leader who called.

The two were racing, Ramos’ 7♠ 7♣ versus Jaffe’s A♥ 10♣ , and the pocket pair held up after the 2♦ 5♥ 5♦ K♣ 4♠ board. Ramos is up to 590,000, while Jaffe dips to 2.1 million. –JS

11:45pm: Was it a bluff?
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 16,000)

Richard Seymour made it 35,000 to go in the hijack and it folded over to Jonathan Jaffe in the small blind. He came in for a three-bet to 120,000, and Seymour would eventually called after using a time bank card.

The dealer put out a 4♥ J♣ 6♠ flop on which Jaffe continued for 76,000. Seymour made the call, and the turn fell the A♥ . Jaffe fired again, this time for 200,000. Seymour took his time and counted out his stack, but eventually let his hand go.

“Show the bluff,” said Seymour. “It’s good for the game!”

“Yeah, show one card,” pleaded Igor Kurganov.

“Show three cards!” joked Justin Bonomo.

Jaffe caved to Kurganov’s request, and let Seymour pick one. He did: the 9♠ .

“Yeeeeaaaahhhhh I got bluffed,” he sighed. “I should have re-popped it!”

Seymour has 650,000 now, while Jaffe increases to 2.4 million. –JS

11:30pm: Ramos doubles again…again
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 16,000)

Felipe Ramos, the short stack coming into the final table, is now the second-shortest stack after doubling up through Mikita Badziakouski. Ramos moved all-in for 145,000 from middle position and action folded to Badziakouski in the big blind. Badziakouski looked at his first card and told the table he liked it, then he looked at the second and started thinking.

“Don’t lose a time bank on this one,” Ramos said. “It’s much better to fold.” Badziakouski did end up using a time card and he thought a bit more.

“I want to you to call,” Ramos said, changing direction. Badziakouski stayed silent and kept thinking, then he used another time bank card.

“I know you wouldn’t waste two time bank cards and then fold,” Ramos said. It turns out he was right.

“I have a good feeling about this one,” Badziakouski said and called. Badziakouski showed K♠ 10♠ and Ramos was in the lead with A♥ 9♦ . Badziakouski’s feeling turned out to be wrong though as Ramos hit an ace on the 4♣ 8♥ A♣ 7♠ 10♥ board. Ramos doubled to 310,000 while Badziakouski became the short stack with 230,000. –AV

11:15pm: Final table counts
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

Official final table chip counts are as follows:

11:10pm: Negreanu falls in ninth ($83,640)
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

We’re now down to eight players, and those remaining have decided to finish the level we’re on before calling it a night.

It’s Daniel Negreanu who exited. Jonathan Jaffe had made it 36,000 to go under the gun and it folded to Negreanu in the big blind. He defended to see the 3♦ 3♥ J♥ flop, and then checked it. Jaffe continued for 22,000, and then Negreanu raised it up to 70,000. Call.

The turn was the 7♣ and play slowed down with both checking. The 4♦ completed the board, and Negreanu moved all in, which Jaffe snap-called.

“Here, take my chips,” said Negreanu as he tossed his cards into the middle – the K♥ 4♥ . Jaffe had the goods with the K♠ K♣ , and that meant Negreanu was out. “I made a pair!” he explained.

Jaffe now has 2.1 million. –JS

11pm: Unofficial final table
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

New table and cards are back in the air. –MC

10:40pm: Break time

The final 9 are on their last break of the night. Back shortly with full counts and the last table redraw. –JS

10:40pm: Jonathan Concepcion flushed away in 10th
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

Jonathan Concepcion busted in a hand that went in to the break.

He and Stefan Schillhabel were in the blinds and made it to the river where the board rested as 8♦ 4♦ 9♥ J♦ 6♦ . Schillhabel checked to watch Concepcion move all-in for 132,000 with 10♣ 7♦ for a four-flush. Schillhabel called with 9♦ 4♠ for a better four-flush and moved up to 590,000. –MC

10:35pm: Seymour collects from Badziakouski
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

Richard Seymour has been opening a lot of hands, and his aggressive strategy is working. He just took down a nice pot against former chip leader Mikita Badziakouski.

Seymour made it 30,000 on the button which Badziakouski called from the small blind. The Belarusian would check the A♠ 3♠ 3♣ flop, and the retired NFL star checked it back, bringing the J♥ turn. Badziakouski led for 75,000, and Seymour stuck around.

The 7♥ completed the board and when Badziakouski made it 125,000 Seymour instantly called, which got a super quick muck from Badziakouski. Seymour showed the A♥ 5♣ even though he really didn’t have to, and he’s up to 660,000 now, while Badziakouski drops to 405,000. –JS

10:25pm: Jaffe’s got the cake
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Jonathan Jaffe has become the first player to pass 2 million after a big hand versus Daniel Negreanu, who dropped to 280,000.

He raised from under the gun and Negreanu defended his big blind to see an A♣ 10♣ 4♠ flop. Jaffe continued for 27,000 and Negreanu check-called before leading for 35,000 on the A♦ turn. Jaffe raised to 85,000 and Negreanu called before the 7♣ completed the board. Negreanu checked to face a 240,000 bet that he called. Jaffe opened Q♣ 8♣ and we think Negreanu flashed the J♣ before mucking. –MC

10:10pm: Always coming sevens and Sontheimer busts in 11th ($69,730)
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

Ewwww. That river was nasty.

Steffen Sontheimer had opened the button to 30,000 and then called a 120,000 small-blind three-by from Jonathan Jaffe. The two saw a 7♣ 6♠ 4♣ flop on which Jaffe continued for 80,000. Over to Sontheimer, he bumped it up to 190,000 and Jaffe took around 15 seconds to announce all in. Sontheimer snap-called.

Jaffe – A♣ 7♥
Sontheimer – 9♥ 9♦

Sontheimer had the overpair to the board while Jaffe’s top pair could improve with an ace or seven. The 2♦ turn changed nothing, but the 7♠ river sure did bring some groans.

Sontheimer shipped his chips over Jaffe’s way, and the American now sits with around 1.7 million. –JS

9:54pm: The hardest way to get an easy double
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 12,000)

Richard Seymour will be sticking around a bit longer having just doubled up through Spain’s Jonathan Concepcion.

Concepcion made it 26,000 from the small blind and Seymour shoved the big blind for 160,000, which was called. Seymour had the best of it with his A♣ 7♣ too, versus the K♥ 10♥ .

But the 10♠ Q♦ J♥ put Concepcion out in front with a pair of tens. Then the J♣ turn improved his hand to two pair. But the Q♥ river saved Seymour, giving him two pair with an ace kicker as Concepcion’s tens were cancelled out.

Seymour is up to 332,000, while Concepcion falls to 229,000. –JS

9:50pm: Engle semi-bluff-busts
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

That’s it for Ari Engle. Christopher Kruk made a great call to catch his semi-buff and held on through the river.

The two players had amassed a 120,0000 pot by the turn of a J♣ 3♣ ]6♦ 9♥ board. Kruk checked from the big blind and watched as Engle moved all-in for 175,000. He used two time banks before he elected to call.

Kruk: 3♠ 5♠ for a lowly pair of threes
Engle: K♦ Q♣ for two overs and a gutshot

The river was the A♥ and Engle said, “Good game everyone,” before heading off. Kruk moved back into the lead with 1.35 million. –MC

9:45pm: Ramos doubles again
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Felipe Ramos scored another double up.

This one started when Mikita Badziakouski raised to 22,000 from the button. Ramos called from the big blind and the flop came 10♣ A♠ 6♠ . Ramos check-raised all-in for 187,000 and Badziakouski looked pained.

“Ay ay ay,” Badziakouski said, standing up and taking off his sunglasses.

Badziakouski eventually called and showed J♠ J♦ while Ramos showed two-pair with A♣ 6♣ . The 9♠ on the turn gave Badziakouski a flush draw, but the 5♥ on the river didn’t complete it. Badziakouski dropped to 750,000 after the hand while Ramos doubled up to 420,000. –AV

9:41pm: More for Badziakouski
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Mikita Badziakouski is really putting his big stack to good use. After Stefan Schillhabel opened and Badziakouski defended, they saw a 4♦ 8♣ 9♥ flop. Badziakouski checked it to the raiser, and the German made a c-bet worth 25,000. Badziakouski had a plan though and popped it up to 75,000. Call.

That took them to the 8♥ turn and Badziakouski kept hold of the betting lead with 100,000. Schillhabel went nowhere and that meant it was river time.

The 6♣ completed things, and after around 20 seconds Badziakouski announced all in with the bigger stack of the two. Schillhabel quickly folded and left himself with 330,000, while Badziakouski is now up to 980,000. –JS

9:37pm: Concepcion doubled in El Classico race
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

The most classic of flips took place in the blinds and saw Jonathan Concepcion double his 179,000 stack.

Stefan Schillhabel set him all-in from the small blind and Concepcion made a quick call all-in.

Schillhabel: A♥ K♥
Concepcion: Q♠ Q♥

The board ran K♠ A♦ 2♣ Q♣ 6♥ to make the Spaniard a set on the turn. Schillhabel dropped to 560,000. –MC

9:34pm: Jaffe flushes out Bonomo
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Justin Bonomo and Jared Jaffe were at it again, but this time Jaffe had the best of it.

Jaffe started the hand off with a raise to 30,000 from the button and Bonomo called from the big blind. The flop came A♣ Q♥ 6♥ and Bonomo check-called a bet of 26,000. This brought an A♥ on the river and Jaffe made it 75,000 after Bonomo checked. Bonomo called again and an 8♠ completed the board. There was one more check from Bonomo and Jaffe put out a whopping 350,000. Bonomo went into the tank, but eventually found a call.

Jaffe turned over K♥ 4♥ for the nut flush and Bonomo mucked. The hand put Jaffe in the lead with 1.32 million while Bonomo dipped to 550,000. –AV

9:30pm: Ramos doubles
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

A short-stacked Felipe Ramos was on the big blind with just 107,000. Action folded to Igor Kurganov on the small blind and he decided to put Ramos all-in.

Ramos quickly called and was in good shape with K♦ J♥ against Kurganov’s 10♣ 4♠ . The 7♠ 7♦ 6♥ 5♥ 9♠ board seemed treacherous for Ramos, but he managed to avoid disaster. Ramos doubled to 220,000 while Kurganov dipped to 515,000. –AV

9:25pm: Badziakouski chips up
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Jonathan Concepcion made it 22,000 from the cutoff when it folded to him, and both Mikita Badziakouski and Igor Kurganov called from the small and big blinds.

When the dealer spread the K♥ 9♣ K♠ flop, Badziakouski led right out for 15,000, which got a quick fold from Kurganov. Concepcion called though to see the Q♥ turn. Badziakouski slowed down, letting Concepcion bet 28,000 when it checked to him. Call.

The 3♠ completed the board and both checked pretty sharpish. “King,” announced Badziakouski, who had flopped trips. Concepcion mucked and dips to 190,000, while Badziakouski chips up to 780,000. –JS

9:15pm: Greenberg goes in 13th
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Lawrence Greenberg busted in 13th after losing his stack over the course of two hands.

He lost most of his stack to Christopher Kruk when he called a 130,000 bet on the river of a 10♠ J♥ J♠ 10♥ 6♦ board. Kruk opened queen-jack and Greenberg mucked.

He moved all-in for 62,000 from the cutoff on the very next hand and was called by Bonomo in the big blind.

Bonomo: 3♣ 3♠
Kruk: K♦ 7♣

The board ran Q♠ 3♦ A♣ 5♥ 6♠ to make Bonomo a winning set. He moved up to just under a million and Kruk has just over a million. –MC

9:07pm: Kruk busts Boeree in 14th
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

That’s it for Liv Boeree. The Team Pro bubbled the final two tables in the Main Event and then made it to the final two in the High Roller.

Boeree raised to 25,000 from middle position in her final hand and Christopher Kruk three-bet to 70,000. Boeree called and an 8♥ K♥ 10♦ flop hit the board. Kruk then grabbed a pile of chips big enough to put Boeree all-in and plunked them in the middle. Boeree quickly called and showed top-pair with K♦ Q♠ while Kruk turned over a straight draw with A♥ Q♦ .

Boeree was in the lead with kings, but then a J♠ came on the turn to give Kruk a broadway straight. The river was a 9♥ to give Boeree a king-high straight, but it wasn’t good enough. Boeree won $55,740 for finishing 14th while Kruk chipped up to 810,000. –AV

9pm: Bonomo works out JJ
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Justin Bonomo is enjoying life in the High Roller right now. He’s moved into the lead with 900,000 after picking off a big river bluff from Jonathan Jaffe.

Around 130,000 had made it into the middle by the time the board rested as 8♦ 3♣ 3♦ 5♣ 9♦ . Jaffe bet 166,000 and Bonomo used up three time banks before calling with A♥ 7♦ for ace high. It was good as Jaffe opened Q♣ 10♥ for queen high and dropped to 780,000. –MC

8:55pm: Negreanu doubles on the river
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Daniel Negreanu just scored a double up through Christopher Kruk after Kruk decided to bluff at the wrong time.

Negreanu started the hand off with a raise to 22,000 from middle position and Ari Engel called from the hijack. Kruk called from the big blind and all three players went to the 6♥ 4♠ 7♣ flop. Negreanu bet 20,000 when checked to and Engel folded. Kruk raised to 70,000 and Negreanu called, bringing a Q♣ on the turn. Kruk then bet out 135,000 and Negreanu called.

The river was a 10♣ and Kruk moved all-in. Negreanu snap-called and showed 9♣ 8♣ for the rivered straight while Kruk showed air with J♦ 5♦ . Negreanu doubled up to 850,000 while Kruk dropped to 640,000. –AV

8:45pm: Haxton falls in first hand back
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Isaac Haxton came back the third lowest in chips, but he’ll be the first player to leave after the dinner break.

After Steffen Sontheimer opened the button to 23,000, Haxton jammed for 151,000 from the small blind and Sontheimer quickly called when Stefan Schillhabel folded his big blind. Haxton had two live cards with his K♠ 10♣ against Sontheimer’s A♥ Q♥ , and the board ran out 3♥ 9♦ 6♣ 7♠ 6♥ .

“Straight!” yelled Haxton, jokingly. “Nope.”

He’s out in 15th for $55,740, while Sontheimer now sits with 352,000. –JS

8:40pm: Back to it
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 10,000)

Seven more players to bust and then play will conclude for the day. –MC

7:15pm: Dinner break

Players are now on a 90-minute dinner break. Here’s how the final 15 stack up:

7:15pm: Bonomo doubles on dinner
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

In a hand that extended into the dinner break, Justin Bonomo raised to 18,000 from the cutoff and Ari Engel made it 54,000 from the small blind.

Bonomo then re-raised all-in for 319,000 and Engel –who had Bonomo covered– thought down to the final seconds before calling. Engel showed A♦ J♠ while Bonomo turned over a dominating A♣ K♥ .

Engel then took the lead when he hit a jack on the J♣ 4♣ 6♣ flop, but Bonomo also picked up a flush draw. Bonomo then hit his king and the flush when the K♣ came on the river. The flush played and Bonomo doubled to 654,000 while Engel dipped to 246,000. –AV

7:12pm: Thorel taken out in 16th
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Jonathan Jaffe and Jean-Noel Thorel were in a raised pot on a 7♥ 6♠ 6♥ flop. There was about 140,000 in the pot and Jaffe checked from middle position. Thorel bet 75,000 from the cutoff and Jaffe called, bringing a Q♠ on the turn. Jaffe then checked again and Thorel moved all-in. Jaffe quickly called and showed a turned full house with Q♦ Q♠ while Thorel turned over trip sixes with 6♦ 3♦ .

A 4♠ completed the board and ended Thorel’s tournament. Thorel won $50,250 for finishing 16th while Jaffe chipped up to 1.068 million. –AV

7:10pm: Sometimes you get lucky
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Richard Seymour made it 18,000 to go in the hijack and Steffen Sontheimer defended his big blind. Heads up to the flop, the dealer spread the 5♥ 4♠ J♦ and Sontheimer checked, letting Seymour continue for 18,000 again.

Sontheimer shoved.

Seymour grimaced as he looked back down at his cards, but after getting a count (it was 51,000 more) he made a reluctant call and turned over the A♣ 10♦ for ace high. Sontheimer had the J♥ 8♦ for top pair, and the 3♥ turn and 4♣ river completed things.

Sontheimer wiped his brow. “Phew!”

Kurganov made a quip about it being a loose blind defend from the German.

“I called to give myself a chance of hitting top pair,” replied Sontheimer. “Sometimes you get lucky, Mr. Nine-Five offsuit,” he added, referring to Kurganov’s lucky double up through Seymour not long ago.

Sontheimer now has 199,000, while Seymour has 180,000. –JS

7:05pm: Engel checkback pays dividends
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

A sneaky flop checkback with top set from Ari Engel turned out to be a masterstroke as it turned the hand into a cooler that got him more than a double up.

Engel had opened from middle position and was called by Christopher Kruk and Jean-Noel Thorel in the blinds. The 2♣ 7♥ Q♥ flop was checked to the 4♠ turn where Thorel led out for 35,000. Engel called but Kruk raised to 155,000. Thorel folded and then Engel moved all-in for 249,000. Call.

Engel: Q♦ Q♣ for top set
Kruk: 4♣ 4♥ for third set

The river was the 2♦ and Kruk dropped to 1.2 million. –MC

7:00pm: Final two tables
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)
We’re down to our final two tables and here’s how the remaining 16 players stack up. –AV

Table 1

Seat 1: Jonathan Concepcion – 335,000
Seat 2: Richard Seymour – 326,000
Seat 3: Mikita Badziakouski – 905,000
Seat 4: Igor Kurganov – 370,000
Seat 5: Felip Ramos – 130,000
Seat 6: Steffen Sontheimer – 95,000
Seat 7: Isaac Haxton – 360,000
Seat 8: Stefan Schillhabel – 580,000

Table 1

Seat 1: Lawrence Greenberg – 395,000
Seat 2: Jonathan Jaffe – 580,000
Seat 3: Christopher Kruk – 1,360,000
Seat 4: Jean-Noel Thorel – 450,000
Seat 5: Justin Bonomo – 335,000
Seat 6: Daniel Negreanu – 465,000
Seat 7: Ari Engel – 465,000
Seat 8: Liv Boeree – 210,000

6:55pm: McEathron falls to Kruk
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

We’re now down to 16 and the final two tabls after the 17th place elimination of Ryan McEathron.

After Christopher Kruk had opened to and Mikita Badziakouski called, McEathron three-bet squeezed it to 53,000 and only Kruk called. The flop came 10♥ 6♣ 7♠ on which McEathron continued for 38,000, and Kruk matched that.

The turn was the J♠ and McEathron took his time in deciding what to do. He used a time bank before shoving, and we’ll never know what the amount was as Kruk snap-called with the 6♥ 6♦ . McEathron had the A♠ 10♣ and was drawing dead.

The 7♣ completed the board and sent McEathron to the rail. Kruk now stacks up 1.13 million as they draw for their new seats. –JS

6:45pm: Kurgy takes out MadDog
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Mike Watson has fallen in 18th place after he lost a race in the blinds versus Igor Kurganov.

The Canadian limped and then shoved after Kurganov raised to 30,000 from the blind blind. The Team PokerStars Pro made a quick call.

Watson: 6♠ 6♥
Kurganov: A♣ 9♦

The board ran 3♣ 8♣ J♣ A♦ 3♥ to see Kurganov make two pair and after a count of the stacks his 194,000 had Watson covered by just 10,000. –MC

6:40pm: Kruk keeps the pressure on, takes the lead
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Christopher Kruk has been winning pots and chipping up. He took a few off Jean-Noel Thorel and one off Mikita Badziakouski to make it to 1.1 million.

Kruk opened to 16,000 from under the gun in a hand versus Thorel and Thorel called from the big blind. Kruk the bet 16,000 on the 4♠ 9♠ K♦ flop and Thorel called. A 7♦ came on the turn and Kruk upped the bet to 56,000. Thorel called again and a Q♠ completed the board. Both players checked and then they both showed a pair. Thorel showed 9s with J♠ 9♣ and Kruk showed queens with Q♦ J♥ .

Then Thorel called from the small blind and Kruk made it 40,000 from the big blind. The flop came down 6♠ J♠ A♣ and took it down with a c-bet of 63,000. Kruk then took one off Badziakouski and crossed the 1 million mark while Badziakouski dipped to 985,000 and Thorel is at 550,000. –AV

6:30pm: Negreanu takes down Gomez
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Javier Gomez made it 16,000 from under the gun and it folded over the button of Mikita Badziakouski. He made the call, and when it got to Daniel Negreanu in the big blind he shoved for 191,000. Gomez re-shoved with the bigger stack.

“You’ve made it much easier for me,” said Badziakouski, indicating he may have called Negreanu’s shove himself if it were just the two of them. But anyway, when Badziakouski folded Negreanu said “You got it!” but was then happy when Gomez turned over the J♠ J♦ . “Flip!”

Negreanu flipped best on the 9♠ A♠ 8♦ flop, and the A♥ turn and 7♠ river only improved his hand. Gomez was down to just 60,000 after that one, and he’d call all in with the J♣ 8♣ in the very next hand when Negreanu shoved the small blind holding the 7♣ 7♠ . The sevens held up, and Gomez fell in 19th.

Negreanu is up to 440,000 now. –JS

6:26pm: Haxton rakes a big one off Ramos
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Felipe Ramos is now down to about 165,000 after losing a big pot to Isaac Haxton.

Haxton started the hand off with a raise to 17,000 from the button and Ramos called from the big blind. The flop came 7♥ 8♦ 6♥ and Haxton bet 37,000 when checked to. Ramos called and a 9♣ came on the turn. This time Ramos took the initiative and bet 55,000. Haxton called and then he moved all-in after Ramos checked the K♥ on the river. Ramos thought, used up a time bank card and thought some more. Then he folded.

Ramos was left with about 165,000 while Haxton is now closing in on 600,000. –AV

6:23pm: Bonomo back on the up
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

Justin Bonomo has risen to 410,000 after he called all the way with a weak top pair versus Richard Seymour. He was right and Seymour dropped to 320,000 as a result.

Seymour opened to 18,000 from the cutoff and was called by Bonomo in the next seat and Lawrence Greenberg in the big blind. The board rolled out 9♠ A♥ J♣ 3♠ 2♣ with Seymour emptying the clip with hers of 23,000, 40,000 and 65,000. Only Bonomo stuck with him with his A♣ 8♣ and it was good against Seymour’s Q♥ J♦ . –MC

6:15pm: Kurganov’s lucky card
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 8,000)

“You gotta be shitting me!” were the words of Richard Seymour as he saw Igor Kurganov double up through him. It was all in good fun though, with the 6″6 320lbs putting his hand on Kurganov’s shoulder as he raked in the chips.

The hand was pretty simple: Kurganov got lucky. It folded around to him in the small blind and he shoved for 92,000. Seymour snap-called from the big blind with the Q♠ Q♦ against Kurganov’s 9♥ 5♥ , and the 7♦ J♥ 10♠ A♣ 8♥ board gave Kurganov a straight.

He grabbed the 8♥ and shook it; his new lucky card. But sorry Richard, we’re not shitting you. He’s down to 450,000 now, while Kurganov has 190,000. –JS

6:10pm: More green for Lawrence
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Justin Bonomo had two short stacks to his left so when it folded around to him on the button, he applied maximum pressure and moved all-in. Steffen Sontheimer folded from the small blind but Lawrence Greenberg called all-in for 132,000 from the big blind.

Greenberg: 9♣ 9♦
Bonomo: K♦ 4♦

The board ran out7♥ 7♠ A♥ J♥ ]2♠ to see Bonomo drop to 250,000. –MC

6:02pm: Double up (but no big blind) for the Mad Dog
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Shortly after doubling up Justin Bonomo, Mike Watson has managed to double up himself.

He’d gotten it in with the 9♣ 9♥ versus Richard Seymour’s K♥ Q♦ and the K♦ 9♥ 2♣ 6♠ J♣ board gave Watson a set and the winner. He’s up to 185,000 now, while Seymour still has 410,000.

Watson was then in the small blind, but Bonomo had other ideas.

“No, I think it’s Mad Dog’s big blind,” he said jokingly, referring to the blind mix-up we told you about at 5:10pm. –JS

6pm: Seymour takes one out of position
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Richard Seymour’s steady ascent has continued after he won a three-bet pot out of position versus Steffen Sontheimer.

He raised to 15,000 from the cutoff and called after Sontheimer three-bet to 43,000 from the next seat. The flop spread 5♥ 7♣ 3♠ and Sontheimer continued for 25,000. Seymour called, the 2♥ turn was checked and he then led for 75,000 on the 2♠ river. Sontheimer folded. –MC

5:50pm: Schillhabel takes out Jetten
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

In a battle of the blinds, Peter Jetten and Stefan Schillhabel got it all-in.

Schillhabel had the bigger stack and the better hand with K♦ K♥ while Jetten turned over A♣ J♣ for his tournament life. The 5♥ 7♠ 6♠ 2♥ 4♥ board brought all low cards and pocket kings took it down. Jetten won $45,300 for finishing 20th while Schillhabel chipped up to 430,000. –AV

5:45pm: Bonomo flops best
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Mike Watson and Justin Bonomo just got into a pre-flop betting war that saw all of Bonomo’s 203,000 go in the middle. Watson had the A♣ K♠ up against Bonomo’s Q♠ 10♠ , and the Q♣ Q♦ 2♥ flop gave Bonomo trips. The J♥ did give Watson some broadway outs with a ten, but the 8♣ completed the board.

Watson is down to just 90,000 now, while Bonomo sits with 421,000. –JS

5:40pm: Gambling with freebies
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Every player that cashes at the PCA has received an entry to raffle for $20,000. Players in the High Roller have, of course, found a way to gamble with them.

Each table picked a way to decide which player would win them all. At Negreanu’s table they did it in turns. Each player would pick a suit and if it matched the middle card on the flop, they’d win the other players’ tickets. Javier Gomez ended up winning all of them at that table and the other two tables made their own variations.

Lawrence Greenberg won all the tickets at his table while Isaac Haxton was the lucky winner over on the third table. –AV

5:29pm: Kirsch can’t cash, bubbles the $25K
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

That was a very quick bubble, and there weren’t many surprises to learn it’s the shortest-stacked Robert Kirsch who fell.

Jonathan Jaffe opened to 15,000 under the gun and Ike Haxton called the cutoff. It folded to Kirsch in the big blind, and with just 30,000 total he put it all in. Both players called to see the 6♠ Q♦ Q♥ flop, which they’d check.

The turn was the 8♣ and now Haxton led for 20,000 when it checked to him. Jaffe folded, allowing Haxton to show the K♠ Q♠ for trips. Kirsch saw he was drawing dead with his A♦ K♣ , so the 7♣ changed nothing.

Kirsch is the bubble boy for this one, while Haxton now sits with 350,000. –JS

5:25pm: Thorel takes out Petrangelo
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Nick Petrangelo and Jean-Noel Thorel got it all-in preflop with a flip. Petrangelo was down to just 120,000 and got it all-in with A♠ K♠ while Thorel called with 10♠ 10♦ .
The 2♦ 2♠ 9♥ 8♠ 7♦ board was devoid of any aces or kings and Petrangelo hit the rail in 22nd while Thorel chipped up to 650,000.

Play will now go hand-for-hand on the bubble. –AV

5:22pm: Seymour squeezes chips out of two opponents
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Richard Seymour moved up to around 450,000 after wining a three-way three-bet pot.

Jonathan Concepcion opened to 13,000 from middle position and was called by Igor Kurganov before Seymour squeezed to 31,000 off the button. Both opponents called and checked to the aggressor on a 5♠ A♣ 10♥ flop. His 31,000 c-bet was only called by Kurganov who then led for 55,000 on the 10♣ turn. Seymour time-bank-called and then moved all-in for 185,000 on the A♠ river when checked to. Kurganov folded to drop to 131,000. –MC

5:20pm: Boeree doubles near the bubble
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Richard Kirsch raised to 18,000 from early position and action folded to Liv Boeree’s big blind. The Team Pro moved all-in for 124,000 and Kirsch called. Kirsch turned over A♦ Q♥ and Boeree had him dominated with A♠ K♥ . The J♠ J♥ 6♣ 2♦ 5♥ board brought no upsets for Boeree and she doubled to 250,000 while Kirsch dipped to just 30,000. –AV

5:15pm: Negreanu increases
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel opened to 15,000 in the UTG+1 seat which got a call from Mikita Badziakouski in the hijack. It folded to Daniel Negreanu in the big blind, and he defended.

The 7♠ Q♣ 7♦ flop brought two checks before Badziakouski led for 16,000. Negreanu called while Thorel let it go, and the 2♦ hit the turn. Negreanu checked. Badziakouski leant forward and tipped up sunglasses for a better look at the Team Pro’s stack.

“I got a hundred” he told him, and Badziakouski checked it.

The Q♥ hit the river and paired the board. Now Negreanu led out for 52,000–just over half his stack–and the Belarusian chip leader let his hand go.
“I was trying to think how to get more money from you,” Negreanu said, implying he had the goods. “Do I check?”

“Min-bet!” replied Badziakouski. Negreanu is up to 195,000 now. –JS

5:10pm: Watson makes it count
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

“Wasn’t I small blind last hand?” Jonathan Concepcion said as the first hand of Level 15 kicked off.

“Yeah, and I was big blind last hand,” said Mike Watson.

The two had found themselves in the exact same blind positions again, but unfortunately for the two action in the hand had already begun. Justin Bonomo had opened to 12,000, which was called by Javier Gomez in the cutoff. Watson defended his back-to-back big blind, slamming down a call as if he was a mad dog (we think the grumpiness was a joke).

The three saw a J♦ 2♠ 5♣ flop and it checked to Gomez who led for 15,000. Watson called. Bonomo asked to see Gomez’s stack, and when he found out it was around 350,000 he let his hand go.

Heads up to the turn, it came the 9♠ and both checked to the 10♦ river. Watson led out for 32,000, and that got Gomez to fold. it turned out the second consecutive big blind wasn’t bad at all. –JS

5:05pm: Negreanu knocks out Charania, 22 remain
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

The two-short stacks got it in and only one survived. Daniel Negreanu moved all-in for 75,000 in the first few minutes after break and Mohsin Charania called from middle position. Action folded to Felipe Ramos’s big blind.

“I have a pair,” Ramos said, showing a pair of deuces. “But I’ll fold for you.”

“My pair’s better,” Negreanu said. And Charania responded that that wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Charania turned over 10♦ 10♠ and Negreanu showed a better pair with Q♥ Q♦ . The 4♠ 7♥ 8♦ 3♣ 4♦ board didn’t bring any help for Charania and he busted out in 23rd while Negreanu chipped up to about 125,000. –AV

4:55pm: Play resumes
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 6,000)

Will the bubble burst this level? See who’s most in danger below. –MC

4:39pm: Break time

The remaining 23 players are on a 20-minute break. Join us back here then, when we’ll have all of the official chip counts. –JS

4:37pm: Nicky P doubles through DNegs
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Nearly all the aces were on the button and blinds in this hand. Nick Petrangelo came out on top and doubled.

The action folded around to Daniel Negreanu on the button and he moved all-in for 126,500. Petrangelo called all-in for 51,500 from the small blind and Mohsin Charania tank-folded ace-ten from the big blind to preserve his 50,000 stack.

Petrangelo: A♣ J♥
Negreanu: A♠ 9♦

The board ran 5♣ K♠ 10♦ 10♠ Q♦ to make Petrangelo a straight. — MC

4:35pm: Palumbo perishes, down to 23
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Isaac Haxton raised to 11,000 from the button and action folded to Rocco Palumbo on the big blind. Palumbo looked over at Isaac Haxton’s stack, Haxton barely had him covered with 150,000. Palumbo then moved all-in and Haxton quickly called.

Palumbo showed 4♥ 4♠ and Haxton turned over a bigger pocket pair with 10♦ 10♥ . The board ran 9♥ 5♦ J♣ 7♠ 8♠ and Palumbo hit the rail in 24th. Haxton on the other hand chipped up to 310,000. –AV

4:30pm: Charania in the dangerzone
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Mohsin Charania opened to 12,000 in early position and chip leader Mikita Badziakouski called in the cutoff. That brought in Daniel Negreanu from the big blind, and it was three-ways to the A♥ 4♣ 10♥ flop. It checked to Charania and he continued for 11,500, which only Badziakouski would call.

The dealer burned and turned the 7♠ and that card brought two checks. When the 8♦ landed on the river, Charania tanked and used a time bank card before checking it over to the Belarusian. He took his time too but made it 40,000 within the 30-second time frame.

Back to Charania, he only had 59,000 behind so this was essentially for his tournament life just three away from the money. He tanked and had to use another time bank, but eventually decided to fight another day, letting it go.

Badziakouski is up to 1.22 million now. –JS

4:25pm: Ace high better than king high
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Richard Kirsch and Isaac Haxton both missed flush draws so it came down to a high card battle. Kirsch won and moved up to 206,000.

Kirsch opened to 15,000 from the hijack and Haxton peeled from the big blind. Both players checked the 4♥ 8♦ 6♠ flop before Haxton led for 40,000 on the 2♠ turn. Kirsch called and both players went back to checking the 7♣ river. Haxton opened K♠ J♠ , losing out to A♠ 3♠ . He dropped to 140,000 but it would’ve been a whole lot worse if a spade had come. –MC

4:15pm: Vamos for Ramos
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Felipe Ramos made it 11,500 to go from the lojack, and his only caller would be Nick Petrangelo in the cutoff. The two went to a J♠ Q♦ 6♥ flop on which Ramos continued for 20,500. Petrangelo didn’t budge.

The turn was the 4♣ , and Ramos fired another bullet, this time worth 35,000. Petrangelo would match that once again to bring the Q♣ on the river, pairing the board.

Ramos opted for a check this time, with 70,500 behind. Petrangelo tossed in 90,000–more than enough for an all in–and Ramos snap-called. Petrangelo had a great hand with his K♥ Q♥ , but Ramos was best with his A♠ Q♠ .

A cooler for Petrangelo who dips to 60,000, while Ramos is up to 250,000 now. –JS

4:10pm: Final three table re-draw
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

4:05pm: Badziakouski busts Jensen, down to three tables
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

There was about 50,000 in the pot and a J♠ 4♣ 2♣ flop on the board. Gregory Jensen moved all-in for 60,000 from the small blind and Steffen Sontheimer folded from the big blind. Mikita Badziakouski and his massive stack were on the button and he called.
Badziakouski turned over A♥ J♣ for top-pair while Jensen showed a pair of fours with K♦ 4♠ .

Jensen needed some help, but the 9♠ on the turn and the 3♣ on the river didn’t bring him any. Jensen busted in 25th while Badziakouski’s lead grew to 1.2 million.

Play is now paused as we redraw to the final three tables. –AV

4pm: Badziakouski felts Zinno for big chip lead
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

As if Mikita Badziakouski’s tournament wasn’t going well enough, he’s just won a huge race to eliminate Anthony Zinno and take all of his 64-big-blind stack.

Action had folded to Badziakouski in the small blind and he made it 20,000 to go. Zinno then raised the big blind up to 75,000, and back to the Belarusian, he shoved. Zinno called and the hands were flipped.

Zinno – J♦ J♣
Bsadziakouski – A♦ K♦

And what would the most exciting flop be? How about 10♦ 5♦ J♠ .

Zinno had flopped top set, while Badziakouski had a ton of outs with his gutshot and flush draw. He’d hit the flush on the 7♦ turn, and Zinno couldn’t get the board to pair on the 6♠ river.

Zinno’s 320,000 stack shipped over to Badziakouski, who now has 1.1 million and is the only player above the milly mark. –JS

3:57pm: Calderaro joins Hobbs on the rail
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

James Calderaro’s recent roller-coaster ride ended in defeat soon after Kevin Hobbs busted from the same table.

He was in the big blind and called all-in for 52,000 after Mike Watson had shoved for 53,500 from the button.

Calderaro: A♠ Q♥
Watson: J♣ 9♦

The board ran 9♥ 4♣ 8♠ 4♦ 5♣ to pair Watson’s nine. –MC

3:55pm: Hobbs sent home
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Kevin Hobbs moved all-in on a 4♣ 4♥ 7♦ flop and Ryan McEathron called. McEathron had trip fours with A♦ 4♦ and Hobbs was drawing slim with K♠ J♦ . A turn brought a 9♠ and then a 2♦ on the river finished Hobbs’s tournament.

“No I can go get some rest,” a tired-looking Hobbs said. McEathron on the other hand chipped up to about 335,000. –AV

3:50pm: Calderaro drops then doubles
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

James Calderaro wasn’t happy. He called Christopher Kruk’s big river bet and immediately stood up from the table and took a quick walk after Kruk shows river trip twos.

There was about 36,000 in the pot on the river of a 9♣ A♠ 5♣ 2♠ 2♣ board and Kruk bet 46,000 from the small blind. Calderaro thought and eventually called. Kruk turned over K♦ 2♦ and that’s when Calderaro mucked his hand and stood up. He shook his head and took a quick walk by the main stage. He also vaped a little bit and came back to a stack of 22,500.

He did double up through Kruk a few hands later though. Calderaro moved all-in from the hijack and Kruk called from the cutoff. The rest of the table got out of the way and Calderaro showed J♥ J♣ to Kruk’s K♣ J♠ . The board ran Q♦ 5♦ 5♠ A♠ Q♥ and Calderaro doubled to about 50,000 while Kruk dipped to 555,000. –AV

3:48pm: The time bank collects from Kurganov
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 5,000)

Jonathan Jaffe just put Igor Kurganov to a decision that would end up costing the Team Pro five of his precious time bank cards.

This was the scene. 125,000 in the pot. A double-paired board showing the 9♣ 9♠ 6♦ 6♠ Q♥ .

Jaffe had either checked or bet (we’re not sure at this point), but Kurganov had 75,000 in front him. Jaffe had then raised that up to 210,000, which sent Kurganov deep into the tank.

The dealer kept sliding Kurganov’s time bank cards over to one side as the tank went on. “Which one am I on now?” Kurganov asked. The answer was the fifth one.

He’d eventually give it up, and Jaffe didn’t show. Kurganov still has plenty to work with with 345,000, while Jaffe is up to 600,000 now. –JS

3:45pm: Hobbs rising and falling
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

As level 13 came to an end, Kevin Hobbs won a pot and lost a post to settle on 140,000.

In the first pot, James Calderaro raised to 11,000 from middle position and was called by Hobbs in the cutoff. The flop fanned A♠ 9♣ 10♥ and Calderaro check-called 15,000 before check-folding to a 28,000 bet on the 5♣ turn. Hobbs flashed A♥ 10♦ for two pair.

Christopher Kruk opened the very next hand and was called by Hobbs and Richard Kirsch in the big blind. Kruk continued for 11,000 on the A♥ 10♥ 6♣ flop and was called by both opponents before all three checked the 3♦ turn. The J♥ completed the board and Hobbs bet 28,000 before being raised to 70,000 by Kirsch. Kruk folded and so did Hobbs after using two time banks. Kirsch showed Q♥ 4♥ for a flush and Hobbs said he folded a straight. Kirsch moved up to 190,000. –MC

3:35pm: Badziakouski gets the best of Engel
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

The last hand of Level 13 proved unlucky for Ari Engel, as he tangled with Mikita Badziakouski in a big pot.

Engel had opened the hijack and Badziakouski defended his big blind to see a 5♣ 10♦ 7♥ flop. Engel made an 8,000 c-bet when it checked to him which was called taking them to the 7♦ turn. Interestingly Badziakouski decided to lead out on this card for 28,000, and Engel would come along to the river.

The dealer put the K♦ out there which put three diamonds on board. Badziakouski continued for 64,000, only for Engel to then raise it to 180,000 – a huge amount of his stack and more than he left himself with behind.

Badziakouski went into the tank and used a time bank card. The decision he came up with was to move all in, and Engel let it go to drop to 135,000. Badziakouski is up to 650,000 after that one. –JS

3:20pm: Kicker issues cost Vaskaboinikau
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau won’t be returning to another $25k final table after he busted to Jonathan Concepcion.

We missed the preflop action but know that Vaskaboinikau had 104,500 when the chips went in on the 2♠ 9♦ 8♥ flop.

Concepcion: K♣ 9♣
Vaskaboinikau: Q♥ 9♥

The board ran out 7♦ 7♣ and the Spaniard moved up to 375,000. –MC

3:15pm: Confidence sells
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Jonathan Jaffe called Daniel Negreanu’s river shove with such speed and confidence that Negreanu almost mucked right there and left the tournament. Luckily for him, both players had the same exact hand.

Jaffe started the raise to 11,000 from under the gun and Negreanu three-bet to 32,000 from the small blind. Jaffe called and the flop came 2♣ 6♠ 9♠ . Negreanu bet 20,000 and Jaffe called, bringing a 3♦ on the turn. Negreanu upped the bet to 30,000 and Jaffe called again. A 5♥ completed the board and Negreanu moved all-in for about 90,000.

Jaffe snap called and Negreanu was starting to muck his hand when Jaffe turned over A♥ A♣ . Negreanu stopped mucking and turned over A♠ A♦ .

“When you turned over so fast I was like, there’s nothing I can beat,” Negreanu said. I was about to walk out right there.”

While they both had pocket aces, Jaffe almost took it down with confidence. Players chopped the pot instead and Negreanu is at 175,000 while Jaffe is at 350,000. –AV

3:05pm: All eyes on Seymour
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Most of the players in this field play together on a regular basis. They’re the high roller regs who travel the world in pursuit of high stakes tournaments with five to six and sometimes even seven figure buy-ins.

So when they’re deep in a high roller with someone who doesn’t fit that description, it’s interesting to see how they try and suss the player out. This hand didn’t have much action, but it was an interesting case study in trying to pick up tells.

Action folded to Ike Haxton in the cutoff and he made it 8,500 to go. Stefan Schillhabel called from the small blind, and former NFL star Richard Seymour defended his big blind to see a 9♠ K♠ Q♥ flop. It checked through.

The turn was the 10♦ putting four to a straight out there. Schillhabel checked again, and Seymour began thinking. It wasn’t only Haxton and Schillhabel who had their gazes locked in on Seymour, but Liv Boeree, Peter Jetten and other players at the table too. Their stares went from Seymour’s eyes to his neck, his hands to his heart.

After 25 seconds or so Seymour checked, and Haxton checked it back to the 10♣ river, pairing the board. Schillhabel checked again, and the Seymour stare down continued. This time it went on for a long time, as Seymour used not one but two time bank cards. Eventually he led out for 12,000.

Had Haxton and Schillhabel seen something while Seymour was in the tank? Whatever they saw, they both folded quickly, and you can be sure that info will be stored in their tell banks permanently.

Seymour now has 145,000. Haxton has 230,000 and Schillhabel has the most with 270,000. –JS

2:55pm: Jack the lad Zinno
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Anothony Zinno won a battle of the blinds versus the big-stacked Mikita Badziakouski to see his stack swell to around 275,000.

Badziakouski completed from the small blind and called after Zinno raised. The flop fell 2♦ 3♦ 9♥ and both players checked to the K♣ turn where Badziakouski led for 11,000. Call. The A♥ river was checked through and Badziakouski announced he had a nine. That was no good though as Zinno opened J♦ J♣ . Badziakouski dropped to 425,000. –MC

2:50pm: The king is dead, long live the king
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

There will be no repeat champion this year after the elimination of Lucas Greenwood. The defending champion was downed by Rocco Palumbo who move up to 171,000.

He departed in 33rd place meaning the tournament has shrunk to four eight-handed tables. –MC

2:45pm: Schillhabel takes from Jetten
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Stefan Schillhabel has moved up to 280,000 after making a full house and getting paid in a hand versus Peter Jetten.

He three-bet Jetten preflop and continued for 15,000 on a 9♥ 9♦ 6♠ flop. Jetten stuck with him through the checked 9♠ turn before calling another 60,000 on the 5♥ river. Schillhabel opened J♣ J♠ and Jetten mucked. –MC

2:35pm: Hobbs no longer MIA
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Kevin Hobbs was nowhere to be seen during the first two levels of the day and it was causing some worry. No need to worry anymore as the Canadian has arrived to play looking alive and well. –MC

2:26pm: Back to it
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 4,000)

Players are back in their seats for the third level of the day. Below are the top ten counts, click here for the full counts. –MC

2:06pm: First break of the day
Level 12 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 3,000)

Two levels down, 20-minute break one one and all. –MC

2pm: 33 remain
Level 12 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 3,000)

As we edge closer to the first break of the day, 33 players are still in the hunt. Those who have been downed most recently include John Krpan, Seth Davies, Boris Kolev and Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari. –MC

1:45pm: King Zinno
Level 12 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 3,000)

Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu tried to represent a hand to get a fold out of Anthony Zinno but the latter wasn’t in the mood to fold pocket kings.

Zinno raised to 7,000 off the button and was called by Negreanu and Isaac Haxton in the blinds. The flop came 8♦ 9♠ Q♣ and Zinno’s 16,000 c-bet was only called by Negreanu. Both players checked the 7♥ turn before the Canadian led for 30,000 on the Q♠ river. Zinno called with K♦ K♣ to beat Negreanu’s K♠ 10♥ and rose to 190,000. Negreanu dropped to 86,000. –MC

1:30pm: Gomez builds a mansion
Level 12 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 3,000)

Javier Gomez has risen to around 580,000 after winning a big pot off Nick Petrangelo, who dropped to 280,000.

The latter raised to 8,000 off the button and was called by the former. A 6♥ 9♣ 6♦ flop was spread and Gomez check-called a 7,000 c-bet from Petrangelo. The turn was the 5♠ and Petrangelo saw his 11,000 bet check-raised to 40,000. Call. Zapatero then led for 125,000 on the 7♠ river. Petrangelo made a quick call but mucked upon seeing Gomez’s 5♣ 5♦ for a turned full house. –MC

1:10pm: New level, fewer players
Level 12 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 3,000)

We’re into the second level of the day with 38 players remaining. Mustapha Kanit, Jason Koon and Noah Schwartz are not part of Cool and the Gang anymore. –MC

1pm: $836k up top!
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Floor person Kate (formerly known as Kate the dealer) just announced the payouts to the players and the winner will receive a hefty $836,350. In total, 20 players will share the $3,484,800 prize pool, with a minimum cash worth $45,300. We’ll post the full breakdown as soon as we receive it. –MC

12:50pm: The kid likes quads
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Daniel Negreanu just hit quads for the third time this tournament! His 2♥ 2♣ connected pretty well with the 2♠ A♥ 2♦ flop but unfortunately for him, his opponent – Rocco Palumbo – folded to a bet on the K♠ turn. Still, a win is a win, and Negreanu moved up to 175,000. –MC

12:35pm: No recovery for Danchev
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Dimitar Danchev failed to make a recovery after being left with a bowl of chips. Nidal Baba, Bertlomiej Machon and Benjamin Yu have also hit the rail early on. –MC

12:30pm: Engle can’t pull the trigger
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Ari Engle tried, over the course of two streets, to bluff Justin Bonomo off his hand before giving up on the river.

He had opened from under the gun and bet 5,000 and 15,000 on the flop and turn before checking the river. The board read K♦ 7♠ 4♣ 6♣ 9♥ and Bonomo was sat two seats along feeling stubborn with 5♠ 5♣ . Good job too as Engle only had Q♠ 10♥ and dropped to around 200,000. Bonomo, meanwhile, moved up to 104,000. –MC

12:20pm: Cooler leaves Danchev short
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Former PCA Main Event champion Dimitar Danchev has been left very short after he got caught up in a nasty cooler.

He opened to 5,000 from the cutoff before Christopher Kruk three-bet to 15,000 off the button and Javier Gomez Zapatero four-bet to 40,000 out of the small blind. Danchev had a concentrated look upon his face before he shoved for 123,800. Kruk asked for a count and then called all-in for 104,700, which was enough to scare off Zapatero.

Danchev: K♣ K♥
Kruk: A♠ A♦

The board ran a blank 2♠ 10♥ 3♦ 5♦ J♥ and all Danchev could do was shake his head. –MC

12:05pm: Three re-enter as play begins
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Cards are in the air for Day 2 and there are three more entries to tell you about. Richard Kirsch, Noah Schwartz and Rainer Kemper – who took down the $3,300 NLHE for $130,840 yesterday – are in for their second bullets. –MC

12pm: Play about to start
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Not long now, below is how they’re lining up at the start of the day. –MC

11:30am: Welcome back for Day 2
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 2,400)

Welcome back for Day 2 of the $25,000 Single Re-entry High Roller. There are two main aims for today: make the money and get to the final table. We’re not sure how many will get paid yet as registration stays open until the first card is dealt off the deck at midday. So far, 141 entries (inc. 42 re-entries) have taken part with 47 making it through to Day 2.

Mikita Badziakouski ended Day 1 on top of the counts, amassing an impressive 403,500. Here’s how the top ten players stack up:

For the full counts, click here.

Join us back here at midday for continued updates. –MC

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $25,000 High Roller:Marc Convey, Jack Stanton and Alex Villegas. Photography by Carlos Monti.

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