Thursday, 28th March 2024 12:55
Home / Uncategorized / PCA 2018: David Peters makes Day 4 of the Main Event his own

When asked the question “what happened” today in the PCA Main Event, the answer is easy. It’s David Peters. That’s what happened.

Another suggestion for this report was to simply put the words “David” and “Peters” in the headline, followed by a photo of David Peters in the main post, and a nudge towards the day’s live coverage below.

David Peters

If we haven’t yet made this clear, the day was all about David Peters.

Peters destroyed the field today. While others came and went, and others still fought against the momentum of a tough day, Peters made it look easy, whether it was on the outer tables, or, as they were whittled away, under the TV lights on the main stage.

He bags up the lead tonight with 3,105,000 chips. That’s some way ahead of the field that was shrunk to a last 16 today. Here’s how they’ll line up when they play down to six tomorrow.

Name Country Chips
David Peters USA 3,105,000
Maria Lampropulos Argentina 2,313,000
Adalfer Gamarra Colombia 1,916,000
Jonathan West USA 1,656,000
Koray Aldemir Germany 1,420,000
Christian Rudolph Germany 1,285,000
Shawn Buchanan Canada 992,000
Michael Farrow Canada 981,000
Patryk Poterek Poland 918,000
Bartosz Stasiewicz Poland 624,000
Oleg Titov Russia 488,000
Phillip Corion UK 425,000
Daniel Coupal Canada 386,000
Florian Maurer Austria 352,000
Jean Ateba Norway 314,000
Adrian Mateos Spain 236,000

Obviously there’s more to the story than just Peters (although again, if you stopped now, scanned back and read the first sentence of this report, then called it a night, you’d be fully briefed).

There were good days for Maria Lampropulos, Adalfer Gamarra, Koray Aldemir, and Shawn Buchanan – all return tomorrow.

Maria Lampropulos

On the flip side of their success there were the players we lost today.

Among the fallers were some of the key names of this week, among them National Championship winner Maria Konnikova, who was first out today, Aaron and Sharman Olshan, Gleidibe Brito, and Orpen Kisacikoglu.

Maria Konnikova

Then on the last hand of the night, and of the 21st level, Team Pro Liv Boeree ran queens into the pocket kings of Lampropulos to end her tournament in 17th place, a premature end to an impressive performance.


Liv Boeree

You can find details of that hand, and the other key moments of the day by scrolling through the live coverage archive below. You can also find a full list of the payouts by clicking here.

That concludes today though as far as the Main Event is concerned. Coverage of the High Roller continues on the Blog. Join us for more Main Event coverage tomorrow at 12 noon. For now though remember: “David”. “Peters”. That’s all you need to know. – SB

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7:40pm: Kings over queens help Lampropulos bust Boeree
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

With 17 left there were two women remaining in the field, Maria Lampropulos and Liv Boeree. After clashing just now in a big hand, only one remains.

The hand started with Lampropulos raising from the hijack to 37,000, then Boeree made it 100,000 to go from the next seat over, leaving herself about 530,000 behind.

When the action returned to Lampropulos she leaned forward and pointed at Boeree’s stack to get a better idea what she had, then after pausing a while reraised to 200,000.

Boeree sat motionless, looking over at Lampropulos as she studied the situation.

Studying

About a minute-and-a-half later, Boeree announced she was pushing all in.

Lampropulos didn’t have to think about it. She called right away. Boeree showed her hand, then saw her opponent’s.

Showing

Lampropulos: K♠ K♥
Boeree: Q♦ Q♣

Boeree looked to the ceiling and exhaled before propping up on her knees on the chair to watch the community cards come.

Bracing

The Aâ™  J♥ Jâ™  flop didn’t help her, and after the 7♥ turn she stood from her seat.

The river was the A♥ and Lampropulos’s kings had held. With a “good game” Boeree left, and the tournament is now down to the last two tables.

Leaving

Lampropulos appears to have edged over 2.3 million-chip mark with that pot. –MH

7:35pm: Rudolph doubled after dream flop
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

There are dream flops and there’s the one that Christian Rudolph just saw. It’s got to be nice to flop the nuts with a redraw to the nuts.

Oleg Titov opened to 35,000 from under the gun and Rudolph called from the small blind. The flop came 10♣ 6♥ 8♥ and Titov continued for 50,000 and then shoved after Rudolph raised to 162,000. The German made an immediate call.

Rudolph: 9♥ 7♥ for the nut straight with a straight flush redraw
Titov: A♠ J♥ for a hand that needed a lot of help

The board ran out 8♣ Kâ™  and Titov dropped to 500,000. –MC

7:30pm: Peters claims another, Milaev gone
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Aleksandr Milyaev was down to 182,000, so when he picked up 8♠ 8♦ facing a raise from David Peters, he got it all in against A♦ 10♥ .

Peters made the call, spiked his ace, and sent Milyaev to the rail in 18th place for $44,000.–BW

7:25pm: Germany v Germany (Germany wins)
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Koray Aldemir laid some pain on is countryman Christian Rudolph, leaving Rudolph with 590,000 and some regret at a river bet.

Aldemir opened from the button and Rudolph called in the big blind. The two looked at the 4♦ 3♣ A♦ flop and Rudolph check-called Aldemir’s 28,000 c-bet.

They both checked the Qâ™  turn, taking them to the 9♣ river. Rudolph stabbed 101,000 at it, but Aldemir wasn’t having it. He bumped it up to 305,000 and Rudolph folded. — HS

7:20pm: Chop it up
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Philip Corion had just knocked out Bryan Ponce, and not long after that found himself all in again, only this time he was the one at risk after shoving over a Koray Aldemir raise and getting called.

Corion had picked up A♣ K♣ , but Aldemir had A♠ K♦ , thereby setting up an anticlimactic runout of of Q♣ 5♦ 5♠ 3♠ 8♠ and a chopped pot.

Aldemir is on 1.52 million and Corion has about 475,000. –MH

7:15pm: Ponce and Corion all-in
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Bryan Ponce moved in for 182,000 with J♦ 9♠ . Phillip Corion, another short stack, also moved all-in, having found Q♦ Q♠ . It would be between the two of them.

The flop came: J♥ 7♥ A♣ Q♥ 7♠

That did it for Ponce, who departs in 19th place. A lifeline for Corion though. He is now up to 400,000. – SB

7:10pm: Lucky sevens for Maurer
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Florian Maurer has moved up to around 430,000 after he doubled through neighbour Adalfer Gamarra.

Gamarra raised to 47,000 off the button and snapped Maurer’s 213,000 shove from the next seat.

Maurer: 7♠ 7♣
Gamarra: A♠ 2♣

The board ran 9â™  K♦ 9♦ 7♥ 2♦ to make Maurer a full house. Gamarra dropped back to 1.85 million. –MC

7pm: Anoshka stopped in 20th
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Uladzimir Anoshka is wearing green today. Next to him has been Bryan Ponce in red, with Koray Aldemir in yellow next to Ponce. The sight of the three of them in a row this afternoon and early evening has somewhat resembles a traffic light.

Koray Aldemir (yellow), Bryan Ponce (red) and Uladzimir Anoshka (green)

Just now Anoshka open-raised all in from the button — not the first time he’s done that lately — putting his last 165,000 at risk. Ponce in the small blind folded, but Aldemir made the call.

Aldemir: A♠ 6♥
Anoshka: A♦ 4♣

Would Anoshka’s Main Event keep going? Or stop? Or might there be an in-between result — a chopped pot?

“Four on the flop,” asked Anoshka of the dealer, and on cue the cards came 4♥ 7♥ 9â™  . Anoshka pumped a fist, then had another request.

Ulad Anoshka: Hit the road

“Four on the turn,” he said. “Don’t get greedy,” joked Phillip Corion.

The turn was the K♥ , providing a heart flush draw for Aldemir, and the table responded. Time for the river.

The green-clad Anoshka didn’t want to see a red card, but alas for him he did — and the 3♥ at that. A flush for Aldemir and Anoshka is out in 20th while Aldemir is at 925,000 now. –MH

6:55pm: Cooler costs Banz
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

A huge pot just played out between Christian Banz and Maria Lampropulos. It was a cooler too and cost Banz his tournament life.

Bartosz Stasiewicz opened proceedings with an early position raise to 37,000. Lampropulos was on the button and reraised to 107,000 before Banz snap shoved for 769,000. Stasiewicz folded to leave Lampropulos to call.

Banz: A♥ K♥
Lampropulos: A♦ A♠

The board ran J♣ 9♦ 6â™  9♣ 3♥ and Lampropulos shook Banz’s hand before he headed off. She moved up to 1.75 million. –MC

Maria Lampropulos: Building again

6:50pm: Double up for Ponce
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Bryan Ponce moved all-in pre-flop with A♥ 10♦ for 125,000. Shawn Buchanan called on the button with K♥ J♥ .

The board came 3♥ 7♠ 7♦ A♠ 4♣

A double up for Ponce, now up to 260,000. – SB

6:45pm: Buchanan doubles up
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Another all-in, this time from Koray Aldemir, though it was Shawn Buchanan who was the effective stack.

Aldemir opened for 32,000. Shawn Buchanan raised to 130,000 in the cut off before Aldemir shoved. Buchanan called immediately. And with good reason.

Buchanan: A♦ A♣
Aldemir: A♥ K♦

The board ran 2♠ 7♠ 3♥ K♠ 7♥ . There was some excitement from somewhere on the turn, but Aldemir knew better.

Shawn Buchanan: Easy with aces

He dropped to 800,000 while Buchanan doubles up to around 1.3 million. – SB

6:40pm: Big check for Aldemir
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

A run of big hands. The first was opened by Koray Aldemir on the button for 34,000 which Christian Rudolph called from the big blind for a flop of J♣ J♥ 4♥ .

It was checked to Aldemir who bet another 26,000 before Rudolph raised to 70,000. Aldemir called. The dealer banged the table twice, kind of like you would the rump of a favoured horse, and dealt the 8♥ turn.

Another 140,000 from Rudolph, which Aldemir called for the 6♦ river. Rudolph checked with what would turn out to be Q♣ 10♣ , as did Aldemir, impressively, with A♥ 5♣ . Effectively ace-high.

That put him up to 1.45 million, and dropped Rudolph to 700,000. – SB

6:35pm: A very tens hand
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Florian Maurer had raised to 35,000 from late position, and after Christian Banz reraised all in for 186,000 from the blinds Maurer called.

The pair’s hands were shown — 10♣ 10♥ for Banz and A♥ Q♥ for Maurer — but the players had to wait a short while for the cameras to get ready before the board could be dealt.

Tension!

Finally the flop — 6â™  A♦ 6♥ . “Oof,” was one way to verbalize Banz’s body language at the sight of the ace.

Then the turn — the 10â™  ! Banz’s eyes widened as he exhaled.

The river J♣ sealed it for Banz, and he’s up to 400,000. Meanwhile Maurer smiled and shook his head, in good spirits despite getting knocked back to 205,000. –MH

6:30pm: The half million chip man
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Florian Maurer’s stack had risen to 500,000 after he won a small pot off neighbour Adalfer Gamarra who dropped a little to 1.74 million.

Maurer raised to 35,000 from under the gun and was only called by Gamarra in the big blind. The board ran out A♠ A♥ 10♦ 6♦ ]4♠ with nothing going in until the river where Gamarra checked and then snap called (he does that a lot) a 30,000 bet.

Maurer opened K♦ 10♥ and Gamarra showed a five before mucking. –MC

6:25pm: Other action
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

While we have our focus on the Main Event right now, we also have a full slate of side event results for you. Give it a click. –BW

6:20pm: Gamarra grabs some more
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Soon after play resumed, Liv Boeree opened for 35,000 from the hijack seat and it folded around to Adalfer Gamarra in the small blind.

Gamarra has come back to this level donning hoodie, and from underneath that he three-bet to 91,000. It folded back to Boeree who called the reraise, then the flop came 7♠ 10♦ K♠ .

Gamarra took some time before leading for 111,000, and Boeree likewise thought about it before calling. But when Gamarra bet another 240,000 following the J♥ turn, Boeree couldn’t continue and let her hand go.

Gamarra showed his hand before collecting the pot — 5♦ 5♥

He’s up around 1.9 million now, while Boeree has about 750,000. –MH

6:16pm: Chreem sours
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Helio Chreem was just coming off having to fold pocket nines to a four-bet (and he was right in the fold), so he may have just run out of folds.

Helio Chreem: Sees the bad news

David Peters opened to 36,000 and got calls from Chreem in the small blind and Adrian Mateous in the big blind. The flop couldn’t have been much worse for Chreem.

The 10â™  9♣ 7â™  flop gave Peters the set and Chreem the open-ended draw. It went as you’d expect.

It was checked to Peters, he bet out, Chreem jammed for around 400,000, and Peters called. The board ran out clean for Peters, bounced Chreem in 22nd place ($38,380), and moved Peters up over the 2.6 million chip mark. –BW

The imperious David Peters

6:15pm: An all-in “Get In!” for Corion
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

A vital triple-up for short stack Phillip Corion, and a “Get in!” to follow.

Oleg Titov opened from under the gun for 35,000, which Koray Aldemir called. Corion, in the seat next to Aldemir, moved all-in for 145,000. Both Titov and Aldemir called to see a flop of 8♥ 5♣ 2♥ .

Titov bet another 175,000 forcing Aldemir to fold.

Titov: 9♥ 9♦
Corion: A♦ J♠

There was no help for Corion on the 3♠ turn, but the A♣ river kept him alive.

Phillip Corion: Get in!

“Get in!” he said quietly, before stacking up 420,000. – SB

6:10pm: Farrow first
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Michael Farrow won the first hand back from break at his table. He opened to 35,000 from the hijack and was called by Christian Rudolph in the big blind.

The flop fell 8♣ 10♣ 5♦ and both players checked to the J♠ turn where Rudolph check-called a 55,000 bet. The A♠ came on fifth street and both players went back to checking.

Rudolph opened K♦ J♦ but lost out to Farrow and his Q♥ Qâ™  . Farrow moved up to 780,000 and Rudolph dropped to 920,000. –MC

5:45pm: Away they go again
Level 21 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

And let’s play another level. There are 22 players left and we stop when they get to 16. — HS

Final three table set-up

5:50pm: Break time

Back in 20.

5:45pm: Boeree busts Blanco
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

The last hand before the end of Level 20 was very good for Liv Boeree. She scored an all but double-up and sent Lucas Blanco out in 23rd.

Lucas Blanco

Blanco has scaled the heights today, but now he’s sampling the depths. He takes $38,380, but it wasn’t so long ago that he was in the top handful of favourites for the $1.1 million.

His final hand played out like this:

Florian Maurer opened to 27,000 from UTG+1 and Christian Banz called in the hijack. Boeree then three-bet to 115,000 from the cutoff and the decision quickly moved over to Blanco in the big blind.

Blanco paused a moment, then pushed. It was for 381,000. Maurer folded quickly. Banz folded after a slightly longer moment. But Boeree called from her stack of about 470,000.

On their backs:

Blanco: J♦ J♣
Boeree: A♣ K♥

Boeree flopped well when the dealer put the K♣ 8♣ 3♥ out there. Blanco did not catch up on neither the Q♠ turn nor 2♦ river.

That means Boeree moves up to around 850,000 (accurate count to come) and Blanco has a very long break now–about a year–before he can next play in a PCA Main Event. — HS

5:40pm: Maurer and West clash again
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

There’s quite the dynamic building between Florian Maurer and Jonathan West which is fun to watch. West just pulled off a big bluff to take the round.

Bartosz Stasiewicz started the bout with an under-the-gun raise to 30,000, picking up calls from Maurer in the hijack and West in the big blind. The flop spread 8♦ 5♣ 7♣ and Maurer bet 45,000.

Bartosz Stasiewicz

Stasiewicz folded after West raised to 110,000 but Maurer called to the 10â™  turn where he called another 200,000. The 2â™  completed the board and West shoved for 686,000. Maurer had 585,000 left and decided to preserve them by folding. West opened K♣ 8♣ for a pair and busted flush draw that he turned into a bluff. –MC

5:30pm: Blanco gets back on the horse
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Lucas Blanco moved back up to 360,000 after winning a small button versus big blind battle.

Lucas Blanco

He was in the big blind and called a 25,000 button raise from Jonathan West. The board rolled out 2♥ 9♥ Q♣ 4♦ 6♥ with no chips going in until the river where Blanco bombed for 80,000. West called and mucked when Blanco opened 9♦ 6♦ for two pair. He dropped to 960,000. –MC

5:25pm: In it for the Banz
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

No sooner had Jonathan West won those chips from Florian Maurer than he was giving them over to Christian Banz. Banz got lucky to win this one, and his tournament life depended on it too.

Christian Banz

Maria Lampropulos opened the pot to 27,000 and Banz three-bet jammed for 212,000. Action passed to West in the small blind and he called, which got Lampropulos out of the way.

Banz: Q♥ 10♥
West: A♥ K♦

West had just cracked ace-king with his own under-cards and this time he watched helpless as Banz did the same to him. The board ran 10♦ 3♣ J♣ 2♣ 5♥ and Banz doubles to 250,000.

West slips back to about 1 million. — HS

5:21pm: Kings bring small benefit to Ateba
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

With just about 250,000 to start the hand — about big blinds — Jean Ateba limped in from the small blind with K♦ K♣ and Helio Chreem checked in the big blind with 10♥ 7â™  .

Jean Ateba

The flop came A♣ A♦ 10♣ and Ateba check-called a 40,000 bet from Chreem who’d paired his ten. The Kâ™  improved Ateba to a full house, and both players checked.

The river was the 5♦ and this time Ateba shipped all in, and Chreem took gave it some genuine thought before saying “no” and folding, keeping his 554,000. Ateba has 314,000 now. –MH

5:20pm: Go West
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Florian Maurer opened to 27,000 from the hijack and Jonathan West called in the big blind. Those two examined the 6♠ J♦ 7♥ flop and West checked to face a bet of 30,000 from Maurer. West called.

Jonathan West

This pattern repeated on the 3♠ turn, though the bet was for 60,000. Then they went through another iteration on the 9♥ river, with the bet this time 115,000.

After West’s final call, Maurer turned over his A♥ Kâ™  , which was pretty before the flop but not that strong anymore. West showed his 9♦ 8â™  for which the reverse was true.

West ended the hand with 1.04 million, while Maurer has 1.26 million. — HS

5:12pm: Lampropulos races to a double up
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

They say you have to win flips to win tournaments. Maria Lampropulos did just that and has gotten her stack up to 986,000, very close to her high point yesterday.

Maria Lampropulos

Lucas Blanco raised to 30,000 from middle position and then four-bet all-in after Lampropulos three-bet to 90,000 from the button. Lampropulos slowly pushed a stack forward to indicate her call all-in for 474,000.

Blanco: 5♠ 5♣
Lampropulos: A♦ K♦

The board ran J♣ 4♦ Kâ™  7â™  3♦ to pair Lampropulos’ king. Blanco dropped to 245,000. –MC

5:10pm: Short stacks shoving
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

In one feature table hand Daniel Coupal raise-shoved on a 9♠ 3♦ 3♥ flop holding 9♦ 7♦ over a David Peters bet, and the latter folded his Q♠ 7♠ . Coupal had 449,000 after that.

Then in another Jean Ateba open-raised his short stack with J♣ Jâ™  and won the blinds and antes. He’s at 236,000. –MH

5:05pm: A chop, a set and a shove
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

No bustouts, but some interesting hands to report from the outer tables.

First up, Uladzimir Anoshka was all-in and called by Koray Aldemir. Anoshka had about 160,000 and Aldemir about 10 times that, but their hands in this one were identical. Anoshka’s A♦ 10♣ chopped it with Aldemir’s A♥ 10♦ . “Boring!” Phillip Corion, also at that table, said.

Uladzimir Anoshka

Soon after, Bryan Ponce opened back-to-back pots. The first, from the cutoff, got all the way through. The second, from the hijack, found a call from Shawn Buchanan in the big blind.

Buchanan checked the 6♥ 4♣ 10♥ flop leading to a bet of 16,000 from Ponce. Buchanan called. They both then checked the 3♣ turn, which brought them to the J♦ river.

Shawn Buchanan

Buchanan now led, putting 27,000 over the line and Ponce called. Buchanan showed his 10♣ 9♦ and Ponce exposed 6♠ 6♦ for a flopped set. That was a winner.

A couple of hands later, Anoshka open-pushed all-in for the same 160,000 he had a little while ago. It folded all the way around to Oleg Titov in the big blind and he said, “No way.” He folded. — HS

5:01pm: (Small) clash of the titans
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

David Peters raised ot 27,000 from early position with K♣ Q♦ and Adrian Mateos called from the big blind with J♥ 10♦ .

David Peters

The flop fell 6♦ J♣ A♠ , and Mateos check-called a continuation bet of 22,000. The A♦ turn paired the board while also freezing the action, as both players checked.

The 8♦ completed the board. Check-check again, and Peters took the small pot. Peters chips back to 1.86 million, while Mateos has 537,000. –MH

4:50pm: Good call from Gamarra
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

“Good call!” said Christian Banz to to Adalfer Gamarra after the Columbian wasted little thinking time on turn or river to take chips from Bartosz Stasiewicz.

Adalfer Gamarra

The hand started with a Florian Maurer under-the-gun raise to 27,000. Stasiewicz (button) and Gamarra (big blind) both called before an 8♦ Q♦ Kâ™  flop was checked around. The turn was the J♣ and Gamarra led for 23,000 which was enough to force out Maurer but not Stasiewicz who raised to 83,000. Gamarra snap called and then checked over the 3♦ river to face a bet for another 225,000. He snap called again and took the pot with Aâ™  Qâ™  to move up to 1.85 million after Stasiewicz mucked to drop to 860,000.–MC

4:40pm: Buchanan winning from the blinds
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Koray Aldemir opened for 26,000 from the cutoff seat and it folded to Shawn Buchanan in the big blind who three-bet to 87,000. Aldemir considered a while then called, then both checked the 7♠ 10♥ 6♣ flop.

Koray Aldemir

The turn was the 5♥ , eliciting a bet of what looked like 62,000 from Buchanan. Aldemir called that, then checked behind after Buchanan checked the 3♠ river.

Buchanan turned over 9♦ 9♣ and Aldemir mucked, and Buchanan claimed the pot to move up around 620,000. Aldemir still sits at 1.475 million. –MH

4:39pm: Mateos knocks out Sinclair in 24th
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Adrian Mateos opened for 26,000 from middle position after being dealt 7♥ 7♣ . It folded to the table’s short stack Jack Sinclair who he called with J♥ 8♣ to leave himself just under 100,000.

The flop came Q♥ 2♥ 7♠ . Sinclair checked, and Mateos paused just a few seconds before checking behind.

The turn was the 9♣ . Both checked again.

The river was the 8♥ , putting a third heart on the board while giving Sinclair a pair of eights. Sinclair bet 27,000 — about a quarter of his stack — and Mateos waited about a minute before pushing all in.

Sinclair looked toward the ceiling at that, then exhaled and scratched his forehead. What to do… what to do… what to do…

Call.

Mateos showed his set and Sinclair departs in 24th. Mateos has 695,000. –MH

4:31pm: Tens bring chips to Chreem
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Helio Chreem opened for 26,000 from middle position with 10â™  10♣ , then Daniel Coupal three-bet to 75,000 after being dealt 8♥ 8♦ in the cutoff. It folded back to Chreem who called, and the flop came well for him — Aâ™  A♥ 10♥ .

Both checked that flop, then both checked again after the 2â™  turn. The river was the 7♥ . Chreem finally bet this time — 200,000 —

Chreem has 750,000 now, Coupal 413,000. –MH

4:30pm: Pushing it in Level 20
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

We eased effortlessly into Level 20, having already taken our tournament break when they redrew. And the poker continued in its established vein.

Michael Farrow opened to 26,000 from early position only to face an all-in push from Phillip Corion. It passed back to Farrow and he wanted a count.

Michael Farrow

Learning the push was for 190,000, Farrow decided to let this one go.

Not long later, Koray Aldemir opened to 26,000 from early position and picked up three callers: Shawn Buchanan on the button and then Oleg Titov in the small blind and Uladzimir Anoshka in the big blind.

The four of them saw the flop fall 8♣ 9â™  6♣ but they all checked. Then the 9♥ came off on the turn. Titov scented weakness and put a 75,000 bet out there. Everyone else folded. — HS

4:26pm: Blanco and Lampropulos add to their stacks
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Lucas Blanco moved up to 550,000 after winning a three-bet pot with trip aces. The board rested as 9♥ A♣ 2♦ A♥ Q♥ and we caught all three players checking the turn. Blanco was in the under the gun seat and led out for 55,000 and was check-called by Bartosz Stasiewicz in the big blind, who mucked upon seeing Blanco’s Aâ™  5â™  .

Maria Lampropulos

Maria Lampropulos raised to 25,000 from middle position the very next hand and called after Christian Banz three-bet to 77,000 from the next seat. The flop came 9♦ 4♣ Q♦ and Lampropulos checked to face a 85,000 bet. She went into the tank for several minuted before shoving for 308,000. Banz mucked. –MC

4:22pm: How we doin’, Liv
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Liv Boeree is the final 24. We caught up with her at the break. –BW

4:21pm: Poterek doubles through Peters
Level 20 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

A feature table hand for you, as shown on the live stream.

David Peters raised to 23,000 from early position with 10♠ 9♠ , and Patryk Poterek three-bet to 73,000 with A♦ J♠ from one seat over. Peters thought a short while and called the reraise, and the two players saw a flop come 4♠ J♣ 7♥ .

Peters checked and Poterek bet 50,000, then after sitting with a stoic look for a half-minute Peters suddenly set out enough chips to put Poterek all in and the latter called quickly for 265,000 total.

The turn was the 10♥ , giving Peters a pair and adding outs for him. But the river was the 3♦ and Poterek survives.

Poterek moves up to about 700,000 while Peters slips to 1.67 million. –MH

4:15pm: Buchanan all-in and…
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Shawn Buchanan is ou– actually, no he isn’t. He’s in. He’s doubled up.

This hand shows that Koray Aldemir is mortal after all, and also that Buchanan’s impeccable survival instincts are still well honed. He didn’t get that $6 million in live tournament cashes without rivering a few two-outers.

Shawn Buchanan

The hand began with Aldemir opening to 21,000 from under the gun and Buchanan moving all-in from the cutoff for 240,000.

It passed through the blinds, but Aldemir called and turned over Aâ™  Kâ™  . Buchanan’s J♦ J♣ meant they were headed to the racetrack.

Aldemir sprinted ahead after the A♥ 7â™  9♣ flop, and stayed there after the 4♦ turn. But the J♥ river was Buchanan’s get out of jail card and he doubles to 510,000.

Aldemir drops to 1.55 million, so is hardly in trouble. — HS

4:10pm: Lyubovetskiy’s aces cracked, eliminated in 25th
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Filling in one last blank from before the re-draw to three tables, we can now share details from Andriy Lyubovetskiy’s knockout from the feature table in 25th place.

As shown on the live stream, Koray Aldemir — not far removed from winning that 1.5 million-plus pot when knocking out Karl Stark in 26th — raised to 21,000 from early position with 9♦ 6♦ , and Lyubovetskiy just smooth-called with A♥ A♣ .

It folded to Florian Maurer in the big blind with 8♥ 8♦ who three-bet to 80,000, and Aldemir folded.

Lyubovetskiy sat in contemplation for a while before reraising all in for 431,000 total, and Maurer went into the tank for a bit before making the call.

The situation recalled the one from yesterday when Barry Greenstein survived an all-in on the stone bubble with pocket eights versus pocket aces, a river eight saving the Team PokerStars Pro. That made the subsequent runout all the more uncanny…

4♦ J♥ 7♣ 4♠ 8♣ !

An eight on the river again (!) and Lyubovetskiy’s tournament was over. Meanwhile Maurer jumped up to just over 1 million. –MH

4:02pm: Start-of-day leader Stark suddenly out, Aldemir jumps up
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

We’ve got another hand to share with you from the live stream, this a big one involving start-of-day leader Karl Stark and Koray Aldemir.

After Liv Boeree opened from under the gun for 23,000 with J♥ 10♥ , Stark called from the cutoff holding 9♠ 9♥ , then Aldemir three-bet to 100,000 from the small blind holding A♦ K♥ .

Koray Aldemir

It folded to Boeree who let her hand go, then Stark considered for a short while before shoving all in for 762,000 total. Aldemir called right away, and just like that there was more than 1.5 million in the middle.

The flop came 4♣ 6â™  J♣ , keeping Stark’s nines in front, then the Q♥ turn gave Aldemir some straight outs to go along with his overcards.

The dealer burned and turned the river… the K♣ ! Suddenly Stark was out, and Aldemir catapulted up over 1.8 million. –MH

4pm: Stemmler stacked
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

As shown on the live stream a short while ago, Jason Stemmler busted in 29th place after committing his last 43,000 with A♥ 4â™  and needing help against Andriy Lyubovetskiy’s 9♥ 9♦

Jason Stemmler

The board came 2♥ K♥ 5♦ 6â™  Q♦ , and Stemmler is out. –MH

3:57pm: New seats

Name Country Chips Table Seat
Jean Ateba Norway 248000 1 1
Helio Chreem Brazil 654000 1 2
Adrian Mateos Spain 565000 1 3
Daniel Coupal Canada 525000 1 4
David Peters USA 2008000 1 5
Patryk Poterek Poland 339000 1 6
Aleksandr Milyaev Russia 697000 1 7
Jack Sinclair UK 135000 1 8
Liv Boeree UK 607000 2 1
Jonathan West USA 1305000 2 2
Bartosz Stasiewicz Poland 1329000 2 3
Lucas Blanco Spain 400000 2 4
Adalfer Morales Gamarra Colombia 1306000 2 5
Florian Maurer Austria 1016000 2 6
Maria Lampropulos Argentina 367000 2 7
Christian Banz Germany 556000 2 8
Shawn Buchanan Canada 241000 3 1
Oleg Titov Russia 1108000 3 2
Ulad Anoshka Belarus 191000 3 3
Michael Farrow Canada 561000 3 4
Bryan Ponce Zerna Ecuador 279000 3 5
Koray Aldemir Germany 1804000 3 6
Phillip Corion UK 268000 3 7
Christian Rudolph Germany 918000 3 8

3:30pm: Three table re-draw
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

There has been an elimination from the feature table, and that brings the field down to 24. That means a re-draw. With eight minutes left on Level 19, tournament officials have decided to send players on their 20-minute break a little early, so they can come back to their new assignments after a pause.

We’ll have details of the redraw very soon, and make sure you’re watching the live stream to find out what happened, and to whom. — HS

3:25pm: Farrow all-in
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Jonathan West opened for 22,000, which was called by Lucas Blanco in the small blind and Michael Farrow in the big.

The flop came 6♥ 2♣ 8♥ which was checked three ways for the 2♦ on the turn. A check from West. Blanco bet 32,000 which Farrow called. West passed.

On the A♦ river card Blanco bet 50,000. Farrow then moved all-in for about 300,000 more. Blanco, with about 400,000 behind, took a while. The clock was called but he didn’t need the full minute to fold.

Michael Farrow moves in

Farrow moves up to 450,000. – SB


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3:20pm: How much you got now, David Peters?
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Uladzimir Anoshka opened from middle position and it folded around to chip leader David Peters in the big blind. He wasn’t going to fold.

The flop came 6♣ J♠ 2♣ . Peters checked, Anoshka bet 30,000, and Peters called. Both players then checked the 4♠ turn.

The river was the 2♥ . Peters sat motionless for a moment (as he does), then bet 77,000. Anoshka hemmed and hawed a little before calling, then mucked his cards disappointingly when Peters tabled J♥ 7♥ for jacks and deuces.

Anoshka dips to 229,000 after losing that one, while Peters just keeps adding to his leading stack. DP is up close to 1.8 million now. –MH

3:15pm: Another cooler, another man down
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

It’s Cooler City out here. Adalfer Morales Gamarra and Orpen Kisacikoglu just got it all-in pre-flop. Kisacikoglu had about 320,000 left and got it in with Q♥ Q♦ , but he ran right into Gamarra’s A♣ Aâ™  . The board flopped Gamarra an ace, paired the board on the turn, and sent Kisacikoglu to the rail in 27th place. –BW

Cooler City, Population: Orpen Kisacikoglu

3:10pm: Stasiewicz applying pressure
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Bartosz Stasiewicz continues to apply pressure with his big stack on one of the outer tables.

Just now the Polish player opened for 20,000 from early position, then watched Christian Rudolph three-bet to 80,000 from the small blind. Action back on Stasiewicz, he made a big four-bet to 260,000, and Rudolph immediately relented.

Stasiewicz is up to 1.35 million, the nearest challenger to leader David Peters at present. –MH

3:05pm: Brazilian Brito busts
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Just a little while ago — a bit before the knockout of Marco Alves in 30th — another Brazilian, Gleidibe Brito, went out in 31st over on the feature table.

Brito’s last hand saw him go all in on a 9â™  6♣ 3♥ 6♦ board with about 335,000 in the middle for his last 195,000 A♥ 9♥ , and Maurer called with Q♥ Q♣ .

Gleidibe Brito: No more

The Qâ™  then completed the board to send Brito railward. –MH

3pm: Buchanan all in
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

After Uladzimir Anoshka opened Shawn Buchanan moved all-in on the button for 210,000. Ansohka thought for a while before folding. A small win, but that moves Buchanan back up to around 300,000. – SB

2:52pm: Stashin’s hopes dashed by Milyaev
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Aleksandr Milyaev opened for 25,000 from middle position and got a couple of callers, then Michael Stashin reraised all in for about 285,000 from the small blind.

It folded back to Milyaev who reraise-pushed, and the others dropped out in a flash. Cards on their backs:

Shashin: A♣ Q♣
Milyaev: A♦ K♦

Stashin stood and began asking for a queen, and when a queen appeared among the board cards he started to react.

Michael Stashin sees his queen…

Alas for him, there was a king as well as the flop came 6♦ K♣ Q♦ , and after the 10♥ turn Stashin’s requests changed to asking for a jack for a chop.

…but there was also a king

And that was terminal

His request wasn’t answered as the river brought the 8â™  , and Stashin is out in 29th. After losing a pot just before, Milyaev gets back to 745,000. –MH

2:50pm: Anoshka all in
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Another pot involving Maria Lampropulos, but not one she’ll recall with any fondness.

Uladzimir Anoshka opened for 25,000, which Lampropulos raised to 65,000 on the button. Anoshka, who may have performed a victory dance in his head, having found A♥ A♣ moved all-in. When Lampropulos called he slammed his aces down in triumph.

That’s a dangerous move sometimes, particularly as karma plays a key part in most poker strategy. But in this case he avoided any pitfalls. Lampropulos called with Qâ™  Q♦ and the board ran out a harmless 2♣ 5♦ 4♦ 10♥ 8â™  .

Maria Lampropulos: A slight downswing

Lampropulos drops to 385,000 now while a rejuvenated Anoshka has 410,000. – SB

2:45pm: Remember your friends
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Aleksandr Milyaev came in for a raise to 27,000 and got an immediate re-raise from Daniel Coupal to 75,000.

Milyaev thought about it for a half-minute and then announced he was all-in. If Coupal had called any faster, he would have been acting out of turn. Cards on their backs showed queens for Milyaev and kings for Coupal. The kings held, and Coupal was suddenly jubilant.

“I feel…” he said, thinking about how to best describe himself, “better again.”

Daniel Coupal, right, and Aleksandr Milyaev

Oleg Titov, with a smile in his voice if not on his face said, “Don’t forget about me when you go to the final table.”

Coupal has 600,000. Milyaev has 700,000. –BW

2:40pm: Helio doubles again
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Helio Chreem earned another double-up just now, this time with A♣ J♣ against Oleg Titov’s 10â™  9â™  .

A board of K♥ 3♦ 4♣ A♥ J♦ did the trick for Chreem, who continues to persevere with a short stack while Titov is still very healthy up at the top of the counts. –MH

Helio Chreem at the double

2:38pm: Alves falls after all-in versus Poterek
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Marco Alves is out after losing the last of his stack to Patryk Poterek.

After a mid-position open to 20,000, Poterek shoved for about 270,000 from the hijack seat, then Alves called all in with his last 104,000. The blinds and original raiser folded, and Alves turned over A♦ K♣ to Poterek’s 8♥ 8â™  .

The board came 9♦ 3♦ 7â™  9♣ 5♥ to keep Poterek’s eights in front, and Alves hits the rail. –MH


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2:35pm: Lamprapulos keeping busy
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Maria Lamprapulos opened for 22,000 and got a call from Bryan Zerna on the button and Jean Ateba in the small blind. They saw a flop: J♥ 2♣ 7♠

Ateba checked, Lamprapulos bet 29,000 which Zerna called. Ateba stepped aside.

Both checked the 3♠ turn and the 7♦ river.

Zerna 10♥ 10♣ – now on 360,000
Lamprapulos 6♣ 6â™  – now on 550,000.

— SB

2:30pm: Action turn translates to chips for Stasiewicz
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Lucas Blanco raised to 24,000, Bartosz Stasiewicz three-bet to 65,000 from the small blind, and Blanco called.

The flop came 10♥ K♠ 5♣ and Blanco called a c-bet from Stasiewicz, then after the J♥ turn Stasiewicz checked and Blanco bet 195,000. Stasiewicz took his time, then announced he was raising all in and Blanco called fairly quickly.

Blanco had turned two pair as he showed K♣ J♣ . But the same card had made a straight for Stasiewicz who had Q♥ 9♥ . The 6♦ completed the board, and Stasiewicz doubled to 1.08 million while Blanco slipped to 475,000. –MH

2:25pm: Big hand to start the level
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

A big hand between David Peters and Jean Ateba to start the new level.

Peters opened for 18,000 in early position, which Ateba called for a flop of 10♣ 9♣ 2♣ . Peters bet another 43,000 this time which Ateba called for the A♣ on the turn. Peters, ever methodical, bet another 85,000. Again Ateba called.

On the 9♥ river Peters had one more stab, betting 130,000. Ateba, curiosity getting the better of him, called, but mucked his cards when Peters showed K♣ 8♣ to move up to 1.5 million. Ateba drops to 400,000. – SB

2:15pm: Long distance sweat for Stemmler’s buddy
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

So, Jason Stemmler is in the limelight today, sitting on the main stage under the lights, getting whisked away from blog interviews, and basically being the star.

He’s on a quite a roll. Before he was pulled away to the stage he was in the middle of telling us about the long line of satellites he won to get here.

Jason Stemmler: Being railed long-distance

He’s in this tournament for basically nothing and guaranteed $28,800. What’s more, he’s got at least one buddy at home with a percentage of him who is hoping his man can go deeper. –BW

2:10pm: Boeree busts Zhechev on feature table
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Near the end of the last level (when the blinds were 4K/8K), Ivan Zhechev busted from the feature table. The hand just showed on the live stream, so let’s fill in some details right here.

Zhechev opened for 17,000 from the hijack eat with A♦ J♦ and it folded to Liv Boeree in the big blind who called with A♣ 5♠ .

The flop fell 5♥ A♥ 3♦ , giving Boeree two pair to Zhechev’s one, and she checked. He continued for 15,000, she check-raised to 45,000, and after sitting quietly for about a minute Zhechev called, leaving himself 156,000 behind (a bit more than what was in the middle).

Liv Boeree: Flopping two pair, busting Zhechev

The turn was the K♣ . Acting with deliberation, Boeree waited a short while before moving all in. Zhechev thought some more, grinning while taking a few minutes before finally calling.

Zhechev saw the bad news, and after the 4♦ river he was out in 32nd for $25,400. –MH

Ivan Zhechev: The Long Walk

1:52pm: Honeymoon in Paradise

While we’re waiting on the break to finish, check this story out. He got married one day, won a PCA package the next, took his honeymoon in the Bahamas, and cashed in the Main Event!

1:51pm: 20-minute break

Players are on their first break of the day. We’ll be back in 20. –BW

1:50pm: “Don’t bluff the Russian”
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

In the last hand before the break (which continued a bit into the break, in fact), Aleksandr Milyaev raised to 20,000 from the small blind, Daniel Coupal called from the big, and the flop came A♣ 7♣ 2♦ .

Milyaev continued for 25,000 and Coupal called, then Milyaev checked after the 9♣ turn. Coupal bet 50,000, Milyaev check-raised to 125,000, and after a bit of contemplation Coupal called.

The 6♣ river brought a 150,000 bet from Milyaev, and Coupal had to let his hand go. “Don’t bluff the Russian,” cracked Oleg Titov who was observing, and Milyaev collected the pot.

Milyaev goes to the break with about 740,000, while Coupal has 345,000. –MH

1:50pm: The Spanish inquisition
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

The outer feature table has been occupied by the Spanish. The big stack there is Lucas Blanco, while the biggest reputation belongs to Adrian Mateos. Those two are applying the pressure relentlessly to the other six out there.

Mateos opened three pots in a row, making it 17,000 each time. Twice he got it through, the other time Jack Sinclair three-bet his big blind to 75,000 and Mateos folded. Fight fire with fire.

Not long after, Blanco opened one in early position to 17,000 from his 1.2 million stack and picked up three callers: Michael Farrow in the hijack, Bartosz Stasiewicz in the cutoff and Christian Rudolph in the small blind. Mateos folded his big blind.

The four of them looked at the 3♥ 10♦ 6♥ flop and Rudolph checked it to Blanco. He bet 39,000 and only Rudolph called.

They both then checked the 5♣ turn. And they also both checked the A♦ river. Rudolph then flipped over 10♠ 10♥ , a flopped set that he was playing cute. Too cute.

Blanco chuckled and mucked. Even when he’s losing, he’s losing the absolute minimum. Those Spaniards, for so long the laughing stock of the EPT, are getting better every day. — HS

Lucas Blanco

1:36pm: The last Olshan falls, 32 remain
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Shortly after doubling through Lucas Blanco just moments ago, Sharman Olshan has been eliminated in 33rd place — and in a hand versus Blanco.

Blanco had opened from under the gun for 19,000 before Olshan three-bet to 50,000 from late position. It folded back to Blanco who jammed and Olshan called to commit her last 275,000-ish.

Olshan had A♥ K♥ and Blanco Q♦ Q♥ , and the race was on.

The board ran out 6♣ J♣ 4♥ 7♠ 4♦ , and Blanco won the race to push up to 995,000.

That makes two deep runs for the Olshan household, as Sharman’s son Aaron fell just a little while ago in 39th. –MH

Sharman Olshan

1:35pm: Small pot for Sinclair
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Maria Lampropulos opened for 20,000 under the gun and got a call from Jack Sinclair in the big blind.

The flop came K♣ 5♣ 6♣ which was checked for the 2â™  turn. Sinclair bet 40,000, which was called for the 9♦ river. Check check. Sinclair took the pot showing J♣ 9♥ . – SB


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1:34pm: Big decision for Mateos
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A big decision for Adrian Mateos on the outer feature table. Christian Rudolph had moved all-in on a board of 5♦ 9♥ 4♥ 7â™  , easily covering Mateos who had about 260,000 behind. He thought for several minutes before folding. – SB

1:32pm: Nassetta perishes to Gamarra
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Adalfer Gamarra now has 960,000 and, more permanently, Keith Nassetta is out.

Nassetta was down to around 115,000 when he three-bet jammed over Gamarra’s open and Gamarra called from a covering stack.

Gamarra also had the better hand with 10â™  10♣ to Nassetta’s 4♦ 4♣ . The flop of 5â™  Q♣ 6♥ was dry enough, but the 7♦ turn gave Nassetta some help.

“‘Bout time for a suck-out,” Michael Stashin, also at the table, said. But the 6♣ river didn’t save Nassetta and he wished everyone good luck as he headed to the payouts table.

He is out in 34th, winning $25,400. — HS

1:25pm: Aces work for Sharman
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A rush over to the secondary table just now found Sharman Olshan all in and at risk with the board showing Q♠ K♥ 3♥ .

Olshan was playing from the big blind with A♥ A♠ while her lone opponent was Lucas Blanco on the button with J♥ 6♥ .

Olshan needed to fade a heart, and the 8â™  turn and 6â™  river were both agreeable to her, netting her a double to about 315,000. Blanco meanwhile has about 625,000 now.

While we weren’t privy to what happened prior, post-hand talk of “not raising pre” suggested a limp-check initial betting round. In any case, the last Olshan continues to persevere. — MH

1:21pm: Kirsch checks out against four queens
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Richard Kirsch is the next man down, losing a big one to the German PokerStars qualifier Christian Rudolph.

Kirsch had about 350,000 in his stack when he and neighbour Rudolph got involved in a pre-flop raising war. They ended all-in with Kirsch’s Aâ™  K♣ in a race against Rudolph’s Q♣ Qâ™  .

Cruelly there was an ace in the window–the A♣ –but also the Q♦ and the 9♦ . Then the Q♥ turn snuffed out any lingering hopes.

Just quads for Rudolph, and a stack of 780,000. Just $25,400 and a story of losing to quads for Kirsch. — HS


Richard Kirsch

1:14pm: Miles gone by
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Timothey Miles is the latest faller, sent to the rail by Jean Ateba.

The board read 3♥ Q♥ 5♠ J♥ when the chips went in.

Miles Jâ™  6â™ 
Ateba K♥ Q♠

The river came 7♦ to end Miles’ tournament and leave Ateba with 675,000. – SB

Timothey Miles

1:12pm: Boza’s run ends
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Gabriella Boza was down to a small stack over on the secondary feature table, surrounded by players with more chips and lots of cameras.

Boza lost those chips just now to finish 37th in a hand versus Christian Rudolph. Rudolph continues with 455,000. –MH

1:10pm: Konnikova checks out after superlative PCA
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Maria Konnikova’s PCA is done. The New York-based writer said she is probably going to head back to the chilly east coast now after her marathon session at the poker tables in the Bahamas.

In case you missed it, Konnikova provided the story of the opening couple of days here when she won the National Championship and then hopped straight into the Main Event for another two-and-a-half days of play. It meant that when Aleksandr Milyaev knocked her out this afternoon (see 12:25pm post), he became the first person to do that in five straight days.


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Konnikova admitted that she was exhausted but said, “With the Platinum Pass, I’ve won $140,000 for the trip.”

For someone accustomed to a journalist’s salary, that’s a lot of money. Though time to spare a thought for Erik Seidel, whose own retirement plan may need a slight rethink. — HS

Read Martin Harris’s interview with Konnikova at the World Series last summer.

1:09pm: Another “oh my God!” hand
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A slow burner of a hand, which suddenly exploded into an all-in-called, and a double-up for Orpen Kisacikoglu.

Kisacikoglu opened for 16,000 which was called by Phillip Corion in the small blind and Michael Stashin in the big. The flop came Q♠ 5♦ 2♣ which was checked to Kisacikoglu who bet 19,000. Corion then raied to 100,000, which prompted an agony-fold from Stashin. Kisacikoglu meanwhile was ready to move in.

Corion called immediately, turning over 4â™  4♥ (having put Kisacikoglu on “something like ace-king”). Kisacikoglu turned over Kâ™  Q♥ .

The turn was 7♦ and the river J♦ . There was a loud exclamation, not from Corion or Kisacikoglu, but from Stashin, who, walking back to the table having left it when he folded, said “Oh my God I had queen-jack”.

Kisacikoglu moves up to 320,000 while Corion drops to 720,000. – SB

1:02pm: Kisacikoglu beats the Banz
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

We arrive on the flop when the board showed Q♠ 5♦ 2♣ and there was around 45,000 in the middle.

After a Christian Banz check, Orpen Kisacikoglu bet 19,000, Banz made it 100,000, Kisacikoglu pushed all in for 140,000 total, and Banz called.

Kisacikoglu was in good shape with K♠ Q♥ versus the 4♠ 4♥ of Banz, and the better hand held through the 7♦ turn and J♦ river.

Kisacikoglu is up to 315,000 after that, while Banz still has 720,000. –MH

1:00pm: Olshan (Aaron) out
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

One half of the mother-son team that started the day is gone. Aaron Olshan busted from the feature table. You’ll be able to see the circumstances of it on the stream soon. –BW

12:58pm: Coupal knocks out Deas
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Calum Deas just met his end in 38th place after getting all of his chips in on the turn holding A♣ 5♦ and the board showing A♦ K♦ 4♦ 7♣ .

His opponent was Daniel Coupal who had A♥ Kâ™  for two pair. Deas wasn’t quite drawing dead, as a diamond river could save him with a flush. But fifth street brought the 9♥ and they are now down to 37.

Coupal has had a good start today, and now sits with 615,000. –MH

12:56pm: Blanco blasting still
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Lucas Blanco is by far the most active player on Table 1 and his stack is showing the fruits of his labour. He is up to around 950,000 now.

He just took another pot from Michael Farrow, leaving Farrow muttering something about “bluffing” as he mucked to some river aggression.

It began with Blanco opening to 19,000 from under the gun and Farrow then three-betting to 56,000 from one seat along. Action folded back to Blanco, who called.

Blanco checked the J♥ 3♥ J♦ flop and Farrow bet 35,000. Blanco called. Then they both checked the 7♠ turn.

After the 7♦ river, Blanco led for what looked like 160,000 and Farrow insta-mucked. — HS


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12:51pm: Weis out
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Oliver Weis is out in 40th place. We don’t have all the details except to say there was sizeable pre-flop action between him and Adalfer Gamarra. On the flop of 6♦ J♣ 4♦ the last of the chips went in, Weis showing A♦ A♥ to Gamarra’s 10♣ 10♥ .

The turn changed nothing, landing as it did Qâ™  , but the 10♦ on the river sent Gamarra into ecstasy, and Weis to the rail. – SB

12:49pm: Getting the Banz back together
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Christian Banz and Jack Sinclair just tangled in a pot that ultimately went the way of Banz.

He opened form the cut off for 19,000 which Sinclair three-bet to 57,000 from the button. Banz called for the flop of 7♦ 6♦ Q♠ which was checked. On the A♦ turn Banz bet another 76,000, which was called, and then another 110,000 on the 4♠ river. Sinclair called, not without some reluctance, and watched as Banz showed his J♦ 10♦ flush. Sinclair had Q♣ Q♥ .

He drops to 365,000 while Banz is up to 900,000. – SB

Christian Banz

12:36pm: Nice for Weis
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A double up for Oliver Weis who was all in for 125,000 with 2â™  2♣ . Michael Stashin called with 9â™  9♦ but let out an “Oh my God!” when the flop came 2♦ 5♥ J♦ .

The turn Qâ™  and river Q♥ kept things in Weis’s favour, and he moves up to around 270,000. Stashin meanwhile drops to 500,000. — SB

Oliver Weis

12:35pm: Chreem rises
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A short-stacked Helio Chreem opened for 16,000 from under the gun, Phillip Corion three-bet to 50,000 from the small blind, Chreem shoved for his last 180,000, and Corion called.

Corion had a pair — 8♣ 8♦ — but Chreem had a better one with A♣ A♦ , and after a runout of 4♥ 7♦ 4â™  Qâ™  9♦ , Chreem moves back up to about 350,000, while Corion has about 210,000. –MH

Helio Chreem

12:35pm: Kamran’s descent complete
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Michael Kamran spent a long time as the chip leader of this tournament, but he is now on the rail. Lucas Blanco got him.

Kamran open-pushed his button for his last 12 big blinds and Blanco called in the big blind.

Blanco: A♣ 4♣
Kamran: K♣ Q♣

The board fell all around Kamran’s hand. He flopped a gutshot, but then whiffed turn and river. That meant the ace in Blanco’s hand was decisive and he stacks up 650,000 chips.

Kamran hits the rail in 41st and wins $22,020. With 40 players left, they’re breaking a table. — HS

Michael Kamran

12:25pm: Konnikova’s wondrous week ends with 42nd-place finish
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Maria Konnikova began Day 4 in a bit of a spot. Sitting exactly 43rd out of 43 in chips, she drew a table containing Adrian Mateos, David Peters, Maria Lampropulos, and Koray Aldemir.

After one hand she was moved to another table. Still, it proved a tough seat with a short stack.

She folded her first couple hands, both won by Aleksandr Milyaev sitting on her right after he open-raised the first, then three-bet the second.

Milyaev opened the next hand as well for 17,000 from the cutoff, and after checking her cards Konnikova reraised all in from the button for her last 51,000.

But chip leader Karl Stark was next to act and he reraised to 100,000. The action back on Milyaev, he jammed for 247,000 total, and after a quick think Stark called.

Stark: Aâ™  Qâ™ 
Konnikova: Q♣ J♦
Milyaev: A♥ A♣

Hmm… another tough spot for Maria.

The board came an uneventful 7♣ 6♣ 7♥ 4♦ 9♦ , sending Konnikova out in 42nd.

What a week for Konnikova — three days winning in the National Championship, then another four in the Main. She wished the table well before departing as Milyaev scooped the more-than-double.

Milyaev jumps to about 580,000 after that one, while Stark still has loads with 1.05 million. –MH

Maria Konnikova

12:15pm: Blanco leaves Boza short
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Gabriella Boza has left herself very short now, losing a pot from the small blind that has left her with only about 50,000.

Action folded to Boza and she raised to 24,000, blind-on-blind. Lucas Blanco called in the big blind, which meant the two of them saw the 7♥ 9♥ A♦ flop.

Boza bet 22,000, leaving only 50,000 behind the line, and Blanco, with 450,000 in his stack, put Boza all-in.

Reluctantly Boza folded, and she is deep in the danger zone now. — HS

12:12pm: First hand, first bust
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

First hand of the day, first elimination.

On Table 5, action folded to Lachezar Petkov on the button and he open-pushed his 130,000 stack over the line.

He knew he was in for a torrid time today with Karl Stark sitting to his immediate left, but he couldn’t have known it would be this hard. Stark called this very first push and Petkov needed to come from behind to win.

Stark: A♣ 9♦
Petkov: Q♥ K♦

The board ran dry all the way: 7♠ 9♣ 10♦ 4♦ 6♥

That was that for Petkov and Stark has started as he surely means to go on. He’s up to 1.28 million. — HS

Patryk Petrov

12:01pm: Getting underway
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Alright folks. Let’s get this show on the road!

10:39am: Day 4 begins at 12pm ET

Welcome to Day 4. Where the rubber meets the road. Where the rum meets the punch. Where we’ll blow through the field of the 43 remaining hopefuls and get down to two or three tables of people who have a chance at the Main Event title, trophy, Platinum Pass, and…checking…indeed…more than a million dollars.

Will it be the quiet Swede, Karl Stark, who slipped into the chip lead at the end of Day 3?. Will it be David Peters, who destroyed souls and stacks on Day 3, and did as one person put it yesterday, “What David Peters Does?”

Or will it be one of the mother and son duo who quietly worked their way through the field together and are both still alive at the beginning of Day 4? Will it be Maria Konnikova, already once a champion at this PCA? Will it be a Team Pro like Liv Boeree?

Take your pick from our list of chip counts and let us know on our Twitter account, @PokerStarsBlog, who is going to win this thing.

We’re main-lining some caffeine and pastries. We’ll be back with you in a little more than an hour to get this day underway.

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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $10,000 Main Event: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Howard Swains and Brad Willis. Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive.com

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