Julius Colman has been eliminated. We did not catch is elimination, but the floor supervisor told us he just busted out. Colman is best known for his fourth place finish in the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event for A$500,000. Another big score will have to wait for the Melbournian.
Sherrie Gelberg, who started the tournament off very well, has just been eliminated. Gelberg explained to us how she was down to 10,000 chips in the big blind. There were two limpers and she opted to check her option with .
The flop brought out , and Gelberg check-raised all in. Unfortunately she ran into , and her opponent's hand held up.
James Bills, who had just lost a big pot versus Aaron Benton, regained some ground after doubling through Andrew Mellado. Bills was all in pre flop for 26,700 and Mellado made the call.
With 30 minutes left in the second level of the day there are 109 players remaining. This means there have already been 32 eliminations today. The average stack right now is 63,303 or 52 big blinds.
After a raise from middle position it was the player in the small blind who opted to call. Paul Birman was sitting in the big blind, and he moved all in. The initial raiser folded, but the small blind called and showed two fours. Birman had and was drawing dead almost immediately when the windowcard brought another four.
Birman was knocked out and just 109 players remain.
Mikel Habb just came over to the PokerNews desk and explained how he won a big pot. Habb moved all in over a raise and was called by . His plan worked as he tabled two aces. The board did not change the outcome, and Habb is up to around 115,000 chips.
Aaron Benton runs pretty good. He was just on the brink of elimination, but still managed to survive, even after a handshake of defeat.
A player raised to 3,400 after which Andrew Mellado called. Benton was on the button and he moved all in for 25,000. James Bills was in the big blind, and he shoved over the top for around 65,000 chips. The initial raiser folded after which Mellado threw away his face up.
Aaron Benton
James Bills
The initial raiser claimed to have folded , and the board ran out . Benton, who did not find an eight, stood up and shook Bills' hand. He thought he was eliminated all the way up until one of the players at the table pointed out he had made a flush. Benton said he thought he had a heart, but the lucky diamond saved him.
Benton is now back up to around the average stack while Bills takes a big hit.
Igal Augarten just won a very big pot after hitting quads on the river versus a player with the nut full house.
The action started when the player in the hijack limped for 1,000. Another player raised to 3,500 after which the small- and big blind called. Augarten was in the big blind.
On the flop, , the action was checked to the initial raiser who bet 7,000. Both blinds called. On the turn the hit and all three players checked.
The river brought the and now the small blind lead out for 16,000. Augarten riased it up to 32,000 and the initial raiser folded. The small blind looked pained, but eventually called showing . The second best possible hand was no good as Auguarten turned over for quads.
Augarten's opponent was left behind with just 1,400 chips and he was eliminated on the next hand.