Alex Masek has been on a roll as of late, upping his stack to over 250,000, but he just got a brutal table draw when his table broke. He took the seat to the direct right of the chip leader Joe Kuether. We didn't expect it to be long before they butted heads, and sure enough, it only took about 10 minutes.
Action folded to Masek on the button who raised it to 6,500. Kuether was next in the small blind, and he three bet to 17,500. The big blind folded, and it was back to Masek. As he is know to do, Masek carefully assembled some chips together, and stuck in a four bet to 45,000. It was back to Kuether, who tanked for about a minute, before taking a couple chips off the top of one of his pink T5,000 stacks, and sliding it into the middle! This was a five bet to 112,500, which is nearly the average in the whole room. Now it was Masek's turn to go into the tank, and he thought for a good three minutes, before reluctantly letting his hand go. Kuether scooped the pot, and showed Masek that he is not to be messed with, as he strengthens his chip lead.
Raymond Dandrea's table just broke and he was seated two to the right of Brandon Cantu. On the very first hand he played at his new table, Dandrea raised only, to be three-bet by Cantu to 27,500. Dandrea, who moved to the table with just over 200,000, took a handful of chips, mostly pink ones worth 5,000, and placed them in front of the betting line as he continued to stack his chips at his new seat. Cantu thought for a bit before letting his hand go.
A few hands later, on a board, Cantu was forced to make another decision. With the pot already at 60,000, Cantu had 30,500 sitting in front of the betting line. Once again Dandrea stuck in a handful of chips, about 90,000 worth, forcing Cantu off his hand.
Cantu had been rolling over his table for the better part of the last three hours but has been thrown off by the presence of Dandrea.
We didn't catch the hand but our chip leader entering the day has been eliminated. Luke Nettles showed up late and didn't seem to be able to win a significant hand all day. He chipped down almost immediately and was sitting with less than 20 big blinds for the last couple of levels.
Brandon Cantu had 15,500 in front of the betting line on a board. His opponent, who was out of position, was contemplating his decision. Eventually, he decided to move all in for his final 62,000 and Cantu made the reluctant call.
Cantu:
Opponent:
The river was the , securing the win for Cantu's opponents. Not to worry though, Cantu is still easily one of the top two stacks in the room.
We are down to 58 players in this event, and we have three players who are very familiar with this feeling of running deep in a circuit main event. Freddy Deeb, Alex Masek, and Leroy "Ty" Spires are all still in this event, and amazing, these three finished 1, 2, and 3 at the WSOP-C Main Event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles just two months ago! All three surely have another final table on their minds, and we will be sure to keep you posted on their quests.
Alex Masek was faced with an all in of 83,500 preflop. Having already put in a large amount of chips himself at this point, he made the call to put his opponent at risk.
Masek:
Opponent:
The flop was and Masek was in trouble. What was worse is that he would be left with less than 10,000 if he was to lose this hand. The turn was the and Masek had just two outs to reverse his fortune. Sure enough, the river was the and just like that, Masek has life.
Matthew Chang open shoved for his last 44,000 in early position, and it folded all the way around to Thu Nguyen in the small blind. Nguyen took a peak at his cards, and called fairly quickly. The big blind folded, and we were off to the races.
Nguyen:
Chang:
Despite being ahead, Chang seemed resigned to his fate, as he stood up and started gathering his things. Even after the flop came out , Chang continued to put his jacket on. When the hit the turn, he tucked his seat under the table ready to walk out, but the hit the river, and Chang secured the double up.
The players have now taken another 10 minute break. When they return, we will start with the 60 minute levels. We'll have two of those, then they will take their dinner.
Eric Baldwin opened the action with a raise from the hijack to 5,300. All four players remaining in the hand called him.
The flop was and Baldwin continued for 7,500. Only the player on the button called this time. The turn was the and Baldwin slowed down with a check. His opponent took charge and fired 11,000. Baldwin called.
The river was the and Baldwin check-called again, this time 15,000. His opponent immediately mucked as he tabled .
![[user75311]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
board, Cantu was forced to make another decision. With the pot already at 60,000, Cantu had 30,500 sitting in front of the betting line. Once again Dandrea stuck in a handful of chips, about 90,000 worth, forcing Cantu off his hand.
board. His opponent, who was out of position, was contemplating his decision. Eventually, he decided to move all in for his final 62,000 and Cantu made the reluctant call.
, securing the win for Cantu's opponents. Not to worry though, Cantu is still easily one of the top two stacks in the room.
and Masek was in trouble. What was worse is that he would be left with less than 10,000 if he was to lose this hand. The turn was the 
and Masek had just two outs to reverse his fortune. Sure enough, the river was the 
and just like that, Masek has life.
, Chang continued to put his jacket on. When the 
hit the river, and Chang secured the double up.
and Baldwin continued for 7,500. Only the player on the button called this time. The turn was the 
and Baldwin slowed down with a check. His opponent took charge and fired 11,000. Baldwin called.
and Baldwin check-called again, this time 15,000. His opponent immediately mucked as he tabled 
.