The players are now on a 15-minute break. Here's how the stacks look.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,410,000
-190,000
|
-190,000 |
|
||
|
1,670,000
470,000
|
470,000 |
|
740,000
-160,000
|
-160,000 |
Level: 25
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 0
On the first hand back from the break, Elie Payan limped in from the button. David Sands was in the small blind and raised the pot to 160,000. Rafe Kibrit folded from the big blind and then Payan made the call after thinking it over for a minute.
The flop came down 
and Sands bet the pot for 360,000. He had 220,000 behind and Payan raised to put Sands all in. Sands made the call and tabled the 
. Payan had flopped top and bottom pair with the 
.
The turn brought the 
to give Sands some additional outs, but the river failed to bring any of them when the 
fell and he was eliminated. Sands battled a short stack for much of the day stemming back to the end of play yesterday to finish in third place for over $113,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Here are the stacks at the start of heads-up play. Elie Payan has about a two-to-one chip lead over Rafe Kibrit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,190,000
780,000
|
780,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,630,000
-40,000
|
-40,000 |
With Rafe Kibrit and Elie Payan back after a quick break to begin their heads-up duel, a WSOP official arrived at the table to present the hardware at stake. After placing an ornate box containing the gold bracelet on the table, Payan quickly got up and playefully closed the box. Apparently a bit superstitious, Payan does not want to see the prize that is so close at hand until he has finished the job.
For now the box remains closed, but rest assured both players got a good look at the jewelry and are picturing it adorning their wrists at this very moment.
After winning two of the first three hands with preflop raises, Rafe Kibrit called a raise of 80,000 made by Elie Payan. The flop came down 
and both players checked the action.
The turn card fell 
and this time Kibrit fired 115,000 at his opponent. Payan called the bet and we saw a river of 
.
Kibrit slowed down and tapped the table, checking to Payan, who stared his man down for a minute or so before opting to check as well. He had dodged the trap set for him by Kibrit, who tabled the 
for the nut straight.
This win gives Kibrit three out of the first four pots in heads-up play and he is steadily trying to level the playing field after starting with a 2:1 chip disadvantage.
On the 
flop, Elie Payan bet 150,000 and Rafe Kibrit called. The turn was the 
and both players checked to see the hit on the river. Both players checked again. Kibrit tabled the 
and Payan mucked his hand.
From the button, Elie Payan limped in and then Rafe Kibrit checked in the big blind to see the flop come down 
. Both players checked and the appeared on the turn. Kibrit checked and Payan fired 80,000. Kibrit mucked and Payan won the pot.
Rafe Kibrit had the button and raised to 100,000. Elie Payan called from the big blind and the 
came out. Payan checked and Kibrit fired 150,000. Payan made the call.
The fell on the turn and both players checked before the paired the board on the river. Payan fired 240,000 and Kibrit released his hand.
Elie Payan has really stretched his lead here in the last series of hands. He's won four or five hands in a row now and holds a little over four million of the chips in play. In case you're wondering, that means Rafe Kibrit only has about 750,000.
