Event #36: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em
Day 3 Completed
2011 World Series of Poker
Event #36: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em
Day: 3
Official End-of-Day Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,030,000 | |
|
2,705,000 | |
|
2,365,000 | |
|
2,030,000 | |
|
1,885,000 |
Bag it Up
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
We've reached the requisite ten-level mark, and the chips have been bagged up for one more overnight soak.
Once again, we're going to spare a lot of words here; our ears are ringing from the commotion we've just witnessed over the last four hours or so.
From our starting field of 1,734, just five players remain in the hunt for the bracelet. One of them, Thomas Middleton, was the one responsible for most of the noise tonight as his cheering section of countrymen were well lubricated with alcohol and very much a part of the battle being played out before them. Beers were imbibed from shoes -- yep, true story -- spilled onto the floor, and poured two-by-two down the throats of all in attendance as the dull roar rose to a deafening thunder of chanting by night's end.
And there's reason to cheer. Middleton is atop the pack heading into the final day, but the bracelet can not be won by his fans on the rail tomorrow. He'll have to deal with another Thomas on his left, Thomas Miller who held the chip lead for most of the day until a slide late in the evening. Also still in the hunt for his first bracelet is former APPT champion Eddy Sabat, and the two wild cards, Mikhail Lakhitov of Russia and Hassan Babajane from Boston.
The five of them will be back inside the Amazon Room Friday afternoon at 2:30pm to finish this thing out. Here's how they'll stack up when play recommences:
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
| Thomas Middleton | 4,030,000 |
| Mikhail Lakhitov | 2,705,000 |
| Hassan Babajane | 2,365,000 |
| Eddy Sabat | 2,030,000 |
| Thomas Miller | 1,885,000 |
That's all we have for tonight, and our eardrums need some time to recover. We'll be back in about 12 hours, though, and one of these five men will own their first gold bracelet by the time the day is done.
Until then, all that's left is goodnight!
Das Monsterpotten
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
In what has to be the biggest pot of the tournament Thomas Middleton made it 200,000 to go from the small blind. Thomas Miller called from the big blind and they went to the flop of 
. Middleton bet out 250,000 and Miller didn't waste much time calling.
The turn came 
and after a moment of thought Middleton pushed out 550,000. Miller sat for a moment and slid out chips to call. The river brought the 
and Middleton moved all in for a little over 2,000,000. Miller went deep into the tank and sat motionless. With a 4,000,000 pot on the line Miller didn't make a decision for a few minutes.
Miller finally slid his cards to the dealer and the British rail went nuts.
Sabat Floats and Releases
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Under the gun, Hassan Babajane opened to 175,000, and he found a call from Eddy Sabat in the big blind. Heads up, the flop came 
, and Sabat check-called a bet of 175,000 from Babajane. That led them to the 
turn, and Sabat checked again. This time, Babajane fired out what looked like 500,000 straight, and Sabat cut his stack down, thought it over, and released.
Shoe Bombs
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
The Brits are now downing beers -- that they poured in their shoes. They chant "Shoe bomb, shoe bomb, shoe bomb!" and then they chug. We've seen one individual chug three beers out of his shoe -- and then put it back on.
Sabat Doubles Through Miller
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Thomas Miller opened for 185,000 on the button and Eddy Sabat moved in from the small blind. Miller called and tabled 
and Sabat revealed . The board ran 
and Sabat doubled to three million.
Stuck in the Middleton
Level 30
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
First in from the button, Mikhail Lakhitov opened to 175,000, and Hassan Babajane flatted in the small blind. From the big, Thomas Middleton squeezed all in for about 2 million total. "In your eye! In your eye!" come the chants from the rail. Lakhitov reluctantly folded, and Babajane frowned and spun his cards into the muck as well.
And the crowd goes wild!
Final table images
Updated Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,300,000 | 200,000 |
|
|
2,625,000 | 1,025,000 |
|
|
2,325,000 | -625,000 |
|
|
2,050,000 | 600,000 |
|
|
1,600,000 | -600,000 |