Two days ago, a whopping 1604 hopefuls entered the action packed Event 16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em- Six-Handed. After 20 levels of play, we have just nine players left. Two players are standing above the rest at the moment: Robert Muzzatti has the chip lead with 1,445,000. Not far behind is Mark Darner, who holds 1,412,000.
There are three big name notables still alive today. Matt Glantz is looking to pull an Andy Bloch and erase his name from the "greatest players with no bracelet list" today. He has set himself well, as he comes into today fourth in chips. Matt Matros has claimed bracelets in back-to-back years, winning a $1,500 Limit Hold'em in 2010 and a $2,500 Mixed Hold'em last year. Matros comes into today as the second lowest chip stack, but don't count out this proven veteran. However, all eyes will be on one man: Mike "The Mouth' Matusow.
Matusow was one of the most well known figures in the game when the poker boom hit. You either loved or you hated his brash approach to the game, and you will be hard pressed to find a well known player who has been more up and over the past few years then Matusow. The Mouth has been relaitively quiet in recent years, and hasn't won a bracelet in four years, which also marks the last time he made a WSOP final table. He comes into today 4th in chips, and all the rail birds will have one eye on him.
The final nine players will be here in about half an hour, and we will get underway at 1:00 PM. We will award another bracelet today, so stayed tuned to Pokernews all day, as we will bring you all the updates from this exciting conclusion!
Action started with Matt Matros raising it up to 35,000. Jonathan Currle was next to act, and he three bet to 85,000. It got back to Matros, and after about 45 seconds of thinking, he four bet to 190,000, with about 400k behind. Currle thought for about 15 seconds before shoving, and Matros snapped called.
Matros:
Currle:
Currle got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he would need a world of help. The flop hardly brought any, coming . The hit the turn, and while it gave Matros a set of aces, it was actually a great card for Currle, as it kept him alive with a straight draw. A ten on the river would give him the unlikely double up, but the river brought the .
Currle was sent to the payout desk, while the two-time bracelet winner Matros is now our chip leader with 1.3 million.
Check out today's PokerNews Podcast feature Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier. Mercier talks about his bets with Phil Ivey, entering the Big One for One Drop, the Miami Heat, and more.
Mike Matusow came into today with high hopes, but in less then a level, those hopes have come crashing down. He lost a huge race about 20 minutes ago, and he was just eliminated. It started with Matusow on the button, and he raised it up to 35,000. Robert Muzzatti three bet all in, and when it got back to Matusow, he made the call. The cards were tabled, and Matusow was in a world of hurt.
Matusow:
Muzzatti:
The flop was a disaster for Matusow, coming . Matusow could only win with a running queen and jack for a straight, and to rub salt in the wound, Matusow hit a now useless on the turn. The river was the , and an understandably disappointed Matusow hit the rail. He will have to wait another day to grab his 4th bracelet.
The seven remaining players are now moving into the thunderdome, where we will have our unofficial final table.
We missed the exact action, but we know that after facing a raise, Matt Glantz shoved his last 600,000 in with , and was called by Ramey Shaio, who held . This race would determine the chip lead, and it went from a race to a demolition when the flop came . Shaio's rail exploded, as Glantz was simply left shaking his head. The turn was the , leaving Glantz drawing dead. The meaningless river was the , and Glantz bubbled the official final table.
It has been a dream day for Shaio so far. He came into today as the short stack, but he is now on top of the mountain, holding the chip lead at 1.885 million as we enter the final table.
Matt Matros raised in the cutoff to 54,000, and it folded to Mark Darner in the big blind. He put in a three bet to 140,000, and it was back to Matros, who shoved all in. Darner thought for a minute before calling off the rest of his stack, and he was in bad shape.
Matros:
Darner:
The flop came down , and Matros was well out in front. However, the spiked on the turn, and Darner's rail erupted. Darner looked at his rail, and told them to calm down, as the hand was far from over. Matros could catch a king or a ten to win, and sure enough, the slammed down on the river, giving Matros broadway.
Darner will take home over $56,000 for his efforts, while Matros takes the chip lead, as he's up to 2.4 million.
Well then. After playing six handed for the last two hours, we have now lost two players in as many hands. Right after Mark Darner was eliminated, Matros raised to 52,000 under the gun. It folded to Robert Muzzatti in the big blind, and he three bet to 200,000. It got back to Matros, and in what was a carbon copy of the hand before, he four bet shoved, and was called by his opponent. The cards were flipped, and it was a classic race.
Matros:
Muzzatti:
Muzzatti didn't pair the flop, but it did come giving him a flush draw. Muzzatti hit his hand on the felt a few times, clearly happy with the new outs he received. The hit the turn, and Matros looked at his rail, and motioned "one more". If he could dodge an ace, king, or spade, he would take another big pot. The hit the river, and Matros collected the bounty.
Muzzatti will take home over $80,000 for his efforts, while Matros holds almost half the chips in play as we enter four handed.
Seriously, who's writing this?! We have now lost our third player in about six hands. On the first hand of the new level, Ramey Shaio raised under the gun to 65,000. Mark Radoja three bet to 125,000, and it was on Gordon Vayo. He shoved all in for about 500,000, and Shaio folded. Radoja snap called, and the cards were flipped.
Radoja:
Vayo:
"You have two suits!" Vayo astutely pointed out, as Radoja's ace of diamonds trumped Vayo's king. The flop ran out all spades, . Radoja shot out of his chair in excitment, while Vayo had a disgusted look on his face. Radoja was now freerolling on the knockout, but he missed it on the turn, the . However, the hit the river, and Radoja gave a huge fist pump as he scored the unlikely knock out.
Vayo will leave with a bitter taste in his mouth, but the $121,262 will likely soothe his pains a bit. And just like that, we are down to three.
Action started with Mark Radoja on the button, and he raised to 80,000. It folded to Ramey Shaio in the big blind, and he went all in. Radoja made the call, and the cards were tabled.
Radoja:
Shaio:
It was a monster flop for Radoja, coming . Radoja gave a huge fist pump, and a big yell of excitiment as he jumped to the lead. The turn was the , and we were down to the river. Shaio would need a three and a three only to take the pot, but it was close but no cigar, coming the . Shaio hit the rail, earning over $180,000 for his efforts.
Mark Radoja raised to 100,000 on the button, and Matt Matros called. The flop came down , and Matros check called a bet of 100,000. The turn was the , and Matros led out for 175,000, and Radoja raised it up to 475,000. Matros asked him what he had behind, and after about a minute, shoved all in. Radoja snap called, and the cards were tabled.
Matros:
Radoja:
Radoja had turned a straight, and would need to just dodge a heart on the river to win the pot. He couldn't do it, as the hit the river. Radoja will take home $281,502 for his efforts, falling just short of his 2nd bracelet.
. The 
hit the turn, and while it gave Matros a set of aces, it was actually a great card for Currle, as it kept him alive with a straight draw. A ten on the river would give him the unlikely double up, but the river brought the 
.
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. Matusow could only win with a running queen and jack for a straight, and to rub salt in the wound, Matusow hit a now useless 
, and an understandably disappointed Matusow hit the rail. He will have to wait another day to grab his 4th bracelet.
. This race would determine the chip lead, and it went from a race to a demolition when the flop came 
, leaving Glantz drawing dead. The meaningless river was the 
, and Glantz bubbled the official final table.
, and Matros was well out in front. However, the 
spiked on the turn, and Darner's rail erupted. Darner looked at his rail, and told them to calm down, as the hand was far from over. Matros could catch a king or a ten to win, and sure enough, the 
slammed down on the river, giving Matros 
hit the turn, and Matros looked at his rail, and motioned "one more". If he could dodge an ace, king, or spade, he would take another big pot. The 
hit the river, and Matros collected the bounty.
. Radoja shot out of his chair in excitment, while Vayo had a disgusted look on his face. Radoja was now freerolling on the knockout, but he missed it on the turn, the 
, and Matros check called a bet of 100,000. The turn was the 
, and Matros led out for 175,000, and Radoja raised it up to 475,000. Matros asked him what he had behind, and after about a minute, shoved all in. Radoja snap called, and the cards were tabled.
hit the river. Radoja will take home $281,502 for his efforts, falling just short of his 2nd bracelet.