The eliminations have been flying fast in the late stages of this level, with Matthew Schreiber the latest addition to the rail. Schreiber was fairly short stacked heading into the final hand of his tournament, with his bust-out starting like this.
Schreiber opened from early position and the action was folded to Christopher Vitch in the big blind. He asked Schreiber how much he had left and once satisfied with an answer, he three-bet. Schreiber then committed the last of his chips and the two players turned their hands over.
Schreiber:
Vitch:
Schreiber was in terrific shape, that is he was until the flop hit the felt. The turn and the river were no help to Schreiber and he made his way out the door in 7th place.
Sean Rice was able to double his short stack a mere two hands earlier, but found himself all in during this hand against chip leader Brian Meinders.
Rice raised preflop only to have Meinders three-bet. It folded back to Rice who four-bet and Meinders capped the action. The two saw a flop of and Rice got the rest of his stack in on this board.
Rice:
Meinders:
Rice had an ace-high but Meinders was holding a higher one. The board completed with the and and just like that Rice was sent to the rail, collecting $11,992 in prize money.
Ian Johns raised preflop only to find Brian Meinders three-bet. Johns four-bet and Meinders five-bet Johns all in. The hands were turned over only to find that Johns was way out in the lead.
Johns:
Meinders:
A flop of was spread in front of the two and Johns' aces were still way in the lead. The turned and Meinders was in need of one of the two remaining black jacks left in the deck. Fortunately for Meinders, that's exactly what peeled off on the river. The completed the board and just like that Johns' aces were cracked and he became our ninth place finisher
Brian Meinders opened up the action and Victor Ramdin then made it three-bets to go. Meinders then made it four bets and Ramdin capped the betting. When Meinders made the call, it was looking very likely that Ramdin would get the remainder of his stack in on the flop, having just a couple of big bets.
Flop:
Ramdin and Meinders both put enough bets and raises to empty Ramdin's stack and the two players turned their hands over.
Ramdin's was in good shape against the of Meinders and when the turn and the river hit the felt, Ramdin would take the double.
Matthew Schreiber raised preflop only to find Christopher Vitch three-bet. Brian Meinders called from the button and Schreiber tagged along as well.
The flop was and Schreiber led out. Vitch tossed out a raise and Meinders opted to three-bet in this spot. Schreiber thought for a moment before mucking his hand and Vitch decided to call.
The rolled off on the turn and Meinders bet out. Vitch called and the two saw the complete the board. Meinders checked to Vitch who tossed out one last bet. Meinders called but mucked his hand when Vitch showed .
Darin Thomas raised preflop and Preston Derden got all of his money in. Thomas called and the hands were turned up:
Thomas:
Derden:
The flop was and Derden was able to pair his ace and come that much closer to another double up. The turn and the river sealed the deal and Derden was able to double through Thomas.
After almost four hours of play, the first elimination of our final table has just occurred, with Christopher Hartman the unlucky player to go home in 10th place.
The last hand of Hartman's tournament began when Matthew Schreiber opened up the pot with a raise. Hartman then committed the remainder of his chips in the small blind and Victor Ramdin called out of the big blind.
Hartman watched on as a flop was dealt out. Ramdin check-called a bet here and then both players checked the turn. The on the river would see Ramdin check-fold to a bet from Schreiber and Hartman would wait for Schreiber to show his hand.
When Schreiber turned over his , it was strong enough to see Hartman fling his into the muck and make his way out of the tournament area.
On a flop of Matthew Schreiber led out only to be raised by Brian Meinders. Schreiber three-bet and Meinders called.
The turn was the and Schreiber bet out again. Once again Meinders raised only this time Schreiber just flat called. The river was the and both players checked. Meinders showed for a turned flush that was now ten-high with four hearts on the board.
A sullen look washed over Schreiber's face as he showed for a flopped set that was now merely a six-high flush.