Some odd conversations bring people sat at a table together sometimes. I've just been watching table Devilfish which is the only one still remaining in the downstairs area and Ross Boatman and Peter Jepsen were looking at each other's wrists. Then Boatman's watch was off and twinkling in the light for all to admire. A really weird conversation kicked off about the habit-forming nature of watch-purchasing.
"You can spend a lot of money buying these," Jepsen noted ruefully.
"I used to be a jeweller," nodded Devilfish in agreement, "And I like f***ing watches."
Probably they might quite like a WSOPE bracelet too, if they had the chance. Here are a few stacks from that table:
Jeff Kimber - 102k
Ross Boatman - 26k
Peter Jepsen - 13k
Sorel Mizzi - 74k
Juha Helppi - 78k
Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott - 22k
Bad news for our Jason Mercier railers - he's just busted after betting hard at Shaun Deeb, pre, on the flop, then moving in on the turn. He was instantly called by Deeb holding and the board brought a fifth heart - - for the river. OK, Deeb called with the second nuts, really, but it makes a less punchy headline.
A fatigued, but battling Paul Zimbler is still plugging away on the balcony, getting closer and closer to completing his heads-up world record attempt. At time of writing he has 20 hours remaining, and has just finished an encounter with Neil Channing. When asked if he won, Zimbler replied: "I don't even wanna talk about," so something tells me it didn't go too well. The only danger with taking on Channing is that he loves to talk, and if you're tired, you might just slowly... slowly... drift... off... zzzzzzz
Arriving a little late, I seem to remember, HitSquad member Karl Mahrenholz has calmly chipped away at this tournament, totally unfazed by his tablemates (and early chip accumulators) Sandra Naujoks and Shaun Deeb. Just now a six-way flop came to pass after a raise preflop, although I missed who made it. Mahrenholz bet out 15k when it checked to him on a flop and without even any real deliberation all five others gave him the pot. His stack is now over 80k.
We've heard a lot from Matusow, but seen little in the way of action. I did spot him raise a leading bet of 2,000 on a board to 10,000. His opponent asked what he had behind - "19,000" was the answer - before eventually folding. Matusow seems to be plodding away nicely; he has just over 40,000.
flop. John Kabbaj bet 3,000, and his opponent called. turn; both players checked. river, and Kabbaj bet out, 5,000, which was also called.
Kabbaj tapped the table, initially reluctant to show, but so was his opponent. Kabbaj shrugged and flipped , conceding that he had nothing. His foe took it down with .
With under 13k, Bruno Fitoussi limped in early position, along with two others - big blind Sorel Mizzi checked.
The flop brought and a bet out from Mizzi. Over to Fitoussi who found his 11,600 fit into a pot bet with a little room to spare; he also found Mizzi ready to call.
Mizzi: for top two.
Fitoussi: for a set...
The turn was the irrelevant but the on the river made Mizzi a higher house and busted the Frenchman who was seen on the rail laughing about his exit, but in that way you laugh when you drop a jar of mayonnaise all over the floor and it's really annoying as well as funny.
With UTG, Shaun Deeb, Sandra Naujoks and both blinds getting in for cheap, we saw a multi-way flop with all five players located at the one end of the table. Upon the hitting the felt, it was Jason Mercier who started off the betting, leading out for 2,800 from the big blind. UTG was his only caller. On the turn, Mercier check-called a bet of 4,900, before both players checked down the river. "House," announced Mercier as if the victor at a bingo hall. UTG mucked, and the bracelet winner picked up the pot with .