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Mon Jun 01 2009 00:56 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Feeling Out the Table
After such aggressive play on Day 2, the pace of action has slowed considerably at the final table. There has been a good amount of pre-flop limping and most pots have been taken down with a single bet on the flop. To illustrate, here's a look at the last five hands:
1. Steven Burkholder raised to 30,000 from middle position and Chris Biondino called from the cutoff. The flop was
and Burkholder took it down with a 45,000 bet.
2. Jason Mercier opened for 27,000 from middle position and Kevin Iacofano called from the button. Mercier led out for 51,000 on the 
flop and Iacofano mucked.
3. Chris Biondino raised to 30,000 from middle position and won the pot before the flop.
4. An Tran limped in from UTG, Matt Giannetti limped in behind him, Jonathan Tare limped from the cutoff, Vic Park completed the small blind and Steven Burkhead checked from the big blind. The action was checked to Tare on the
flop and he took it down with a bet.
5. Six players limped in and saw a flop of
. Everyone checked to Chris Biondino, who took it down with a flop bet. -
Mon Jun 01 2009 00:44 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Tran Puts the Pressure On
Vic Park opened for 30,000 from the hijack seat, An Tran made it 105,000 to go from the cutoff and Park called.
The flop was
and Park checked. Tran moved all in for 118,000, forcing Park to give up his hand. Tran is back up to 335,000 while Park slipped to 200,000. -
Mon Jun 01 2009 00:41 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Chris Biondino Doubles Through An Tran
Chris Biondino limped in from UTG, Jonathan Tare limped from middle position, An Tran completed the small blind and Jason Mercier checked his option from the big blind. The flop came down
and Tran led out for 56,000. Mercier folded and Biondino moved all in for 165,000. Tare got out of the way and Tran made the call.
Biondino
Tran
Tran flopped the nut straight but Biondino had a flush re-draw. He hit in on the turn when the
fell, and the 
on the river sealed the hand for him. Biondino doubled to 415,000 while Tran slipped to 240,000. -
Mon Jun 01 2009 00:23 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Two Small Ones
The action was folded to Dario Alioto on the button and he made it 30,000 to go. Steven Burkholder called from the big blind and they both checked a flop of
. The on the turn brought two more checks, and the river fell the . Burkholder took a stab at the pot for 45,000 and Alioto folded. Burkholder took it down, increasing his stack to 295,000. Alioto is now at 276,000.
On the following hand, Jonathan Tare opened for 30,000 from late position and An Tran called from the big blind. The flop came down 
and Tran checked over to Tare, who bet 35,000. Tran folded and Tare took it down. He's up to 665,000 while Tran is at 420,000. -
Mon Jun 01 2009 00:18 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Tare Strikes First
After five flop-less hands to start, we have some action at last.
Jason Mercier made it 27,000 to go from middle position, Kevin Iacofano called from the cutoff and Jonathan Tare called from the button.
The flop was and Mercier checked over to Iacofano, who bet 40,000. Tare called and Mercier folded. The turn came the 
. Iacofano checked, Tare bet 100,000 and it was enough to chase Iacofano away. Tare took down the pot without a showdown. -
Mon Jun 01 2009 00:14 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Cards are in the air at the final table. There are 50 minutes remaining in Level 18.
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Mon Jun 01 2009 00:14 GMT-70Round: 18 Blinds: 5000/10000 Ante: 0
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Mon Jun 01 2009 00:12 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Final Table Bios: Seat 9, Steven Burkholder (263,000)
22-year old Steven Burkholder is a student from Largo, Florida. Playing as "PiKappRaider" online, he went on a massive run in the second half of 2008, winning the Full Tilt $750,000 Guarantee, the Full Tilt $1 Million Guarantee, the PokerStars $500 rebuy 6-max WCOOP Event, and an FTOPS XI event for over $1 million in total earnings. Outside of poker, he enjoys "long walks on the beach, love songs, Britney Spears, and American Idol."
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Mon Jun 01 2009 00:09 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Final Table Bios: Seat 8, Victa Park (341,000)
A student from Los Angeles, CA, Vic Park has been playing poker since he was 18. This is his first WSOP cash and his first final table.
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Mon Jun 01 2009 00:09 GMT-70 | Posted by change100
Dario Alioto, Seat 7Final Table Bios: Seat 7, Dario Alioto (315,000)
Hailing from Palermo, Italy, 24-year old Dario Alioto is already a WSOP bracelet winner in pot-limit Omaha, winning the £5,000 PLO event at the 2007 WSOP-Europe. Currently first on the all-time European PLO money list, Alioto made the final table of this event last summer, finishing fourth, finished 19th at the 2008 $10,000 World Champioship PLO event and notched a sixth-place finish at the 2007 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event.
Started 1st Jun, 2009
