Karas, Wattel & Baxter Done and Dusted

Archie Karas: / /
Brent Keller: / /
Thomas Butzhammer: / Fold

A short-stacked Archie Karas, who once parlayed a borrowed stake of $10,000 into $17 million as described in a 1994 article in Cigar Aficionado, completed with his last 1,400 and Brent Keller raised to 3,200. Thomas Butzhammer came along and there was side action headed to fourth.

Butzhammer ended up calling a bet from Keller but then folded to one on fifth. Keller turned over an 8-7-6-A low while Karas was in bad shape with 4-4-Q-2. A on fifth saw Keller improve, and a for Karas left him drawing dead. Keller was pushed the pot while Karas' hope of a comeback came to an end.

Meanwhile both Mike Wattel and Billy Baxter were eliminated from the tournament a short time later. The former was felled in 25th place while the latter in 24th before the three-table redraw could occur.