The pace of this tournament has moved rather quickly so far today with already five eliminations into the 3rd level of play. Dan Shak was overheard to comment that "This thing is playing like a Turbo!"
The tables will remain eight-handed thoughout with play scheduled to continue until a final table is reached.
Erik Seidel has moved across to the feature table to take Jamie Pickering's vacated chair, while Jeff Lisandro was recently moved over to seat 7 on table 29.
Dan Shak approached the PokerNews desk and stated, "Did my table get easier? I'm a favourite for sure!" with a hint of sarcasm, as he now has Seidel, Phil Ivey, JC Tran, Bill Jordanou and John Juanda seated with him.
Jamie Pickering Eliminated
Phil Ivey opened with a raise to 5,500 and with the action on JC Tran on the button, he bumped it to 15,000 total. Jamie Pickering eyed his stack before making the call from the big blind. Ivey passed and both players saw the flop of .
Pickering splashed the pot with five yellow 5000 chips, which was immediately followed with a reraise from Tran to 75,000. Pickering called all-in and the cards were tabled.
Pickering:
Tran:
Pickering would need to catch his two-outer king to stay alive, but when the and fell on the turn and river, we lost Pickering as Tran moved up to 315,000 in chips.
With roughly 30,000 in the pot on a board of , Phil Ivey fired out 16,000 and JC Tran made the call. The river was the and both players checked it down.
Tran showed down , which was surprisingly good as Ivey mucked. Tran is up to 210,000 while Ivey is on the short stack with 33,000.
Sergey Rybachenko Eliminated
On a flop of , John Juanda led out with a bet of 10,000 before Sergey Rybachenko made it 30,000 to go. Juanda quickly moved all of his chips into the middle, coving his opponent, and Rybachenko decided to commit and made the call.
Rybachenko:
Juanda:
The turn was a repeat , giving Rybachenko outs to split, but the river was a to make Juanda a full house. Rybachenko exits and Juanda is now up to 130,000 chips.
Gus Hansen Eliminated
Masa Kagawa opened from middle position to 6,000 and when the action folded around to Gus Hansen, he bumped it to 20,000 out of the small blind. Kagawa thought for a little before the making the call.
With only 7,000 left, Hansen moved all his chips in the middle from the dark. The flop fell and Kagawa, facing the all-in bet from Hansen, eventually made the call and the cards were tabled.
Hansen:
Kagawa:
Kagawa wasn't in great shape, needing a gut-shot queen or any jack or ten to take the lead. The fell on the turn, sending Hansen to his feet. With the landing on the river, Hansen headed to the rail with a comment of, "Nice hand, Masa" from Phil Ivey as he returned from his penalty.