David Paredes and Scott Baumstein had reached the river, the board showing . Second to act, Baumstein had 50,000 chips set before him, a bet that looked to exceed the size of the pot by just a touch. That amount also appeared roughly equivalent to what Paredes had before him.
Paredes thought for a while, saying "This would be a sick bluff" at one point. Finally he called, and Baumstein quickly flipped over for a set of aces. Paredes exhaled and mucked, and after a counting down it was discovered he still had two green chips — just 50 left.
All in on the next hand, Paredes survived versus Suraj Dalal to play one more hand. On that one he'd be all in against two players, including Dalal, and when Paredes's two opponents checked down a board, Dalal flipped over — better than Paredes's — and the latter soon left.
Cherish Andrews was pushed all in from middle position for 11,800, and it folded around to Tanner Millen who called from the big blind. Andrews tabled her while Millen flipped over .
"I've been running really bad today," said Andrews with a smile to her neighbor. Then came the flop — . "See!" said Andrews, still smiling as she moved to get up from her seat. The turn was the , the river the , and Andrews wished everyone good luck before departing.
Jason Roth just saw his Day 1a run come to an end not quite halfway through Level 9. All in on a board showing , Roth held for trip nines, but unfortunately for him was up against Jeffrey Spence who had for a full house.
The river was the , and with Roth's elimination the remaining 30 players are now seated around three ten-handed tables.
Picking up the action on a flop with four players in the pot, Brian Meek moved all in for 13,400. Chris Klodnicki was the lone caller.
Meek:
Klodnicki:
The turn and river weren't enough help to Meek, ending his Day 1a.
The following hand, Theo Tran opened to 1,800 in middle position and Klodnicki called from the next seat. The flop came down and Tran bet 2,000. Klodnicki called to see the turn which both players checked. The landed on the river and Tran bet 10,000. Klodnicki mulled it over for about 20 seconds before calling with , besting Tran's holdings.
Players have reached the end of Level 8 and the last break of Day 1a. In 15 minutes they'll return to play two more levels before bagging up for the evening.
"Some people idolize Michael Jordan... some John Elway," said Jason Roth just now. "Me? It's Chris Klodnicki."
"Come on now, it's only Day 1," chuckled Klodnicki in response. Roth had just witnessed Klodnicki knock out another competitor — Michael Kemeter — with versus Kemeter's . The flop had brought an ace, but a seven as well, and Klodnicki's set proved best.
All of the remaining 34 players are wishing they had Klodnicki's chips at the moment, as he appears to be the leader as we approach the end of Level 8.
. Second to act, Baumstein had 50,000 chips set before him, a bet that looked to exceed the size of the pot by just a touch. That amount also appeared roughly equivalent to what Paredes had before him.
for a set of aces. Paredes exhaled and mucked, and after a counting down it was discovered he still had two green chips — just 50 left.
board, Dalal flipped over 
— better than Paredes's 
— and the latter soon left.
against the 
of Dixit Patel.
to keep Patel ahead, but the 
turn gave Chettipally the lead. The 
river kept him there, giving him the much-needed double up.
, the river the 
, and Andrews wished everyone good luck before departing.
for a full house.
turn and 
river weren't enough help to Meek, ending his Day 1a.
versus Kemeter's 
. The flop had brought an ace, but a seven as well, and Klodnicki's set proved best.