The first 15-minute break of the schedule has been reached with 38 players remaining. With 33 spots paid, the money bubble is on the immediate horizon. For the short stacks, the break comes at the perfect time to catch one's breath and consider the challenge ahead.
When the players return, Level 16 will begin with blinds of 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 big blind ante.
In a blind vs. blind situation, Kelly Vande Mheen opened from the small blind for 15,000 and Joe Thiel moved all-in for 108,000.
"I call," Vande Mheen moaned, and turned over 
. Thiel tabled 
for a medium pair and the race began.
Thiel held through the turn when it ran out 
, but an 
on the river paired Vande Mheen.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
193,000 | -34,000 |
|
|
13,000 | -73,500 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Paul Strohm moved all in for around 45,000 and Ron Bay reshoved from two seats away. Everyone else folded and the hands were turned up.
Paul Strohm: 
Ron Bay: 
We're off to the races with Strohm's tournament life on the line.
No paint arrived for Strohm through the nine-high board, 
and Strohm hits the rail a dozen short of the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
93,000 | 93,000 |
|
Busted |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
338,500 | 252,500 |
|
336,000 | 336,000 |
|
329,000 | 152,500 |
|
270,500 | 118,500 |
|
218,000 | 79,000 |
|
193,000 | 15,500 |
|
183,000 | 61,500 |
|
181,000 | 76,000 |
|
161,000 | -79,500 |
|
158,000 | 2,500 |
|
141,000 | 33,500 |
|
135,000 | 13,000 |
|
|
130,500 | 52,500 |
|
126,000 | 47,500 |
|
104,000 | 30,500 |
|
|
96,000 | 7,000 |
|
85,000 | -44,000 |
|
|
78,500 | |
|
68,000 | -24,000 |
|
68,000 | -6,500 |
|
56,000 | 56,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,500/5,000
Ante: 5,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
It's not often big stacks clash before the money bubble as there are softer targets to be found, a principle Eric Atchison seems to take to heart.
Atchison opened for 10,000 from the cutoff and Kelly Vande Mheen called from the small blind. The big blind came along and the three players saw a flop of 
. The blinds checked and Atchison continued for 15,000.
Vande Mheen called and the big blind folded. Both players checked the turn and went to the 
river.
Vande Mheen briefly considered his options and then led with a bet of 40,000, prompting Atchison to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
243,000 | -60,500 |
|
|
227,000 | 119,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
