Pete Kaemmerlen opened for 31,000 under the gun and cleared the field all the way around to Thomas Babiarz, who moved all in for 124,000 from the big blind. Kaemmerlen snap-called and the cards were turned up.
Kaemmerlen:
Babiarz:
Both players shared a jack, and since Kaemmerlen's ace kicker was best, Babiarz was looking for some big-time help. The flop was disaster as Kaemmerlen paired his king, which left Babiarz in need of running cards. The turn made it so a deuce on the river would result in a chop, but that didn't happen as the peeled off.
Babiarz was eliminated in 11th place, which means the final ten players will now combine to the final table.
Bob De Wolfe limped under the gun and action folded to Leon Halat, who stacked his chips and moved all in for 163,000 from the button. The blinds both folded and De Wolfe simply said, "Call."
De Wolfe:
Halat:
"Chop," Travell Thomas shouted when the flop put that possibility out there. Indeed, another six would do it, but the turn wasn't helpful. The ended up blanking on the river, and that would be the last card Halat would see here in the Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event.
"I didn't expect him to have that kind of hand," Halat admitted before taking his leave.
Travell Thomas has been on a tear since returning from dinner.
In a recent hand, he opened for 27,000 from the button and was met by an all-in three-bet to 166,000 from Greg Miller in the small blind. The big folded and Thomas thought for a solid minute before making the call.
Thomas:
Miller:
Miller was in dire straits, and it only got worse when the flop gave Thomas a set. Miller needed running cards to stave off elimination, but the turn took away any shot of that happening. The meaningless was put out on the river for good measure and Miller made his way to the payout desk in 13th place to collect $2,649.
After losing more than half his chips when his was cracked by the of Andre Smith, Ray Snell was looking for a spot.
He found it when Pete Kaemmerlen opened for 31,000 and Snell moved all in for 68,000 more. Kaemmerlen made the call and it was off to the races.
Kaemmerlen:
Snell:
Snell got it in good, but he was not rewarded as the flop gave Kaemmerlen the lead with queens. Neither the turn nor river helped Snell, and he was sent packing in 14th place.
"GG," he said after the hand. Not "good game" mind you, but rather "GG."
Travell Thomas has a knack for calling cards. Earlier today he caught runner-runner to stay alive, which involved requesting and being given the on the river. Amazingly he's done it again.
It happened after Leon Halat opened for 25,000 and Thomas moved all in for 85,000 from the cutoff. Halat called and the cards were turned up.
Halat:
Thomas:
The flop paired both players, but of course Halat was still best. Thomas began to get up, but when the turned he picked up a flush draw.
"Queen of hearts," Thomas called. Right on cue the dealer burned and put out the !
Thomas made a flush to double while the crowd reacted in stunned disbelief. Meanwhile, Halat say silently with a stern look on his face.
The jovial Jerry Calvaneso has been all smiles the majority, with good reason too as he began Day 2 as a big chip leader. Unfortunately Calvaneso doesn't have anything to smile about now as he has been eliminated from the tournament.
Calvaneso has had a rough go of it in the last hour or so and watched his chips be spread about the table. In what would be his final hand, he got his last 110,000 all in preflop and was up against Ray Snell, who had the bigger stack by just 3,000 in chips.
Calvaneso:
Snell:
"Good luck, Jerry," Snell offered. Calvaneso returned the courtesy. Of course luck would only be on one player's side, and on this particular hand she favored Snell. That's because the board ran out to allow Snell's walking sticks to hold.
Calvaneso finishes in 15th place and will take home $2,649.
We missed the action, but we do know Nicholas Walker just won a big pot off Jerry Calvaneso. Walker appeared to hold on an ace-high board while Calvaneso held . Whatever the case, Walker has emerged as the clear chip leader.
flop was disaster as Kaemmerlen paired his king, which left Babiarz in need of running cards. The 
turn made it so a deuce on the river would result in a chop, but that didn't happen as the 
peeled off.
flop put that possibility out there. Indeed, another six would do it, but the 
turn wasn't helpful. The 
flop gave Thomas a set. Miller needed running cards to stave off elimination, but the 
turn nor 
flop paired both players, but of course Halat was still best. Thomas began to get up, but when the 
!
