The WinStar River Poker Series Main Event Champion once removed, Maxx Coleman is coming into Day 3 second in chips behind Chengce Jiang and looking for his second win in three years. Jiang has a large lead entering the day with 6,675,000 to Coleman's 3,230,000.
The tournament restarts at noon and Jiang and Coleman lead the field of 12 returning players.
On the other end of the spectrum, Mike Dentale comes in with 475,000 just behind Ben Zamani with 535,000.
Dwight Sellars (990,000), Lawrence Porath (1,096,000) and Chris Hooper (2,454,000) are in the middle of the pack and are representing the more recreational players. Porath has said many times this is the biggest tournament he's played in. Hooper got a big kick start yesterday when he Tien Phan three-bet shoved with pocket fives and Hooper had kings. The pot was 1,500,000 and Hooper continued to build last night and has a healthy stack entering play today.
The current state of things has the returning field chasing Jiang, who definitely has the chip stack to close out the tournament. Things can change fast though and PokerNews will be here to bring you the updates all day from the final day of the WinStar River Poker Series Main Event.
Anthony Spinella just busted in 12th place to the chip leader Chengce Jiang.
Spinella started the pot with over two million chips and on the turn he bet 325,000 when Jiang checked to him.
The board read and Jiang check-raised all in, putting the 1,500,000 Spinella had behind at risk. Spinella tanked for a little and finally called showing for top pair with a flush draw.
Jiang had two pair with a diamond flush draw holding, .
The river was the and Jiang added to his already monstrous stack.
Spinella will take home $32,669 for his 12th place finish.
Mike Rieck went all in for his last 230,000 and Lawrence Porath and Maxx Coleman both called.
Porath shoved the flop after Coleman checked and Coleman folded. Rieck had a diamond draw with , but couldn't get there to beat the of Porath, in fact, Porath improved to make the flush and eliminate Rieck.
Lawrence Porath limped early and small blind Ben Zamani completed. Lang Nguyen shoved all in and Porath instantly shipped it as well, with Zamani folding.
"You got aces, huh?" Nguyen said with a sigh, showing .
Porath showed , and Nguyen was happy to see he had a fighting chance.
The flop brought Nguyen a flush draw.
"Gotta sweat it," he said with a smile. "Bam."
That second part was after the hit the turn to give him a stranglehold on things. The river was a and Porath said it was good playing with everyone.
Maxx Coleman raised all in from early position for 850,000. Ben Zamani called from the small blind and Lang Nguyen shoved all in for about 4,900,000 which had Zamani slightly covered.
Zamani took a moment before calling and showing . He was against the of Nguyen and Coleman was in third place with .
Coleman got up from his seat as soon as the flop came . The turn was the , leaving Nguyen drawing to only a king, and the river was the , giving Zamani the pot.
Coleman, who won this event two years ago, will now take home $64,650 for his seventh-place finish. In the last three years, Coleman has taken home more than $800,000 in prize money from the WinStar River Poker Series Main Event.
Chengce Jiang opened for 225,000 under the gun and Ben Zamani called on his left. The flop came and Jiang continued for 250,000. Zamani quickly called. On the turn, Jiang barreled again for 475,000 and received a quick call. He bet 1.1 million more on the river.
This time, Zamani took a little longer, but after 30 seconds or so, he flicked in some chips. Jiang opened for a flush and put some serious distance between himself and his nearest challenger.