Gregg Merkow managed to run his last 8,500 or so up to roughly 35,000 and he stuck that amount in on a four-bet after opening in middle position and getting three-bet by the small blind. That player called with and Merkow was ahead but racing with .
Merkow's opponent hit an ace on the board to eliminate him.
"See ya'll," he said cheerfully enough. "Good luck."
At another table, it appears Chris Staats lost his remaining chips as he just walked out the door.
John Richards opened to 8,000 preflop and Charles Bass called in position before Gary Widener raised to 16,500. Both Richards and Bass called.
The flop came jack-high, , and Widener checked. Richards bet 19,000 and both Bass and Widener called again.
The turn paired the board with the and Widener checked. Richards continued to bet, making it 35,000 to go. Bass counted out calling chips and eyed his remaining stack. He then went all in and Widener quickly folded.
Richards took a moment but eventually called and showed for two pair. Bass showed and hit an ace on the river to win the huge pot.
After apparently putting in a raise to 12,000, it seemed like big blind Mike Dentale was up against a shove all in from his small blind neighbor, who put in his stack of 153,400.
"You're racing at best," the all-in player said.
"I'm racing at worst," Dentale corrected him. "The best hand you're gonna have here is jacks or tens."
Dentale continued thinking things over for the next couple of minutes, muttering to himself.
"I might have you crushed," he said. "You might have ace-jack."
The other player simply shook his head silently. Eventually Dentale mucked and showed . His opponent tabled .
Daniel Lu has been running pretty hot, a few hands ago he got all in with top pair against an over pair and rivered two pair to stay in the tournament.
On this hand, Mike Dentale opened to 12,000 and Lu called on the button.
The flop came and Dentale check-called 20,000. The turn was the and Dentale checked again. Lu bet 30,000 and Dentale quickly went all in. Lu called and Dentale showed a set of kings, . Lu turned over for a flush and Dentale couldn't find a boat and Lu would take down the pot.
Dentale was not pleased with Lu's recent good fortune and was pretty vocal about it. Meanwhile, Lu quietly stacked the chips and is sitting just under 300,000.
After Jesus Cantu opened for a raise in middle position, Lou Barlow shoved from the button for 48,800. Cantu quickly called and tabled , and Barlow showed he'd been coolered: . The flop, however, was bringing the lady Barlow sought for a double, as the and runout left him best.
The flop came out and the big blind checked to Lu. He bet 22,000 and the big blind folded.
At the next table, Tim Gray was three-bet shoving over an early position all in and his pocket tens held against ace-jack. He turned a set of tens and was able to dodge the straight draw of his opponent.
and Merkow was ahead but racing with 
.
, and Widener checked. Richards bet 19,000 and both Bass and Widener called again.
for two pair. Bass showed 
. His opponent tabled 
.
and Dentale checked again. Lu bet 30,000 and Dentale quickly went all in. Lu called and Dentale showed a set of kings, 
for a flush and Dentale couldn't find a boat and Lu would take down the pot.
, and Barlow showed he'd been coolered: 
. The flop, however, was 
and 
runout left him best.
