2009 L.A. Poker Classic

Pat Walsh has the button in Seat 3. Chris Ferguson makes the price of poker 165,000 from early position and is called by Cornel Andrew Cimpan. On a flop of , Ferguson takes slightly longer than he usually does to make a decision before moving all in. Cimpan asks for a count; the dealer cuts Ferguson's chips down and counts out 810,000. Cimpan made it seem like he was about to call, but ultimately folded his hand, allowing Ferguson to climb to 1.285 million in the counts.

Here's an updated look at the scoreboard, courtesy of www.worldpokertour.com:

Chris Karagulleyan - 3,230,000
Binh Nguyen - 2,910,000
Mike Sowers - 2,560,000
Cornel Andrew Cimpan - 2,265,000
Pat Walsh - 1,910,000
Chris Ferguson - 985,000

Chris Ferguson has the button in Seat 1. Small blind Cornel Andrew Cimpan is the only caller of a raise to 150,000 made by Mike Sowers. The two players check all the way down on a board of , with Cimpan turning over at showdown for two pair, queens and threes. That's a winner.

Binh Nguyen is playing some power poker so far tonight. Pat Walsh opened to 185,000, but folded to a reraise by Nguyen from the small blind to 735,000.

As expected, we haven't had much action yet at this TV table. It's not uncommon to see players act cautiously when the cameras are on them, especially when the blinds and antes are already so high.

Binh Nguyen has the button in Seat 6. He's the first player into the pot, opening the action with a raise to 160,000. Chris Ferguson folds his small blind, but Cornel Andrew Cimpan calls from the big blind. It's our second flop of the day, and Cimpan has been involved in both. He checks the to Nguyen, who bets 200,000. After a minute, Cimpan check-raises to 600,000, drawing a slight murmur from the crowd. Nguyen fires back with a raise of his own -- all in! There's no call from Cimpan.

Chris Ferguson has the button in Seat 1. When action passes to him, he open-shoves for roughly 1.0 million in chips. Neither Cornel Andrew Cimpan nor Pat Walsh is willing to look him up, so Ferguson gets the blinds and the antes.

The very next hand, Ferguson again open-shoves when action folds to him. He wins the blinds and the antes a second time.

After a few raise-it-and-take-it pots, Pat Walsh has the button in Seat 3. Chris Ferguson opens the preflop action with a raise to 160,000 that is called only by Cornel Andrew Cimpan, in position. Both players check a non-threatening flop of . Ferguson again checks when the turn comes , then calls a bet by Cimpan of 175,000. That takes the two men to the river . Ferguson again checks in his patiently deliberate manner. Cimpan throws out 225,000 and is called by Ferguson for the first showdown of the evening. Cimpan turns over a craftily played ; Ferguson mucks.

After introducing each of the players to the crowd, Savage called out the magic words and play commenced. Chris Karagulleyan got the loudest ovation from the crowd. He is also the sharpest dressed of the six final table competitors -- he's wearing a suit and tie.

We're not sure how much time is left in the level. Mike Sowers asked TD Savage but his reply was inaudible.