$5,150 Championship Main Event | 2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Lake Tahoe

11-16-2008 19:10 UTC-7

Updated Chip Counts

[user38449]

Ty Stewart - 1,532,000
Michael Binger - 448,000

11-16-2008 19:09 UTC-7

Potty Break

[user38449]

The tournament clock has been paused while Ty and Michael take a quick three-minute restroom break.

We'll be back shortly.

11-16-2008 19:08 UTC-7

Binger Gets Back Some Chips Without Showing

[user65508]

Micheal Binger called Ty Stewart after he raised his option. The flop evolved {4-Clubs}

, and then saw Binger take the initiative as he bet 40,000 after a Stewart check. The check-bet-call sequence was repeated on a turn of {J-Spades}

, this time for 60,000. The {10-Spades}

rounded out the board before Stewart checked over to Binger who bet 120,000. Stewart released the hand and Binger climbed back to 470,000 to Stewart's 1,510,000 after the hand.

Tags: Micheal Binger Ty Stewart

11-16-2008 18:54 UTC-7

Binger Falls to 200k

[user38449]

Bird's eye view of the final table stage

Michael Binger limped into the pot from the button and Ty Stewart kicked it up another 25,000. Binger made the call and the flop came {5-Diamonds}

.
Stewart quickly fired a bet of 40,000 and Binger made the call.

The {A-Spades}

fell on the turn and both players checked. Fifth Street brought the {9-Spades}

and Stewart fired a 75,000 bet that Binger called immediately:

Showdown:
Stewart: {A-Hearts}

Binger: Mucked

As Stewart raked in the pot, Binger commented, "That ace saved me from going broke, actually."

After the hand, Binger was left with just under 200,000 in chips and Stewart is now sitting with close to 1.78 million.

Tags: Michael Binger Ty Stewart

11-16-2008 18:45 UTC-7

Stewart Still Chipping Away

[user38449]

Ty Stewart has been chipping away at Michael Binger's chip stack over the last few hands, and he's knocked his opponent down to just 355,000 in chips; Stewart owns the remaining 1,625,000 in play.

Tags: Michael Binger

11-16-2008 18:37 UTC-7

Stewart Wins Gargantuan Pot

[user38449]

Binger stares across the table at his heads-up nemesis

Ty Stewart opens with a raise to 26,000 and Michael Binger answered with a raise of his own, making it 86,000 to play; Stewart made the call.

The flop came {J-Diamonds}

and Binger check-called a 90,000 bet from his opponent. The {3-Hearts}

fell on fourth street and Binger checked again, allowing Stewart to fire once more, this time making it 200,000 to play. Binger made the call.

The {7-Diamonds}

was the last card off the deck and Binger checked once more, which prompted Stewart to announce, "All in." Stewart had Binger covered.

Binger then pulled off his sunglasses and sat uneasily in his chair, facing the biggest decision of his tournament thus far. After a solid three minutes passed, Binger eventually laid down his hand, conceding the pot to Stewart.

"Nice lay down," Stewart said as he raked in the massive pot. "You call, it's all over."

Chip counts after the hand are as follows:
Stewart - 1,445,000
Binger - 535,000

Tags: Michael Binger Ty Stewart

11-16-2008 18:27 UTC-7

That Evens it Up

[user65508]

Our first hand that was played out in awhile has just about evened the chips stacks of both players.

The action started with Micheal Binger raising it up to 26,000. The flop came {8-Diamonds}

, before both checked to the turn which came {4-Clubs}

. The betting picked up again as Binger bet 35,000, and Stewart raised the price to 90,000 total. The river was the {6-Spades}

as Binger checked over to Stewart. Stewart bet 100,000 and was insta-called.

The showdown:

Binger: {4-Spades}

Stewart:

The counts after the hand:

Binger - 939,000
Stewart - 1,041,000

Tags: Micheal Binger Ty Stewart

Level: 21

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 1,000

11-16-2008 18:08 UTC-7

Playing it Safe Early

[user38449]

Michael Binger and Ty Stewart were easily the two most aggressive faces at this final table, though since heads-up play began, they seem to be playing quite cautiously, perhaps trying to get a feel for the tempo of the match.

Stewart began with a slight chip advantage, but one that Binger could easily overcome in a single hand. The rail around the final table is packed shoulder-to-shoulder as spectators watch this classic pro v. amateur confrontation.

Tags: Michael Binger Ty Stewart

11-16-2008 17:57 UTC-7

Game On

[user38449]

The players have returned to the table, which now holds a big plate o'money and the gold circuit championship ring that Ty Stewart and Michael Binger will be battling over.

Play resumes with 14 minutes remaining in level 20, with blinds of 5,000/10,000 and a 1,000 ante.