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

11-16-2008 17:35 UTC-7

Chip Count Update

[user65508]

With the action in a lull, the chip counts for the remaining three look like this:

Ty Stewart - 1,343,000
Micheal Binger - 472,000
Jake Solis - 165,000

11-16-2008 17:39 UTC-7

Michael Binger and Jake Solis just went heads-up in a hand that left Jake Solis with less than 100,000 in chips.

Binger limped into the pot from the small blind and Solis checked his option in the big. The flop came {8-Spades}

and a check-check sequence brought us to the turn: {7-Spades}

.

Binger then fired a small 15,000 bet in and Solis quickly called. The {9-Diamonds}

was the last card to fall off the deck, and Binger fired a bet of 40,000. Solis made the call and Binger tabled {5-Clubs}

for a nine-high straight; Solis mucked.

After the hand, Solis was left with about 95,000 in chips while Binger improved to 542,000.

Tags: Jake Solis

11-16-2008 17:42 UTC-7

Jake Solis Eliminated in 3rd Place ($77,464)

[user65508]

Micheal Binger bumped the action to 30,000 from the button, before Jake Solis moved all in for his remaining 90,000. Ty Stewart called, as did Binger, sending all three to the flop. The action was checked down from there.

The board filled out: {Q-Spades}

Showdown:

Binger: {K-Clubs}

Solis:

Stewart:

Jake Solis received a genuine hand shake from both players as he exited the tournament area as the third place finisher. Solis will gross $77,464 for his efforts.

Tags: Jake Solis

11-16-2008 17:49 UTC-7

Brief Intermission

[user38449]

The tournament clock has been paused while Michael Binger and Ty Stewart take a quick ten-minute break to prepare for their heads-up match.

Here's how they stand heading into the final showdown:

Ty Stewart - 1,156,000
Michael Binger - 824,000

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.

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

Level: 21

Blinds: 6,000/12,000

Ante: 1,000

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

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 18:45 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