We haven't called Jon Seaman's name much this whole tournament. He's been a quiet, steady presence, grinding his way to the final table. He got a little value in a small pot against James Martini. Martini limped the button, allowing Seaman to check the big blind. Seaman checked and called 60,000 on a jack-high flop, . Both players checked the turn. When Seaman also checked the river, Martini tried a bet of 110,000 with unimproved ace-high. Seaman called with , jacks and deuces, to collect the pot.
James Martini opened pre-flop to 75,000. Action passed to Brian England in the blinds who announced that he was all in. Martini didn't have many chips behind -- only about 600,000. After a minute of thought he went for the double-up and called with . England showed and once again the race was on.
"Jack of hearts," called one of England's railbirds. Sure enough, right in the window -- . The turn and river sent Martini off to the rail.
John Kulish turned around in his seat to address England's railbird. "Hey get over here, man! I've got to hire you. I wish you were my buddy instead of his."
Adam Hui wanted to compete for the railbird's services also. "Can you call cards for me?"
Action passed to Brian England's small blind. He looked at his cards, looked at Adam Hui's short stack, and then moved all in. Hui opted to call with ; he was a favorite over England's .
"I got it in good!" said Hui with a laugh. "No chop, one time," he added, acknowledging the high likelihood of a chop given the players' small kickers.
Hui should have been more specific about what he was looking for. The hand didn't chop; England flopped a four and held on through the river, . Tens and fours gave England the winner and sent Hui to the rail.
Hui still has a sweat though; he can finish as Casino Champion for WSOP-C Las Vegas, and qualify for the $1,000,000 National Freeroll, as long as John Kulish finishes in any position EXCEPT second. If Kulish wins, he'll qualify for the Freeroll as the Main Event champion and Hui will qualify as Casino Champion. If Kulish finishes in 3rd or 4th, he will not be able to overtake Hui on points for Casino Champion. If Kulish finishes in 2nd, however, he'll earn enough points to qualify as Casino Champion himself and Hui will not qualify.
From the button, Chris Johnson raised to 85,000. Jon Seaman was in the small blind and three-bet to 215,000. Johnson studied for a minute ands then moved all in. Seaman had about an even million behind and gave it up.
Give credit to Brian England for trying. He did everything he could to shake Chris Johnson off his hand. On a flop of , England checked and allowed Johnson to make a continuation-bet of 105,000. England then check-raised to 280,000. Johnson called to the turn, where he called a bet of another 350,000 from England. The river fell . England cut out 550,000 and slid the chips across the betting line. Johnson thought for around a minute before calling.
"You win," said England as he opened a stone bluff, . "Nice call."
Johnson showed down a pair of kings, , and dragged a pot worth about 2.5 million.
From the button, Jon Seaman raised to 90,000. John Kulish reraised all in from the small blind for 925,000 and Seaman made the call.
Seaman:
Kulish:
The flop came down and paired both players, but kept Kulish in the lead. "This is the biggest sweat of my life!" yelled out Adam Hui from the rail as he knew he needed Kulish to bust before second place in order for him to claim the Casino Champion honors. He then called for a nine on the turn.
The dealer smacked the on the turn and gave Hui what he wanted. The river then completed the board with the . Seaman won the hand and at the final count, had less chips than Kulish. Kulish had 925,000 and Seaman 820,000, leaving Kulish with just 105,000.
On the first hand after being crippled, John Kulish put his last 100,000 into the pot. Big stacks Chris Johnson and Brian England were both in there to take him on. They checked all the way down to the river, . When the river card fell, Kulish said, "Uh oh." Uh oh indeed. England bet 100,000 and folded Johnson. He then opened , a rivered Broadway straight. Kulish showed , a pair of aces, stood up and shook everyone's hand. He finished in 4th place, good for $51,418.
![[user75032]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. Both players checked the 
turn. When Seaman also checked the 
river, Martini tried a bet of 110,000 with unimproved ace-high. Seaman called with 
, jacks and deuces, to collect the pot.
. England showed 
. The turn 
and river 
sent Martini off to the rail.
; he was a favorite over England's 
.
. Tens and fours gave England the winner and sent Hui to the rail.
, England checked and allowed Johnson to make a continuation-bet of 105,000. England then check-raised to 280,000. Johnson called to the 
. England cut out 550,000 and slid the chips across the betting line. Johnson thought for around a minute before calling.
. "Nice call."
, and dragged a pot worth about 2.5 million.
. Seaman won the hand and at the final count, had less chips than Kulish. Kulish had 925,000 and Seaman 820,000, leaving Kulish with just 105,000.
, a rivered Broadway straight. Kulish showed 
, a pair of aces, stood up and shook everyone's hand. He finished in 4th place, good for $51,418.