Paul Harris, co-host of "The Final Table" radio show with Dennis Phillips, has been eliminated from the tournament after running into on a board. Harris joked about his elimination by tweeting, "Total hands won: 1. Total number of people who saw me leaving and asked 'are you out?' 17."
Six players saw a flop of and action checked to Grant Hinkle on the button. He bet 400, the under-the-gun-player raised all in for 5,800, and action folded back to Hinkle. He thought for a moment, flashed the , and then folded. He is still sitting pretty with 29,000.
In addition to the qualifiers previously listed, 34 spots will be awarded to the corresponding point-earners on the National Leaderboard at the end of the season. Here is a look at that leaderboard:
WSOP-C National Leaderboard Top Ten*
Player
Points
Rings
Cashed
Earnings
Brett Schwertley
175
2
7
$114,652
Kevin Calenzo
170
0
8
$94,586
Jeremy Schwartz
162.5
1
4
$75,238
Shiva Dudani
152.5
1
5
$73,799
Mark Sykes
120
0
4
$68,967
Will Souther
120
1
4
$64,312
Drazen Ilich
115
1
3
$66,646
Tom Franklin
112.5
0
5
$29,818
Nick Jivkov
110
1
3
$88,305
Dennis Summers
110
1
3
$39,317
*Points entering the WSOP-Circuit Harrah’s St. Louis stop.
Four players saw a flop of and Mike Souza check-called a 500 bet from one of his opponents. It was heads up to the turn, and once again Souza check-called a bet of 500. When the hit the river, Souza check-called a bet of 1,000 and showed , which was ahead of his opponent's . Souza is sitting with roughly 22,000.
We didn't catch the hand, but the seat formerly occupied by Poker Hall of Famer T.J. Cloutier is now empty of both a player and chips. That can only mean one thing . . . he has been eliminated from the WSOP-C Harrah's Tunica Main Event.
Today's Main Event is the culmination of more than a week's worth of events. The winner of this event, along with the player who earns the most points during the entire WSOP-Circuit stop in St. Louis, will become the two newest qualifiers for the National Championship $1 Million Freeroll that will take place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from May 27 to 29, 2011, and will be televised nationally on the Versus network. Thus far, 48 spots have been locked up for the National Championship. Here is a look at those who have already qualified and how they got there.