Brian Ali -- 1.55 million
Patrick Houchins -- 1.39 million
Albert Winchester -- 1.36 million
Jerry Van Strydonck -- 910,000
Ellis Frazier -- 740,000
Joe Caffrey -- 645,000
Adam Lippert -- 560,000
John Andress -- 460,000
Leo Whitt -- 330,000
Roland Israelashvili -- 295,000
Jeff Rowland -- 260,000
Tim Begley -- 155,000
Jerry Van Strydonck just earned himself a double up through John Andress. All in before the flop with 
versus Andress' 
, Strydonck's nines held up after the community cards came eight-high.
"Call it 'As the Pendulum Swings,'" suggested Patrick Houchins, suspecting we might need more ways to describe this sort of thing here. It is getting late, and we're not above accepting help when offered.
Strydonck now has about 910,000 while Andress slips to 460,000.
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
John Andress opened from middle position and the action folded to Tim Begley who three-bet shoved for effectively 450,000 from the small blind. Andress snapped it off and the hands were opened.
Showdown
Andress: 
Begley: 
The board ran 
and Andress doubled to around 915,000 chips.
Begley is left with around 200,000.
Level: 26
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
"I hope one more busts so it's get down to 12 for the payouts."
So said Edward Pham just a few moments before pushing all in from the small blind for his last 130,000. After confirming the amount of Pham's raise, John Andress called from the big blind, tabling 
. Pham turned over 
, and five cards later -- 
-- he was eliminated in 13th place, unfortunately for him just before of the next pay jump.
Andress now has about 440,000.
As the final seconds of the closely-fought Big East final between Louisville and Connecticut occupied the attentions of most around them, Scott Carpenter and Patrick Houchins were just involved in a nail-biter of their own.
Carpenter opened the hand with a raise to 65,000 from middle position, and it folded back around to Houchins who made the call. The flop came 
. Houchins checked, and Carpenter set out a stack of gray chips for a bet of 100,000. Houchins quickly announced he was reraising all in, and after a moment of thought Carpenter made the call.
Houchins 
Carpenter 
A big blind special of sorts for Houchins who flopped top two. As the basketball game ticked off its final seconds with U. Conn. taking the title, the turn came 
and river , giving the hand to Houchins. There ensued a lengthy bit of chip counting since both players had nearly identical stacks when the hand began. In the end, about 1.15 million sat in front of Houchins, with just 15,000 left before Carpenter.
All in on the next hand with 
, Carpenter must've thought it a little ironic when he found himself up against Adam Lippert's . Kings had failed Carpenter, but they held up for Lippert after the board ran out 
. Carpenter is out in 14th place, while Lippert adds just a few to his stack, now around 550,000.
John Andress opened to 45,000 from the hijack seat and the action folded to Jerry Van Strydonck who called in the big blind.
The flop fell and Strydonck checked to Andress who continued for 73,000.
"Push your pinks forward please?" Strydonck asked.
Andress obliged and the two then engaged in a short staring contest. Apparently Andress won, because Strydonck mucked his hand.
"I was going to shove," Strydonck added after the hand.
"Really?" Andress replied. "Why didn't you?"
"A few reasons," Strydonck answered.
"You got live tells," Edward Pham joked. "Is this your first rodeo?"
Andress didn't answer, so we will for him: No. The Doylestown, PA native has over $60,000 in live tournament earnings in the past six months including a cash in the $10,000 Main Event at the PCA.
Speaking of Roland Israelashvili...
During one of the first hands back from break, he open-shoved 319,000 from the cutoff seat. Action folded to Brian Ali in the big blind.
"I'm gunna call," he said. "You might be bull****'in."
Showdown
Israelashvili: 
Ali: 
Israelashvili may have been BS'ing, but all was well when the flop fell . He was able to dodge a seven on the turn () and river (
) and doubled to 650,000 chips.
"The tables have turned," Ali grinned despite losing.
Level: 25
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000
Players are back in their seats and Level 25 is underway.
Among them is Roland Israelashvili, winner of last year's WSOP-C Main Event in Atlantic City. Last spring Israelshvili bested a field of 174 in that $5,000 buy-in event to claim a first prize of $264,715.
Israelashvilli has been nursing a short stack, hanging on for some time in the 200,000-chip range (currently about 1/3 the average).
