Bernard Lee has been riding a short stack for most of the afternoon. That is why we were surprised to see him back above starting stack when we walked by his table.
According to Lee, he was able to double up with against his opponents on a flop. That will give him some breathing room as we creep under the one-hour remaining mark.
Peter Mavro raised to 1,450 to open the pot and received a call from the player in the cutoff before the player on the button three-bet to 4,600. Mavro thought for awhile and eventually moved all in for his last 22,000 chips. That drew two quick folds and Mavro is back up to about 30,000.
Our early chip-leader Bobby Hodson has been steadily declining since the beginning of the last break. Recently, he raised to 1,350 and found one caller in the cutoff position.
The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the and Hodson checked again before his opponent fired 2,500. Hodson called and the river was the . Hodson check-called again, this time for 3,000. His opponent tabled for two-pair and was able to ship the pot.
Hodson, who was once nearing 80,000, is now down to 36,000.
The field has just entered the last level of the first flight. All surviving players will bag and tag their chips and return tomorrow for Day 2. Any player that has busted up to the end of play can play the second flight. We're expecting a flurry of short stacks to bust within the level.
After the under-the-gun player raised to 1,850, Mark Barrientos moved all in for 12,825 more. His opponent tank-folded, claiming to have Ace-Queen. Barrientos informed him that it was the wrong fold.
A few hands later, Barrientos got it in again against Ace-Queen, but this time the player called. Barrientos needed a lot of help to stay alive with his Ace-Jack and got it on the turn. The board ran out and Barrientos left his opponent with just 3,000 while putting himself in great position to bag up a stack of chips above the average.
Kevin Saul was all in holding against the of Jason Schwartz. The board ran out and Saul will have to wait until the second flight to build a stack for Day 2.
Aaron Massey raised from early position to 1,900. Action folded around to the player in the small blind who moved all in for 26,225. The big blind folded.
Massey contemplated his decision for a few minutes, stressing that his read was to call because of how fast his opponent moved all in, "as if [he] knew already." Eventually, he let it go and his opponent tabled to which Massey replied, "Boooo!"
and both players checked. The turn was the 
and Hodson checked again before his opponent fired 2,500. Hodson called and the river was the 
. Hodson check-called again, this time for 3,000. His opponent tabled 
for two-pair and was able to ship the pot.
and Barrientos left his opponent with just 3,000 while putting himself in great position to bag up a stack of chips above the average.
against the 
of Jason Schwartz. The board ran out 
