We've hit the final ten players, and they've been drawn around the last table left in play. It's the unofficial final table, and here's how it lays out:
We missed how the action unfolded but the bottom line is that Mike Holm has been eliminated. Holm held and lost to Scott Stanko's . The board ran and Stanko's ace was enough for knockout.
We didn't catch up to the action until the turn here, but that's where things got exciting anyways. The board showed when we walked up, and Stephen Ma was leading out with 20,000 chips from the blinds. Charles Moore raised to 60,000, and Ma didn't waste too much time calling to see the last card.
It was the . Ma checked to the aggressor, and Moore put out a big bet of 175,000. After he did, he immediately stood up behind his chair and made some small talk about stretching. Ma would need a few minutes in the tank, and he eventually asked Moore if he'd show.
"Nope," Woody answered, pressing his lips together like a stubborn toddler. "I never show. That's just one thing I don't do. I just never show my cards unless I have to. If I have to, then I'll show. But I never show if --"
"Okay," Ma finally cut him off. "No problem."
After another couple minutes, someone (possibly Moore) called the clock. Ma tanked for 30 more seconds, then flashed his cards to Moore as he folded.
"Ooooh," Moore said, returning his cards to the dealer face-down as he raked in the pot.
It was a battle of the blinds that we caught up to just a bit late. The dealer was already running out the flop when we approached, and Jim Devaney was knocking the table. Pej Niyati put in a bet of 19,000, but Devaney check-raised to 69,000. Niyati flatted.
The turn brought the and a bet of 130,000 from Devaney. Niyati took pause for just a minute, then moved all in for 242,000 total. Devaney tanked and called, and the cards were on their backs.
Showdown
Devaney:
Niyati:
Devaney needed to find a six to tally the knockout, but the river was safe for Niyati. He's doubled his way all the way up to about 660,000, knocking Devaney back to 510,000 in the process.
"Down goes Frazier," Niyati said quietly as he stacked up the pot.
We happened upon this pot after the flop had been dealt and there was already a sizable pot in the middle. The board read , Scott Stanko checked, Mark Bonsack checked and Jim Devaney bet 60,000. Stanko flatted and Bonsack went deep in the tank.
By deep we mean several minutes passed while Bonsack mulled over his decision. He eventually folded and the came on the turn. Stanko checked and Devaney bet 100,000 with confidence. Stanko took just a little time before moving all in.
Devaney took his time before eventually folding as well.
Under the gun, Casey Cavanaugh opened with a raise to 24,000. Charles Moore called one seat over, and Sean Moore came along from the button, as well. It was three-handed as the dealer spread out . Cavanaugh fired right out with 30,000 more, and both opponents called to see the next card.
It was the . Cavanaugh was undeterred as he barreled right on with 46,000 more. "Woody" called again, the other Moore quickly folded, and now the two were heads-up to the river . The turn action repeated there with Moore calling another 46,000 from Cavanaugh — albeit much more slowly this time.
Cavanaugh tabled , and he's pressing his way back up the counts. We've got him right at 800,000 now, and that's plenty of chips to take to the final table if he can hold his ground.