Jonathan Hilton raised to 57,000 out of the small blind, Robert "Uncle Krunk" Panitch defended, and the flop fell 
. Hilton led out for 58,000, and Panitch immediately moved all in for 432,000.
Hilton asked for a count, then mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
605,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
Robert "Uncle Krunk" Panitch opened for 55,000 on the button and Max Steinberg looked him up from the small blind. Jonathan Hilton folded the big and it was heads-up action to the 
flop. Steinberg checked, Panitch bet 150,000 and Steinberg got out of the way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,175,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
|
525,000
205,000
|
205,000 |
Max Steinberg opened for to 55,000 on the button, Brock Parker moved all in for 350,000 in the big blind, and Steinberg tank-called.
Parker: 
Steinberg: 
Parker was behind, and Steinberg increased his lead when the dealer fanned 
. Parker needed running cards to make a wheel, and the 
was one of those cards. The two-time bracelet winner was left with three outs (the 
was no good) to stay alive, but unfortunately for him the 
bricked on the river.
Parker, who entered the final table with the chip lead, was eliminated in fourth place, while Steinberg is back over a million chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,275,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Brock Parker opened for 50,000 under the gun and received calls from Max Steinberg and Jonathan Hilton in the small and big blind respectively. All three players checked the 
flop, and then Steinberg led out for 90,000 on the 
river. Both his opponents called, the 
was put out on the river and Hilton bet 335,000 after Steinberg checked.
Parker quickly folded, but Steinberg wasn't so hasty. The WSOP bracelet winner tanked for several minutes as he thought about what to do. He looked back at his cards, fiddled with his chips and then made the call. Hilton tabled the 
for a full house, and it was good as Steinberg sent his hand to the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
900,000
450,000
|
450,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
300,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
Level: 23
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
In the first two years of the World Series of Poker National Championship, a Main Event winner from the WSOP Circuit was crowned champion. In the first year it was Harrah's Tunica Main Event champ Sam Barnhart, and last year it was Caesars Atlantic City Main Event champ Ryan Eriquezzo.
With the elimination of Tim Bowman, who won the Harrah's Cherokee Main Event last month, that means a non-Main Event winner will take down the National Championship. Whether it's an at-large qualifier or a WSOP POY $10,000 buy-in remains to be seen as two of each still remain.
Jonathan Hilton raised to 40,000 on the button, Robert Panitch called in the big blind, and the flop fell 
. Panitch led out for 75,000, Hilton called, and the turn was the .
Panitch knuckled this time, Hilton checked behind, and the 
completed the board. Panitch led out again - this time sliding out 175,000 in blue T25,000 chips - and Hilton snap-called.
Panitch quickly mucked, prompting Hilton to show 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,700,000
450,000
|
450,000 |
|
|
320,000
420,000
|
420,000 |
After Brock Parker had opened with a standard raise from the button, Max Steinberg called from the big blind. The latter then check-called a bet on the 
flop, how much we're not sure, and the dealer burned and turned 
. Steinberg checked for a second time and Parker took the opportunity to bet again, this time 115,000.
Steinberg thought for a solid minute before making the call, and then both players checked the 
river. Steinberg rolled over the 
nuts and Parker mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,350,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
420,000
304,000
|
304,000 |
Tim Bowman open-shoved for 186,000 from under the gun, and the action folded to Max Steinberg in the big blind, who thought for a bit before reaching for blue T25,000 chips and flicking them forward.
Bowman: 
Steinberg: 
Despite being ahead, Steinberg was the one who stood up from the table as the dealer fanned 
. Bowman picked up a heart flush draw, yet remained seated. Silent.
The turn was red, but the 
didn't improve the North Carolinian's hand, and he was one card away from exiting in fifth place.
The dealer rapped the table, burned a card, then deliver the 
on the river, eliminating Bowman. He will earn $84,544 for his efforts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
950,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
At-large qualifier Jonathan Hilton opened for 40,000 under the gun and cleared the field all the way to Tim Bowman, who defended from the big blind. Bowman proceeded to check-call bets of 42,000 on the flop and 85,000 on the turn, and then checked for a third time when the 
completed the board on the river.
Hilton took a moment before betting a healthy 195,000, and Bowman tossed in a single gray T5,000 chip to signify a call. Hilton tabled the 
for a rivered flush, and Bowman was left shaking his head as he sent his cards to the muck unseen.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,250,000
361,000
|
361,000 |
|
|
200,000
315,000
|
315,000 |
