The numbers are in here at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs. After five players late registered here on Day 2, the total number of entries was bumped up to 367, which created a $550,800 prize pool. That will be paid out to the top 45 finishers, with $121,177 going to the eventual winner.
Henry Tran defended his big blind against a late position opener who had raised to 3,500. He then checked and called another 3,500 on a flop of . Both players checked the turn, and the river brought the . Tran checked a final time, and his opponent bet 8,500. Tran came to life with a raise to 19,000, and his opponent counted out the 19,000 and separated it from the rest of his stack. Ultimately, he folded.
"I'll show one for fun," Tran said, laughing. His opponent declined the offer, but the player in Seat 1 chose the card on Tran's right, which he flipped over to reveal the .
According to a player at the table, Tran opened for 3,500 and then called when Masek shipped all in for approximately 28,000. Tran tabled and was well out in front of Masek's . The board ran out clean and that was all she wrote for Masek.
Meanwhile, the defending champ, Scott Stanko, appears to have been eliminated from the tournament. His former table has broke, and Stanko is nowhere to be found.
"All in over at Table 1," Allen Kessler shouted even though he was seated at Table 42. We made our way over to find Matthew Riley all in for his last 25,500 holding the and in bad shape against Kessler's . Both men were on their feet, but there would be little excitement as the board ran out .
Meanwhile, Steven Dale, Amyn Punjani and Thomas Medina have all been eliminated from the tournament.
Former chip leader Jeff Heiberg opened to 4,200 in middle position, and Mike Holm called, only to see the player to his immediate left raise to 10,000. Heiberg immediately called, as did Holm.
The flop brought the , and Heiberg checked. Holm led for 15,000 into the raiser, who muttered something inaudible before folding. Heiberg also folded, and Holm scooped up a nice pot.
Mark Fink won Event #10 $365 No-Limit Hold'em Turbo on Friday night for $15,835.
Michael Taliaferro opened for 3,800 and picked up a call from the player in the hijack. Mark Fink then three-bet to 8,800 from the button, the blinds both folded, and Taliaferro shoved for approximately 40,000. The hijack folded and Fink said, "It wasn't a button steal. I guess I call."
Fink:
Taliaferro:
Fink was in big trouble and the flop didn't look too promising. However, the turn made things interesting as it gave Fink a flush draw. Unfortunately for him, the river wouldn't complete it and Taliaferro doubled.
"Always a sweat," someone quipped. Indeed, that always seems to be the case.
In other news, David Pecaski, Weston Broad and Jessie Bryant have all been eliminated from the tournament.
World Series of Poker bracelet winner Grant Hinkle continues to increase his stack. In a hand we witnessed just before the level changed, he defended his big blind from an early position min-raiser. After a raggedy flop, Hinkle checked to his opponent, who bet 5,200. Hinkle raised to 12,000 and his opponent mucked in short order. Hinkle, who took down a $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event in 2008, now has around 120,000 chips.
. Both players checked the 
turn, and the river brought the 
. Tran checked a final time, and his opponent bet 8,500. Tran came to life with a raise to 19,000, and his opponent counted out the 19,000 and separated it from the rest of his stack. Ultimately, he folded.
.
and was well out in front of Masek's 
. The board ran out clean and that was all she wrote for Masek.
. Both men were on their feet, but there would be little excitement as the board ran out 
.
, and Heiberg checked. Holm led for 15,000 into the raiser, who muttered something inaudible before folding. Heiberg also folded, and Holm scooped up a nice pot.
turn made things interesting as it gave Fink a flush draw. Unfortunately for him, the 
river wouldn't complete it and Taliaferro doubled.
