The final table is off to a slow start, with only one hand of note in the first ten-or-so minutes. Kelly Minkin opened and called a three-bet all in by Ryan Awwad. Both players had ace-king and locked up a chop by the turn on the runout. Here are some photos to keep you entertained as play continues.
Mike Heshmati raised to 16,000 from middle position and was called by Mrityunjay Jha out of the cutoff. The two went heads up to a flop of 
and Heshmati fired a continuation-bet of 16,500. Jha called.
The turn came 
and Heshmati checked. Jha took the initiative and made a bet of 26,000. Heshmati quickly folded and Jha took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
221,000
36,000
|
36,000 |
|
172,000
-33,500
|
-33,500 |
Mrityunjay Jha opened the action with a raise to 16,000 from early position and was called by Bryant Miller, who was on the button. Action went heads up to a flop of 
and Jha continued, betting 17,000. Miller thought for a few moments and put out a raise to 35,000, just barely more than the minimum.
Jha then found action back on him and went into the tank for about 45 seconds before sending his cards to the dealer to give up contention of the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
263,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
191,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Ian Steinman was just seen raking in a decently-sized pot with a full runout on board that was in the process of being scooped up by the dealer after sending Steinman the pot. He confirmed afterwards that he had taken the pot down versus Mrityunjay Jha.
A few hands later, Steinman took a small amount more from Jha. He opened to 12,000 from under the gun and Jha called from the button. They went heads up to a flop of 
and Steinman put out a continuation-bet for another 12,000. Jha folded.
With the pots, Steinman now finds himself over a half-million, while Jha is now under 100,000 in chips, making him one of the short stacks with less than 10 minutes left on the clock in Level 18.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
525,500
144,000
|
144,000 |
|
||
|
|
90,000
-101,000
|
-101,000 |
The nine remaining players are off on another 15-minute break.
Level: 19
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
492,000
-33,500
|
-33,500 |
|
|
||
|
|
250,000
-13,000
|
-13,000 |
|
238,000 | |
|
|
218,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
160,000
32,500
|
32,500 |
|
81,000
-43,000
|
-43,000 |
|
|
75,000
-15,000
|
-15,000 |
|
66,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
66,000
-26,500
|
-26,500 |
Ian Steinman just won three consecutive pots uncontested preflop after opening from the button, cutoff, and hijack. Each pot was good for 20,000 in blinds and antes and he now finds himself comfortably back over the half million-chip mark for the time being.
There are likely to be a lot of small pots over the next level with two eliminations needed for the bubble to burst and four short stacks hoping to stay alive.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
562,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
|
||
Ian Steinman raised to 16,000 from early position and action folded around to Mike Heshmati, who three-bet to 35,000 out of the cutoff.
Action folded back to Steinman and he took about five seconds before letting his cards go.
Steinman opened to 16,000 on the following hand from under the gun and took down the blinds, bringing him near 600,000 in chips as he continues to pull away from the field.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
585,000
23,000
|
23,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
235,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
Ian Steinman saw action folded to him in the cutoff and opened to 16,000. Bryant Miller was on the button and wasted no time going all in over the top of Steinman. The players in the blinds folded and Steinman thought for a few seconds before relinquishing his hand.
After the pot was sent to Miller, he found himself with just shy of a quarter-million in chips, whereas Steinman continues to hover around 600,000 for the time being.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
590,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
242,000
-8,000
|
-8,000 |