Paul Snead raises from middle position to 3,500 and is called by the small blind. On a flop of , the small blind checks and Snead puts his opponent all-in. The small blind calls and flips over for top two pair. Snead shows the for a gutshot straight draw. The turn is the , leaving Snead with just 4 outs to make his straight. The on the river completes Snead's hand, sending his opponent home. Snead now has over 100,000 chips.
A player in middle position min. raised and Brandi Hawbaker called from her big blind. The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the . Brandi checked, her opponent bet 3K, and Brandi called. The river was the . Brandi checked and her opponent checked. She showed and her opponent flashed the and mucked.
Andy Bloch
Andy Bloch has just been eliminated. With only 300 in chips, he antes for 100, then puts the rest of his chips in with J-3. Unfortunately for Andy, his opponent had pocket Queens and flopped a set.
Andy Bloch has just been crippled, losing a huge pot with pocket Tens. He got it almost all in against a player holding Ace-Queen and is now down to 300 in chips after an Ace hit the flop.
UTG, Phil made it 4,200 to go and the action folded around to the small blind. While his opponent considered a decision, Phil announced "I'm ready to gamble with you." The small blind made the call and the flop came . The small blind attempted to make a bet, but Phil beat him to the pot, demonstrating one of his "insta-shoves." The small blind called and Phil turned over , for a royal flush draw. The small blind showed the for ace high.
The turn was the , and the river completed Phil's flush. "Phil Hellmuth actually outdraws somebody," said Hellmuth afterwards.
John Gale got involved in a three-way hand with Phil Hellmuth and a player who pushed all-in preflop UTG. His outdrew Phil's pocket nines and the all-in player's when the board came . Gale added 12,000 to his stack.
The field has whittled down from 1,531 to just under 250. Still alive are twin brothers Derek and Aaron Lerner, who each have over 40,000 in chips. A pair of twins at the final table would certainly make things interesting; we'll keep you posted on their progress.