We just had a tense three-way standoff on Table 53, and all we were missing was the Ennio Morricone soundtrack. Imran Ahmad raised to 25,000 and Charis Anastasiou called. Rob Kluber raised to 100,000. Ahmad then raised it to 200,000 total. At which point Anastasiou, who had flat-called Ahmad's 25K bet, moved all-in for over 600,000.
Kluber looked mildly agitated as he tried to decide what to do. He'd taken the initiative in the hand and had it snatched away...twice. He took several minutes before choosing to muck his hand and walk away from the table.
Then it was Ahmad who had to think long and hard about what to do. He also took several minutes staring down Anastisiou before he folded and flipped over his hand--pocket Queens. Kluber said he folded pocket Kings. And Anastasiou raked in the pot without showing what he had.
This level is scheduled to end in about 35 minutes, and then play will continue right into the next level without a break. After another hour of play (about 7:10 pm PDT), the field will take their 90-minute dinner break.
After dinner, they are scheduled to play another level and a half (three hours of poker, plus a break). However, Jack Effel has announced that if they reach 99 players (the final 11 tables), play will stop for tonight.
Regardless of what happens today, play will continue tomorrow (Saturday) until there are just 27 players remaining.
2002 WSOP Main Event Champion Robert Varkonyi
Robert Varkonyi moved all in pre-flop with the and was called by Mickey Seagle with A-Q. The flop was , giving Seagle a straight. Varkonyi's only hope was a queen to split the pot. The turn was the , the river was the and the 2002 WSOP Main Event champion was eliminated.
Varkonyi's elimination leaves us with three former WSOP champions remaining in the field-- Berry Johnston (1986), Huckleberry Seed (1996) and Scotty Nguyen (1998).
Han raised to 35,000 and Kane called on the button. Both players checked the flop, but when the hit on the turn Han checked, Kane bet 100K, and Han moved all-in. Kane called with his last 200,000 and showed , while Han held pocket Eights. The hit on the river and that brought Kane's Main Event to an end. Han is now up to 800K.
Ed De Haas in action
Team PokerNews player Ed De Haas has just cracked a million in chips. After some aggressive pre-flop action, he just took down a pot in excess of 250,000, taking his stack up to 1,050,000.
You can join Team PokerNews at the PokerNews Cup in Melbourne, Australia this October. For more details on how to qualify, log on to PokerNews.com.
Brock "tsoprano"Parker
On a flop of , Roy Winston moved all in for 1,000,000 and Brock "tsporano" Parker called, Winston having him covered. Parker showed for top two pair, but Winston turned over for a set. The turn was the , the river was the , and Parker was eliminated.
Tom Peterson bet 33,000 from early position, Matt Brady pushed all-in from the button for 96,000 and Peterson called. Peterson had and Brady had . The board came , and Brady doubled up to 281,000.
With the board showing on the turn and approximately 75,000 in the pot, Clint Schafer bets 73,000 from middle position, Matt Keikoan moves all in, and Schafer thinks for several minutes before he folds.
Keikoan takes the pot, increasing his stack to about 530,000. Schafer drops to about 240,000.
, Alex Michaels checked. Cory Carroll bet 175,000 and Alex Michaels moved all in. Carroll called.
and Michaels headed to the rail.
and was called by Mickey Seagle with A-Q. The flop was 
, giving Seagle a straight. Varkonyi's only hope was a queen to split the pot. The turn was the 
, the river was the 
and the 2002 WSOP Main Event champion was eliminated. 
hit on the turn Han checked, Kane bet 100K, and Han moved all-in. Kane called with his last 200,000 and showed 
, while Han held pocket Eights. The 
, Roy Winston moved all in for 1,000,000 and Brock "tsporano" Parker called, Winston having him covered. Parker showed 
for top two pair, but Winston turned over 
, the river was the 
and Brady had 
on the turn and approximately 75,000 in the pot, Clint Schafer bets 73,000 from middle position, Matt Keikoan moves all in, and Schafer thinks for several minutes before he folds. 
