Although we initially feared that this event might take us right through the night, my hopes of an early(ish) finish, and ensuing venture to the bar, have been rejuvenated somewhat by the rapid departures we have borne witness to over the last couple of levels.
However, I have been known to tempt fate and endure a subsequent slap across the face from Father Time...
Jeff Lisandro has busted out in 19th place. He called Greg Pappas' bet on every street and then raised all in on the river.
Pappas: with
Lisandro: with x
When Lisandro saw that he was beaten, he angrily mucked his last card in frustration before making his exit.
Pappas was happily telling everyone that it was revenge for the $2,000 Seven-Card Stud bracelet that Lisandro won last year -- apparently Lisandro busted Pappas in that event with a pair of fours, and he's delighted to have gotten his own back.
After the cripplement (I think I've invented a new word there) of the defeat to Mowczan, Tony Ma failed to receover, eventually falling at the hands of a Cantu/Racener one-two, Cantu making the low to the eight and Racener the high with a pair of knaves.
It's bedlam here at the moment, with numerous double-ups, exits and big pots. Speaking of "big pots," Sam Silverman just three-quartered Claude Cohen, the former betting down the streets with on a board. Cohen called him down with to share the low.
A big hand for Craig Gray -- he bet every street of his hand, and no wonder, as he was holding to make a five low and a six-high straight. Brock Parker, who'd called him all the way down with showing, mucked.
Former main event finalist and all round super-duper poker player Allen Cunningham has recently met his demise. He found himself up against two players in Matthew Graham and John Racener, the latter of those two winning with on a board. His opponents mucked.
We have just learned the circumstances of Gary Benson's demise. It seems he pushed all in preflop and Farzad Rouhani called. Rouhani went on to make , and Benson mucked and went on his way, cashing in 23rd place.