[user4144]
Bubble to the bubble was an unfortunate Steven Shanks. After limp-calling a preflop raise of 5,000 from Robert Workman with , Shanks bet out 10,000 on the flop only to be raised all in by Workman for a total of 40,000. Unsurprisingly, Shanks called quicker than a cheetah on a rocket but was chagrined to find he was up against the near unbeatable holding of . A raggy turn and river later and Shanks was biting dust.
The ominous bubble looms and I can almost hear the spine-tingling "Jaws" music as the players look to creep into the money.
[user46392]
With just one place left until we're in the delicious money, we are officially bubbling and the play has slowed down, not because of any unwillingness to stick those chips in the middle, but because they're now playing hand for hand.
[user4144]
A non-animated Bart has departed, Bart Tichelman falling foul of big blinder Brent Bibby, as Tichelman raises the pot from middle position before calling all in the over-the-top reraise.
[user46392]
One Robert Workman bet 6,000 from mid position, only for Johnny Carlton to make it 20,000 from the small blind. Workman then made it all in for 22,000 total, and Carlton called.
Carlton turned over and Workman turned over the rather less premium but poker can be a funny game, like so:
Board: giving Workman the nut flush and giving Carlton nausea. Probably. "Sorry, that was bad. I got lucky," said Workman in what may be the understatement of the tournament so far.
[user4144]
As expected, the numbers are dropping at a painfully slow rate and we're witnessing more folds than an origami champion as players try to crawl into the money. At time of writing, we are looking to lose just three more players before we can boast of being in-the-money, but have just 40 minutes to do so. Whether the tournament director will rule that play continues until we lose those players, whether we exceed level ten or not, is currently undecided.
Robert Lipkin and Bobby Wisiak see a flop; it is K-J-5. Lipkin checks and Wisiak bets 3,500. Lipkin raises the pot. Wisiak reraises the pot. Lipkin calls all in.
Wisiak: K-3
Lipkin: Q-10
The turn is an irrelevant four, but the ace on the river makes Lipkin his straight and he doubles up to 51,000.
[user46392]
Scott Seiver has eliminated a player in one of the dirtiest ways imaginable. The player was all in preflop with pocket queens, and Scott Seiver was not looking good with pocket qours.
Board fell A-7-6-3-5 for an incredibly unlikely straight. Seiver is up to 65,000.
[user4144]
The current topic of discussion within the media room is whether or not we'll be making the money tonight. There's only one level remaining, which has just commenced, and just five places to go before that much-anticipated bubble bursts. But, as we all know, with several tables and hand for hand to look forward to, that final exit can be an arduous affair, especially when so many players tighten up their game and limit the hands they play as the bubble looms.
[user46392]
As was pointed out in the shout box just moments ago, we are very likely to see the bubble bursting before bedtime. With 77 left in and 72 places paying, we are achingly close, although of course play may well tighten up a little as it gets closer and closer to that special, bubbly time...
![[user4144]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, Shanks bet out 10,000 on the 
flop only to be raised all in by Workman for a total of 40,000. Unsurprisingly, Shanks called quicker than a cheetah on a rocket but was chagrined to find he was up against the near unbeatable holding of 
. A raggy 
turn and 
river later and Shanks was biting dust.
but poker can be a funny game, like so:
giving Workman the nut flush and giving Carlton nausea. Probably. "Sorry, that was bad. I got lucky," said Workman in what may be the understatement of the tournament so far.
versus 
of no further aid, leaving Bart with just 3,400 as a result.