[user4144]
As the players brace themselves for action after a short 20 minute hiatus away from the table, it has come to my attention that Dana and I are serving a dual purpose here at ringside. Not only are we official bloggers of the World Series, but we are also the Amazon Room's very own information hub.
Whether people want to know when a certain event starts, how many players are left in another event or how Jennifer Tilly likes her eggs in the morning, we appear to be the encyclopedic nucleus of the Rio.
One guy even asked me if this was the main event, and another trundled across the breadth of the room just to inform me that I was a dead ringer for that Sylar chap out of Heroes. Now I've seen that show, and Sylar doesn't appear to be the friendliest of characters, so anymore Sylar references from random strangers and I might be forced to dip inside minds and steal peoples' abilities. I think Phil Ivey might be a good start.
[user4144]
not this time
Do you remember the tale of one Jack Strauss, who in the 1982 World Series of Poker unearthed a single chip from underneath his napkin before making a comeback of Rocky Balboa proportions, turning that sole piece of plastic into a Main Event win and a shiny gold bracelet?
Yes, it's true what they say, all you need is a chip and a chair (and the odd prayer) to keep the dream alive. Unfortunately, not everyone is as fortunate as the late Jack Strauss, as Robert Fishman recently found out. Down to just one single thousand chip, Robert found himself all in with against Robert Lipkin's and in dire need of divine assistance. But his pleas fell on stony ground and a board later and the dream was over.
[user46392]
Justin Young made it 11,000 under the gun, and Zachary King to his immediate left reraised to 35,000, putting Young all in. Call.
Young was in poor shape with his up against King's dominating and the virtually inevitable exit wasn't long in happening -- the board was purely a formality, and Young must be feeling very old right now.
[user46392]
Robert Fishman bet 24,000 on a flop, only for Ryan Fair to raise all in for 60,000. Fishman called, and must have been incredibly dismayed to see Fair's Aces crushing his pocket Nines. The turn and river the irrelevant and and Fishman is left with a chip and a chair -- just 1,000, with the blinds at 2,000/4,000. He's tripled up though! Currently still in on 3,000.
Will resist urge to make un-Fair (chortle) fish puns.
[user4144]
Booby Law
Next out is Bobby Law (who I keep inexplicably writing as Booby Law). With Scott Seiver raising it up to 10,000 from the small blind, Law made the call from the big blind and the two neighbours saw a flop. Seiver bet out 12,000, Law pushed for his remaining 16,000 and Seiver called the extra 4,000.
When the cards were on their backs, neither player had the goods, but Seiver was ahead of his opponent with versus Law's . A raggy turn and river ended it for Law.
[user4144]
rocky times
Disaster strikes as one of my favorite names of the Series feels the full force of a rock bottom. Pushing over the top from the button with against Joe Tehan's initial raise from the cutoff with , Jeff Gibralter found himself in one of those all-too-familiar coin-flip situations, in desperate need of an ace or a seven.
But the board came an unhelpful to send Gibralter out in 20th, raising an inquisitive people's eyebrow as he left (sorry, that's a gag for a very niche audience indeed).
[user46392]
Finding himself short after doubling up Jacobo Fernandez, Gregg Merkow perhaps thought he could get some of his chips back and shoved with , but found himself in trouble against Fernandez's . There was zero help for Merkow from the board, and he's history. Fernandez is up to 140,000.
We are down to just two tables now. It could be an early night for your update team.
[user46392]
Jacobo Fernandez raised to 12,000 under the gun, only for Gregg Merkow to make it 40,000 from the small blind. Fernandez called. Merkow checked the flop, and then called Fernandez's 15,500 all-in shove.
Merkow had only and Fernandez's stayed ahead all the way through the turn and the river to double him up to 115,000.
![[user4144]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
against Robert Lipkin's 
and in dire need of divine assistance. But his pleas fell on stony ground and a 
board later and the dream was over.
and the virtually inevitable exit wasn't long in happening -- the 
board was purely a formality, and Young must be feeling very old right now.
and 
and Fishman is left with a chip and a chair -- just 1,000, with the blinds at 2,000/4,000. He's tripled up though! Currently still in on 3,000.
flop. Seiver bet out 12,000, Law pushed for his remaining 16,000 and Seiver called the extra 4,000.
versus Law's 
, Jeff Gibralter found himself in one of those all-too-familiar coin-flip situations, in desperate need of an ace or a seven.
to send Gibralter out in 20th, raising an inquisitive people's eyebrow as he left (sorry, that's a gag for a very niche audience indeed).
board, and he's history. Fernandez is up to 140,000.
flop, and then called Fernandez's 15,500 all-in shove.
turn and the