39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event | 2008 World Series of Poker

07-14-2008 23:34 UTC-8

It's Go Time!

The players have been introduced and the cards are in the air. With 47 minutes and 59 seconds remaining in level 32, play will continue until one more player is eliminated.

07-14-2008 23:35 UTC-8

In this, the final installment of If They Chopped It, we can tell you that if the remaining prize pool was split evenly right now, each player would walk away with $3,322,531. This is slightly better than fifth-place money and is almost $300,000 more than Raymond Rahme picked up for his third-place finish just a year ago. Not that you needed more perspective, but this amount is also more than any champion prior to Greg Raymer received for a first-place finish.

As we reported a few days ago, the prize distribution is very "top heavy" in this year's Main Event with a total of 50.7 percent of the total prize money awarded to the final nine players.

07-14-2008 23:43 UTC-8

Ylon Schwartz Picks Up A-A (and a Huge Pot) on the First Hand Back

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Craig Marquis raised to 525,000, Ylon Schwartz reraised to 1,625,000 from the button, Marquis four-bet to 4.5 million and Schwartz immediately moved all in. Marquis folded and Schwartz raked in the pot.

Schwartz showed {A-Clubs}

.

"Don't mess with the Schwartz-man!" implored one of Schwartz's supporters as he stacked his chips.

Schwartz is up over 15 million while Marquis falls to 7.5 million.

Tags: Craig Marquis Ylon Schwartz

07-14-2008 23:51 UTC-8

The Last Three Hands

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Craig Marquis raised to 525,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Dennis Phillips raised to 600,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Craig Marquis raised to 525,000, Scott Montgomery called, Ivan Demidov reraised to 1,750,000 from the button, Marquis gave it up, Montgomery followed suit, and Demidov won the pot.

07-14-2008 23:55 UTC-8

Demidov Picks Up a Pot From Montgomery

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Scott Montgomery limped in, Ivan Demidov raised to 750,000 from the cutoff, and Montgomery called. The flop was {A-Hearts}

. Montgomery checked, and Demidov bet 750,000. Montgomery folded and Demidov won the pot.

Tags: Ivan Demidov Scott Montgomery

07-14-2008 23:59 UTC-8

One Pair Each, Eastgate's is Best

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Peter Eastgate opened for 575,000, and Dennis Phillips called. The flop was {Q-Hearts}

and both players checked. The turn was the {3-Hearts}

and they checked again. The river was the {7-Clubs}

. Phillips bet 800,000 and Eastgate called.

Phillips showed {10-Spades}

for a pair of sevens but Eastgate showed {K-Clubs}

for a pair of jacks and raked in the pot.

Tags: Dennis Phillips Peter Eastgate

07-15-2008 00:00 UTC-8

Chino Takes One Down

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Chino Rheem raised to 600,000 and Dennis Phillips called from the small blind. The flop was {A-Hearts}

. Phillips checked, Rheem bet 750,000, Phillips folded and Rheem won the pot.

Tags: Chino Rheem Dennis Phillips

07-15-2008 00:07 UTC-8

Welcome to the Jungle

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The ESPN Feature Table area is packed wall-to-wall with spectators, supporters, media, various poker pros, Harrah's executives, backers, hangers-on, and, of course, two cameras on dollies that circle the table and another mounted on a jib that sweeps overhead. The atmosphere is positively electric, with every move at the table scrutinized and "oohs" and "ahhs" emanating from the crowd with every turn of a card. Hands are taking longer and longer to play out, with each of these ten remaining players focused on making the November Nine.

For the tenth-place finisher, it's all over tonight. For the other nine, this is just the last stop before a four-month hiatus which will probably feel like the longest wait of their lives.

07-15-2008 00:12 UTC-8

Schwartz Ships it, Marquis Folds

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Craig Marquis raised to 525,000, Ylon Schwartz reraised to 1,050,000 and Marquis called. The flop was {J-Diamonds}

. Marquis checked, Schwartz moved all in and Marquis tanked for about a minute before mucking his hand. Schwartz won the pot.

Tags: Craig Marquis Ylon Schwartz

07-15-2008 00:15 UTC-8

Famous Railbirds

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Robert Williamson III is currently sweating the action from behind media row, along with Greg "FBT" Mueller, who is here supporting Chino Rheem. Also in the audience supporting Rheem are J.C. Tran and Shane "Shaniac" Schleger. Andy Bloch is also in the house, as well as Tom "durrrr" Dwan.