Registration is now closed for Event #23, and we've got some numbers for your statistical enjoyment.
A total of 388 players joined in this limit funfest, another increase over last year's turnout. Their entries have generated a prize pool worth an impressive $883,200. That money will be divided amongst the last 36 players left standing, with the bottom level of cash being worth $5,202. Going up from there, the lucky six who make the final table will each be guaranteed at least $30,399. The top two spots are good for six-figure score, and the lucky man or woman who gets to hoist the bracelet will also take home a cash prize of $234,065.
The full breakdown of the prize pool can be found in the Payouts tab up top.
Tommy Vedes, Shannon Shorr, and Eric Froehlich were tangled up in a pot, and we picked up the action just as the dealer put out a flop of . Each player put two bets into the pot there, and the fell on fourth street. This time Shorr ducked out, but Vedes and Froehlich each put in three big bets apiece.
The river came the , and Vedes called one last Froehlich bet. E-Fro turned up for a set, and Vedes double-checked his hole cards. With a look of disbelief on his face, he checked them one more time before flinging them into the muck.
On a flop of , Barry Greenstein called a bet from an unknown player, and the landed on fourth street. This time the opponent check-called a bet from Greenstein, and the two men check-checked the river.
We never saw Greenstein's hand as his opponent tabled the winning . That little slip knocks Greenstein down around the danger zone with about 2,200 chips left.
Mike Leah raised from middle position, and Noah Boeken made it three bets to go. Leah came along to a flop of , and he check-called a bet from Boeken.
Fourth street was the , and the action repeated with Leah check-calling a Boeken bet, and the same action followed on the river. When Leah made the last call, Boeken tabled . Leah took one more look at his cards, let out a big sigh, and returned his cards to the dealer face-down.
David Chiu made it two bets from the button, and was called by a player in the big blind. The flop came , and Chiu's opponent check-called a bet from Chiu. The turn was the , and once again the player in the big blind check-called a bet from Chiu. When the hit on the river, the big blind led out for a bet, and Chiu called.
Chiu's opponent flipped up for the nut flush, and Chiu mucked. David Chiu is down to 5900.
It looked like it was going to be a remarkable comeback for Phil Ivey as he worked his way from 50 little chips all the way back to 4,400. His comeback bid has come to a close, though; Ivey was just eliminated.
Andy Black, in the small blind limped and then called a raise from Rob Hollink, sitting in the big blind. The two saw a flop, and Black check-called a bet from Hollink.
The dropped on the turn, and it got Black firing for the first time, however Hollink quickly put in a raise, and Black just called. The river dropped the bringing a fourth club on to the board, and Black led again and was called by Hollink who saw that his was no good against, Black's .
Andy Black is now up to 11,000 while Rob Hollink is now at 20,000.