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With a raise and a re-raise in front, Jeff Madsen put in a huge four-bet from the big blind. The original raiser folded, but the re-raiser called all in.
Showdown
Mr. Re-Rasier: 
Madsen: 
The board ran 
and Madsen was shipped the pot pushing, him to 7,000 chips.
Level: 2
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
With the board reading 
, Jason Mercier was faced with a bet of 325 and a raise to 825. Mercier opted to re-raise to 1,425 and the original bettor released. The second player went into the tank however, and eventually moved all in. Mercier snapped it off.
Showdown
Mercier: 
Opponent: 
Mercier was well ahead until the 
turned giving his opponent a better set. The river did not bring the case seven either, rather the 
bricked off crippling Mercier to just 500 chips.
Vince Van Patten opened to 200 in late position and Dean Hamrick re-raised to 650 in the cutoff. Van Patten called.
The dealer flopped 
and Van Patten checked to Hamrick who bet 725. Van Patten check-raised all in for effectively 4,000 or so and Hamrick called all in.
Showdown
Van Patten: 
Hamrick: 
Van Patten was behind, but not for long because the 
fell on the turn giving him two pair. The on the river filled him up for kicks and giggles, and he chipped up to 12,800.
After the brutal beat, Hamrick was eliminated from the tournament.
A player opened to 275 from under the gun and was called by both Richard Ashby and Anthony Yeh.
The flop was 
with two clubs, and the under the gun player continued for 700. Ashby moved all in for around 3,000, Yeh got out of the way and the player under the gun called.
Ashby's jacks were dominated by his opponent's kings and was eliminated after the turn and river both brought blanks.
Former magician Antonio Esfandiari has disappeared from his seat, but his table was kind enough to spoil the act.
According to his former tablemates, Esfandiari and an opponent got all the chips in the middle after a flop of 
. Esfandiari held a straight flush draw with [jc tc} and needed to improve against an opponent's 
(without the 
).
The turn was another giving Esfandiari just two outs and couldn't make his straight flush when the river bricked off.
A tournament director just announced that the winner of the first table today will receive a $10 comp at the Rio.
As if the thousands of dollars in prize money weren't incentive enough...
After an open to 750 and a re-raise to 2,250, Tony "Bond18" Dunst moved all in for 4,175. The original raiser folded, but the re-raiser made the call.
Showdown
Dunst: 
Opponent:
The board ran 
and Dunst doubled to 8,300 chips.
"I folded queens," the original raiser told the table as Dunst stacked his newfound chips.
It is always a sight to see when Phil Ivey enters the tournament area. Usually he sneaks in through the back exit near our table and b-lines for his table. Today was no different and heads began to turn as soon as he slipped under the ropes.
We've completed two levels thus far, so it's time for a 20-minute break!
