Heather Sue Mercer hasn't had many chips all day, but when she picked up queens, she found herself in the position to eliminate a player with even fewer. He was all in with , and she called with . The flop didn't help her opponent, and he was drawing dead with the on the turn. ESPN's cameras crowded around, and one of the other players dropped a few f-bombs in the background. "There goes your tv time," someone said to Mercer's victim. He tried to salvage it, however, with a handshake and a smile for Mercer. After his graceful exit, Mercer is up to 42,000.
Martijn Schirp opened with a raise to 2,600 from late position, and it folded around to the big blind who checked his cards, gathered his chips, and reraised all in for 16,700 total.
Schirp peered over to see how much it would take to call, then quickly did so. Schirp turned over and his opponent .
The board came , and another player has been eliminated here with about a half-hour left in Day 2a. Schirp adds more to his stack, pushing up to 297,000 after that hand.
The cutoff seat raised to 2,800 and Yevgeniy Timoshenko flatted on the button. The flop came down and the preflop raiser checked. Timoshenko bet 4,400 and the cutoff seat called.
The turn brought the and the cutoff checked again. Timoshenko bet 6,400 and then his opponent raised to 13,500. Timoshenko tanked for a minute, but ended up folding his hand and slipping back to 251,000 in chips.
Michael Mizrachi just busted a player with the on a board of . The all-in player had pocket tens. We're not sure when the money went in, but we are sure that Mizrachi is now up to 200,000 in chips.
Dewey Tomko, ye formidable poker foe of old, was on the button. Realizing he had the advantage of position, he strategically raised 3,000. Not too be bullied, Van Marcus, defender of the big blind, reraised to 10,000. Not one to back down from a gentleman's duel, Tomko made the call.
Spectators watched in bedazzlement as the flop came down . Marcus, much like the former emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, courageously took the fight to his opponent with a bet of 11,000. Tomko, who had more chips than Marcus, valiantly stared down his opponent and uttered the most dreaded words in poker, "All in."
It was at this point Marcus realized he was up against a true legend. Tomko, who has had such success in past Main Events, was to be the victor this day. Marcus admitted defeat and honorably laid down his hand. In the process, he kept 17,000 in reserve while Tomko bolstered his stack to 65,000.
"All in and a call," came the cry from Annie Duke's table. The camera crew and others quickly gathered. Curious, we went over, too.
Duke had an opponent all in for his last 55,000 or so. The board read . Duke held for the wheel and a flush draw. And her opponent had for two pair.
Once given the go-ahead from the camera crew, the dealer burned a card and dealt the turn -- . A collective pause. Then, action.
Down came fifth street -- the . "Ooooh!" went the crowd at the sight of the board pairing. "I have the straight flush," said Duke calmly, and all realized that indeed she had not been outdrawn.
Another hits the rail. Duke's still stacking, though appears to have something in the neighborhood of 165,000 now.
Following a flop, a player in the blinds checked, and Johnny Chan, in early position, bet 5,300. His opponent check-raised all in for 20,200. Chan was there with the call.
Chan showed for top pair, while his opponent tabled for a diamond draw. The turn was the and the river the , and Chan has sent another player packing.
Chan moves well up over the 200,000-chip mark as we near the end of play for the night.
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, and she called with 
. The 
flop didn't help her opponent, and he was drawing dead with the 
on the turn. ESPN's cameras crowded around, and one of the other players dropped a few f-bombs in the background. "There goes your tv time," someone said to Mercer's victim. He tried to salvage it, however, with a handshake and a smile for Mercer. After his graceful exit, Mercer is up to 42,000.
.
, and another player has been eliminated here with about a half-hour left in Day 2a. Schirp adds more to his stack, pushing up to 297,000 after that hand.
, Sandra Naujoks fired 5,200 into Court Harrington. He opted to raise to 13,700. Naujoks made the call.
on the river.
and Harrington the 
and the preflop raiser checked. Timoshenko bet 4,400 and the cutoff seat called.
and the cutoff checked again. Timoshenko bet 6,400 and then his opponent raised to 13,500. Timoshenko tanked for a minute, but ended up folding his hand and slipping back to 251,000 in chips.
on a board of 
. Duke held 
for the wheel and a flush draw. And her opponent had 
for two pair.
. "Ooooh!" went the crowd at the sight of the board pairing. "I have the straight flush," said Duke calmly, and all realized that indeed she had not been outdrawn.
for top pair, while his opponent tabled 
for a diamond draw. The turn was the 
and the river the 
, and Chan has sent another player packing.