Eric Froehlich opened for 525 from the cutoff, and it folded to the player in the small blind who reraised to 1,625. The big blind got out, and Froehlich called. The flop came and Froehlich's opponent led for 1,725. Froehlich called.
The turn then brought the and a check from the SB. Froehlich took a moment, then bet 3,300. The small blind waited about 15 seconds, then said he was all in, producing one of those oh-hell-was-hoping-not-to-hear-that grins from E-Fro. Froehlich quickly mucked, leaving himself about 6,200.
Dan "Wretchy" Martin opened to 350, Ryan Fair three-bet to 1,250 on the button, and Martin called. The flop came down , and Martin check-called a 1,375-chip bet from Fair.
Both players checked the on the turn, and Wretchy led for 1,800 after the fell on the river. Fair raised to 5,300, and Martin called. Fair opened up , and Martin mucked.
Late registration has closed, and it wasn't long after we returned from break that we saw that 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, as usual clad in black from head to toe, had joined the party. Soon after his arrival was moved to a new table... Black #1, fittingly.
Immediately after his arrival at the table, Hellmuth became involved in a three-way hand. After the trio had built a small pot preflop, the flop came . It checked to Hellmuth who bet 1,500, and the player sitting to his left raised to 4,050. The third player folded, and Hellmuth called the raise.
Both players then checked the turn and river. Hellmuth tabled for sevens and fours, and his opponent mucked. "I should have pushed the flop," said Hellmuth afterwards as he gathered his chips. Despite the late start, he's already built up to 28,000.
On a flop of , Jason Mercier checked to his opponent who fired out a bet of 1,500. Mercier made the call and the two players saw the fall on the turn. Mercier checked again and his opponent bet 3,100 this time. Mercier flat called once more.
The river brought and Mercier checked for a third time. His opponent also checked, but sent his cards into the muck when Mercier turned up for two pair.
With registration closed, we can report that 732 players have entered Event #40, a significant jump from last year's total of 568 in this same event. Prize pool and payouts information to come.
With the board reading and about 7,000 in the pot, David Pham's opponent moved all in for 7,425. Pham counted out the exact amount of chips to make the call but couldn't quite pull the trigger. He tanked for about two minutes, thinking it over before finally mucking his cards.
"Show me a bluff" Pham said to his opponent as the chips were being pushed.
His opponent flipped over the and Pham let out a sigh while his opponent happily stacked his new found chips.
Tom "durrrr" Dwan is currently 3/14 in Event #37: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship, which is currently on break, giving Dwan time to try and build a stack here in Event #40.
He was heads up with Tim West moments ago, and the board read . Dwan led for 3,400, and West tank-called.
"You got it," Dwan sighed.
West opened up , which was good, and raked in the pot.
and Froehlich's opponent led for 1,725. Froehlich called.
and a check from the SB. Froehlich took a moment, then bet 3,300. The small blind waited about 15 seconds, then said he was all in, producing one of those oh-hell-was-hoping-not-to-hear-that grins from E-Fro. Froehlich quickly mucked, leaving himself about 6,200.
, and Martin check-called a 1,375-chip bet from Fair.
on the turn, and Wretchy led for 1,800 after the 
, and Martin mucked.
turn and 
for sevens and fours, and his opponent mucked. "I should have pushed the flop," said Hellmuth afterwards as he gathered his chips. Despite the late start, he's already built up to 28,000.
, Jason Mercier checked to his opponent who fired out a bet of 1,500. Mercier made the call and the two players saw the 
fall on the turn. Mercier checked again and his opponent bet 3,100 this time. Mercier flat called once more.
for two pair.
and about 7,000 in the pot, David Pham's opponent moved all in for 7,425. Pham counted out the exact amount of chips to make the call but couldn't quite pull the trigger. He tanked for about two minutes, thinking it over before finally mucking his cards.
