Setting the Mood
The lamp hanging above Table 45, located in the far corner of the "Black" section, has just burned out, thus leaving Vicky Coren and her tablemates in semi-darkness. The tournament director came over to take them to a new table, but the players objected, saying they could still see just fine. And so they remain.
Coren at least might well prefer the shadows as providing a more suitable ambience for poker. In her memoir For Richer, For Poorer, she wrote of how she was "drawn to poker by [the game's] sordid romance," including "the dark history, the whispering corners" that characterize the game's long, colorful story.
Coren has done well in that seat today, having built her stack up over 90,000. Perhaps another reason for her to wish to remain in that dark corner.
and a lot of chips in the pot, Dan Smith bet 5,000 only to have Dan Kelly move all in for 11,425. Smith tanked for a long time and seemed to be in pain. He held some chips in his hand as if he wanted to call, but then it looked as if he was going to fold.
for a pair of sevens, which was no good against Smith's 
.
. Eslami led from the big blind, then Busquet raised to 5,200 from the hijack seat. Eslami called. The turn brought the 
and a bet of 11,700, and Busquet made the call.
, Philipp Gruissem had 
, and the board came 
, sending Gruissem to the rail.
.
, action checked to Justin "Boosted J" Smith in the cutoff and he bet 1,600. The big blind then check-raised to 5,600, Matt Hawrilenko called from middle position, and Smith moved all in for 34,500. The big blind folded while Hawrilenko made the call.
and 
were run out for good measure as Boosted J raked in the pot.
was dealt.