Play has tightened up considerably in the past level as the money bubble approaches. Just three more players need to be eliminated before the rest can celebrate a minimum $820 payday.
John McMullin came in for a raise to 2,500, and Nicolas Vaca, the big stack at the table, was next to act. He elected to reraise to 5,100. It folded back around to McMullin, who tanked for about 30 seconds. Despite looking slightly pained by the decision, and being square on the money bubble, he elected to move all in for 28,000 on top. Now it was Vaca's turn to go into the tank, and he too was clearly pained by the decision. After lifting his cards up and down off the table a few times, he finally let them go, giving the pot to McMullin, who now has over 40,000.
With each table eagerly awaiting a person to go bust we found ourselves at Table #371 where Joshua Bailey in the big blind faced an all in bet from his opponent in the small blind. Unfortunately for Bailey, he only had 500 left. Bailey made the call and cards were tabled.
Bailey:
Small Blind:
Bailey was in rough shape heading to the flop being dominated by his opponent's queen nine. With a flop Bailey's hope grew that maybe a chop pot was possible. Alas a on the turn ruined those dreams.
A on the river sent Bailey to the rail. With that we are now officially in the money.
Ty Stewart opened from the hijack position and his opponent in the cutoff 3-bet all in for about 12,000 total. Action folded back around to Stewart, who quickly announced a call.
Stewart:
Cutoff:
The board ran out and Stewart ended his opponent's tournament life.
Nicolas Vaca was one of the biggest stacks in the room a few levels ago, but he has been on a steady decline since. In the latest hand, an opponent in late position made it 2,300 to go, and Vaca reraised to 4,900 from the small blind. His opponent called, and the two went heads up to a flop of . Vaca wasted little time in betting out 4,300, and his opponent thought for just a few moments before calling.
The turn came the , and this time, both players checked. On the river, the , Vaca dropped in a bet of 5,100, and his opponent went into the tank. This bet represented about 1/3 of his remaining stack, but after about 90 seconds, he tossed in the call. Vaca tabled , but it was no good, as his opponent showed for top pair. A clearly frustrated Vaca tossed his cards in the muck, dropping him down under 30,000.
Ray Pulford has been slowly increasing his monster chip stack over the last few levels, and he admittingly is "running really good." However, he just suffered a small set back, when he doubled up a short stack after losing a race, with the two players getting the money in preflop.
Pulford:
Opponent:
The flop was safe for Pulfod, coming down . However, the on the turn vaulted his opponent to the lead. Pulford would need a miracle on the river, but it wasn't meant to be, as the dealer put out the . Pulford is still plenty healthy, sitting on 72,500.
Ray Pulford, who has steadily been building his stack all day, faced a tough decision on the button when his opponent, Scott Wygal, from early position moved all in for 14,500 preflop. Pulford after doing some internal pondering made the call and tabled . Wygal flipped over , to which Pulford calmly exclaimed "it's a race".
Indeed they were off to the races as the dealer spread a flop. Pulford was going to need some help heading to the turn and river if he wanted to deliver a knock out blow. He received no such luck as the appeared on the turn, and the showed its face on the river.
![[user198174]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop Bailey's hope grew that maybe a chop pot was possible. Alas a 
on the turn ruined those dreams.
on the river sent Bailey to the rail. With that we are now officially in the money.
and Stewart ended his opponent's tournament life.
. Vaca wasted little time in betting out 4,300, and his opponent thought for just a few moments before calling.
, Vaca dropped in a bet of 5,100, and his opponent went into the tank. This bet represented about 1/3 of his remaining stack, but after about 90 seconds, he tossed in the call. Vaca tabled 
, but it was no good, as his opponent showed 
for top pair. A clearly frustrated Vaca tossed his cards in the muck, dropping him down under 30,000.
. However, the 
, to which Pulford calmly exclaimed "it's a race".
flop. Pulford was going to need some help heading to the turn and river if he wanted to deliver a knock out blow. He received no such luck as the 
appeared on the turn, and the 
showed its face on the river.