The players have returned from their second-last break of the evening. The plan is to play one more level, have another quick break to color up the chips and play just two more levels before bagging up the chips for the night.
Level: 9
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 75
The announcement has come sending the 620 remaining players on a 20-minute break.
When we arrived at Tommy Vedes' table, there was a flop showing 
and Vedes was involved in a hand with two opponents. Vedes checked up front, so too did the next player to act and then the final player bet 1,300. Vedes took his time to call, while the other player got out of the way.
The 
on the turn would see Vedes again check and his opponent bet 2,500. Vedes again took his time, but eventually made the call.
River: 
This time when Vedes checked, his opponent bet 5,000. Vedes eventually called and his opponent tapped the table and flicked his cards away face down. He then had a change of heart and showed his 
, which still wasn't enough for Vedes' 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
27,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
As we move through Level 8, we're seeing more and more of those with little trying their best to improve their status, chip-wise. Right now the board is showing 660 players remain of the 2,534 who started the event.
Bernard Lee was just now all in for his last 3,500 or so with against an opponent's 
. The board ran out 
, and Lee doubled to around 7,000.
Shortly after Martin Staszko was on another table calling a short-stacked player's all in holding 
against his opponent's 
. An ace flopped, Staszko couldn't catch up, and another player had survived. Staszko now sits with about 7,500.
Meanwhile, Allen Kessler had been down to about 3,500 the last time we'd checked, but a return trip to his table revealed his seat had been vacated, suggesting he's among those who haven't been so lucky with their final all-ins.
"Humberto!" shouted out, ahem, Humberto Brenes. He was up on his feet with his arms in the air and we had to rush over to see what all the fuss was about.
When we arrived there was a board reading 
and three players were all-in - according to the table, all the action was preflop.
Brenes:  |
Opponent 1:  |
Opponent 2:   |
Brenes had managed to spike a two-outer to triple-up and now sits with a fairly healthy stack in the late stages of Day 1.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
10,000
7,400
|
7,400 |
|
||
When we arrived at Jason Senti's table, a 
board was showing and Senti had led out with a bet of 1,150. Senti's opponent thought for a long time before eventually sending his 3,650-chip stack flying into the middle.
Senti didn't look excited at this bet, going into the tank himself as he pondered the decision. Eventually Senti said, "There's just too much in there now," and flicked out the call.
When Senti's opponent tabled 
, Senti was in shock as his was in front. The on the river and Senti's hand stayed ahead and he raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
21,200 |
With the board showing 
, the player in the big blind checked, and Vitaly Lunkin, sitting one seat over, bet 2,000, about two-thirds the pot. Lunkin's opponent called quickly, then check-called another bet of 2,000 following the river.
Lunkin flipped over 
and his opponent mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,500
6,500
|
6,500 |
|
|
||
Level: 8
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 50
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
43,000 | |
|
33,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
|
||
|
32,500
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
19,500
10,300
|
10,300 |
|
|
17,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
|
16,500
4,500
|
4,500 |
|
15,000
7,800
|
7,800 |
|
11,000
5,600
|
5,600 |
|
||
|
9,500
2,500
|
2,500 |
|
||
|
9,200
2,800
|
2,800 |
|
|
||
|
9,200
1,900
|
1,900 |
|
9,200 | |
|
|
7,000 | |
|
|
||
|
5,600
100
|
100 |
|
|
2,600 | |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
