Nine long days are done, but there’s still one more to go in the 2012 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event before the final nine is determined. What started with 6,598 players is down to 27, all seeking a coveted spot at the final table. The man best positioned to claim a spot is Marc Ladouceur, who emerged as the chip leader on Day 6 with 15.875 million.
Sharing the same dreams and aspirations as the Canadian chip leader are an eclectic mix of players. Greg Merson gas already proved himself this summer by taking down Event #57 $10,000 No-Limit Hold-em—Six Handed for $1,136,197. If Merson, who currently sits in seventh place on the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year Leaderboard, does make the final table, he’ll earn enough to surpass Phil Ivey atop the said leaderboard and be positioned to capture those honors headed into the WSOP-Europe. Talk about extra motivation.
Likewise, Roland Israelashvili sits in 63rd place on the leaderboard, so either a second or first place finish in the Main Event would put him in the top stop; likewise, victories by either Yuval Bronshtein or Jeremy Ausmus would vault them to the top of the POY standing. While that would certainly be great, it’d no doubt be the cherry on top of having won poker’s most prestigious event.
There are also a couple other storylines that has everyone talking. Among the final 27 players are two women, Gaelle Baumann or Elisabeth Hille of France and Norway respectively. Each are looking to be the first female to make the Main Event table for the first time since Barbara Enright did so back in 1995, the first and only time a woman has ever accomplished the feat. In another regard, the question lingers as to whether or not Jamie Robbins can best his eleventh-place finish in the 2009 Main Event?
All of the questions marks and speculation will become clear by day’s end as 18 players will be sent home short of their goal. Action is set to recommence at 1 PM PST, which is about 40 minutes from now. We’ll begin with the remaining hour and thirty-seven minutes of Level 30, and then play down to a final table. There’s no telling how long it might take, but action won’t stop until we get there. Join us then as we bring you all the action and eliminations en route to the 2012 WSOP Main Event final table!
From under the gun plus one, Nicco Maag raised all in for 1.11 million. Russell Thomas called from middle position and everyone else folded.
Maag held the and was at risk to Thomas' . Not only was Maag at risk, but he was also dominated.
The flop came down and Maag didn't find much help there. On the turn, the fell and Maag was down to needing a jack and a jack only on the river. With the turn bringing a third club to the board, Maag couldn't hit the jack of clubs.
The fell on the river and finished off Maag while giving Thomas a flush. Maag was eliminated as the first player to go on the day and earned $294,601 for his finish in 27th place.
Jan Heitmann opened to 250,000 from early position, and the action folded to Daniel Strelitz, who three-bet to 650,000 from the small blind. Heitmann four-bet jammed for 3.1 million, and Strelitz called.
Heitmann:
Strelitz:
The eights held as the board ran out , eliminating Heitmann in 26th place of the 2012 WSOP Main Event.
Roland Israelashvili open-jammed his last 1.9 million from early position, and the action folded to Russell Thomas, who called in the cutoff. The rest of the players folded, and the hands were opened.
Thomas:
Israelashvili:
The board ran out , eliminating Israelashvili in 25th place.
Scott Abrams opened to 340,000 on the button, Daniel Strelitz three-bet to 720,000 from the small blind, and Abrams four-bet to 1.25 million. Strelitz five-bet jammed for 6.5 million, and Abrams snapped it off.
Abrams:
Strelitz:
"King!" Abrams' railbirds shouted.
There was a king in the window as the flop fell , giving Abrams a commanding lead in the hand. Strelitz was drawing dead when the turned, and the completed the board.
Strelitz, who started the day second in chips, was eliminated in 24th place, while Abrams is up above 16 million chips.
Yuval Bronshtein opened from under the gun for 365,000 and the table quickly folded around to Jeremy Ausmus in the small blind who spent some time studying Bronshtein's remaining stack of chips.
Ausmus then reraised all in, and Gaelle Baumann quickly folded from the big blind. Bronshtein took off his sunglasses to look over at Ausmus and his chips. Ausmus had him slightly covered, and so Bronshtein took his time to consider his decision. As the minutes passed, all of the other players walked away from the table.
Bronshtein put his head down for a short while, covering his face as he thought. Finally he looked up and said he was calling. The players tabled their cards…
Ausmus:
Bronshtein:
Ausmus stood and Bronshtein sat as the flop brought three hearts — — thus removing a couple of Bronshtein's outs. The turn then brought the , giving Ausmus a flush and making the river ace no matter.
A short-stacked Cylus Watson moved all in preflop for 920,000 and received a call from Greg Merson.
Showdown
Watson:
Merson:
Watson got it all in with the best hand, but oftentimes that's not enough. Unfortunately for Watson, that'd be the case in this hand as the flop delivered Merson a pair of tens and the lead. Neither the turn nor river would help Watson, and he shook hands with the table before taking his leave in 22nd place.
After Scott Abrams raised to 340,000 from early position, Robert Corcione reraised all in for around 4.3 million from the button. Action folded back to Abrams and he called with the . Corcione was at risk with the .
The flop put Abrams in front when the fell. The turn gave Corcione some more hope with a straight draw, but the on the river wasn't what he needed. Corcione was eliminated in 21st place and took home $294,601.
On the first hand of the level, Steven Gee open-raised all in from the cutoff for around 4 million, Danny Wong reraised all in from the button for a little less than 8 million, and Paul Volpe called from the small blind with his last 3.5 million or so. Robert Salaburu folded, and the three players tabled their hands:
Paul Volpe:
Steven Gee:
Danny Wong:
The flop came , giving Gee an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the , and Wong still was in the lead. The river then brought the , giving Gee his straight and a big boost to his stack. Meanwhile, Volpe is out in 20th.
One more elimination and they will redraw to the final two tables.
From under the gun, Jamie Robbins raised to 500,000 on the outer table. Action folded over to Jacob Balsiger on the button and he reraised to 1.2 million. Play folded through the blinds and back to Robbins. He called to take a flop.
The dealer rolled out the and Robbins checked. Balsiger checked behind to see the come on the turn. Robbins moved all in for approximately 2.9 million and Balsiger made the call.
Robbins turned up the for a flush draw and straight draw. Balsiger held the for a set of nines.
Needing a queen or a diamond that didn't pair the board, Robbins' tournament life hung in the balance. After the dealer dealt the on the river, Balsiger's hand held up and he sent Robbins out the door.
And with that, the field is down to just 18 players and a redraw will be made. PokerNews will have that for you shortly. The remaining competitors are now earning at least $369,026.
and was at risk to Thomas' 
. Not only was Maag at risk, but he was also dominated.
and Maag didn't find much help there. On the turn, the 
fell and Maag was down to needing a jack and a jack only on the river. With the turn bringing a third club to the board, Maag couldn't hit the jack of clubs.
fell on the river and finished off Maag while giving Thomas a flush. Maag was eliminated as the first player to go on the day and earned $294,601 for his finish in 27th place.
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, eliminating Heitmann in 26th place of the 2012 WSOP Main Event.
, eliminating Israelashvili in 25th place.
, giving Abrams a commanding lead in the hand. Strelitz was drawing dead when the 
flop delivered Merson a pair of tens and the lead. Neither the 
river would help Watson, and he shook hands with the table before taking his leave in 22nd place.
gave Corcione some more hope with a straight draw, but the 
, giving Gee an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the 
and Robbins checked. Balsiger checked behind to see the 
on the river, Balsiger's hand held up and he sent Robbins out the door.
