The post-break action seems to be right where it was last level . . . very tight. It's been a lengthy bubble, and based upon the stacks (the short stack still has 15 big blinds or so), it could be quiet awhile. With that said, the clock is running, so it's only a matter of time before someone earns the unfortunate distinction of the WSOP National Championship bubble boy (or girl).
A short-stacked Mitch Schock moved all in under the gun for 62,000 and cleared the field to Mark Bonsack in the small blind. He thought for a solid two minutes before folding, and Nikolas Stone made the call from the big blind.
Showdown
Stone
Schock
Bonsack seemed upset and indicated he had folded a pair, but it turned out to be for the best as the flop came down . The turn and flop meant it was a chop, and the already lengthy bubble.
Sam Stein opened for 13,000 and Eugene Katchalov raised to 27,000. Stein called and the flop came . Stein check-called 30,000 and the turn came . Stein check-called a second time, this time to a tune of 42,000. The river came and both players checked.
Stein tabled , Katchalov mucked and the bubble dragged on.
Hao Le put in a raise preflop from under the gun and was called by David "ODB" Baker in the cutoff. Le proceeded to fire out 40,000 on the flop, Baker called, and the appeared on the turn.
This time Le checked, opening the door for Baker to slide out a big stack of pink T5,000 chips, enough to cover his opponent. Le made a quick call and the cards were tabled:
Showdown
Baker:
Le:
Baker had flopped trips, but Le hit a two-outer on the turn to fill up. The river was no help to Baker, and Le doubled on the bubble.
Tournament officials have just announced that the remaining players will play Level 20 and then take a dinner break. This will happen whether or not the bubble still looms.
Action folded to Jonathan Sorscher on the button and he moved all in for 58,000. Allen Kessler made a quick called from the small blind, and after the big got out of the way, the cards were turned up.
Showdown
Sorscher:
Kessler:
Sorscher was in about a bad a spot as he could be, but that changed on the flop when he paired his king and picked up a flush draw to boot. Just like that Kessler was drawing to two outs, which would come as the appeared on the turn followed by the on the river.
With that, Sorscher doubles and the bubble continues.
After two and a half hours of hand-for-hand play, the bubble has finally burst. It happened when Matt Keikoan raised to 18,000 from the hijack and Mitch Schock moved all in from the big blind for 34,000 total. Keikoan made the call and the cards were turned up:
Showdown
Keikoan:
Schock:
"Queen's coming," Keikoan said with a smile as the table waited for the cameras to get into position. There was a lot on the line, which was reflected on Schock's face when he closed his eyes and awaited the flop . . . .
A visible rush of disappoint came over Schock as Keikoan had paired his queen to take the lead. Schock would need the last six in the deck to stay alive, but it was not meant to be as the appeared on the turn followed by the river. With that, Schock finished as the 2012 WSOP National Championship bubble boy while the remaining 18 players are guaranteed $22,278.