We noticed T.J. Cloutier's seat occupied by a decidedly smaller individual, and after some railbird-aided investigation, we discovered that the six-time bracelet winner had been ousted when his failed to catch up to .
The living legend will have to wait another year for his shot at poker's premier prize, after finishing in the top five an astounding four times, including two runner-up showings.
Larry Wright limped under the gun, and Jeff Yarchever raised to 700 from middle position. Two other players called, and Wright called as well. The flop came . The big blind checked, and Wright bet 550. Yarchever raised to 2,200, and it folded around to Wright. While he considered his decision, the players bantered back and forth a bit, and at one point Yarchever told Wright, “I’m pretty sure we have the same hand.” Wright responded, “You have pocket kings, too?” After another minute or so, Wright slid his cards toward the dealer, facedown. Yarchever turned over one card, the , before returning his cards and stacking his new chips. Wright told him, “I could beat ace-queen.” Yarchever told him he had pocket aces, though he declined to expose his other card.
With the board reading and the pot around 3,050, Olivier Busquet was confronted with a bet of 1,450.
Busquet thought for a little before making the call as the completed the board on the river and a bet of 2,300 followed from Busquet's opponent.
Busquet went into the tank for nearly three minutes mouthing words as if he was silently talking to himself. Eventually Busquet tossed in calling chips and tabled his which trumped his opponent's .
On a board of Hans Winzeler was greeted with a bet of 2,000 and a fold before action returned to him on the button.
Winzeler made the call as the landed on the turn and both he and his opponent checked.
Winzeler's opponent tabled his but it would be Winzeler's that would see him scoop the pot with his superior kicker as his stack climbed to 18,600 after being less than half that following his brutal one-outer to Kenny Tran earlier in the day.
On a flop and roughly 1,950 in the middle, one opponent had 2,200 bet out in front of him while Busquet had a 16,000-chip check-raise in front of him.
Busquet's opponent went deep into the tank pondering if he should call off his final 7,300, and after several minutes he folded his face-up as Busquet was pushed the pot to move to 71,800 in chips.
We arrived at the table on the turn to see Brian Rast in a heads up pot with the board reading . It was checked to Rast, who bet 5,000 into a pot that already had about 7,000 in it. His opponent tanked for a full four minutes before folding. Rast took the pot and is now up to 75,000 in chips.
Las Vegas high stakes cash game grinder Nick DiVella has just been eliminated from the tournament.
DiVella - who took 72nd in last year's Main Event for $106,056 - had one cash this WSOP in Event 6, but according to his Twitter account (@NickDiVella), he'll have to wait till 2014 to add to his list of WSOP cashes.
Kevin Pollak limped from late position, and action folded around to the big blind, a British player who turned to Pollak and said, “You just love playing pots against me, don’t you?” Pollak went into full-blown entertainer mode, and using his best British accept, started talking about, “My mum’s dad, born and raised in Leeds....” The dealer spread on the flop amidst chuckles from the table. The blind checked to Pollak, who won with a bet, and continued his impersonation as he stacked his new chips. Players who lose hands to him might never hand more fun giving chips away.
With the board reading , one player bet out roughly a pot-sized bet of 2,200. Johnny Steven made the call as Bjorn Li folded.
Steven's opponent tabled his while Steven flashed a and folded.
Steven however - who chipped up nicely over the previous two levels - is still sitting with a healthy 104,400 and will be flirting with the chip lead as the dinner bell rings.
Two recent hands involving actor Kevin Pollak demonstrated the fickle nature of poker, as he went from flopping the nuts to folding the winner in short order.
First, Pollak took a flop of against two opponents, checking and then raising to 3,300 when one of them bet 1,200. This folded the player in between, and the bettor flatted to see the turn come .
Pollak led out for 4,000 on fourth street, his opponent flatted once again, and the river came . After both players tapped the table, Pollak rolled over the for a flopped nut flush.
On the very next deal, Pollak held the button and took a flop of against two opponents. After both checked to him, Pollak fired out a bet of 1,000. The big blind player folded, but the cutoff came along to see the turn come . Both players opted to check, and on the river Pollak's opponent made a suspiciously small bet of 750.
"Why so much?," asked Pollak, employing his trademark sense of humor.
"I have exactly what you think I have," was the opponent's response.
"I think you have sh-t," Pollak shot back, obviously not buying the player's shoe of strength.
Eventually, Pollak became a believer though, and his was folded face up. With the post-oak bluff successfully executed, the player gladly revealed his for pure air.
failed to catch up to 
. The big blind checked, and Wright bet 550. Yarchever raised to 2,200, and it folded around to Wright. While he considered his decision, the players bantered back and forth a bit, and at one point Yarchever told Wright, “I’m pretty sure we have the same hand.” Wright responded, “You have pocket kings, too?” After another minute or so, Wright slid his cards toward the dealer, facedown. Yarchever turned over one card, the 
, before returning his cards and stacking his new chips. Wright told him, “I could beat ace-queen.” Yarchever told him he had pocket aces, though he declined to expose his other card.
and the pot around 3,050, Olivier Busquet was confronted with a bet of 1,450.
completed the board on the river and a bet of 2,300 followed from Busquet's opponent.
which trumped his opponent's 
.
Hans Winzeler was greeted with a bet of 2,000 and a fold before action returned to him on the button.
but it would be Winzeler's 
that would see him scoop the pot with his superior kicker as his stack climbed to 18,600 after being less than half that following his brutal one-outer to Kenny Tran earlier in the day.
flop and roughly 1,950 in the middle, one opponent had 2,200 bet out in front of him while Busquet had a 16,000-chip check-raise in front of him.
face-up as Busquet was pushed the pot to move to 71,800 in chips.
. It was checked to Rast, who bet 5,000 into a pot that already had about 7,000 in it. His opponent tanked for a full four minutes before folding. Rast took the pot and is now up to 75,000 in chips.
on the flop amidst chuckles from the table. The blind checked to Pollak, who won with a bet, and continued his impersonation as he stacked his new chips. Players who lose hands to him might never hand more fun giving chips away.
, one player bet out roughly a pot-sized bet of 2,200. Johnny Steven made the call as Bjorn Li folded.
against two opponents, checking and then raising to 3,300 when one of them bet 1,200. This folded the player in between, and the bettor flatted to see the turn come 
.
. After both players tapped the table, Pollak rolled over the 
