Ok, that's what the fox says. What the tournament clock for Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em says is that the field currently stands at 736 players, which is 71 short of last year's field. With late registration open for several more hours, we expect that number to grow quite a bit. Will the tournament surpass last year's 807 players? Only time will tell.
We noticed that Antonio Esfandiari was no longer in his seat, and a quick check with Jake Balsiger, who had been seated to "The Magician's" immediate left, confirmed that he had been eliminated from the tournament.
Balsiger said that Esfandiari, who was short stacked, had three-bet to 1,000 after an opponent had opened for 350. The initial raiser then moved all in and Esfandiari called off for 2,700. Esfandiari held , but it was dominated by the of his opponent. The board ran out clean and Esfandiari was sent to the rail.
With 3,000 or so in the pot and a board reading , the player in the small blind bet 2,300 and put the pressure on Minnesota's Everett Carlton.
We're not 100% sure, but it appeared Carlton mumbled "f***ing diamond" to himself. Whatever the case, it was clear he wasn't thrilled with the river card and released his hand.
We always love the excitement of a double elimination, and Max Steinberg just told us about one that involved the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Ryan Riess and the 2006 WSOP Player of the Year Jeff Madsen.
As Steinberg told it, the hand happened last level when Riess opened the action with a raise to 350. Madsen called from the button, Bryn Kenney came along from the big blind, and three players saw a flop of rainbow. Kenney checked, Riess bet 750, and Madsen made the call. Kenney then woke up with a check-raise to 2,100, Reiss three-bet to 4,000, and Madsen moved in for 5,500 total. Kenney then moved all in over the top and Riess called off his remaining chips.
Kenney:
Riess:
Madsen:
Kenney was in the lead with a flopped two pair, and it held as a blanked on the turn followed by a on the river.
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A player in early position position raised to 400 and Dan Smith made the call right behind. The player on the button three-bet to 1,350 and the action folded back to Smith who asked for a look at his opponent's chips, before announcing "all in" for 10,175 total.
His opponent quickly made the call with and Smith tabled . The board ran out and Smith doubled.
, but it was dominated by the 
of his opponent. The board ran out clean and Esfandiari was sent to the rail.
, the player in the small blind bet 2,300 and put the pressure on Minnesota's Everett Carlton.
rainbow. Kenney checked, Riess bet 750, and Madsen made the call. Kenney then woke up with a check-raise to 2,100, Reiss three-bet to 4,000, and Madsen moved in for 5,500 total. Kenney then moved all in over the top and Riess called off his remaining chips.
blanked on the turn followed by a 
on the river.
and Smith tabled 
. The board ran out 
