Everyone loves a good Phil Hellmuth show, and there's certainly no shortage of that here in Event #61: $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship with 11 players left.
There was just a recent hand where Hellmuth had completed on third before Todd Brunson raised. Action folded back to Hellmuth, and he gave it up. Brunson had a king showing and Hellmuth told him, "Go ahead, show the jack-ten underneath, Todd." Brunson did show, but it was a jack-nine buried in the hole.
"I just hope when I have the ace burgers that you don't get there with the king-jack-ten!" let out Hellmuth. "You're the only guy to beat me in hands today, Todd."
Not too long after Phil Hellmuth referred to "ace burgers" against Todd Brunson, there was a hand that ended on third street that also brought about some good table talk.
James Obst completed with an eight showing, and then action folded to Hellmuth with a ten showing. He raised, then play folded back to Obst.
"Give it up, kid," said Hellmuth to Obst. "You got the dead eights."
Obst folded with a smile and showed a second eight from his hole cards, revealing that he was indeed laying down a pair of eights.
"Wow!" exclaimed Hellmuth, as he turned up two black nines from his hole cards. "That's a good fold."
The table laughed a little bit as Hellmuth continued.
"I didn't know you played that good," the 13-time gold bracelet winner said, commenting Obst's play. "No one else has made that fold to me, especially Todd," he added, citing Todd Brunson.
"But Todd... he's a genius," continued Hellmuth. "He just turns his hands into miracles!"
Henrik Hecklen just doubled up against Karl Tretter to get back to 55,000 in chips. It wasn't easy, though, as no player had a pair until the river, and even then, Hecklen had to sweat it.
Hecklen had the best hand with ace-king high going to the river, but on seventh street, Tretter added a pair of fives. Hecklen was able to turn over a six and make a pair of sixes in order to stay alive.
Phil Hellmuth had called the bring-in bet with the showing. Todd Brunson had the showing and also called the bring-in bet before Matt Grapenthien completed with the up. Behind him, James Obst raised with the up, and that's what sparked the profanity Hellmuth yelled.
"F***!" yelled Hellmuth, which got everyone's attention. "This hand is probably better than some of the hands they raise."
After his brief speech, Hellmuth folded, and then Brunson followed suit. Grapenthien called, and then he also called a bet from Obst on fourth street. On fifth, sixth, and seventh, both Grapenthien and Obst had checked.
Obst turned over the from his hand for a pair of queens, and Grapenthien mucked.
"Nevermind, that's legit," said Hellmuth immediately upon seeing Obst's hand.
A few moments passed, and then he added, "I was flushing."
"I started with eight-three," joked Obst.
"No, no, no, you know what you're doing!" finished Hellmuth.
Karl Tretter completed and James Obst raised. Tretter moved all in and Obst called to create an all-in showdown.
Tretter: / /
Obst: / /
Tretter was knocked out by Obst's pair of tens and we're now down to 10 players. When we lose one more the final nine will be redrawn for a final table.
Shortly after doubling back up to give himself another chance we just lost Richard Ashby. Ashby brought it in on third and the action folded to Henry Orenstein who made the call.
On fourth street Orenstein's board was high and he bet, Ashby called. On fifth street Orenstein bet again and Ashby moved all in for an additional 4,000 chips. Orenstein called.
"What do you got?" Orenstein asked Ashby.
"Nothing," Ashby sighed.
"He's got a straight draw, Henry," Jesse Martin helped out.
Orenstein: / /
Ashby: / /
"He's got a full house," a players said when sixth street was dealt and Orenstein locked up the hand. Ashby was knocked out and there will now be a redraw for the final table.
Phil Hellmuth: / /
Steve Landfish: / /
James Obst: / — fold
Landfish was the bring-in with his deuce showing, and then Obst completed the bet. Hellmuth called, and then Landfish gave it some thought before calling after action folded back to him.
On fourth street, things started to get interesting as Hellmuth led with a bet and Landfish raised. Obst folded, then Hellmuth called.
On fifth street, Hellmuth check-called a bet from Landfish, and then Landfish paired up with threes on sixth. He bet and Hellmuth called, but not without comment.
"I almost raised you the street before, now I can barely call you," said Hellmuth as he tossed in the calling chips. "Such a brutal game."
After seventh street was dealt, Landfish bet.
"I guess I gotta pray you have queens," said Hellmuth. "OK, you've got it, just two tens," he continued, showing the from his hand and folding.
"You're an interesting player," Hellmuth told Landfish after the hand. "You play good, but when the pots get bigger, I'm going to get you."
showing. Todd Brunson had the 
showing and also called the bring-in bet before Matt Grapenthien completed with the 
up. Behind him, James Obst raised with the 
up, and that's what sparked the profanity Hellmuth yelled.
/ 
/ 
from his hand for a pair of queens, and Grapenthien mucked.
/ 
/ 
/ 
/ 
— fold
