After beginning the day with over 72,000, Australian Bruno Portaro has been eliminated.
Speaking to one of our bloggers, Portaro explained that he was all in holding against an opponent's , but unfortunately an would land on the river to end his tournament early on Day 3.
We caught the action on the river with a board showing and about 70,000 chips already in the pot. The action was on Munir Shahin who bet 37,000 after Matt Vengrin had checked to him.
"Well, this really sucks," Vengrin sighed as he was faced with a big decision. "Will you show me if I fold?" Vengrin asked his opponent.
"I can't promise anything," Shahin replied with a smile.
"Any advice, since I can't phone a friend?" Vengrin asked, but Shahin had nothing to offer.
"What do you think I have?" Vengrin continued after a while, as the clock kept ticking.
"I don't know man, I'm not a very good player like you," Shahin responded.
"Oh stop it," Vengrin said, "Now you're just trying to flatter me."
"Sorry for taking so long guys, but this is a real decision and I will show my hand either way," Vengrin continued as he had taken well over five minutes.
Eventually Vengrin tossed in the call and Shahin turned over for a flopped set. Vengrin showed his and his hand ended up in the muck.
Joshua Rotenberg got his stack of 40,000 or so all in preflop and was at risk against Morgan Popham, who began the day fifth in chips.
Rotenberg:
Popham:
Rotenberg was in dire straits and got up from his chair upon discovering his pocket pair was no good. The flop made things even worse as Popham found a set, but all hope was not lost as the turn gave Rotenberg a gutshot straight draw. Unfortunately for him it didn't come in as the blanked on the river.
"I'm the chip leader, I have it every time," 2003 WSOP Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker joked in an effeminate voice from the other side of the table.
Bodo Sbrzesny opened on the button for 3,200 and Marton Czuczor in the big blind had a look at Sbrzesny's sub-60,000 stack before three-betting to 8,000. Sbrzesny made the call and each player made slow and deliberate checks until it reached the river as the board came .
On fifth street Czuczor made a final check, then Sbrzensy threw out a quick 10,000 to claim the pot.
Anthony Denicco opened from middle position, the player on the button called, and Baron called from the big blind. The flop came down and Baron checked to Denicco who bet. The player on the button called before Baron check-raised. Denicco reraised, the player on the button folded, Baron reraised back, and Denicco soon wound up all in for about 235,000 with for bottom set.
Baron, though, tabled for middle set, and the better hand held up to eliminate Denicco and give Baron the chip lead.
With approximately 25,000 already in the pot and a board of , Ole Schemion made a bet of 13,500. His opponent in the hand, Mark Evangelista, with a hoodie drawn snugly over his head and sunglasses on, stared at Schemion directly for nearly a minute before making the call.
The river was the and Schemion thought for a few seconds and checked. His opponent checked behind and Schemion mucked his hand.
"Do I have to show," asked Evangelista, and he was told that he did. He tabled for the king-high flush. Only the ace of diamonds or five of diamonds would have beaten him, but out of respect for the top German pro he had decided against making a river bet.
Gary Lent opened for 3,600 under the gun, and Paul Pierce called from the next spot. Action folded to the cutoff, who came along, and the flop came . Lent bet 8,500, and Pierce tossed out a min-raise. The cutoff folded, and Lent made the call. On the turn, Lent checked and Pierce immediately slid his whole stack in. The wager was 16,300.
"Can you spread the pot please?" Lent asked. "I hope I have outs."
Lent decided to call, and he turned over for a pair and a flush draw, but Pierce had his pair dominated with . Pierce faded the clubs and tens as a arrived on the river, and has earned an early double-up here on Day 3.