Level 28 turned out to be a slow level, at least as far as eliminations were concerned. The level began with 37 players, and after two hours of play 34 of them are still in contention.
Before anyone hit the rail in Level 28, a new chip leader emerged in Luis Velador. The two-time bracelet winner played a big 8.5 million pot against Kyle Keranen in which pocket queens helped vault Velador into the chip lead with nearly 15 million. However, by the end of the level Martin Jacobson would reclaim the top spot on the chip counts.
The only other player to fall in Level 28 was Peter Placey, who flopped a pair of aces with a queen kicker, but was way behind Jacobson's ace-king. Placey exited in 35th place for $230,487.
When the players return, they will either play one more level or down to the final 24, whichever comes first. While you wait for action to resume, check out this interview with Bryan Devonshire, who is making yet another deep run in the WSOP Main Event:
Matthew Haugen raised to 250,000 from early position and Bryan Devonshire called from two seats over. The rest of the table folded, allowing the flop of to hit the felt. Haugen continued for 325,000 and Devonshire flatted to see a turn.
The dealer produced the on the turn and Haugen slowed with a check. Devonshire stared him down for a moment before moving 725,000 into the middle of the table. Haugen called and the touched down on the river. Haugen checked again and Devonshire moved all in for his last 2.755 million. Haugen thought for about 45 seconds before throwing away his cards.
Devonshire picked up the pot and now has 5.095 million in chips.
Peter Placey raised to 200,000 out of the hijack seat, and Martin Jacobson made it 500,000 from the button. Placey came back with 1.2 million, and Jacobson called. After the flop came out , Placey leaned back in his seat and announced that he was all in. He had about four million left, and Jacobson snap-called, turning over the . Placey was in bad shape with the .
The dealer burned and turned the , meaning Placey could survive if a hit for a chop. The fell, though, and Jacobson busted Placey to increase his chip lead.
Andrey Zaichenko opened to 225,000 and Brian Roberts called from the big blind.
Both players checked the flop with the on the turn being greeted with a 375,000-chip bet from Roberts. Zaichenko called and then both players checked the on the river.
Zaichenko tabled his for top pair to scoop the pot and move to 3.8 million while Roberts tumbled down to 850,000.
Leif Force popped it up to 250,000 from under the gun and Thomas Sarra Jr called from the big blind. The flop came and Sarra check-called a continuation of 250,000. The hit the felt on the turn and both players checked to the on the river. Sarra checked for a third time and Force checked again.
Force showed which was enough to take down the pot. Force now has 3.82 million in chips to Sarrah's 4.665 million.
Andoni Larrabe raised from under the gun to 200,000, and his only customer was Eddy Sabat out of the big blind. The flop and turn were checked on the board, before Sabat bet 100,000 on the river. Larrabe folded, and Sabat won the hand.