Hal Rotholz raised to 6,500 from the cutoff and action folded to Benny Glaser in the small blind, who shoved for his last 74,000. Rotholz asked for a count and called to put Glaser at risk.
Benny Glaser: A♣Q♥
Hal Rotholz: 10♠10♦
The Q♣2♦2♣ flop vaulted Glaser into the lead after pairing his queen and the 8♦9♦ runout kept Glaser best for the double up.
John David Rogers limped from under the gun and Maksim Pisarenko raised to 12,000 one seat over. Robert Wells then moved all in for 77,000 on the button. Rogers quickly got out of the way but Pisarenko gave his decision some more thought. After some time, he too folded, claiming to have had ace-queen offsuit to send Wells some much needed help late in the day.
Three ways to the Q♦9♠8♦5♦ turn, the action checked around and the 7♥ fell on the river. Seth Gottlieb checked in the small blind and Wil Wilkinson bet in the cutoff, Aaron Katz called on the button and Gottlieb folded.
Wilkinson had the A♦10♥4♥2♣ for the nut low and no pair, which earned one quarter of the pot. Katz's A♠K♥2♦2♥ had the same nut low and a mighty pair of deuces.
Wilkinson then raised and Katz three-bet, Gottlieb called on the button and so did Wilkinson. On the 6♦3♣2♦ flop, Wilkinson checked and Katz bet instantly. Only Gottlieb called but then folded on the Q♦ turn when Katz fired another bet.
The stack of Katz has soared to seven figures and he is the current chip leader in the final level of the night.
Phil Ivey and Rob Hollink traded pots before John Monnette won a hand without showdown against Saya Ono. In the meanwhile, Yuri Dzivielevski was nursing a short stack and the chips then eventually went into the middle.
Monette started the action with a raise to 8,000 in the cutoff and Ono called. Dzivielevski raised the pot in the small blind and Monnette repotted to 108,000 total. Ono called all-in as did Dzivielevski for 38,500.
Yuri Dzivielevski: K♦Q♥J♠10♥
Saya Ono: K♥Q♦9♥5♦
John Monnette: A♦J♣5♣3♦
The 8♣7♣3♠ flop gave Monnette bottom pair and a flush draw while Ono improved with the 6♥ turn. Nothing changed on the K♠ river and Dzivielevski was eliminated while Ono doubled through Monnette for the remainder of her short stack.
"Oh by the way, congrats on the bracelet," Monette told Dzivielevski and the latter replied "I love the moustache, it really fits to you" while the main and side pot was sorted out. "I am not sure about that," Monnette replied before the showdown proceeded.
Talal Shakerchi opened to 8,000 from under the gun and was called by Erick Lindgren on the button. Jason Mercier then three-bet to 35,000 out of the small blind, getting a fold from Shakerchi but finding a customer in Lindgren.
Mercier continued for 28,000 on the 2♣10♠2♥ flop. Lindgren flatted.
There would be no slowing down for Mericer after the 3♠ turn as he counted out a large bet of 101,000. That sent Lindgren into the tank, though he did eventually call.
Both players checked to showdown following the K♣ river, eliciting a "you win" from Mercier even before Lindgren revealed A♠K♦4♣2♠ for the rivered full house as the 2008 WSOP POY continues his strong first day.
James Obst: XxXx / 4x5x
Yuri Dzivielevski: 2xJxfolded on fourth street
Last night's bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski was spotted with a very short stack and he let go on fourth street when chip leader James Obst bet the favourable runout. Obst then also forced out John Monnette and Saya Ono on fifth street to add further chips.
Phil Ivey: 7x4x2x / Ax3x10x6x
Rob Hollink: XxXx / Kx4x5x4x / Xx
James Obst: XxXx / 10x6xAxfolded on fifth street
Obst limped in, Phil Ivey completed and bring-in Rob Hollink called as did Obst. Ivey proceeded to bet his advantage on every further street. Hollink called him down all the way while Obst got out of the way on fifth street.
Viktor Blom: XxXx/K♦7♠4♥J♥ - folded on sixth street
Gus Hansen: XxXx/J♠8♠5♥K♠
Viktor Blom completed and found one caller in Gus Hansen.
Blom called bets from Hansen on fourth and fifth street, but folded facing a third barrel from Hansen on sixth and Hansen dragged the pot without a showdown.
Naoya Kihara opened to 8,500 from under the gun and then called after Dario Sammartino three-bet to 30,000 out of the small blind.
Sammartino stood pat while Kihara chose to take one after which action went check-check. Sammartino turned over 10x5x4x3x2x, prompting Kihara to muck as Sammartino successfully made it to showdown.
