The flop read when Aarno Kivelio got the last of his diminutive stack in.
Kivelio:
Yasuhiro Waki:
Kivelio was ahead on the flop, but behind come the turn. He stayed behind on the river, and last year's third place finisher will not be making back-to-back finals.
You remember that six-max event? The final was, ooh, way back - maybe, like, a whole day ago?
For those of you whose memories don't go that far back (we completely understand), let us remind you of the line up for that final table.
Seat 1: Willie Tann
Seat 2: Chris Bjorin
Seat 3: Phil Laak
...And we can stop right there, because it is only the first half of that final table that currently remains in this second bracelet event - and all three of them are seated once again at the same table.
In fact, the table in question is Table 1 - the central table on the stage, and the very same one they used for yesterday's six-max final. A casual observer who was here yesterday could find himself very confused.
Nevertheless, there they are, looking extremely comfortable with the familiarity of their situation. Most comfortable right now is Chris Bjorin, who on 204,000 is our chip leader by a more than 2:1 margin. Tann is above average on 80,500, while Laak - who of course did the best of those three on the last table they shared - is bringing up the rear on 27,500.
The board read rainbow when we arrived, and Abrahams had bet out around 10,000. To his left, Jeff Madsen raised what looked like the pot - and after a little while Abrahams folded, leaving himself with 25,000.
Then the up:
The very next hand, Abrahams limped under the gun only for Toby Lewis to raise to 3,600 in mid position. Everyone else got out of the way but Abrahams called and they proceeded heads up to the flop.
Flop:
Abrahams checked and Lewis fired 4,800. Abrahams tanked up for a little while and then flat called, leaving himself around 16,000 behind.
Turn:
Both players checked.
River: Abrahams checked for a third time, and eventually (bear in mind that in real life, all of this took an incredibly long time) Lewis checked behind for a second time.
Abrahams turned over for a sneakily checked-on-the-river nut flush, and Lewis mucked with a look of vague amusement on his face.
Q: Do you want to double up Sean Dempsey?
Asked by: Sean Dempsey
To: Paul Gardner
By: Sean Dempsey moving all in on a flop of for 12,700 after threebetting Gardner from the button preflop.
Answer: No
Q: Do you want to play for stacks?
Asked by: Stu Rutter
To: Paul Gardner again
By: Rutter calling Gardner's 3kish bet out on a flop and then shoving over his bet on the turn.
Answer: No, and I'll have to settle for a short stack<20k now
We only caught the very tail end of this one, but here is the information that was apparent at that late stage:
Paul Gardner:
Jeff Kimber:
Board:
As we said, we didn't see when the chips went in, but the tantalizing snippets we caught coming out of Kimber's mouth ("F***ing kills me," and "Gutshot,") gave us a hint that it might have been some time around about the turn. Gardner shrugged apologetically and was up to 55,000. Kimber was left with around 50,000.
Full Tilt Poker Red Pro Paul Zimbler's long short-stack battle has finally ended but it was in defeat rather than a comeback. John Kabbaj opened with a raise from mid-position and then called his fellow Brit's shove. Showdown:
Zimbler:
Kabbaj:
The board ran . Kabbaj filled up by the turn and that was that.