Just three tables remain upstairs, but despite the presence of Tom Dwan, Huck Seed and Barry Greenstein, there hasn't been too much in the way of hot poker action of late.
This brief lapse does, however, offer me the opportunity to mention Jason Lester. A veteran of the felt, America's Lester has been playing for decades, and will be perhaps be most remembered for his fourth place finish in the 2003 WSOP Main Event when the Moneymaker effect was official born.
But this wasn't a fleeting appearance; Lester boasts no fewer than 24 WSOP cashes over a 20-year career, including a bracelet win in 2006's $5,000 No Limit Hold'em event. He also final tabled the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em last year, taking home a further $110,431 for his sixth place finish.
Very few people in the Empire will recognise Lester, but with over two million in live tournament winnings, he's certainly someone to watch. At the moment, he's on 9,000, and could be a strong contender if he's able to make it through to Day 2.
Chance Kornuth has now given up the chip lead thanks to one Yann Dion who has recently been moved to his table.
Kornuth raised from the hijack seat to 425. On the button, Dion reraised to 1,125. Kornuth thought for a bit and then moved all in. Dion quickly called off with the . Kornuth was dominated with the .
The board ran out and Dion earned the double. He was all in for a total of 9,200 and now has 18,700. Kornuth slipped to 16,300.
We haven't heard too much from John Eames today, but the young online pro could certainly make an impact if were to pick up a few chips.
At the moment, he's in three-bet shove mode, and with Sofia Lövgren raising it up to 550 from middle position, Eames opted to move all in from the blind for around 3,500. Lövgren fingered her chips momentarily, but eventually went for the fold.
Tom Dwan is at the heady heights of 11,000 after doubling up. He had pushed all-in for 5,350 over the top of a 525 raise which would cost his opponent most of his own stack, but the latter made the call with against Dwan's .
The flop was i.e very helpful to Durrrr as his opponent was reduced to just one out, the helped neither on the turn and the river gave Dwan the nut flush to boost his stack to 11,000.
On the flop of , two players checked to Dominik Nitsche, who fired 750. the first player called and the next one folded.
The turn brought the and action was checked by both remaining players to see the fall on the river. The first player checked and Nitsche fired 1,800. HIs opponent tank-folded and Nitsche moved to 13,000 in chips.
After remaining as patient as a saint in a staring contest, Barry Greenstein was rewarded with a welcome double through when he hopped on a flight with the American Airlines.
All in for - I believe - 4,255 with , Greenstein found himself up against , but survived a scare-free board to double through to just under the 9,000 mark.
I sensed that perhaps they had a last-longer bet (or a similar wager), as Greenstein alerted Tom Dwan (who is seated on the neighbouring table) of his triumph, adding with a mischievous smile, "You know what I had."
Either way, the book 'Ace on the River' underneath Greenstein's chair remains closed, and it will be left for someone else to snap up the literary reward. Unless, of course, Greenstein snags his fourth bracelet to date.
A quick check of Greenstein's chips, and it appears as though the 'Robin Hood of Poker' is now up to 13,500.
Blowing the dust off my Miss Marple hat, I soon learned that he'd eliminated John Eames, finding the bullets once again and comfortably seeing off the Brit's Big Slick.
According to the man himself, he squeeze-shoved 5,000 with and was called by the original raiser who tabled . The flop came a king with three spades, and then a fourth on the turn, before the case knave hit the river.
A coin flip preflop, but a cruel beat from the turn.
Ellis will never win anything with that kind of luck. Ahem. Is that the sound of gold clanging against wrists I hear?
. Kornuth was dominated with the 
.
and Dion earned the double. He was all in for a total of 9,200 and now has 18,700. Kornuth slipped to 16,300.
against Dwan's 
.
i.e very helpful to Durrrr as his opponent was reduced to just one out, the 
helped neither on the turn and the 
river gave Dwan the nut flush to boost his stack to 11,000.
, two players checked to Dominik Nitsche, who fired 750. the first player called and the next one folded.
fall on the river. The first player checked and Nitsche fired 1,800. HIs opponent tank-folded and Nitsche moved to 13,000 in chips.
, but survived a scare-free 
and was called by the original raiser who tabled 
