First into the pot, Brent Wheeler made it 52,000 to go from middle position. He found action in three spots as Phil Laak, Nick Binger, and Nick Schulman all came along with him, the latter calling in position from the button.
The flop rolled out , and Wheeler was first to speak. He took pause, then made a pot-sized bet of 232,000. That folded Laak without incident, but Binger was not going anywhere. He shoved in for 372,000, and Schulman quickly mucked out of the way. Wheeler called, though, and the cards were on their backs. The two men were very close in chips.
Showdown
Wheeler:
Binger:
Wheeler's aces couldn't fade three opponents, and Binger had flopped trips to take a big lead. There were still two cards to come, though, and Wheeler was still drawing live to the flush and a couple of backdoor combinations.
The turn was the , the wrong shade of black for Wheeler. Now brother Michael Binger crept in along the edges of the table, and we could hear him pleading, "No club, no ace. No club, no ace."
River:
That's safe for Binger, and he suddenly finds himself flush with chips. When the stacks were counted down, he had Wheeler slightly covered, and we've bid farewell to another player. It's Wheeler out in 10th place on the final table bubble, good for a consolation prize of $25,874.
With the knockout, Binger leapfrogs into second place with just about 950,000 chips.
We're back in action, here now at the official final table. The players were just introduced to the assembled masses over the microphone, and we're ready to get back in action. It's a big mass that's gathered here on the rai today with the Main Event drawing spectators out of the woodwork. But we've still got a bracelet to hand out before we get too focused on The Big Show, and these nine are the ones left fighting it out. Here's how they stack up:
Action folded to Phil Laak on the button and he potted to 52,000, which Bryce Yockey called from the big blind. It was heads up to the flop, which saw Yockey check-call a bet of 48,000. When the was put out on the turn, Yockey check-called another bet, this time 174,000.
The completed the board and Yockey checked one last time. Laak thought for a few moments before sliding in the remainder of his stack . . . 527,000! Yockey snap-called only to muck when Laak rolled over for trip threes with the nut low.
With that, Laak takes a commanding chip lead while Yockey was reduced to just 328,000.
In late position, Phil Laak opened to 70,000, and Allen Kessler three-bet shoved for 126,000 from the small blind. Laak waited for the count, and he clearly did not like the spot. He chuckled, then told Kessler, "You might be getting a courtesy double-up here." With that, he made the call, but neither player immediately tabled their hands.
"I'm 100% ahead," Kessler said.
Laak knew it too. "Can I bet $10,000 on your hand?"
Kessler shook his head with a bit of a frustrated air. He was, as expected, well in front as the cards were finally shown down.
Showdown
Laak:
Kessler:
Laak had some connecting low cards with two suits, and off they went to the board. The flop came out , pairing Laak to open up a few knockout possibilities. On the turn, the was a bad card for Kessler, improving Laak to two pair and leaving the Chainsaw in a big hole with one to come. He needed to find an ace, ten, or six to scoop, or at least make a low to chop the pot.
The river was a fateful , though, and Kessler could only throw his arms up in disbelief. Laak makes the Michael Jackson full house, and Kessler is left pacing toward the cashier with a ticket that shows ninth place. It's good for $33,352, but it's not much consolation right now as Kessler tries to shake off a cooler of a summer.
Nick Schulman raised to 50,000 from early position and found a caller in the form of Phil Laak in the small blind. The Unabomber then turned around and led out for 63,000 on the flop, which Schulman called. Both players proceeded to check down the turn and river, prompting Schulman to turn over for the winning hand. Laak simply mucked.
For the second hand in a row, Peter Charalambous opened with a pot-sized raise to 70,000. The first time, it got through. This time, though, Nick Binger re-potted, and Charalambous called all in for 145,000 total.
Showdown
Charalambous:
Binger:
The flop paired Charalambous, but he was still in need of some help with two cards to come. The turn gave him a low draw to try and chase down, a sight he was very much pleased with. "I'll take a seven," he said, content to settle for half the pot. "I'm not greedy. Put a seven out there."
River:
That'll do for Charalambous, and he'll get half the pot.
Nick Schulman raised to 50,000 from the button only to have Peter Charalambous pot all in for 160,000 from the big blind. Schulman made the call and the cards were turned on their backs.
Charalambous:
Schulman:
The flop dashed any chance of a low, but it did deliver Charalambous a flush draw. The turn kept Schulman's ace-queen in the lead, but the spiked on the river to give Charalambous the said flush and a much-needed double.
, and Wheeler was first to speak. He took pause, then made a pot-sized bet of 232,000. That folded Laak without incident, but Binger was not going anywhere. He shoved in for 372,000, and Schulman quickly mucked out of the way. Wheeler called, though, and the cards were on their backs. The two men were very close in chips.
, the wrong shade of black for Wheeler. Now brother Michael Binger crept in along the edges of the table, and we could hear him pleading, "No club, no ace. No club, no ace."
flop, which saw Yockey check-call a bet of 48,000. When the 
was put out on the turn, Yockey check-called another bet, this time 174,000.
, though, and Kessler could only throw his arms up in disbelief. Laak makes the Michael Jackson full house, and Kessler is left pacing toward the cashier with a ticket that shows ninth place. It's good for $33,352, but it's not much consolation right now as Kessler tries to shake off a cooler of a summer.
turn and 
river, prompting Schulman to turn over 
flop paired Charalambous, but he was still in need of some help with two cards to come. The turn 
flop dashed any chance of a low, but it did deliver Charalambous a flush draw. The 
turn kept Schulman's ace-queen in the lead, but the 
spiked on the river to give Charalambous the said flush and a much-needed double.
