Here are the final 9 finishers with their prize money:

	Scott Arents - Winner!

At the beginning of heads-up play, Scott Arents is the chip leader with about 810K and Jerry Renfroe was second with about 480K.

On the first hand, Scott completed the small blind and Jerry moved all-in. Scott quickly called, showing pocket 9s. Jerry held A4 offsuit. Board was 3 Q 2 Q 7 and that’s all it took.

Michael Scott Arents finished in 1^st place, earning $196,005, a seat to the 2007 WSOP Main Event, and the gold and diamond WSOP Championship ring.

	Jerry Renfroe - 2nd place

Jerry Renfroe finished in 2^nd place, earning $102,842.

Scott Arents is a 32-year-old professional poker player from Santa Rosa, California. Before turning pro, he was a delivery driver. Scott is married and enjoys sports, music, and movies. At the WSOP, he finished a very impressive 191^st – which put him in the top three percent of the field. Scott says, “I would not be here if it were not for the faith and support of my family and friends.”

Jerry is a 39-year-old married father with four children who is originally from Utah. He is self-employed and has been playing poker for only two years. He cashed in 37^th place in an event at this year’s World Series of Poker. He also won $32,000 in another recent poker tournament.

	Darrell Steed - 3rd place

Darrell raised to 82K from the button and Scott moved all in from the big. Darrell called, showing A6 suited. Scott had the lead with pocket 8s. Board came 9 4 K 8 5 and Scott's set of 8s sent Darrell packing.

Darrell Steed finished in 3rd place, earning $60,495.

Darrell Steed is a 26-year-old salesman from Sacramento, California. His poker nickname is “Big D.” He is single and also enjoys playing basketball. This is the first time that “Big D” has ever made it to a final table of a major poker tournament. He qualified to play in this event by winning a seat in a mega-satellite held here at Harveys Lake Tahoe.

Level 16: Blinds 8K/16K with 2K antes. Play has resumed.

Here are the current chip counts:

End of level and players are going on a dinner break for a bit over an hour. Play will resume about 7pm.

Darrell took a big pot from Scott when he paired his Jack on the river to beat Scott’s pocket deuces.

Shortly after, Darrell raised to 48K on the button and Scott moved all in from the big blind for another 306K. Darrell mucked his A8 suited and Scott showed pocket 5s.

Here are some estimated chip counts:

Jerry raised to 20K from the small blind and Scott called. Flop was Q 9 4. Jerry bet 23K and Scott called. Turn was a 7 and again Jerry bet 23K and Scott called. River was an 8 and again Jerry bet 23K and Scott called. Jerry had K7 for a pair of 7s, but Scott had 93 for a pair of 9s and won the pot.

We haven’t seen much action for a while. It has been flop-free poker as all fold to a raise, or they pass to the big blind.

	Randy Gil - 4th place

Scott raised to 40K from the button and Randy moved all in from the big blind for 151K. Scott called, showing A7 off. Randy was in the lead with pocket 8s. Board came 2 7 2 J A and that Ace on the river gave Scott two bigger pair for survival and the double up. Randy was crippled down to about 37K. There’s a reason Barry Greenstein named his book “Ace on the River”.

On the next hand, Randy moved his last 35K in from the button and Scott called from the big blind, showing 7s 5s. Randy was ahead with AT off, but the board came 4s Jh 4c Ks 7c and Scott has caught the river card the second hand in a row. His pair of 7s was enough to bust Randy.

Randy Gil finished in 4^th place, earning $48,396.

Randy Gil is a 7-foot-tall, 39-year-old business owner from Morgan Hill, California. He is married, has two children and graduated from Saint Mary’s College. His poker highlights include a 12^th place finish at the Bay 101 “Shooting Stars” and a 159^th place finish in the 2006 World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in championship event -- the largest tournament ever in poker history, with over 8,000 players.

Scott completed the small blind and Darrell checked. Flop was A Q J. Scott checked, Darrell moved all in, and Scott folded. Darrell showed 69 offsuit – the “Shades” would be so proud.

Darrell bumped it to 52K and Scott moved all in from the big blind. Darrell called, showing A6 suited. Scott held KT off and needed help, which he got on the flop of K 7 9. Last two cards were J 8 actually giving Scott a straight and the double up.

Level 15: Blinds 6K/12K with 2K blinds. Play has resumed.

End of level and the final 4 are on break. Here are the approximate chip counts:

Scott opened for 30K and Randy moved all in from the small blind for another 96K. Scott called, showing pocket 6s, but Randy was ahead with pocket 7s. Board came T 9 7 3 5 and Randy doubled through with his set of 7s.

Updated chip estimates:

Jerry opened the pot and Scott called. Flop was 9 3 6 rainbow. Jerry bet 42K and Scott called. Turn was an 8 and both checked. River was a King and both checked. Scott showed pocket 5s, but Jerry held AK and caught the bigger pair on the river to win the 172K pot.

	Travis Erdman - 5th place

Travis moved his chips in on the next hand from the button and was called by Jerry in the big blind. Jerry’s KJ off was ahead of Travis’ T7 off. Board came 2 A 5 4 4 and Travis was done.

Travis Erdman finished in 5^th place, earning $36,297.

Travis Erdman is a 36-year-old investment manager originally from Delaware. He now resides in San Francisco, California. He is married and has one child. Travis attended Penn State and Stanford and learned to play poker on the Internet. He has been playing poker for about four years. Travis has two cashes at major tournaments over the past year, but this was his first final table appearance.

Scott raised from the small blind and Darrell called from the big. On the flop of 6 T 2, Scott checked, Darrell moved all in, and Scott called quickly, showing pocket deuces for the set. Darrell’s pocket 9s needed help, but didn’t get it in the last two cards (4 Q). Scott doubled through.

Darrell raised to 16K from the small blind and Travis called from the big blind. Flop was 6 A Q rainbow and Darrell moved all in for 135K. Travis went into the tank, asked the dealer to spread the pot, then started counting his chips. He finally called, showing A5 suited for top pair. Darrell rolled over pocket Kings and was drawing slim to two out. But the miracle King landed on the turn to save Darrell’s tournament life and leave Travis drawing dead. Darrell doubled up to about 325K and Travis was crippled down to about 17K.

On the next hand, Travis put his last chips in from the small blind and was called by Randy in the big blind. Travis held Qh9h and was behind Randy’s pocket 7s. But the board came 4h As 5s Ah Th to give Travis the flush and the pot. Travis had about 40K after that hand.

Scott raised to 24K and Randy came over the top for 73K total. Scott moved all in and Randy called, showing 98 suited. Scott was ahead with pocket 7s. Board came 5 2 2 3 7 giving Scott the win with a full house and the double-up.

Here are some quick chip estimates after that hand:

Jack Effel is our Tournament Director today and he has been great getting chip counts for us. When the last chip count didn’t add up right and this was brought to his attention, he would not rest until he discovered the error (a dirty stack caused a chip to be counted at the wrong value). Way to go, Jack!

Jerry raised from the button and was called by Darrell in the big blind. Flop was 7 3 2 and Darrell moved all in. Jerry called quickly, showing pocket Queens. Darrell rolled over pocket 6s and was in bad shape. Last two cards were 8 5 and Jerry doubled up, becoming the new chip leader with about 500K in chips.

Level 14: 4K/8K blinds with 1K antes. Play has resumed.

	Burt Boutin - 6th place

On the first hand back from the break, Burt moved all in and was called by Travis. Burt’s K2 off was in bad shape against Travis’ AK off. Board came 8 9 3 4 A and Burt was busted.

Burt Boutin finished in 6^th place, earning $ 30,248.

Burt Boutin is a 38-year-old stockbroker from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has three children. Burt is unquestionably the most experienced tournament player at the final table. He won the pot-limit hold’em championship at the 2001 World Series of Poker and has seven cashes at the world’s most prestigious poker event. He was also the runner up at a recent World Poker Tour event, held at the Mandalay Bay. In fact, Burt has won over a million dollars in tournament play in his lifetime.

An extra 1,000 chip was introduced during the color-up, so the new total chips in play is 1,271,000. Here are the chip counts:

End of level 13. They are coloring up the 500 purple chips and then players will take a break, so that will be our opportunity to count the chips.

	Brendan Lynch - 7th place

Darrell raised it to 18K and Brendan “Mr. Clean” Lynch moved all in for his last 24K. Darrell called, showing A7. Brendan was ahead with pocket Queens, but the board came 7 3 A 4 9 and Brendan was busted.

Brendan Lynch finished in 7^th place, earning $24,198.

Brendan Lynch is a 37-year-old professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is engaged. Mr. Lynch’s poker nickname is “Mr. Clean.” He is self-taught and learned how to play poker by reading several notable books on strategy. Interestingly, “Mr. Clean” is one of three players at this final table who cashed in the 2006 World Series of Poker championship event. He finished a very respectable 318^th.

Travis opened for 18,500 from the cutoff and Randy boosted it on up to 53K from the small blind. After about a minute of thought, Travis folded. Randy showed his Pocket Rockets and Travis was relieved.

Play has resumed. Here are the exact chip counts taken during the break:

	Scott Clements - 8th place

Scott opened from the button for 18,500 and Darrell pushed it on up another 57,500. Scott moved all in for 132,500 and Darrell called, showing pocket Kings. Scott held pocket 6s and needed help to survive. Board was A 7 3 4 9 and Scott was busted.

Scott Clements finished in 8^th place, earning $18,149.

Scott Clements is a 25-year-old poker professional from Mt. Vernon, Washington. He is the other finalist in today’s event who won a gold bracelet at the 2006 World Series of Poker. Scott won the Omaha High-Low championship and $301,000. He also won a WSOP tournament here at Lake Tahoe during the first season of the Circuit back in 2005. Even with his impressive poker accomplishments at a young age, Mr. Clements says he is most proud of his fiancé. 

Just like that, our two 2006 WSOP bracelet winners have been eliminated.

Darrell took the chip lead on that hand. Here are some updated chip estimates for the final 7:

Players are taking a 15 minute break with about an hour left in this level.

Randy bumped it to 18K under the gun and Darrell jacked it up another 33,500. After some thought, Randy mucked his hand.

Jerry raised to 16K under the gun and got called by Darrell. The flop (only the second flop we’ve seen today) was Q 6 K. Jerry fired 21,500 at the pot and after some consideration, Darrell mucked.

	Paul Kobel - 9th place

In a battle of the blinds, Paul raised from the small after all folded to him and Scott called from the big. Our first flop of the day was 3 7 9 and Paul bet 19K. Scott moved all in for another 56,500. Paul decided to call, showing 86 off for the open-ended straight-draw. Scott held 98 off for top pair. Last two cards were 6 and J and Scott doubled up with his pair of 9s.

On the next hand, Paul moved his last 6,500 all in from the button and got called by both blinds (Scott and Michael Scott). They checked down the board of 7 Q Q 3 T and Paul showed AK. Michael Scott showed J3 for a pair of treys and Scott mucked, so Michael Scott took the pot and Paul was busted.

Paul Kobel finished in 9^th place, earning $12,099.

Paul Kobel is a 37-year-old holistic practitioner from Oakland, California. He is one of three players at this final table who won the most coveted prize in poker -- a gold bracelet. Mr. Kobel’s win came two months ago at the 2006 World Series of Poker, where he won the $1500 buy-in no-limit hold’em event. His cash prize was $316,000. In fact, Mr. Kobel has won over $350,000 so far this year in poker. He qualified to play in this tournament via a $550 satellite held at Harveys Lake Tahoe.

End of level 12. Level 13 begins with 3K/6K blinds and 500 antes. Levels will now be 90 minutes long.

Cards are in the air.

Brendan moved all in on the first hand and took it without any action, showing pocket 9s.

The final 9 gladiators are assembling and un-bagging their chips now. There are 16:08 minutes left in level 12, with 2K/4K blinds and 500 antes. Cards should be in the air shortly, following the player introductions.

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With just nine players remaining, we are headed to the final day of this battle for a first place prize of $196,005, and a free ride to the 2007 WSOP main event!

	Randy Gil