Sam Von Duhn - Chip Leader

Final table action will begin at 2pm on Wednesday, right here in the Whiskey Roadhouse at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here are the final 9 players with their chip counts and seat assignments for tomorrow:

Here's what they're playing for:

The winner will also receive a $10,000 seat to the 2007 WSOP Main Event (plus $1,000 travel money) and a gold WSOP Circuit Championship ring.

	Jeff Bryan - 10th place

After Jeff Banghart raised to 20K, Jeff Bryan called and Sam Von Duhn jacked it on up to 60K. Banghart folded and Bryan called. Flop was 9 3 4 and Bryan checked to Sam, who moved all in. Bryan called immediately, showing pocket Kings. Sam was behind with AK, but the turn was an Ace giving him the bigger pair and Bryan was in bad shape. River was another 4 and no help for Bryan.

Jeff Bryan finished in 10th place, earning $10,843.

That's it for today. 1:01:39 remain to play in this level.

They will continue play until one more player is busted. Here's the lineup at the final table:

	Ray Flavin - 11th place

After Paul Kraus raised to 18K, Ray Flavin got his last chips (54,500) in. Paul thought for a while before deciding to call, showing pocket 8s. Ray has J 6 . Board came A K J 6 8 and Paul's set of 8s trumped Ray's pair of Jacks to send Ray to the rail.

Ray Flavin finished in 11th place, earning $10,843.

The final 10 players have redrawn seats at the final table and are moving to their new seats now.

Level 13: Blinds 3K/6K and 500 antes. Cards are back in the air.

Updated chip guess-timates:

End of level 12 and players are on break.

Sam Von Duhn raised it up and then John Kincaid moved all in from the small blind. Sam called, showing A 3 . JohnnyK was ahead with AJ offsuit. Board came 8 5 T Q J and JohnnyK doubled up through Sam.

There is some action at the other table, albeit not very interesting.  Jeff Banghart raised to 15K early and got called by Ray Flavin and Larry Vance.  Flop was J 9 7 .  Checked to Jeff, who fired 40K.  Ray calls and Larry drops out.  Turn was 9  and again Ray defers to Jeff, who moved all in.  Ray only had 43K left and was kinda pot-committed, but he mucked and Jeff dragged the big pot and we didn't get to see anybody's hand.

Sam raised to 16K from the cutoff and Jeff Bryan (button) called as did Thadd Wolff (small blind). Flop was Q 9 2 . Checked to Jeff who bet 25K. Thadd check-raised another 35K and Sam got out of the way. Jeff called and the turn was the 4 . Thadd bet enough to put Jeff all in and he insta-called, showing pocket Kings. Thadd held Q T for a pair of Queens. River was A and Jeff doubled through Thadd.

Thadd Wolff raised from the button and John Kincaid (big blind) had to think for several minutes before deciding to call. His AK was in bad shape against Thadd's pocket Aces. The Aces held up and Thadd doubled up through JohnnyK.

After a raise from Jeff Bryan in the small blind, Thadd Wolff moved all in from the big. Jeff called, showing AQ. Thadd held pocket 9s. Board came A 9 3 A 7 and Thadd doubled up with 9s full of Aces.

On a flop of 5 5 2, Doug Carli (big blind) got all in and was called by Thadd Wolff (small blind). Doug's K5 (trip 5s) was ahead of Thadd's Q2 (two pair). Last two cards were 7 A and Doug 'Rico' Carli doubled up.

	James Jewett - 12th place

Kosta 'Gus' Sengos got all in against Jeff Banghart. Kosta's pocket Kings were ahead of Jeff's AQ offsuit. Board came 7 J 8 4 2 and Kosta doubled up to about 250K.

Right after that, James Jewett got all in with AQ and ran into pocket Kings -- held by Jeff Banghart. The Kings held up again and Jeff took the pot, sending James to the rail.

James Jewett finished in 12th place, earning $10,843.

Level 12: Blinds 2K/4K with 500 antes. Play has resumed. Three more players must go to end the day. The final 9 will return tomorrow to finish up.

Here are the chip count estimates and current table and seat assignments for the remaining 12 players:

End of level 11 (Whew!) and the remaining 12 players are on dinner break until 7:15pm.

	James English - 14th place

Jeff Bryan raised to 9K and James English moved all in for 43K. Jeff called, showing A K . James was trailing with A 8 and he got no help from the board.

James English finished in 14th place, earning $9,488.

	Sean Johnson - 13th place

Sean Johnson got all in against Jeff Banghart. Jeff held A 8 and Sean was in the lead with pocket Queens. Board was Q 9 7 2 J so although Sean flopped the set, Jeff turned the flush and flushed Sean's tournament down the drain.

Sean Johnson finished in 13th place, earning $9,488.

After calling himself the 'biggest donkey in this tournament', James English proceeded to ship 42K over to Sam Von Duhn when he check-called Sam all the way to the river. Board was A A 4 7 T and Sam showed AJ. James mucked his hand.

	Danny 'Lish' Ciaramella - 15th place

Danny moved his chips all in up front and got called by Kosta Sengos (big blind) with A J . Danny held Q T . Board was 9 3 2 3 K and Kosta's hand held up unimproved and Danny was done.

Danny 'Lish' Ciaramella finished in 15th place, earning $9,488.

James Jewett refuses to throw in the towel. He moved his last chips in and was called by Sean Johnson. James' AT was ahead of Sean's A9 and a Ten came on the flop to extend his lead. That pot was good for a double up and James was up to almost 30K.

Larry Vance doubled up through James English when his pocket 9s held up against James' A8.

	David Wintroub - 17th place

James Jewett gets his last chips in and gets action in two places. Ray Flavin and Danny Ciaramella check the board to the river: K T 2 4 K. Ray moves his last 12K in and Danny folded. Ray held AT for two pair, but James held K3 for trip Kings and tripled up.

Jeff Banghart raised to 9K from the cutoff and David Wintroub moved all in for 12,500 on the button. After the blinds folded, David turned up his hand, which was K Q but Jeff had not yet called the re-raise of 3,500. Jeff said "oops, but I gotta call" and threw his chips in, showing 8 2 . Board came 4 Q J 7 3 and Jeff made the spade flush on the turn and busted David.

David Wintroub finished in 17th place, earning $8,132.

	Brian Gabrielle - 16th place

Brian Gabrielle moved his last chips in from the small blind, trying to steal the big blind, without realizing that Ray Flavin had already moved all-in in front of him.  Brian's 98 off was trailing Ray's A4 suited. Board was 4 3 2 A 8 with 4 hearts (and no-one had a ) and Ray took the pot with two pair.

Brian Gabrielle finished in 16th place, earning $8,132.

Level 11: Blinds 1,500/3K with 400 antes. Play has resumed. Chip estimates from the break:

End of level 10 and players are on break for 15 minutes.

Before the end of the level, short-stacked Ray Flavin got all in against Kosta Sengos. Ray's KQ off was in good shape against Kosta's QJ suited. Board was A K 9 7 3 and Ray doubled up.

	Matt Infranca - 18th place

Matt Infranca moved all in up front and Sam Von Duhn called from the button. Matt's A J was in bad shape against Sam's A K . Board came J K Q 9 2 and Matt's day was over.

Matt Infranca finished in 18th place, earning $8,132.

Play has resumed. but the action is still a little slow. All remaining players are guaranteed to earn at least $8,132.

Ryan Hartmann made it 6K from the button and James English moved all in from the big blind. Ryan called all-in with his last 20K, showing KJ suited and was in bad shape against James' AK. An Ace on the flop all but sealed Ryan's fate. He caught no miracle and was busted in 21st place.

in a photo finish:

Matt Streeter moved all in from the button for 17,400 and Paul Kraus opted to call from the big blind, showing KQ off. Matt's K 8 was in bad shape. Board came A 7 5 Q 2 with nary a spade in sight. Matt was busted.

At the same time on another table, Thadd Wolff raised to 6,500 from the button and Doug Dicken moved all-in from the big blind for another 35K. After spending about 5 minutes in the tank, Thadd called showing AQ. Doug was in bad shape with A9. Board came 4 7 4 A 8 and the Queen kicker played, busting David.

So we have a Double Bubble!

Matt Streeter finished tied for 19th place, earning $0.
David Dicken finished tied for 19th place, earning $0.

The final 18 players are re-drawing for seats and moving to the final two tables.

NOW they've tightened up.

Sam Von Duhn completed the small blind and John Kincaid checked the option. Flop was 4 6 J and both checked. Turn was 7 and Sam dropped 4K on the felt instantly. JohnnyK called. River was 2 and Sam already had 6K in his hand and dropped it on the felt as soon as the card hit. JohnnyK thought about it for a while and finally called. Sam said "good call...pair of 7s is good". JohnnyK waited for Sam to show his hand, which was 98 offsuit, then showed his 73 suited and his pair of 7s was, indeed good.

In a bizarre hand later on the same table, Brian Gabrielle limped under the gun; Sam called; JohnnyK called; Sean Johnson called from the cutoff; Dan Ciaramella called from the small blind and David Wintroub checked. 6 players saw the flop of 2 8 3 . Dan checked and David fired 6,500. Folded to Sean, who moved all-in. Folded back to David, who thought for a few seconds, then mucked. Sean showed 6 5 for squa-doosh, nothing but a gutshot draw.

Level 10: Blinds 1K/2K with 300 antes. Play has resumed. Here are the chip count estimates from the break:

Level 9 has ended and players are on break.

After JohnnyK raised to 5,600 up front, Sean Johnson bumped it on up to 16K. Brian Gabrielle called all-in for about 9K and Johnny K decided to get out of the way. Sean held A Q and was trailing Brian's A K . Board came 3 2 J T 5 and Brian doubled up.

Danny Ciaramello moved in up from and was under-called by Dennis Otto, who had fewer chips.  Danny's pocket 6s were ahead of Dennis' KJ suited.  Board was 5 3 4 2 A putting a wheel on the board, but Danny's 6 gave him the higher straight and the pot and gave Dennis his walking papers.

Krista Gifford moved her last chips in with AJ only to run smack into Matt Streeter's pocket Aces.  No help for Krista and she was 'streeted' by Matt.

After Jeff Banghart opened for 5K, Deb Blair boosted it on up to 10K (with about10K behind).  Jeff thought about moving her in, but opted to just call.  Flop was 8 5 3 and both checked.  Turn was a 6 and Jeff checked, Deb moved all in, and Jeff beat her into the pot, showing pocket 8s for the set.  Deb held the no-longer-good pocket Aces and got no help from the river.  With her departure, there are no members of the fairer sex left in this event. 

Alan Cutler has also departed during butchery of level 9.  Don't these guys know to slow down as they get closer to the money?   21 players remain -- 18 will get paid.

Forget about Mr. Rain, Jeff Banghart is now Mr. Tornado, wiping out everything in his path. Lee Borall moved all in up front and Jeff called immediately with pocket 7s. Lee's AQ offsuit needed help but did not get it on the board of 3 2 T 3 J and was busted.

Ryan Fisler has fizzled out. After doubling up Ryan Hartmann (AT vs. QQ) he got his short stack in with K7 only to run into pocket Aces.

Erik R. Albertson has also departed some time during the massacre.  Tony Panos has also vanished into the mist.

27 players remain at 3 tables. They have just redrawn for seats and moved to their new locations.

After a late position raise from Jeff Banghart, Linda Hackney moved her chips all in. Jeff called, showing AQ. Linda had AJ suited and flopped a flush draw, but got no more held and was busted. With her departure, there are only two women remaining in this event: Deb Blair and Krista Gifford.

29 players remain. 18 will get paid.

	Jeff 'MrRain' Banghart

Level 9: Blinds 800/1,600 with 200 antes. Play has resumed. Here are the chip leaders as of the break:

End of level 8 and players are taking 15.  Somewhere during the massacre of level 8, Brett Richey and Chris Hunt departed.

On a flop of K 9 2, Sam Von Duhn and Kevin Ratliff get all in. Sam's KJ (top pair) is trailing Kevin's pocket Aces, but the river washed up a Jack to give Sam two pair and the win, felting Kevin in the process.

For those major-league sweaters out there, (you know who you are) David Dicken has about 27K and Ryan 'gotskillz?' Fisler has about 43K.

Tony Hartmann raised from early position and Jeff Banghart (middle position) counted him down, then raised all in. Tony called, showing QJ off. Jeff held pocket Tens and it was off to the races. Board came 9 4 5 T 5 and Jeff won the race by a mile with the full house, sending Tony to the paddocks.

Everett Carlton raised from the button and then James English moved all in (for 53,800) from the big blind. After a few minutes of thought, Everett surrendered, showing his AQ offsuit. James then showed his A7 offsuit and he dragged the pot.

Linda Hackney has moved her chips all in a couple of times today, but has not yet gotten a caller.

Fast and furious action today! James Jewett doubled up through Ken Felchuk when his suited A5 caught an Ace on the board to crack Ken's pocket Kings. After a raise from Alan Cutler, Lee Borall moved all in for 20,300. Alan mucked and Lee showed pocket Kings. 

Warren Campbell has been felted.

Ray Flavin doubled through Warren Campbell when his two red Queens held up against Warren's two red Jacks. Ray was up to about 34K and Warren was left with less than 7K.

Yoon Soo Kim limped from the button and Thadd Wolff completed the small blind. The big blind checked and the flop was J 6 8 . Checked to Yoon, who bet 2,500. Thadd called and the big blind bowed out. Turn was the 9 and again Thadd checked, Yoon fired 5,600, and Thadd called. River was 6 and Thadd moved all in immediately (Danger, Will Robinson!!) Yoon wasted no time calling with his last chips, however, showing JT for top pair. Thadd held 7 2 ("the velvet hammer") for the flush and crushed Yoon's pair. Yoon was busted and Thadd was stacking his chips.

After losing a big pot with KQ versus A9, Stan Schrier got all in with pocket Queens only to run into pocket Aces.

Shannan Roberts got his last chips in with pocket Jacks on a flop of J T 4 (top set) and was called by Larry Vance, who held A K for the Royal draw. Larry didn't catch the Royal, but he did catch a Queen on the river to make the straight and bust Shannan.

Tony Panos got all in against Shannan Roberts on the flop of 2 3 6 . Tony held pocket Kings and Shannan was drawing with 8 7 ("the nutcrackers"). Last two cards were Q 5 and Shannan missed the draw and was left with less than 20K. Tony doubled up to the 55K range.

Tyler Meierotto and Bob Slezak have already busted out.

Level 8: Blinds 600/1,200 with 200 antes. Cards are in the air.

Inquiring minds want to know:  Jeff Banghart's nickname 'mrrain' (MrRain) is his online poker name, but it comes from the fact that he owns a company that installs underground sprinkler systems -- hence, Mr. Rain.

Play is set to resume at noon here in Council Bluffs. 42 survivors will return to see which can outwit, outplay, and outlast the field to make the final table of 9. Here they are, sorted by their table and seat assignments for today. (To see the same list sorted by chip count, check out the Day 1 blog.)

	Kaelaine with her winning hand and bracelet

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

Kaelaine won the 2007 World Poker Open Media Tournament at the Goldstrike in Tunica, besting a field of 50 to win the event and the WPO gold bracelet!

Contact Kaelaine