The day began with 152 players, but the field was narrowed to nine at a decent clip. After a rocky start, Theo Tran ran the show, and he heads into Day 3 as chip leader with a dominant 1,884,000. Mihai Manole and Matt Keikoan, both with over 1 million in chips, are also eyeing top prize. J.C. Tran earned a seat at the table, but Thong "Jimmy" Tran was eliminated in 12th place, narrowly avoiding trip Trans at the final table. The remaining nine are guaranteed a payday of $50,705, and the winner will take home $550,601.

Official starting chips for the final table are below:

One Final Table, Two Trans

Houston, we have a final table. The day began with 152 players, but the field was narrowed to nine at a decent clip. Theo Tran has been running the show for the last few hours, and heads into Day 3 as the chip leader with a towering $1,884,000 stack.

J.C. Tran is still hanging on to $273,000, meaning there will be two Trans at the final table. Duck and cover. Talk about table banter. At least Thong "Jimmy" Tran got out before the puns devolved into tranny jokes.

Tim Taft exited in 13th ($26,076), and Jimmy Tran took 12th for $33,320. Both were eliminated by Matt Keikoan. Yan Chen busted in 11th ($33,320), delivering his chips to Shannon Shorr. 

After only a few minutes of ten-handed play, Chris Bjorin moved his short stack all in, but he doubled up instead of busting on the bubble.  Manny Minyana took that honor instead, placing 10th and earning $33,320.  Minyana shoved with pocked Kings, and Theo Tran called holding A-K.  An Ace on the flop ended both Minyana's tournament and Day 2.

Action at the final table will begin at 3:00 pm on Friday.  Theo Tran will be looking to win his first bracelet and improve on his two fourth place finishes at WSOP final tables, including one earlier this week in the $1,500 No Limit tournament.  Mihai Manole and Matt Keikoan, both with over $1 million in chips, are also eyeing top prize.  The remaining nine are guaranteed a payday of $50,705, and the winner will take home $550,601.

Neverwin Calls It Correctly

They're dropping so fast I can't keep up, and the cashier is way behind with the paperwork. $2k No Limit is now down to 13. Shannon Shorr showed pocket Queens to knock out Shawn Hattem in 20th ($14,487).

Manny Minaya busted Richard Monroe in 19th place ($14,487).  After a brief pause to redraw seats for the last two tables, Theo Tran bounced Keith Carter in 18th ($18,833). Scott Montgomery disappeared in 17th ($18,833), and Darren Nelson left in 16th ($18,833) after encountering the pocket Kings of Matt Keikoan.

Dustin "Neverwin" Woolf correctly predicted his fate, leaving in 15th with $26,076. Alex Bolotin raised from the button, and SB Woolf raised all in to about $150k. SB Chris Bijorin called all in with his last $67k, and Bolotin called as well to make it a monster three-way pot. Fans crowding the rail held their breathes as Woolf showed Q J, Bijorin T T, and Bolotin A Q. The flop fell Q 9 7, giving Bolotin top pair, top kicker and Bijorin a flush draw. 9 on the turn, and 5 on the river gave Bijorin a flush for the main pot. Bolotin won the side pot, and Neverwin didn't win back any of his chips. Maybe he should get a new nickname.

Wait, we're still not done with the eliminations. Issam Abbas busted in 14th place, earning $26,076. After committing much of his chips on the flop and turn, Abbas was facing a board of 9 8 2 9 J and holding K-T for nothing but a busted straight draw.  Abbas paused for a moment, then pushed all in with his last $170k. Mihai Manole insta-called with K-J and ended Abbas' quest for a seat at the final table.  No room for diplomacy in poker.

Manole is gaining steam, building his stack to around $895,000, but Theo Tran is still on top with $1.15 million.

Phan Blown Away

Only 20 are left from a starting field of 1,592. Kai Paulson, Philip Siegel, and John Phan are the latest players to take a walk. Phan didn't have much left when he moved all in pre-flop with K-J suited, and was quickly called by Alex Bolotin holding A-J suited. Tough luck for Phan as the A 6 J flop gave Bolotin two pair, and the Ace on the turn filled his boat. The King on the river gave Phan two unhelpful pairs and a 22nd place finish. The Razor gets $14,487 for his effort.

Theo Tran is continuing his onslaught and nearing the $1 million mark. Not much else happened as they spent half of the last hour on break. The intensity is starting to build as the final table approaches and bracelet dreams seem more attainable with each elimination.

Tran in Command

With only three tables left, Theo Tran has hit a hot streak, raking in pot after pot. He nearly doubled his stack in the last hour and seems pretty confident sitting behing more than $600k.

Shannon Shorr took most of Phil Collins' substantial bankroll to jump up to second with over $500k. Collins flopped a set of 3s and was looking good until Shorr turned a flush to scoop the pot.
It's show over for Collins.

Nancy Todd Tyner exited in 24th place, collecting a $14,487 paycheck on her way out the door. Nancy leaves behind an all male field but held on valiantly as the only lady inside the ropes since Lina Oloffson left in 54th place. The room seems much dimmer now without the light reflected by Tyner's unbelievable rock.

Rocco Pace, Pawel Andrzejewski, and Mathias Kuerschner have all also hit the rail. Now that the playershave redrawn their seats at the last three tables, they are about to begin Round 17, with $5,000-$10,000 blinds and $1,000 antes.

Back to Work

The players were all business when they returned from the dinner break, bouncing more than ten people in under an hour. They're down to the final four tables as Level 16 begins. Theo Tran is back on top. He's had a rough day, but turned it around after dinner to amass $343,000.

Dustin Woolf isn't doing too badly for himself, busting two players in consecutive hands to chip up to $220k. Woolf held A-K to John Chadwick's A-Q to send him to the rail. Then Eric Liu picked the wrong time to shove with K-6, because Woolf held pocket cowboys.

Fred Goldberg was ahead all in with A-Q against John Phan's K-J. That is, he was ahead until the King on the river sent him packing in 48th place. Mark Calzadillas busted James Campbell only to hit the rail himself a few hands later.

Dinner Time

Players are in the middle of their dinner break, and I'm reasonably confident they'll come back to play down to nine tonight. You never know though. It's Vegas. While they're gone, tournament staff will color up the $100 chips.

Just before the break, Issam Abbas grabbed the chip lead with $290k. Mihai Manole and Manny Minaya are close behind. Whew. Say that ten times fast.

Mihai On Top

Mihai Manole is the new chip leader in Event #7, holding $280,000. Manny Minaya is trailing with $226,000, and Thong "Jimmy" Tran is neck-and-neck with $220,000.

Jimmy Tran hoped he was about to pick up a huge pot, holding A-K and looking at a board of 9 5 3 3 A. He had to settle for a chop, though, as his opponent also flipped over Big Slick.

Phil Collins scooped a nice pot from Joe Cutler, though Culter still has the larger chip stack. With a board showing J A 5 6 2, Collins bet out $16K. On the button, Cutler tanked, tanked, and tanked some more before counting out his chips and throwing them into the middle. Collins showed pocket rocekts, and Cutler mucked with a grimace.

John Myung, Thang Duc Ngyun, Ronald Brunstron, and Aaron Dolgin have all departed in the last hour. Although she was on a roll early in the day, Lina Olofsson exited in 54th place, earning $7,823.  Nancy Todd Tyner is now the only woman remaining at the felt.

Manny, Manny Chips

Not much excitement since players returned from their first break of the day. Manny Minaya has the chip lead with $215,000. He already cashed in Event #2, $1,500 No Limit Hold'em earlier in the week, taking 89th place for $6,972. Pawel Andrzejewski is right behing him with $188,000.

Jim Meehan pushed his luck a little too far. All in with pocket 3s against pocket 6s, he flopped a 3 and doubled his stack. He lost all of it on the next hand when he ran his 9-9 into pocket cowboys and wasn't as lucky the second time around.

Jeff Sherid and Stephen Ladowsky also hit the rail. Stephen's A-T was ahead of John Phan's K-Q until the Razor turned a Queen to bounce Ladowsky.

Blackout for Sabyl; Down to 99

It only took two hours to lose more than 55 players. Just 95 players left for break a few moments ago. Sabyl Cohen-Landrum was the last casualty before the break. She shipped in her chips holding A-Q, but Lina Oloffson had her beaten with pocket rockets. Sabyl finished in 95th place for a payday of $4,635. Oloffson chipped up to $128k.

Theo Tran's rollercoaster ride continued. Holding T-T, he doubled up to $150k through Rocco Pace. Tran was back down to $78k only a few hands later, giving Rocco back some of his chips.

John "The Razor" Phan is down to $37k. Pawel Andrzewski pushed all in on a J 3 2 flop, giving Phan a major decision. After Phan tanked for a while, Pawel called the clock on him. The Razor let it run out, and his hand was declared dead, shipping the $20k pot to Andrzewski. Pawel had accumulated $145,000, putting him close behind chip leaders Dustin "neverwin" Woolf and Brent Roberts.

Rail update: Mark Stubbs, Leo Wolpert, and MJ Bernstein have all busted in the money.

Tough "Tran"sition to Day 2

Players hit the felt around 2:00 pm for Day 2 of the $2,000 No Limit tournament raring to go. On day 1, the field was whittled from 1,592 to 152, just bursting the money bubble and sending one player home with cash. Those 152 have already become 127 in an hour of play.

Brandon Blake hit the rail after the very first hand. Leif Force, Eric Hicks, and Aaron Kanter have also called it quits.

Theo Tran was the overnight chip leader, but lost several big hands. He added $40K of his stack to James Campbell's when Tran's pocket 6s hit Campbell's 8-8. Tran is now down to around $60,000.

John Phan began Day 2 with $48k, but was holding only $28k half an hour in after doubling up both Richard Cleveland and Ronald Brumstron. Shannon Shorr has gone the other direction, knocking out a player in 146th ($3,476) to chip up to $48,000.

Already all in the money, they will play down to the final table tonight. Players just started Level 11, with $800-$1,600 blinds and a $200 ante.