Play resumed after the break with Level 29: Ante 20k, Bring-in 20k, Limits 80k/160k.

On the first hand after play resumed, they built a million-chip pot. Chris showed 6s full of 7s (no low) while Sebastian showed two pair (no low). Chris took that pot and added to his chip lead.

	Champ Sebastian Ruthenberg (ImageMasters)

Soon after, they got into another big pot that went to showdown, with Chris showing Queens and 8s to beat Sebastian’s 9s and 7s (neither player made a low). With that pot, Chris had 2.2 million chips to Sebastian’s 400k.

Sebastian was all-in on 3^rd with (T5) 5 against Chris’ (87) 3. When the cards ran out, Sebastian had added a second pair and Chris had only one pair and failed to make a low. Sebastian doubled up to 500k.

Sebastian got all in again, this time on sixth, showing (T8) 6 6 T 2 for two pair and no possible low. Chris held (AJ) 7 A 2 5 for one pair with a low draw and flush draw. Sebastian caught an Ace, which changed nothing. Chris needed a heart or pair to any of his cards to end this or any 8, 6, 4, or 3 to make a low and split. His card was a 9 and a diamond, though, so Sebastian scooped, doubling up to 800k.

Another reversal: Sebastian led the whole way with Chris calling. On the river, Chris showed Tens-up, but Sebastian held Aces-up for a better two-pair (neither player made a low). Sebastian had retaken the chip lead with 1.8 million to Chris’ 760k.

Then Chris got all-in on fifth holding a pair of Aces. Sebastian had four cards to a low and ended up with two pair. Chris never improved his hand and it was over.

Sebastian Ruthenberg finished in 1st place, earning $328,756 and his first WSOP bracelet.

Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson finished in 2nd place, earning $202,406.

After a bunch of small pots, Chris and Sebastian finally wrestled over a big one. The lead was flip-flopping all the way down with one player betting and the other calling. On sixth, Chris was showing 6JA7. Sebastian was showing QK5Q. On the river, Sebastian fired, Chris raised, and Sebastian made the call. Chris showed (457) for a 76-low and pair of 7s. Sebastian showed (Q5x) for Queens-full to take the high. Split pot.

Chris continued to chip away, picking up the small pots and has regained the chip lead with 1.73 million to Sebastian’s 870k.

Another level gone…another 20 minute break. Play will resume at 1:07am.

Sebastian continues to chip away at Chris’ stack. He’s now up to 2 million while Chris is down to ~600k.

Play has slowed considerably with not many hands going beyond third street. Chris has inched his way back up to ~900k.

That didn’t last long. Sebastian claimed another pot, dropping Chris back down to ~600k.

Play continued into Level 28: Ante 15k, Bring-in 20k, Limits 60k/120k.

Bob got involved in a pot with Chris, calling Chris’ bets all the way until the river, when he mucked. After surrendering that pot, Bob was down to 350k.

Bob again got into a pot with Chris, calling until sixth when both players checked. Chris was showing 4 6 Q 7 and checked the river. Bob checked behind showing T 2 J 8. Chris rolled over his down-cards showing 765 for two pair. Bob mucked and was down to ~200k.

Then Bob got all in on third against Chris. Bob showed (74) A 7 3 9 for a pair of 7s with a 74-low draw. Chris showed (A6) T 6 J 8 for a pair of 6s with no low possible. Bob’s river was a King, killing his low, but Chris caught a 4 and did not improve, so Bob won the pot with his pair of 7s.

Bob was all-in again, this time on fourth and against Sebastian. Sebastian held (T5) 5 T A 4 for two pair; Bob held (A6) 8 6 2 6 for trip sixes and an 86-low draw. Sebastian caught another Ace to make Aces-up, which still couldn’t beat Bob’s trips. Bob caught another deuce to make the full house, just for good measure. Bob scooped another pot.

Chip counts:

After a break, play resumed with Level 27: Ante 10k, Bring-in 20k, Limits 50k/100k.

Bob got his chips in with trip 8s and was up against Chris’ pair of Kings. Chris paired his Ten on 5^th, giving him two pair. On the river, Chris caught another Ten for the full house while Bob’s hand did not improve and did not make a low.

Bob Lauria finished in 3^rd place, earning $125,737.

A huge pot developed between Sebastian and Chris. Sebastian was showing A 2 8 A and Chris was showing 5 5 8 K. At showdown, Sebastian tabled A65 for trip Aces. Chris flashed a 5 showing his inadequate trips and Sebastian scooped the 1.4 million-chip-pot. Chris was left with 825k.

Bob and Sebastian tangle – split pot.

Chris and Sebastian tussle – split pot.

Split pot. Split pot. Split pot. You get the idea. Not much chip movement has occurred due to the split pots.

Players took a short break at the end of level 25, then continued with Level 26: Ante 10k, Bring-in 10k, Limits 40k/80k.

Bob and Sebastian played a pot to the river with Bob check-calling Sebastian’s bets. At showtime, Sebastian produced two pair and Bob mucked, so Sebastian scooped the pot – which was the first scoop in a very long time.

Sebastian has been collecting more than his share of the antes and has edged past Chris into the chip lead with just over 1 million chips.

Sebastian also has quite a crowd of supporters standing on the rail, who cheer each time he drags a pot, no matter the size. He may have more supporters, but Chris now has fellow Full Tilt-ers and some other pros standing on the rail to root him on.

After the break, play resumed with Level 25: Ante 7k, Bring-in 10k, Limits 30k/60k. Chip counts as of the break:

Marcel got his last chips in on fifth against Chris. Marcel had a flush-draw and low-draw to a 74. Chris had a pair of Queens and not much else. Marcel caught a 5 on sixth to complete his low and lock half the pot. Then he caught an Ace on the river to make a bigger pair to take the high. Marcel scooped and chipped up to ~200k.

Then Marcel got involved with Bob and was all-in on sixth. Bob had made an 87 low and Marcel held a pair of 5s and no low possible. Bob caught a 7 on the river to make a pair bigger than Marcel’s. Marcel squeezed the life out of his river card, but it was an 8 and did not help him at all. The Flying Dutchman was grounded.

Marcel Luske finished in 4^th place, earning $95,069.

Chip counts:

Play continued into Level 24: Ante 5k, Bring-in 7k, Limits 25k/50k.

Chris and Marcel tangled in a pot with Marcel leading and Chris calling all the way to the river. Marcel tabled a diamond flush and 75-low to scoop the pot out from under Chris. With those chips, Marcel is up to 430k.

Annie got involved in a hand with Chris and by the river, she had missed her low. Chris held trip 6s to take the pot and Annie was left with 120k. Chris is now sitting on a cool million.

Bob managed to double up again through Marcel, bit was still just hanging on with 200k. Then he got into a three-way with Alessio and Sebastian. Alessio dropped out on sixth, but Sebastian hung with him to the river with an open pair of Aces. At showtime, Bob produced a flush and no one had a low, so Bob scooped the pot, chipping up to 500k.

Alessio then got in a pot with Sebastian and was all-in on fifth holding a made 8754A low, but Sebastian held 7542A for a better low. Then Sebastian caught an Ace on sixth to give him a better high hand also.

Alessio Isaia finished in 6^th place, earning $58,268.

Annie Duke got her last chips in on third with action from Chris and Sebastian. Chris kept firing on fourth and got Sebastian out of the way so that he was heads-up with Annie:
Annie: (TT) 5 2 8 9 (A)
Chris: (KK) J 7 3 9 (J)
Chris’ pocket Kings had her in bad shape from the start and she was unable to pull out a low for half the pot.

Annie Duke finished in 5^th place, earning $73,602.

The final four are now taking a 20-minute break.

Marcel got all in again on sixth street in three-way action with Chris and Robert. Chris fired against on 7^th and Robert bowed out. Chris showed a pair of 5s and 76542 for the low. Marcel had no pair, but tabled a 65-smooth to chop the pot with Chris.

Marcel was all-in again, this time against Sebastian. At showdown, Sebastian had a pair of 7s and had missed his low. Marcel held 3s full of Jacks to scoop, chipping up to ~300k.

Robert was then the short stack and it was his turn to get it all-in on third against Marcel. When the cards ran out, Robert had no pair and an 86-low. Marcel held a pair of 5s and a 76 to scoop.

Robert Beveridge finished in 8^th place, earning $36,801.

Steve tangled with Annie and by seventh, all Steve’s chips were in the middle. He was showing 7 6 7 K. Annie showed a split pair of Kings and a 64-low. Steve mucked his down-cards and headed across the room to play the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low World Championship, which started at 5pm.

Steve Sung finished in 7^th place, earning $46,001.

The final six seemed to tighten up and start to play small pots.

Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson is out in front with 970k.

Cards hit the air a bit after 5pm with Level 22: Ante 3k, Bring-in 5k, Limits15k/30k.

Bob went on a rush early and turned his short stack of 44k into about 270k in just a few hands.

A three-way pot developed between Steve, Sebastian, and Robert. At showdown, Sebastian and Steve contended for the low with Sebastian's 76432 getting beat by Steve's 7642A. Robert had Kings in the hole to start and they held up for the high half.

Marcel Luske got his last chips in on sixth against Chris. They turned up the cards and neither had a pair or a made low. Marcel turned up his river card and it was an Ace, pairing him. Chris was drawing to the case Ace (he had a better kicker) to scoop or 8, 5, 3, 2 to make a qualifying low to split. He paired his 6, however, and Marcel scooped and doubled up to 150k.

The World Championship of Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split resumed on day 2 with 120 players. Some of the biggest names in poker did not survive the day. Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey were among those hitting the rail early. Day 3 action will begin at 3 p.m. PDT Thursday when the final eight will return to play for the title.

Official chip counts and seat assignments for the start of the final table: