Champ Alexandre Gomes (ImageMasters)

Johnson played superior poker to come back from a nearly 3:1 deficit to take a 2:1 chip lead over Gomes. Then Gomes sucked out big time to double up. Johnson raised, and Gomes shoved over top, earning an automatic call from Marco and his pocket Aces. Alexandre was in big trouble with his A-T. The flop came K T 3, earning applause from Gomes' fans. And the Ten on the turn caused an explosion behind him. A Jack on the river ended the hand, leaving Johnson stunned and Gomes in the lead with 4.8 million chips to Johnson's 4.4 million.

Johnson was down to 3 million 20 minutes later. Gomes raised to 300k, and Johnson moved in with Q J. He'd need a Gomes-style suck out to beat Alexandre's A K, but no such luck for Johnson. The board ran out 4 3 2 A 4 to end the tournament and give Gomes the win.

This is the first tournament cash of Alexandre Gomes' career. World Series bracelet isn't a bad way to start. It's Marco Johnson's third cash at the 2008 Series and his eighth career WSOP cash.

Marco Johnson and Alexandre Gomes are locked in a heated heads up match, and the rail is croweded with Gomes' Brazilian fans and Johnson's friends and fellow online players. Johnson had worn away at Gomes' chip lead until he Marco was only down by 2 million.

Then Johnson doubled through Gomes to take over the lead. Johnson raised to 125k, and Alexandre Gomes reraised. We don't know how much he planned to make it, because Marco immediately announced that he was all in. Gomes called to see they were in a classic race situation. Johnson's J J against Gomes' A Q. The K 9 2 gave Johnson a flush draw. The J on the turn made things really interesting, giving Marco a set and Alexandre a straight draw. Johnson dodged the Ten with the 7 on the river to double up to 5,020,000. Gomes is trailing but still close with 4,180,000.

Wow. One hour and six more eliminations. The busts have been coming one after the other without many hands in between, and Alexandre Gomes and Marco Johnson are already preparing for a heads up showdown.

Gabe Costner busted in 8th, picking up $103,315. Costner was extremely short stacked before his last hand. Robert Brewer raises pre-flop to 175k, and Coster calls all in to discover that his A-9 is drawing thin against Brewer's A-T. The board runs out K 8 6 8 5, meaning the Ten plays, and Costner's tournament is done. This is Costner's fifth cash at the 2008 WSOP.

Sverre Sundbo was next to go in 7th place for a payday of $134,942. Ryan D'Angelo raises to 125k, and Sundbo shoves for 940,000. D'Angelo calls with A Q, dominating Sundbo's Q 6. The flop falls A 5 4, giving D'Angelo top pair and Sundbo runner-runner straight or flush possibilities. The T on the turn puts an end to those, and Sundbo is drawing dead. He sticks around to see the 5 on the river, and then heads off to the cashier. This is the Norwegian player's third WSOP cash and his first in two years.

Kirill Gerasimov went down in 6th place, a performance worth $177,111. Ryan D'Angelo picked up his third kill of the day. He raises to 150k, and Gerasimov moves in. D'Angelo makes the call, and it's off to the races with his A-Q against Gerasimov's pair of Jacks. Kirill looks good after the 6 5 5 flop, and is one card away from the double up after a 7 on the turn. But D'Angelo spikes an Ace on the river, taking down the pot and busting Gerasimov. This is the Russian pro's impressive 20th WSOP cash and his third of the year. He took 5th in a PLO tournament two weeks ago.

The slaughter continued with Alan Cutler, who earns $223,497 for 5th place. He lost his formidable stack in two tough hands. In the first, Cutler raises to 175k on the button, and Alexandre Gomes shoves with his short stack. Cutler has him covered and calls with A-Q to Gomes' 7-6 suited. The A K Q flop is specially ordered for Cutler, who picks up two pair. The 6 on the turn still has Gomes way behind but not quite dead, and a 6 on river means the poker gods really don't like Cutler. Alan is left with 900,000, and the whole table is deafened by Gomes' crowd of Brazilian railbirds.

On the next hand, Cutler raises to 200k from the CO, and Marco Johnson moves in. Cutler calls with his last 700,000 and is relieved to see that his pocket Queens are ahead of Johnson's pair of 5s. But like I said, the poker gods have some major beef with Cutler, and a 5 in the door gives Johnson trips. No help for Cutler on the rest of the board, and he is drop kicked out of the tournament in the cruelest of fashions.

And just when you think there can't possibly be more busts in one hour, it's Robert Brewer's turn to go in 4th place. He takes home $274,101. Ryan D'Angelo raises to 150k, and Brewer calls to see the K 8 5 flop. Brewer bets out 325k, and D'Angelo calls. Brewer checks the 4 turn, and D'Angelo moves in. Without any hesitation, Brewer calls all in, showing T 7 for flush and gutshot straight draws. D'Angelo tables K K for top set. The 7 on the river gives him a pair but not what he needs to best D'Angelo's Kings.

After scoring four eliminations, Ryan D'Angelo was the chip leader with 4.6 million. But his lead didn't last long. Alexandre Gomes rivered a pair of Aces to double through D'Angelo, knocking him back to 2.8 million and giving Gomes the chip lead.

A few minutes later, it was D'Angelo who was eliminated in 3rd place, winning $326,821. D'Angelo raises to 150k, Gomes moves in over top,and Ryan calls all in. It's another race, and Gomes' pocket 9s are up against D'Angleo's A-Q. A 9 on the flop gives Gomes the set, and no paint comes after it to save D'Angelo. This is D'Angelo's second WSOP cash.

Now the final two are taking a break while floor staff brings the bracelet to the table. When they begin heads up play, Alexandre Gomes leads Marco Johnson 6.7 million to 2.55 million.

Dan Rome was the first to leave the final table, busting in 9th place for $71,687.

With everyone in front of him folding, Rome shoves from the SB for about 475,000.  BB Ryan D'Angelo looks down at his cards to see A A and insta-calls.  Rome doesn't like his 5 4 so much anymore.  The board runs out K K Q 4 2, giving D'Angelo the first knock out of the day.

This is Rome's second WSOP cash. He finished 49th in an earlier NLHE event.

Ryan D'Angelo was the short stack an hour ago, but after busting Rome and flopping a flush to win a big pot from Gabe Costner, he's up to 1.64 million.  That's not too far behind leader Marco Johnson, who has slipped a bit to 1,865,000, and Alan Cutler who has 1,770,000.  Gabe Costner took a big hit when his two pair ran into D'Angelo's flush, and he's now barely hanging on with 175,000.

Cards are in the air again and sleepy players are around the felt at the $2,000 NLHE final table.  After playing until it was light out this morning, the final nine are back to play for the bracelet.  Unfortunately, they're not getting much attention at the secondary final table next to the ESPN arena.  The crowd seems fixated on the $50k H.O.R.S.E. final table that began at the same time, and a long line of fans are waiting to get a seat in the ESPN seats or the Milwaukee's Best Light Lounge.

But there are still plenty of friends and family around the rails to cheer on these players.  Sverne Sundbo got off to a quick start, flopping a set of 6s to double through Gabe Costner.  Only a few hands later, however, Alan Cutler turned the tables.  He doubled through Sundbo when his pocket 7s held up against Sundbo's A-Q. Sundbo was knocked back to 750k.

Marco Johnson is still in the lead with 2,134,000.  Dan Rome, Gabe Costner, and Ryan D'Angelo all need to make moves soon.  They each have less than 600,000.  The players just began Round 24, with blinds at 25,000-50,000 and an ante of 5,000.

The $2,000 No Limit Hold'em event played into the early morning hours to reach the final table of 9 players. Those 9 will return at 3 p.m. PDT Sunday to continue the battle for WSOP gold and $770,540. Marco Johnson leads the pack with over 1.6 million chips.

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