Final table action begins at 4pm PDT Thursday. Here are the players with their chip counts and seat assignments:

	Amit Makhija - chip leader

When everyone folded to him in the small blind, Matt Keikoan moved in. Zachary Clark made the call from the big blind, showing AK suited. Matt held 74 offsuit (no, that is not a typo). The board came K J J 9 5 and Zach took the pot. Matt became today's TV-Table-bubble-boy.

Matt Keikoan finished in 7th place, earning $140,830.

That's it for today. The final six will get down to business at 4pm Thursday. Amit Makhija leads the pack going to the final table with about 3 million chips.

Level 23: Blinds 30k/60k with 5k antes. Play has resumed.

End of level 22 and the final 7 players are taking 15. Here are the rough chip counts:

	Layne Flack - 8th place

John 'the Razor' Phan opened for 110k and Layne Flack popped it to 360k from the cutoff. John moved in and Layne called, showing pocket Aces. John held pocket 7s and was a big dog, but the board came 7 6 4 7 Q and John made quads to crack those bullets. The Razor cuts another one.

Layne Flack finished in 8th place, earning $105,620.

Now it is TV-final-table-bubble-time. One more must go before play can end for the day.

Lots more raise/fold poker. Layne Flack raised two hands in a row and took it both times. Then Amit raised to 110k on Layne's big blind. Layne moved all in (915k total) and Amit folded. Layne showed Ak offsuit. That was three in a row for Layne. Then John Phan raised to 100k from the middle and Layne called from the small blind. Both checked the flop of 5 2 2. Turn was a King and Layne checked. John bet 120k. Layne thought for about a minute, then raised 190k on top. John moved in and Layne let it go.

Level 22: Blinds 20k/40k with 5k antes. Play has resumed. Here are the lastest chip counts from the WPT:

	John 'the Razor' Phan

John Phan opened for 80k from the button and Matt Keikoan kicked it up to 280k from the small blind. After a bit of thought, John moved in and Matt called, showing AQ off. John's pocket Aces had him crushed. The board came K T 9 Q 3 and John doubled up to ~980. Matt was left with ~1.6 million.

Kyle Wilson raised to 80k and Paul Smith shoved from the small blind for 355k. Kyle made the call with pocket 3s. Paul held pocket 6s. The board came K 8 8 4 Q and Paul doubled to ~770k.

Another level has come and gone. Players are taking 15.

	Raymond Voskanian - 9th place

Matt Keikoan raised to 80k from the cutoff and Raymond Voskanian shoved for 308K from the small blind. Matt looked him up, showing J8 off. Ray's A3 suited was out in front. The board came T 5 4 A T and Ray doubled up.

Matt raised again to 80k from the middle and Raymond called with position. The flop was A K J and both checked. Turn was the 6 and both checked. River was the 9 and Matt fired 200k. Raymond moved in and Matt called. Raymond held pocket Tens and was beat by Matt's 8 7 for the flush.

Raymond Voskanian finished in 9th place, earning $70,415.

	Kyle Wilson

Mostly it has been 'raise and take it' poker for a while now, but there was a little flurry of activity:

Kyle Wilson opened for 75k and Amit Makhija called from the button. Both checked the 5 4 3 rainbow flop. Turn was an 8 and Kyle check-called Amit's 120k bet. River was another 4. Kyle again check-called Amit's bet, which was 280k this time. Amit showed pocket 9s and Kyle mucked. Amit chipped up to ~3.2 million. Kyle was down to ~1.3 million.

Play continues into the next level without a break:

Level 21: Blinds 15k/30k with 4k antes.

Play has resumed with about 20 minutes in Level 20 (Blinds 12k/24k with 3k antes). Here are the chip counts and seat assignments:

	Denny Lee - 10th place

Denny Lee ran his pocket Jacks right into Trong Nguyen's pocket Kings. This time the Jacks were not able to overcome and the Kings held up. Trong took the pot when the board ran out A 5 2 8 6.

Denny Lee finished in 10th place, earning $42,250.

The final 9 are drawing for seats and moving to a single table, where they will play until only 6 remain. But first, they're taking a 15 minute break.

	Matt Keikoan

Matt Keikoan limped and took a flop with the blinds: T 8 5 rainbow. Paul Smith (sb) bet 25k, Raymond Voskanian (bb) shoved, and Matt called all in (Paul bowed out). Raymond showed T2 for top pair. Matt showed pocket 5s for the set. Turn was another Ten, giving Raymond trips, but giving Matt 5s-full. River was an Ace and Matt doubled up to ~950k.

	Layne Flack modeling Max Pescatori's sunglasses

Everything has slowed WAAAAY down as they are playing hand-for-hand, with 5 players at each table. Most hands are taken by a single pre-flop raise. Every once in a while, there are some fireworks:

Denny Lee opened for 75k up front and it was folded around to Layne Flack in the big blind. Layne called and the flop came A 5 3 . Both checked. Turn was the T . Layne checked and Denny bet 122k. Layne called. Rier was the Q . Layne took a couple of seconds, then said "250". 250k, that is. Denny called quickly and Layne showed K J for Broadway. Denny rolled over his A 8 in disgust, showing Layne that his flush draw was no good and he caught a three-outer on the river. At any rate, Layne pulled the pot.

Two hands later, Layne raised to 75k from the button. After everyone folded, he showed pocket Aces.

John Phan opened for 48k and Paul Smith called from the big blind.  On the T 5 3 rainbow flop, Paul check-called John's 70k bet.  Turn was a 4 and Paul lead out for 110k.  John moved in and Paul called, showing pocket Aces.  John held KT for top pair and would need a King or Ten on the river to bust Paul.  The river was a brick, however, and Paul doubled up to ~680k.  John dropped down to ~430k.

Level 20: Blinds 12k/24k with 3k antes.

Play has resumed with two tables, five players at each, until one more is busted. Here are the chip counts as of the break, according to WPT:

	Sirous Baghchehsaraie - 11th place

John Phan brought it in for 55k from the button and Sirous Baghchehsaraie shoved for almost 800k from the small blind.  Kyle Wilson then shoved for 1.2 million from the big blind.  John ducked for cover.  Sirous held AK off and was racing against Kyle's pocket Queens.  The board came Ten-high and Kyle's Queens held up.  With that pot, Kyle had over 2 million chips.

Sirous Baghchehsaraie finished in 11th place, earning $42,250.

End of level 19 and the final 10 players are heading out for a 15-minute break.

	Lee Markholt - 13th place

John 'the Razor' Phan opened for 75k and Lee Markholt shoved from the big blind. John's pocket 5s were ahead of Lee's AK offsuit. The flop came 8 6 6 and changed nothing. Then an Ace fell on the turn, giving Lee the bigger pair and it looked like he was headed for a double-up. But alas, a 5 hit the river, giving John a set and the pot, sending Rodeo Lee home.

Lee Markholt finished in 13th place, earning $35,205.

	Jinyun Lin - 12th place

John Phan opened for 70k up front and Jinyun Lin shoved. John made the call, showing A 9. This time it was Lin who held pocket 5s (both red). The board came T 9 2 4 J and John took the pot with the nut flush. The Razor cuts another one!

Jinyun Lin finished in 12th place, earning $42,250.

	Amit Makhija - chip leader

Trong Nguyen raised to 40k (the minimum) utg and Layne Flack called. Then Denny Lee shoved for 416k from the small blind. Trong ducked for cover and Layne made the call, showing K J . Denny held pocket 8s and the lead. The board came 6 6 5 Q 7 -- all red -- and Denny's pair was good for the double-up.

With 13 players remaining, things have slowed somewhat. The average stack is now over 860k. Amit Makhija is still out in front of the pack with 2.1 million chips. Zachary Clark is second with just under 2 million.

Matt Keikoan opened for 50k and Trong Nguyen called from the big blind.  On the flop of J 4 3 , both checked.  Turn was the 2  and Trong checked, Matt fired 100k, and Trong check-raised all-in.  Matt called all-in, showing pocket Tens.  Trong held K 7  for the flush draw with one over.  The river was the 3  and Matt doubled up to ~1.1 million.

	Takashi Shiono - 15th place

John Phan raised to 50,000 from middle position. It folded around to Takashi Shiono on the button. He moved all in and Phan called. They turned over their cards and Shiono saw his A 2 was trailing Phan's A Q . The Q T 2 flop kept Phan ahead and when the turn and the river came 9 J his flush was more than enough to eliminate Shiono. After raking in that pot, Phan is up to 575,000.

Takashi Shiono finished in 15th place, earning $35,205.

	Gary Najaryan - 14th place

Zachary Clark raised to 49k and got a call from Layne Flack, then Gary Najaryan shoved for 109k from the small blind. Zachary popped it for another 85k on top to seed the side pot and again Layne called. On the flop of J 8 4, Zachary fired another 80k at the side pot. Layne called again. Turn was a 5 and both checked. River was a 2 and Zachary launched 205k at the side pot. This time Layne folded, surrendering the side pot to Zachary. Gary showed pocket Kings for the main pot, but Zachary had him beat with pocket 4s for the set.

Gary Najaryan finished in 14th place, earning $35,205.

Level ended and the break has come and gone. Play has resumed.

Level 19: Blinds 10k/20k with 3k antes. Here are some rough chip counts as of the break:

	Philip Stark - 17th place

Six players limped pre-flop: Layne Flack from middle position, Denny Lee from late position, Trong Nguyen from the cutoff, Gary Najaryan from the button, Philip Stark completing the small blind, and Matt Keikoan checking his option in the big blind. With the six limpers, there was 114,000 in the pot. The flop came J 7 4 and Stark led out from the small blind pushing all in for 173,000. Keikoan, Flack, Lee, and Trong folded, but Najaryan called, turning over Q 9 for just a flush draw. His instincts were good as Stark couldn't improve on that, tabling 6 3, for a gutshot straight draw and lower flush draw. The turn blanked, a 9, but the river was the A, giving Najaryan the better flush

Philip Stark finished in 17th place, earning $28,165.

	Samuel Ngai - 16th place

Layne Flack raised to 45k from the button and Samuel Ngai shoved from the small blind. Layne made the call, showing AJ offsuit. Samuel held AT suited and was in a world of hurt. The board came Q 5 3 4 A giving no help to Samuel. Layne's kicker played and he moved up to ~1.3 million.

Samuel Ngai finished in 16th place, earning $28,165.

	Kirk Conrad - 19th place

Amit Makhija and Kirk Conrad took a flop of 8 7 5 . Makhija led out for 56,000 and Conrad came over the top, shoving all in for a little over 200,000. Makhija made the call, flipping over 9 9 for an overpair. Conrad tabled A 5 , for bottom pair, top kicker, and he was looking for some help. The turn and river ran out blanks for Conrad -- T J -- and he was busted. After raking in that pot, Makhija is now over 2.3 million in chips and they are down to two tables.

Kirk Conrad finished in 19th place, earning $21,125.

	Rodeen Talebi - 18th place

Kyle Wison raised from utg to 45,000.  From the small blind, Rodeen Talebi pushed for his last 210,000 and Wilson called.  Wilson showed the knockout hole cards of the day -- pocket Jacks.  Talebi was slightly behind with A  K .  The board ran out T 3 2  T  9 , knocking Talebi out

Rodeen Talebi finished in 18th place, earning $28,165.

	Jim Hofheinz - 21st place

John 'the Razor' Phan opened for 42k and Jim Hofheinz (bb) moved in for 139k. John only took about a minute this time before making the call. His A9 suited had Jim's A8 off dominated. The board came 9 5 4 4 Q and John took the pot, stacking up to over 500k.

Jim Hofheinz finished in 21st place, earning $21,125.

	Marco Johnson - 20th place

Marco Johnson raised to 120k from the small blind (leaving just 70k behind) and Trong Nguyen moved in from the big blind. Marco called all-in for his tournament life, showing A6 offsuit. Trong rolled over the weaons of Marco's destruction, pocket Aces. The board came K 7 3 6 A and Trong took the pot, stacking up to 700k.

Marco Johnson finished in 20th place, earning $21,125.

	Tan Le - 22nd place

Zachary Clark got all his chips in the middle against Paul Smith. Zachary held pocket Jacks and had Paul's pocket Tens crushed. The board came A 6 5 Q 8 and Zachary doubled up to ~780k. Paul dropped to ~650k.

Layne Flack was in the big blind and Tan Le raised all in from the small blind on the flop of T 5 2 . Flack snap called, having Le well covered. Tan Le turned over J T Flack had J J . The board ran out K 2 and Flack scooped the pot, chipping up to ~1.2 million. Pocket Jacks again carried the day.

Tan Le finished in 22nd place, earning $21,125.

	Allen Cunningham - 24th place

Allen Cunningham opened for 35k and Gary Najaryan made the call. Then Amit Makhija kicked it on up to 85k and Allen moved in for 297k. Gary got out of the way and Amit made the call. Allen's K Q would need help to beat Amit's pocket Jacks. The board came 6 5 4 2 9 and the Jacks hold up again.

Allen Cunningham finished in 24th place, earning $21,125.

	Maria Ho - 23rd place

Kyle Wilson made it 42k to go from the cutoff and Maria Ho moved in from the button. Kyle made the call, showing pocket 9s. Maria held KQ off and would need to improve. The board came J 9 8 8 5 and was no help to the last woman in this event. Kyle took the pot with a full house, chipping up to ~850k.

Maria Ho finished in 23rd place, earning $21,125.

	Adam Weinraub - 26th place

Matt Keikoan called on the button and both blinds came along for the ride. On the flop of J 7 4, it was checked to Matt, who bet 30k. The small blind folded and Adam Weinraub (bb) moved in for 191k. Matt made the call and Adam showed KT off (no pair, no draw). Adam held AJ offsuit (top pair). The last two were J 8 and Matt took the pot with trip Jacks.

Adam Weinraub finished in 26th place, earning $21,125.

	Ron Jenkins - 25th place

Philip Stark opened for 36k from the button and Ron Jenkins called from the small blind. Amit Makhija popped it to 100k from the big blind. Philip got out of the way and Ron made the call. The flop was J 6 5 . Ron bet 120k and Amit raised to 260k. Ron called. Turn was the 5 and Ron shoved. Amit insta-called, showing A J for Jacks-up. Ron held 9 7 for the flush draw with gutshot. The river was the 9, however, giving Ron a useless pair. Amit pulled the massive pot, chipping up to 1.6 million, good for the chip lead.

Ron Jenkins finished in 25th place, earning $21,125.

Play continued into the next level without a break.

Level 18: Blinds 8k/16k with 2k antes.

	Ben Fineman - 27th place

Zachary Clark opened for 30k and Ben Fineman shoved for 150k smooth. Zachary looked him up, showing pocket Jacks. Ben held pocket 6s and was all-in for his tournament life. The board came T 9 4 5 K and Zachary's Jacks held up to take the pot.

Ben Fineman finished in 27th place, earning $21,125.

Gary Najaryan opened for 55k and Kirk Conrad shoved. Gary called all-in with his pocket Jacks, only to see Kirk's pocket Aces. Then the board came J 4 2 9 8 and Gary cracked those Aces to double-up ~840k. Kirk was left with ~200k.

Looks like pocket Jacks are the hand to have today.

Level 17: Blinds 6k/12k with 2k antes. 32 minutes remain at this level. Cards are in the air.

Day 4 will be underway soon. Here are the returning players, sorted by table and seat assignment (to see this list sorted by chip count, go to the day 3 blog):

Day 4 will get underway at 2pm Wednesday. The final 27 will play until the TV final table of six is set.

	Kaelaine in the 2006 WSOP Main Event

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

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