Duane Hunton - chip leader

With ten players remaining, they drew for seats and moved to a single table. Their first order of business was to make a save for the 10th - 7th place finishers. They will take $40k off the top 3 spots to pay $10k each to the next four players to bust out. Their second order of business was to decide to call it a night. They bagged and tagged their chips and will return at 1:15pm Tuesday to continue play.  About 30 minutes remain in level 11.

Here are the final ten with their chip counts and seat assignments:

	Patrick Arena - 11th place

Patrick Arena put his last 10,200 in utg and it was folded to Wooyang Lin in the small blind, who called. Patrick was ahead with pocket 9s. Wooyang held A2 suited. The board came A Q 4 2 5 giving Wooyang two pair and the pot. Patrick got the rest of the night off.

	Jordan Rich - jilted

On a flop of T 9 6 Jordan Rich (sb) bet, Steve Gross (utg) raised to 10k, Charles Furey called, then Jordan Rich moved all in for ~60k more. Steve tanked for a few minutes, then announced that he was all-in. Charles mucked and Jordan showed A 7 (Ace-high with gutshot). Steve showed pocket Aces. The last two cards were 3 K and Steve's Aces held up. Jordan Rich hit the door in 12th place.

11 players remain.  Average stack is ~141,800.

At the river, the board read 7 6 2 9 3 and it was checked to Tom Dobrilovic (button) who bet 7,600. Mike Leah (sb) folded, but Duane Hunton (bb) made the call. Tom rolled over A 8 for Ace-high (busted straight-draw). Duane rolled over 75 offsuit for a pair of 7s to take the pot.

	Vinny Pahuja - vanquished

A short-stacked Vinny Pahuja shipped his last ~26k in and ran into Frank Vizza's pocket Jacks. Vinny held J9 suited and was unable to suck out this time. Vinny reported to the rail in 13th place.

Play has definitely tightened up and slowed down with just a dozen guys and one woman remaining.

Robert Ford raised to 6,400, then Steve Gross re-raised to 18k from the button. Back to Robert, who gave it some thought, then kicked it on up to 80k. Steve said "I should've just called" as he mucked his hand.

After Tom Dobrilovic opened for 5,500, Duane Hunton called from the big blind. The flop was 9 8 7 -- both checked. Turn was the 2 -- both checked. River was the J. Duane checked, Tom bet 10k, and Duane called, showing 8 6 for a pair of 8s. Tom showed K T for the straight to take the pot.

Level 11: Blinds 1k/2k with 200 antes. Play has resumed.

Here are some rough chip counts from the break:

End of level 10 and players have scattered for their ten minutes away from the felt.

	Craig Gray - goner

Craig Gray lost a sizable pot to Duane Hunton when his pocket Kings got run down by Duane's A9 (Ace on the flop, 9 on the turn). Then Craig shoved his short stack on the button with K3, only to get called by Wooyang Lin in the small blind, who held A2. The board was nothing but bricks and Wooyang busted Craig with Ace-high.

13 players remain.

On a K 9 6 flop, Charles Furey got all-in for 25,300 with action from Frank Vizza. Charles held KT off for top pair. Frank held AK off for top pair, top kicker. I appeared that Charles was headed for elimination, but the last two came 8 7 to give him a Ten-high straight and the double-up. Frank is still shaking his head.

Duane Hunton (utg) opened for a raise, Craig Gray called, and Wooyang Lin called. The flop came 6 6 3 with two spades. Duane led for 5k, Craig bumped it to 15k, then Wooyang kicked it up to 30k. Back to Duane, who moved all-in. Craig folded quickly. Wooyang took a bit longer, but eventually surrendered his hand. Duane pulled the pot.  (Duane told me later that he had flopped a full house.)

	Frank Vizza

On the turn with the board showing J T 9 9, Frank Vizza bet 16k. Steve Gross studied a bit, then called. River was a King and Frank checked. Steve looked like he wanted to bet, but decided to check. Frank showed QJ offsuit for the King-high straight. Steve mucked.

Wooyang Lin raised to 4,800 from the small blind and Tom Dobrilovic called from the big blind. On the flop of T 9 5 Wooyang bet 8k, then said "I got a pair better than that" as he pointed at the board. Tom folded and Wooyang showed his pocket Jacks.

	Mike 'LittleMan' Sica - sacked

Wooyang Lin raised to 4,800 and Mike Sica called from the big blind. The flop was K 8 7 and both checked. Turn was the 6. Mike bet 10k. Wooyang said "I'll save you some money, Mike. I'm all in." Mike was puzzled and had to spend some time in the tank. He said he had a monster and didn't see how he could lay it down. He decided to put the rest of his chips in the pot, showing K 7 for two pair. Wooyang showed T 9 for the straight. Mike needed a King or 7 on the river to survive, but it was a 5 and he was busted, 15th place.

14 players remain. Average stack is now ~111,400.

In a battle of the blinds, Patrick Arena completed the small and Mike Sica checked his option.  The flop came T 8 3.  Patrick checked, Mike bet 3,300 and Patrick called.  Turn was a 7.  Both checked.  River was a 6.  Patrick checked, Mike bet 6k, and Patrick called.  Mike showed 93 off for the straight.  Patrick mucked his hand and the Little Man pulled the pot.

Steve Gross limped, Rick Austin limped, Vinny Pahuja limped, Melece Sliwinski completed the small blind and Jordan Rich checked his option. The flop came 4 2 2. Melece checked; Jordan bet 3,300; Steve called; Rick called; Vinny called; and Melece folded. Turn was the 6. Jordan fired 7k this time. Steve folded, Rick called, and Vinny folded. River was the T and Jordan bet 12,500. Rick called and Jordan showed A 2 for trip ducks, but Rick rolled over 53 off for the turned straight to take the pot.

This is the same Rick Austin that had pocket Aces five times on day one. Today he's winning pots with 52 and 53. Go figure.

Level 10: Blinds 800/1,600 with 200 antes. Play has resumed.

Here are the chip guess-timates from the break:

Mike 'LittleMan' Sica moved his last 18,600 in from the button and Duane Hunton made the call from the big blind. Mike held pocket Jacks and was ahead of Duane's KJ. The board bricked out and Mike doubled up.

End of level 9 and players have been sent on a one-hour dinner break. Play will resume at about 9:15pm.

	Duane Hunton

Melece Sliwinski opened for 4,300 from the middle and got action from Jordan Rich and Vinny Pahuja (bb). The flop came 8 4 3. Vinny checked, Melece fired 12k, Jordan called, and Vinny folded. Turn was the J. Melece again fired 12k and Jordan called. River was the 5. Again Melece fired 12k; again Jordan called. Melece rolled over pocket Tens; Jordan rolled over...pocket Tens. Split pot.

On the turn with a board of J J 2 6, Duane Hunton bet 5k and Craig Gray called. River was a 9 and Duane checked. Craig fired 17,500 and Duane looked him up. Craig sheepishly turned over his AK suited (Ace-high). Duane showed QJ offsuit for trip Jacks to take the pot.

	Rick Austin

Picking up the action on the turn, the board read 6 4 3 J. Robert Ford (bb) bet 3,200. Jordan Rich (utg+1) raised to 8,200. Then Rick Austin (cutoff) popped it again for 13k for 21,200 total. Both players called. River was the Q and Robert fired 28,000. Jordan thought for a bit, then called. Rick tanked for even longer, but finally tossed in his cards. Jordan held pocket 4s for middle set on the flop; Robert held pocket 6s for top set on the flop; and Rick slapped his 5 2 on the table for the flopped straight to take the monster pot (over 150k in the pot). That pot vaulted Rick into the chip lead.

	Adam Gerber - lost a race to crabs

Mike Leah opened for 3,300 and got called by Duane Hunton and Wooyang Lin, then Adam Gerber moved all-in from the button (14,300 total). The blinds got out of the way and Mike then re-raised to 25,300. Duane mucked, then Wooyang did some thinking. He finally mucked his AQ off face up. Mike held pocket 3s and was ahead of Adam's A9 suited. The board came T 8 4 8 J and Adam came up empty. Defending Champ Adam Gerber has left the tournament in 16th place.

15 players remain. Average stack is now 104,000.

	Dan Spear - impaled

On the turn with a board of J 8 7 9 Patrick Arena bet 4,200. Vinny Pahuja raised to 15,100, leaving about 20k behind. Patrick tanked for a bit, then announced all in. Vinny called quickly, showing AT suited for the Jack-high straight. Patrick showed Q5 off for the double-gutted straight draw, but only the high end was good. He needed a Ten to make a higher straight to beat Vinny, giving him only 3 outs. The river was an Ace and Vinny doubled up.

After one player called, Dan Spear moved all in. All folded around to Melece Sliwinski in the big blind, who moved in over the top. The limper got out of the way and Dan showed pocket Tens. Melece showed pocket Aces. The board came 9 4 2 K 4 and Melece took the pot while Dan took the walk in 17th place.

Level 9: Blinds 600/1,200 with 100 antes. Play has resumed. Here are chip estimates from the break:

	Eugene Castro - cut

Steve Gross made it 2,200 from the button and Eugene Castro made the call from the big blind. On the flop of 4 3 3, Eugene led out for 6k and Steve called. Turn was a Jack and Eugene fired 12k. Again Steve called. River was a 4 and Eugene fired 26k, which was about half what he had left. After a little thought, Steve moved in. Eugene called all-in, showing A4 suited for fours-full. Steve rolled over pocket Jacks for Jacks-full to take the pot. Pardon the pun, but that was a "gross beat" for Eugene, who reports to the rail in 18th place.  That pot propelled Steve Gross into the chip lead.

That the end of level 8.  Players are taking ten.

	Lawrence Jacobs - jilted

In a battle of the blinds, Vinny Pahuja raised to 3,500 from the small, then Duane Hunton raised another 5k on top. Vinny made the call, leaving himself with just 15k behind. On the flop of 8 7 2 rainbow, Vinny shoved and Duane insta-called, showing pocket Aces. Vinny said "wow" and tossed his KJ suited on the table. He was headed for the rail as the last two cards came T 9, giving Vinny a Jack-high straight to crack Duane's Aces.

Lawrence Jacobs busted out on the next hand, finishing in 19th place. With 18 players remaining, they are breaking a table and moving to the final two:

	Craig 'MrCasino' Gray

Craig Gray opened for 2,500 from the middle, then Tom Dobrilovic called from the button. Mike Leah joined the fray from the big blind and they took the flop three-handed: 9 8 3. Mike checked, Craig fired 5,500, Tom called, and Mike folded. Turn was the T which froze the action -- both players checked. The river was the J which just made things worse and they checked it down. Craig showed 9 8 for two pair. Tom mucked.

	Alex Jacob - jilted

Alex Jacob finally put his last ~10k in with A9 and got looked up by Craig Gray, who held pocket 7s. The pair held up and Alex, the 2006 USPC champion, was finally busted. He put on an impressive display of short-stack work in this tournament. At one point on day one he had fewer than 3,000 chips and still managed to survive this long. Well done, Alex.

Mike 'LittleMan' Sica tangled with Wooyang Lin.  Mike's pocket pair was cracked when Wooyang's A2 caught a 2 on the flop and another 2 on the river to make trips.  Adam Gerber said he mucked A2 that hand, so Wooyang caught the case duck to pick up about 20k of the LittleMan's chips.

	Ben Delucia - dusted

Ben Delucia min-raised to 1,600 and Duane Hunton called from the big blind. The flop came Q T 3 and both checked. Turn was a 6 and Duane checked, Ben shoved the rest of his chips in and Duane called. Ben's pocket Kings had just been cracked by Duane's 63 when Duane turned two pair. The river was a brick and Ben was busted.

	Alex Bolotin - axed

On another table, Jordan Rich flopped a set against Alex Bolotin, who had flopped a pair and flush draw. They got all the chips in the middle. By the river, Alex had completed his flush, but the board had paired to give Jordan the full house and the pot. Alex reported to the rail.

20 players remain. Average is now 78,000.

	Patrick Arena

Patrick Arena moved in for ~43k and got called by Ben Delucia, who held AK off. Patrick held pocket Queens. The board came Q 5 3 K 5 and Patrick doubled up, leaving Ben with ~13k.

In a battle of the blinds, Dan Spear moved his short stack in from the small and got called by Steve Gross in the big. Dan's A3 off was dominated by Steve's A7 off. Then the board came Q J 8 2 K. Dan held the A to make the nut flush and double up.

Level 8: Blinds 400/800 with 100 antes. Play has resumed. Here are some rough chip counts for the remaining 22 players:

	Melece Sliwinski

After Ryan Young opened the pot from the middle, Charles Furey raised to 6,600 from the big blind. Ryan made the call and they took the flop heads-up: J 5 5. Both checked. Turn was an Ace. Charles lead out with 5k and after a bit of chatter, Ryan called. River was a Queen and Charles checked. Ryan moved all in, and Charles folded quickly. After much cajoling, Ryan showed his pocket Jacks (he flopped the full house).

Then Ryan got involved in a pot with Melece Sliwinski. On the river, the board showed A Q 5 3 9. They got all the chips in the middle and Ryan showed K 6 for the second nuts. To his disgust, Melece turned over A T for the stone-cold-nutz to take the pot. It took them a few minutes to count and verify the stacks, but she had him covered and Ryan was busted.  Ryan went from chip leader to chip-less in just one level.  That pot vaulted Melece into the chip lead.

End of level 7 and players are taking 15 while they color up the green 25 chips.

	Josh Spiegelman - spent

Josh Spiegelman shoved utg and all folded around to Melece Sliwinski, last woman sitting, on the button. She shoved and both blinds got out of the way. Josh rolled over his pocket 9s and was crushed when he saw Melece's pocket Aces. The board came K Q J K 2 and Josh was done. Melece chipped up to ~67k.

23 players remain. Average is just over 67,800.

	Paul Hill - pasted

Robert Ford raised to 1,925 from the hijack and then Jordan Rich kicked it on up another 2,800 from the cutoff. All folded back to Robert, who called. Flop came Q 5 2 and Robert checked. Jordan bet 4,500 and Robert called. Turn was the K and both checked. River was the 3 and Robert lead out with 17k. Jordan tanked for a bit, saying "I really don't know what you have". After a few minutes, Jordan made the call and Robert showed KQ for two pair. Jordan tossed his out-turned AQ on the felt as he shot up out of his chair.

While this hand played out, defending champ Adam Gerber busted Paul Hill on another table. Paul held KQ and had flopped top pair, but Adam had turned a set with his pocket 4s to take the pot, sending Paul to the rail.

	David Paul - done

David Paul committed his last 1,600 chips and got called by Lawrence Jacobs and Robert Ford, who checked down the board of A K 5 x x. Lawrence showed KT suited for a pair of Kings and the other two mucked. David hit the rail.

	Ricky Festejo - felted

Ricky Festejo lost most of his chips to Criag Gray when he committed to a flop of 8 6 5 with A8 (top pair, top kicker). Craig had pocket 6s for the set to take that pot. Ricky then put the last of his chips in with a flush draw, which failed to materialize and he was busted

25 players remain.  Average stack is 62,400.

27 players remain at three tables. Average stack is almost 57,800. Here are the current seat assignments:

	Bobby 'Wiz' Wisiak - washed out

On a flop of T 7 3 rainbow, there was a three-way all-in over on table 39. Bobby 'Wiz' Wisiak held AQ offsuit; Alex Bolotin held pocket Jacks, and chip leader Ryan Young held pocket Kings and the lead. It looked like he was about to get a two-fer, but the turn brough another Jack to give Alex the set and save him from elimination. River was a Ten filling Alex's boat. and shipping him a huge pot. Ryan was stunned as he watched the pot getting pushed to the other end of the table. Alex's all-in amount was ~42k and he is now up to almost 100k. That hit knocks Ryan out of the chip lead. Bobby Wisiak has hit the rail.

	Matt Glantz - gonzo

On another table, Mike Leah (button) limped, Matt Glantz completed the small blind, and Charles Furey checked his option. The flop came K K Q and all three checked. Turn was another Queen and Mike Leah bet 2,000. Matt Glantz moved all it, Charles got out of the way, and Mike called. Matt had a Queen for Queens-full, but Mike had the King for Kings-full to take the pot. Matt took the walk.

	Karen Mengden - kut

Karen Mengden, one of only two women to enter this event, has also busted out.  That makes Melece Sliwinski the last woman sitting. 

	Matt 'Allinat420' Stout - all out

Mike 'LittleMan' Sica opened for 1,550 and Craig Gray called from the button, then Matt 'Allinat420' Stout moved all-in (a bit ahead of schedule). Mike made the call and Craig got out of the way. Matt's AT suited was in bad shape against Mike's pocket Kings. The board came 9 9 4 5 2 and Matt was all out at about 3:10. With that pot, Mike chipped up to ~75k.

Duane Hunton sends a shout-out to his father-in-law Mike Wilsman, who is following the action online via PokerPages. Duane just married Mike's daughter last month in Aruba, so he's still a newlywed.

	Ryan Young

Level 7: Blinds 300/600 with 75 antes. Play has resumed.

Ryan Young, who is on crutches due to a basketball injury, is now the chip leader with ~134k. Tom Dobrilovic is second with ~111k. Robert Ford, who lead the field at the start of the day, has dropped to third with 105k. These three guys are the only ones over 100k in chips.

31 players remain. Average is ~50,300.

On a flop of K 4 3 Frank Vizza (sb) moved all-in for 28,050. David Paul did some thinking, then flashed a King and mucked his hand. Frank made the courtesy show of his pocket Aces as he pulled the pot.

End of level 6 and players have been sent on a 10 minute break.

	Jordan Rich

Adrian Velez opened from the middle and got one caller, then Tom Dobrilovic raised from the big blind. Adrian called and the flop came Q 5 4 rainbow. Tom bet and Adrian called. Turn was the 9 putting two diamonds on board. Tom checked, Adrian bet 8k and Tom called. River was the J making a flush and straight possible. Tom checked, Adrian moved all in for ~24k. Tom thought for a bit, then called all in for ~23k, showing just a pair of Tens. Adian mucked his hand and hit the rail.

A battle in the middle: on a flop of A 5 4, Jordan Rich checked, Vinny Pahuja fired 2,825, and Jordan called. Turn was a 9. Jordan checked, Vinny fired 6,200, and Jordan called. River was a 6. Jordan checked. Vinny fired 8,200, and Jordan went into the tank. He stacked out the chips to call, then started counting his chips and eyeing Vinny's stack. It looked like he might raise, but in the end he decided to just call, showing A3 suited for top pair. Vinny mucked his hand.

	Robert Fad - felted

After David Paul opened for 1,100, Lawrence Jacobs called, then Robert Fad shoved. David got out of the way and Lawrence made the call, showing AJ. Robert was ahead with pocket 5s, but David told the table that he also held pocket 5s, so it was going to be tough for Robert to improve his hand. The flop was all blanks, but a Jack hit the turn to give Lawrence the bigger pair and the pot. Robert hit the rail.

Eric Panayiotou raised it up and got re-raised by Ricky Festejo. Eric shoved and Ricky called, showing pocket Queens. Eric held AJ and would need help to survive, but the board bricked out and Ricky took the pot. Eric took the walk.

Griffin Abel has also busted out. 32 players remain.

	Arthur Azen - zapped

On a board of J 8 4 A, Adam Gerber (sb) bet 8k and Vinny Pahuja (utg+1) moved in for 8,025 more. Adam made the crying call, showing J5 for just a pair of Jacks. vinny held AJ suited for top two pair and Adam was drawing dead. Vinny doubled up.

After Alex Bolotin opened for a raise and got two callers, Arthur Azen re-popped it to 10k. Alex and Eugene Castro folded, then Ryan Young moved in. Arthur called all-in showing 9 8. Ryan held A T. An Ace on the flop was all it took to send Arthur to the rail.

35 players remain.  Average stack is now over 44,500.

	Brian Haveson - busted

Two more short stacks have hit the rail and Brian Haveson's departure was in a most brutal fashion. On a Q J 9 flop, both Brian and Vinny Pahuja checked. The turn was another Q and Vinny bet, Brian moved all-in, and Vinny called, showing Q2 for trip Queens. Brian held T8 for the flopped straight. Vinny needed the board to pair or a 2 on the river (10 outs) and sure enough, the river was a 9 giving Vinny the full boat. Brian was busted.

Ted Ely has also hit the rail. 36 players remain and are now seated at four tables.

Lawrence Jacobs sends a big "Love you!" to Katie, who is following the action on PokerPages back home.

	Ken Aldridge - all out

On a K 9 8 flop, Ken Aldridge committed the last of his chips to the pot with action from Arthur Azen. Ken held KQ for top pair, but Arthur held 98 for two pair and the lead. The last two cards came A T and Arthur took the pot. Ken Aldridge is today's second casualty.

38 players remain.

Pat White got his last chips in with A7, only to run into Wooyang Lin's AK. By the river, four spades had hit the board and Wooyang held the A (not that he needed it, he was ahead the whole way). Pat White becomes today's first casualty.

Level 6: Blinds 200/400 with 50 antes. Cards are in the air.

Day 2 begins with 40 returning players.

Day 2 will begin at 1:15pm EDT Monday. 40 players will return to continue the battle for the top prize of almost $222,000. Here they are, sorted by their day 2 table and seat assignments (to see this list sorted by chip count, go to the day 1 blog):

	Kaelaine in the 2006 WSOP Main Event

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

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