Dwyte Pilgrim - 1st place

	Esther 'E-Tay' Taylor - 2nd place

Apparently a deal was made during the pause and E-Tay has surrendered the win to Dwyte.

Dwyte Pilgrim finished in 1st place, earning $125,775, a $10,000 seat in the 2009 WSOP main Event, (with $1,000 travel money) and the gold & diamond circuit championship ring.

Esther 'E-Tay' Taylor finished in 2nd place, earning $100,620.

Play has resumed. Here are the chip counts as they begin heads-up play:

	Charles Williams - 3rd place

After E-Tay folded her button, Charles moved all-in from the small. Dwyte made the call, showing pocket 8s. He was ahead of Charles' A6 off. The flop came 8 7 2 rainbow giving Dwyte a set and extending his lead. Turn was a 5 which gave Charles some hope with an open-ender, but the river was a Jack and that was that.

Charles Williams finished in 3rd place, earning $75,465.

Play has paused as they prepare for heads-up action.

Dwyte min-raised from the small blind and E-Tay called from the big. Flop came J 7 6. Dwyte bet 40k and E-Tay called. Turn was the 5 and both checked. River was the J and Dwyte bet 75k. E-Tay thought for a bit, then folded.

Dwyte is keeping up a running patter at the table. Charles has switched his iPod to Bob Marley in search of some inspiration.

Charles moved in on the button and got the snap-call from Dwyte in the small blind. Charles' AJ offsuit was dominating Dwyte's AT off. The board came K 7 3 7 4 and Charles doubled up to almost 300k.

On the river the board showed 8 8 7 T 7 and E-Tay (button) got all-in and called by Charles (sb). Charles held T 7 (rivered 7s-full) but he was thrashed by E-Tay's J 8 (flopped trips, rivered 8s-full). E-Tay doubled up to ~640k. Charles was left with ~180k.

	Chris Tryba - 4th place

Charles Williams and Chris Tryba got all the chips in the middle pre-flop. Charles had pocket Jacks and was ahead of Chris' K J. The board came T T 4 8 8 and Charles took the pot with Jacks-up. The stacks were close and had to be counted down. Chris had Charles covered by 16k. Charles doubled up to ~550k.

Chris was the big blind on the next hand and all-in for 16k with two callers. They checked down the board and Dwyte ended up with the best hand.

Chris Tryba finished in 4th place, earning $50,310.

Three players remain. Play continues.

Level 17: Blinds 8k/16k with 2k antes. Play has resumed.

Chip counts as of the break:

On a flop of 7 6 2 rainbow, E-Tay (bb) fired a bet and Charles moved all-in. E-Tay asked for a count -- 213k on top. After a bit of thought, she let it go.

End of level 16 and players are taking ten.

	Thao Thiem - 5th place

Thao raised to 32k from the button and Dwyte called from the big blind. The flop came A K T and Dwyte checked. Thao bet 37k, Dwyte said "all-in" and Thao insta-called, showing Q J for the flopped straight and current nuts. Dwyte held K 3 for the nut flush draw. When you're hot, you're hot and right now Dwyte's hot. Turn was the 2 giving him the nut flush and leaving Thao drawing dead. (River was the 7.)

Thao Thiem finished in 5th place, earning $40,248.

Four players remain. Play continues. Dwyte is now over 1 million chips and has about half of all the chips in play.

	Dwyte Pilgrim - no more shenanigans

Dwyte opened for 25k from the hijack, then Josh Prager moved all-in for ~160k from the cutoff. Action folded back to Dwyte, who made the call. Josh held pocket 7s (both black). Dwyte had him crushed with pocket 9s (both black).  "No more shenanigans" Dwyte told the dealer.  The board came shenanigan-free, Q 4 3 Q 4 and Dwyte's pair held up.

Josh Prager finished in 6th place, earning $35,217.

Dwyte has gone from short-stack to chip leader in about 40 minutes. He's now sitting behind almost 800k.

Five players remain. Play continues.

	Josh Prager

Josh opened for 32k utg and action folded around to Dwyte in the big blind, who called. The flop came T 9 6 and both players checked. Turn was the 8 and Dwyte bet 12k (the minimum). Josh raised to 65k and Dwyte called. River was the 7, putting a Ten-high straight on the board. Dwyte bet 60k and Josh called, showing Q 7 (made straight on the turn, now playing the board). Dwyte showed J T for the Jack-high straight to take the pot.

Level 16: Blinds 6k/12k with 1k antes. Play has resumed.

Latest chip counts:

Dwyte raised to 26k on the button and E-Tay, in the big blind, kicked it up to 61k straight. Dwyte surrendered.

End of level 15 and the final six are taking an unscheduled 5-minute bio break.

Chris opened for 25k and then Dwyte moved all-in. E-Tay moved in over the top and Chris said "this is a sick laydown" as he open-mucked his pocket Jacks. E-Tay held pocket Kings and the lead. Dwyte held A6 off. The flop came J T 4, eliciting a cry from Chris, as he would have flopped a set. Turn was a useless 3, then an Ace hit the river, giving Dwyte a bigger pair and the double-up.

After action folded to Chris Tryba in the small blind, he moved all-in. Dwyte Pilgrim, the short-stack in the big blind, called all-in, showing A9 off. Chris had him dominated with AQ off. The flop came J T 5 keeping Chris in the lead. Turn was a King, giving Chris Broadway and leaving Dwyte drawing slim to a Queen just to chop. And the river was....a Queen, giving both players Broadway and splitting the pot.

On a flop of J T 8 Charles Williams moved all-in and Chris Tryba insta-called. Charles showed 97 off for the flopped straight. Chris held AJ offsuit for top/top. The turn was the Q which gave Chris outs to a better pair or a chop, but the river was the 4 and Charles doubled up to ~350k.

	Pogos Simitiyan - 7th place

Pogos Simitiyan moved in with AQ off and got called by Chris Tryba, who held QT suited. The flop was good for Pogos: K 5 2. The turn was also safe, a 7. But then the river brought the 3-outer Ten to give Chris a pair of Tens and the pot. He's now sitting behind about 480k.

Pogos Simitiyan finished in 7th place, earning $30,186.

Six players remain. Play continues.

	John McGowan - 8th place

John McGowan opened for 22k, then E-Tay raised it up to 62k. John moved all-in and E-Tay called, showing pocket 8s. John held AQ off. The board came 9 3 2 2 J and E-Tay's pair held up.

John McGowan finished in 8th place, earning $25,155.

Seven players remain. Play continues.

Josh Prager got all-in and called by Charles Williams. Josh held the black Queens and was ahead of Charles' pocket 7s. The flop came 9 6 5 giving Charles more outs with a gutshot, needing an 8. The turn was the 4 which actually took away one of Charles' outs. Now the 7 would give Josh the flush. River was...the 7 and Josh doubled up with his Queen-high flush. Josh is now up to ~380k and Charles dropped to ~160k.

Level 15: Blinds 4k/8k with 1k antes. Play has resumed.

They colored up the gray 500 chips during the break. Here are some reasonably close chip counts:

	John Farrell - 9th place

On a flop of T 9 3 John Farrell got all-in and called by Chris Tryba. John was ahead with pocket Kings. Chris held J T for a pair of Tens. John walked away, saying he couldn't watch. Turn was the 7 which gave Chris more outs with a gutshot. Any Jack, Ten, or 8 would bust John. River was...the T giving Chris trip Tens and the pot.

John Farrell finished in 9th place, earning $20,124.

That's the end of level 14 and the players are taking 15.

In case you hadn't noticed, they decided to play this one out today, so play will continue until a winner is determined. 

	Matt Hyman - bubble-boy

Matt Hyman moved his last chips in and got three callers, who checked down the board of K Q 8 2 6. Matt showed A 2 for a pair of ducks. Charles showed pocket Tens; E-Tay showed AJ offsuit for Ace-high; and Dwyte showed K J offsuit for a pair of Kings to take the pot.

Matt Hyman finished in 10th place, earning $0 and the distinction of this event's bubble-boy.

The final 9 are now officially in the money. Play continues.

The final ten have settled in for some serious poker.

On the river with a board of T 9 7 5 A Esther Taylor said "one pair". Thao Theim rolled over A 8 for the flush to take the pot.

John McGowan opened for 16k in the middle and E-Tay made it 46k to play from the button. John surrendered.

Dwyte opened for 22k utg+1 and E-Tay (middle) kicked it up to 56k smooth. Dwyte let it go.

After getting a walk in his big blind, John McGowan let out a pained cry as he tabled his AJ suited.

John McGowan moved all-in for 67k utg+1 and action folded around to Chris Tryba in the small blind, who called. John held AJ suited and was dominated by Chris' AK off, but the board came J T 2 2 6 and John doubled up. "I run so good!" he exclaimed as he pulled the pot.

On the turn with a board of A 7 7 9 Chris Tryba got all in for 157k against Charles Williams. Chris held A 9 for Aces-up. Charles held AK offsuit for Aces-up also, but Chris held the better second pair. The river was the 6 and changed nothing. Chris doubled up to over 330k while Charles dropped down to ~400k.

John McGowan got all-in with AT suited against the pocket Tens of Thao Thiem. The board came A K 7 J 8 and John doubled up with a pair of Aces.

End of level 13.

Level 14: Blinds 3k/6k with 500 antes. Play continues.

John McGowan got all-in with AT suited against the pocket Tens of Thao Thiem. The board came A K 7 J 8 and John doubled up with a pair of Aces.

End of level 13.

Level 14: Blinds 3k/6k with 500 antes. Play continues.

Pogos opened for 12k on the button and Dwyte raised to 35k from the big blind. Pogos tanked for a bit, then flashed an Ace and folded. Dwyte showed his pocket Jacks as he pulled the pot.

Clock is running again. Here are the final ten with their rough chip counts and new seat assignments:

	Steve Kim -- 11th place

Steve Kim got his last chips in with KJ offsuit, only to run into the pocket Aces of Thao Thiem. The board cards ran out Q J 8 9 5 but it was not enough to save Steve. He finished in 11th place.

With 10 players remaining, they have drawn seats and are moving to a single table.

Only 9 get paid, so one more will leave with nothing but memories (although it appears they have negotiated a 'save' for tenth place, so bubble-boy might get his buy-in back).

The final ten are completing bio sheets, so it will be a few minutes before play resumes.

	Anas Sitthivong - 13th place

Lance Oliver opened for 13k, then Thao Thiem raised it up to 32k from the small blind. Then Anas Sitthivong moved all-in from the big blind for 44k total. Lance tanked for a while, then announced he was all-in. Thao then spent some time in the tank, getting all the counts. Lance was all-in for ~82k. Eventually, Thao decided to call, showing A K. Lance was ahead with pocket Tens and Anas was trailing with pocket 9s. The board came 6 5 4 3 2 putting a straight on the board, but giving Thao the pot with the spade flush. Anas gets credit for 13th place since he was the shorter stack. Lance finished in 12th place. That pot put Thao up to ~275k.

11 players remain. John McGowan was moved back to his original table to balance, in the two seat.

	Mike Heintschel - 14th

Mike Heintschel moved in, then Matt Hyman moved in behind him. Everyone else dove for cover. Mike's AJ offsuit was dominated by Matt's AK off. The board came 9 7 5 3 4 and Matt took the pot while Mike took the walk, finishing 14th. Matt chipped up to ~100k.

John McGowan was all-in and called by Esther Taylor. John's AK off was dominating E-Tay's AT off. The board came 9 7 2 3 6 and John doubled up. E-Tay was left with ~220k.

	Taylor Bell - rung

That didn't take long.

Taylor Bell shoved his short-stack in and got action from Charles Williams. Taylor held KQ off and was trailing Charles' A9 off. The board came A 7 6 6 T and Taylor was today's first casualty, finishing 16th.

Just two hands later, Rick Reavis got all-in pre-flop against Charles Williams. Rick's pocket Queens were crushed by Charles' pocket Aces. The Aces held up and Charles took another pot. Rick reported to the rail in 15th place.  Charles took the chip lead with over half a million chips.

John McGowan was moved into Rick's seat to balance the tables. 14 players remain. Only 9 will get paid.

Level 13: Blinds 2k/4k with 500 antes. Butts in the seats, cards in the air!

	Esther Taylor - chip leader

Day 2 begins at 1pm pacific time Tuesday. 16 players will return. Here they are, sorted by table/seat assignment (to see this list sorted by chip count, go to the day 1 blog):

Here's what they're playing for:

* plus a $10k seat in the 2009 WSOP main event, and $1,000 in travel money.