The last hour has been chock-full of all ins, but the poker gods have been on the side of the short stack in all but one hand. Chris Amaral, who could be John-Robert Bellande’s less well-known twin (but who would be the evil one?), was in bad shape before getting it all in on a Th9h8d5d board against Michele Limongi. Amaral’s A K T 2 was ahead of Limongi’s A 9 4 3, and it stayed that way after the 8 on the river. Amaral doubled to 550,000, and Limongi was still in business with 1.2 million despite the hit.

In the same round of Omaha-8, Amaral opened with a raise from middle position, and an extremely short stacked Gabriel Nassif called with his last chips from the big blind. It was Amaral’s A A 7 4 against Nassif’s K Q J 3.   The board fell T 9 6 4 T, and without much drama, Nassif was sent home in 7^th place. He quietly headed to the payout counter to pick up his $38,947 while Chris Amaral made a whole lotta noise celebrating with the rail. This is Nassif's 5th WSOP cash. He finished 9th in the Limit Hold'em Championship event in 2007.

After a quick break to color up the 1,000 chips, Martin Eikeng made two pair to double through Limongi in a Stud hand. In the same round, Zac Fellows also made two pair to double through James Van Alstyne. Eikeng and Fellows are both still under 200,000 though and will need to double up again before they are significant contenders. 

(Elissa Harwood reporting)

Before the final seven headed off on a 20-minute break, Michele Limongi and Zac Fellows mixed it up in a big Stud hand. Showing (xx) K 4 3 2 (x), Limongi made a large bet on seventh street. Zac Fellows considered his hand, (xx) 2 6 Q 7 (x) for a few moments before giving up on the substantial pot. Just for fun, Limongi showed Q 9 3 – giving him only a pair of 3s. The hand put Limongi in the chip lead with 1.1 million and dropped Fellows to 400,000. Limongi thought he was due for a big pot a few rounds later when he continued to push the action in a Stud-8 or Better hand against Martin Eikeng. Limongi’s full house was enough to win the high, but much to his surprise, he had to split the pot with Eikeng’s low. Limongi said he thought they were playing Stud high.

Tim Finne was getting dangerously low on chips when he shoved with J 7 when it folded to him in the small blind in a Hold’em hand. Chris Amaral called from the big blind with K 3. A 7 on the flop was enough to give the pot to Finne, doubling him to 245,000. That makes Gabriel Nassif the table short stack with 115,000.

(Elissa Harwood reporting)

It’s been non-stop action in the first hour of the final table. Plenty of big pots and, moments ago, one elimination. In a Hold’em hand, Martin Eikeng raised UTG, and Zac Fellows three-bet. It folded back to Eikeng, who came along to see the 8 4 3 rainbow flop.   Martin check-raised Fellows, who called quickly.   Eikeng bet out after a 7 on the turn, and Fellows raised it up.   Eikeng added more on top, and Fellows flatted.   A 4 on the river paired the board. After all the action on the turn, both checked to showdown.   Drum roll please…Eikeng turns up AA.   And Fellows turns up…AA.   A lot of pocket rocket drama for a chopped pot.  

In an Omaha-8 hand Chris Amaral opened with a raise and Matt Hawrilenko called in the SB. Both checked the Q T 7 flop. Check-check again after a Jack on the turn. Another Queen hit on the river, and Hawrilenko checked again. Amaral fired a sizable bet, and Matt eventually called. Chris tabled AQ52 to win the big hand and build his stack to 500,000. HossTBF, on the other hand, was in critical condition with only 78,000.

A few hands later, Hawrilenko got it all in with A 8 4 2, and James Van Alstyne called with A Q 9 8. The Q 5 4 A 4 board made Hawrilenko a boat and a low to double him up to 170,000. It was Razz that finally did him in. HossTBF moved all in and both Chris Amaral and Tim Finne called the shortie. Amaral succeeded in pushing Finne out of the pot by fifth street and made a seven-four low to beat Hawrilenko’s seven-six. HossTBF earns $32,647 for 8^th place. This is the online expert’s 10^th WSOP cash and his second this year.   He finished 8^th in a 7-Card Stud event in 2006 and 19^th in the $10K Mixed Games Championship last week. 

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

The final 8 players are set. Stewart Yancik was eliminated by Zac Fellows during the Holdem round. Fellows ended up making a full house Kings full of fours on the river and Stewart had Ace high on a board of 9 4 3 4 K.

Stewart Yancik takes home $23,777

The final table includes  Gabriel Nassif, Tim Finne, Chris Amaral, Stewart Yancik, James Van Alstyne,  Michele Limongi, Martin Eikeng,  Matt Hawrilenko, Zac Fellows.

The players took a hour dinner break at about 7:05 p.m. They will return for play at the final table at 8:05 p.m. They will be in the same seating position as before. 

The players returned from their break.

The big hand of the hour was that Tim Finne was able to double up during stud. Finne raised with a 6  and Eikeng reraised him with a T  up. Finne was all in on 3rd. Eikeng turned over split aces while Finne Turned over A6J. Finne doubled up due to the fact he hit a Jack on the next two streets to give him three jacks and Eikeng could not connect to eliminate him.

Zac Fellows has been giving his chips to Michele Limongi again. Limongi ended up hitting nines and eights while Fellows could not improve from his split jacks that he started with. 

Players are now on their 1 hour dinner break they will be back around 8:00 p.m.

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

There has not been too much action since going nine handed.

Limongi has taken chips off of Fellows who has missed his draws everytime he is in a pot. Limongi showed A  9  5  2  on a board of K  8  8 9 2 during Omaha 8 or better and the hand was good. Fellows remarks "I had you in such bad shape".

Players are on their 20 minute break

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

The players returned from break.

Gavin Smith was eliminated in 10th place. He got it all in during the Stud round on 3rd street. Gavin showed rolled up eights and the other player turned over AKK for a pair of Kings. It was not a good 4th street for Gavin when the other player hit his King giving him trips. Gavin's board ended up being 8 8 8 7 Q 5. He needed a 7,Q,or 5 to win. He hits a J. Eikeng's board layed out A k k k T 8 4.

The final nine players have combined to one table. Here is the seating arrangements. Seat 1: Gabriel Nassif, Seat 2: Tim Finne, Seat 3: Chris Amaral, Seat 4: Stewart Yancik, Seat 5: James Van Alstyne, Seat 6: Michele Limongi, Seat 7: Martin Eikeng, Seat 8: Matt Hawrilenko, Seat 9: Zac Fellows.

Once they get down to eight players they will move to the final table. Before playing the final table the players will be taking a break according to the tournament director.

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

We are now down to 11 handed play.

Asher Derei was eliminated during the Holdem round. He held A Q  and was called by Michele Limongi. Limongi showed 4  4 . Derei could not improve as the board layed out 7  2 5  3  T . He goes home in 12th place.

Chris Amaral showed a bluff on a board of K  T 2  5 2  after he bet the river and was called. Amaral tabled 9 8 and the other player showed T 4 for a pair of tens to take the pot.

Here are the chip counts of the final 11 players:

Tim Finne           650,000
Zac Fellows         620,000  
James Van Alstyne   580,000 
Michele Limongi     450,000
Edward Nassif       440,000 
Stewart Yancik      355,000 
Matt Hawrilenko     280,000 
Martin Eikeng       235,000
Gavin Smith         200,000
Chris Amaral        138,000
Frank Cremen        115,000 

Gavin Smith and Chris Amaral are two of the short stacks and they are sitting right next to eachother.

Players are now on a 20 minute break.

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

David Baker was eliminated in 17th  when his T 8 low could not beat the T 6 low of Yancik during the Razz round.

Chau Giang was then eliminated in 16th place when he could not beat the straight of another player during Stud 8 or better.

Adam Heller was eliminated by Matt Hawrilenko when they were all in preflop during Omaha 8 or better. Heller held the A  Q  J  K  and Matt had 7  3 5  6 . The board layed out 2  4  7  8 8 giving Matt the low and two pair eight's and seven's. Heller was sent to the rail in 15th place.

Hawrilenko knocked out Bill Blanda when Blanda was all in during Razz on 3rd street showing a K. He was short stacked and had A 4 in the whole. It was not good news for Blanda when Hawrilenko turned over A Q giving him a board of A Q 2 5 4. Hawrilenko would then catch a 3 giving him the nuts. Blanda was drawn dead and went out in 13th place.

Zac Fellows is the chip leader with around 600,000 in chips. Chris Amaral is sitting with around 370,000 and Gavin Smith is in the bottom of the chip counts with around 200,000.

(Amanda Rosenfeld reporting)

The players are at their seats.

In Stud high, Chris Amaral was the bring in with a 3 . Ylon Schwartz completed with a A . David Baker raises with a Q . Matt Hawrilenko calls with a 9 . The action folds to Ylon who calls. Ylon receives a 5 and bets. Baker receives a 7  and folds. Matt receives a 6 and raises. Ylon reraises, Matt Reraises, Ylon reraises, Matt is all in. Matt shows A A and Ylon shows A Q both players have a pair of Aces, however, Ylon has the lead with a Q kicker. The next card to be dealt for Ylon was a K  and Matt a 3 . Ylon keeps the lead. The action went very quickly. We heard Ylon go "oh my god" on  7th street when he received a 9 to give him Aces with K Q 9 kicker. Matt receives a 3 and makes Aces and Threes. Matt doubles up and Ylon loses a big pot early.

Gavin Smith was able to scoop a pot in Stud 8 or Better. On fifth street, David Baker bet his board of A  6  4 and Gavin called with his Q  5  7  board. Both players check on sixth street. Baker received a 5  and Smith received a 9 . On 7th street, Baker checks his board over to Smith. Smith bets and Baker calls. Smith shows 7 3  2  for a flush. Baker stated " I had two big pairs" and he had no low. Gavin Smith rakes in the entire pot.

That pot brought David Baker down to 6,000 in chips. Chris Amaral stated that Baker was going to get back to 100,000 soon. He has a bet with Matt Hawrilenko that Baker will get to 100,000. After they made the bet, Baker has brought his stack up to around 50,000.

After the first loss, Ylon Schwartz has been losing chips not getting any playable hands. He was finally all in during the Omaha 8 or better round when the board layed out 2  T  4 7 K . Ylon showed A 8  5  Q . It was not good as Stuart Yancik showed AD 5D 3H 9H for the flush and the nut low.

The clock is showing that 17 players are left. They will redraw once another player is eliminated.