(Aaron Angerman reporting)

	Champ Phil Ivey

It didn't take long for Phil to finish Ming off.

Ming soon found himself with just 350K.  He survived a couple all ins before an Omaha 8 hand had Ming hoping a chip and a chair would do it.  Ivey picked up a call on his river check-raise to show A J 8 4 against a J 9 4 8 4 board for fours full.  Ming mucked and soon found himself with just 150K.

In the final hand, Ming was all in on 3rd St. of some Stud with J 8 7.  Ivey had QQ in the hole and made the easy call.  On 7th St., Ivey was able to squeeze out his third lady.  Ming never got passed a pair of jacks and had finally succomb to the Ivey freight train.

Ming Lee is out in 2nd-place, earning $136,292.

(Aaron Angerman reporting)

The two are still battling, but Ivey now has a 4:1 chip lead.

After seeing Lee pull his stack even, Ivey sent the hundreds of railbirds into cheers after he revealed three diamonds in the hole to go with the two he had on his Stud 8 board.  The K-high flush scooped it for Ivey, who was suddenly up 2 million to 1 million.

That lead would get pushed to Ivey's 2.25 million to Lee's 550K after the Full Tilt posterboy showed J 9 6 5 for jacks full on the J T 9 T J board in some Omaha 8. 

Lee would manage to scoop a nice pot with both queens up and 7-low in a Stud 8 confrontation.  But after dropping a couple quick pots to Ivey raises and continuations, Lee is hanging onto just half a million.  And with BB's at 100K a pop, it won't take much for Lee to ship again.

(Aaron Angerman reporting)

After falling to the shortest of three stacks, Ivey has reclaimed the chip lead.  The big push came when Ivey took down three quick pots with two pair.  After the third, which saw his queens up top Mortensen in some Omaha 8, Ivey was back up to 1.5 million.

Mortensen would then turn his attention away from Ivey to grab a couple pots from Ming Lee.  But "El Matador" wasn't able to capitalize.  The wind was taken out of his sails right after, when he ran his set of deuces into Ivey's set of nines in another Omaha confrontation.  After coming up short to Ivey's feeble pair of nines in a monster Stud 8 pot, Mortensen was dangerously close to the felt, while Ivey shot over 2 million.

Not long after, playing some Omaha 8 with Lee, Mortensen would get the rest of his stack in preflop with A 3 T 6 in his hand.  Lee tabled A K K 4.  After the dealer ran out Q 8 4 K 4 all the way to the river, Lee had filled up and Mortensen had fell out.

Carlos Mortensen is out in 3rd-place, good for $89,342.

Ivey enters heads-up play with a 3:1 chip advantage.

(Aaron Angerman reporting)

They're still three-handed, although Ivey's lead has vanished.

First it was Ming Lee taking a bite out of Ivey's stack in some Stud 8.  Lee called down Ivey, with the Full Tilt pro showing a K 6 3 5 board after 7th St.  Lee showed J 4 6 in the hole to go with the T 8 9 Q he had on board for the Q-high straight.  Ivey wasn't able to dig up a low for the chop and Lee and Ivey each looked to be around 900K.

Next it was Mortensen vs. Ivey in some Omaha 8.

Ivey opened and Mortensen re-raised.  Ivey called to see the T 9 4 flop.  Ivey called another bet to see the Q on 4th St.  One more check-call from Ivey brought the K river and two checks to the showdown.  Mortensen turned over Q J 9 5 for the K-high straight, which was good for the scoop.  Mortensen looks to have a slight chip lead at 1.1 million.  Ivey and Lee are sitting just under 1 million.

Level 25; Stud 8 has 7K antes, 10K bring ins and 30K-60K limits.  Omaha-8 blinds are at 15K/30K.

We had a couple players all in and at risk.  First it was Jon Turner.

Turner found himself all in on 5th St. in a round of Stud 8.  Carlos Mortensen would make the call with 5 3 / 6 3 4 in front of him.  Turner held little more than a 7-low draw, hoping for the chop.  By the showdown, Turner's A 2 / 6 7 K 4 /  6 had made the low to chop.  Mortensen finished out with a 4 and a 7, giving him the straight for the other half of the pot.

Next to get all in was Dutch Boyd, who committed the rest of his chips post-flop in an Omaha 8 battle of the blinds.  K 6 4 was already on the board and Mortensen was looking to K.O. Dutch with his A A 7 3.  Dutch tabled A 2 5 J and after the turn fell 10 and the river brought the 7, Dutch had made the 7-low to chop with Mortensen, who took it down having never improved on his aces.

Soon it was Turner's turn again.  But this time, "PearlJammed" couldn't claw his way back.

Omaha 8 time again and Turner was battling with Boyd, who had the online stud covered.  By the turn, 8 8 2 Q was on the green and turner tossed in his last four chips with A 2 K 9.  Boyd called to table A 4 K 4.  Once the river came 6, Boyd had made the flush, as well as the only qualifying low to scoop Turner right outta here.

Jon Turner leaves in 5th-place, pocketing $45,327 for three days at the tables.

Sadly, for Boyd, he wasn't able to capitalize on the acquisition of Turner's short stack.  Boyd would soon find himself all in after 3rd St. in a Stud 8 hand with split jacks, at risk against the split tens of Mortensen.  But in the end, Mortensen would improve to tens full, trumping the jacks up of Boyd.

Dutch Boyd is out in 4th-place, earning $61,919.

Early in three-handed play, Ivey holds almost 1.5 million to Mortensen's 750K and the 500K of Ming Lee.

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Phil Ivey took down the first few pots after the dinner break without showing down a hand. 

Ming Lee continues to play well.  He raised from the cutoff, and Jon Turner reraised on the button.  Lee made the call and the flop came T  6  2 .  Lee came out with a bet and Turner made the call.  The 2  came on the turn.  Lee bet again with Turner calling behind.  The river was the Q .  Lee fired again and Turner threw in his hand.

Carlos Mortensen raised under the gun and Dutch Boyd made the call.  The flop came A A  3 , and Boyd checked called Mortensen’s bet.  The turn was a 6 , and again Boyd check called a bet from Mortensen.  The river delivered a 9  which incised Boyd to come out firing.  Mortensen smooth called and hands were revealed. 

Boyd A  3  7  J
Mortensen A  6  7  8

Mortensen won with the higher boat and is at 800,000 with Boyd at 520,000.

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Eric Buchman was eliminated in 6th place for $34,747.  He completed and was all in on 4th street against Dutch Boyd and Ming Lee.  Boyd continued to bet the rest of the way with Lee calling behind.  Here is how the hands played out:

Boyd (Q  Q  Q ) 6  J  5  2
Lee (X X X) 2  J  7  A
Buchman (K  2  X) T  6  J  6

No one came out with a low, and Boyd scooped the pot with trip queens to knock Buchman out.

Players are on a one hour break and will come back around 7:00 pm. 

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Peter Gelencser was the next to fall after calling a raise from Dutch Boyd.  The flop came 9  2  2 , and Gelencser led out.  Boyd raised, Gelencser moved all in, and Boyd called.

Boyd: Q  Q  J  6
Gelencser: A 7  5  6

The turn was a 3  and the river was a 9 .  Gelencser couldn’t beat Boyd’s hand and finished 8th place for $23,600.

Ivey has taken the chip lead at the final table.  He took down two pots from Mortensen during Omaha 8.  Then he got tangled up with Jon Turner and was able to scoop a sizable pot in Stud 8.  Ivey is now sitting at over 750k while Turner is at 530k. 

Carlos Mortensen raised from under the gun, and Ming Lee reraised.  Tom Koral was in the big blind and called.  Mortensen called as well.  The flop came A  6  6 .  Everyone checked to Lee who fired out.  Koral raised, and Mortensen called.  Lee reraised, Koral moved in, and Mortensen called.  The turn brought a K .  Mortensen checked, Lee bet, and Mortensen called.  The river was a T .  Both players gave up and checked.

Mortensen: J  J  7  6
Koral: A 2  8  T
Lee Mucked

Koral was unable to beat Mortensen’s flush and walked to the rail in 7th place.

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Here is the turnout of the final table redraw:

1. Eric Buchman – 153,000
2. Dutch Boyd- 417,000
3. Tom Koral – 43,000
4. Carlos Mortensen- 512,000
5. Peter Gelencser- 220,000
6. Phil Ivey- 145,000
7. Steve Wong- 230,000
8. Ming Lee- 480,000
9. Jon Turner- 630,000

Tom Koral has been hanging strong with his short stack.  He raised from middle position, and Steve Wong and Ming Lee called from the blinds.  The flop came 5  3  4 .  Everyone checked to Koral who bet.  Wong made the call, and Lee folded.  The turn was an 8  which checked around.  The As landed on the river.  Wong checked, Koral bet, and Wong called.  Koral showed down A  A  3  Q  for the win.  The once critically low stacked Koral is now up to 160,000.

Steve Wong was left with 190,000 in chips and bet on 3rd street with Boyd and Mortensen calling behind.  On 4th street Boyd led out and both players called.  Wong led on 5th street with Mortensen raising.  Both players called the raise.  6th street saw Wong bet, Mortensen raise, and Wong reraise all in.  Mortensen made the call and the show down looked like this:

Boyd: (J  9  6 ) 9  Q  4  K
Mortensen: (2  5  K ) 6  8  3  T
Wong: (X X X) 5  Q  Q  Q

Wong was bested and would become the 9th place finisher taking home $16,517. 

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Steve Wong raised from under the gun.  Frank Debus made the call from the small blind.  The flop came out T  9  5 .  Debus moved in, and Wong called.

Wong: A  A  K  4
Debus: Q  Q  3  3

The turn and river delivered a 6  and 5  eliminating Debus in 12th place.

It didn’t take long for the next player to fall.  Blair Rodman was showing Q  6  K  4  in Stud 8, and committed the rest of his chips to the pot.  He got a call from Carlos Mortensen.  Here is how the hands played out:

Rodman (K  7 ) Q  6  K  4  (A )
Mortensen (3  3 ) 3  T  7  T  (6 )

Rodman’s hand was no match for Mortensen’s full house, and he became our 11th place finisher.

Players went on a 20 minute break, and came back to see the 10th player go.  Matt Kelly was sitting at a short stack and called a raise in Stud 8 from Mortensen.  Ming Lee also called the raise.  4th street gave Kelly a pair of 7’s and he tried to lead out by going all in for the rest of his chips, but he didn’t realize that Lee was showing a pair of 8’s.  Lee bet out, Kelly went all in, and Mortensen raised.  Lee called the raise, and 5th street was delivered. Both Lee and Mortensen checked.  On 6th street Lee showed trip 8’s and bet out, Mortensen surprisingly raised, and Lee made the call.  On 7th street Lee checked dark, Mortensen bet, Lee raised, and Mortensen reraised.  There was a bit of a discussion between the players, dealers, and floor about what the raise was supposed to be.  In total, it was decided that the round of betting should equal 108k.  Lee called and the cards were revealed

Kelly (X X) 7  7  3  K  (X)
Mortensen (3  6 ) K  9d  2  4  (7 )
Lee (5 5) 8  8  J  8  (X)

Kelly was knocked out in 10th place while Mortensen and Lee split the pot for the high and the low. 
Players are taking a short break while they set up at the final table.

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

Tom Koral survived an all in with his short stack.  He made the best low with a (5  6  9 ) 6  8  2  3 , and Phil Ivey collected the high with (A  8  3 ) 8  A  7  8  for a full house.  Dutch Boyd was also in the hand and ended up mucking to bring Ivey to 265,000 and Koral with 26,000.

Level 19 started and blinds are 4,000/8,000 for Omaha 8, and Ante 2,000 bring in 2,000 with 8,000/16,000 limit for Stud 8.

Dutch Boyd just received a one round penalty.  Apparently, Boyd called behind and he had the nuts.  Not raising with the nuts is ground for penalty according to the tournament director, “Even though it is a mistake 95% of the time, we have to protect against collusion the other 5% of the time.” 

Mark Scott went all in and his hand didn’t hold up.  He was eliminated in 13th place taking home $10,481. 

Ivey lost a lot of chips to Jon Turner.  There was a raise preflop, and the board came 9  7  9 .  Jon bet and got a call by Ivey.  A K  came on the turn.  Jon check raised Ivey’s bet, and Ivey made the call.  On the river the Jh came.  Jon bet, and Ivey folded his hand. 

Carlos Mortensen had just been quartered in Omaha 8 by Ming Lee in a previous pot, and not three hands later they were back at it again.  Carlos raised on the button, and Ming called from the small blind.  The flop came T J  8 .  Mortensen fired again, and Lee called.  The T  came on the turn.  Mortensen didn’t lose any momentum and bet with Lee calling behind.  The 8  came on the river.  Both players decided best to check.  Lee announced queens up and tabled Q Q A 7.  Mortensen mucked his hand. 

(Jackie Witt Reporting)

We are back for the final day of Event 25 Omaha/Stud HL 8 or Better.  This event started with 371 players; only 14 have returned for today’s battle.  All the remaining players are assured $10,481, but each player has his eye on the coveted World Series bracelet and a cash prize of $220,538.  John Turner will start the day as the chip leader with 465,000.  Carlos Mortensen is running in second with 328,000, and Chad Brown is the short stack with a mere 23,000 in chips.

Chad Brown found a spot to put his chips in early.  The game was Stud 8, and he got a call from carlos Mortensen and Ming Lee.  On 5th street Lee isolated Brown by betting, and Mortensen got out of the way showing 4  K  A .  The boards ran out the following:

Brown (2  4 ) 8  T  8  3  (T )
Lee (4  8 ) 5  A  7  6  (3 )

Brown was unable to beat Lee’s straight or his six high low, so he will be the first one out of the day.

Eric Buchman seems to have missed his coffee this morning.  I overhead one of the media reporters saying that he, very rudely and with profanity, told her not to stand behind him to do her reporting.  Then he called a clock on Tom Koral when he was at a decision for his tournament life.  Koral was up against Steve Wong who put him all in on a A  3  2  8  6  board.  Koral went into the tank for about  two minutes before Buchman called the clock.  Koral ended up folding at the end of the countdown.  Wong was the first to tell Buchman that calling the clock wasn’t cool when Koral was at a decision for all of his chips.  “Well I literally gave him two minutes,” Buchman said, “if I take more than two minutes to call or fold, you can call a clock on me.”  Someone should hold him to that.