(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

	Champ Matt Graham

Matt got his chips in the middle holding A862 (ss) against Vitaly's T742 (ds). The board came A J 5 5 J and Matt doubled up with Aces-up.

Matt got his chips in the middle again holding AKQQ (ss) against Vitaly's T985. The board came 7 4 4 9 T and Matt's two pair bested Vitaly's two pair to double him up again -- back to ~2.2 million.

Matt got his chips in the middle again holding 9875 (ss) against Vitaly's AA96 (ss). The board came 9 6 4 3 Q giving Vitaly two pair, but giving Matt the straight and yet another double-up. He'd once again edged out Vitaly and taken a slim chip lead, roughly 4.5 to 4.3 million.

This time they got all the chips in on the turn with a board of T 6 4 9. Matt held TT65 (ss) for top set. Vitaly held K J 9 2 for the flush draw with gutshot. River was the A and Matt's set was good to take the pot.

The stacks were very close and had to be counted down very carefully. Matt had him by a nose and it is, finally, OVER!!

Matt Graham finished in 1st place, earning $679,379 and his 2nd career WSOP bracelet.  Graham claimed his first in last year's Series by taking down Event #53, the $1,500 Limit Shootout.

Vitaly Lunkin finished in 2nd place, narrowly missing his third WSOP bracelet and second of this WSOP, earning $419,832.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Matt opened for 250k and Vitaly called. The flop came J 9 7 and both checked. Turn was a Ten. Vitaly checked, Matt bet 280k, and Vitaly called. River was a 6. Vitaly checked again. Matt bet 750k and got the call. Matt showed AQ86 for the straight and Vitaly mucked.

They limped to a flop of 8 7 5 -- all hearts -- and Vitaly checked. Matt bet 125k and got called. Turn was a Ten and both checked. River was a King and Vitaly checked again. Matt bet 425k and again got the call. Matt showed J763 single-suited in hearts for the Jack-high flush to take the pot. He has extended his chip lead to ~5.65 million.

They limped to a flop of A 6 4. Matt checked, Vitaly bet 125k, Matt raised pot, Vitaly re-potted, and all the chips went in. Vitaly showed K 6 4 2 for the nut flush draw with bottom two pair. Matt held A T 9 6 for top two pair and was ahead, but then the Q hit the turn giving Vitaly the flush. Matt needed to boat-up on the river, but it came the 5 and Vitaly doubled up to nearly 6 million. Matt was left with ~3 million.

Matt opened for 250k and Vitaly called. The flop came Q 8 3 -- all diamonds -- and Vitaly checked. Matt fired 325k and Vitaly check-raised him to 1 million. Matt folded in frustration, dropping down to ~2.4 million.

They once again limped to a flop of 8 7 4. Both checked. Turn was the A and Vitaly checked. Matt bet 150k and Vitaly called. River was the 5 and Vitaly fired out a bet. Matt shoved and Vitaly called, showing A T 6 3 for a 7-high straight (and missed nut flush draw). Matt tabled K 9 6 2 for the 9-high straight, edging out Vitaly for the double-up.

Vitaly opened for 250k and Matt kicked it up another 500k. Vitaly called to see the flop of 5 3 2 rainbow. Matt bet the 1.5 million pot and Vitaly let it go. Matt was inching his way closer to even.

Vitaly opened for 250k and Matt again hit him up for another 500k. Vitaly called to see the flop of 5 2 2. Matt launched 950k at the pot and Vitaly again let it go. Matt had edged out Vitaly and retaken the chip lead with 5 million to Vitaly's 3.85 million.

Play continued into

Level 29: Blinds 60k/120k.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Matt opened for 210k, then Robin shoved for 785k. Matt called, showing AT98 (ss). Robin held KT76 (ss). The board came J 5 2 3 A Matt took the pot with a pair of Aces.

Robin Keston finished in 4th place, earning $196,994.

Vitaly limped on the button and Matt checked his option. On the flop of Q 7 5, Matt checked, Vitaly fired 100k, and Matt called. Turn was a 9 and Matt led out for 360k. Vitaly called. River was a 7 and they checked it down. Matt showed AK86 for the turned straight to take the pot. He's now closing the gap with the chip leader.

Matt opened for 200k and Van potted. Matt hit it again and Van called all-in. Matt's AAJ9 (ss) was ahead of Van's QJJ7 (ss). The board came Q T 2 A 3 and Matt took the pot with a set of Aces.

Van Marcus finished in 3rd place, earning $278,409.

With that pot, Matt edged out Vitaly for the chip lead. As they begin heads-up play, Matt holds 4.5 million to Vitaly's 4.35 million.

But first, another break.

Play continued with

Level 28: Blinds 50k/100k.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Vitaly brought it in for 150k, then Ferit shoved for 340k. Vitaly burned some time-bank before deciding to call the extra 190k. Ferit showed J T 8 6. Vitaly showed K Q 5 5. The board came 7 6 3 3 9 giving Ferit a flush and a double-up.

Stefan opened utg for 160k and Vitaly called from the cutoff, then Ferit shoved from the small blind for ~490k on top. Stefan then made the over-shove, effectively forcing Vitaly out of the pot. Stefan held KT98 (ss). Ferit held AKK5 (ss). The board came 8 2 2 J T giving Ferit the better two pair hand and the double-up. He's now sitting behind about 1.3 million.

Continuing with the theme of the perpetual double-ups, Ferit and Stefan got all the chips in the middle again after a flop of K 8 7. Stefan was at risk and holding 8 7 6 5 for two pair with open-ender. Ferit held J T 9 2 for the straight wrap. Stefan picked up his straight when the 4 hit the turn, then improved to a flush when the K hit the river. Stefan doubled up, getting his chips back from Ferit.

After a short timeout, they got back to business.

Level 27: Blinds 40k/80k.

Vitaly opened for 210k and Stefan raised pot. Vitaly moved in and Stefan called all-in, showing QJT8 (ss). Vitaly held AAK3 (ds). The board came J 6 3 4 7 and Vitaly's Aces held up unimproved to take the pot. He's now got ~4 million chips.

Stefan Mattsson finished in 6th place, earning $118,463.

Ferit potted on the button and Matt called from the small blind.  The flop came A K 5 rainbow and Matt fired 250k.  Ferit shoved for a few chips more and Matt called.  Ferit held KJ98 (ss) for a pair of Kings.  Matt held JJT3 (ss) for a pair of Jacks.  Then the turn delivered another Jack, giving Matt the lead with a set.  River was an 8 and Matt took the pot, chipping up to ~2.2 million.

Ferit Gabriellson finished in 5th place, earning $148,439.

Four players remain at the never-ending PLO World Championship final table.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Play resumed following the break with

Level 26: Blinds 30k/60k.

Chip counts:

Stefan opened for 155k and Vitaly called from the big blind. The flop came J 8 6 rainbow and both playres checked. Turn was a Ten and again both checked. River was another Jack and Vitaly bet 200k. Stefan gave it some thought and decided to call. Vitaly showed 9875 (ds) for the straight and Stefan mucked.

Van limped in the cutoff, then Vitaly min-raised from the button. Ferit called from the big bind and Van made it a three-way to the flop of A K 7 rainbow. They checked to Vitaly, who bet 220k. Ferit opted out and Van made the call. Turn was a 4 and after Van checked again, Vitaly fired 500k. Van surrendered and Vitaly chipped up to over 3 million.

Still six players...and they've been playing for twelve hours already today with no end in sight!

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Play resumed following the break with

Level 25: Blinds 25k/50k.

Chip counts as of the break:

Matt opened for 130k, then Van raised the pot. Matt called the 335k raise and the flop came 5 5 2. Matt led out for 50k, which was all Van had left. Van obliged by putting his last chips in the pot, showing AAJ4 (ss) for Aces-up. Matt held QJ94 (ds) for zip, nada, zilch. The last two came 4 8 and Van doubled up to ~1 million.

The blinds took a cheap flop of K K 9 and Ferit checked to Matt, who bet 65k. Ferit check-min-raised to 130k and Matt made the call. Turn was a Ten. Both checked. River was another 9. Ferit checked, Matt fired 280k, and Ferit called, showing trip Kings. Matt held QJ73 (ss) for the straight to take the pot.

Vitaly opened for 150k and Ferit called behind. On the Q 7 4 flop, Vitaly bet 95k and Ferit called. Turn was a Ten and both checked. River was an 9 and Vitaly fired 300k. Ferit called to see Vitaly's JJ76 (ss) for just a pair of Jacks (missed flush & straight draws). Ferit showed AJJ8 (ds) for the Jack-high straight to take the pot.

Time for another break!  Back in 20...

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Stefan opened for 120k and Vitaly called from the small blind. The flop came J 9 7 and both checked. Turn was the 3 and Vitaly bet the pot, Stefan shoved, and Vitaly called. Stefan showed 9 7 6 4 for two pair, gutshot, & flush draw. Vitaly showed K K 7 6 for a pair of Kings and better flush draw. River delivered the 6 giving Vitaly a second pair, but Stefan's two pair were boss. He doubled up to ~950k.

Vitaly raised to 120k up front and Richard called from the big blind. On the flop of A 6 5, Richard fired 120k. Vitaly moved in and Richard called all-in, showing 9 8 7 5 (pair of 5s with straight wrap). Vitaly held K K 4 2 for a pair of Kings, gutshot, and nut flush draw. Turn was the J and changed nothing, but the 8 on the river completed Vitaly's flush.

Richard Austin finished in 8th place, earning $88,681.

Josh opened for 110k, then Van moved in for 340k. Josh called, showing T 5 4 2. Van held A K 8 7. The board came J T 3 6 9 and Josh took the lead on the flop, but Van made a straight on the river to double up.

Josh then got all-in pre-flop holding AA94 (ss) against Ferit's KKT3 (ss) only to see the board run out K Q T J K giving Ferit quad Kings.

Josh Arieh finished in 7th place, earning $99,856.

The final six took a TV timeout.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Ferit Gabriellson opened for 80k and Josh Arieh came along from the small blind for the flop of A 6 5 rainbow. Josh checked, Ferit bet 100k, and Josh called. Turn was a Queen and completed the rainbow. Josh checked again. Ferit fired 300k this time. Josh called. River was a 2 and Josh checked yet again. Ferit moved in for ~340k. Josh let it go.

Barry Greenstein opened for 90k from the hijack and Josh called from the cutoff. On the flop of Q J 8, Barry fired 130k. Josh let another one go.

Time for another break. Players took off for 20 away from the felt.

Play resumed following the break with

Level 24: Blinds 20k/40k.

Chip counts as of the break:

Vitaly opened for 120k and both blinds came along for the ride. The flop came 9 6 2 and the blinds checked to Vitaly, who bet 200k. Barry (sb) check-raised to 800k and Josh (bb) opted out. Vitaly tanked for a bit, then decided to move in. Barry called all-in, showing 9 8 7 5 for top pair with straight wrap and flush draw. Vitaly held A A 8 7 for the overpair and open-ender. Barry had a world of outs, but the last two came Q 3 and missed all of them.

Barry Greenstein finished in 9th place, earning $82,746.

(Kaelaine Minton reporting)

Ferit Gabriellson opened for 60k one off the button and Barry Greenstein called from the small blind. Josh Arieh came along from the big and the three players took a flop of 9 5 4 rainbow. The blinds checked to Ferit, who bet 100k. Barry opted out and Josh made the call. Turn was a Jack and both checked. River was another 4. Josh checked, Ferit bet 150k, Josh gave it some thought, then check-raised 300k on top. Ferit tanked for a while, then let it go. Josh showed his AK32 for zip, nada, Ace-high squa-doosh as he collected the pot.

Barry Greenstein collect two pots in a row. The first, he fired 175k on the river with a board of A T 2 5 A. Matt Graham surrenderd. In the second, Matt and Barry checked on the river with a board of T 4 2 3 6 (all clubs). Barry showed TT88 for a set of Tens to take the pot, chipping up to ~1.1 million.

Four players limp to a flop of K 6 2 and check around. Turn was a 6 and it checked around again. River was another King and Ferit Gabrielsson (sb) led out for 120k. Josh Arieh was his only caller. Ferit showed K632 (ds) for Kings-full. Josh mucked.

Action just started.

Level:

SB: 12,000
BB: 24,000

There have been 3 hands thus far.

Matt Graham took a pot with a continuation bet on the flop. Vitaly Lunkin also won a pot by raising preflop.

Matt Graham is still the chip leader and he has 1,540,000 in front of him. Barry Greenstein is one of the short stacks with 780,000.

Stay tuned as action is just underway...

Players are still on their dinner break. When they return they will have to hook up their mics and do some media stuff. The final table will probably start after 7. Stay here for the rest of the action as the players will play down to a winner tonight.

Level:

SB: 12,000
BB: 24,000
Bets between 48,000-84,000

Chau Giang eliminated in 11th place: Chau Giang was all in on a flop of K T 5. He held KJ75 and Josh Arieh made the call with AKQ8. The turn would bring a J and Arieh makes the nut straight. The river was a 2 and Chau Giang is the 11th place finisher earning $61,838.

The players redrew their seats and all were at one table 10 handed.

Here is how the seating was arranged:

Seat 1: Ferit Gabriellson
Seat 2: Matt Graham
Seat 3: Barry Greenstein
Seat 4: Nathan Doudney
Seat 5: Josh Arieh
Seat 6: Stefan Mattsson
Seat 7: Richard Austin
Seat 8: Van Marcus
Seat 9: Vitaly Lunkin
Seat 10: Robin Keston

Nathan Doudney eliminated in 10th place: A couple hands into 10 handed play, Josh Arieh raised to around 80,000. The action folded back to Nathan Doudney who was in the big blind. Doudney potted the action to 172,000. Josh Arieh thought about the call before he pushed a stack of chips toward the middle representing 172,000. The two players would see the flop. The flop came J  2  6 . Doudney moved all in and Arieh called. Doudney had the best hand with AKK4 with no hearts. Arieh had the flush draw with the Qx 9x T  7 . Doudney was hoping that a heart would not come and that he would double up. The turn was an A  and Arieh made the flush. Doudney was drawing dead and exits in 10th place earning $61,838.

The players are moving to the main stage area. They will return to nine handed play after the one hour dinner break.

Here are the chip counts going into the final table:

Matt Graham   1400000
Ferit Gabriellson   1200000
Josh Arieh   1050000  
Richard Austin   1030000 
Robin Keston   1000000  
Stefan Mattsson   850000 
Vitaly Lunkin   850000 
Barry Greenstein   780000 
Van Marcus   500000 

HUGE POT: On a flop of Q 4  5 , Barry Greenstein bet 45,000 Noah Schwartz raised the action an additional 90,000 and Barry Greenstein was all in. Schwartz made the call and turned over A  Q  4 2  for the third nut flush draw and two pair. Barry turned over A  A  7  7  for the nut flush draw and aces. The turn was a 7 and Barry Greenstein pulls ahead. The river was a T  and Noah Schwartz was then on the short stack. Barry Greenstein doubles up to over 1 million in chips.

Nate Lindsay was eliminated in 17th place and earns $ 34,552.

David Williams eliminated in 16th place: Matt Graham held Q  Q  T  9 and the board came Q  J  4  6  9 . Williams takes home $ 34,552 for his finish.

Noah Schwartz eliminated in 15th place: Stefan Matsson held Q  J  9  K  against Schwartz's AQT5 the board came 4  J  J 7 A  and Schwartz takes home $ 46,226.

Vitaly Lunkin eliminated Padraig Parkinson in 14th place. Padraig Parkinson takes home $ 46,226.

David Podgurski was eliminated in 13th place: Richard Austin held KJ88 against Podgurski's AK75. The board came 523QT and Podgurski goes home earning $ 46,226.

The last elimination this hour was Howard Lederer: Lederer held 9  7  6  5 against Robin Keston's A  Q  J 8 and the board came 934QJ giving Robin Keston the best hand and sending Lederer to the rail. He just made the pay jump and earns $ 61,838 for his 12th place finish.

Play is now 11 handed. The tournament director states they will combine tables when they get to 10 handed play.  

Level:

SB: 8,000
BB: 16,000
Bets between 32,000-56,000

Matt Vengrin eliminated in 19th place: The action was on a flop of 3 6  8 . Matt Vengrin was all in for 232,000. Matt Graham was in the tank and finally threw in the call. Matt Vengrin showed K  J T 9 and Matt Graham held A  A  2  2 . The turn would come a T . Vengrin would need to catch to beat Graham's aces. The river was a 2 giving Graham a set of deuces. Vengrin takes home $25,817 for his finish.

The final two tables are as follows:

Table 155:

Robin Keston
Chau Giang
Nathan Doudney
Howard Lederer
Matt Graham
Ferit Gabriellson
David Williams
Vitaly Lunkin
Van Marcus

Table 154:

Noah Schwartz
Nenad Medic
Josh Arieh
Padriag Parkinson
Stefan Matsson
Richard Austin
Barry Greenstein
Nate Lindsay
David Podgurski

Nenad Medic was short stacked and was eliminated in 18th place.

The chip leader in the event is Ferit Gabriellson with 1,260,000 chips.

Play continues....

Level:

SB: 6,000
BB: 12,000
Bets between 24,000-42,000

Howard Lederer was seen talking to Barry Greenstein and stating that it is not fair that they came back at 1:00 p.m. when the No Limit event came back at 2:00 p.m. All the players listening to the conversation agreed.

Markus Golser was eliminated in 20th place and earned $25,817 for his finish.

Chau Giang was seen betting 102,000 into the pot on a board of K 7  5 . Noah Schwartz thought about the call and eventually folded showing 2 of his cards, K5 offsuit.

Nenad Medic won a small pot this hour. Action has slowed before the players take a break. There has not been any additional  eliminations this hour. 

Players are on a 20 minute break.

The final 25 players have returned. They started out with Levels at:

SB: 5,000
BB: 10,000
Bets between 20,000-35,000

Under the gun, Noah Schwartz raised to 35,000. Chau Giang reraised pot for another 109,000. Noah Schwartz moved all in and Chau Giang called his remaining stack which was very little.

Giang: A K  K  5
Schwartz: Ax Kx Qx 6x

The board would lay out J  3  3 T  6  and Chau Giang doubles up early.

On a flop of T  K  3 , Matt Graham bet 183,000 into the pot. Ferit Gabriellson thinks for around 10 minutes before a clock is eventually called. As the tournament director counts down from 10, Ferit Gabriellson decides to fold. He turns up Q  J  which was an open ended straight flush draw. The players at the table could not believe that he didn't call the bet. Even Matt Graham was heard saying that he would have called.

Henri Kettunen eliminated in 25th place: On a board of 3352Q, Noah Schwartz had him all in and Schwartz showed QQ83 for a full house. Henri Kettunen earns $25,817 for his finish.

Todd Barlow was eliminated in 24th place and earned $ 25,817.

Rodrigo Dos Santos was eliminated by Stefan Mattsson when they were all in and Mattsson held JD TH 9C 7S and Dos Santos held AC AD 9S 5D. The board came 2C 7C QC TD 3S and Dos Santos earns $25,817 for his 23rd place finish.

Tony Cousineau was eliminated in 22nd place when Vitaly Lunkin ended up making two pair. He also earns $25,817 for his finish.