What happened to Scott Seiver?

That was the question of the afternoon after the one-time Super High Roller champion arrived as a big chip leader and left long before the sun set.

What happened was Ivan Luca. What happened was a massive cooler. Seiver’s queens to Luca’s kings. Neither man looked back. Not Seiver as he walked out, not Luca as he stomped his way to the overnight chip lead.

Riding on a wave of Seiver’s chips, Luca is lucky to not be in the hospital after how hard he was hit with the deck. On a day that began with 32, no one has more reason to smile than the man from Argentina. He’s atop the final seven with a small lead over some of the best-known people in the game.

You can scroll down through the post below to see how the day played out, but in the end, the most consequential of the night came toward the end. See, the day demanded a money bubble, and it got it just before the stroke of midnight.

Erik Seidel will be remembered long after he is gone for a career unlike any other, but tonight will not be part of that story. After battling once again through a majority of one of the world’s toughest poker tournaments, Seidel fell short. He rans nines into Cary Katz’s tens, didn’t improve, and left with nothing to add to his historic list of big money cashes.

That leaves us with seven players to return on Monday, each guaranteed no less than $248,720 and fighting for $1,492,340. No doubt, you will recognize every name. No doubt you know that any of them could win.

Here’s how they stack up headed into the final day of play.

Play resumes tomorrow at 3pm, and all of it will be featured on the live stream beginning at 3:30pm with cards up action. We’ll be covering it here, too, with any behind-the-scenes action that may kick off.

In addition to somebody winning $1.4 million, this room will fill up as we begin the $10,000 Main Event and the beginning of the $50,000 High Roller.

We will have coverage of all three events beginning at noon ET. Until then, good morning from Paradise Island.–BW

Day 2 coverage archive

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1:05am: Coming to a close
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

We’re in the final minutes of the last level of the night. Play is ending soon, so stay tuned for a wrap of the day’s events.

12:55am: Katz getting frisky
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Cary Katz raised opened to 90,000 from under the gun and Justin Bonomo three-bet to 260,000 from the hijack. Bonomo was betting for value with Q♥ Q♣ , but Katz was getting fresh with 6♠ 4♠ .

Katz called, the flop came 7♠ 10♥ 3♦ and Bonomo bet 255,000 when checked to. Katz called and a 6♣ came on the turn. Both players checked and then checked again when the A♣ came on the river.

Players tabled their hands and Bonomo took it down with the pair queens. –AV

12:45am: Haxton picks off Luca bluff to double
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Ivan Luca has made his first misstep when he tried to bluff Isaac Haxton, but the latter figured it out to double to 1.83 million.

The players were in the blinds and checked a 5♣ J♠ 6♣ flop after no preflop raise. The turn was the 3♣ and Luca checked to face a 60,000 bet that he raised up to 265,000. Call. The Q♣ completed the board and Luca set Haxton in for his remaining 590,000. Haxton used two time banks before calling with 6♦ 4♣ for a baby flush. Luca had to show his bluffing K♦ 4♠ and dropped to 2.93 million. –MC

12:35am: Seidel bubbles
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Erik Seidel was down to 540,000 and moved all-in from the cutoff with 9♣ 9♠ . Cary Katz was on the button and looked down a bigger, redder pair: 10♥ 10♦ .

Katz called and the board came 8♦ 3♥ 4♦ 3♣ 8♥ to pop the quarter-million dollar bubble. Seidel busted in 8th while Katz chipped up to 1,315,000 and the remaining players locked up a minimum of $248,720. –AV

12:25am: Bonomo and Luca clash again
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

Ivan Luca has taken another pot off Justin Bonomo to edge past the four million mark.

The latter raised to 80,000 from the hijack with K♣ 10♠ and was only called by the former. Luca held A♣ J♠ and flopped top pair on a 9♥ J♦ 7♣ flop. Bonomo check-called 125,000 before both players checked the 6♣ turn. Bonomo then tried a bluff with a 350,000 bet on the 7♥ river but Luca picked him off easily and he dropped to 2.12 million. –MC

12:15am: Back from break
Level 17 – Blinds 20,000/40,000 (ante 5,000)

And we’re back. Well, the players are back, we never left the tournament area. Players have decided to stop at the end of this level or when they hit six players.

Stay tuned to find out which comes first. –AV

11:55pm: Break
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Level 16 is done players are on another 20-minute break. Here’s how the final eight stack up:

1. Ivan Luca – 3,360,000
2. Justin Bonomo – 2,680,000
3. Daniel Negreanu – 1,825,000
4. Sam Greenwood – 1,070,000
5. Isaac Haxton – 955,000
6. Cary Kats – 765,000
7. Bryn Kenney – 715,000
8. Erik Seidel – 630,000

11:50pm: Two Katz
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Cary Katz was looking for a double up and he found it, courtesy of Justin Bonomo. He three-bet all-in for 371,000 after a 60,000 raise from Bonomo. Call.

Katz: A♣ Q♦
Bonomo: 7♥ 7♦

The board ran 8♣ 10♥ A♦ 4♠ 6♥ to pair Karz’s ace and Bonomo dropped to 2.73 million. –MC

11:40pm: Bonomo and Luca keep it lowkey
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

There probably should have been more money in this one, but when all was said and done, Ivan Luca got away losing very little.

It all started with an early position open to 60,000 from Justin Bonomo with the Q♠ 9♠ , and it folded to Luca in the hijack. With the A♠ 10♥ he raised it up to 180,000, and Bonomo called.

The flop came 6♣ 5♦ 9♣ , giving Bonomo top pair and he checked it. Luca checked it back, only to pair his ace on the A♦ turn. Again, there’d be no betting.

That changed when the 9♦ river hit though. Bonomo checked his trips, and Luca led for 210,000. Bonomo went into the tank–whether it was real or show we don’t know–but after using two time bank cards he raised it up to 825,000.

Luca thought about it, but ultimately let it go. –JS

11:30pm: The 4 million man
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Ivan Luca has moved up to almost 4 million after winning a pretty big pot with king high.

He opened to 60,000 from the button with K♥ 8♥ and Sam Greenwood peeled from the big blind holding Q♥ 3♥ . Both flopped flush draws on the 5♣ 2♥ 5♥ flop and Luca continued for 35,000. Greenwood check-called and he did the same when faced with a 260,000 bet on the 6♦ turn. The 5♦ completed the board and Luca time-bank-checked behind and scooped the pot.

“Pretty good run out I guess,” said a smiling Greenwood, who dropped to 972,000. –MC

11:15pm: Negreanu catches Katz
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Cary Katz limped under the gun with the 3♦ 3♣ and Daniel Negreanu on his left woke up with the Q♦ Q♣ . He raised it to 95,000, and when it folded back to Katz he made the call.

The 10♣ J♥ 8♦ flop prompted a check-call of 65,000 from Katz, taking them to the J♣ turn. Check check.

The river came the 2♥ and interestingly Katz led out for just 30,000 into a pot of around 400,000. Negreanu opted just to call, and Katz dropped down to 371,000 while the Team Pro went up to 1.7 million. –JS

11:05pm: Luca keeps the pressure on (with a real hand this time)
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Chip leader Ivan Luca has been playing a lot of hands you wouldn’t normally expect to see (king-fours, jack-threes, et al), and with the biggest stack, why not? In this last one though, he got a solid hand to balance things out.

Sam Greenwood opened to 60,000 in the +1 seat with the A♦ 5♦ , and Kenney called to his immediate left with the A♠ J♠ . It folded around to Luca in the big blind and he peeled back the K♠ K♦ before squeezing it up to 280,000. That bet was too big for the others, who let it go. –JS

11:00pm: All about the 60k bets for Luca
Level 16 – Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 5,000)

Ivan Luca has increased his lead at the top of the counts after taking a pot off Justin Bonomo.

The Argentine pro raised to 60,000 with A♦ 7♠ from under the gun and Bonomo peeled from the big blind with A♣ 3♠ . Both flopped pairs on a 7♣ 10♦ 3♥ flop and Bonomo check-called another 60,000. The 7♦ turn improved Luca’s hand to trips, but Bonomo made a good check-fold to another 60,000 bet. Bonomo dropped to 2.94 million and Luca rose to 3.42 million. –MC

10:50pm: Katz catches up
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Cary Katz kicked things off with a 52,000 hijack open holding the 7♦ 6♦ . That got folds until Ike Haxton defended his big blind with the K♣ 9♦ , and the J♦ 7♣ 9♣ flop put him in front. He checked it, but Katz opted not to c-bet with his bottom pair.

The 6♥ turn improved Katz to two-pair, and now was when Haxton decided to lead out. He bet small–just 40,000-and Katz called.

The board was completed by the 5♦ river and Haxton weighed up his options, even using a time bank card. Eventually he checked, and Katz seeked some value with a 125,000 bet. Haxton gave it up though and dropped to 857,000, while Katz is up to 778,000. –JS

10:45pm: Greenwood four-bet jams for the win
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Sam Greenwood had his stack in the middle after four-bet jamming in a three-way pot. He got no callers and his stack swelled to 1.3 million.

The Canadian pro opened to 55,000 from early position holding Q♠ Q♦ and was called by Seidel and his A♣ Q♣ before Bonomo squeezed to 180,000 off the button with A♠ J♣ . Both he and Seidel folded though after Greenwood shoved for 1.08 million. –MC

10:40pm: Kanit can’t, out in ninth
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

The last remaining European player in the field has fallen.

Ivan Luca looked down at the K♣ 4♠ under the gun and opened it up to 55,000. Action folded to Justin Bonomo in the small blind and he made the call with the 7♥ 7♣ , and it was over to Kanit in the big blind. He woke up with a pocket pair of his own – 5♥ 5♣ – and with his short stack he shoved it all in.

It was 297,000 total, and Luca asked for a count before folding. Bonomo snap-called though, and after the 3♣ 3♥ 10♠ 10♣ 2♣ board, his pocket sevens were still best.

Kanit said his goodbyes, and Bonomo is up to 2.99 million now. –JS

10:30pm: Kanit bluffs and goes short
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Mustapha Kanit has dropped down to 309,000 after he bluffed off part of his stack to Ivan Luca, who moved up to 3.19 million.

He opened to 55,000 with A♣ Q♦ and was only called by Luca who held 7♦ 7♣ . The flop came 9♠ 4♥ 5♦ and Kanit continued for 50,000. Call. Both players checked the 7♠ turn before Kanit led for 210,000 on the J♠ river. Luca took a moment before setting his Italian opponent all-in. Fold. –MC

10:25pm: Kenney and Negreanu chop it up
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Bryn Kenney made it 55,000 to go from the UTG+1 seat holding the A♠ J♦ , and it folded to Daniel Negreanu in the hijack. He looked down at the same hand–albeit suited–with the A♣ J♣ .

There were no more callers until it got to Isaac Haxton in the big blind. He peeked at the Q♠ 10♣ and called, getting some pretty good pot odds. They saw a 7♣ J♠ 8♦ flop, and Haxton checked it to the raiser. With top pair Kenney made a continuation bet worth 70,000, and Negreanu called with his same hand. Haxton had a gutshot and an overcard, so decided to see one more card.

The turn came the 5♦ and it checked to Kenney again. He made it 145,000, and Negreanu came along. Haxton got out of the way at this point, so it was heads up to the 10♠ river. Both would check it down, and they chopped it up. Negreanu now has 1.537 million, while Kenney has 816,000. –JS

10:15pm: Bonomo closes the gap on Luca
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Justin Bonomo moved up to 2.44 million after he took a pot off Ivan Luca, who dropped to 2.79 million.

Bonomo opened to 60,000 off the button with A♦ 3♣ and Luca defended in the big blind holding A♣ J♠ . Bonomo flopped trips on the 5♣ 3♥ 3♠ flop and had a 55,000 c-bet called. Luca gave up on the 6♦ turn though, when he checked to face a 175,000 bet. –MC

10:10pm: Negreanu mixes it up
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Bryn Kenney opened to 55,000 from middle position with the A♦ 5♦ and it folded to Daniel Negreanu on the button. He looked down at the Q♠ 8♠ , and after some thinking time decided to three-bet it up to 165,000. Kenney thought for his full 30 seconds, before letting it go just in time.

“You’re so dramatic, always with the three-two-one,” laughed Negreanu. “I love it.”

“Those are the thinking hands, either thinking of what you wanna do, or thinking what the bet size is,” Kenney joked back, before announcing he still has all of his time bank cards from this tournament. –JS

10:05pm: Luca testing the water
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Chip leader Ivan Luca showed his intentions on the first hand of the final table by raising from early position with 9♣ 7♥ . All his opponents folded quickly and he took the pot down.

Jonathan Little on commentary said that under normal circumstances that is never a raise, but these are far from normal circumstances. –MC

9:45pm: Unofficial final table seat draw
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

1. Ivan Luca – 2,702,000
2. Isaac Haxton – 1,146,000
3. Sam Greenwood – 920,000
4. Bryn Kenney – 812,000
5. Erik Seidel – 1,074,000
6. Cary Katz – 867,000
7. Daniel Negreanu – 1,419,000
8. Justin Bonomo – 2,361,000
9. Mustapha Kanit – 695,000

The final nine are now on a short break, but we’ll be back soon with more Super High Roller action.

9:40pm: Chidwick falls in 10th
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Action folded to Cary Katz in the small blind, and his only opponent left was the short-stacked Stephen Chidwick in the big. Katz looked over to weigh up the situation, holding the 7♦ 3♥ .

“How much you got?” asked Katz. “About a hundred,” replied Chidwick.

It was actually 99,000, and after a few moments Katz announced all in. Chidwick snap-called, and was probably a bit surprised to see he wasn’t even drawing live with both cards. Chidwick had 5♦ 3♦ and was dominated.

There were plenty of opportunities for a chop pot, but the A♠ 9♣ 6♥ 6♠ 4♠ runout mean Katz’s seven played. He’s up to 857,000 now, as the players draw for the unofficial final table. –JS

9:20pm: Hey, let’s throw a High Roller…for charity!

After the PCA schedule was set, Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree thought…I wonder what would happen if we hosted a $26,000 event and donated $1,000 from the buy-in to Raising for Effective Giving.

Next thing you know there was another High Roller going.

We caught up with Boeree to talk about the charity and what went into the decision today.

9:05pm: Final table
Level 15 – Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 4,000)

Boom. Five minutes into the level and we’ve lost a player. We’re now down to the final nine players and they’re redrawing and moving to the main stage.

The elimination happened over at the feature table, so hold on for about 30 minutes and we’ll have all the juicy details for you. We’ll also be pausing our coverage for a bit until we catch up with the live stream. –AV

9:00pm: We’re back

Our well-fed players are back from dinner break and they’ve just started level 15. Blinds are up to 12,000/24,000 with a 4,000 ante and only 10 players remain. –AV

7:36pm: Dinner time

The final ten have now gone on an 80-minute dinner break. We’ll do the same, so see you soon. –JS

7:36pm: Luca takes on off Kenney before dinner
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

In the last hand of the level, Ivan Luca raised to 60,000 from the small blind and Bryn Kenney called from the big blind. The flop came A♦ 9♣ 4♣ and Luca led out for 81,000. Kenney called and both players checked after the K♥ came on the turn.

A 10♦ completed the board and Luca bet 50,000. Kenney folded and players went on break. The hand left Kenney with 835,000 while Luca was up to 2.75 million. –AV

7:35pm: Royal flush helps Kenney double
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Bryn Kenney has just doubled up with a royal flush and then said that he had a straight flush two orbits ago in a hand that didn’t get to showdown. What are the chances!

Erik Seidel opened to 45,000 from under the gun and was called by Ivan Luca in the next seat before Kenney squeezed all-in for 446,000 from the button. Luca folded after Seidel flicked in a chip to call.

Seidel: A♥ Q♣
Kenney: A♠ K♠

The board ran J♠ 9♣ 10♠ Q♠ 4♥ . They’ll just about do for Kenney! Seidel dropped to 1.15million after the loss. –MC

7:25pm: Outer table update
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

The action at the outer table has slowed a bit of late. A quick three-hand recap for you.

In one hand, Erik Seidel raised from the hijack and saw both Ivan Luca (cutoff) and Isaac Haxton (big blind) call. The flop came a coordinated 9♠ 6♠ 5♦ , but a Seidel continuation bet was enough to win what was in the middle.

Sam Greenwood won the next one with a preflop open, then he tried again on the next hand from the cutoff, but Isaac Haxton three-bet from next door on the button. Greenwood looked like he might want to venture a call, but after a bit of contemplation got out.

Fifteen minutes remain before the end of Level 14 and the start of the dinner break. –MH

7:22pm: Take a walk with us

While we wait for the unofficial final table bubble to pop, take a walk with us around what happens away from the tables. There’s a lot.

7:20pm: Kenney shoves
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Ivan Luca opened from the button and both Bryn Kenney and Sam Greenwood called form the blinds.

The flop came K♠ 3♦ 10♠

Kenney and Greenwood checked, then called Luca’s bet of 20,000 for a J♠ on the turn. All three players checked this time, bringing a 3♣ on the river.

Kenney now moved all in, pushing forward about 340,000 more. Greenwood folded immediately but Luca tanked, spending a time-bank card before folding his hand.

He drops slightly to 2.6 million, while Kenney climbs to 600,000 chips. –SB

7:15pm: Greenwood gets a small one
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Not all poker hands are wild five-bet all-ins, there’s a lot of small ball involved in the game. Sam Greenwood recently showed us an example. He raised to 40,000 from under the gun and action folded to Erik Seidel on the button. Seidel called and the blinds released.

The flop came down K♥ 4♣ 9♠ and both players checked. Small ball. Then they checked again when the 3♠ came on the turn. Small ball. A K♠ completed the board and Greenwood bet 80,000. Seidel decided he was done with the hand and folded.

Greenwood took in the pot and is up to 760,000 while the small ball still left Seidel with 1.4 million. –AV

7:05pm: Greenwood post flop aggression pays
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Sam Greenwood took on and defeated the monster-stacked Ivan Luca to see his stack swell to 590,000. He was out of position too.

Luca opened to 40,000 from the cutoff and was only called by Greenwood in the small blind. The flop spread 6♣ 10♣ J♠ and Greenwood took over the initiative with a 35,000 lead. Call. The turn was the 3♠ and Greenwood was in no mood to back down, betting 150,000. It got the job done as Luca folded. –MC

6:52pm: Chidwick good in the small blind
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 2,000)

Stephen Chidwick completed from the small blind with K♣ 5♣ and Mustapha Kanit checked his option with K♠ 3♥ .

Chidwick flopped well when the dealer put the A♣ 9♣ 5♠ out, though both players checked.

The 4♠ came on the turn and Chidwick bet 30,000. Kanit called, taking them to the J♣ on the river.

That was a huge card for Chidwick and he bet 45,000. However Kanit had nothing and, despite pondering making a move, moved only to fold. –HS

6:50pm: Luca takes chunk from Seidel
Level 14 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)

Here’s a big pot for Ivan Luca, which puts him back into the chip lead. It’s even better for him because he took the chips from his nearest neighbour, both at the table and on the leader board. That man is Erik Seidel.

Seidel started things with a raise to 45,000 from the button, only for Luca to three-bet from the small blind, making it 135,000. Luca has been doing this with all manner of hands, so no blame to Seidel for calling.

The flop brought the 3♠ J♦ K♦ and both players checked it. That took them to the 9♦ on the turn. Luca bet 185,000, which Seidel called, and the dealer put the 2♥ on the river.

Luca cut out a bet of 430,000, which gave Seidel pause for thought. But he called before his 30 seconds thinking time was up, only to be shown K♣ K♠ for a flopped set.

Seidel nodded his appreciation at a hand beautifully played. Luca now has 2.85 million, while Seidel slips to 1.49 million. –HS

6:40pm: Peters hacked down
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

David Peters was down to just 50,000 and moved all-in from the cutoff. Isaac Haxton raised from the small blind and Erik Seidel folded from the big blind.

Peters turned over A♣ 8♦ and Haxton had him dominated with A♦ K♣ . Haxton was already in the lead and then the flop came K♦ J♥ J♣ to extend it. Peters started packing up his things and a 2♠ on the turn and a 9♠ on the river sealed his fate. Peters was out in 11th while Haxton chipped up to 1.2 million. –AV

6:35pm: Kanit collects another double, this time through Negreanu
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

With just about 350,000 to start, Mustapha Kanit raised to 34,000 with K♣ Q♥ from the button. Daniel Negreanu then three-bet to 108,000 with A♦ 10♣ , and after thinking a short while Kanit chose just to call.

The flop came 6♣ K♥ J♣ , smacking Kanit’s hand by pairing both hole cards. Negreanu lead with a bet big enough to put Kanit all in, and Kanit called right away.

The turn was the 10♠ and the river the 3♥ , and Kanit has doubled again, this time to 736,000. Negreanu, meanwhile, is down to 1.37 million. –MH

6:32pm: Kanit doubles through Katz
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Mustapha Kanit shoved all in for his last 174,000 from under the gun with K♠ J♦ and got a caller in Cary Katz who had gotten 9♠ 9♥ on the button.

The flop came J♥ 8♠ J♠ , making trips for Kanit and giving him the big edge with two cards to come. The turn was the 5♦ and the river the 5♥ , and Kanit survives with 384,000. Katz is now down to 530,000. –MH

6:30pm: Peters short after doubling Greenwood
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Sam Greenwood got lucky to double in a battle of the blinds versus David Peters, who was left with 53,000 after the defeat.

Peters moved all-in with A♦ 2♦ from the small blind and Greenwood called off his 271,000 from the big blind holding K♣ 8♣ . Greenwood went on to make two pair as the board ran J♦ K♠ 9♣ 8♥ 2♣ . –MC

6:30pm: Chidwick vs. Bonomo
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

With 11 left, Erik Seidel on the outer table has nudged ahead of Ivan Luca and Daniel Negreanu for the chip lead. Meanwhile Justin Bonomo had also moved up over 2 million before the following hand with Stephen Chidwick took place.

Bonomo raised the button with A♣ J♣ , and Chidwick defended his BB with 8♠ 5♦ to see a nice flop for him — 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ . Both players checked, then the 7♠ made a straight for Chidwick. Both checked again.

The river was the Q♠ . Chidwick bet 100,000 and Bonomo folded, preserving his stack of 2.07 million. Chidwick, meanwhile, is battling with 315,000 (about a third of the average). –MH

6:25pm: Luca over Haxton
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

With the exception of Sam Greenwood, everyone on the outer table is now very well stacked. It means that every pot has the potential to grow huge.

Here’s one, although the players involved–Ivan Luca and Isaac Haxton–kept it relatively modest.

Luca began things with a raise to 32,000 from the cutoff and Haxton was the only caller in the big blind. They both then checked the A♣ 6♣ 2♥ flop.

The 4♣ turn prompted Haxton to lead for 20,000 and Luca called, bringing the 9♦ on the river.

Haxton now checked and, in keeping with established trends, Luca bet big. It was 107,000. Haxton ran the clock down near to the last five seconds before saying, “Call.”

Luca turned over his A♦ 5♣ and it was good, building his stack to 2.1 million. Haxton mucked and set about nursing his pile of 1.19 million. –HS

6:20pm: Negreanu and Luca still neck-and-neck
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

On the very next hand after that one in which Justin Bonomo bluffed the river and won a nice pot off of Stephen Chidwick, Daniel Negreanu raised to 35,000 from early position with A♣ Q♥ , then Bonomo three-bet to 120,000 after being dealt A♥ K♦ in the cutoff.

Negreanu called the reraise, then the flop fell Q♦ 9♠ 4♣ , hitting Negreanu’s hand. Both checked, then after the 5♣ turn both checked again.

The river was the 8♠ . This time Negreanu bet big, pushing out 225,000 with around 275,000 in the pot, and Bonomo folded.

Negreanu has just over 2.1 million and is back in first ahead of Ivan Luca by just a little, while Bonomo has 1.63 million. –MH

6:20pm: Peters petering
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

David Peters’ stack took another hit and now he’s near the bottom of the pack with 315,000. Erik Seidel dealt the most recent blow to Peters. Seidel started the hand off with a raise to 35,000 from the button and Peters called from the big blind.

Peters then checked the 10♥ 4♣ Q♥ flop and Seidel bet 40,000. Peters called and checked again when the A♦ came on the turn. Seidel cranked it up to 102,000 and Peters called, bringing a J♣ on the river.

There was another check from Peters and a final bet from Seidel, this one worth 155,000. It was too much for Peters though and he let his hand go. Seidel chipped up to nearly 2.3 million while Peters was left with about 315,000. –AV

6:15pm: Bonomo bombs river, claims chips from Chidwick
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Justin Bonomo raised to 40,000 from the cutoff with A♦ J♠ . It folded to Stephen Chidwick in the small blind who also had been dealt a big ace — A♥ K♦ — and he three-bet to 145,000. Bryn Kenney folded the big blind, and Bonomo called.

The flop came 10♦ 10♥ 5♣ and Chidwick led for 75,000. Bonomo called. The turn was the 3♠ . Chidwick took his time, then tossed out a second barrel worth 125,000.

Bonomo leaned forward to see what Chidwick had left — just over 430,000 — and called again. That brought the pot to 720,000.

The river was the 2♦ . Would Chidwick fire once more? No, he would not. Would Bonomo bluff at it? Yes, he would, pushing all in. Chidwick let his hand go right away.

Put Bonomo up over 1.75 million with that pot, while Chidwick slips to 433,000. –MH

6:14pm: Amazing unlikely comeback thwarted, Kruk gone
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

After being down to 23,000 in chips, Christopher Kruk had managed to double and double and double to the point he had 411,000. So when Ike Haxton came in for a raise to 40,000, Kruk jammed it all in with A♣ 9♠ . Problem was, Haxton held 9♦ 9♥ .

“I’m kind of rooting for you,” Haxton said.

“I’m also kind of rooting for me,” Kruk replied.

It was, however, not to be. The board ran clean for Haxton, and Kruk was gone. –BW

6:09pm: JNT falls to Seidel
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

It’s been a level of big pairs for Erik Seidel. He doubled with kings before, and now he’s taken care of Jean-Noel Thorel with pocket aces to see his stack rise past 2 million.

Seidel opened to 35,000 from under the gun and called after Thorel three-bet all-in for around 200,000 from the small blind.

Thorel: K♥ J♠
Seidel: A♣ A♠

The board ran J♥ Q♥ Q♠ 9♥ K♠ to make Seidel the better two pair hand. –MC

6:05pm: Feature table update
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

On the feature table Cary Katz picked up pocket sevens and raised, but folded after Stephen Chidwick three-bet him. Good for Katz, as Chidwick had pocket jacks.

A little after that Katz was in a hand with Bryn Kenney in which Kenney had pocket eights and the best hand on the flop, but a Katz bet with just ace-high was enough to get Kenney to fold.

Shortly after that Ivan Luca raised to 35,000 with J♦ 8♦ from the hijack seat, Katz called with 6♣ 5♣ from the small blind, and Chidwick called iwth 3♥ 3♦ from the big blind.

The flop came J♠ 5♠ 7♥ and it checked to Luca who bet 40,000, and that got the others out.

Luca has 2.1 million, Chidwick 780,000, and Katz just over 560,000. –MH

6:04pm: Seidel continues upward trend
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Erik Seidel has built his stack to around 1.9 million now, continuing the resurgence that began with his crushing of Christopher Kruk.

In the latest pot, he opened to 35,000 from early position and got calls in three spots: David Peters in the cutoff, Isaac Haxton in the small blind and Jean-Noel Thorel in the big.

After the flop of 6♦ 7♠ 7♣ both Haxton and Thorel checked, Seidel bet 50,000, and everyone folded. –HS

6pm: Krukcoin
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

If Kevin Hobbs was still in this tournament, we’d tell him to invest in Christopher Kruk because he’s been doubling and tripling faster than any cryptocurrency out there.

After a triple and a double, Kruk doubled again. He moved all-in for 176,000 from the cutoff and David Peters rejammed from the small blind. Sam Greenwood folded from the big blind and players tabled their hands.

Kruk turned over A♦ 4♣ and Peters showed a dominating A♥ 10♦ . But Kruk wasn’t about to go down. He hit a four on the flop of a K♣ 9♥ 4♦ Q♣ 8♣ board and doubled to about 375,000 while Peters dipped to 520,000. –AV

5:55pm: Luca back in front
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

On the third hand of the new level — Stephen Chidwick won a small one, then Justin Bonomo won another — Ivan Luca picked up 10♥ 10♣ in early position and raised to 38,000 and Bonomo called from the cutoff with 7♥ 7♦ .

Both checked the Q♣ J♥ 6♦ flop. The turn brought the 9♦ and both checked again. The A♦ river completed the board, and both checked one more time to give Luca a small one.

That hand actually nudges Luca back into the chip lead with just over 2 million, just a touch above Daniel Negreanu at present. –MH

5:55pm: Kruk doubles. Again.
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Christopher Kruk is proving unstoppable, albeit as the short stack. He just doubled up again, moving in with around 80,000 with J♣ 10♣ against the J♦ 9♦ of David Peters.

The flop was no good, coming as it did 9♠ 3♦ Q♣ but there were plenty of outs, and when the turn and river came 7♥ [ and 8♥ Kruk made a straight to keep him alive. Up to 180,000. –SB

5:53pm: Hart busts as Kruk triples
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

The Kevin Hart show is over. He busted in a hand that saw Christopher Kruk triple up the very next hand after he lost most of his chips.

Isaac Haxton opened to 32,000 from the cutoff before Hart three-bet all-in for 148,000 from the next seat and Kruk called all-in for 23,000 from the big blind. Haxton called both all-ins.

Kruk: Q♥ Q♠
Haxton: A♠ 10♦
Hart: K♠ Q♣

Hart called for a king of hearts the whole way but it failed to come as the board ran 7♣ 6♦ 9♣ 4♥ 5♠ . –MC

5:48pm: Huge double for Seidel
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

Erik Seidel is now up to around 1.65 million after winning a massive pot against Christopher Kruk. Kruk has crumbs left, though there was a moment when he seemed to be out entirely.

It started with a raise to 35,000 from Kruk under the gun, then a three-bet to 150,000 from Seidel. Everyone else around the table folded and it came back to Kruk, who moved all-in with a stack of about 830,000. Seidel, with what looked to be a stack of almost the exact same size, called all-in.

Kruk was in trouble with A♦ K♣ to Seidel’s K♥ K♠ , but we have all seen an ace pop out in this spot many times before. Not this time, though. The board was dry.

The dealer began counting up the stacks and it really seemed as though Seidel had Kruk covered. But Kruk asked for it to be double-checked and that was a really wise thing to do. In fact, Seidel had 815,000 and Kruk had about 25,000 more.

So Seidel surges up into contention, but Kruk, significantly, is not out yet. –HS

5:42pm: Short stack skirmish
Level 13 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)

The two shortest stacks of the tournament clashed in the first hand back from break. Jean-Noel Thorel started it off with an under-the-gun raise to 40,000. Action folded around to Kevin Hart on the big blind and he called.

“Who’s gonna shove first? Who’s gonna shove first?” Hart said as the dealer fanned out a 7♣ J♥ 4♠ flop. As it turns out, no one would shove. Thorel bet 60,000 and Hart folded. Hart is now even shorter with about 160,000 while Thorel is up to 280,000. –AV

5:20pm: Break time

We’ll be back in 20 minutes.

5:20pm: Bonomo finishes off Davies, 14 remain
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

With just seven big blinds left to start the last hand of the level, Seth Davies open-raised all in for 91,000 from the cutoff seat with 6♣ 5♣ . It folded to Justin Bonomo in the big blind who called with A♦ 6♠ , and after the board rolled out K♥ 4♠ Q♥ Q♣ 2♣ , Davies is out in 15th place.

After getting most of Davies’s stack in the last hand, Bonomo got the rest to move up around 1.5 million. –MH

5:16pm: Big double for Bonomo through Davies
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

With the end of the level approaching, Justin Bonomo raised to 27,000 from under the gun with J♦ 10♦ , then Seth Davies three-bet to 90,000 with K♠ 9♠ . It folded back to Bonomo who called, and the flop fell 8♠ Q♣ 5♠ .

With a gutshot draw Bonomo checked, and with a flush draw Davies checked as well. The turn was the 9♥ , filling Bonomo’s straight while giving Davies a pair of nines.

Bonomo led the turn this time, betting 150,000 — about 75 percent of the pot. Davies took about 20 seconds before calling, pushing the pot up over half a million.

The river then brought the K♥ , making a second pair for Davies. Bonomo had 440,000 left, and eventually pushed all but 2,000 of his chips forward. Davies thought about it and finally called, giving Bonomo the huge double-up.

Bonomo bumps way up close to 1.4 million with that one, while Davies is on fumes with 93,000. –MH

5:15pm: Nice catch for Seidel
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Christopher Kruk opened the cutoff to 30,000 – a little larger than we’ve seen in prior hands – only for Erik Seidel to three-bet the button 140,000, again on the larger side. Kruk made the call when it folded back to him, and the pair went to a 3♣ A♥ 10♣ flop.

Seidel continued for 80,000 when it checked to him, and Kruk made the call to see the J♦ turn. That slowed down the action, and after two checks the Q♥ completed the board. There’d be no more betting, and Kruk announced he had an ace. That was no good however, as Seidel’s Q♣ J♣ had got there on fifth street making two pair.

Kruk is down to 900,000 now, while Seidel is up to the exact same amount. –JS

5:13pm: Haxton doubles through Kruk
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Christopher Kruk wasn’t hoping for a call on the river since there was only one hand he could beat. Kruk thought his all-in bet would be good enough to push Isaac Haxton off his hand, but it wasn’t.

The hand started when Haxton raised to 27,000 from the cutoff and Kruk called from thebig blind. Both players checked the 4♠ 3♣ J♥ flop and an A♦ came on the turn.

Haxton bet 60,000 when checked to and Kruk raised to 150,000. Haxton called and a 9♠ completed the board. Kruk moved all-in and Haxton jokingly asked for a count. Kruk was sitting behind 1.3 million while Haxton just had a small pile worth 211,000 in front of him.

The clock ticked down and Haxton threw in a few chips in the final seconds.

“Second nut low,” Kruk said and turned over 6♠ 5♥ . It was exactly what Haxton wanted to hear. He turned over A♥ 10♣ and doubled up to about 800,000 while Kruk dipped to 1.1 million.

“If you would’ve folded that ace I woulda done punched you in the side of the head,” Kevin Hart told Haxton.

“Thanks for keeping me in line Kevin,” Haxton said. –AV

5:10pm: Luca pressures Kanit
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Mustapha Kanit raised to 25,000 with A♥ J♥ from the button, Ivan Luca called from the big blind with 9♥ 7♥ , and the flop came 3♦ 5♥ K♦ .

Luca checked, Kanit bet 20,000, and Luca check-raised to 60,000.

“Just an awesome play… the no-equity bluff,” said Lex Veldhuis on the live stream commentary.

Kanit sat quietly for several moments, reaching for chips once and then pulling his hands back. He spent two time bank cards thinking about it, but finally folded.

Luca has 1.92 million now, Kanit just 222,000. –MH

5:09pm: Thorel adds some
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

The short-stacked Jean-Noel Thorel just got his chips in the middle, but opted against the open shove. Instead he opened to 35,000 from the cutoff from a stack of about 160,000 and David Peters called in the big blind.

Those two were left alone to a flop of 3♣ Q♥ Q♦ and after Peters checked, Thorel pushed. Peters quickly folded, and Thorel showed his J♦ J♠ .

“That’s a nice hand, sir,” Isaac Haxton said. Thorel adds a few more chips, but is still sitting with a sub 20 big blind stack. — HS

5:05pm: Big river bluff gives Negreanu chip lead
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Ivan Luca raised to 30,000 from early position with 9♠ 9♦ and got one caller in Daniel Negreanu sitting in the next seat with 2♥ 2♣ .

The board came 5♣ 3♥ 6♦ . Luca bet 28,000, and Negreanu raised to 95,000. Luca called, and the turn brought the 3♠ . Both checked.

The river was the 8♣ , meaning Luca’s overpair of nines remained best. Luca checked again, and Negreanu bet big — 400,000 into 284,000 — and Luca folded quickly.

That pot puts Negreanu in the lead with just over 2 million, while Luca is next-best with 1.85 million. –MH

5:03pm: Peters takes one away
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

David Peters has risen to 830,000 after he won a three-bet pot out of position to Isaac Haxton.

The pot started with an Erik Seidel raise to 27,000 from middle position and a flat call from Peters in the hijack. Haxton was on the button and squeezed to 82,000, which was enough to oust Seidel, but not Peters who called. Both players then went on to check a J♣ 4♣ A♣ flop before Peters led for 87,000 on the 10♠ turn. Haxton folded and dropped to 382,000. –MC

5:00pm: Three down for Haxton
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

He’s getting involved a lot, but Ike Haxton just hasn’t been able to take down a pot this orbit.

First he opened to 28,000 under the gun +1, which got calls from Erik Seidel (sb) and David Peters (bb). The three went to a 7♦ 2♥ 3♦ flop and it checked to Haxton, who continued for 25,000. Seidel had a three-bet up his sleeve though, and bumped it up to 85,000. Peters got out the way, and Haxton did the same.

He’d try again in the next hand, making it 28,000 again. It folded to Christopher Kruk.

“You have like 590,000?” Kruk asked. “540,000,” Haxton replied.

Kruk immediately three-bet to 85,000, and when it folded back to Haxton he let it go.

Onto the next one. Seidel opened the cutoff this time to 27,000, and when Sam Greenwood called from the small blind Haxton came along from the big. The dealer put out an 8♣ 8♦ 9♥ flop, but Seidel took it down with a c-bet, making it three hands down in a row for Haxton.

He’s on around 510,000 now. –JS

4:47pm: Kruk over Haxton
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

After the four flop-less hands described below, Ike Haxton and Christopher Kruk halted the trend. Haxton opened to 27,000 from the cutoff and Kruk called in the big blind, ensuring the dealer would be called into action.

She offered the 2♥ K♣ 6♣ for the players’ delectation and both seemed to like it despite Kruk’s initial reticence. He checked, Haxton bet 20,000 and the Kruk raised to 60,000. Haxton called.

The turn was the 2♣ and Kruk led for 140,000. Haxton sigh-folded, preserving a stack of 655,000. Kruk, meanwhile, has 1.48 million. — HS

4:45pm: Four pots, no flops
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Four hands without a flop on the outer table, with a set of blinds and antes going first to Kevin Hart (open shove under the gun, folds all around), then David Peters (raise to 33,000 from the button, folds from the blinds), then Sam Greenwood (raise to 25,000 from button, folds from the blinds), then another to Greenwood (raise to 30,000 from the cutoff, folds). — HS

4:44pm: Koon knocked out
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Erik Seidel didn’t knock out Jason Koon, but the table thinks he could have. The hand started off with Seidel raising to 27,000 from the button and then Koon moved all-in for 260,000 from the small blind. David Peters called from the big blind and Seidel folded. Koon turned over A♠ 7♦ and Peters tabled a dominating A♦ J♥ .

“It’s been real if I get got,” Koon said before the cards came out. The flop came 10♦ 9♥ 5♣ and then a Q♥ came on the turn.

“Erik’s steaming,” Haxton said, nodding towards Seidel.

“Oh Erik’s on tilt,” Kevin Hart added. Seidel smiled and shook his head as a Q♦ came on the river to eliminated Koon. “How bad do you play Erik?” Hart said. “Jesus Christ.”

Seidel’s still in it and will have time to redeem himself in Kevin Hart’s eyes, but Koon is out 16th and Peters is up to about 750,000. –AV

4:43pm: Queen high good for Hart
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

A win is a win, no matter how small.

Kevin Hart raised to 26,000 from the hijack and was called by Jason Koon in the big blind. The board ran out 9♠ 7♥ 7♣ A♦ K♠ with both players checking the whole way down.

“You win, I have eight high.” announced Koon.

“I can beat that.” responded Hart and opened Q♣ 10♠ to claim the pot. –MC

4:35pm: Chips for Chidwick
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Chip leader Ivan Luca raised to 28,000 from the hijack seat with 9♠ 9♦ and Stephen Chidwick defended his big blind by calling with 9♣ 5♦ .

The flop came A♣ 5♠ A♦ , meaning both players had two pair. Chidwick checked, Luca bet 22,000, and Chidwick called. The turn brought the 2♣ and both players checked, then the 5♥ river meant Chidwick had the best hand with fives full of aces.

Chidwick sat statue-like for nearly a half-minute and then checked, and Luca didn’t take the bait and checked behind.

With that small pot Chidwick is at 732,000, while Luca still leads with 2.15 million. –MH

4:30pm: Kenney over a million
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Over on the feature table, Bryn Kenney picked up a strong starter with A♠ Q♥ and duly raised to 27,000 from early position. Justin Bonomo was dealt a nice hand in the small blind, too — 10♦ 10♣ — and he three-bet to 100,000.

It folded to Kenney who took his time before calling the reraise, and he certainly didn’t hate the Q♣ A♦ 4♣ flop.

Bonomo checked, Kenney fired 94,000, and Bonomo swiftly folded.

Kenney is now up to 1.15 million, while Bonomo is down to 715,000. –MH

4:29pm: A light Hart
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Kevin Hart is officially down in the danger zone now with less than 20 big blinds, having just lost a pot to Christopher Kruk.

Kruk opened to 26,000 in the UTG+1 seat and it folded around to Hart in the big blind. He decided to take a flop, which fell 2♣ A♦ 4♣ . Hart checked it, and then called when Kruk continued for 25,000.

The turn came the K♥ and Kruk opted for a larger sizing when it checked to him. The bet was 82,000, and although Hart looked like he would love to see another card, he reluctantly laid his hand down.

“Nice hand. Niiiiiiiiiiice hand,” he said, as he saw the pot heading Kruk’s way. He’s up to 1.33 million now, while Hart is low with 200,000. –JS

4:30pm: Kenney over a million
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Over on the feature table, Bryn Kenney picked up a strong starter with A♠ Q♥ and duly raised to 27,000 from early position. Justin Bonomo was dealt a nice hand in the small blind, too — 10♦ 10♣ — and he three-bet to 100,000.

It folded to Kenney who took his time before calling the reraise, and he certainly didn’t hate the Q♣ A♦ 4♣ flop.

Bonomo checked, Kenney fired 94,000, and Bonomo swiftly folded.

Kenney is now up to 1.15 million, while Bonomo is down to 715,000. –MH

4:22pm: Straight for Haxton
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel opened for 30,000 in early position. The action was folded around to Isaac Haxton in the big blind who called to see the flop.

9♦ 5♥ 7♠

Haxton checked, then called Thorel’s 50,000, which brought the 10♦ turn card.
Both players checked that for the 8♠ river card. This time Haxton bet first, making it 45,000. Thorel, never one to take much time, called.

Thorel: A♠ 7♥
Haxton: K♣ 6♣

There was a pause.

“Straight” said Haxton, which cleared things up for Thorel who, looking hard at the board, broke in to a grin.

He drops to 260,000 while Haxton boosts his stack to 700,000. – SB

4:20pm: Negreanu moving up, Kanit moving down
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

On the first hand following the two-table redraw, Mustapha Kanit — the shortest stack at the feature table — opened with a raise to 25,000 holding Q♣ 9♣ .

It folded around to the big-stacked Daniel Negreanu in the big blind who called with K♥ 2♠ , and the pair saw a flop come 2♣ J♦ 10♦ . Negreanu check-called a 25,000 continuation bet from Kanit, then the turn brought the 10♥ . This time Negreanu fired a bet of 40,000, and Kanit thought a short while before calling.

The river 10♠ put a third ten on the board, meaning Negreanu had a full house, tens full of deuces, and Kanit couldn’t call.

Negreanu is up to 1.87 million, while Kanit is down to 171,000 now. –MH

4:15pm: Seating assignments for final two tables (with chips!)
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Outer table
1. Isaac Haxton – 586,000
2. Kevin Hart – 270,000
3. Jean-Noel Thorel – 399,000
4. Christopher Kruk – 1,273,000
5. Erik Seidel – 585,000
6. Jason Koon – 300,000
7. David Peters – 313,000
8. Sam Greenwood – 416,000

Feature table
1. Ivan Luca – 2,223,000
2. Daniel Negreanu – 1,761,000
3. Justin Bonomo – 772,000
4. Cary Katz – 565,000
5. Stephen Chidwick – 668,000
6. Bryn Kenney – 992,000
7. Mustapha Kanit – 263,000
8. Seth Davies – 665,000

4:06pm: Koon pushes out three
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Jason Koon just added about 100,000 to his stack without even seeing a flop, pushing all-in from the big blind and getting folds from three opponents.

It was an interesting hand: Sam Greenwood opened to 25,000 with Q♦ J♣ . Jean-Noel Thorel called with A♣ 8♣ , Ivan Luca called with A♦ J♦ and then Koon jammed for 297,000 from the big blind.

It was very well timed. Everyone folded, even though Koon’s K♦ Q♠ was not the best hand out there. — HS

4:06pm: Unlucky timing costs O’Dywer
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Steve O’Dwyer will not be adding more silverware to his bulging trophy cabinet. He found a great spot to get his short stack in but, unfortunately for him, he ran into a monster behind him.

Seth Davies raised to 27,000 from the button before O’Dywyer three-bet all-in for 170,000 from the small blind and Bryn Kenney successfully isolated by shoving from the big blind.

O’Dwyer: A♥ Q♠
Kenney: Q♣ Q♦

The board ran 3♥ 7♦ 9♣ 5♥ 7♠ to see Kenney’s hand hold. He moved up to around 950,000.

There will now be a full re-draw for the last two tables. — MC

4:01pm: Negreanu’s small ball c-bet
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Action folded to Daniel Negreanu on the button and he opened to 22,000. Seth Davies defended his big blind, and the two went heads up to a 3♠ Q♦ 9♥ flop. Davies checked it, and Negreanu made a small ball c-bet of just 14,000, which gave Davies a great price. He made the call.

The turn came the Q♣ and Negreanu decided to use a bigger sizing on the turn. Davies checked, Negreanu made it 52,000, and that was enough to get the job done. Negreanu is up to 1.7 million now.

Davies dropped to 670,000, but he would get a few chips back in the very next hand after he three-bet jammed over Mustapha Kanit’s 21,000 button open. Kanit let it go, and is down to 260,000 now. –JS

4:00pm: Katz collects
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

A three-way limped pot to share with you from one of the outer tables, one involving Stephen Chidwick (button), David Peters (small blind), and Cary Katz (big blind). That’s right — Peters (featured in that hand just below in which Ivan Luca moved over 2 million — has now moved away from the feature table.

Following the preflop limps, the flop fell 4♥ Q♣ 2♦ and it checked to Chidwick who bet 22,000. Peters called, then Cary Katz check-raised to 75,000. Both of Katz’s opponents took their time before calling his raise.

The J♠ brought three checks, then after the 8♣ river Peters checked and Katz pushed all in. That earned rapid folds from both Chidwick and Peters, and Katz collected the pot.

Katz bumps up to 525,000, Chidwick still has 680,000, and Peters is now down to 240,000. –MH

3:55pm: More for Luca
Level 12 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)

Ivan Luca opened for 22,000 from early position and it folded around to Erik Seidel who called from the big blind.

“Erik is very menacing with his calls,” opined Kevin Hart, remarking on Seidel’s quiet reserve. “It gets a little scary.” Seidel, it goes without saying, remained quiet.

The flop came 8♥ 6♣ 9♠ , and Seidel check-called Luca’s 25,000 continuation bet. The 7♠ on the turn then brought another check from Seidel, and this time Luca checked back.

The river was the K♠ . Seidel checked once more, Luca bet big — 125,000 — and after thinking it over Seidel folded, keeping the 450,000 he has behind. Meanwhile chip leader Luca is way up around 2.25 million now. –MH

3:54pm: Luca pushes through the 2 million mark
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Jean-Noel Thorel opened to 23,000 with J♥ 10♥ from UTG+1 and David Peters, with 7♥ 7♦ , called in the cutoff. Ivan Luca then three-bet to 100,000 from the button with K♣ 9♦ and put the squeeze back on Thorel. Thorel folded.

Peters, however, made the call and so the two saw the flop of 3♦ 3♣ 9♠ . That was a pretty good flop for Luca and his well-disguised hand.

Peters checked and Luca bet 80,000. But Peters wasn’t convinced and so called.

The 5♥ came on the turn and Peters checked again. Luca checked too. That took them to the J♣ on the river.

Peters checked and Luca tried to find some more value with a bet of 192,000. Peters was clearly unconvinced and, after a spell in the tank, made a crying call. Luca showed him the winner and Peters slipped to 303,000 as a result.

Luca, meanwhile, continues to crush. He extends his chip-lead to 2.03 million. — HS

3:52pm: Shock news: Negreanu loses a hand
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Daniel Negreanu’s amazing Level 11 has gotten some more balance after he a lost a hand to Steve O’Dwyer. It was only a small loss but it enabled O’Dwyer to rise to 605,000.

The Team PokerStars Pro opened to 22,000 from the cutoff and O’Dwyer peeled from the big blind to see a 10♣ 4♥ 2♦ flop. Negreanu continued for 14,000 and O’Dywer check-called. He called another 21,000 on the 9♦ turn before the 8♠ river was checked through. O’Dwyer tabled K♥ 10♠ and Negreanu mucked. — MC

3:49pm: Peters plucks some off Chidwick
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

David Peters rivered a straight to take some of Stephen Chidwick’s new chips. Peters started the hand off with a raise to 22,000 from the hijack and Chidwick called from the big blind.

Both players checked the Q♠ 8♦ 10♣ flop and Chidwick checked again after the 9♣ came on the turn. Peters bet 33,000 and Chidwick called, bringing a 6♦ on the river.

Chidwick checked again and Peters upped the bet to 62,000. Chidwick thought, threw in a timebank card and thought some more. Then he called. Peters turned over A♣ 7♣ for the rivered 6-10 straight and Chidwick mucked. The pot put Peters up to 345,000 while Chidwick’s stack is still strong with 780,000. –AV

3:46pm: Mic check Chidwick
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

In order to bring you the live stream from here at the PCA, it takes lots of camera operators and lots of boom microphones to go with them. That means that when a hand is taking place on the outer tables, those boom mics have to hover right above the players’ heads.

Now, Stephen Chidwick and Christopher Kruk aren’t exactly known for their in-hand banter, admittedly. But regardless, those mics hung just an inch or so above their heads during this one. It’s a good job there was no disgusting bad beats that would cause either of them to suddenly jolt upwards and smack into one of them.

Chidwick had opened to 22,000 from the UTG+1 seat and Kruk called to his immediate left. The dealer spread a 4♠ 4♦ 10♠ flop on which Chidwick led for 35,000. Call.

The turn came the K♠ and Chidwick slowed down, checking it over and letting Kruk in for a 45,000 bet. The Brit didn’t budge though, bringing a river card: the 5♣ . Chidwick tapped the table, and Kruk did the same, mucking when Chidwick showed his Q♠ 10♣ for second pair.

Kruk is on 1.25 million, Chidwick is up to 850,000, and the boom mics are still in working order…for now. –JS

3:42pm: Big fold from Hart
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Kevin Hart has done a pretty good job of convincing the poker-playing populace that he takes a heart-on-the-sleeve, aggressive, devil-may-care approach to the game. But he also just made a very shrewd fold to prove there’s more to his game than perhaps meets the eye.

The hand began with a raise to 22,000 from Erik Seidel, under the gun with A♠ Q♦ . Hart found J♥ J♦ in the small blind and three bet to 50,000. Seidel called.

“And then there were two,” Hart said.

The flop of 10♥ 2♣ A♥ hit one of Seidel’s overcards, but both players checked. Then Seidel bet 63,000 on the 5♦ turn. Hart thought about it for a while, but then folded. Hart saved himself some money there. — HS

3:41pm: Davies wins against Kenney
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

A flop of 6♠ J♥ 3♥ was checked both ways by Seth Davies and Bryn Kenney. On the 2♣ turn Davies bet 60,000 which Kenney, half way through a sandwich, called for the 6♣ river card.

Davies, ever serious looking, announced a bet of 140,000 and the action went back to Kenney. He waited a few seconds, mainly to finish chewing, and then tossed in a red chip to call.

Davies turned over J♠ 5♠ to win the pot and increase his stack to around 680,000. Kenney drops 820,000. – SB

3:34pm: First blood for Koon at feature table
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

As mentioned, Table 3 of this tournament is the PokerStars Live feature table, being streamed cards-up on a 30-minute delay. It means we can watch the action there knowing what everyone’s cards are, but we’re on the same delay as everyone else.

The first hand of Level 11 up there went to Jason Koon, who called Ivan Luca’s 22,000 open on the button. Luca was in the cutoff with A♦ 5♥ while Koon had Q♦ 10♦ .

The flop smacked Koon. It came 10♠ 9♦ 6♦ , but both players checked. Then the 4♣ came on the turn and Luca checked. Koon tried to extract some value with a bet of 75,000, but Luca folded. — HS

3:30pm: Hunichen hauled out
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

The bustout flurry continues. Chris Hunichen was down to 105,000 and jammed it all-in from the button. His stack was small, but his pair was big: 10♣ 10♥ . Action folded to Seth Davies on the big blind and he looked down at a bigger pair: Q♦ Q♥ .

Davies called and improved to a full house on the 2♠ 6♦ 8♦ Q♣ 2♥ board. Hunichen exited the tournament in 18th while Davies chipped up to 425,000. –AV

3:29pm: Petrangelo KO’d by by Kruk
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

There’s been yet another knockout, this one coming on one of the outer tables.

The hand started with Justin Bonomo raising to 23,000 from the hijack seat, and Christopher Kruk called from the small blind. Nick Petrangelo checked his cards in the big blind, paused just a beat, then announced he was reraising all in for his last 160,000-ish.

Bonomo folded quickly, and when Kruk didn’t act right away there was space enough for Petrangelo to insert a question.

“No trap?” he asked Kruk with a grin. Kruk then called, tabling 4♣ 4♥ , and Petrangelo nodded as he turned over A♣ 9♣ .

It was a near coin-flip, and the 10♠ 2♠ K♥ 3♥ 4♠ landed in favor of Kruk to send Petrangelo railward. Kruk is up around 1.34 million now. –MH

3:27pm: Shak’s out after a Negreanu attack
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Dan Shak has enjoyed a fair amount of luck in this tournament in the past. Remember his hand with Vanessa Selbst from a few years back? Maybe he used up all his luck as he busted after his aces got cracked by Daniel Negreanu,

The latter opened from under the gun and called after Shak three-bet to 87,000 from the big blind. The flop fanned 5♠ 8♦ Q♦ and Shak continued for 175,000. Call. The turn was the 9♠ and and Shak moved all-in for 352,000. Snap call.

Shak: A♥ A♦ for an over pair
Negreanu: Q♣ 9♠ for a a turned two pair

The river was the 7♥ and a dazed Shak got up to leave. “Nice hand!” he added in a dry tone.

“Thank you!” answered Negreanu ignoring the tone. He’s up to second in chips with 1.25 million now. –MC

Dan Shak seeing the bad news

3:26pm: Bonomo wins the race
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Reiner Kempe is the latest player to fall from this Super High Roller. He opened the hijack to 25,000 and was three-bet to 65,000 by Justin Bonomo in the cutoff, who prior had asked Kempe to show him his stack. The German had 216,000 total and shoved it all in, which Bonomo called.

Kempe had the A♥ K♠ up against Bonomo’s 9♥ 9♠ , and the 7♠ 10♣ 6♥ 4♦ J♣ board kept the pocket pair in front. Kempe said his goodbyes, and Bonomo is up to 920,000 now. –JS

3:22pm: “He bit it:” Bitcoin investor Kevin Hobbs goes down
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Another departure from the Super High Roller. This time it’s Kevin Hobbs making his way to the rail.

Daniel Negreanu opened for 22,000 in early position and Seth Davies called on the button. At which point Hobbs moved all in.

Negreanu was not done. He raised to 82,000. Davies was not done either, and called to see a flop.

2♣ K♦ 6♣

Negreanu bet another 70,000, forcing Davies to fold and taking things to a showdown.

Negreanu: A♦ A♣
Hobbs: A♥ 10♠

The turn card came 5♣ at which point it was all over for Hobbs who stood and shook the hand of everyone at his table, while the dealer paused, and put out a 9♠ river card.

Hobbs is out. Negreanu moves up to around 700,000. – SB

3:20pm: A duo for O’Dwyer
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Steve O’Dwyer took down back-to-back pots and is now up to about 465,000.

O’Dwyer started both hands off the same way, with an open to 22,000. In the first hand, O’Dwyer got calls from Justin Bonomo, Christopher Kruk and Nick Petrangelo. The flop came J♦ 9♥ 5♦ that hand and O’Dwyer bet 62,000 when checked to. The rest of the table folded and O’Dwyer took down the pot.

O’Dwyer then did the same the following hand and action folded to Cary Katz in the big blind. Katz called and the flop came down 4♣ A♠ 4♠ . O’Dwyer bet 22,000 and Katz called, bringing another pair on the board with an A♥ . Both players checked the turn and an A♣ came on the river to put a full house on the table.

Katz thought and threw in a timebank card even thought he still had 14 seconds left. Katz thought a bit more and checked. O’Dwyer was quicker to act, he bet 55,000 and action went back to Katz. Once again, Katz threw in a timebank card, but this time he folded.

Katz was left with about 370,000 that hand while O’Dwyer chipped up to about 465,000. –AV

3:09pm: Negreanu’s still got it!
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Daniel Negreanu’s strong start to the level has continued as he won a four-bet pot preflop to put him up to close to the 600,000 mark.

Mustapha Kanit opened to 22,000 from under the gun before Bryn Kenney three-bet to 64,000 from the cutoff. Both players folded though after the Team PokerStars Pro four-bet to 155,000 from the small blind.

“He’s still got it!” commented a table mate. –MC

3:07pm: Similar starts, different endings
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Two consecutive hands almost followed the exact same pattern over on Table 1.

First Stephen Chidwick opened to 22,000 under the gun, and it folded around to Ike Haxton in the big blind who defended. The flop came down 9♥ Q♠ 10♦ , and Haxton check-called a 20,000 c-bet. He’d then check-fold the A♦ turn when Chidwick continued for 65,000.

In the very next hand, Chidwick was now in the big blind and defended against Christopher Kruk’s 22,000 under-the-gun open. Identical.

The flop came 6♥ 6♦ 9♥ and Chidwick checked, letting Kruk continue for 20,000. So far, so similar. But then Chidwick three-bet it up to 53,000, changing the course and getting a call from Kruk.

The turn was the 9♦ and Chidwick continued to lead out for 55,000. That got a fold from Kruk, and the first two hands back from the break went Chidwick’s way. –JS

3:05pm: Negreanu fills up with pocket fours
Level 11 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

Seth Davies raised to 22,000 from the hijack on the first hand back from break and action folded to Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu called from the big blind and a Q♠ A♥ Q♣ flop hit the board.

Negreanu check-called a bet of 22,000 and a 4♥ came on the turn. Both players slowed to a check and the river brought a 9♥ . This time Negreanu kicked things off with a bet of 52,000 and Davies called.

Negreanu showed 4♠ 4♦ for the turned full house while Davies flashed A♦ 10♣ for aces and queens. Negreanu chipped up to about 500,000 while Davies dipped to 400,000. –AV

2:35pm: Break time

Players are now on a 20-minute break

2:33pm: Davies doubles
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Seth Davies heads into the break fresh from a double up on the last hand before the interval.

He got involved in a pre-flop raising battle against Mustapha Kanit which ended with his 246,000 stack in the middle. Kanit, who covered it comfortably, had 10♠ 10♦ but Davies was ahead with J♣ J♥ .

The flop, turn and river changed nothing and the bigger pair held. That gave Davies a little more than 500,000, while Kanit slips to 388,000.

That’s the end of Level 10 and a 20-minute break. — HS

2:29pm: Katz’s aces hold
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

It’s been a very good passage of play for Cary Katz, who heads to the break with 430,000. This hand took a long while to play out and ended up being the last of the level on Table 3.

It started with a raise to 17,000 UTG+1 from Stephen Chidwick. Katz called on the button and then Justin Bonomo called in the big blind.

After two checks on the 8♦ A♠ 7♠ flop, Katz bet 26,000 and only Bonomo called.

Both remaining players checked the 5♠ turn, then the 3♠ completed the board. Bonomo led 80,000 and, after a while in the tank, Katz called.

Bonomo showed 5♦ 4♦ . So he hadn’t really hit that super-connected board. Katz was able to turn over his A♦ A♣ and feel relieved that it hadn’t been outdrawn. — HS

2:25pm: A double-up and an elimination
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

First a double-up for Chris Hunichen.

Dan Shak opened for 20,000 which Daniel Negreanu called. Hunichen then raised to 85,000 before Shak moved all in. That forced Negreanu out but Hunichen called.

Shak: J♣ J♥
Hunichen: 9♠ 9♣

The board ran out 8♠ K♥ 8♣ A♣ 7♥ to double Hunichen, who moved up to 140,000. Shak dropped to 480,000 in the process.

A few hands later it was a different story for Bill Perkins.

He got his chips in, around 200,000 of them, against Bryn Kenney.

Kenney: 6♦ 6♣
Perkins: A♣ K♥

The board ran Q♦ 2♣ 3♠ 2♥ 2♦ .

Perkins made his way to the rail. Kenney meanwhile moves up to 1.1 million. –SB

2:20pm: Katz wins freeroll
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Cary Katz only bought in at the start of play today and his 250,000 stack had been cut in two by the beginning of this hand. However he just picked up a double up-plus and can look for another fresh start as the tournament clock ticks us close to the first break.

Action started with a raise to 18,000 from Christopher Kruk, which Katz called a couple of seats around. Steve O’Dwyer, in the cutoff, three-bet to 57,000 and both Kruk and Katz called.

So it was three way to the flop of J♠ 8♠ 2♣ and Kruk checked. Katz moved all-in for 78,000.

O’Dwyer took a few seconds to think about it, but he then flicked in a calling chip. Kruk, however, retreated to leave O’Dwyer to deal with the situation alone.

O’Dwyer turned over A♣ Q♥ prompting Katz to say, “Same hand, but…” The “but” represented a freeroll as his A♠ Q♣ was also a flush draw.

The 4♣ turn was a whiff, but the K♠ river was a hit. That meant Katz won the pot and moved up to around 320,000. O’Dwyer now has 380,000. –HS

2:15pm: Kaverman’s KO
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Right after Steffen Sontheimer’s knockout at the feature table, Byron Kaverman had just 85,000 and K♥ 10♥ versus Chris Hunichen’s 9♠ 9♦ , and a runout of 6♠ 3♦ Q♠ Q♦ 5♠ meant Kaverman was done. –MH

2:10pm: Kempe shoves
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

A crowd around table 3 could only mean a hand brewing. Rainer Kempe had opened on the button for 17,000. Steve O’Dwyer, next to him in the small blind, then raised to 51,000. Kempe then shoved for roughly 200,000 giving O’Dwyer a moment to think about things before folding. –SB

2:05pm: Ace-king sinks Sonthemier
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Here’s how Steffen Sontheimer got knocked out on the feature table shy of the three-table redraw — a standard cooler, as it happened.

After a Christopher Kruk three-bet from the button over an Erik Seidel raise, Sontheimer saw he’d gotten A♠ K♥ in the big blind and put his last 238,000 in the middle. Seidel got out (with K♦ J♠ ), but Kruk had A♥ A♣ and quickly called.

The runout came 8♥ 10♦ 9♣ 3♣ 7♦ , and that’s how Sontheimer exited. Kruk had about 1.12 million after the hand. –MH

2pm: Usain Bolt: Professional footballer?

While the players get re-set for final three tables, we’ve got a video for you.

Yesterday, we sat down with Usain Bolt to talk to him about life since his running retirement. After a lifetime of training, Bolt admitted that he’s starting to feel that itch to get back to work. Question is… is he serious about playing professional football (soccer)?

He gives us the answer in the video below. –BW

1:50pm: Seating Assignments for final three tables (with updated chips!)
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

You read the headline… enjoy:

Table 1
1. Nick Petrangelo – 115,000
2. Cary Katz – 140,000
3. Rainer Kempe – 240,000
4. Steve O’Dwyer – 500,000
5. Justin Bonomo – 865,000
6. Isaac Haxton – 600,000
7. Stephen Chidwick – 670,000
8. Christopher Kruk – 1,130,000

Table 2
1. Daniel Negreanu – 470,000
2. Chris Hunichen – 380,000
3. Mustapha Kanit – 585,000
4. Seth Davies – 300,000
5. Bill Perkins – 150,000
6. Kevin Hobbs – 230,000
7. Bryn Kenney – 620,000
8. Dan Shak – 240,000

Table 3 (feature table)
1. Sam Greenwood – 430,000
2. Kevin Hart – 415,000
3. Jean-Noel Thorel – 305,000
4. Erik Seidel – 460,000
5. David Peters – 480,000
6. Ivan Luca – 1.6 million
7. Jason Koon – 365,000
8. Timothy Adams – 280,000

1:45pm: Kaverman out
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

It appears Byron Kaverman has met his end up on the feature table — following the knockout of Steffan Sontheimer over there as well. That brings the field down to 24 players.

We’ll try to pass along details of both players’ knockouts once they turn up on the live stream. –MH

1:40pm: Hart keeps Greenwood honest
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Kevin Hart has been moved on to an outer table, where he now joins Sam Greenwood, Mustapha Kanit, Justin Bonomo et al in a game of shout-your-opponent-down. Hart won the first round after Greenwood took him on.

It looked like Hart opened from early position and then his new neighbour Greenwood raised to 50,000. Hart was the only one to call. The two looked at a flop of 6♥ J♣ A♥ and Hart checked. Greenwood bet 25,000 and Hart called.

The 6♣ came on the turn and Hart checked. Greenwood bet 70,000 and Hart very quickly said that he was all-in. Greenwood did not think very long at all before folding, showing 10♦ as he did so.

“What happened just there?” Hart said. “Did I win? Did a guy just try to steal from me?”

Kanit gave Hart a round of applause.

Greenwood has 455,000 now, while Hart has about 10,000 more. –HS

Hart hunting hardware

1:35pm: Kurganov out
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Igor Kurganov is the latest faller. The Team Pro moved all in with J♥ 10♥ against Ivan Luca, who called with A♠ K♥ .

The board ran 10♦ 2♥ A♦ 8♦ K♠ to end Kurganov’s tournament, while moving Luca up to around the 1.6 million mark. –SB

1:30pm: Here’s what they’re playing for
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

The tournament director just announced the prize pool information. With 36 unique entries and 12 re-entries, the Super High Roller will be paying seven spots with the $4,737,600. Here’s what they will be playing for:

1:25pm: The Time Bank Dance Redux
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Yesterday, Mikita Badziakouski entertained us all with a sweet interpretation of what we’ve come to think of as the Time Bank Dance. It involves him being put all-in and the 30-second machinations of his face and body as he depletes himself of precious time bank cards that give him another half-minute of thinking time.

Today, Daniel Negreanu bet into Badziakouski for 25,000 with the board reading J♣ K♣ J♥ 5♠ . Badziakouski called, and they saw a 5♣ on the river. Negreanu wasted little time before putting out enough chips to put Badziakouski all-in for his last 110,000.

There began the dance. One card. Thinking and face scrunching. Two cards. Thinking and head-shaking. Three cards. Thinking, face-scrunching while head-shaking. Four cards. Jason Koon’s laughter punctuates the dance. Five cards. An ensemble of laughter, head-shaking, face-scrunching, and resigned peeks at his cards. And then a fold, just like yesterday.

“How many banks was that?” Negreanu asked.

“Five banks,” Igor Kurganov said. “Well done!” –BW

1:24pm: Sonthemier doubles through Peters
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

On the next hand after shoving from the small blind (see below), Steffen Sontheimer got all in on a 10♣ 2♣ 8♥ flop with 10♥ 9♥ versus the Q♦ J♥ of David Peters.

The 7♦ turn and J♣ river kept Sontheimer in front, and he now has about 270,000 while Peters is at 550,000. –MH

1:22pm: Thorel takes on Haxton
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Isaac Haxton opened for 18,000 which Jean-Noel Thorel called for a flop of J♥ K♦ 3♥ .

Haxton bet another 30,000 which Thorel called for the 6♦ on the turn. Another 75,000 from Haxton this time. Thorel called immediately.

The river came the Q♥ . Haxton checked. Thorel wasted no time in betting another 100,000, forcing Haxton’s eyebrows to increase in altitude. When the returned to their usual height Haxton called, turning over K♥ J♣ to out-kick Thorel’s K♠ 7♠ .

Haxton took the pot and moved up to round 500,000, more than twice what he started the day with. Thorel meanwhile drops to 330,000. –SB

1:20pm: Kruk river bluff works against Seidel
Level 10 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Steffen Sontheimer looked down at A♠ 10♦ in the small blind and raised all in for his last 113,000, but after a bit of thought Chris Hunichen decided against calling from the big blind with K♣ 8♦ .

Sonthemier is still the short stack on the main feature table with 127,000, while Hunichen has almost 320,000. –MH

1:17pm: Kenney sends Dvoress home
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Daniel Dvoress is the latest player to hit the rail, sent spiralling out of the tournament after a run-in with Bryn Kenney. Dvoress isn’t the first to fall prey to Kenney in a poker tournament in the Bahamas, and he is highly unlikely to be the last.

The hand began with a raise to 15,000 from Dvoress and a three-bet to 47,000 from Kenney. Everyone else left them to it and Dvoress called.

The flop was the J♠ 2♣ 2♥ and Dvoress checked. Kenney bet 41,000 and Dvoress called. This was just the start of a blitz from Kenney, who continued betting through both subsequent streets too.

The Q♣ fell on the turn and Dvoress checked. Kenney bet 85,000 and Dvoress called again.

The 6♦ completed the board and, after Dvoress checked again, Kenney announced the inevitable. He was all-in, for 340,000.

Dvoress took a while but called off his last 220,000 with about three seconds left on his countdown. Kenney turned over Q♠ K♦ and Dvoress sighed and threw away his hand. He couldn’t beat Kenney’s queens over deuces and is out.

Kenney, meanwhile, has about 850,000. –HS

1:15pm: Going out with an audience
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Spare a thought for Koray Aldemir, who just busted in 30th place.

Aldemir was a short stack, which means a TV camera is never far away. In Aldemir’s case three of them, with accompanying sound guys, who surrounded the table she Aldemir moved all in with Q♦ 10♦ and got a call from Sam Greenwood with 8♦ 8♠ .

The board ran Q♥ 4♦ Q♣ 3♥ A♦ to ease the burden on Aldemir, but he’d doubled up to 100,000, which meant he still had work to do.

The TV team knew this, too, and stuck around, with reinforcements coming from somewhere, so that when Aldemir found himself all in again there were eight of them to watch what happened. Nine when you include me.

Aldemir had limped. Two seats along Kevin Hobbs raised to 21,000 which Daniel Dvoress called in the cut off. Justin Bonomo was in the big blind and raised to 88,000, making it a big decision for Aldemir, who moved in for his last 91,000. Hobbs and Dvoress stepped out of the way leaving Bonomo to take him on.

Aldemir: J♣ J♥
Bonomo: K♦ K♥

The board ran 9♦ 5♠ 4♣ 5♥ Q♠ to put Aldemir out of his misery. The TV crew there to report it moved on. –SB

1:10pm: Kruk river bluff works against Seidel
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Over on the feature table, Erik Seidel opened for 14,000 from middle position with J♠ J♥ , and Christopher Kruk chose to three-bet to 42,000 from the hijack with K♦ 9♦ . Seidel called, then check-called a continuation bet from Kruk following the 5♦ 4♥ 10♥ flop. Pot 166,000.

The turn was the 8♠ and both checked, then the A♣ came on the river. Seidel checked once more, and Kruk fired 115,000 into the opening. Seidel thought a while before letting his jacks go, and Kruk collected the pot.

“Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do,” said Kevin Hart afterwards — not necessarily commenting on the hand, but the statement applied in any case.

Kruk has 685,000 after that one to lead the table, while Seidel is just under 415,000. –MH

1pm: Kurganov close to double through O’Dwyer
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Igor Kurganov all but doubled up in a pot against Steve O’Dwyer, with Kurganov joining Mikita Badziakouski in “almost shoving” the river (see “almost shove” definition in 12:20pm post below).

It started with an early-position raise to 13,000 from O’Dwyer, followed by a three-bet to 35,000 from Kurganov on the button. O’Dwyer called and the two took to the 6♣ 3♣ 5♠ flop. O’Dwyer checked, Kurganov bet 21,000 and O’Dwyer called.

Both players checked the 7♠ turn and that brought the J♦ on the river. O’Dwyer checked again.

Kurganov then put forward 87,000, leaving only 8,000 behind the line. O’Dwyer called and a member of the hawk-like TV crew asked, “Is that an all-in and a call?” Technically it wasn’t, but it was pretty close.

Kurganov turned over K♠ K♥ and O’Dwyer mucked, handing Kurganov a stack of around 420,000. O’Dwyer is licking his wounds with 325,000. –HS

12:55pm: Good luck… next time. Negreanu downs Orpen Kisacikoglu
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Play folded around to Daniel Negreanu on the button, and he raised to 13,000. In the big blind, Orpen Kisacikoglu shoved his last 90,000. Negreanu made the quick call with 7♣ 7♠ . Kisacikoglu held A♣ 6♦ .

“Good luck,” Negreanu said. “I mean, good luck in the next tournament you play in.”

It will have to be the next one for Kisacikoglu. The board ran clean for Negreanu, and Kisacikoglu is gone. —BW

12:50pm: Cooler sends Luca to summit and Seiver to the slums
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Scott Seiver came into today with the biggest stack in the room. Right now, he is in the bluest funk. Seiver is out, having followed up his loss to David Peters with a tournament-ending cooler against Ivan Luca.

Luca, meanwhile, is through 1 million and leads the tournament.

Catching up with the preflop action after it had begun, Seiver was at the button with 55,000 in front of him while Luca was sitting under the gun having reraised to 139,000. Seiver then shoved for 607,000 and Luca called.

Seiver: Q♦ Q♥
Luca: K♣ K♥

There was nothing dramatic as the board ran 10♣ 3♠ 5♠ 4♦ 10♥ and Luca began counting out his chips to see how much Seiver owed him. However, it quickly became apparent that Luca had Seiver covered and the chip-leader at the start of the day became one of the first men eliminated.

Luca must have about 1.3 million. Accurate count to come. –HS

12:45pm: Katz goes for two
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Cary Katz was not happy. Something about the insanity of not “going for two” when you’re 12 points ahead, and that the coach who decided that was “stupid.” Katz went as far as to say the same coach needed an “idiot card like in poker when you don’t know the hand values”. No one disagreed.

He quieted down though on the next hand, which he opened for 15,000 from the button. Rainer Kempe and Dan Shak called from the blinds.

The flop came A♠ 6♠ 10♣ which was checked for the J♥ on the turn. That too was checked for the Q♥ on the river. More checking. Shak turned up 9♠ 8♦ to take the pot.

“Pretty good run out for you,” said Katz, smiling. “Guess I should have bet that flop.”

Katz played the next hand too, this time calling Ben Tollerene’s bet of 13,000. Stephen Chidwick also called form the big blind.

The flop came J♦ Q♠ 10♣

Chidwick checked and Tollerene made it 16,000 to play. Katz called before Chidwick bowed out.

On the K♣ turn Tollerene played a timebank card before betting 35,000. Again Katz called.

On the 6♥ river Tollerene bet 75,000. Katz called immediately and both players showed an ace to chop it.

Tollerene: A♣ 2♣
Katz: A♥ Q♥

Back to where they started. But at least Katz went for two. –SB

12:42pm: Stefan Schillhabel eliminated
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Germany’s Stefan Schillhabel just got it all-in pre-flop with Mustafa Kanit. Schillhabel was looking for big cards to match his A♦ Q♥ , but Kanit’s 8♠ 8♦ held all the way, and Schillhabel was gone. –BW

Stefan Schillhabel takes his leave

12:40pm: Live stream kicking off

We love having you read here (and you shouldn’t stop, because there’s a lot happening away from the cameras that we can tell you about), but you’ll want to get the live stream on in the background. It’s cards up from now until the end of PCA. And, you have some added incentive to watch… how about a Platinum Pass to next year’s PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em Players Championship?

The TV crew has an expanded commentary team with Lex Veldhuis, Griffin Benger, Maria Ho, Jonathan Little, and Richard Orford joining James and Joe Stapleton. They’ll be analyzing the cards-up coverage every day.

Executive Producer Francine Watson said, “We’ve also recognized the importance to our viewers – especially our ever-growing fanbase on Twitch – of showing players’ hole cards every day. Working closely with the Live Events team–to ensure there’s no significant impact on game integrity and that players feel they’re being treated fairly– we’ve agreed to be on a 40-minute delay throughout, with live commentary.”

Also, start listening now, and James will tell you about the free Platinum Pass they are giving away.

Here’s the schedule for the week:

Sun 7
$100k Super High Roller Day 2
12.30 ET/17.30 GMT

Mon 8
$100k Super High Roller Final Table
15.30 ET/20.30 GMT

Tue 9
$50k High Roller Final Table
15.30 ET/20.30 GMT

Wed 10
$10k Main Event Day 2
12.30 ET/17.30 GMT

Thu 11
$10k Main Event Day 3
12.30 ET/17.30 GMT

Fri 12
$10k Main Event Day 4
12.30 ET/17.30 GMT

Sat 13
$10k Main Event Day 5
12.30 ET/17.30 GMT

Sun 14
$10k Main Event Final Table
15.30 ET/20.30 GMT

You can watch it all right here. –BW

12:35pm: Greenwood hits on all three streets
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Everyone knows not to give any information away for free at the poker table. If you get a fold on the river, don’t show. But sometimes even the top players need to let everyone know they’ve hit gin, and Sam Greenwood couldn’t resist proudly showing his straight flush in a recent small pot.

It seemed as though Greenwood open-raised his button and only Kevin Hobbs, in the small blind, called. They both then checked the 10♥ 9♣ J♥ flop. Hobbs also checked the 7♣ turn, prompting Greenwood to bet 15,000. Hobbs called.

The river was the 8♥ and Hobbs checked. Greenwood tossed out three yellow chips, a polarising 75,000 over-bet. Hobbs re-checked his cards and flicked them away, sending the small pot to Greenwood.

But Greenwood couldn’t resist turning over his 9♥ 7♥ . He had flopped a pair, turned two pair and rivered a straight flush. Bingo! –HS

12:30pm: From the feature table
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

The cards-up live stream is now underway, showing the action from the main feature table on a half-hour delay.

The PokerStars Blog will be checking in over there from time to time as well to pass along what’s happening. For now, we’ll point out that Byron Kaverman, Erik Seidel, Christopher Kruk, Steffen Sontheimer, Chris Hunichen, and Kevin Hart are the ones seated under the spotlights to start the day. –MH

12:27pm: David Peters slow… plays Seiver
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

David Peters and Scott Seiver just tangled in a sizable pot. We showed up on the turn with the board reading K♠ [K♦ [A♦ 5♣ . Peters check-called 25,000. On the 3♦ river, Peters checked again, and Seiver put out 40,000. Peters didn’t wait too long before announcing a raise to 145,000. Seiver made a fairly quick call to see Peters’ Q♦ 10♦ , a flush that got there on the river. –BW

12:25pm: A Day 2 elimination
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Adrian Mateos recently was crowned the 2017 Global Poker Index Player of the Year, but he’s starting 2018 with a non-cash as he is heading to the rail early on Day 2.

In his last hand the board showed 3♠ J♣ 7♠ when Mateos opened for 12,000 under the gun, then Daniel Dvoress raised to 36,000 on the button. Mateos responded by shoving with his last 51,000 and Dvoress called.

Mateos: Q♥ K♠
Dvoress: Q♠ A♥

The turn and river did nothing to either hand, coming 4♦ and 3♦ , and Mateos is out. –SB

12:20pm: The Badziakouski almost-shove
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Along with Rainer Kempe (see just below), Mikita Badziakouski was among the first today to get his stack in the middle. However, if we’re accurate, it wasn’t quite his full stack.

Badziakouski has a habit of almost-shoving, i.e., putting more than 90 percent of his remaining chips in the middle, but essentially leaving him the option to stay in the tournament if things go awry.

It was the first hand of the day on Table 2 and Badziakouski was under the gun. He opened to 13,000 and Jason Koon, the defending champion, called in the big blind. After the 2♦ K♣ K♦ flop, Koon checked. Then Badziakouski bet 8,000 and Koon check-raised to 27,000. Badziakouski called.

The turn card was the 5♦ and both players checked. Then the A♣ completed the board. Koon checked and Badziakouski bet 111,000, leaving 7,000 back.

The dealer reached over to count the precise size of the almost-shove, but Koon wasn’t interested regardless. He folded. –HS

12:15pm: A first all-in on the outer tables
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Rainer Kempe figured he’d better sort his day sooner rather than later. Coming back with 56,000 he shoved his short stack with K♥ Q♣ and got a caller in Stephen Chidwick with A♣ J♣ .

The board was dealt 3♥ K♠ 3♠ Q♦ 7♠ to double Kempe. –SB

12:10pm: Day 2 begins
Level 9 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Players are in their seats and Day 2 has begun. Both Cary Katz and Bill Perkins have joined the fun just before late registration ended at the start of today’s play, meaning there are 35 players still with a chance at the title.

A seat draw for Day 2 can be found here. –MH

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11:00am: Welcome to Day 2

Scott Seiver held a narrow lead when the field bagged up their chips last night. He returns today, along with 32 others, to play down to a final table. Cards will be in the air at 12 noon with live updates on the Blog through to the end of play.

What’s more, our televised coverage begins today, cards up and with commentary. You can watch that in all manner of ways, starting with the link at the top of this page. — SB

Download the PokerStars LIVE! app with all tournament information. Available for IOS and Android.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $100,000 Super High Roller: Stephen Bartley, Marc Convey, Martin Harris, Jack Stanton, Howard Swains and Alex Villegas. Photography by Joe Giron/PokerPhotoArchive.com.

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