Tom Schneider: / /
Tuan Vo: / /
Francis Mariani: / /
We caught the action starting on fifth street, where Schneider was all in for 3,500. Vo raised, Mariani called, and Mariani check-called on sixth. Mariani moved all in for less than a big bet on seventh, and Vo called.
Schneider:
Vo:
Mariani:
Schneider missed his flush draw and was eliminated, while the other two players chopped the pot.
After Jose-Luis Velador brought it in with the , Eric Rodawig completed with the . Timothy Finne then raised and Eugene Katchlov reraised all in for 14,500. Velador got out of the way, Rodawig and Finne called, and it was off to fourth street.
Rodawig ended up check-calling a bet before taking the lead on fifth and firing out a bet. Finne called but then folded when Rodawig bet sixth.
Rodawig tabled jacks, and Katchalov was disheartened to learn his pocket tens were no good. Rodawig failed to improve on seventh, but so did Katchalov. With that, Rodawig was pushed the pot while Katchalov made his way to the payout desk in 22nd place to collect $9,583.
We caught the action on fifth street, where Johnson called a bet from Elezra. Both players checked on sixth, and Elezra led out on seventh. Johnson called, showing for kings up, and Elezra mucked, leaving himself with 13,000 chips.
Johnson: / /
Elezra: / /
Matthew Ashton: / (FOLD)
A few hands later, after Elezra chopped a three-way pot, Johnson brought it in, Elezra completed, and Ashton and Johnson called. The action checked to Elezra, who bet, and only Johnson called. Elezra bet enough to put himself all in. Johnson called.
Johnson:
Elezra:
Both players bricked on sixth, and Elezra caught the on seventh, to make a seventy-five. Johnson made a useless pair of fours with , and Elezra doubled
What started with 130 players here on Day 2—the remnants of a 210-player field—is now down to the final 20. The man best positioned to capture the World Series of Poker gold bracelet and accompanying $266,503 first-place prize is none other than Yuval Bronshtein, who finished as the chip leader with 433,000. With that said, players like Eric Rodawig (323,000) and David "Bakes" Baker (226,000) are looking to claim the Event #13: $5,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-Better title for themselves.
Actually, Rodawig is seeking to capture the title for a second time. Two years ago he won Event #33: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship by defeating Phil Hellmuth in heads-up play. Not only did he deny the great Hellmuth his then 12th bracelet, he also took down his first piece of gold and the accompanying $442,183 prize.
Rodawig did not return to defend his title in 2012 due to a friend's wedding, and this marks the first time he's played a Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better tournament since 2011. If he could capture the title again, it'd be a truly remarkable feat. As the second biggest stack remaining he's got a legitimate shot of making that happen.
With 25 players remaining, the money bubble was in effect, and it didn't take long to burst. Here's the hand that burst it.
Naseem Salem: / /
Eric Rodawig: / /
Salem completed, Rodawig raised, and Salem called. Rodawig bet-called on fourth, then the action was fast and furious on fifth and sixth, but in the end Salem was all in with two pair queens and eights. Rodawig hit an ace on seventh, so his hand was , and Salem bricked on his full house draw, exiting on the stone bubble.
While many notable fell, there are still quite a few still in contention including Gavin Smith (204,500), Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (156,000), Joe Tehan (145,000), Timothy Finne (137,000), Mike Leah (120,000), Eli Elezra (88,000), Tony Cousineau (59,000) and Brian Hastings (55,500).
The third and final day will kick off at 2 p.m. PDT on Friday. Join us then as we look to crown the Event #13: $5,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-Better champion!
For now, we'll leave you with Kristy Arnett who has the highlights from across the Rio today: