Nicholas Augustino just became our bubble boy, and the bustout occurred after he was put to the test by Luke Staudenmaier.
We caught the action on the turn, with the board reading , and Augustino facing a bet of 19,600 by Staudenmaier. Augustino elected to call and peel one off, and the completed the board on the river.
Staudenmaier immediately moved all in to put Augustino at risk, and with a crowd developing around the table to witness this potentially bubble-bursting hand, he went into the tank for a minute or so to think through his options.
Eventually, Augustino elected to make the call, but his shoulders sagged when Staudenmaier coolly revealed the for a straight on the turn. Augustino could only offer a sincere "nice hand" before exiting the Amazon Room, while the remaining 54 players celebrated their good fortune.
The crew is back to discuss all of the recent bracelet winners at the 2013 World Series of Poker, including Tom Schneider, Jason Duval, and Isaac Hagerling. They also talk with Jason Koon, who reached the semi-finals of the Mixed Max event and made the final table of a $1,000 buy-in event.
Ryan Eriquezzo Can Relax After a Particularly Brutal Bubble Sweat
Ryan Eriquezzo just moved all in for his last 36,900 holding , and Jonathan Little made the call to put him at risk.
Before the hand could play out, however, they players were forced to wait until every other table had concluded their last deal, meaning Eriquezzo was forced to wait for five minutes with his tournament life hanging in the balance.
"This is the sickest sweat ever," he said, while Little told him that they were flipping. "Let's just get it over with."
Eventually, the tournament director authorized the dealer to do her thing, and after Little turned over his , she rolled out the flop.
Eriquezzo was in no mood to wait any longer.
"Faster please," he asked jokingly, while the dealer turned the . "Thank you!"
The on the river was meaningless, and Eriquezzo retook his seat one step closer to the cash.
They've played three hands' worth of hand-for-hand play without an elimination, and now a new level has begun. The last hand of Level 15 saw a lengthy one play out between Andy Hwang and Dan Smith. There was no threat of elimination, but it was tense nonetheless.
It began innocuously as a blind-vs.-blind confrontation with Hwang opening for 5,500 from the small blind and Smith calling from the big blind. Hwang would then lead with bets on all three post-flop streets. After the flop he bet 6,500 and Smith called. Then after the turn, Hwang bet 11,500 and Smith called again.
The river brought the and another bet from Hwang, this time for 16,500. Smith took several minutes, with the other tables all waiting on his decision along with Hwang. Finally Smith folded, and the bubble continues.
T.J. Cloutier Just Made an Unexpected Departure from Day 2
With just a few eliminations separating T.J. Cloutier from his third cash in four WSOP events this summer, the living legend of poker showed that true pros are always gunning for first place. Unfortunately for Cloutier, a bold play ended in spectacular fashion, ending his tournament abruptly after he had cruised throughout much of the day.
The action began before the flop, when Cloutier opened for 4,200 from the small blind. Mike Sowers elected to defend his big blind with a three-bet, making it 12,000 to play.
Cloutier then snap-shoved for his remaining 150,000 or so chips, and Sowers responded with a snap-call, tabling the . Sheepishly turning over just , Cloutier had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and a final run out of left him with nothing but crumbs.
"How's that for A-B-C poker," opined Cloutier, still proud of his ability to go toe to toe with the online generation at the age of 73 years young.
After counting out the stacks, Cloutier told Sowers "I didn't think ya had that much," before making a hasty exit from the Amazon Room.
Pratyush Buddiga opened to 5,000 from the hijack, before Erick Lindgren raised to 12,000 from the cut-off. The action folded back around to Buddiga, who thought for a moment, before re-raising to 31,000. Lindgren made the call, as both players saw the flop come down . Buddiga threw out a continuation bet of 37,500 which was called, before checking the on the turn. Lindgren then bet out 42,000 which was called as the completed the board. Buddiga checked, as Lindgren thought for a minute, before announcing all in, which had Buddiga covered.
Buddiga eventually made the call after deliberating over his decision, but was out the door, when Lindgren tabled his for a full house.
The massive pot see Lindgren rocket to 550,000 in chips, as Buddiga heads to the rail, two short of the money.
"I thought you wouldn't have it one of these times."
So said Dan O'Brien post-hand after losing a significant pot to John Miner just now. We only arrived for the counting down and redistribution of chips, but the cards showed Miner to have had , O'Brien , and the board to read . Miner's set of treys was best, and he enjoyed a big double as a result.
O'Brien provided a bit more detail in a tweet afterwards:
no Safari
, and Augustino facing a bet of 19,600 by Staudenmaier. Augustino elected to call and peel one off, and the 
completed the board on the river.
for a straight on the turn. Augustino could only offer a sincere "nice hand" before exiting the Amazon Room, while the remaining 54 players celebrated their good fortune.
, she rolled out the 
flop.
. "Thank you!"
on the river was meaningless, and Eriquezzo retook his seat one step closer to the cash.
turn, Hwang bet 11,500 and Smith called again.
. Sheepishly turning over just 
left him with nothing but crumbs.
on the turn. Lindgren then bet out 42,000 which was called as the 
for a full house.
, O'Brien 
, and the board to read 
. Miner's set of treys was best, and he enjoyed a big double as a result.
