Steven Sung leads the remaining four players at the end of Level 24. PokerNews caught up with a supremely confident Sung during the dinner break to talk briefly about this event and his 2013 World Series.
PokerNews: What would it mean to you to win your second bracelet in this event?
Steve Sung: It would be a dream come true. Any bracelet is great, but this event is special.
You’ve cashed three times so far this World Series, four after tonight. How much are you planning on playing over the next few weeks?
I plan to play a lot. I’ll be playing the 50K tomorrow (Event #55: The $50,000 Poker Players' Championship 8-game mix). And I’ll be playing the Main Event, of course.
How do you feel about your spot at the table right now?
I feel great. I'm not really worried about anyone right now. I have position on Phil. He’s a great player, but I’m on his left and I have the chip lead, so I feel good about my chances.
Do you have any interesting off-the-felt projects?
Nothing right now, but there will be a lot of things coming up soon. That’s all I can say for now, so I’ll leave it at that.
Hand #37: Phil Galfond was first to act, and he raised to 120,000, taking down the blinds and antes.
Hand #38: Steve Sung min-raised to 120,000 from under the gun, Dani Stern called on the button, and Phil Galfond called in the big blind. The dealer fanned , Galfond and Sung both checked quickly, and Stern fired out 205,000. Galfond check-raised to 580,000, Sung quickly folded, and Stern folded as well.
Hand #39: The action folded to Galfond, who completed from the small blind. Sung checked his option, the flop fell , and Galfond check-folded to a bet of 60,000.
Hand #40: Sung called from the small blind, Stern raised to 190,000 from the big blind, and Sung limp-re-raised, making it 490,000 to go. Stern moved all in for 2.31 million, and Sung tank-folded.
Hand #41: Phil Galfond was first to act, and raised to 120,000. Steve Sung called on the button, both blinds released, and the dealer fanned, . Galfond led out for 140,000, Sung called, and the turn brought the . Galfond led out for another 300,000, and Sung quickly folded.
Hand #42: Sung was first to act, and raised to 150,000. He won the pot uncontested.
Hand #43: The action folded to Galfond, who called in the small blind. Sung checked his option, the flop fell , and Galfond checked. Sung tossed out 100,000, and Galfond folded.
Hand #44: Sung raised to 180,000 in the small blind, winning the pot.
Hand #45: Galfond raised to 130,000 in first position, Sung called on the button, and both blinds folded. The dealer spread , Galfond led out for 150,000, and Sung called. The turn was the , both players checked, and the completed the board. Both players checked again, and Galfond won with .
Hand #46: Steve Sung was first to act, and raised to 150,000. Stephen Chidwick three-bet to 380,000 out of the small blind, Sung put in a four-bet, but before the announcer could even say the amount, Chidwick folded.
Hand #47: Dani Stern raised to 140,000 in the cutoff, winning the blinds and antes.
Hand #48: Chidwick raised to 125,000 in the cutoff, Phil Galfond tanked for nearly two minutes before calling on the button, and both blinds released. The flop fell , Chidwick quickly led out for 175,000, Galfond tanked once again before raising to 405,000, and Chidwick called. The turn was the , Chidwick instantly checked, and Galfond fired out 1.1 million (effectively 865,000). Chidwick folded.
Hand #50: Dani Stern raised to 125,000 on the button, Phil Galfond defended his big blind, and the flop came . Galfond check-folded to a bet.
Hand #51: Stern was first to act, and raised to 125,000. Stephen Chidwick moved all in for 875,000 on the button, and the action folded back to Stern, who snap-called.
Chidwick:
Stern:
Chidwick was in great shape to double, having Stern dominated, and the flop didn't change much. Stern did pick up a backdoor wheel draw, however, and the turned, keeping the draw alive. Any deuce or five would eliminated Chidwick.
The dealer rapped the table, burned a card, then spiked the down onto the river. Just like that, Chidwick went from a sure double up to out in fourth, earning $353,780.
Stern still commands the shortest stack at the table.
![[user139916]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
, Galfond and Sung both checked quickly, and Stern fired out 205,000. Galfond check-raised to 580,000, Sung quickly folded, and Stern folded as well.
, and Galfond check-folded to a bet of 60,000.
. Galfond led out for 140,000, Sung called, and the turn brought the 
. Galfond led out for another 300,000, and Sung quickly folded.
, and Galfond checked. Sung tossed out 100,000, and Galfond folded.
, Galfond led out for 150,000, and Sung called. The turn was the 
, both players checked, and the 
, Chidwick quickly led out for 175,000, Galfond tanked once again before raising to 405,000, and Chidwick called. The turn was the 
, Chidwick instantly checked, and Galfond fired out 1.1 million (effectively 865,000). Chidwick folded.
. Galfond check-folded to a bet.
flop didn't change much. Stern did pick up a backdoor wheel draw, however, and the