They will have to lose one more player calling it official, but the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship final table gets going at 2 p.m. today.
The list of the remaining ten is filled with accomplished poker players. The chip leader coming in is one Matt O'Donnell, who already made a final table this year finishing fifth in Event #4: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em.
But still in the hunt are names like three-time WSOP final table participant Chino Rheem, two-time WSOP final table participant Dan Shak, and WSOP bracelet winners Todd Brunson and Barny Boatman.
Throw in two-time WSOP final table participants Richard Lyndaker and Ismael Bojang, 2012 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller champ Alex Bilokur, and 2012 $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em fourth-place finisher Alexander Venovski and we are assured some pretty good action today.
Stay tuned to PokerNews Live Updates to catch it all until a winner is crowned.
Chino Rheem limped in early position, and Dan Shak raised to 50,000 in middle position. Rheem was the only taker, and the flop came . Rheem checked, and Shak bet 80,000. Rheem raised pot, and Shak announced all in and was quickly called.
Rheem:
Shak:
Shak was unable to turn the tide on the turn or river, and the official final table is set.
Barny Boatman has been eliminated in ninth place after getting it in with a gutshot straight draw and missing.
Hand #7: Alexander Venovski completed from the small blind and Barny Boatman checked.
The flop came and Venovski bet 16,000. Boatman potted it, making it 80,000, and Venovski re-potted to put Boatman all in. Boatman made the call for his tournament life and it was Venovski with a pair holding against Boatman with a gutshot on .
Needing a five, Boatman only found disappointment on the turn and river.
Hand #34: Ismael Bojang raised to 40,000, and Buddiga called in the big blind. On the flop, Buddiga checked and Bojang bet 40,000. Buddiga called, and the turned. Two checks ensued, and a hit. Bojang bet 115,000, Buddiga shoved all in for just 114,000 more, and Bojang called. Buddiga showed a set with , but it was inferior to the turned set of Bojang: .
Hand #38: Alexander Venovski opened to 50,000 in the small blind, and Todd Brunson defended. Venovski bet 60,000 on the flop before calling Brunson's shove.
Brunson:
Venovski:
Two bricks fell: and , and Brunson was done in sixth after missing his straight and overcards.
Hand #56: Chino Rheem potted it from the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #57: Chino Rheem made it 84,000 total from the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #58: Chino Rheem made it 60,000 and Matt O'Donnell raised. Rheem moved all in for 434,000 total and O'Donnell called. It was for Rheem versus O'Donnell's and after the board made Rheem two pair, he doubled up.
Hand #59: Matt O'Donnell raised to 50,000 and was called by Alexander Venovski, Alex Bilokur, and Chino Rheem. A rather scary flop hit: , and action checked to O'Donnell, who continuation-bet 100,000. Venovski folded, Bilokur called and Rheem announced a raise, sliding out 600,000 stack by stack. O'Donnell shoved all in for 984,000, and BIlokur began tanking. Finally, he folded. Rheem got it in there.
Rheem:
O'Donnell:
The hit the turn, and Rheem called for a 10 to chop the pot. The emerged throuh, and Rheem shook hands with the other players.
Matt O'Donnell appears poised to take down the bracelet.
Hand #90: Alex Bilokur raised to 65,000 from the small blind. Matt O'Donnell reraised to 165,000, He won the pot.
Hand #91: Alexander Venovski got a walk.
Hand #92: Venovski limped the small, and Bilokur checked the big blind. Venovski bet 30,000 on the flop and was called. On the turn, both players checked to see the . Venovski bet 75,000 and won.
Hand #93: Bilokur raised to 65,000 in the small blind, and O'Donnell defended. Bilokur bet 70,000 on the pot. O'Donnell raised to 170,000 and got called. On the turn, O'Donnell bet 320,000 and Bilokur again check-called. Bilokur checked a final time on the river, O'Donnell cut out 740,000, one of the largest wagers we've seen this tournament. Bilokur called, and O'Donnell showed for top pair to drag the massive pot.
. Rheem checked, and Shak bet 80,000. Rheem raised pot, and Shak announced all in and was quickly called.
turn or 
river, and the official final table is set.
and Venovski bet 16,000. Boatman potted it, making it 80,000, and Venovski re-potted to put Boatman all in. Boatman made the call for his tournament life and it was Venovski with a pair holding 
against Boatman with a gutshot on 
.
turn and 
flop was safe for Brunson, as was the 
. The 
meant Lyndaker was done in 8th.
hit. Bojang bet 115,000, Buddiga shoved all in for just 114,000 more, and Bojang called. Buddiga showed a set with 
flop before calling Brunson's shove.
, and Brunson was done in sixth after missing his straight and overcards.
, and Bojang busted out.
for Rheem versus O'Donnell's 
and after the 
, and action checked to O'Donnell, who continuation-bet 100,000. Venovski folded, Bilokur called and Rheem announced a raise, sliding out 600,000 stack by stack. O'Donnell shoved all in for 984,000, and BIlokur began tanking. Finally, he folded. Rheem got it in there.
