NOTE: The final two players took a sixty minute dinner break at the conclusion of Level 24 and should return at approximately 8:20pm to resume play.

Blinds: 15,000-30,000

Players Remaining: 2 out of 765

Average Chip Count: 1,721,250

Chip Counts:

1. Brian Rast – 2,040,000
2. Allen Kessler – 1,405,000

Eliminations:

3rd. Dajuan Whorley – $91,212
4th. Daisuke Endo – $66,940
5th. Mika Paasonen – $49,902
6th. Ali Eslami – $37,654

This was a shockingly fast round of play, losing four of the remaining six players that started the level. Both Brian Rast and Allen Kessler claimed two K.O.’s each this level, setting themselves up in prime position for heads-up play. After the elimination of Dajuan Whorley in 3rd place, Brian Rast led Allen Kessler in heads-up play with 1,910,000 to 1,535,000.

Ali Eslmani Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,654)

Ali Eslami raised to 105,000 from the cutoff and Brian Rast called from the big blind.

The flop came K 7 2, Rast shoved and Eslami called all in.

Rast showed K 7 for two pair and was ahead of Eslami’s big-slick.

The turn was the 7, giving Rast a full house. Eslmani was drawing dead to the river and was eliminated in 6th place ($37,654).

Mika Paasonen Eliminated in 5th Place ($49,902)

Mika Paasonen raised to 60,000 before the flop, Brian Rast three-bet him all in and Paasonen called.

Rast showed A K for the lead against Paasonen’s K 10.

The board came K 8 2 9 3, giving both players top pair on the flop, Rast of course with the better kicker. Mika Paasonen was eliminated in 5th place ($49,902).

Daisuke Endo Eliminated in 4th Place ($66,994)

Daisuke Endo open-shoved the button for about 100,000 and Allen Kessler called from the small blind.

Kessler turned over K 10 for the lead against Endo’s Q J.

The board came K 6 5 2 8, giving Kessler top pair on the flop. Daisuke Endo was eliminated in 4th place ($66,994).

Dajuan Whorley Eliminated in 3rd Place ($91,219)

Allen Kessler raised to 70,000 before the flop and Dajuan Whorley called from the big blind.

The flop came 9 8 3, Whorley checked, Kessler bet 80,000, Whorley check-raised to 175,000, Kessler shoved and Whorley called all in.

Whorley showed J 9 for top pair against Kessler’s A A.

The turn and river were the 7 and the 5, no help for Dujuan Whorley who was eliminated in 3rd place ($92,219).

NOTE: With the elimination of Dajuan Whorley in 3rd place, Brian Rast led Allen Kessler in heads-up play with 1,910,000 to 1,535,000.

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000

Players Remaining: 7 out of 765

Average Chip Count: 491,186

Chip Counts:

1. Brian Rast – 1,560,000
2. Allen Kessler – 555,000
3. John Gordon – 438,000
4. Mika Paasonen – 260,000
5. Daisuke Endo – 245,000
6. Ali Eslami – 220,000
7. Dajuan Whorley – 220,000

Eliminations:

8th. Ted Lawson – $22,183
9th. Ronald Lee – $17,928

Ted Lawson Eliminated in 8th place ($22,183)

Ali Eslami raised to 45,000 from under the gun, Ted Lawson moved all in from the button for 165,000 and Eslami called.

Eslami turned over J J for the lead while Lawson showed A Q for the draw.

The board came 10 10 3 8 2, no help to Ted Lawson who was eliminated in 8th place ($22,183).

Ronald Lee Eliminated in 9th Place ($17,928)

Lee started the official nine-handed final table as the short stack with just 25,000, and almost as quickly as it began, Lee moved all in before the flop and got three callers.

John Gordon, Allen Kessler and Dajuan Whorley all checked to the river on a board of 10 6 5 6 7. Whorley turned over 10 7 for two pair and Ronald Lee was eliminated in 9th place ($17,928).

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates of this final table.

Only ten remain in the $1,500 pot-limit hold’em event here at the Rio. As is the theme of the day, the final table will be stacked with notables looking to pick up WSOP gold.

Leading the way is Brian Rast with 1,081,000. His nearest competitor, Allen Kessler, sits with 618,000. In addition to the bracelet, these players will battle it out for the first-place prize of $227,232.

Here’s a look at the chip counts.

All of the action begins at 2:30 p.m. today and Card Player will have all of it for you with level-by-level updates.