Michael Chow Eliminated in 2nd Place ($178,691)
Stud 8

Aaron Steury started Level 29 with a dominating chip lead once again, continuing to put the pressure on his opponents. Adam Friedman was the next to go in 3rd place ($121,437) about halfway through the level, and although it was runner-up Michael Chow that busted Friedman and took his chips into heads-up play, it was too little too late as Steury already had the stranglehold at that point with a chip lead of 3.5 million to Chow’s 835,000. With help from the suffocating blind structure and an average stack of only 18 big bets, Chow’s 7 hardly stood a chance.

Chow finally got it all in with a wired pair of jacks but was behind Steury’s split aces on third street.

Chow: J J 3 5 8 10 2
Steury: A 8 A 6 K 3 5

Both players failed to improve and Michael Chow was eliminated in 2nd place ($178,691). Aaron Steury earned his amazing fifth knockout of this final table, capturing the gold bracelet and the $289,283 grand prize for winning Event #17.

NOTE: With the elimination of Adam Friedman in 3rd place ($121,437), Aaron Steury took a massive chip lead into heads-up play with 3.5 million to Michael Chow’s 835,000.

Adam Friedman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($121,437)
Hold’em

Adam Friedman came into the new level as the short stack and was eliminated soon after it began. During the hold’em round, Friedman got it all in before the flop with 7 3 against Michael Chow’s J J.

The board came 9 9 4 5 2, no help to either player as Adam Friedman was eliminated in 3rd place ($121,437). Chow managed to gather a few chips here heading into the final match, but started with a significant chip disadvantage of about 835,000 to Steury’s 3,500,000.

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 40,000-80,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 20,000-40,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 10,000
Bring In: 10,000
Completion: 40,000

Players Remaining: 3 out of 963

Average Chip Count: 1,444,500

Chip Counts:

1. Aaron Steury – 1,900,000
2. Adam Friedman – 1,500,000
3. Michael Chow – 1,000,000

Eliminations:

4th. Jonathan Tamayo – $84,516

Jonathan Tamayo Eliminated in 4th Place ($84,516)
Omaha 8

Jonathan Tamayo started the level on the short stack with less than 10 BBs and about halfway through the round he made his last stand in a hand of Omaha 8.

Aaron Steury raised from the small blind and Jonathan Tamayo called from the big blind.

Tamayo got it all in on a flop of Q 5 3 with top pair against Steury’s top two pair. Tamayo would have no chance at splitting the pot without a qualifying low hand.

Tamayo: A Q 10 9
Steury: Q 6 5 4

The turn and river were the 6 and the J, no help for Jonathan Tamayo who was eliminated in 4th place ($84,516).

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

NOTE: Sixty minute levels with games changing every eight hands.

Limits: 25,000-50,000

Hold’em – Omaha 8:
Blinds: 13,000-25,000

Razz – Stud – Stud 8:
Ante: 5,000
Bring In: 7,000
Completion: 25,000

Players Remaining: 6 out of 963

Average Chip Count: 722,250

Chip Counts:

1. Adam Friedman – 1,006,000
2. Michael Chow – 907,000
3. Aaron Steury – 757,000
4. Ron Ware – 507,000
5. Jonathan Tamayo – 450,000
6. Denis Ethier – 139,000

Eliminations:

7th. David Baker – $32,150
8th. Paolo Compagno – $24,219

Paolo Compagno Eliminated in 8th Place ($24,219)
Stud 8

Adam Friedman opened with the 7, Paolo Compagno reraised all in for about 80,000 with the 5 and Friedman called. Compagno showed a pair of fives but was behind Friedman’s pair of sevens.

Compagno: 5 4 5 9 7 Q A
Friedman: J 7 7 6 4 9 8.

Neither player made a low hand and Friedman raked the pot with a pair of sevens. Paolo Compagno started the final table as the short stack and was the first one eliminated in 8th place ($24,219).

David Baker Eliminated in 7th Place ($32,150)
Omaha 8

Adam Friedman button-raised before the flop, Aaron Steury called from the small blind and David Baker called from the big blind.

The flop came Q 7 7, Steury checked, Baker moved all in for 25,000, Friedman raised the side pot, Steury reraised and Friedman called.

The turn was the 10, Steury bet and Friedman called.

The river was the Q, and once gain, Steury bet and Friedman called.

Steury turned over Q Q J 10 for quads. Friedman mucked trip sevens with an ace, followed by David Baker who was eliminated in 7th place ($32,150).

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

A total of 17 players have advanced to the scheduled final day of event no. 17, the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament. The eventual winner will walk away with a gold bracelet and $289,283 in prize money.

Leading the way in chips is Adam Friedman with 453,000. David Baker is also close to the top with 441,000. Other notables who are still in the hunt include Victor Ramdin, Tristan Clemencon, and former $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. champion David Bach.

The final day will begin at 2:30 p.m. and you can tune in to follow live updates from the official final table.

Here is a look at the seating chart with chip counts for the final day of the tournament: