Matthew Gallin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($233,944)

Daniel Idema started the final level as the chip leader and less than an hour later he was the last one standing. After taking a major hit to his stack in the previous hand, Matthew Gallin made his final stand with Q Q.

Matthew Gallin button-raised before the flop and Daniel Idema called from the big blind.

The flop came J 7 3, Idema checked, Gallin bet, Idema check-raised and Gallin called all in.

Idema turned over J 3 for two pair on the flop and was now ahead of Gallin’s queens. The turn and river were the 8 and the 5, no help to Matthew Gallin who was eliminated in 2nd place ($233,944). Daniel Idema wins the gold Bracelet for Event #27 and the $378,642 grand prize.

NOTE: With the elimination of Barry Greenstein in 3rd place ($169,512), Daniel Idema took the chip lead going into heads-up play with 3.66 million to Matthew Gallin’s 900,000.

Barry Greenstein Eliminated in 3rd Place ($169,512)

Barry Greenstein was on the serious short stack with just 3.5 BBs when he got it all in on a flop of 4 4 3 against Matthew Gallin.

Greenstein was ahead with Q 10 against Gallin’s 10 5.

The turn and river were the A and the 5, giving Gallin two pair on the river. Barry Greenstein was eliminated in 3rd place ($169,512).

Steve Landfish Eliminated in 4th Place ($125,120)

Steve Landfish was all in before the flop with A Q against Matthew Gallin’s A A.

The board came 9 7 4 5 5, no help for Steve Landfish who was eliminated in 4th place ($125,120).

Blinds: 20,000-40,000

Limits: 40,000-80,000

Players Remaining: 5 out of 152

Average Chip Count: 912,000

Chip Counts:

1. Daniel Idema – 1,355,000
2. Matthew Gallin – 1,270,000
3. Domenico Denotaristefani – 800,000
4. Barry Greenstein – 660,000
5. Steve Landfish – 520,000

Eliminations:

6th. Justin Smith – $71,897

Justin Smith Eliminated in 6th Place ($71,897)

Justin Smith lost a lot of his chips to Barry Greenstein early in the level after Greenstein doubled through by hitting a flush on the turn. The two players essentially traded stacks that hand; Greenstein up to 300,000 and Smith left on the short stack with 120,000.

Shortly after, Smith open-shoved the small blind and Barry Greenstein called from the big blind.

Greenstein lead with A J against Smith’s 8 5.

The board came 10 7 4 10 7, no help to either player as Justin Smith was eliminated in 6th place ($71,897).

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

NOTE: The final seven players took a one hour dinner break at the conclusion of Level 22 and will return at approximately 9:00pm to resume play.

Blinds: 13,000-25,000

Limits: 25,000-50,000

Players Remaining: 7 out of 152

Average Chip Count: 651,428

Chip Counts:

1. Steve Landfish – 1,535,000
2. Daniel Idema – 936,000
3. Barry Greenstein – 675,000
4. Justin Smith – 575,000
5. Domenico Denotaristefani – 294,000
6. Isaac Haxton – 283,000
7. Matthew Gallin – 258,000

Eliminations:

8th. Richard Brodie – $44,207
9th. Nuck Schulman – $35,519

Nick Schulman Eliminated in 9th Place ($35,519)

Nick Schulman started the official nine-handed final table on the short stack and was the first one eliminated. He opened for a raise before the flop, Steve Landfish reraised from the button, Barry Greenstein called three-bets from the big blind and Schulman called the raise.

The flop came 8 7 4, Greenstein bet, Schulman raised, Landfish folded, Greenstein three-bet, Schulman raised all in and Greenstein called.

Schulman showed 9 9 for an overpair while Greenstein showed 7 7 for middle set.

The turn and river were the 4 and the 8, giving Greenstein a full house on the turn. Greenstein raked the pot and moved up to over 500,000 this hand while Nick Schulman was eliminated in 9th place ($35,519).

Short Stacks Double Up

Domenico Denotaristefani was getting short on chips and got it all in pre-flop for three bets against Justin Smith.

Smith was ahead with A 7 against Denotaristefani’s Q 9.

The board came K 4 2 7 9, giving Smith a pair of sevens for the lead on the turn, but Denotaristefani spiked a nine on the river to double to about 400,000 this hand.

Richard Brodie inherited the short stack when Nick Schulman was eliminated in 9th place, and he doubled through Isaac Haxton shortly after. Brodie button-raised before the flop, Haxton reraised from the small blind and Brodie called.

The flop came Q J 5, Haxton bet and Brodie called.

The turn was the 8, Haxton bet and Brodie called all in.

Brodie turned over K 10 for an open-ended straight flush draw with two live cards against Haxton’s ace-high. The river was the 10, giving Brodie a pair for the win. Brodie doubled up to about 300,000 this hand to stay alive.

Richard Brodie Eliminated in 8th Place ($44,207)

Still short after his previous double up with Isaac Haxton, Richard Brodie was all in pre-flop with Q 4 against Barry Greenstein’s A 8.

The board came 9 3 2 10 8, giving Greenstein middle pair on the river. Greenstein moved up to 700,000 this hand while Richard Brodie was eliminated in 8th place ($44,207).

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

The 2011 $10,000 limit hold’em championship is almost near its end, as just 14 players remain to fight for the bracelet and the $378,000 first-place prize.

Leading the way is Matthew Gallin, with 575,000 in chips. He’ll have to battle a stacked field that includes Justin Smith, Nick Schulman, Barry Greenstein, Matt Hawrilenko, Hoyt Corkins and Isaac Haxton.

Here’s a look at the chip counts.

Be sure to check back for level-by-level updates from the final table.