Level: 31

Blinds: 60,000-120,000 with a 15,000 ante

Henry Lu Wins Event no. 43 ($654,380)
Neil Channing Eliminated in 2nd Place ($406,409)

Neil Channing entered heads-up play with the chip lead, and despite losing it to Henry Lu in Level 29, Channing regained the lead once again in Level 30. Lu managed to chip back up to even in the last level of the night and then reclaimed the chip lead for the final time. Channing was down to around 3.5 million when he called all in before the flop with AJ against Lu’s 44.

The board came Q32K3, and Lu’s pair of fours held to win the tournament. Neil Channing was eliminated in 2nd place ($406,409) while Henry Lu wins Event no. 43, taking home the $654,380 grand prize and the forty-third gold bracelet of the 2012 WSOP.

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Level: 28

Blinds: 30,000-60,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 2 out of 2,770

Average Chip Count: 6,232,500

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 1 — Henry Lu — 2,250,000

Seat no. 7 — Neil Channing — 10,200,000

Players Eliminated:

James Mackey — 3rd Place ($286,633)
Tom Alner — 4th Place ($207,019)

Live Updates:

Tom Alner Eliminated in 4th Place ($207,019)

Tom Alner open-shoved the small blind and Neil Channing called from the big blind.

Channing was ahead before the flop with A9 against Alner’s J8.

The board came 9323K, offering no help for Tom Alner who was eliminated in 4th place ($207,019). Channing moved up to about 9.1 million after the hand.

James Mackey Eliminated in 3rd Place ($286,633)

Right after doubling through chipleader Neil Channing, James Mackey gave it all back on the very next hand. Mackey was all in before the flop with KQ against Channing’s 55.

The board came K4335, giving Mackey top pair on the flop to take the lead, but Channing spiked a set on the river to win the pot. James Mackey was eliminated in 3rd place ($286,633), while Neil Channing broke the 10-million chip mark that hand. Channing took the chip lead going into heads-up play with 10,200,000 to Henry Lu’s 2,250,000.

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Level: 26

Blinds: 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 5 out of 2,770

Average Chip Count: 2,493,000

Chip Counts:

Seat no. 1 — Henry Lu — 2,300,000
Seat no. 2 — Tom Alner — 1,380,000

Seat no. 7 — Neil Channing — 4,450,000
Seat no. 8 — James Mackey — 2,000,000
Seat no. 9 — John Nelson — 1,250,000

Players Eliminated:

Hovan Nguyen — 6th Place ($111,961)
Balazs Botond — 7th Place ($83,802)

Live Updates:

Balazs Botond Eliminated in 7th Place ($83,802)

Balazs Boton moved all in before the flop and John Nelson re-shoved the small blind with no action behind.

Nelson was ahead before the flop with 99 against Botond’s 66.

The board came KQJ7A, offering no help to Balazs Botond who was eliminated in 7th place ($83,802). Nelson moved up to about 1,250,000 in chips that hand.

Hovan Nguyen Eliminated in 6th Place ($111,961)

Hovan Nguyen moved all in before the flop from the small blind and Neil Channing called from the big blind.

Channing was ahead before the flop with AJ against Nguyen’s J4.

The board came 99785, offering no help to Hovan Nguyen who was eliminated in 6th place ($111,961). Channing extend his lead to just under 4.5 million that hand.

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

The final table of Event no. 43 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold’em) is now underway, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.

Day 3 began with 20 players spread out over 3 tables, and with the elimination of Zach Clark in 10th Place ($37,657), the final table is now set. Play will begin in Level 25 with blinds of 15,000-30,000 with a 5,000 ante, and will continue until a winner is determined.

With cards now back in the air, here is a look at the final table and how these players match up:

Seat no. 1 — Henry Lu — 2,745,000
Seat no. 2 — Tom Alner — 1,550,000
Seat no. 3 — Balazs Botond — 775,000
Seat no. 4 — Hovan Nguyen — 295,000
Seat no. 5 — Francois Dur — 590,000
Seat no. 6 — Jared Rosenbaum — 305,000
Seat no. 7 — Neil Channing — 2,735,000
Seat no. 8 — James Mackey — 2,015,000
Seat no. 9 — John Nelson — 1,460,000

While only 9 remain, this event gathered 2,770 players, creating a total prize pool of $3,739,500. Here is a look at the final payouts:

1st Place — $654,380
2nd Place — $406,409
3rd Place — $286,633
4th Place — $207,019
5th Place — $151,338
6th Place — $111,961
7th Place — $83,802
8th Place — $63,459
9th Place — $48,614

Be sure to check back with Card Player at the conclusion of each level for regular updates with all of the action, current chip counts, and prize distributions.