Level: 29

Blinds: 40,000-80,000 with a 10,000 ante

Players Remaining: 3 out of 2,105

Average Chip Count: 3,157,500

Chip Counts:

Seat 5: Athanasios Polychronopoulos – 2,910,000
Seat 6: Everett Carlton – 2,130,000
Seat 9: Manuel Mutke – 4,440,000

Players Eliminated:

4th: Joe Cada – $161,642

Live Updates:

Joe Cada Eliminated in Fourth Place ($161,642)

Athanasios Polychronopoulos raised to 190,000 preflop and Joe Cada reraised all in for 1,175,000. Athanasios called and the two players flipped over their hands.

Athanasios: AJ
Cada: AQ

Board: 872J6

Cada was eliminated in fourth place and Athanasios was up to 5.6 million thanks to a pair of jacks.

Both Everett Carlton and Manuel Mutke Double Through Athanasios

First, Everett Carlton doubled up through Athanasios Polychronopoulos holding pocket sevens. Athanasios held A10 and the board was dealt 872KK. Carlton was up to 2.1 million thanks to a full house.

Next up was Manuel Mutke, who was all in with J-7 on a 7-6-2 flop against the A-9 of Athanasios. The turn and river brought a ten and a deuce and Mutke doubled up as well. Mutke took the chip lead after the hand with 4.4 million and Athanasios was down to 2.9 million after the one-two punch.

Level: 27

Blinds: 25,000-50,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 5 out of 2,105

Average Chip Count: 1,894,500

Chip Counts:

Seat 4: Samuel Taylor – 1,295,000
Seat 5: Athanasios Polychronopoulos – 4,390,000
Seat 6: Everett Carlton – 1,280,000
Seat 8: Joe Cada – 905,000
Seat 9: Manuel Mutke – 1,610,000

Players Eliminated:

None

Live Updates:

Athanasios Polychronopoulos Takes a Strong Hold on the Lead

During an otherwise slow level with just six pots that went to a showdown, Athanasios Polychronopoulos dominated the table and grew his chip stack to 4.4 million. That is almost as much as the rest of his opponent’s combined. Although he won quite a few hands uncontested, here are two of his larger hands from the level.

Athanasios raised to 130,000 on the small blind and Everett Carlton called on the big blind. The flop was dealt J109 and the two players checked. The 9 fell on the turn and Athanasios bet 100,000. Carlton raised to 225,000 and Athanasios called. The 6 followed on the river. Both players checked and Athanasios turned over AJ. Carlton mucked his hand and Athanasios continued to build his chip lead.

A few hands after that Athanasios raised to 115,000 on the cutoff and Manuel Mutke called on the big blind. The flop was dealt J108 and both players checked. The 6 followed on the turn and Mutke bet 150,000. Athanasios called and the river fell 9. Mutke bet 325,000 and Athanasios called once more. Mutke held A7 for a jack-high straight, while Athanasios revealed Q10 for a queen-high straight and he was above 4 million after the hand.

Level: 25

Blinds: 15,000-30,000 with a 5,000 ante

Players Remaining: 7 out of 2,105

Average Chip Count: 1,353,214

Chip Counts:

Seat 1: Joe Ward – 625,000
Seat 3: Michael Kurth – 345,000
Seat 4: Samuel Taylor – 1,495,000
Seat 5: Athanasios Polychronopoulos – 2,700,000
Seat 6: Everett Carlton – 1,985,000
Seat 8: Joe Cada – 1,115,000
Seat 9: Manuel Mutke – 1,215,000

Players Eliminated:

8th: David “Bakes” Baker – $49,716

Live Updates:

David “Bakes” Baker Eliminated in Eighth Place ($49,716)

Athanasios Polychronopoulos raised to 70,000 on the cutoff and Everett Carlton called on the button. Baker moved all in for 490,000 and Athanasios folded. Carlton called and the two players turned over their cards.

Carlton: AA
Baker: A4

Board: Q43KK

Baker started out behind and although he made two pair, Carlton kept the lead the whole way in the hand. Baker was eliminated in eighth place and Carlton was up to 2 million after the hand.

The final table of Event No. 17 ($1,500 No-Limit Hold’em) has begun, and Card Player will be posting level-by-level updates with all major hands, current chip counts, and prize payouts.

With the elimination of Paul Francoi Tedeschi in tenth place ($29,980), the nine-handed final table is now set. Play will begins in Level 23 with blinds of 10,000-20,000 with a 3,000 ante, and action will continue until a winner is determined. Play may be extended an additional day if it takes more than 10 levels to reach a winner as noted on the official structure sheet. With cards now back in the air, here is a look at the final table and how these players stack up:

Seat 1: Joe Ward – 853,000
Seat 2: Thomas Nicotera – 449,000
Seat 3: Michael Kurth – 578,000
Seat 4: Samuel Taylor – 1,081,000
Seat 5: Athanasios Polychronopoulos – 1,971,000
Seat 6: Everett Carlton – 513,000
Seat 7: David “Bakes” Baker – 836,000
Seat 8: Joe Cada – 1,492,000
Seat 9: Manuel Mutke – 1,705,000

While only 9 remain, this event attracted a field of 2,105 players, creating a total prize pool of $2,841,750, and the top 216 players made the money. Here is a look at the final table payouts:

1st Place: $518,755
2nd Place: $322,908
3rd Place: $224,455
4th Place: $161,652
5th Place: $118,145
6th Place: $87,398
7th Place: $65,502
8th Place: $49,716
9th Place: $38,178

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