Something happened last night. Something extremely fun and entertaining. And while it was in no way forgettable, I’m not sure many people will remember it with crystal clear clarity.

I’m talking, of course, about last night’s PokerStars players party here at the PCA. If you’ve never been to one, you really owe it to yourself to try and attend one of these shindigs.

All you need to do is play the main event, so why not try and qualify for next year’s PCA or an EPT/LAPT?

Ready to sign up for PokerStars? Click here to get an account.

First of all – there’s a free bar. The Bahama Mamas were flowing as far as the eye could see.

Secondly, there’s free food. And there’s no expense spared here at the PCA; from exotic mini burgers and delicious Cajun chicken to exquisite canapés and…we mentioned the free bar, right?

Then there’s the entertainment. This year the PCA has transformed the ballroom at Atlantis into a Cirque du Soleil-esque extravaganza.

Two men painted gold like Oscars performing physical feats that have to be seen to be believed; a woman manoeuvring 15 hula hoops around her body with ease; acrobats dangling from the ceiling; it really was quite remarkable to watch.

So, who was in attendance? Well, let’s start with the PokerStars Team: Daniel Negreanu, Liv Boeree, Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier, Eugene Katchalov, Jake Cody, Jason Mercier, Andre Akkari, Felipe Ramos, and Fatima Moreira de Melo were all in attendance.

So were the high rollers: Mike McDonald, Ole Schemion and Fedor Holz are just a few of the big names we saw enjoying themselves.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end – or do they? When the official PokerStars party was drawing to a close, hundreds simply made the short walk over to the amazing Aura nightclub here on the Atlantis resort.

And the Bahama mamas continued to flow. Our heads are very sore this morning, but boy did we have a good time.

Get yourself out to the PCA next year and you’ll see it all for yourself. Satellites for next year’s PokerStars Carribean Adventure and all of the EPT and LAPT stops are running right now.

We mentioned the free bar, right? —JS

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

From End Bosses to brain surgeons, profiles of the six men eyeing triumph at the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event.

Seat 1: Michael Watson, 31, St. John’s, Canada

Having crafted his game on the online tables of PokerStars, where he is known as “SirWatts”, Mike Watson has been a regular on the live poker scene for more than ten years. He has a sterling resumé to show for efforts as well. The 31-year-old from St John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, Canada, has more than $8.3 million in live tournament winnings, which puts him fifth in his country’s all-time money list. In the past decade, he has recorded 38 cashes at the World Series of Poker, a WPT Bellagio title worth $1.6 million and numerous EPT High Roller results. These include a runner-up finish in the EPT11 Grand Final €50,000 Super High Roller, and third places in the equivalent tournament at EPT9 Barcelona and in the 2013 PCA $25,000 High Roller. Watson remains highly successful online: “SirWatts” won two watches in the latest SCOOP tournament series. — 6,585,000 chips

Seat 2: Vladimir Troyanovskiy, 42, St Petersburg, Russia

Vladimir Troyanovskiy first learned poker from his older brother when he was 13 and quickly transitioned from five-card draw to hold ‘em and Omaha in clubs in Russia’s major cities. He is now widely acknowledged as one of Russia’s top poker players, while still also able to find time to run a business in St Petersburg. The 42-year-old made his European Poker Tour debut at the Grand Final in Moncao in Season 3 and since then has amassed more than $3.9 million in live tournament winnings. The majority of his results have come in live PokerStars events in Europe and Asia. He was a serious contender for last year’s EPT Player of the Year title after a run of results that included third in the EPT11 Super High Roller in Barcelona (€473,200) and ninth in the €100,000 Super High Roller in Monaco (€199,620). He has continued the form in Season 12 with three cashes in Barcelona, two in Malta and three at EPT Prague in December including runner-up in the €5,000 8-Game, and tenth in the €25,000 High Roller. Troyanovskiy earned his best live result in this room in 2013 when he was runner-up to Vanessa Selbst in the $25,000 High Roller for $792,180. He has made two other Super High Roller final tables as well and ranks sixth in Russia’s all time money list. Troyanovskiy is no slouch online either: he won his trip to this year’s PCA in a $320 satellite on PokerStars. — 5,025,000 chips

Seat 3: Randy Kritzer, 58, Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

The oldest player at the final is Randy Kritzer, a 58-year-old neurosurgeon from Greensboro, North Carolina, who has already guaranteed a prize three times as large as his previous total poker winnings. Five years ago, Kritzer finished 21st in a $1,000 event at the World Series in Las Vegas, taking nearly $14,000, which was his biggest single score before arriving to the Bahamas this week. This is not Kritzer’s first visit to the PCA: he played at last year’s festival and notched up two cashes in side events. However, none were anywhere close to the $150,000 minimum he has already secured today. Kritzer spent much of Day 5 on the feature table and admits that the spotlight is new to him. But if you can rely on anyone to keep their hands still despite the high intensity environment, it is a man who has performed brain surgery at a practice in his hometown since 1990 and is the president and founder of Carolina Neurosurgery. Busy with his life-saving occupation, Kritzer came to the PCA to play only one event and has made it to the final stages. — 2,565,000 chips

Seat 4: Tony Gregg, 29, Columbia, Maryland, United States

Prior to this festival, Tony Gregg was the only player ever to reach two Main Event final tables at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. It now follows that Gregg is the only player to make three. Widely considered one of the best tournament poker players in the world—his peers have nicknamed him “End Boss” in reference to how tough he is to play against—Gregg was runner up at the PCA 2009 Main Event (still the largest renewal), which earned him $1.7 million, and finished sixth three years ago, banking another $364,000. Should he repeat his 2012 performance, Gregg will move past the $10 million mark in live tournament earnings. Gregg won the 2013 $111,111 One Drop High Roller at the World Series, which was worth $4,830,619, and he also won a WPT title at the Parx Poker Open in 2013 for $416,127. It means that he is only an EPT title away from completing the Triple Crown. Gregg’s online results are also remarkable. Under the screen name “wwwBTHEREcom”, he has accumulated more than $1.5 million in cashes, including a SCOOP title and a Sunday Million victory. — 5,690,000 chips

Seat 5: Phillip McAllister, 22, Winchester, United Kingdom

Phillip McAllister is the youngest man around the PCA final table, but is already a highly experienced poker player, with $900,000 in recorded profit in online games. McAllister plays as “Grindation” on PokerStars and lives among numerous online pros in Playa del Carmen in Mexico. During the 2014 SCOOP, McAllister secured his two biggest results: he was runner up in Event #1-H for $232,960 and bettered it a few days later when he finished fifth in Event #44-H and banked $350,838. McAllister’s CV also includes a runner-up finish in the Sunday Million from August 2012 and fourth place in last year’s WCOOP Super Tuesday. So far, he has amassed a relatively meagre $180,000 on the live scene, the biggest single cash of which came in a side event at EPT11 Prague. However, he seems set to more than double his total previous earnings here at the PCA. — 3,040,000 chips

Seat 6: Toby Lewis, 26, Southampton, United Kingdom

Toby Lewis is the only former EPT champion to make the PCA final table and can become only the second player ever to win two titles should he prevail this afternoon. His first title came in Vilamoura in Season 7, when he beat WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson heads up to cash for €467,836. His total live winnings are just shy of $2.7 million, but Lewis is also well known for his online poker success under the screen name “810ofclubs”. On PokerStars alone, he has cashed for almost $3.5 million, at least $720,000 of which is profit. Lewis’s largest score came from a $215+R WCOOP win in 2013 for $189,379. He also has a final table in the Main Event-High of SCOOP 2011 where he finished sixth for $167,200. Lewis started playing poker in casinos, mostly low buy in tournaments, when he turned 18. After graduating from college he became an online cash game regular but transitioned to tournaments after winning an event in Brighton. He cites fellow British players Chris Moorman, Craig McCorkell and Tom Middleton as major influences on his career. — 4,665,000 chips

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

A lengthy Day 2 of the $25,000 High Roller is done, and when it came time to bring out the bags only nine were needed, with 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Josh Beckley the one to put the most chips in his after he finished the night as leader with 2.146 million.

Seems like ages ago, but back at 12 noon 106 survivors from yesterday’s first day of play sat down for the first hands of Day 2, with another 11 players joining them as the last entries (and re-entries) before the late registration window shut.

All told there were 225 entries, with 173 unique players and 52 re-entries. That meant a huge $5,400,000 prize pool to be divided among the final 31 finishers, with a cool $1,142,100 first prize scheduled to go to the winner.

Early eliminations today included Ryan Riess, Ole Schemion, Anthony Zinno, and Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu, with fellow red spade-sporter Jason Mercier also going out during the first hour of the day. Meanwhile the lone remaining member of the team Andre Akkari was thriving while Faraz Jaka stormed out to the chip lead.

The field continued to be whittled down, with NFL star Richard Seymour and start-of-day leader Dustin Johns among those going out prior to dinner as Chance Kornuth began his ascent up the counts to grab first position.

Then it was Dario Sammartino assuming the chip lead, eventually pushing way in front to be the first player to 1 million chips.

They were down to 36 by the dinner break, though it would take a while to reach the money before Akkari went out in 33rd, then at last Georgios Zisimopoulos went out in 32nd to burst the bubble.

Keven Stammen (31st) and Pablo Melogno (30th) were the first min-cashers, with Marvin Rettenmaier (27th), Darren Elias (26th), Faraz Jaka (21st), and Jared Jaffee (19th) among those falling as the field was carved down further.

Sean Winter then assumed the top spot for a while as players continued to fall.

EPT11 Grand Final champion Adrian Mateos was the next out in 18th, and a little later during the night’s last levels 2012 WSOP Main Event winner Greg Merson (13th), Jeff Gross (12th), and Jean-Pascal Savard (11th) were felted while Beckley moved back up into the chip lead once again. Finally Robert Gordotesky was knocked out in 10th in the night’s final hand, and play concluded for the night.

Click here for live updates from Day 2, Levels 11-16
Click here for live updates from Day 2, Levels 17-21

Here’s how the counts will look to start play tomorrow:

1. Josh Beckley (USA) — 2,146,000
2. Dario Sammartino (Italy) — 1,892,000
3. Sean Winter (USA) — 1,799,000
4. Nick Maimone (USA) — 1,191,000
5. Andrey Zaichenko (Russia) — 1,036,000
6. Chance Kornuth (USA) — 972,000
7. Brian Yoon (USA) — 953,000
8. Ben Heath (UK) — 738,000
9. Anton Astapau (Belarus) — 565,000

And they were able to redraw to an unofficial final table of nine, so here’s a look at where they’ll be seated:

Seat 1: Sean Winter (USA) — 1,799,000
Seat 2: Brian Yoon (USA) — 953,000
Seat 3: Andrey Zaichenko (Russia) — 1,036,000
Seat 4: Nick Maimone (USA) — 1,191,000
Seat 5: Josh Beckley (USA) — 2,146,000
Seat 6: Chance Kornuth (USA) — 972,000
Seat 7: Ben Heath (UK) — 738,000
Seat 8: Anton Astapau (Belarus) — 565,000
Seat 9: Dario Sammartino (Italy) — 1,892,000

Play gets going again at 12 noon tomorrow, and we’ll be on hand from start-to-finish to bring live updates, photos, and more from the $25K High Roller. Join us again then to see who among these nine will be claiming the last high roller of the 2016 PCA!

Want to be here next year? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

Take a look at the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.

Also all the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.

Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.



This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

*Chip counts | Prizewinners so far

12:00: Midnight counts

On the stroke of midnight, here’s your final table chip counts. And here’s how all the action played out today:

Mike Watson Canada 6,585,000
Tony Gregg USA 5,690,000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy Russia 5,025,000
Toby Lewis UK 4,665,000
Phillip McAllister UK 3,040,000
Randy Kritzer USA 2,565,000

11:55pm: Gregg hoovers last of Demlakian; final six set
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

On the very next hand after Tony Gregg’s massive double up, he took the last of Ken Demlakian’s stack. He opened from under the gun and then instantly called when Demlakian shoved for nine big blinds, one of which was already across the line in front of him.

Demlakian had found a pair: 44. But Gregg had too: 1010. There was nothing on the flop, turn or river to represent a lifeline to Demlakian, and he is now free to join his family holiday in Dallas, $110,220 richer.

That’s our final six. We’ll have their official chip counts with you very soon. — HS

11:45pm: Gregg stays on course for PCA title
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here’s Tony Gregg doing what Tony Gregg does best: bossing PCA final tables. This latest skirmish leaves Ken Demlakian with a dreadfully small stack, and leaves Gregg closing in on 5 million.

Demlakian opened to 175,000 from under the gun and Gregg raised to 445,000 from one seat to his left. It folded back to Demlakian and he called.

Those two saw the flop of 297 and Demlakian checked. Gregg bet 1.86 million and Demlakian instantly moved all in over the top. Gregg, the effective stack, called.

It was a spectacular mis-step from Demlakian, who had only AK. Gregg started the hand dominated with his K9 but caught up and showed K9.

It left Demlakian with only 800,000. — HS

11:40pm: Watson back in the lead
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Mike Watson is back up to 6.8 million after taking a large pot off of Toby Lewis.

It started out with a simple limp from the small blind by Lewis. Watson then raised to 240,000 from the big blind and Lewis called.

Both players checked the 9Q7 flop and a 2 came on the turn. Lewis checked, Watson bet 600,000 and Lewis called.

The river brought a 5 and Watson bet 1.4 million when checked to.

It was too much for Lewis.

Lewis folded and was left with 4.7 million while Watson took back the lead with 6.8 million. —AV

11:35pm: McAllister stays cool; doubles
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Phillip McAllister has had a brilliant tournament already—including that ridiculous hand yesterday when he hit a royal flush—but he was just all in for his tournament life for what was, I think, the first time.

It was a flip. McAllister, who had 1.645 million in his open-shoved stack, showed 55 after Vladimir Troyanovskiy called him. Troyanovskiy had AQ and McAllister had to survive an enormous sweat.

The flop came 10J7. The turn brought even more outs: 9. But the 2 was not one of Troyanovskiy’s 14 outs and McAllister picked up a very valuable double. — HS

11:30pm: Ulmer out, down to 7
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

A short-stacked Timothy Ulmer moved all-in for 1 million from early position and David Eldridge re-shoved from his left.

Action folded around and we had a final table showdown.

Eldridge: AQ
Ulmer: 66

The AQ78K board fell heavily in Eldridge’s favor and Ulmer was eliminated in 8th place.

Ulmer won $78,540 for the 8th place finish while Eldridge chipped up to 3.3 million. —AV

11:27pm: Lewis gets a few
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Tony Gregg raised to 175,000 from the button and Toby Lewis called from the big blind. Both players checked the 2109 flop and a K came on the turn. Lewis check-called a 220,000 bet and both players checked the 3 on the river.

Lewis showed Q10 and Gregg mucked.

Then Lewis took down the next hand.

Lewis called from the small blind and Mike Watson checked his option. Lewis bet 125,000 on the 593 flop and a 10 came on the turn. Lews bet 225,000 and and Watson folded.

Toby Lewis is now up to 5.7 million.

11:15pm: Some for Kritzer
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Randy Kritzer sparred with Vladimir Troyanovskiy a bit and came out on top both times.

In one hand, Kritzer raised to 175,000 from under-the-gun and Troyanovskiy called from the big blind. The flop came 452 and Kritzer bet 200,000 when checked to. Troyanovskiy called and an A came on the turn.

Troyanovskiy bet 285,000 but then Kritzer moved all-in. Troyanovskiy folded and Kritzer took down the pot.

He won the next hand too.

Phillip McAllister called from the hijack, Troyanovskiy called from the small blind and Kritzer checked his option.

The flop came 7J2 and Troyanovskiy bet 130,000. Kritzer raised to 500,000 and both players folded.

Kritzer is now up to 2.6 million while Troyanovskiy dipped to second place with 5.89 million. Mike Watson is in the lead with 5.91 million. —AV

11:05pm: Gregg the monster
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

We trailed it all week, and now it has come true. Tony Gregg is at his third career PCA Main Event final table (plus one Super High Roller appearance). Tony Gregg = quite good.

10.55pm: Demlakian shoves, chips up
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here’s another strange one, with Ken Demlakian building his chip stack with an effective flop squeeze play.

Mike Watson opened from early position to 160,000 and Randy Kritzer called from the cutoff. Ken Demlakian also called from the small blind and three players looked at a 258 flop.

Demlakian checked, but Watson continued and made it 250,000 to play. Kritzer shaped to fold, but then called, and then Demlakian saw a fine opportunity. He shoved all in for 970,000 total.

Watson quickly folded. And although Kritzer asked for a count, checked his cards and deeply yawned, he then folded. — HS

10:45pm: Gregg the uncalled
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

A lot of pots this level have been settled preflop, but that doesn’t mean decisions have been.

In one, Tony Gregg raised to 175,000 from under-the-gun and Phillip McAllister re-raised to 460,000 from early position.

Action folded to Ken Demlakian who thought for over two minutes before he folded. Demlakian is the tournament short stack with slightly less than 1 million.

Gregg then moved all-in for 2.2 million and McAllister folded. The hand put Gregg up to 2.9 million while McAllister was left with around 1.7 million. —AV

10.35pm: They’re back
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

Here are the stacks for the final eight players. Vladimir Troyanovskiy has a narrow lead, while Ken Demlakian is now the tournament short stack with about 15 big blinds.

10.20pm: End of the level. Break time
Level 29, Blinds 40,000-80,000 (10,000)

They’re on an extended break. Back soonish.

10.15pm: Lewis finishes the job on Eldridge
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Toby Lewis, having just found kings to double up and cut David Eldridge down to size, finished the job on the next hand. With aces.

Lewis admitted it was ridiculous, but it was the easiest call of his poker career when Eldridge shoved with 66 and he found AA. He called, for all of Eldridge’s 175,000.

There were no miracles for Eldridge on the board of 44K32.

Eldridge goes out in ninth and wins $62,020. — HS

10:05pm: Lewis doubles right back
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Toby Lewis dealt the first double up at the final table and now he got one for himself.

Ken Demlakian called from early position and Phillip MCAllister raised to 190,000 from middle position. Toby Lewis re-raised to 450,000 from the hijack and Eldridge moved all-in for 2.195 million from the big blind.

Lewis called with KK and Eldridge tabled AK.

Eldridge was hoping for an ace but the J9356 board brought him none.

Lewis doubled to 4.5 million while Eldridge was left with just 175,000. —AV

9:55pm: Eldridge doubles through Lewis
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened to 135,000 from under-the-gun and David Eldridge moved all in for 970,000 from early position. Ken Demlakian looked pained, rubbed his head and then verbally announced his fold.

Toby Lewis re-shoved from the small blind and Troyanovskiy folded.

Lewis: AK
Eldridge: JJ

It was an old-fashioned flip that fell heavily in Eldridge’s favor.

Eldridge flopped a full house on the 44JK10 board and doubled up to 2.23 million while Lewis dropped to 2.05 million. —AV

9:40pm: Demlakian dips and rises
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Ken Demlakian has been playing a lot of pots at the final table. He called two 135,000 raises from out of position and folded to continuation bets on both.

Then he took a big pot off Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

Troyanovskiy raised to 135,000 from early position and Demlakian called from the button. The flop came 786 and Troyanovskiy bet 165,000. Demlakian called and a Q came on the turn.

Troyanovskiy upped the bet to 285,000 and Demlakian moved all-in. Troyanovskiy folded and Demlakian chipped up to 1.92 million. —AV

9:20pm: Troyanovskiy back out front
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy doesn’t like being out of the lead for very long. He has just reassumed his place at the top of the counts after beating Ken Demlakian out of a hand.

Troyanovskiy opened to 135,000 from mid-position and Demlakian’s call from the small blind persuaded Tony Gregg to call from the big. That took them to a flop of AK4, which both Demlakian and Gregg checked. Troyanovskiy bet 235,000 and only Demlakian called.

Both remaining players checked the 3 turn, and then Troyanovskiy fired 550,000 at the J river. Demlakian called, but then mucked when Troyanovskiy tabled AQ.

Troyanovskiy now has close to 9 million. — HS

9:10pm: Troyanovskiy closing in
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

In the first hand to make it to the river at the unofficial final table, Ken Demlakian raised to 135,000 from early position and Vladimir Troyanovskiy called from the button.

The flop came 2Q7 and both players checked. The turn brought the 5 and Demlakian bet 185,000. Troyanovskiy called and the 8 completed the board.

Demlakian checked and Troyanovskiy bet 435,000. Demlakian folded and Troyanovskiy chipped up to 5.9 million. —AV

9pm: Last nine
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Here’s the line-up for the unofficial final table. That was the last redraw of the tournament. They need to lose one more player until they hit the “final” table; three more and and we’ll finish for the night.

Seat 1 – Mike Watson, 6,535,000
Seat 2 – Vladimir Troyanovskiy, 5,450,000
Seat 3 – Randy Kritzer, 2,110,000
Seat 4 – David Eldridge, 1,320,000
Seat 5 – Timothy Ulmer, 1,765,000
Seat 6 – Ken Demlakian, 2,260,000
Seat 7 – Tony Gregg, 2,410,000
Seat 8 – Phillip McAllister, 3,405,000
Seat 9 – Toby Lewis, 2,315,000

8:41pm: One day only; Waxman out
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Well, Waxman did live to fight another day. But it was only that one day. He is now out. He shoved again, the second hand in a row, this time for about 1.2 million.

Mike Watson was lurking behind him this time, though, and he picked him off almost instantly. Watson had AQ and dominated Waxman’s A7. That domination became even more emphatic on the Q10Q flop and although the A turn gave him chop outs, the 9 was a blank.

Waxman gets $51,260 for tenth. Meanwhile Watson takes the chip lead again, with 6.5 million.

They will now redraw for their places around the unofficial final table. —HS

8:40pm: Waxman lives another day
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

Ken Demlakian opened from the cutoff and Matt Waxman moved all in from the small blind. Demlakian asked for a count—it was 1,010,000—and Waxman then pondered for a bit before folding A face up. “You had three outs,” Waxman said, suggesting he had a big ace. Demlakian insisted he was able to fold ace-king, but didn’t confirm whether he had it or not. As it was, Waxman lived to fight another day. —HS

8:30pm: And they’re back
Level 28, Blinds 30,000-60,000 (10,000)

And they return. Action is under way again. — HS

That’s dinner!
And as Level 27 draws to a close, players are sent on a 75-minute dinner break. Here are the ten remaining players’ chip counts:

7:20pm: The McAllister Gregg show
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

It’s all about two players out on the table, and their chip stacks are swinging back and forth.

McAllister made it 110,000 from the small blind and Gregg called from the big. We saw a flop of the 754 and McAllister reduced hit bet size to just 90,000; again, Gregg called.

The turn was the K and now the bet from McAllister was 165,000. It didn’t take long for Gregg to call and we went to the river.

It was the 9 and with the pot quite large the bet needed to be too. McAllister put out 555,000 and Gregg went deep into the tank.

Several times, while he fidgeted uncomfortably and repositioned himself in his seat, he put his hands into a praying motion – desperate to find answers. What did McAllister have?

Well we soon found out. Gregg made the call eventually and McAllister flipped over 86. He’d flopped the nuts, and his straight had become even bigger by the river. Gregg mucked.

Anthony Gregg 3,025,000
Phillip McAllister 3,400,000 —JS

7:15: Demlakian checks when he gets there
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Let’s just agree that there are different ways to play poker. One way is that when you call for a double-gutter and get there, you bet it. Another way is Ken Demlakian’s way. No judgments. That’s just a fact.

As the players sit ten-handed, they are playing hand-for-hand, and it’s slow going. But that didn’t stop the action at the feature table where Vladimir Troyanovskiy raised to 110,000 and got a call from Ken Demlakian. On a flop of K107, Troyanovskiy bet 140,000 and Demlakian called with…well, no need for drama here…he called with J9. It’s a double gut-shot draw at this point.

The 2 was a blank, but Troyanovskiy didn’t stop firing. This time it was 225,000. That makes sense. Troyanovskiy held KQ. Still, Demlakian called.

Onto the 8 river. If you’ve been keeping up, filled in the bottom end of Demlakian’s gutshot. Troyanovskiy backed off and checked.

This is the point at which we again are forced to agree that there are different ways to play poker, and that Demlakian’s way was the way Demlakian chose. He checked behind to reveal his straight, good for the win, the pot, and Troyanovskiy’s gratitude. —BW

7:05pm: McAllister the thinker
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Tony Gregg made Phillip McAllister think a lot.

It started when McAllister raised to 125,000 from the button and Gregg re-raised to 345,000 from the small blind. McAllister thought and stared at Gregg. Then he called.

The flop came 3J9 and both players quickly checked. It was the fastest street of the hand.

When the 6 came on the turn Gregg bet 390,000 and McAllister took over a minute to call. Then came the river: Q.

Gregg upped the bet to 625,000 and McAllister went into the tank. He cycled his stare between Gregg, his stack and the board for more than six minutes.

Then he made his decision: fold.

McAllister was down to 2.3 million after the hand while Gregg chipped up to about 3.5 million. —AV

6:55pm: Gregg’s got legs
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

If Anthony Gregg makes the final table of this event, he’ll be the first person in history to make the final table of the same EPT event three times. There aren’t that many people who have been to three EPT final tables, period. And Gregg will do it all in the same spot.

He’s moving into contention to do just that. His chip stack keeps getting bigger and it seems almost a certainty that he’ll do it.

In a hand against Toby Lewis, Gregg opened to 110,000 on the button and Lewis made the call out of the big blind. The flop was 554 and both players checked.

To the turn then, and it was the 7. Lewis now opted to bet 135,000 and Gregg matched it.

On the river the 10 fell and Lewis decided to check. Gregg’s bet of 290,000 was enough to force a fold from Lewis and grow his stack even more.

Anthony Gregg 3,400,000
Toby Lewis 1,565,000 —JS

6:50pm: The check-raise makes its comeback
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Matt Waxman, with his new stack of chips, opened from under the gun and Ken Demlakian called from the small blind. It was only those two to a flop of 683 and Demlakian checked.

Waxman bet 140,000 and Demlakian found a check-raise, making it 365,000 to play.

“Do you have any more white,” Waxman asked, referencing the white 100,000-denomination chips.
“No,” Demlakian said. “I have about 1.4 something behind.”
“I trust you,” Waxman said as he threw his cards away.
“I don’t sell cars or real estate,” Demlakian said, offering his approval of Waxman’s decision to fold. — HS

6:44: Waxman lights his wick, doubles through Watson
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Matt Waxman has been short-stacked for most of the afternoon, but just managed to get his last 665,000 in with AK. Mike Watson made the call with AJ. The board stayed clean, and Waxman doubled up.

6:35m: Old new pro
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Ken Demlakian has enjoyed taking on the young pros at their own game today, even consciously aping their habits and telling the table that he is precisely doing that. “They pretend to forget what they’ve got,” he said, as he peeked again at his hole cards going to a recent flop.

The hand started when he raised from under the gun (that’s a young guns’ trick too) and Randy Kritzer, from the old school, called. It was just those two to a flop of 495.

Demlakian bet 180,000 at it and Kritzer called. That took them to the 10 on the turn. Demlakian had another stab, this time for 325,000, but clearly smelled a rat when Kritzer called again, from a stack with only about 800,000 behind.

The 8 came on the river and Demlakian checked. That allowed Kritzer finally to get his stack in the middle with a shove. Demlakian quickly folded. — HS

6:25pm: McAllister moves all-in
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

We had an all-in, but no one called.

It was pure excitement compared to the action we’ve seen this last level though. The hand also took a chunk out of David Eldridge’s stack.

Eldridge raised to 130,000 from the small blind and Phillip McAllister called from the big blind.

The flop came JQ8 and Eldridge check-called a 110,000 bet. A K came on the turn and Eldridge bet 265,000.

That’s when McAllister did it. He moved all-in.

Eldridge folded though and his stack dipped to 1.4 million while McAllister rose to 3.25 million. —AV

6:15pm: Play sloooooooooooows dooooooooooooown
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

With ten left we’re now hand for hand in this tournament, and play has naturally slowed down considerably. Players on the outer tables are getting up and stretching, grabbing some water, and even chatting with players from the feature table.

There was one hand worth mentioning: Toby Lewis made it 100,000 to go and two other players called: David Eldridge and Phillip McAllister.

The dealer spread a 10QJ flop and McAllister checked to the pre-flop raiser. Lewis continued for 175,000, Eldridge got out of the way and McAllister made the call.

The turn was 5 and McAllister checked it one more time. Lewis continued once more for 275,000 and it was enough to take it down. The Brit is up to 1,640,000. —JS

6:10pm: New level, new chip-counts
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

Here’s another pot on the feature table that got very weird indeed. Mike Watson and Ken Demlakian were at a flop of 68Q and Watson checked. Demlakian bet 80,000 and Watson check-raised to 250,000.

Demlakian said, “I’m gonna have to put my glasses on now.” He took a deep look at the flop. Demlakian then put some chips into the middle, but didn’t announce if it was a call or a raise. “I’m sorry, I’m colour-blind,” he said, explaining the error.

But the problem was that nobody even knew his intention and Demlakian didn’t make it clear even now. He allowed the dealer to figure out that he was short of a raise so it had to go as a call regardless.

They saw the 9 on the turn and Watson bombed 450,000 at it. Demlakian took a while to make a decision again, but this time folded, showing the Q. — HS

6:00pm: Kritzer tries to bluff the ringer
Level 25, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

There’s Rounders scene we all remember in which Mike is in the country club game and gets bluffed by the amateur. That scene alone has resulted in more bloated pots than the film’s makers likely ever imagined.

Fast forward to ten-handed play and Randy Kritzer raising to 135,000. He got calls from Matt Waxman and Mike Watson. On the 9108 flop, Watson checked, Kritzer bet 105,000, and Waxman called. That’s when Watson put in a raise to 400. Kritzer stuck around while Waxman folded.

The turn was the Q and drew two checks.

Once the Q fell on the river, Watson checked again. He had a good reason. His 108 had just been counterfeited.

So, when Kritzer bet 300,000, there was no easy decision. It took Watson two minutes to work it out in his head. Ultimately, he called, and it was a good one. Kritzer had A5 for the missed club draw.

Watson: 5,545,000
Kritzer: 1,595,000

5:45pm: New level, new chip-counts
Level 27, Blinds 25,000-50,000 (5,000)

We’re heading into Level 27 now, and the latest counts are on the chip-count page. Vladimir Troyanovskiy, who was all in and called twice in the opening couple of orbits, is now the leader of this tournament. Poker, huh.

5:25pm: Trading blows
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

There’s not a lot of space to hide in a five-handed table David Eldridge and Timothy Ulmer keep going back and forth.

Ulmer raised to 100,000 from the button and Eldridge called from the big blind. The flop came JAJ and Eldridge check-raised to 220,000. Ulmer called and both players checked the 7 on the turn.

Eldridge checked again when the A fell on the river and then folded when Ulmer bet 225,000.

Ulmer raised to 80,000 the following hand and Eldridge called from the small blind. McAllister called from the big blind and the flop came KQ4. All three players checked and a J came on the turn.

Ulmer bet 160,000 when checked to and Eldridge raised to 360,000. McAllister folded and after about a minute of deep thought, Ulmer did the same.

The pot put Eldridge up to 1.9 million while Ulmer dropped to 2.3 million. —AV

5:20pm: McAllister and Gregg continue to battle
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Blind on blind hands are very important in tournaments, and interesting developments can happen between players who sit next to each other for a while. Phillip McAllister and Anthony Gregg have played a lot of pots together today with the former in the small blind and the latter in the big. Here’s one more to add to the list.

It started off innocently enough: McAllister threw in another 20,000 to complete the big blind. Gregg then raised the price of poker up to 115,000 and McAllister made the call.

The flop was K73. McAllister kept things light by checking, Gregg bet 90,000 and was called.

The J came on the turn and it slowed things down completely, with both players checking. The river was the 2 and play picked back up again – McAllister took the betting lead with a 140,000 bet. Gregg contemplated for a minute or so before making the call.

McAllister flashed queen-jack for a turned pair of jacks, but Gregg had him beat with the K10.

Anthony Gregg 2,365,000
Phillip McAllister 2,550,000 —JS

5:10pm: Eldridge dips
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

David Eldridge was bet out of a few pots and is down to 1.55 million.

In one, Eldridge raised to 85,000 and Timothy Ulmer called from the big blind. Eldridge bet 70,000 on the 733 flop and both players checked the 7 on the turn. Ulmer fired off a 500,000 when the 7 came on the river and Eldridge folded.

Then Eldridge lost a bigger one.

Phillip McAllister raised to 90,000 from under-the-gun and Tony Gregg called from the cutoff. Eldridge re-raised to 240,000 from the big blind and McAllister made it 485,000. Gregg folded, Eldridge thought, Eldridge called.

The flop came 356and McAllister bet 260,000. Eldridge thought some more but decided to fold this time.

The pot put McAllister up to 3.6 million while Eldridge dipped to 1.55 million. —AV

5:00pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy doubles through Watson, nears chip lead
Level 25, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened from the button to 90,000, and Mike Watson re-popped him to 240,000. Troyanovskiy didn’t back off and put in 610,000, essentially a quarter of his stack. Watson decided it was racing time and got Troyanovskiy all-in.

Troyanovskiy: AK
Watson: 99

The run out favored the Russian in every way: AA3J8.

Now, Troyanovskiy is up to around 4.6 million. He and Watson are at the top of the leader board and setting up for what could be a pretty amazing final table.

4:40pm: The End Boss keeps crushing
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

When Anthony “End Boss” Gregg raised his button to 90,000, Toby Lewis three-bet to 275,000.

“How much did you start with?” Gregg asked.
“Around 1.9 million,” Lewis told him.

That was enough for Gregg to make the call and the dealer burned and turned the 4KJ flop. Lewis decided not to continue, instead checking it over to Gregg who bet 210,000. Lewis called.

The 4 arrived on the turn and both players checked, leading us to the 10 on the river. Lewis checked once more and Gregg thought about what he was going to do – eventually decided to bet 585,000. That was too much for Lewis who let his hand go.

Toby Lewis 1,340,000
Anthony Gregg 2,000,000 —JS

4:30pm: McCormick, dry of good luck, goes blindly to 11th place
Level 25, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

After days of drinking, needling, and staredowns, Martin McCormick has left the building.

He had just worked himself into a low boil, getting into a battle of barbs about Matt Waxman. It had started to get ugly, both of them taking shots at each other’s personalities, neither backing down. McCormick had vowed he was going to bust Waxman, and it appeared we were in for a night of nastiness.

Then play folded around to Ken Demlakian in the small blind, and McCormick wanted to have some fun. So, when Demakian limped from the small, McCormick played his hand blind.

On the 967 flop, McCormick convinced Demlakian to play nice and check to the A turn. McCormick again appealed for a check, but now Demlakian bet a mere 60,000.

McCormick, on his feet, was annoyed.

“Now you’re going to bet and I’m going to have to do something,” he said. He peeked once at his cards and snap-announced, “All-in.”

The amount? 860,000. An overbet if there ever was one.

Demlakian barely thought about it. He sighed once and tossed a chip in the middle. “Ace,” he said.
“Well-played,” McCormick said.
“Not yet,” Demlakian protested. “You haven’t lost yet, brother.”

Demlakian: A5
McCormick: K7

Indeed, McCormick had outs with kings, sevens, and spades.

“I used up all my good luck,” McCormick said. And he was right.

And that was it. The Martin McCormick show was over. He shook hands with everyone except Waxman…with whom he hugged it out.

McCormick earns $51,260 for 11th place. — BW

4:25pm: Gooley gone
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Paul Gooley was down to just 400,000 and moved all-in from the hijack and got action from Tony Gregg.

Gooley turned over 1010 and was flipping for his tournament life against Gregg’s AQ.

Gregg paired his ace on the flop and Gooley hit the rail. —AV

Tony Gregg — 1,950,000
Paul Gooley — 12th

4:20pm: No raise intended
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Even after five days of play, you can sometimes see a mistake from these guys.

After David Eldridge called from the small blind and Phillip McAllister checked from the big blind, the two saw a flop of 5A3. Both checked and the K on the turn resulted in a 50,000 bet from Eldridge.

McAllister meant to call but misread the bet – he threw in 75,000 and after the floor was called it was deemed a raise, so McAllister was forced to make it 100,000. Now Eldridge bumped it up even further to 310,000 and took it down.

David Eldridge 1,350,000
Phillip McAllister 1,750,000 —JS

4:15pm: Lewis moving in the right direction
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Everything is going to plan for Toby Lewis right now, and he’s just won another pot.

He min-opened on the button to 80,000 and David Eldridge called out of the big blind. The flop came 6QK and Lewis continued for a single silver 100,000 chip. Eldridge obliged and called.

The turn was the 8 and Lewis made it 300,000 this time. That was too much for Eldridge and he threw his hand away. Lewis is up to 2,000,000. —JS

4:05pm: Meltdown complete: Watson sends Pires home
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

Here is a sentence I thought I would not write all week. But unfortunately it is true: Leonardo Pires is now OUT.

He has led for three days, and incredibly he managed to extend his chip lead today. But his descent was even more spectacular than his ascent, and Mike Watson has now just picked him off.

In the final hand Pires played, Watson opened to 90,000 from the hijack and Ken Demlakian called from the button. Pires doesn’t play it small ball and he shoved all in from the big blind for 1.6 million total. It was a squeeze play and a half.

Pires took a drink, but he put his glass down when Watson re-shoved over the top. Demlakian folded.

Pires tabled the monster 43 and was in a lot of difficulty against Watson’s 1010.

There was hope on the board: KQ3. But the turn was the 10 and that is the end of the thrill ride for Pires. Watson now has 6.61 million.

“That was an absolute gift, Mikey-boy,” Martin McCormick said as Pires headed home in 14th. — HS

4:00pm: Demlakian takes over
Level 26, Blinds 20,000-40,000 (5,000)

They’re back from the break with a new chip leader. Ken Demlakian, the man who was due to be flying to Dallas yesterday for a family holiday, is making his decision to stay look very wise indeed. The latest counts are on the chip-count page.

3:35pm: Break time
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

They’re heading to a break in a moment, at which point we’ll have a full count from the remaining players, plus details from a couple of interesting pre-break hands.

3:35pm: An ace wins it for Lewis
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Toby Lewis’ stack is looking healthier by the hand. After he opened to 60,000, he faced a 3-bet from David Eldridge to 140,000 and made the call.

The dealer spread a flop containing the A10J, and Lewis checked to Eldridge. He made it 133,000 and Lewis didn’t budge.

The turn was the 8, and it was enough to make both players check, so we saw the 3 on the river. There would be no more betting, and after both players checked Lewis flipped over the A5, and his pair of aces took down the pot as Eldridge mucked.

Toby Lewis 1,700,000
David Eldridge 2,320,000 —JS

3:35pm: McAllister powers through
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Phillip McAllister has a big stack and has been putting it to good use. He’s opening a lot of pots, but the one we just saw was certainly one of the biggest.

It began with a 65,000 open from McAllister, followed by a 3-bet to 162,000 from Paul Gooley. The call was made and we went to a flop.

It was the 6KQ and Gooley put out a bet of 145,000, which McAllister called. The 6 turn would be checked by both players, taking us to the 10 on the river.

Gooley put out a hefty bet of 354,000. But then Phillip McAllister shoved over the top, putting Gooley at risk.

He decided to let it go, and has dropped down to just 11 big blinds moving into the next level.

Paul Gooley 460,000
Phillip McAllister 2,600,000 —JS

3:34pm: Kritzer blitzes Pires
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Yet another huge hand on the feature table right before the break. Randy Kritzer is the latest to help himself to a huge chunk of Leonardo Pires’s stack, doubling up to 2.235 million and leaving Pires with 1.788 million.

They got it all in on a flop of Q22 when Kritzer had hit top pair with his QJ. Pires’s 1010 did not catch up on the J turn or the 3 river. — HS

3:20pm: Chidwick out in 14th
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Stephen Chidwick was down to just about 250,000 and moved all in from under-the-gun. Action folded round to Toby Lewis’s small blind and he called.

Chidwick: 87
Lewis: 1010

The board ran 7Q426 and Lewis’s tens took the pot.

Chidwick won $41,360 for his 14th place finish while Lewis chipped up to 1.7 million. —AV

Toby Lewis — 1,700,000
Stephen Chidwick — 14th

3:10pm: Eldridge takes a few
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

David Eldridge won a few pots and crossed the 2 million mark.

In one hand, Eldridge raised to 65,000 from the button and Phillip McAllister called from the small blind while Tony Gregg did the same from the big blind.

All three players checked the 7410 flop and a 10 came on the turn. McAllister bet 138,000, Gregg folded and Eldridge called.

An A completed the board and McAllister bet 346,000. Eldridge thought for some time, counted out the chips and called.

“Good call,” McAllister said and started mucking his hand even before Eldridge showed A5.

Then he took a bit more off McAllister and Timothy Ulmer.

Eldridge raised to 65,000 from the cutoff and both McAllister and Ulmer called from the button and big blind.

Ulmer checked the 3JA flop and Eldridge bet 83,000. McAllister folded, Ulmer called and then both players checked the 9 on the turn and 10 on the river.

Ulmer showed 85 and Eldridge took the pot with QJ. —AV

David Eldridge — 2,100,000
Timothy Ulmer — 2,940,000
Phillip McAllister — 1,835,000

3pm: Chidwick well in the danger zone
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

With Stephen Chidwick in the big blind, Phillip McAllister asked him how much he hand before opening, despite the fact that all other players were waiting to act (Chidwick had “around 500,000”). Anthony Gregg was the first person to call, everyone else got out of the way and Chidwick put in the extra 35,000.

The flop was the 94Q and it was checked all around. The 8 came on the turn and after Chidwick checked McAllister bet an 150,000. That was too much for Gregg who got out of the way, but Chidwick wasn’t budging. He made the call.

The river was another eight, the 8, and Chidwick checked once more. Now the bet from McAllister was 355,000. Chidwick only had 290,000 behind, so it was enough to put him all in. He decided to live and fight in another hand and laid it down.

Phillip McAllister 2,420,000
Stephen Chidwick 290,000 —JS

2:50pm: More mistimed aggression from Pires
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

The recent down-turn in events for Leonardo Pires has not curtailed his aggressive approach. But it just cost him another 400,000 chips, shipped to Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

The lone Russian player remaining in the field opened to 65,000 from under the gun and picked up both Ken Demlakian and Randy Klitzer. But then Pires raised to 384,000 from the big blind.

Troyanovskiy took a little while to weigh up his options and announced that he was all in, a total of 1.5 million. The other two got out the way and so, eventually, did Pires. — HS

2:50pm: Demlakian takes heaps from Pires
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

As spectacularly as Leonardo Pires accumulated his chips, he is now losing them. Ken Demlakian just took a load of them, bombing the turn and getting a fold.

It started with an open from Demlakian from early position, which Pires then made 162,000 from the cutoff. Demlakian called and they saw a flop of 56K. Demlakian checked, Pires bet 150,000, Demlakian raised to 360,000 and then Pires four-bet to 925,000. Demlakian called.

That took them to the 10 on the turn and Demlakian bombed it, for 1.255 million. Pires only had 2.8 million in his own stack, and he finally thought better of it. He folded. — HS

2:45pm: Pires flopping well, Waxman chopping better
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

We are not without action here today. The latest bit came with Matt Waxman staring elimination in the face and getting bailed out.

Mike Watson raised to 65,000 and got calls from Ken Demlakian, Leonard Pires, and Matt Waxman. The flop, 345 was a nasty little cooler. While Watson led for 125,000, he got out of the way after Pires raised to 350,000 and Waxman moved all in. Good thing, too.

Pires: 76
Waxman: 66

Waxman looked ill, but it didn’t last too long. The 7 and blank river made for a chopped pot. —BW

2:30pm: Barer stripped naked
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Ami Barer is out, becoming the latest player to fall foul of Mike Watson’s brilliant resurgence. There was not much either could do about it: they got it all in pre-flop—creating a 1.24 million pot—with Barer holding AK and Watson with QQ.

It toyed with his emotions a little when the flop came K78, followed by a 6 on the turn. But the Q swung it back towards Watson and sent Barer to the cage. — HS

2:25pm: Smallball, Chidwick short
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Play is slowing down and payouts are getting big.

Our final 15 players are guaranteed $41,360, but they all have their eyes on the $833K grand prize.

It would be the single largest payout for many of our players, including Stephen Chidwick. Chidwick famously won 100 seats to the WSOP before he was old enough to play and has more than $4.3 million in live tournament earnings.

He’s also the short stack.

Chidwick’s moved all-in once so far but got no callers. Then Paul Gooley moved all-in from the small blind while Chidwick was in the big. Chidwick thought for some time and the TV cameras came to watch the potential fallout, but Chidwick folded.

Chidwick is now at 460,000.

The other players have been small-balling.

In one hand, Tony Gregg raised to 67,000 from middle position and Timothy Ulmer called from the hijack. Both players checked the ⁴A5 flop and Gregg bet 100,000 when the 2 came on the turn.

A 4 came on the river and Gregg upped the bet to 242,000. Ulmer folded and Gregg raked in the pot.

Timothy Ulmer — 2,900,000
Tony Gregg — 1,450,000
Paul Gooley — 980,000
Stephen Chidwick — 460,000

2:20pm: Demlakian got game
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Another intriguing hand on the feature table when Matt Waxman led four players to a flop after raising to 60,000 from early position. They were Vladimir Troyanovskiy in the hijack, Ken Demlakian on the button and Randy Kritzer in the big blind.

The flop came 646 and Kritzer checked. Waxman bet 95,000 and all three players behind him called. Four way to a turn, which came 4.

After three players checked, Demlakian wanted to play for more and bet 262,000 last to act. Kritzman folded and Waxman too decided that he had seen enough. He folded, but Troyanovskiy called.

That took them to a Q river and now they both checked. “You got unlucky,” Demlakian said, flipping over Q5 for a rivered pair of queens to go with the sixes on board.

Troyanovskiy showed his pocket tens and said, “How did you call flop?”

Demlakian muttered something about being creative, and on they went. — HS

2:15pm: Pires running out of bombs, Watson new chip leader
Level 25, Blinds 15,000-30,000 (4,000)

Folks, the man some are calling the Brazilian Jamie Gold, is no longer the chip leader of the Main Event. After doubling up Mike Watson, Pires has just lost another pot, this time to Vladimir Troyanovskiy. Pires opened for 100,000 and Troyanovskiy called. On the 105K flop, Pires led for 150,000, and Troyanovskiy called again.

The dealer put out the J on the turn, and for the first time in a long time, Pires backed off. Both he and Troyanovskiy checked.

That brought the Q on the river. Pires woke up again and came out with a 350,000 bet. Troyanovskiy made it 750,000 to play, and Pires folded his bluff.

Pires is now down to 3.8 million. Meanwhile, Mike Watson is the chip leader with 4.1 million.

2pm: Breaktime chips
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Toby Lewis 2,062,000
Paul Gooley 1,085,000
Stephen Chidwick 443,000
David Eldridge 1,580,000
Phillip McAllister 2,350,000
Anthony Gregg 1,324,000
Timothy Ulmer 2,520,000

Ami Barer 606,000
Matt Waxman 1,169,000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy 1,656,000
Mike Watson 3,668,000
Vasken Demlakian 1,931,000
Martin McCormick 1,065,000
Randy Kritzer 1,669,000
Leonardo Pires 4,588,000

1:55pm: Sir Double Up eyes Pires, chip lead
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Mike “SirWatts” Watson, fresh off one double up, now has another after picking off Leonard Pires in a 2.6 million-chip pot.

Watson held 77 and opened for 50,000. He got three calls behind…Randy Krtizer, Ken Demlakian, and, indeed, Leonard Pires in the big blind.

Getting ready for the air raid, because this is where Pires starts making it rain.

He bombed 214,000 on the 246 flop (only Watson called), 500,000 on the 3 turn (Watson called again), and then put Watson all in for 1 million on the J river.

Watson had just doubled, but now he was having to make another decision to decide whether he stayed or went.

After a good long think, Watson called.

“Six,” Pires said, and turned up K6…for the first time today…no good.

Now that Watson has a stack, get ready for a poker game, folks. —BW

Leonardo Pires: 4,500,000
Mike Watson: 2,600,000

1:50pm: Lewis takes one
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Right before the break, Toby Lewis raised to 50,000 from the hijack and Paul Gooley re-raised to 130,000 from the cutoff.

Lewis called and both players checked the 753c] flop and a 10 came on the turn. Lewis bet 250,000 and Gooley called. The river brought a 5 and another round of checks.

Lewis showed to red nines and Gooley mucked. —AV

Toby Lewis — 1,800,000
Paul Gooley — 1,000,000

1:40pm: Fabian Chauriye out in 16th
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

That’s all she wrote for Fabian Chauriye as he has just been out-raced and knocked out of the tournament.

It started with an open from David Eldridge to 55,000, which was closely followed by a three-bet from Phillip McAllister to 142,000. Chauriye moved all in for 449,000 total, which got Eldridge out of the pot but not McAllister, who called after asking for a count.

Phillip McAllister 77
Fabian Chauriye AK

The flop brought no help to the all-in player. It was the 934, and then the turn was another nine – the 9.

“Ace!” Chauriye called, his version of a “one time”.

It wasn’t to be though; the 9 completed the board and sent him to the rail, with $36,860 for his 16th place finish.

Phillip McAllister is up to 2,500,000. —JS

1:40pm: Watson doubles
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Mike Watson has doubled his stack in the early stages of this two-table tournament. He got the maximum from Randy Kritzer with his nut flush—holding A4 on a board of 81093A. Kritzer had flopped a set of eights and couldn’t let them go.

Watson moves up to 1.4 million.

1:30pm: Redraw
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Here’s how they are lining up for the next phase of play:

Outer table

Seat 1: Fabian Chauriye — 488,000
Seat 2: Toby Lewis — 1,580,000
Seat 3: Paul Gooley — 923,000
Seat 4: Stephen Chidwick — 335,000
Seat 5: David Eldridge — 1,8250,000
Seat 6: Phillip McAllister — 2,093,000
Seat 7: Tony Gregg — 970,000
Seat 8: Timothy Ulmer — 2,550,000

Seat 1: Ami Barer — 712,000
Seat 2: Matthew Waxman — 1,208,000
Seat 3: Vladimir Troyanovskiy — 1,554,000
Seat 4: Mike Watson — 811,000
Seat 5: Vasken Demlakian — 2,0800,000
Seat 6: Martin McCormick — 1,183,000
Seat 7: Randy Kritzer — 2,539,000
Seat 8: Leonardo Pires — 6,263,000

1:20pm: Pires eviscerates Ortiz, sails over 6 million mark
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

There is no stopping Leonardo Pires. When he shouldn’t have it, he has it. When it looks like he’s bluffing, he has it. We’ve not yet seen a point today when he hasn’t had it. Fabian Ortiz just learned that the hard way.

Vladimir Troyanovskiy opened what turned out to be a massive pot for 55,000 from under the gun. Fabian Ortiz, still sore from giving up a big pot to Pires earlier, made the call. Over on the button, Pires raised to 155,000. Troyanovskiy wasted little time folding, but Ortiz was not yet convinced.

He called to see the Q78 flop, then checked over to Pires who bet 175,000. Ortiz, holding QJ wasn’t ready to fold top pair. He’d already seen Pires take suited undercards down to the river, and this was a draw-heavy flop.

The 5 came in on the turn, Ortiz checked, and Pires simply announced, “All in.” Ortiz had 1.1 million in front of him, and he looked miserable about it.

Why would Pires overbet the pot by so much?

“You have diamonds?” Ortiz asked. Pires said nothing.

Ortiz just couldn’t wrap his head around what was happening. He dropped a yellow 1,000 chip on the table, and he scrambled to retrieve it before someone thought he was calling.

Five minutes passed, and then a couple of minutes more, during all of which Ortiz struggled to figure out what the hell was happening. At the start of the day, he was third in chips. Now he had a decision for his tournament life.

Finally, he put out calling chips and waited. This time, no surprise, Pires had it again with KK.

Ortiz stumbled away with a dealer to get paid, Pires shrugged.

“He had the queen,” Pires said. “It’s very hard to fold.”

Ortiz finished in 17th for $36,860. Meanwhile, Pires has extended his chip lead once again. —BW

Leonardo Pires: 6,258,000
Fabian Ortiz: Eliminated

1:10pm: Scottish stare down
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

There are some amazing players who have come out of Scotland. EPT winners Niall Farrell and David Vamplew spring to mind, as does the hyper-aggro UKIPT champ Ludovic Geilich.

But none of them have a stare down quite like Martin McCormick’s.

It’s not unusual to see McCormick up and out of his chair during pots, much to the chagrin of dealers everywhere. But in this hand something was different; McCormick was as quiet as a mouse.

Let’s back up a little. It started with a huge open from McCormick – 125,000 to go with the blinds still at 12,000-24,000. It posed a tough decision for Ami Barer in the small blind. He clearly had something he wanted to see a flop with, but was 125,000 too much for a pre-flop investment?

As he thought about it, McCormick stood over the table, his focus solely on Barer and nothing else. He even took his sunglasses off to get a better view. After somewhere between three and five minutes, Barer eventually laid it down, as did Anthony Gregg in the big blind.

“Do you want me to show it?” McCormick asked. “It’s up to you.”
“Of course!” said Barer, and McCormick flipped over the AK.

That was one solid Scottish stare down. No doubt we’ll be seeing it again.

Martin McCormick 980,000
Ami Barer 613,000 —JS

1:05pm: Regrets, McCormick’s had a few
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

After just calling from his small blind when it was folded around to him, Martin McCormick waited to see what his new table neighbour Mike Watson would do in the big blind. The Canadian opted to check and we saw a flop of the 442. A cheeky check from McCormick resulted in a small 25,000 bet from Watson, just over one big blind.

“Gah. I should have raised,” McCormick said as he gave his cards to the dealer, face down. —JS

1pm: UhhMee takes one from 810ofclubs
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

On a 565 10 board, Ami “UhhMee” Barer bet 47,000 into Toby “810oflcubs” Lewis who made the call. Another ten landed on the river – the 10 – and after Lewis checked the bet from Barer was a whopping 205,000. Lewis went into the tank for a good few minutes before deciding to make the fold. —JS

12:50pm: Holz sent packing by Demlakian
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

It’s not easy to push Fedor Holz around, but Ken Demlakian just put the WCOOP champion (and all round sensation) to a decision for his tournament—and got him to call off with a worse hand. That was the end of Holz’s tournament.

Demlakian actually won two hands on the bounce against Holz, the first when he managed to get some value with A2 on a board of 2K73Q (Demlakian bet the flop, but then checked through turn and river).

However, there was significantly more at stake in the next hand, and Demlakian confused Holz out of the tournament.

Holz limped from the small blind and Demlakian checked his option. It took them to a flop of A107. Holz bet 30,000 and Demlakian called, which took them to a 7 turn.

Holz checked this time, but Demlakian bet, making it 70,000 to play. He also offered Holz a bit of chit-chat about the shirt being worn by the Australian today; it’s a Germany football shirt. Holz called.

The 5 came on the river and after Holz checked again, Demlakian shipped for 1.5 million, comfortably covering Holz’s last 248,000. “It’s so weird, you’re confident and nervous at the same time,” Holz said. “It’s so weird.”

Holz also said that he would have an easy decision here against any other player, but he didn’t know how Demlakian played. Eventually Holz opted to pay to find out what Demlakian had and was quickly shown 97.

Holz had got cute with pocket queens from the small blind, but it had cost him. He was sent packing by Demlakian. — HS

12:45pm: Gooley incredulous, doubles through Chidwick with third pair
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

We’re running around with our heads spinning here (“lot of action….lot…of…action”), so we picked this one up on the river. Looking at a board of 9Q7107, Chidwick had put out enough to get Paul Gooley all-in for his last 510,000. With about half a million in the pot, Gooley had a decision to make. His K9 was only good for third pair. Whatever happened in the early going made Gooley not believe. Though he thought about it for almost two minutes, he finally put out the call to see Chidwick’s bluff: 85. —BW

Gooley: 1,550,000
Chidwick: 600,000

12:40pm: Leonardo Pires back on the rise
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Leonardo Pires’s stack dipped a bit when he doubled up Vladimir Troyanovskiy, but he went back to winning large pots fairly quickly.

Losing just hasn’t been his style this tournament.

Fabian Ortiz raised from the cutoff and Pires re-raised to 165,000 from the cutoff. Pires then bet 150,000 on the J26 flop and Ortiz called. Both players checked when the K came on the turn and then Pires bet 523,000 when a 5 fell on the river.

Ortiz thought for some time and then called. Pires turned over 43 and Ortiz looked at his cards one last time before mucking. —AV

Leonardo Pires — 4,800,000
Fabian Ortiz — 1,470,000

12:38pm: Paur eliminated in 19th
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

We’ve just lost Taylor Paur from the Main Event.

When it was folded around to him in the small blind, Paur open shoved for around 340,000 into Timothy Ulmer who snap-called.

Timothy Ulmer AQ
Taylor Paur K5

The flop was the K9A, pairing both players. The turn was the 4, changing nothing, and the river was the 6, ending the PCA Main Event for Paur. He’ll collect $32,360 for his trouble.
Timothy Ulmer now has 2,800,000. —JS

12:37pm: Paur talks him into it
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

“Damn! How did I talk him into folding?”

Those were the words of Taylor Paur after he was chatting away to Martin McCormick, big blind to small blind. McCormick is being aggressive as usual so Paur might have expected – and wanted – him to raise, but instead the Scot gave up his 12,000.

Paur showed pocket nines, a hand he clearly wanted some action with. —JS

12:36pm: You can’t make an End Boss nervous
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

Marty McCormick is continuing to be the entertainer, and the aggressor. After Anthony Gregg made it 52,000 on the button, Toby Lewis folded his small blind and so it was over to McCormick in the big.

He wasted little time in sliding out a stack amounting to 300,000, and Gregg wasted no time in folding.

“Am I making you nervous?” McCormick asked Gregg.
The answer was a simple “No”.

McCormick turned over his cards and showed the A7. —JS

12:35pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy doubles again
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

One double up wasn’t enough for Vladimir Troyanovskiy.

Troyanovskiy raised to 55,000 from under-the-gun and Leonardo Pires called from the button. The flop came 975 and Pires bet 107,000 after Troyanovskiy checked.

Troyanovskiy called and a 4 came on the turn. Troyanovskiy checked again and Pires bet 400,000. Troyanovskiy only had 466,000 behind and moved all in. Pires called and showed QJ for queen-high while Troyanovskiy showed a set of sevens with 77.

The river brought a 3 and another double up for Troyanovskiy. —AV

Leonardo Pires — 4,000,000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy — 1,200,000

12:30pm: McCormick will shove if everyone else does, too
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Martin McCormick is ready to get it all in right now, but only if everyone else at his table does as well.

“Has there ever been a Main event where everyone has gone all-in blind?” he asked. Taylor Paur figured not.

“Let’s do it!” McCormick said.

Already a polarizing figure in this Main Event, McCormick is the wild one. Hehas had some drinks over the past few days. He has had some penalties. He has, by his own admission, eaten little and lost weight. He’s having trouble keeping his trousers up.

And now he just wants to get it all in, essentially flipping everyone at the table for all the chips on the felt.

“For all the chips on the table?” Paur said. “Yeah, I’d do it.”

Tony Gregg, perhaps the most laid-back poker player in history, looked around the table.

“It’s like the ‘Discuss a Deal’ button on Stars,” Gregg said. "It’s two out of six right now.

McCormick doesn’t quite understand the reactions people have had to his antics so far, and Gregg was happy to offer some advice.

“Just cool it down,” Gregg said.
“I think I am being calm,” McCormick protested. “Just me being me.” -BW

12:25pm: Kritzer wins it on the flop
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Matters got interesting on the feature table when three players: Ken Demlakian, David Eldridge and Randy Kritzer got to a flop without a pre-flop raise. They saw the 226 fall and everyone seemed interested.

Kritzer bet 60,000; Demlakian called; Eldridge raised to 168,000; and Kritzer three-bet to 400,000. There then followed some verbal jostling, but two folds. — HS

12:24pm: Vladimir Troyanovskiy outraces Ortiz
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy must have received his shipment of alligator blood, because no matter how low he gets in chips, he’s found a way to stay alive. The latest version of this story has Pauly Gooley opening to 50,000 and Troyanovskiy shoving for 265,000. Fabian Ortiz sat on the button and just called. Gooley folded his open raise and it was off to the races.

Troyanovskiy: 99
Ortiz: AQ

It was a fun board from beginning to end, but the 736K4 runout doubled up the Russia. — BW

Troyanovskiy—530,000
Ortiz—2,100,000

12:21pm: Pires still stacking
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

It’s tough being the chip leader isn’t it? Especially when you have to stack tons and tons of chips.

Leonardo Pires hasn’t stopped stacking chips since he sat down – any bets as to when he’ll finally have his chips (more than 4,600,000) in a neat and tidy arrangement? —JS

12:20: Bad start for Troyanovskiy, Ortiz on the up
Level 24 – Blinds 12,000 – 24,000 (3,000 ante)

Vladimir Troyanovskiy started the day with 612,000 in chips, but after just a few hands he’s down to less than half of that.

In a pot against the big stack of Fabian Ortiz, Troyanovskiy called from the small blind after it was folded around to him, but Ortiz in the big blind raised it up to 60,000. After Troyanovskiy called, the flop came the KQ8, which was checked over to Ortiz. He now made it 65,000 and got another call.

The 3 landed on the turn, and it was a similar story here. After Troyanovskiy checked, Ortiz slid out 83,000 and was looked up again, taking us to the 7 on the river. A final check from Troyanovskiy resulted in a 100,000 bet from Ortiz and Troyanovskiy made the call. Ortiz turned over the KJ for top pair and that was enough to win him the pot.

Vladimir Troyanovskiy 286,000
Fabian Ortiz 2,900,000 —JS

12:15pm: Holz moving chips
Level 24, Blinds 12,000-24,000 (3,000)

Fedor Holz is the most active player at the feature table at the moment, twice committing all of his stack pre-flop and getting no callers. The first time was a big raise from the small blind; the second a shove from the button after Phillip McAllister limped the cutoff. Holz had 448,000 at that point, one of the smaller stacks, but is not prepared to play short. — HS

11:10am: Day 5 ready to go

It is Day 5 of the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event, and the race for the final table is entering its latest stages. There are 19 players left, but only eight seats at the final. Furthermore, only six will be invited back tomorrow.

Before anything gets under way, let’s take a look at today’s table draw:

(Table, seat, name, country, chips)

1 1 Phillip McAllister UK 2152000
1 2 Fedor Holz Germany 453000
1 4 Mike Watson Canada 952000
1 5 Ken Demlakian Australia 1394000
1 6 Matthew Waxman USA 1228000
1 7 David Eldridge USA 2100000
1 8 Randy Kritzer USA 2385000

2 1 Tony Gregg USA 1091000
2 3 Toby Lewis UK 1396000
2 4 Martin McCormick UK 1012000
2 6 Taylor Paur USA 400000
2 7 Timothy Ulmer USA 2200000
2 8 Ami Barer Canada 679000

3 1 Stephen Chidwick UK 1428000
3 2 Paul Gooley Australia 705000
3 3 Vladimir Troyanovskiy Russia 612000
3 5 Fabian Ortiz Argentina 2309000
3 7 Fabian Chauriye Chile 513000
3 8 Leonardo Pires Brazil 4566000

Next year, it could be you! Click here to get a PokerStars account so you can qualify.

Take a look at the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $5,000 Main Event: Jack Stanton, Howard Swains, Alex Villegas and Brad Willis. Photos by Joe Giron and Neil Stoddart. For more photos from this event by Joe Giron visit Poker Photo Archive.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.

This is an archive of Levels 11-16 of the 2016 PCA $25K High Roller. Click here to continue to updates from Day 2, Levels 17-21.

6:43pm: Dinner break

Players are now on a 75-minute dinner break. Play will continue at 7.55pm with 36 players remaining. The top 31 finish in the money. Sean Winter leads with 840,000. Find the full chip counts here.

6:42pm: Zaichenko chips up
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)

“Time on table one,” shouted the dealer and a member of floor staff arrived to tell Georgios Zisimopoulos that he had one minute to make a decision. He was heads-up against Andrey Zaichenko but the pot had been four-way at one point.

Pre-flop it was Zisimopoulos who was the aggressor. He raised to 13,000, Zaichenko called as did Pablo Melogno (small blind) and Andrew Chen (big blind). On the 496 flop Melogno led for 17,000, Zisimopoulos raised to 38,000 and Zaichenko then re-raised to 65,000.

That got rid of Melogno and Chen, but Zisimopoulos called. Both players then checked the 2 turn and the 10 fell on the river. After Zisimopoulos checked, Zaichenko bet 50,000 and this is where Zisimopoulos’s tanking began.

As the time ticked down on his allotted minute he seemed no closer to a decision. He mucked his hand with one second remaining. -NW

6:40pm: Shorty vs Shorty action
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Neither Nicolas Yunis nor John Krpan had many chips. Now one of them has none. Krpan jammed with pocket Jacks and Yunis called with A10. An Ace on the flop sent Krpan to the exit and crowned Yunis with a still-troubling 85,000 stack. 36 remain now. – RJ

6:35pm: Laxxin’ and chillin’
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Joshua Beckley doesn’t seem to be affected by the impending $47k bubble – he’s just ordered a beer. As the can of local lager Sands sat in front of him, so did a 15,000 pre-flop raise. One player who wasn’t quite so relaxed was Ben Heath. He wanted to get aggro. Heath made it 52,000 and, after a long pause, Beckley eventually folded.

After that tiny setback Beckley is still doing better than OK with 550,000. And a beer, don’t forget that part. – RJ

6:30pm: Kornuth continues to climb
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)

Chance Kornuth is up to 870,000 after win a pot post-flop against Dario Sammartino.

Tyler Patterson couldn’t have known what he’d started when he opened to 13,000 from the hijack. His bet was called by Kornuth (cut off) only for Sammartino to three-bet to 48,000 from the big blind. That got rid of Patterson, but Kornuth wanted a count. Having received on he made the call.

A 587 flop hit the felt and Sammartino gave up the betting lead. Kornuth bet 50,000 and Sammartino smooth called. On the 6 turn Kornuth bet again, this time the wager was 104,000. It was enough to get rid of Sammartino. He’s down to 350,000 whilst Kornuth is now up to 870,000. —NW

6:25pm: Chips for Chen after doubling through Mateos
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

Andrew Chen just earned a double-up through Adrian Mateos after getting the last of his stack in behind QQ and just needing to fade five community cards versus Mateos’s 77. The J10JK4 proved amenable for Chen, and he now has 165,000. Mateos has 292,000, just a couple of big blinds shy of the average at the moment. – MH

6:20pm: It’s starting to get squeaky
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

38 players remain and 31 will get paid. It will be tough to take for seven players in this field to play for nearly two full days and go home $25k (or $50k if they rebought) lighter of pocket. A min-cash is worth $47,520 so it’s very much worth hanging around for. – RJ

6:15pm: Mateos shoves the river
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (1,000 ante)

A curious pot just played out that involved Adrian Mateos, Brendon Rubie and Jonathan Jaffe. It was one of those that you desperately want to see reach showdown.

The action was started by Jonathan Jaffe. He raised to 15,000 from early position, Mateos called on the button and Rubie put in the extra 9,000 from the big blind. The 1097 flop looked like it had to have hit someone, but all three players checked.

There was no such passive play on the 5 turn. Rubie bet 26,000, Jaffe folded and Mateos smooth called. The 6 river completed flush and straight draws. Rubie bet 54,000 and Mateos now went deep into the tank.

He stayed there for about five minutes and then he announced that he was all-in. Rubie, who had about 200,000 back, soon mucked his hand. Pot to Mateos. -NW

6:10pm: Kings vs Queens
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Tom Hall had the Kings and Jared Jaffe had the Queens. The better hand stayed in front on the 43647 board and Hall doubles to 285,000. Jaffe drops to a still-healthy 375,000. – RJ

6:05pm: Rettenmaier ousts Andress
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

John Andress open-raised all in for his last 40,500 from under the gun and the table folded around to Marvin Rettenmaier in the big blind who called.

Andress tabled A9 while Rettenmaier showed 55. The board rolled out 232, then 8, then 5, and Andress wished the table luck before departing.

Down to 38 players now. Rettenmaier has 221,000. – MH

6:02pm: Foxen catcher
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Greg Merson has been a picture of poise and menace in the field today. He’s just knocked out William Foxen to increase his blooming chip stack some more.

Merson raised the button to 13,000 and Foxen jammed from the big blind for 59,500. It was just less than ten big blinds and, after doing the maths, Merson concluded that he was getting the right price to call with 98. He was up against 55 so it was a solid call.

The A84 flop spelled the end for Foxen and he didn’t hit a Five on the turn or river to confirm his doom. Merson moves up to 500,000 and will be a major factor in this tournament from here to the finish. – RJ

6:00pm: McDonald takes it on the Chen
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

Mike McDonald was all in with a below average stack with K2 versus Andrew Chen who held A8, and after the community cards came 55447, Chen’s hand was best and McDonald hit the rail. Chen has about 170,000 now. – MH

5:55pm: Big pot for Rubie
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Brendon Rubie won a live satellite into this event and he just won a large pot against Pablo Melogno to boost his chances of a significant ROI. The action before the river is unknown, but there was around 130,000 in the pot by this point and the completed board was 7758Q. The Australian had bet 69,500 and his Uruguayan opponent was in the tank and faced with a decision for about half his stack.

A minute or so passed during which Melogno – who was to the direct left of Rubie – talked to Rubie and suggested a few hands he thought the Australian could have. After another minute or so he called and Rubie turned over K7. Melogno looked disgusted that Rubie could have a seven here and did a couple of wild hand gestures to that effect. He’s now well and truly in the danger zone. -NW

5:50pm: The Francisco kid is out
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000 – 6,000 (1,000 ante)

Francisco Candamo shoved with Q7 and was called by Nicolas Yunis’s A9. Ace-high remained the best hand after the flop, turn and river were dealt, meaning that Candamo is eliminated in 43rd place. Yunis now has 230,000. – RJ

5:45pm: Level 16 begins
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000-6,000 (500 ante)

The big board shows 44 players remain — that’s 13 off the cash — as the new level starts. After this level, those who remain will be taking a 75-minute dinner break. – MH

5:45pm: Hook hooks Loosli
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

Charles Hook, Jr. has just eliminated Sylvain Loosli. We only had a chance to witness the last moments of Loosli’s tournament which involved Hook shoving the river with the board showing 85226, Loosli calling off and then appearing to muck kings after Hook tabled Q7 for a rivered flush.

Hook is up to 440,000 now as they near the end of Level 15. – MH

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5:40pm: A trio of hands with Sean Winter
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500 – 5,000 (500 ante)

Sean Winter is having an excellent day in the High Roller, building his stack from 186,000 all the way up to 600,000. I just witnessed three hands at his table – Winter is not in the mood for folding right now.

1) William Foxen checked to Winter on a 104102 board. Winter bet 16,000 and took it down.
2) Kyle Frey raised pre-flop to 12,500 and Winter three-bet to 32,000. Winter took it down.
3) Daniel Alaei was the next player to step up and challenge Winter, who going for a hat trick. Winter raised to 12,500 and both Alaei and Greg Merson called from out of the blinds. The flop was 843 – Alaei and Merson checked it and Winter bet 12,000. Alaei finally put a stop to the Winter roadshow by check-raising all in to win. Alaei moved up to 160,000 but this table is very much in the hands of Sean Winter for now. – RJ

5:35pm: Eyeing Sammartino’s stacks
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

Jared Jaffee is sitting across the table from Dario Sammartino. Just now he was eyeballing Sammartino’s stack, which is something a lot of us have been doing given how much it has increased all afternoon.

As Jaffee noted, Sammartino has not only been challenging to play against today, but his stacks are just a little challenging to count given that the tall stacks sitting in front of him are getting taller. None are quite the same height, either, all a little above or below 40 chips high.

Two are of blue chips (worth 5K each), four-and-a-half are yellow (worth 1K), and one-and-a-half pink (500). It looks like about 645,000 altogether, which puts him just behind Kornuth at the moment

Meanwhile Jaffee and others keep eyeing those stacks. And thinking of ways to whittle into them somehow. – MH

5:30pm: Komarov takes one from Beckley
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

The pre-flop action is unknown but Josh Beckley, who finished runner-up at the 2015 WSOP Main Event, bet 11,500 on a J4Q flop. His lone opponent was Alexandr Komarov and he smooth called.

On the K turn Komarov (big blind) checked and Beckley (button) did likewise. Then they watched as the 9 fell on the river. Komarov checked for a third time, Beckley bet 21,500 and Komarov snap called. The American showed K7 but lost out to the 109 of Komarov. -NW

5:25pm: Loosli shoves on Chartier
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

Sylvain Loosli is looking to add a plain old high roller title to the Super High Roller title he won in Barcelona in August. He’d dropped to about 50% of the average stack, but just got some back in a hand against Sam Chartier.

The Frenchman opened to 11,500 from early position. Chartier three-bet to 29,000 and Loosli then moved all in. Chartier didn’t even bother getting a count before mucking his hand. Loosli is up to 130,000 after winning that hand. —NW

5:15pm: Baron overthrown
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500 – 5,000 (500 ante)

We just reported that Isaac Baron had five big blinds. Now he has none. – RJ

5:10pm: Smaron’s seat barren
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

The knockouts continue as Kenneth Smaron recently lost the last of his stack to James Calderaro. Calderaro has 155,000, which is about two-thirds of the average stack at present. – MH

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5:05pm: Not a good day for the Baron
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500 – 5,000 (500 ante)

According to Michael Kamran, Isaac Baron has been running pretty bad today and it just got even worse. Baron shoved with Queens and was called by John Krpan. Usually getting it all in pre-flop with pocket Queens is going to work out just fine for you, but not when your opponent happens to have Kings.

Krpan’s Kings held up and he doubles to 100,000. Meanwhile, the once high flying Baron has one foot out of the door. He has 27,000, which equates to just over five big blinds. – RJ

5:00pm: Beckley eliminates Pahuja
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000 – 4,000 (500 ante)

I missed the pre-flop action, but on a 642 flop Mukul Pahuja got his remaining 125,000 in with 1010. He was pipped by Josh Beckley who held JJ. The A turn and 2 river didn’t save Pahuja and he’s out.

50 players remain, 31 get paid. -NW

4:55pm: Adrian Mateos doubles up
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000 – 4,000 (500 ante)

EPT11 Grand Final winner Adrian Mateos is up to around 350,000 after doubling up through Jonathan Jaffe.

The latter raised to 12,000 from under-the-gun and picked up calls from Andrew Chen (under-the-gun+1), Mateos (hijack) and Pablo Melogno (big blind). So it was four-way to a 7A9 flop, Jaffe c-bet 25,000, Chen called and Mateos then moved all-in for 133,500.

That got rid of Melogno sharpish, but Jaffe wanted a count. He got one, thought for a bit and moved all-in. Fold from Chen.

Mateos: 98
Jaffe: K10

Mateos had flopped best but he didn’t want to make a flush. The J turn was an action card as it gave Jaffe more outs. The 10 river hit his hand, but it made Mateos a straight. He breathed a sigh of relief. -NW

4:50pm: Shakerchi hits the bricks
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000 – 4,000 (500 ante)

Marvin Rettenmaier has just eliminated Talal Shakerchi from the tournament, leaving us with 53 players. Mad Marvin is up to 180,000. – RJ

4:46pm: Level 15 begins
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500-5,000 (500 ante)

Players have returned and cards are in the air for Level 15. They’ll play two more one-hour levels, then will come the Day 2 dinner break. – MH

4:31pm: Jaffee and Sammartino split one
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

With the board showing JQ10, Jared Jaffee checked from the small blind, Tom Hall checked from nearby, then Dario Sammartino bet 14,000 from middle position. Jaffee then check-raised to 36,000, and both Hall and Sammartino called, bringing the pot up over 150,000.

The turn brought the 4 and it checked all of the way around, then when the A came on fifth street, Jaffee set out a column of chips as a bet of 71,000. Hall stepped aside, but Sammartino called. Jaffee had K5 while Sammartino showed K8, meaning both had Broadway and chopped the pot. – MH

4:30pm: O’Dwyer ousted
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

Just before the conclusion of Level 14, $50K Single-Day High Roller champ Steve O’Dwyer was eliminated, ending his hopes for a second high roller trophy this festival. There are now 55 players remaining. – MH

4:25pm: Foxen survives versus Shakerchi
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

In the last hand before the break, Talal Shakerchi opened for 9,000 from middle position and it folded around to William Foxen in the small blind. Acting with deliberation as usual, Foxen took his time before finally pushing all in for his last 56,000 or so. It folded back to Shakerchi who thought for a while himself before calling.

Foxen: 88
Shakerchi: A7

The board came 5579Q, and Foxen’s eights held. “Sweaty turn,” he remarked, noting the flush and straight draws Shakerchi had with one card to come.

Foxen goes to break with 123,000, while Shakerchi is down to 19,000. – MH

4:20pm: Limping back in fashion
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000 – 4,000 (500 ante)

You won’t see too many players limping into pots in a $25,000 tournament but that’s just what Nicolas Yunis did a few minutes ago – and it led to him doubling up.

Nick Yunis

Yunis limped from early position, Heath completed from the small blind and then Mukul Pahuja put an end to this limping nonsense by raising to 20,000. It was here that Yunis’s plan became clear as he shoved over the top for around 110,000 total. Heath scrammed but Pahuja called with pocket Nines. They were racing against Yunis’s AJ.

Pahuja was technically still in the lead on the 4KQ flop but Yunis had a bajillion outs. One of them came in on the turn as the 10 gave him a straight. Muhuja was drawing dead and had to pay the man his money.

Mahuja drops to 170k and Yunis is up to 200k. He’s also brought limping back into fashion. – RJ

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4:15pm: Chip leader on the move
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

From under-the-gun Nick Maimone raised to 10,000 only for Chance Kornuth to three-bet to 24,700 from middle position. It folded back to Maimone and he wasn’t scared to face off against the chip leader out of position.

Neither player bet the A4J flop and the 10 fell on the turn. Bet of 19,000 from Maimone, call from Kornuth. The 3 completed the board and both players checked it down. Maimone showed A9 and Kornuth said: “You’re good,” before turning over A9 for the chop.

That would be the last hand at that table as we’re down to 56 players and the table was broken, “I’m not going to lie, this table’s been pretty good to me,” said Kornuth. His new seat assignment was favourable too. He’s been moved to a table where only one player has an above average stack (the average is 200,000). That player is Sam Chartier and Kornuth is on his direct left. — NW

4:10pm: The fours awaken
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

With the board showing 6J4 and about 30,000 in the middle, Andre Akkari led for 11,500, Connor Drinan raised to 26,000, and Akkari called. Both players checked the 10 turn, then the 8 fell on fifth street. Akkari checked, and when Drinan slid out a bet of 35,000, Akkari called without hesitation.

Drinan had AJ for jacks while Akkari had flopped a set with 44. The Team PokerStars Pro is up to 272,000 while Drinan has about 90,000. – MH

4:00pm: Heath ascends the cliff
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000 – 4,000 (500 ante)

UK player Ben Heath just took out Finland’s Jyri Merivirta after hitting a two-outer in the 200,000 chip pot. Heath had called a raise from Nicolas Yunis when Merivirta shoved for 89,000. Yunis got out of the way but Heath called. His pocket Nines were in huge trouble against Merivirta’s Jacks.

Heath’s troubles turned upside down on the turn when a Nine hit. Suddenly Merivirta was knocked out and Heath was up to 370,000. – RJ

3:55pm: Kornuth continues to crush
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

Chance Kornuth is wielding his chip leading stack like an axe and just took down a pot with a pre-flop five bet.

Chance Kornuth

He opened the action from middle position, raising to 9,000. Next to act was Tom Hall and he three-bet to 24,000. This pot was percolating nicely and William Foxen decided he wanted in as well. He cold four-bet to 54,200 total from the cut-off and action folded back to Kornuth.

He wasn’t done with the hand either and slid out a five-bet of 109,000 total and one by one Hall and Foxen folded. -NW

3:50pm: Start-of-day leader Johns falls
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

Start-of-day leader Dustin Johns has been eliminated not quite halfway through the day’s fourth level, with Dario Sammartino taking the last of his chips.

Dustin Johns – OUT

Johns was all in before the flop with 66 and hoping to hold versus Sammartino’s AK, and the 455 worked adequately for him that effort. But the A turn was a fly in the ointment, and after the 7 river he wished the table good luck as he departed.

Sammartino now has 368,000. There are 59 players remaining. – MH

3:45pm: Maimone hits river, eliminates Sointula
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

Jani Sointula is the latest player to be kicked out of the High Roller, ousted in a multi-way hand involving Nick Maimone.

Maimone raised from early position and got a couple of callers, including a short-stacked Sointula playing from the small blind. The flop came 58A and after Sointula checked, Maimone continued for 7,500. It folded back to Sointula who check-raised all in for 16,600, and Maimone called.

Sointula had A3 for aces while Maimone had 107 for a flush draw. The turn was the J and was good for Sointula, but the river was the Q to give Maimone the flush and end Sointula’s day.

Maimone now has 275,000. – RJ/MH

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3:40pm: Richard Seymour sacked out of the tournament
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

A short time ago we reported that NFL legend Richard Seymour was down to less than 20 big blinds after losing a big pot to Alex Lynskey. He’s just been eliminated from the tournament in unfortunate circumstances. Lynskey who did the hatchet job.

In the hand in question Chance Kornuth raised from under-the-gun, Lynskey called from the small blind and Seymour came along from the big blind. The flop fell 3Q10, Kornuth c-bet 7,200 and both Lynskey and Seymour stuck around.

The 9 popped out on the turn. Lynskey checked it to Seymour but he was done checking. He bet 16,000, that got rid of Kornuth but Lynskey was going nowhere. After about 15 seconds he announced all-in and Seymour, who had about 64,000 total, instantly called.

“King-jack?” said Lynskey to Seymour and that was indeed what the former Patriots and Raiders defensive tackle had. Lynskey showed Q10 meaning he still had outs. One of those, the Q fell on the river and the table gasped.

Seymour took it very well and gathered his belongings up before exiting the tournament. -NW

3:35pm: Level 14 begins, blinds/antes increase despite Kamran proposal
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000-4,000 (500 ante)

“Can we vote to reduce the blinds next level?” asked Michael Kamran with a grin as Level 13 ticked down to its conclusion. “Go back to 1,200/2,400?”

The others chuckled, and the clock flipped over to Level 14 and as always happens the blinds and antes went up, not down. There are 65 players remaining. – MH

3:30pm: Krpan collects, Hunichen hurting
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

In the last hand of the level, Daniel Alaei raised and then Chris Hunichen pushed all in from late position for about 36,000. John Krpan then called all in from the small blind for a bit less, and the big blind and Alaei tossed away his cards.

“Did you fold one of these?” asked Hunichen of Alaei, pointing to the K10 he’d tabled. Alaei didn’t affirm or deny, but Krpan showed he had a couple of the cards Hunichen was referring to as he had 1010. The board came 4378J, and Krpan survived while Hunichen is now down to just a couple of big blinds. – MH

3.25pm: Beckley bounces Vogelsang
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

Christoph Vogelsang was in for two entries in this one, and he just lost the last of his second stack not long after losing that recent hand to Ben Heath.

2015 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Joshua Beckley was the player managing to secure Vogelsang’s remaining chips. Beckley now has 191,000. – MH

3:20pm: Heath puts the hurt on Vogelsang
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

A pot between Christoph Vogelsang and Ben Heath reached the turn of a ³⁹[⁹⁵ board. Heath had bet 21,200 and Vogelsang was in the process of making the call. The 5 fell on the river and Vogelsang checked the action to Heath.

The British player didn’t take too long to fire out a bet of 44,800. Vogelsang then began one of his trademark tanks. It was over half his stack to call so it wasn’t exactly a straightforward decision. Still, he thought about it long enough for Jyri Merivirta to call the clock.

As the floor arrived Vogelsang pushed forward the chips to call so there was no need to read him his rights. Heath showed A9 and Vogelsang said, “nice hand,” as he mucked. -NW

3:15pm: Seymour on fourth and long
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500 – 3,000 (400 ante)

Richard Seymour is battling away against some of the best players in the world and one could say he’s doing well just to make it midway through Day 2 of the High Roller. The NFL legend’s journey could be on borrowed time now after he lost a big pot to Alex Lynskey a few moments ago.

Lynskey bet 27,500 on the river of a A253J board. Seymour confidently called but mucked when Lynskey showed A2. Seymour has less than twenty big blinds on 55,000. Lynskey is doing much better with 210,000. – RJ

3:10pm: Aces over kings help O’Dwyer
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

Steve O’Dwyer and Andrey Zaichenko just got involved in a preflop raising battle that started slowly then ended abruptly with a rapid all-in-and-call, followed by a “Wow!” from Zaichenko.

Zaichenko had tabled KK, and the reason for his final comment was plain to see when one looked at the cards O’Dwyer had — AA.

The board ran out A278Q, meaning Zaichenko was already drawing dead by the turn. He’s not dead in the tournament, though, as Zaichenko still has about 110,000. Meanwhile O’Dwyer is now up to 130,000. —MH

3:05pm: Salman falls after Chance encounter
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

Chance Kornuth, third-place finisher in the 2015 PCA Main Event, is smiling once again here in the poker room at the Atlantis. He’s been accumulating all day and has just added still more to his stack after knocking out Salman Behbehani.

Chance Kornuth with Sergio Garcia earlier today

Kornuth is up to 546,000 now, having pushed into first position in the counts with 72 players left. – MH

3:00pm: Andre Akkari hits the treble
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500 – 3,000 (400 ante)

Andre Akkari has been short-stacked all day and shoving with impunity. Depending on what he held, Akkari’s timing was either great or terrible because he never seemed to be called. That all changed a moment ago and now Akkari is up to the spectacular heights of 130,000 after trebling up.

Andre Akkari

He jammed. Mike Leah called it off and then fellow shortie Piotr Franczak called too.

Akkari: JJ
Leah: 77
Franczak: KQ

It was far from easy for Akkari to win the pot and the board seemed to change who was the favourite on every street. Akkari kept a thin grasp on the pot after the A610 flop. Then Franczak jumped in front on the Q turn. Poor Mike Leah was the only guy left out in the cold at this point. Finally the K river was bingo for Akkari as he hit Broadway.

That river card sent Franczak out of the tournament but Leah is still doing well with 245,000. – RJ

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2:50pm: Carrel’s chips corraled by Mateos
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500-3,000 (400 ante)

Charlie Carrel’s tournament run has come to an end here during the early stages of Level 13 after losing the last of his short stack. Carrel, who won the EPT11 Grand Final High Roller in Monte Carlo, was felted by the winner of that same festival’s Main Event, Adrian Mateos.

Mateos now has just over 80,000. – MH

2:45pm: He just won’t die
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500 – 3,000 (400 ante)

They say the number thirteen is unlucky for some. That obviously doesn’t include Steve O’Dywer. Seconds after we moved into Level 13, he just doubled through Nick Maimone. O’Dwyer jammed his remaining 25,000 with 33 and was called by Maimone and his K5.

Nick Maimone

A King flashed on the flop and the dream looked over for O’Dwyer, but as the dealer spread the other two flop cards to reveal a Three, suddenly he was back in the game. There were no runner-runner shenanigans on the turn or river and O’Dwyer now sits with 54,000. Maimone is still above the average with 240,000. – RJ

2:40pm: Seymour tackling the shorts stacks well
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500 – 3,000 (400 ante)

Richard Seymour is transformed his stack in the past half hour. He was down to 30,000 a short while ago but now has 170,000, his most recent success being when he knocked out Amit Makhija with ace-king. -SB

2:25pm: Play resumes

We’re now into level 13 with blinds of 1,500 – 3,000 with a 400 ante.

2:10pm: End of the level

Level 12 has ended and players are now on a 15 minute break. There are 81 players remaining.

2:05pm: Champing at the bit
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

In the wake of winning back-to-back WSOP bracelets in 2012 many in the poker world lauded Greg Merson as the best currently playing the game.

He’s trying to add even more credibility to that statement here in the High Roller, and just won a decent pot to take him up to 345,000.

Merson raised to 5,600 and was called by Nicolas Yunis in the big blind. They checked the flop but, with the board reading 94J5, Yunis bet 11,000. Merson called. Yunis then bet 17,000 on the 6 river and Merson called again pretty quickly. Yunis could only display 76 for a pair of Sixes, meaning Merson’s A9 won the pot.

It was another example of Merson extracting the maximum value from his opponent. He’s won huge tournaments before – can he do it here again at the PCA? – RJ

2:00pm: Chip leader
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

Among the leaders right now are Faraz Jaka (440,000), Jonathan Jaffee (400,000) and Chance Kornuth (330,000). For the full chip counts, including a list of the eliminations today, CLICK HERE.

1:50pm: Hall of fame
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

UK pro Tom Hall just did what few other have done before him; win a pot versus Steve O’Dwyer. The $50k High Roller champ opened to 6,000 and Hall three-bet to 16,200 on the button. O’Dwyer called and checked the 548 flop. Hall bet 19,000 to take it down and join an elite club all at the same time.

O’Dwyer is rocking away on 110,000 but he will have to go on a decent run to catch the soaring Hall. He’s got 266,000. – RJ

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1:45pm: Numbers

There were 225 entries to the $25,000 High Roller event, consisting of 173 unique players and 52 re-entries.

Day 1 entries: 214 (170 unique players + 44 re-entries)
Day 2 entries: 11 (3 new players + 8 re-entries)

Prize pool: $5,400,000
Places paid: 31
First prize: $1,142,100

1:40pm: Zinno is zapped
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

Anthony Zinno was short-stacked when the remainder of his chips went into the middle. First, Will Failla took a shot at getting those precious Z-chips by isolating with a raise to 14,000. Failla’s plan failed when the action got to Mike Leah on the button. He pushed out a large stack of blue 5,000 chips that indicated a re-raise. Failla threw his hand away as Leah flipped over pocket Nines and Zinno revealed AK.

Leah stated he’s never won an all in versus Zinno before. He has now. The board ran out Queen-high and Zinno was gone. Leah moves up to 245,000. – RJ

1:30pm: Schemion out
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

Ole Schemion is out. On a flop of 7Q8 he shoved for his last 34,000. Jarred Jaffee was in middle position and called with QQ. When Schemion saw that he knew his tournament was over, and his 10Q was easily beaten by the J[and K river. – SB

1:25pm: What are the chances?
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

It’s funny how often this happens. See if you agree by the end of the hand. Andre Akkari started the action by raising, Iaron Lightbourne three-bet and then Alexander Lynskey jammed all-in on the button. Akkari quickly folded and Lightbourne called off all of his chips with AK. Lynskey had JJ so the race was on.

The hand is all very standard so far. The board? Not so much. It ran out 45678 to give both players a straight and chop it up. As I said above, what are the chances? Answers on a postcard please. – RJ

1.20pm: Mandavia out
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

Ankush Mandavia is out. Former world champion Greg Merson sent him to the rail. After Mandavia opened for 14,000 in middle position with pocket queens, Merson raised to 30,500 form the button. After a little thought Mandavia moved all-in, at which point Merson snap called with pocket aces. The board changed nothing. Merson now up to 300,000. – SB

1:15pm: Take a Chance on me
Level 12 – Blinds 1,200 – 2,400 (300 ante)

There have been plenty of eliminations here so far today but, of the 95 players remaining, there aren’t many bigger stacks in the room than Chance Kornuth right now.

The American finished 3rd in the PCA Main Event in 2015. This year he’s up to 266,000 in the $25k High Roller and will be looking to hit another final table here on Paradise Island. – RJ

1:05pm: Explaining an enormous noise
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

When there’s the sound of players laughing and cheering so loudly that even the commentators on EPTLive mention it, you just know it has to be something worth running over to the table for. In this instance it was Michael Kamran busting Andy Andrejevic in brutal fashion.

Kamran had called Andrejevic’s shove with pocket twos, only to find the American was holding aces. Not to be deterred, Kamran got out his camera phone and started recording the whole thing as the table, led by the booming tones of Noah Schwartz, played along. It was looking anti-climactic until the river when a Deuce plopped down.

The table (and the surrounding tables too) erupted with whooping and shouting. Poor Andy Andrejevic could do nothing but look on in shock. – RJ

1:05pm: Winner to get $1.1 million
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

The prize pool has been announced. Full details to follow but 31 places will be paid, with $1,142,100 for the winner tomorrow. A min cash is worth $47,000. – SB

1:00pm: Bad timing for Timex
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Mike McDonald just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar versus Ben Heath. McDonald had the betting lead on the 229 flop and bet 5,500 when checked to. Heath called. The 6 turn prompted Heath to check again. This time McDonald stuck him all in, but when he was instantly called he knew it was trouble.

Heath had slow-played pocket Aces to perfection and McDonald was drawing dead with A10. Heath moves up to 65,000 and McDonald down to 45,000. Maybe it’s time he got a new watch… – RJ

12.50pm: Ung’s Kings forced to abdicate
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Senh Ung is out, sent to the rail by Andre Akkari. Ung had found pocket kings so was ahead against Akkari’s jack-eight. But Ung made an “Owww” noise on the flop, that paired Akkari’s eight and gave him a straight draw, then a louder “Owww!” when a third eight arrived on the turn. Kings well and truly dethroned, and Akkari back up to 43,000. – SB

12:45pm: Jetten powered
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Peter Jetten just got a 120,000 double-up through Davidi Kitai. Jetten opened the button to 5k and Kitai jammed on him from the big blind. Kitai had the covering stack and would be left with 48,000 if he was called and lost.

That’s exactly what happened. Jetten called with A10 and it was a good call because Kitai had pocket Sevens. An Ace on the flop was good enough for Jetten. – RJ

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12.40pm: More eliminations
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Joining those on the rail are Gleb Remzin, Isaac Haxton, Jason Mercier, Daniel Dvoress, Tom Lutz and Francois Billard. – SB

12.35pm: Not playing but not out
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Half an hour into Day 2 and Adrian Mateos is not yet at his seat. He started the day with 58,000. – SB

12.30pm: Beast silenced
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Ryan ‘The Beast’ Riess is the latest player to hit the exit doors after losing a hand to Kenny Smaron. He now has 140,000.

Riess, who only bought into the event at the start of Day 2, was one of a number of WSOP Main Event champions in this tournament. He joins Joe McKeehen, Greg Merson and Joe Cada. – RJ

12:25pm: New arrivals
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Eight players re-entered at the start of Day 2. They are:

Isaac Haxton
Agshin Rasulov
Charlie Carrel
Darren Elias
Kevin MacPhee
James Calderaro
Piotr Franczak
Tom Lutz

In addition three players entered for the first time prior to the start. They are:

Ryan Riess
Jyri Merivirta
Jason Koon

12:20pm: Steve O’Dwyer is in demand
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Noah Schwartz comes into Day 2 with one of the shortest stacks in the room. He has 20,600, or just over ten big blinds.

However, something else has caught his eye at the table where he is seated with Isaac Haxton and Steve O’Dwyer.

Steve O’Dwyer

“Where do I get one of those?” said Schwartz, pointing at a plasticine Steve O’Dwyer doll that Haxton (and others) have been using as a lucky charm all week. O’Dwyer – the real one, not the inanimate object – was quick to pass on the information to Schwartz, who was relieved to hear they cost only $35.

“I’m so happy right now! I’m down $2m the past two week but I’m getting a doll!” You win some, you lose some. – RJ

12.15pm: More eliminations
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

As well as Negreanu, JC Alvarado and Scott Seiver are among the first to depart today. – SB

Scott Seiver among the first to depart

12.10pm: Negreanu exits early
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Cards are now in the air for Day 2 of the $25k High Roller and one of the first casualties of the day is Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu.

Daniel Negreanu

He entered the day with less than ten big blinds and couldn’t spin it up. Table Negreanu, which also includes Kevin MacPhee, will be a whole lot quieter from now on. – RJ

12:00pm: Play starts
Level 11 – Blinds 1,000 – 2,000 (300 ante)

Players are back and cards are in the air.

11.30am: High rollers back for day 2

Registration is still open, so there is no official seat draw for Day 2 of the $25K High Roller. But we can tell you that last night Dustin Johns bagged up the chip lead with 298,100. But it was tight at the top, with Robert Gorodetsky (294,900), Brian Tae-Hyun Yoon (294,000), and Jared Jaffee (293,600) close behind. The full list of Day 1 chip counts can be found HERE.

Take a look at the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.

Also All the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $100,000 Super High Roller: Stephen Bartley, Martin Harris, Ross Jarvis, and Nick Wright. Photos by Joe Giron and Carlos Monti.

This EPT is brought to you by PokerStars, the official sponsor of the European Poker Tour. Win your way into the biggest events Europe has to offer at Europe.