In a heads-up pot with close to 50,000 in the middle on a flop showing K♦K♠6♣, Scott Blumstein checked from the big blind to Mehdi Saeed in the cutoff who bet out 10,000. Blumstein called and the pair saw the 7♣ turn.
Both Blumstein and Saeed tapped the table and the 8♥ hit the river. Blumstein took some time before tossing out a small bet of 12,000 and Saeed quickly let his cards go.
The payout line is increasing by the minute as the field has already lost over 100 players since the bubble burst.
Jamie Gold, the winner of the previous biggest Main Event in 2006, was at risk of joining them when he jammed all in for 159,000 after Marton Czuczor opened his button. Czuczor snap called and the cards were tabled.
Jamie Gold: K♠J♣
Marton Czuczor: J♠J♦
"I didn't think he had much, that's why I jammed king-jack," Gold said in his own defense.
The flop remained good for Czuczor with 3♣8♠8♥, but Gold struck gold when the K♣ hit on the turn. No jack arrived on the 10♣ river and Gold doubled up to still be in contention to become the first two-time main event champion in the 21st century.
Frank Bonacci raised to 18,000 with the 4♠4♣ and earned calls from Nicholas Rigby with the 5♠5♥, Stephan Lehner in the small blind with the 8♥7♥ and Maher Al Mouselly flat-called in the big blind with the 10♠10♦.
The four players checked the A♣J♠8♣ flop and it checked to Rigby on the J♦ turn. He bet 50,000 into 80,000 and won the pot with the worst hand as all opponents folded.
Action was picked up with two players already all in preflop. Paul Newey's shorter stack was at risk against William Benson.
Paul Newey: K♠6♠
William Benson: A♥10♦
Newey pulled ahead on the K♥J♦J♣ flop and remained so on the J♠ turn. The river came the J♥, however, giving both players quads, and counterfeiting Newey's turned full house. Benson's ace-kicker was good for the winner, and Newey was sent to the rail while Benson collected the pot.
Brian Nerney in late position found himself all in and at risk against Jesse Lonis in the cutoff.
Brian Nerney: Q♦J♦
Jesse Lonis: A♣K♦
Nerney was behind but did have two live cards. He immediately vaulted into a commanding lead following the J♣9♦Q♣ flop and only improved on the 7♦Q♠ runout to secure a full double.
In a heads-up pot, the board showed 9♦Q♦Q♥7♥ when Hunter Barnett check-called from the big blind a bet worth 62,000 from Michael Ruane.
The duo checked on the 5♦ river. Barnett tabled 7♠7♣ for a full house and Ruane sent his cards into the muck.
Joshua Faris raised to 16,000 on the button and Chris Moneymaker three-bet to 50,000 out of the small blind. The four-bet shove for 252,000 by Faris followed and Moneymaker called.
Joshua Faris: K♣Q♣
Chris Moneymaker: A♥Q♥
The board ran out J♠7♠2♣9♦8♠ and Faris headed to the payout desk.
"Payout!" is the most common yell heard across the room at the Horseshoe Event Center. Trevor Reardon was at risk of also getting payouts called for him when he jammed all in for 61,000 from the hijack and got called by Carly Gorman in the big blind.
Trevor Reardon: A♦K♥
Carly Gorman: 10♠10♦
It was a flop for Reardon's tournament life, and he would be eliminated when the tens held on 5♠5♥9♥Q♦4♠.
Over at another table, it was bubble survivor Amin Hosein who jammed all in for 15,000 from middle position after a limp from Eric Stein in early position. Kevin Henderson then rejammed from the small blind for 153,000 and Stein folded.
Amin Hosein: A♠8♦
Kevin Henderson: 9♦9♥
No ace came on K♥6♠10♠Q♥5♥ and Hosein joined the payout line as well.
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