We're back in action, here now at the official final table. The players were just introduced to the assembled masses over the microphone, and we're ready to get back in action. It's a big mass that's gathered here on the rai today with the Main Event drawing spectators out of the woodwork. But we've still got a bracelet to hand out before we get too focused on The Big Show, and these nine are the ones left fighting it out. Here's how they stack up:
First into the pot, Brent Wheeler made it 52,000 to go from middle position. He found action in three spots as Phil Laak, Nick Binger, and Nick Schulman all came along with him, the latter calling in position from the button.
The flop rolled out , and Wheeler was first to speak. He took pause, then made a pot-sized bet of 232,000. That folded Laak without incident, but Binger was not going anywhere. He shoved in for 372,000, and Schulman quickly mucked out of the way. Wheeler called, though, and the cards were on their backs. The two men were very close in chips.
Showdown
Wheeler:
Binger:
Wheeler's aces couldn't fade three opponents, and Binger had flopped trips to take a big lead. There were still two cards to come, though, and Wheeler was still drawing live to the flush and a couple of backdoor combinations.
The turn was the , the wrong shade of black for Wheeler. Now brother Michael Binger crept in along the edges of the table, and we could hear him pleading, "No club, no ace. No club, no ace."
River:
That's safe for Binger, and he suddenly finds himself flush with chips. When the stacks were counted down, he had Wheeler slightly covered, and we've bid farewell to another player. It's Wheeler out in 10th place on the final table bubble, good for a consolation prize of $25,874.
With the knockout, Binger leapfrogs into second place with just about 950,000 chips.
We've had a few scheduling oddities today with the timing of breaks and the moving of tables and whatnot. As such, we're still scheduled to have a break at the end of this level, in about five minutes. The T.D. Ben just made that announcement to the table, and David Bach asked if it needed to be a full 20 minutes. Ben told them if they all wanted to shorten it, they could. Nick Schulman said that'd be fine, but he didn't want to break for any less than 15 minutes. The table all agreed, but Allen Kessler didn't seem to be paying attention.
A few seconds later, he finally joined the conversation. "Wait, what's the reason for the break?"
Schulman was right there with the answer. "There might be some drug addicts at this table, Allen."
Trevor Reader raised to 31,000 preflop only to call the all-in shove of Allen Kessler, which was just 30,000 more.
Kessler:
Reader:
The flop was kind to Kessler as it delivered him a set of fives, with little chance of a low. The turn gave Reader a flush draw, but the river improved Kessler to a full house. He took down the pot to double to 130,000. Not a bad start for a daunting comeback.
Two hands after Bryce Yockey took the chip lead, Brent Wheeler raised to 52,000 from early position and Yockey three-bet to 131,000. Wheeler ended up moving all in for 166,000 and Yockey made the call.
Showdown
Yockey:
Wheeler:
The board ran out , which allowed Wheeler to scoop with the better low and his two-pair high.
Bryce Yockey raised to 32,000 from the cutoff only to have Allen Kessler three-bet to 120,000 on the button. The blinds got out of the way and Yockey opted to four-bet to 382,000. Kessler five-bet all in and Yockey called off for his stack of 619,000, creating a massive 1,262,000 pot!
Kessler:
Yockey:
"I'm freerolling," Kessler said after the cards were turned up and discovering he was the only player with a low draw; unfortunately for him, he spoke to soon as the flop delivered Yockey a straight. Neither the turn nor the river changed a thing and Yockey vaulted into the chip lead.
"Wow, that was a bad cooler," Kessler mumbled after the hand. He is down to 61,000 while Yockey is the chip leader with 1.262 million. "I could have just called and folded on the flop."
With bellies full, the players are back in their chairs, and we're playing split-pot four card once again. There are about 44 minutes left in the 8,000/16,000 level, Level #22.
, and Wheeler was first to speak. He took pause, then made a pot-sized bet of 232,000. That folded Laak without incident, but Binger was not going anywhere. He shoved in for 372,000, and Schulman quickly mucked out of the way. Wheeler called, though, and the cards were on their backs. The two men were very close in chips.
, the wrong shade of black for Wheeler. Now brother Michael Binger crept in along the edges of the table, and we could hear him pleading, "No club, no ace. No club, no ace."
flop was kind to Kessler as it delivered him a set of fives, with little chance of a low. The 
river improved Kessler to a full house. He took down the pot to double to 130,000. Not a bad start for a daunting comeback.
, which allowed Wheeler to scoop with the better low and his two-pair high.
river changed a thing and Yockey vaulted into the chip lead.