On a flop of , Toby Lewis and Jason Somerville checked to Stephen Chidwick, who bet 35,000. Lewis made the call while Somerville opted to sit this one out. Both players then checked the turn and watched the hit the river.
Lewis checked, Chidwick bet 90,000, and Lewis tank-called. Chidwick rolled over and it was good as Lewis mucked.
There hasn't been any significant action to report on the bubble, but we can tell you that all the remaining players are anxious to make the money. Some of them have been wandering the three tables hoping another player busts, which prompted the floor to inform them of the WSOP's "No-Sweat Policy," meaning players aren't allowed to leave their seats to watch the action.
Daniel Negreanu must not have heard as he rose from his seat and began watching the action. The floor explained the rule again and Negreanu asked, "Even when we're not in a hand?" That what it means?"
Mike Matusow then chimed in from a neighboring table: "It means sit you f**king ass down." The exchange drew laughs from the remaining players and railbirds alike.
Dani Stern raised to 16,000 from middle position and received a single call in the form of Jonathan Jaffe in the big blind. Both players proceeded to get all the money in on the flop and it became obvious why when the cards were turned up:
Jaffe:
Stern:
Jaffe had flopped bottom set while Stern had top-two pair. While behind, Stern could still catch an ace or jack on the river to steal the pot. The turn was no help and neither was the river. Stern was eliminated in 29th place, just two shy of the money.
On a flop of , Tommy Vinas checked and opened the door for Owen Crowe to bet 22,000. Vinas then check-raised to 44,000 and Crowe made the call. The dealer then burned and turned the . Vinas led out for 60,000, Crowe moved all in, and Vinas called off for a total of 138,000.
Crowe:
Vinas:
Vinas had flopped a set and was guaranteed a double as Crowe was drawing dead. The meaningless was run out on the river as Vinas raked in the chips.
Darren Kramer raised to 14,000 from early position and Thorsten Schafer called from the hijack. When action reached Sam Stein in the big blind, he reraised to 59,000. Kramer came over the top, Schafer folded, and Stein called all in for 44,000 more.
Stein:
Kramer:
Stein was out in front and stayed there as the board ran out . With that double, Stein appears primed to survive the money bubble.
With the recent eliminations of short-stacks Tom McCormick and Todd Barlow, only two more eliminations are needed before we reach the money. Given that fact, play has tightened considerably; however, there is still one more level to be played tonight, so there is little doubt the bubble will burst.
On a flop of , Steve Gross checked and allowed Jason DeWitt to bet 24,000. Gross then check-raised all in for about 104,000 and DeWitt tank-called.
Gross:
DeWitt:
Gross was ahead with his pair of queens but needed to sweat DeWitt's open-ended straight draw. The turn changed nothing, living just the river. Being so close to the money, you could tell Gross breathed a sigh of relief when the blanked, allowing him to double up.
We didn't catch the hand amidst the big hand involving Chris Oliver, but it appears, based upon an empty seat void of chips, that short-stacked John Juanda finally succumbed. He is out of the $10K PLH Championship.