Kostas Kalathakis Eliminated in 2nd Place ($161,675)

Francesco Barbaro entered heads-up play with a cheap lead of over 4,000,000 to 150,000 after eliminating Matthew Waxman in 3rd place.

On the second hand of heads-up play, Kostas Kalathakis opened for a raise and Francesco Barbaro reraised enough to put him all in. Kalathakis called all in and showed A Q 10 6 while Barbaro showed 9 5 5 4.

The board came 7 6 4 7 Q, giving Kalathakis top two pair. Kalathakis doubled up this hand.

Not long after doubling up, Kalathakis got it all in before the flop with J 9 8 7 against Barbaro’s Q Q 3 3.

The board came K 10 9 5 K, giving Barbaro the best two pair. Kostas Kalathakis is eliminaed in 2nd place ($161,675) while Francesco Barbaro wins the gold bracelet in Event #3 ($262,283).

Matthew Waxman Eliminated in 3rd Place ($104,770)

Francesco Barbaro raised from the button, Matthew Waxman three-bet from the big blind and Barbaro called.

The flop came 10 9 8, Waxman bet, Barbaro raised and Waxman called.

The turn was the Q, Waxman checkefd, Barbaro bet and Waxman called.

The river was the K, Waxman checked, Barbaro bet enough to put Waxman all in and Waxman called. Waxman showed A K 2 10 for two pair while Barbaro showed A J 10 7 for the ace-high straight on the river. Mathew Waxman is eliminated in 3rd place ($104,770).

Blinds: 15,000-30,000

Limits: 30,000-60,000

Players Remaining: 5 out of 925

Average Chip Count: 832,500

Chip Counts:

1. Matthew Waxman – 1,400,000
2. Francesco Barbaro – 1,000,000
3. Kostas Kalathakis – 725,000
4. Bradley Helm – 660,000
5. Michael Deveronica – 200,000

Eliminations:

6th. Humberto Brenes – $42,857
7th. Cameron McKinley – $32,654

Humberto Brenes Eliminated in 6th Place ($42,857)

Humberto Brenes raised from the button and Kostas Kalathakis called from the big blind.

The flop came A J 10 , Brenes moved all in and Kalathakis called.

Brenes showed A Q 8 4 for top pair while Kalathakis showed K Q J 3 for the nut straight.

The turn and river were the 9 and the 8 and Humberto Brenes was eliminated in 6th place ($42,857).

Cameron McKinley Eliminated in 7th Place ($32,654)

On a flop of J 5 2, Cameron McKinley bet, Bradley Helm raised, McKinley four-bet and Helm called.

The turn was the 5, McKinley bet, Helm raised, McKinley three-bet all in and Helm called.

McKinley showed A A 7 2 for two pair and the nut flush draw while Helm showed A 4 2 for a full house.

The river was the 8 and Cameron McKinley was eliminated in 7th place ($32654).

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates until a champion is crowned.

NOTE: Players took a one-hour dinner break at the conclusion of Level 24 (approximately 7:30pm), and should be returning around 8:30pm.

Blinds: 10,000-20,000

Limits: 20,000-40,000

Players Remaining: 7 out of 925

Average Chip Count: 594,642

Chip Counts:

1. Francesco Barbaro – 1,350,000
2. Matthew Waxman – 765,000
3. Kostas Kalathakis – 630,000
4. Bradley Helm – 656,000
5. Cameron Mckinley – 390,000
6. Humberto Brenes – 275,000
7. Michael Deveronica – 90,000

Eliminations:

8th. Vladimir Shchemelev – $25,174
9th. Travis Pearson – $19,617

Vladimir Shchemelev Eliminated in 8th Place ($25,174)

Bradley Helm came in for a raise on the button and Vladimir Shchemelev called from the big blind.

The flop came K 7 6, Shchemelev checked, Helm bet, Shchemelev check-raised, and Helm called.

The turn was the 6, Shchemelev bet and Helm called.

The river was the 3, Shchemelev moved all in and Helm called.

Shchemelev showed A K 7 3 for two pair (high) and no low while Helm showed A J 5 4 for a seven-high straight.

Helm scooped the half-million chip pot and Vladimir Shchemelev was eliminated in 8th place ($25,174).

Travis Pearson Eliminated in 9th Place ($19,617)

Kostas Kalathakis raised before the flop and Travis Pearson called.

The flop came 9 8 7 , Kalathakis bet, Pearson raised and Kalathakis called.

The turn was the 5, Kalathakis checked, Pearson bet and Kalathakis called.

The river was the 10, Pearson got his last 8,000 in and Kalathakis called.

Kalathakis showed A 2 3 10 for top pair on the river. Pearson mucked a pair of sevens and is eliminated in 9th place ($19,617).

Barbaro Takes Chip Lead From Waxman

Francesco Barbaro raised from under the gun and got three callers.

The flop came J 10 7 , and was checked around to Matthew Waxman who bet. Barbaro called and the other two players folded.

The turn was the 2, Barbaro checked, Waxman bet and Barbaro called.

The river was the Q, and this time Barbaro led out and Waxman called.

Barbaro shows A K 4 4 for the nut flush and raked the pot, bringing his stack to over one million and taking the chip lead from Waxman.

Be sure to check back hourly for level-by-level updates until a champion is crowned.